War Room:
Our trip out to Colorado Springs, Colorado included a ton of hoops, and a ton of interviews. We’ll start with Shaka Smart, who is impressing a lot of people, recruits included, as the head coach of the 18U USA National Team.
We caught up with Smart today (look for a story on him over the next few days), and let’s just get to the part about the Longhorns:
There was a definite sense of excitement in Smart’s voice when I asked what he thinks of his group of guys now that workouts have begun, and what he thinks it might turn into. That being said, he understands the challenges of losing so many veterans and contributors.
“I tell you what, it’s exciting, it’s also at times when you look out there it’s daunting because you realize just how many guys we lost from last year’s team. If you count Jordan Barnett, who transferred at the semester, we lost seven of the nine guys that were scholarship players at Texas last spring when we arrived,” Texas’ head coach said. “Obviously, we added Tevin (Mack) and Kerwin (Roach) and Eric (Davis) those three came in June. But It’s really a whole new team in a lot of ways from the one that we first met with when we got to Texas. And we lost some really good players. We lost some guys that played in NCAA tournaments and have won some big games over the course of their careers. We lost a few guys that have a legitimate chance, if things play out the right way, to be very successful at the next level.
“But with that being said like I said I’m extremely excited. I think the young guys that we have brought in are guys that have really bright futures. They’re just young and they need to learn and they need to get stronger and get their legs under them and understand what goes into success at the college level, but I think they will.”
With a group that includes so many new and young players, Smart and his staff’s focus will be on development. Already, the Texas head coach has identified a word that’s going to be important and represents his roster and what it could be.
“So my approach really is one of we just have to really focus on progression and development over time, and understand as a coaching staff and as a team that the word ‘yet’ is going to be very important over the next several months,” stated Smart. “Because it would easy to say we’re not where we want to be at a certain time in a certain area whether it’s pick-and-roll defense or rebounding.
“But if you add the word ‘yet’ to the end… because we do have a promising group of young guys and really our freshmen and sophomore classes there are seven guys. And you might as well throw Dylan (Osetkowski) in there because he’s sitting out this year and he’ll have two years remaining after this year so those eight guys, that’s a really exciting foundation. I think the seniors that we have are guys that can really contribute to success this year and hopefully play a role of veteran leadership and experience and have a calming influence on some of our younger guys.”
A couple of guys Smart definitely has reason to be excited about are Jarrett Allen and James Banks. The duo of Texas bigs turned a lot of heads during the USA Basketball 18U trials, and made the cut to become finalists.
“I think they’ve done a really good job. These settings can be challenging for bigs because you may not necessarily get the ball as much or just depending on the group you’re with it could be a different dynamic offensively. I thought they did a really good job of doing the things that they do well,” Smart said. “They both block shots well in the trails I thought they had some really good moments in terms of bringing energy, running the floor, and finishing so I was pleased.”
It’s not a surprise that Smart and his staff were very excited when the addition of the five-star Allen became official, and are excited about what he can become both on and off the court.
“We were really, really excited and we are really, really excited about him. He’s a special kid first of all. When you look at what he can do on the basketball floor it’s very exciting. He’s jumped right in with our guys with workouts and weights and all the things that we do as a team in the summer,” Smart said about the St. Stephen’s product. “We’re really pleased with how he’s transitioned so far.” (McComas)
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Contact is less likely to be called when Team USA travels to play in international play during the FIBA Championships. Five-star Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada by way of Frisco, Texas) product P.J. Washington likes. There are two things that Washington, who is listed at 6-7 and told OB he’s added some muscle and is now a trim 230 pounds, always brings to the gym: toughness and energy. That was again the case in Colorado Springs, but he also showed his skill and game continue to improve.
“It’s great. For me, I’m a little smaller but I’m tougher, so it’s not that hard for me,” he said about all the contact in the paint and the competition against bigger guys.
Washington continues to have four official visit choices locked in, and they are Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Arizona. He said that he’s not sure yet about the fifth spot, but mentioned Michigan State, UCLA, and N.C. State.
It’s no secret that the Longhorns are giving Washington the full-court press.
“I mean they all kind of hit me up,” he said with a laugh in response to a question about which coach from Texas he hears from most. “I’m cool with all the coaching staff. It’s great down there. I feel like I’d be at home if I was to go there.”
So far, Washington has enjoyed his time at the USA Basketball facilities learning from and playing for Smart.
“It’s great. He knows everything. He’s a wonderful guy. I can’t wait to get up there for my official visit,” he said.
When I asked Washington about any of the players trying to recruit him during the event, he couldn’t hide a huge smile.
“Not really. No, not really,” he said with that look that he’s hiding something. “I really hang with Trae Young, and Matt Coleman. I really talk to Matt about Texas a lot. I’m really trying to go to school with Matt.”
Coleman doesn’t ever stop talking, according to Washington, which isn’t a surprise because he’s always one of the most talkative players on the court, and is always challenging someone to one-on-one or something basketball related before or after practice. Why does Washington like him so much?
“Just a pure point guard, and right now there aren’t too many of those left. He knows how to run a team, and he’s good,” he responded.
As for Coleman discussing Texas with Washington, the five-star combo forward brought up that Coleman has known the Texas head coach for a very long time.
“He just loves Shaka. Shaka was recruiting him at VCU. He’s known him forever, so they’re real cool,” said Washington. (McComas)
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To give you an idea of just how insanely loaded the U18 trials roster was with guards/wings, Dematha (Hyattsville, Maryland) four-star guard D.J. Harvey did not make the cut.
Harvey, who looked to be about 6-4, wasn’t bad. He competed on defense, and knocked down open looks at a solid rate. However, he didn’t provide the flash, dominance, and standout moments players like Michael Porter Jr., Miles Bridges, Hamidou Diallo, M.J. Walker, and John Petty did; four of those five are five-star prospects, and one is a 2016 McDonald’s All-American.
The experience will still be a valuable one for Harvey.
“The three main coaches are recruiting me, so it’s great to see how they coach on the court. I love the way they coach. Great experience. Just learn from it,” he said, referring to Shaka Smart, Kevin Ollie, and Mark Turgeon.
As for Smart, Harvey, who has been recruited for two years or more by the Texas head coach, liked his style.
“Very hands-on. He’s in-shape enough to run through the plays and run through everything. I love that. He can get on the floor with us. Very high energy. I like that. It’s hard not to feed off of his energy,” Harvey said. “He’s very vocal and explains things well.”
Texas is among the list of 10 schools that Harvey rattled off when it comes to recruiting. He’s not in a rush to make a decision, will take all five visits, and sounds like a player that will decide in the spring.
“Just have to focus on my officials right now so those final five will be the five I’ll cut it down to. Decision wise, I think I have a long was to go developing my game,” he said. “I want to develop my game and make it college-ready before I make any decisions.”
Harvey stopped in to Austin for an unofficial visit earlier this spring. (McComas)
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File this 2018 name away: point guard Immanuel Quickley.
With a name like that, a player has to be fast, and Quickley (John Carroll; Bel Air, Maryland) is almost to the Isaiah Taylor level when it comes to speed. He made the cuts to become a final member of the 17U team and is starting to hear from Texas on a regular basis.
Started about probably this summer (session) when recruiting picked up for me,” said Quickley about the Texas interest. They texted me today (June 15th the first day coaches can call 2018 recruits). I’m sure I’ll hear from coach Shaka soon.”
Quickley describes himself as a pass-first point guard, and measured in at 6-3 with a 6-8 wingspan. When the jumper is falling, he has the look of a five-star prospect.
UCLA, Texas A&M, and Maryland just offered to join the likes of Washington, USC, Miami, Rhode Island and others. (McComas)
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No one has been a better scorer, and no one has taken and made more free throws during Nike EYBL play than (Pepplebrook; Mableton, Georgia) combo guard Collin Sexton. He’s also a member of the 17U Team USA team.
After Sexton erupted during the first EYBL session in Brooklyn, New York at the end of April, the offers started to roll in and Texas was one of those.
“It’s been crazy. It’s showing that my hard work paid off, and it’s still going to pay off,” said Sexton about all the recruiting interest. “That’s not going to change. I’m going to keep working hard.”
The 2017 prospect continues to hear from the Longhorns.
“Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Florida, Iowa State… I’m going to try to cut my list down probably in July,” said Sexton about the schools that he’s hearing from consistently right now. He also singled out Alabama and Oklahoma State as the two he’s hearing from the most, and mentioned that Duke started to express interest.
Although a list could come at the end of July, Sexton told us that he’s not sure about a possible decision period. But he does know that he wants to take his official visits. Our feeling is that Texas is on the outside looking in with this one, which makes sense because of how much it is recruiting and its position for players like Matt Coleman. (McComas)
