Kadji leaving changes the dynamics for UF hoops recruiting class

With Kenny Kadji electing to transfer from the University of Florida, one more scholarship has been freed up, changing the dynamics of Florida's 2011 recruiting class. With Mike Rosario sitting out due to transfer rules and Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep) solidly committed, the Gators now have room for three more in the class. Ideally, the Gators would take one big, one long wing and one combo guard, but the versatility of Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 185, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum) could change that equation.

Finney-Smith, who is playing with Boo Williams Summer League at the AAU Nationals in Lake Buena Vista, is the most versatile player in the country. He plays the point on offense for his high school team and when he does a turn with BWSL as the lead guard, the offense simply takes off. Defensively, he can play either the small or power forward and despite his skinny frame, he's a terrific rebounder and doesn't get pushed around.

Finney-Smith has seven or eight schools on his radar but insiders say it's a decision that will come down to Virginia Tech and Florida. In Virginia Tech's favor is that Finney-Smith is a Virginian. In Florida's favor is the fact that Finney-Smith and his older brother (who plays at Old Dominion) are long time pals of Gator center Vernon Macklin.

If Finney-Smith chose to be a Gator, UF could still elect to take a long wing such as Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) or Sam Thompson (6-7, 190, Chicago, IL Whitney Young). Thomas is a take it to the rack wing who can take the contact, finish and get the free throws. Thompson is the best wing defender in the country not to mention the best leaper (50 inch vertical). Thomas has Florida, Memphis, Arkansas and Mississippi State on his radar. Thompson has it down to Florida, Oregon State, Ohio State, Kansas and Georgetown.

The combo guard that the Gators have been following closely is Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County). He's got a streaky outside game but he handles, distributes and plays lights out on the defensive end. 

With Cody Zeller (6-10, 210, Warsaw, IN) more or less out of the Florida picture (he's pretty much down to Indiana, Butler and North Carolina), Florida's big man recruiting efforts center around these four: Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS), Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 225, Philadelphia, PA Academy of the New Church), Mikael Hopkins (6-9, 215, Hyattsville, MD DeMatha Catholic) and Amir Williams (6-10, 225, Beverly Hills, MI Detroit Country Day).

O'Bryant and Adonis Thomas are determined to play together in college. The one school they seem to agree on is Florida so it is a distinct possibility the Gators could come up big with this dynamic duo.

Florida was the first to offer Christmas, who also has Texas, Oklahoma and FIU on his radar with Kentucky trying to elbow its way in. 

Florida trails Syracuse and Maryland for Hopkins and the Gators are having to make up an incredible amount of ground with Williams, who was once thought to be a lock for Michigan or Michigan State. 

Beal says he's solidly Gator; Rivers says he's still wide open

LAKE BUENA VISTA --- The shootout of superstars Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep) and Austin Rivers (6-4, 198, Winter Park, FL) never materialized Tuesday night in the championship game of the AAU Super Showcase. Beal never could get into any kind of an offensive rhythm and Rivers was all to content to be a contributor and not the one carrying the weight of his team's expectations on his shoulders.

ESPN had the marquee matchup it wanted with Beal and Rivers, the top two shooting guards in the country, but it was clear almost from the beginning that Rivers' Each One Teach One team had energy to spare while Beal's St. Louis Eagles seemed to be playing on dead legs as they played their eighth game in four days. Rivers scored 24 points, 10 from the foul line, and actually played a secondary role in the second half as he spent most of his time handling the ball and distributing to teammates. The scoring load was taken up by Trevor Lacey (6-3, 215, Huntsville, AL Butler) who hit his first 10 shots en route to a 24-point performance as Each One Teach One routed the Eagles, 77-60.

Beal missed his first six shots before he got one to fall and finished the game 5-15 from the field for 12 points.

"This was the worst game I've ever played," Beal said. He admitted his legs were a bit dead after playing a non-stop schedule the past two months that included three weeks overseas while winning the MVP and leading the USA team to the FIBA 17-and-Under World Championship, but quickly added, "That's not a good excuse. I just didn't play very well and I needed to for us to win."

* * * 

Beal, who is committed to the University of Florida, has been the subject of one rumor after another in recent weeks, most of them claiming he is waffling on his Florida commitment and seriously thinking about switching to Kansas. Nothing could be further from the truth, Beal said following the loss to Each One Teach One.

"I'm a Gator, it's solid," he said, adding that he hears "a new rumor every week. I guess people don't have anything better to do than start a rumor about me I'm a Gator."

* * * 

Rivers, the one-time Florida commitment who has opened up things to include five schools --- Florida, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas --- seems to be at the center of attention for the Duke recruiting effort. In addition to two Duke assistants at the Tuesday night game, former Dookie Grant Hill was there in a Duke pullover shirt. He was seen chatting with Rivers post-game.

Yet for all the efforts by Duke, Rivers said he's not close to making a commitment to anyone and that he's going to give all five schools on his list careful consideration before he makes his final choice. 


"It's still the same five schools," he said. "I like all five of them and I'm going to take my time before I make up my mind. You only go through this one time in your life so you really should think it over pretty good before you make up your mind."


Rivers said he will take some official visits in the fall before he makes a commitment anywhere.


* * * 
Florida coach Billy Donovan and assistant Rob Lanier were at the Beal-Rivers matchup game. Prior to that, they were seen taking in Omar Calhoun (6-4, 185, Middle Village, NY Christ the King), a 2012 combo guard who is playing for the New York Gauchos, and Michael Frazier (6-3, 185, Tampa, FL Plant), a scoring guard with serious elevation, who is playing for Florida Elite, coached by Buchholz head coach Bob Horydoski.


* * *


Wednesday, the Florida coaches will be looking at Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 185, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum), who is playing for Boo Williams Summer League, and Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS), who plays for the Jackson Tigers. 


* * * 


With the transfer of Kenny Kadji, the Gators have one more scholarship to give for 2011. That could open the door for the Gators to sign one big, one tall athletic wing and perhaps a combo guard. The Florida class could perhaps look like this: O'Bryant or Amir Williams (6-10, 225, Beverly Hills, MI Detroit Country Day), Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) or Finney-Smith, and Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County).



 

Meyer and Saban agree: something must be done about agents

HOOVER, AL --- Urban Meyer and Nick Saban might be as different as night and day when it comes to football philosophy, but the two most powerful football coaches in the Southeastern Conference stand in total agreement when it comes to unscrupulous agents using cash, cars, gifts and promises to lure college football players into signing representation agreements before their eligibility has expired. Speaking at SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel Wednesday afternoon, both Meyer and Saban agreed that something has to be done to halt this gathering storm that threatens to shake college football by its collective lapels.


Meyer calls the problem "an epidemic" after a week in which allegations have been flying, first from Chapel Hill where North Carolina coach Butch Davis is dealing with a firestorm that involves the mainstays of his outstanding defense, to South Carolina, where Steve Spurrier has to deal with allegations that his all-star tight end might have gotten some illegal benefits and then to Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Then there is the aftermath of the Southern Cal NCAA probation brought on by 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush receiving illegal benefits from an agent while he was still playing football at USC. Just Tuesday, USC fired athletic director Mike Garrett and returned its copy of Bush's Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Foundation is contemplating the possibility of stripping Bush of his 2004 award. 


There is little question that these are not just isolated incidents but instead a foretaste of problems to come unless the NCAA and the NFL work hand-in-hand to bring about significant changes. Both Meyer and Saban believe there has to be some form of punishment for agents that cross the line although they disagreed on who should handle it.


Meyer, whose All-American center Maurkice Pouncey, was accused of accepting $100,000 in cash from an agent-runner back in December before the Sugar Bowl, believes uniform laws that are enforced in all 50 states would be a good place to begin.


"I understand there's 36 to 38 states in the country that have a significant penalty out there for a predator that's out there waiting to get involved," Meyer said. "Obviously, that has to happen. There's no plea bargaining or anything. If someone violates that law, they need to be punished to the extent of the law. Or the NFL --- like Coach Saban mentioned --- has to get involved and not allow them to be agents."


Saban, who has coached in the NFL, believes that the way to deal with the problem is to hit the agents who break the rules where it hurts the most --- in the wallet. 


"If you make these guys do what they're supposed to do or they can't get paid in that profession, it's going to change what he does," Saban said. "I'd change. I can't speak for what you'd do, but I certainly would."


Saban believes the NFL Players Association, which empowers agents and determines which ones can work, is the agency that has to take action immediately.


"They could fix it," Saban said. "It could get fixed. You have a standard of behavior and conduct that we have as coaches --- that you have as professionals in what you do --- and they should have as professionals in what they do. If they don't meet that conduct they can't make a living doing that. It would straighten it out now. The NFL can do that."


Whatever is done, Meyer says there has to be punishment for the rules breakers and that includes both agents and those who willingly break NCAA rules.


"If you're allowed to go do things that you're not supposed to do without punishment,  you're going to continue doing it," Meyer said. "As a matter of fact, you're rewarded for it. That's not just talking about agents. It's talking about violations of NCAA rules. If there's a law or rule in place, you punish it to the full extent if you can. That has to happen with the agents."


Not all agents are bad. Most, in fact, follow the rules and maintain a standard of ethics. As Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan has stated several times in the past, a good agent is worth his weight in gold because that agent is about educating his client and going about his business the right way. 


Saban praised the good agents Wednesday, saying that it's not fair to the ones that follow the rules when unethical types break the rules. And what drives agents to unethical behavior?


"I don't think it's anything but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents," he said. "Agents that do this --- I hate to say this --- but how are they anything better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people ... NONE. I really mean, none. How would you feel if they did that to your child?"


* * * 


Meyer said that redshirt sophomore wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. is no longer on scholarship. Hammond, who was arrested for DUI, will have a chance to come back to the Florida football team, but he will have to pay his way and earn a spot on the team as a walk-on.


"There will be playing time taken away from him," Meyer said. "He'll be on probation like other players that have made mistakes. If he does something again, it will be probable dismissal."


* * *


Meyer said that his chief lieutenants --- Steve Addazio and Chuck Heater --- will continue to assume a greater role in the day-to-day football operations. Addazio, in particular, will have a greater role as the associate head coach. 


* * * 


Meyer, who said he is "recharged and ready to go," said it was a little bit strange to take time away during the spring, something he's never done before. However, the time away from football was productive.


"You know, you get very humbled when you realize your oldest kid is in college --- she's not home any longer --- and you have another one getting ready to go [to college]," Meyer said. "You want to spend as much time with them as you can. I'm at that age when you want to spend as much time as you can with them and we did that. It was a great offseason."


* * *


Asked if he celebrated when Lane Kiffin and USC were hit with probation by the NCAA, Meyer just grinned and said, "I'll let the commissioner (Mike Slive) handle that one."

Dan Mullen zings Nick Saban

HOOVER, AL --- Dan Mullen bristled Wednesday afternoon at SEC Media Days when he was asked a question regarding an earlier comment by Alabama head coach Nick Saban that the spread offense has its drawbacks when preparing players --- quarterbacks in particular --- to play in the National Football League.

Here is the question and the transcript of Mullen's response:

You're one of the leading practitioners in the SEC of the spread offense. Coach Saban referred to it being both difficult to defend, but also it had drawbacks when it comes to preparing people for the NFL. How do you counter those when you were recruiting? How do you keep that offense evolving?

COACH DAN MULLEN: I'm not going to knock him. I don't know his personal record. I've coached the spread offense and I have a lot of more first-round quarterbacks drafted than he has in his career as a head coach. Develop them for the NFL, I don't know. In the last six years, I've had two of mine get drafted in the first round.

I think it does develop those players pretty well to get there. Amazing, one was a five star recruit and one was a one star recruit. When you develop players as a coach, you develop players. One came to me, I guess, somebody in here probably rated him a five star, a superstar player. Somebody rated him as a one star. When I got him, I must have done a great job of coaching him to be a first pick in the draft.

I think that's very overrated for that. I coached the NFL Rookie-of-the-Year, I think, last year, too, was in the spread offense, Percy Harvin. So I don't know. I guess statistically a lot of coaches like to say that. But factually, if you check the facts, I think the spread offense is developing the players for the NFL at a little higher rate than other offenses.

From a good source regarding Mike Pouncey

HOOVER, AL --- SEC Media Days are already buzzing with talk about players having illegal contact with agents in the offseason. Florida is currently investigating both Maurkice Pouncey, who left school a year early and was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and twin brother Mike, who remained at UF to finish his senior year. Both are alleged in an unsigned letter to the UF athletic department to have received a large amount of cash ($100,000 is the figure being thrown around) and other gifts from an agent runner in the period of time between the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl. Florida self-reported to the NCAA and both the NCAA and Florida compliance have been investigating since early June. 

While it appears unlikely that Maurkice took cash, there is a possibility that he and Mike attended some parties thrown by agents. Attending the party while still eligible to play a sport is a minor NCAA violation for Mike but the NCAA is investigating to see if Mike took any gifts or presents from the agents. If he did, those are more serious allegations. 

The NCAA considers it suspicious that photos taken in Orlando at the College Football Awards Show and at some parties before the Sugar Bowl show the same person over and over again --- an "agent-runner" who works for the agent that Maurkice Pouncey eventually signed with. Apparently, the investigation so far has not turned up anything that would indicate that neither Maurkice or twin brother Mike took any cash but the NCAA is investigating to see if any gifts were received or improper favors given.

There have been plenty of rumors that in light of the allegations that Mike Pouncey would not be attending SEC Media Days Wednesday morning as scheduled, but an extremely good and well connected source told me Tuesday evening that Mike will be here. His appearance would seem to indicate that investigations have not turned up anything that would implicate Mike in any serious wrong doing.

Thoughts of the day: July 19, 2010

SEC Media Days begin Wednesday morning in Hoover, Alabama at the Wynfrey Hotel and that means two-a-days are about 10 days away. Here are a few thoughts to keep you occupied until I start blogging from Hoover when the first coach takes the podium Wednesday morning.

1. THE POUNCEY SITUATION: The NCAA and the University of Florida are cooperating in an investigation to determine if allegations that Maurkice Pouncey took a reported $100,000 from an "agent-runner" sometime between the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl. If Pouncey took the money, he would have been ineligible to play in the Sugar Bowl and it could force UF to vacate the win over Cincinnati. Considering the investigation has been ongoing since early June and UF self-reported the allegations as a possibility, there is no need to worry that the Florida football program is in any deep trouble. I'm quite confident that UF will investigate this thoroughly and my hope is that Maurkice didn't take the money. I've known Maurkice since his junior year at Lakeland High School and he's always been a straight up kid. I just can't see him jumping the gun on agent money by a couple of weeks and jeopardizing his own reputation and that of UF. 

2. THE POUNCEY SITUATION, PART II: With ongoing investigations into agent involvement at both North Carolina and South Carolina, isn't it time for the NCAA to take some action to give back some of the control they have taken away from coaches over the past few years. The NCAA and institutions hold their coaches accountable for the off-the-field actions of their players yet they continue to make it more and more difficult for the coaches to be involved in the lives of their players. They've taken away athletic dorms and training tables, limited coach-player contact and they make it increasingly more difficult for coaches to get a good measure of a kid's character in the recruiting process by more and more insanely petty rules. If the NCAA wants to get a grip on the situation, then it's time to re-visit some of these very stupid rules and let the coaches take charge once again.

3. AN INTERIM AD AT GEORGIA: I was really saddened when I saw Damon Evans step down as the athletic director at the University of Georgia. Damon was really one of the good guys in the business. He got to know writers by name and always made it a point to ask if there was anything he could do to make the stay in Athens more comfortable. I really thought he was on his way to a long, prosperous career as the athletic director when he was arrested for DUI and had a woman (not his wife) in the car with him. It just goes to show that it takes a lifetime to build a good reputation and only one stupid decision to ruin everything  that it took years to create. 

4. AND AN INTERIM COACH AT VANDY: I was quite shocked when Bobby Johnson stepped down as the head coach at Vanderbilt last week. He said he couldn't make the commitment to coach in the manner in which he's accustomed, but I do think that beating his head against a concrete wall finally got to him and that's what it's like to coach football at Vanderbilt. I don't know if anyone could do a better job than Bobby Johnson did. It's an impossible situation particularly with an administration that doesn't have a serious commitment to football. 

5. THE PRESSURE IS ON ... : Alabama and Nick Saban. Alabama is the national champion and the expectation is that the Crimson Tide will repeat in 2010. Of course, Florida was expected to repeat last year and lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. The weight of expectations finally got the best of the Gators in Atlanta. This year, the 800-pound gorilla is squarely on Alabama's shoulders. Nick Saban has been there and done that with national championships. He won his first one at LSU in 2003. The next season, with a team that was more talented and expected to repeat, Saban went 9-3. Now, I don't expect Alabama to lose three games this year, but I do believe that the pressure is going to take a heavy toll at some point in the season.

6. THE COACHING HOT SEAT: It doesn't get any hotter than Baton Rouge where Les Miles has lost nine games in the two seasons since he won the 2007 national championship. In talking to some insiders at LSU, I'm told that Miles could be in big trouble even if he goes 10-2 this season if the two losses are to Florida and Alabama. I can't see LSU winning either of those two games and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the Tigers go 8-4 in the regular season. I can't see them winning big with Jordan Jefferson at quarterback. 

7. THE COACHING HOT SEAT, PART II: I think Mark Richt is a fine football coach, but tell that to the folks at Georgia. If the Poodles finish below Florida and South Carolina this year, Richt will have a whole lot of explaining to do to the Georgia faithful. I don't think anyone in the SEC East can touch Florida and if South Carolina gets any kind of decent play at quarterback the Gamecocks could easily go 9-3 or 10-2. Watch the second game of the season. If South Carolina beats Georgia, then there is every good chance the Poodles will struggle to finish 8-4.

8. THESE GUYS COULD ALSO FLOP: Everybody seems to think Arkansas could actually challenge Alabama to win the SEC West but we'll find out quickly what the Razorbacks are all about. They've got Georgia and Alabama on the SEC schedule right out of the chute and if they tank those two games, it's going to be very hard to win more than 7-8 games. A 7-5 or 8-4 regular season would be a major disappointment in Fayetteville.

9. THESE GUYS COULD SURPRISE: I think both Ole Miss is going to be dangerous. Last year, everyone expected the Rebels to contend with Alabama for the top spot in the West but as we've learned in following Houston Nutt-coached teams over the years, there is every chance for a flop when the expectations are high and every reason to fear when expectations are lowered and the talent seems just a notch above average. Nutt seems to always do his best coaching jobs when he has a bunch of over-achievers and somehow seems to have problems coaching a team to its potential when he's got the horses to do some damage. Ole Miss doesn't have great talent this year. I think they're going to sneak up on some folks.

10. SOME BASKETBALL RECRUITING TIDBITS: Why is Billy Donovan smiling? That's because Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade) has earned the right to be considered one of the top two or three players in the country. Beal is working Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) and Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS) really hard, too. Brad seems to think those two end up in Gainesville ... The Gators are already looking good for 2012 with Tony Parker (6-10, 260, Lithonia, GA Miller Grove) and Rob Carter (6-7, 255, Thomasville, GA Central) ... Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County) is going to take an unofficial to Florida next week. Even though he's more of a combo guard, he's so skilled in every phase of the game that he's definitely getting a good solid look by the Florida staff ... If the Gators can't get the big man they want this year, they could redshirt one of the freshman bigs (Cody Larson or Will Yeguette) and save the scholarship for next year when they could very definitely land two outstanding bigs ... Georgia got a huge commitment Sunday night from Kentavious Caldwell (6-6, 190, Greenville, GA). He's one of the best long range shooters in the country and definitely a top 20 talent ... Everybody was turned off by Kentucky commit Marquis Teague (6-2, 175, Indianapolis, IN Pike) at Nike Peach Jam. In the semi-finals, Teague was throwing one bad pass after another and then berating teammates. With four minutes left in the game against Team Takeover, Teague was lifted after he air-mailed a pass about 10 feet over the head of a teammate and then tore into the poor guy for not being 12 feet tall with Michael Jordan hops. That's what it would have taken to catch that pass. If this is the best point guard in the country, then we're all in trouble. 

I'll be blogging live from Hoover on Wednesday. Also look for a big announcement from the new 24/7 sports network coming very soon. 

Nike Peach Jam: Brad Beal wins the personal and team battle

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC --- This was the battle of the best --- Florida commitment Brad Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep), who was the MVP of the FIBA 17-and-Under World Championships last week in Germany, and Kentucky commitment Michael Gilchrist (6-7, 190, Somerdale, NJ St. Patrick's), billed as the best rising senior in the country by at least three recruiting services. If you go by end results, score it a TKO for Beal, who scored 28 points including a clutch layup with 34.5 seconds to go to lead the St. Louis Eagles past Gilchrist and Philadelphia-based Team Final, 73-70, Thursday morning in the semifinals of the Nike Peach Jam at the Riverview Center. 

While Beal was money down the stretch, Gilchrist came up short in the clutch, missing two of three free throws with 1.8 seconds left when he had a chance to tie the game at 72-72. Overall, Gilchrist had great numbers --- 26 points, 12 rebounds and four assists --- but he came up empty in the final three minutes when he was stripped of the ball twice, both times leading to layups by the Eagles, missed a chippie from five feet and then bricked at the foul line.

Beal got a layup with 1:44 when he tipped the ball away from Gilchrist into the hands of Roosevelt Jones (6-4, 210, O'Fallon, IL), who then flipped a nice lead pass that Beal tracked down for the score that put the Eagles ahead for good, 70-68.

Gilchrist was hot early the second half when he hit three shots in a row to take Team Final to a 45-38 lead but St. Louis battled back to tie the game at 47-47 on a three-ball by Beal with 10:10 to go. It was a three-ball by Beal with 5:53 to go that gave the Eagles their first lead since early in the first half at 59-58.

For St. Louis, it was a matter of quickness, great team defense and good passing that enabled the Eagles to overcome a serious height advantage by Team Final. Jones, a Butler commit who will be a wing guard in college, scored 17 points and hauled down nine rebounds while serving as the inside presence. He got help on the boards from Aaron Adeoye  (6-6, 210, Marion, IL), who didn't score but grabbed nine rebounds and did an extraordinary defensive job on Team Final's Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 225, Philadelphia, PA Academy of the New Church), the tournament's shot blocking leader who finished with eight points, six rebounds and four blocked shots before fouling out in the final seconds. 

Beal attributed the St. Louis win to teamwork and a never panic mentality.

"We've been playing together as a team for three years now so we all know each other and there aren't any surprises when we're out there," Beal said. "We know what we can and can't do and we don't panic when we're behind or playing taller teams. We've been there before so we know what to do. There wasn't any panic. We knew when we were down that we were coming back."

After his MVP performance for the gold medal-winning USA team in Germany, Beal said a championship Wednesday afternoon in the Peach Jam would be a fitting way to close out the week.

"Personal honors are great but nothing beats winning championships," he said. "That's what we came here to do. We made the semifinals last year. This year we came here to win it."

* * * 

There is a new big man on the Florida recruiting horizon. Surprisingly, the Gators are now a major player for Amir Williams (6-10, 220, Beverly Hills, MI Detroit Country Day), who plays on the Nike AAU circuit for Detroit-based The Family. 

Williams has been in regular contact with the Florida coaching staff recently and he's indicated that the Gators have a legitimate chance to land him. Other big men that the Gators are after include Christmas, Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 245, Cleveland, MS), Cody Zeller (6-10, 210 Washington, IN) and Mikael Hopkins (6-9, 215, Hyattsville, MD DeMatha Catholic).