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We continue to wait to hear from Missouri about whether the Tigers will stay or go from the Big 12. It depends on who you talk to about what the Tigers will do.
Several Big 12 administrators and interim commissioner Chuck Neinas think the Tigers are going to stay in the Big 12. A key source close to the situation who told me on Sept. 22 that TCU had become the top candidate to join the Big 12 and who also told me BYU was no longer interested in joining the Big 12 thinks Missouri is leaving.
So we wait.
Like Texas A&M's situation, Missouri's board of curators has taken over the process. And any time you have appointed laymen making decisions about college athletics, you have the great unknown. (It's still mind-boggling to me that A&M's regents - basically riding the vocal majority of its fan base - decided to join the SEC after school administrators decided to stay in the Big 12 and signed a 13-year TV contract with Fox in April that guaranteed A&M $20 million next year in TV revenue.)
But the Big 12 seems secure with or without Missouri. That wasn't the case in early September when OU was sending out signals that the Big 12 could not survive without Texas A&M and without Missouri. And I'm not saying the Big 12 will be better off without Missouri. The Tigers are an AAU school that helps to bolster the Big 12 academically. And MU's football under Gary Pinkel has gotten better. And Mizzou has a great rivalry with Kansas.
With or without the Tigers, however, the feeling in the Big 12 and among industry sources is that the Big 12 will survive as long as Texas and OU want it to survive. And, right now, they do.
Neinas said this week he thinks the Big 12 will stay at 10 schools. He even indicated that if Missouri leaves the Big 12, the Tigers wouldn't leave until after the 2012-13 school year. That would be a convenient time table for any possible replacement for Mizzou from the Big East, which requires 27 months' notice to leave.
And right now I'm hearing West Virginia would be the leading candidate to replace Mizzou.
There is differing opinion in the Big 12 about whether to be a 10-team league or a 12-team league.
Texas prefers a 10-team league on the belief it should be easier for the Big 12 to get two teams into the BCS without a championship game upset to possibly derail the two best teams from the regular season getting a BCS bid.
It's also easier for scheduling purposes with 9 conference games in football. ADs like that because it's getting harder and harder to schedule weaker teams in what is classified in the business as a "buy" game. (Those schools are asking for more and more money to come to Austin or Norman to get beat.)
But there are others in the Big 12 who want to go back to 12 schools and a championship game. Those schools feel like the pool of candidates (West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, etc.) may never be as good again.
Right now, however, it appears the league will stay at 10. At least for now. And Texas continues to tell the rest of the league not to count out Notre Dame moving its "other" sports into the Big 12, especially if the Big East continues to destabilize.
Stay tuned. (BROWN)
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We first reported on Monday morning that top 2012 Longhorn target Torshiro Davis was planning to come to the Texas-Oklahoma State game, and we were able to catch up with the Shreveport Woodlawn defensive standout late this week to get some more details ... and it sounds like this could be a key visit for UT's chances.
Davis will be heading to Austin on Saturday morning and he'll be joined by Woodlawn head coach DeCarlos Holmes, Davis' mother and two Woodlawn teammates, including stud 2013 defensive tackle Christopher Robinson.
"I really don't know what to expect. This is my first time going to Texas other than the camp last summer," Davis said. "It's my first game. I want to see the environment."
Davis has said previously that LSU and Alabama were ahead of Texas because those two programs have been on him the longest (he's a soft commitment for LSU).
"It's probably about the same. After this visit, that may change, but right now it's probably the same," Davis said.
And what would UT have to do to close the gap with the Rivals250 member?
"I'll just have to get that feel when I'm there," Davis said.
Davis and coach Holmes are in constant contact with UT assistant Bo Davis, who has known both going back to his days as a coach on the Alabama staff. Torshiro said coach Davis has talked to him about the opportunity to play as a true freshman if he works hard and the Longhorns' need for speed rusher off the edge.
It's still going to be tough to get Davis out of Louisiana, or SEC country in general, but this weekend could bolster UT's chances if things go well. (Suchomel)
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OB first mentioned on Thursday afternoon that Texas would be hosting top 2012 target Daje Jonson for Saturday's game,
Johnson, of course, took an unofficial visit to Texas on October 3 but he's been silent since that trip. We were able to connect with him on Thursday night.
"I'm just taking things slow," said Johnson, a TCU commitment.
The Pflugerville Hendrickson speedster said Texas hasn't "said anything specifically" about a scholarship offer. If one were to come, Johnson said he'd have to cross that bridge when he got to it.
As for what has him intrigued by UT?
"It's just Texas," Johnson said. "I really like the tradition. It's Texas and it's right down the street."
Johnson did say he's still a solid commitment to TCU and nothing has changed in that regard.
My take: Johnson mentioned to us previously and he confirmed it again on Thursday night that TCU's move to the Big 12 bolster's the Horned Frogs' position in his eyes. But we continue to hear that if Texas does extend a scholarship offer, there's a very good chance that Johnson flips his commitment. (Suchomel)
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Richardson Pearce athlete Corey Coleman continues to see the Longhorns keep an eye on him. Coach Darrell Wyatt invited him to the Texas/Oklahoma game last week but Richardson did not attend.
He is currently committed to Baylor saying, “I like Baylor. It’s a good school and I’m committed to them, but everything is open. I don’t sign until February.”
Coleman is currently scheduled to take an official visit to Oklahoma on November 5 and plans to take an official visit to Cal following his season. As for Texas?
“(Coach Wyatt) said he was going to try and set up an official and to talk to some coaches and stuff like that,” Coleman said.
Coleman is being recruited by Texas at cornerback and the Longhorns are in a group of four he is currently looking at that also includes Baylor, Oklahoma and Cal. Of those four there is a bit of a pecking order.
“I like Baylor first, obviously,” he said. “Probably OU after that.”
Texas is the only one of the four that has not offered at this point. However those four are not the only ones keeping in touch.
“Oklahoma St. a little bit,” he said. “They want me to play running back. They have a running back spot open and they want me to play running back.”
Along with coach Wyatt, Coleman is also keeping in touch with Texas receiver commitment Cayleb Jones. He said he does not have a visit scheduled for this week and last week did attend the Baylor/Iowa St. game.
Corey Coleman is a four-star prospect who is currently ranked No. 228 in the Rivals250, No. 29 in the Rivals Texas Preseason Top 100, and No. 17 in the Lone Star Recruiting’s 2012 Top 100. He has been clocked numerous times at 4.3 in the forty.(Howell)
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There have been some whispers that Mansfield defensive end Hassan Ridgeway might be a little shaky in his commitment to Texas. He has said in the past he was solid to Texas but that has not kept schools away.
One school other than Texas has been keeping in touch, but Ridgeway is focused on his on-field play.
“Right now it’s just Texas Tech (keeping in touch),” Ridgeway said. “I’m not worried about recruiting right now. I’m just focused on the season and if anything happens it will happen after the season. Right now I’m 100 percent Texas.”
Ridgeway was in attendance at the Texas/Oklahoma game last weekend in Dallas with his family and said he had a good time getting to see all the other commitments and catch up.
Ridgeway has been committed to Texas since mid-February and is currently ranked No. 109 in the Rivals100. (Howell)
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The Texas Longhorns have been taking a few looks at quarterbacks in the 2012 class. Henderson’s T.J. Millweard is another who has heard from the Longhorns.
All-Saints head coach Aaron Beck said Texas co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin visited a game a couple of weeks ago and has been checking in with Beck on a weekly basis. He did say the Longhorns have not pressed for a visit.
Millweard originally to Virginia Tech before switching his decision to Arizona St. A big reason he decided to change his commitment was because his father frequently does business in the Tempe area and it would be easy for his family to watch him play.
Beck did not say whether Texas entering the picture would change things but he did admit it would take a special situation to really make Millweard think. Arkansas, Kansas and Kansas St. were also teams coach Beck mentioned continue to recruit his standout QB.
Of note, Barnes told us late this week that he's had no contact with Texas since UT requested film, but he is thinking about reaching out to the Longhorn coaches in an attempt to set upa visit for the Horns' home game against Texas Tech. As we first reported earlier in the week, Texas also requested film on Cibolo Steele QB (and Nebraska commitment) Ford Childress told us he's heard that UT has reached out to his coaches but he's had no direct contact with the Longhorn coaches.
At this point, it would seem any interest in a second QB in the 2012 class is in the earliest of stages. (Howell)
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Lago Vista defensive tackle Donald Hopkins continues to see interest from the Longhorns.
The standout is currently committed to Missouri, but the Longhorns have continued to stay in touch with the Lago Vista coaching staff. Texas defensive end coach Oscar Giles is heading up the recruitment right now and has requested tape and plans to come by and watch a game later this fall.
Right now it looks like Hopkins is stuck in a numbers game with Texas and is a guy the UT coaches are considering if a scholarship becomes available. Lago Vista head coach Alan Haire says Texas has not pushed for a visit (unofficial or official) from Hopkins. Other schools continuing to check in on Hopkins in the last two weeks include Texas Tech and TCU. (Howell)
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Jacksonville 2013 receiver Darrell Minifee has begun to see things start to heat up. He grew up a Longhorn fan but has yet to hear from the Longhorns and is currently eyeing a few other schools recruiting him a bit harder.
“Oklahoma and Texas A&M and Texas Tech is starting to get in there in the top three,” Minifee said. “Texas A&M, when I went to one of their games for the first time their fans were crazy. I like their fan base. It was my first college game and I’ll never forget it. That was last year. The reason I like Oklahoma is because of Ryan Broyles. He’s my top receiver in college that I like.”
The above three along with Oklahoma, Nebraska, Utah, Houston and Oklahoma St. have been sending letters and have invited him to games. He did say the Longhorns would be in the mix if things picked up.
Currently 5-11, 160 pounds, Minifee has been clocked at 4.51 in the 40 and is playing free safety, receiver and is a punt returner for Jacksonville. (Howell)
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Another East Texas receiver beginning to hear from Texas is Whitehouse standout Dylan Cantrell. On the season he has recorded 51 receptions for 770 yards and 11 TDs. Texas has requested film and Cantrell hopes to visit Texas before the end of the season. (Howell)
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A few other quick hitters on some guys we checked on this week, including some pretty big news on a potential top UT target for 2013.
Bastrop cornerback Antwaun Davis has a back injury and could miss the remainder of the year. Davis, No. 6 on the 2013 LSR top 100, is set to see a specialist in Temple about the injury. He played two games with the injury and is expected to be back by January for some of the national combines, if not before that. Davis will be at UT's game this weekend and we continue to hear from people very close to this one that the Longhorns are in very good shape here.
West Orange-Stark LB Travon Blanchard will be at the A&M-Baylor game on Saturday. He's hoping to attend UT's home game against either Kansas or Texas Tech.
Several of the state's top prospects, including A'Shawn Robinson will not be attending any games this weekend. Both Swoopes and Robinson told us they have school obligations that will occupy their time.
Weimar OT Ja'Braylin Thomas will be at UT's game on Saturday. (Suchomel)
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This weekend, the Longhorns will host two official hoops visitors and it feels like the Horns are really in it for both. Harvard Westlake HS (California) power forward Zena Edosomwan and Ioannis Papapetrou of Melbourne Air Academy (Florida).
When Edosomwan originally received a scholarship offer from Texas this summer, a west coast source I spoke to indicated that he was very, very high on Texas. But with the commitment from Connor Lammert, and recruitments of Prince Ibeh, Andrew White, and Papapetrou, it’s unclear how tight the numbers will get from the Longhorns assuming Edosomwan would commit. He’s an incredibly intelligent kid that’s already visited Harvard officially along with USC, Cal, and he’ll visit Washington next weekend. How active UT is in this recruitment should become clear after this weekend. There is some thought that it would be tough to get him away from the west coast, but if he did leave the west coast it would be Texas that would win out. Edosomwan is rated as the No. 128 player overall in the 2012 Rivals150.
As for Papapetrou, his recruitment is really tough to figure out. Originally from Greece, the 6-8 small forward/shooting guard has already visited Kansas, and according to Aubin Goporo the head coach at Melbourne Air Academy. Goporo stated that Alabama, Kansas, Florida, and George Mason have all offered along with Texas.
“Rob Lanier has been in contact with him for a while,” said Goporo. “Coach Rick Barnes came and visited last month and offered. He liked him when he checked him out.”
Even though he’s 6-8, 225 pounds, according to his coach, Papapetrou wants to play on the outside.
“The kid is a big guard,” Goporo stated. “He’s 6-8 and plays outside. He passes the ball well, he shoots well, and handles it. The kid is a very, very skilled player. He’s different. It’s hard for me to find someone to compare him to, but his teammates compare him to Hedo Turkoglu. He has very deep range and loves to shoot threes. Turkoglu is a fair comparison. The way he passes the ball for his size, the IQ; he understands the game really well. He’s not your typical European in terms of fitness and weight. Style is important to him based on how physical he is people say he wants to play inside, but he wants to play outside. He’s said no to a lot of schools that have wanted him inside to create mismatches. He doesn’t want to hear it.”
Goporo indicated that a commitment timeframe isn’t known at this moment, but it will have to happen soon.
“He will sign in the first signing period,” said Papapetrou’s coach. “Kansas has been here a lot, Texas too. They’ve all came here a lot. He hasn’t visited Florida officially yet, but he’s been on that campus so many times. He’ll probably visit Florida officially too.”
According to his coach, Papapetrou has no leaders at this time, and he didn’t get the impression he was leaning one way or another.
This post was edited on 10/14 9:58 AM by Suchomel
We continue to wait to hear from Missouri about whether the Tigers will stay or go from the Big 12. It depends on who you talk to about what the Tigers will do.
Several Big 12 administrators and interim commissioner Chuck Neinas think the Tigers are going to stay in the Big 12. A key source close to the situation who told me on Sept. 22 that TCU had become the top candidate to join the Big 12 and who also told me BYU was no longer interested in joining the Big 12 thinks Missouri is leaving.
So we wait.
Like Texas A&M's situation, Missouri's board of curators has taken over the process. And any time you have appointed laymen making decisions about college athletics, you have the great unknown. (It's still mind-boggling to me that A&M's regents - basically riding the vocal majority of its fan base - decided to join the SEC after school administrators decided to stay in the Big 12 and signed a 13-year TV contract with Fox in April that guaranteed A&M $20 million next year in TV revenue.)
But the Big 12 seems secure with or without Missouri. That wasn't the case in early September when OU was sending out signals that the Big 12 could not survive without Texas A&M and without Missouri. And I'm not saying the Big 12 will be better off without Missouri. The Tigers are an AAU school that helps to bolster the Big 12 academically. And MU's football under Gary Pinkel has gotten better. And Mizzou has a great rivalry with Kansas.
With or without the Tigers, however, the feeling in the Big 12 and among industry sources is that the Big 12 will survive as long as Texas and OU want it to survive. And, right now, they do.
Neinas said this week he thinks the Big 12 will stay at 10 schools. He even indicated that if Missouri leaves the Big 12, the Tigers wouldn't leave until after the 2012-13 school year. That would be a convenient time table for any possible replacement for Mizzou from the Big East, which requires 27 months' notice to leave.
And right now I'm hearing West Virginia would be the leading candidate to replace Mizzou.
There is differing opinion in the Big 12 about whether to be a 10-team league or a 12-team league.
Texas prefers a 10-team league on the belief it should be easier for the Big 12 to get two teams into the BCS without a championship game upset to possibly derail the two best teams from the regular season getting a BCS bid.
It's also easier for scheduling purposes with 9 conference games in football. ADs like that because it's getting harder and harder to schedule weaker teams in what is classified in the business as a "buy" game. (Those schools are asking for more and more money to come to Austin or Norman to get beat.)
But there are others in the Big 12 who want to go back to 12 schools and a championship game. Those schools feel like the pool of candidates (West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, etc.) may never be as good again.
Right now, however, it appears the league will stay at 10. At least for now. And Texas continues to tell the rest of the league not to count out Notre Dame moving its "other" sports into the Big 12, especially if the Big East continues to destabilize.
Stay tuned. (BROWN)
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We first reported on Monday morning that top 2012 Longhorn target Torshiro Davis was planning to come to the Texas-Oklahoma State game, and we were able to catch up with the Shreveport Woodlawn defensive standout late this week to get some more details ... and it sounds like this could be a key visit for UT's chances.
Davis will be heading to Austin on Saturday morning and he'll be joined by Woodlawn head coach DeCarlos Holmes, Davis' mother and two Woodlawn teammates, including stud 2013 defensive tackle Christopher Robinson.
"I really don't know what to expect. This is my first time going to Texas other than the camp last summer," Davis said. "It's my first game. I want to see the environment."
Davis has said previously that LSU and Alabama were ahead of Texas because those two programs have been on him the longest (he's a soft commitment for LSU).
"It's probably about the same. After this visit, that may change, but right now it's probably the same," Davis said.
And what would UT have to do to close the gap with the Rivals250 member?
"I'll just have to get that feel when I'm there," Davis said.
Davis and coach Holmes are in constant contact with UT assistant Bo Davis, who has known both going back to his days as a coach on the Alabama staff. Torshiro said coach Davis has talked to him about the opportunity to play as a true freshman if he works hard and the Longhorns' need for speed rusher off the edge.
It's still going to be tough to get Davis out of Louisiana, or SEC country in general, but this weekend could bolster UT's chances if things go well. (Suchomel)
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OB first mentioned on Thursday afternoon that Texas would be hosting top 2012 target Daje Jonson for Saturday's game,
Johnson, of course, took an unofficial visit to Texas on October 3 but he's been silent since that trip. We were able to connect with him on Thursday night.
"I'm just taking things slow," said Johnson, a TCU commitment.
The Pflugerville Hendrickson speedster said Texas hasn't "said anything specifically" about a scholarship offer. If one were to come, Johnson said he'd have to cross that bridge when he got to it.
As for what has him intrigued by UT?
"It's just Texas," Johnson said. "I really like the tradition. It's Texas and it's right down the street."
Johnson did say he's still a solid commitment to TCU and nothing has changed in that regard.
My take: Johnson mentioned to us previously and he confirmed it again on Thursday night that TCU's move to the Big 12 bolster's the Horned Frogs' position in his eyes. But we continue to hear that if Texas does extend a scholarship offer, there's a very good chance that Johnson flips his commitment. (Suchomel)
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Richardson Pearce athlete Corey Coleman continues to see the Longhorns keep an eye on him. Coach Darrell Wyatt invited him to the Texas/Oklahoma game last week but Richardson did not attend.
He is currently committed to Baylor saying, “I like Baylor. It’s a good school and I’m committed to them, but everything is open. I don’t sign until February.”
Coleman is currently scheduled to take an official visit to Oklahoma on November 5 and plans to take an official visit to Cal following his season. As for Texas?
“(Coach Wyatt) said he was going to try and set up an official and to talk to some coaches and stuff like that,” Coleman said.
Coleman is being recruited by Texas at cornerback and the Longhorns are in a group of four he is currently looking at that also includes Baylor, Oklahoma and Cal. Of those four there is a bit of a pecking order.
“I like Baylor first, obviously,” he said. “Probably OU after that.”
Texas is the only one of the four that has not offered at this point. However those four are not the only ones keeping in touch.
“Oklahoma St. a little bit,” he said. “They want me to play running back. They have a running back spot open and they want me to play running back.”
Along with coach Wyatt, Coleman is also keeping in touch with Texas receiver commitment Cayleb Jones. He said he does not have a visit scheduled for this week and last week did attend the Baylor/Iowa St. game.
Corey Coleman is a four-star prospect who is currently ranked No. 228 in the Rivals250, No. 29 in the Rivals Texas Preseason Top 100, and No. 17 in the Lone Star Recruiting’s 2012 Top 100. He has been clocked numerous times at 4.3 in the forty.(Howell)
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There have been some whispers that Mansfield defensive end Hassan Ridgeway might be a little shaky in his commitment to Texas. He has said in the past he was solid to Texas but that has not kept schools away.
One school other than Texas has been keeping in touch, but Ridgeway is focused on his on-field play.
“Right now it’s just Texas Tech (keeping in touch),” Ridgeway said. “I’m not worried about recruiting right now. I’m just focused on the season and if anything happens it will happen after the season. Right now I’m 100 percent Texas.”
Ridgeway was in attendance at the Texas/Oklahoma game last weekend in Dallas with his family and said he had a good time getting to see all the other commitments and catch up.
Ridgeway has been committed to Texas since mid-February and is currently ranked No. 109 in the Rivals100. (Howell)
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The Texas Longhorns have been taking a few looks at quarterbacks in the 2012 class. Henderson’s T.J. Millweard is another who has heard from the Longhorns.
All-Saints head coach Aaron Beck said Texas co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin visited a game a couple of weeks ago and has been checking in with Beck on a weekly basis. He did say the Longhorns have not pressed for a visit.
Millweard originally to Virginia Tech before switching his decision to Arizona St. A big reason he decided to change his commitment was because his father frequently does business in the Tempe area and it would be easy for his family to watch him play.
Beck did not say whether Texas entering the picture would change things but he did admit it would take a special situation to really make Millweard think. Arkansas, Kansas and Kansas St. were also teams coach Beck mentioned continue to recruit his standout QB.
Of note, Barnes told us late this week that he's had no contact with Texas since UT requested film, but he is thinking about reaching out to the Longhorn coaches in an attempt to set upa visit for the Horns' home game against Texas Tech. As we first reported earlier in the week, Texas also requested film on Cibolo Steele QB (and Nebraska commitment) Ford Childress told us he's heard that UT has reached out to his coaches but he's had no direct contact with the Longhorn coaches.
At this point, it would seem any interest in a second QB in the 2012 class is in the earliest of stages. (Howell)
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Lago Vista defensive tackle Donald Hopkins continues to see interest from the Longhorns.
The standout is currently committed to Missouri, but the Longhorns have continued to stay in touch with the Lago Vista coaching staff. Texas defensive end coach Oscar Giles is heading up the recruitment right now and has requested tape and plans to come by and watch a game later this fall.
Right now it looks like Hopkins is stuck in a numbers game with Texas and is a guy the UT coaches are considering if a scholarship becomes available. Lago Vista head coach Alan Haire says Texas has not pushed for a visit (unofficial or official) from Hopkins. Other schools continuing to check in on Hopkins in the last two weeks include Texas Tech and TCU. (Howell)
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Jacksonville 2013 receiver Darrell Minifee has begun to see things start to heat up. He grew up a Longhorn fan but has yet to hear from the Longhorns and is currently eyeing a few other schools recruiting him a bit harder.
“Oklahoma and Texas A&M and Texas Tech is starting to get in there in the top three,” Minifee said. “Texas A&M, when I went to one of their games for the first time their fans were crazy. I like their fan base. It was my first college game and I’ll never forget it. That was last year. The reason I like Oklahoma is because of Ryan Broyles. He’s my top receiver in college that I like.”
The above three along with Oklahoma, Nebraska, Utah, Houston and Oklahoma St. have been sending letters and have invited him to games. He did say the Longhorns would be in the mix if things picked up.
Currently 5-11, 160 pounds, Minifee has been clocked at 4.51 in the 40 and is playing free safety, receiver and is a punt returner for Jacksonville. (Howell)
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Another East Texas receiver beginning to hear from Texas is Whitehouse standout Dylan Cantrell. On the season he has recorded 51 receptions for 770 yards and 11 TDs. Texas has requested film and Cantrell hopes to visit Texas before the end of the season. (Howell)
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A few other quick hitters on some guys we checked on this week, including some pretty big news on a potential top UT target for 2013.
Bastrop cornerback Antwaun Davis has a back injury and could miss the remainder of the year. Davis, No. 6 on the 2013 LSR top 100, is set to see a specialist in Temple about the injury. He played two games with the injury and is expected to be back by January for some of the national combines, if not before that. Davis will be at UT's game this weekend and we continue to hear from people very close to this one that the Longhorns are in very good shape here.
West Orange-Stark LB Travon Blanchard will be at the A&M-Baylor game on Saturday. He's hoping to attend UT's home game against either Kansas or Texas Tech.
Several of the state's top prospects, including A'Shawn Robinson will not be attending any games this weekend. Both Swoopes and Robinson told us they have school obligations that will occupy their time.
Weimar OT Ja'Braylin Thomas will be at UT's game on Saturday. (Suchomel)
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This weekend, the Longhorns will host two official hoops visitors and it feels like the Horns are really in it for both. Harvard Westlake HS (California) power forward Zena Edosomwan and Ioannis Papapetrou of Melbourne Air Academy (Florida).
When Edosomwan originally received a scholarship offer from Texas this summer, a west coast source I spoke to indicated that he was very, very high on Texas. But with the commitment from Connor Lammert, and recruitments of Prince Ibeh, Andrew White, and Papapetrou, it’s unclear how tight the numbers will get from the Longhorns assuming Edosomwan would commit. He’s an incredibly intelligent kid that’s already visited Harvard officially along with USC, Cal, and he’ll visit Washington next weekend. How active UT is in this recruitment should become clear after this weekend. There is some thought that it would be tough to get him away from the west coast, but if he did leave the west coast it would be Texas that would win out. Edosomwan is rated as the No. 128 player overall in the 2012 Rivals150.
As for Papapetrou, his recruitment is really tough to figure out. Originally from Greece, the 6-8 small forward/shooting guard has already visited Kansas, and according to Aubin Goporo the head coach at Melbourne Air Academy. Goporo stated that Alabama, Kansas, Florida, and George Mason have all offered along with Texas.
“Rob Lanier has been in contact with him for a while,” said Goporo. “Coach Rick Barnes came and visited last month and offered. He liked him when he checked him out.”
Even though he’s 6-8, 225 pounds, according to his coach, Papapetrou wants to play on the outside.
“The kid is a big guard,” Goporo stated. “He’s 6-8 and plays outside. He passes the ball well, he shoots well, and handles it. The kid is a very, very skilled player. He’s different. It’s hard for me to find someone to compare him to, but his teammates compare him to Hedo Turkoglu. He has very deep range and loves to shoot threes. Turkoglu is a fair comparison. The way he passes the ball for his size, the IQ; he understands the game really well. He’s not your typical European in terms of fitness and weight. Style is important to him based on how physical he is people say he wants to play inside, but he wants to play outside. He’s said no to a lot of schools that have wanted him inside to create mismatches. He doesn’t want to hear it.”
Goporo indicated that a commitment timeframe isn’t known at this moment, but it will have to happen soon.
“He will sign in the first signing period,” said Papapetrou’s coach. “Kansas has been here a lot, Texas too. They’ve all came here a lot. He hasn’t visited Florida officially yet, but he’s been on that campus so many times. He’ll probably visit Florida officially too.”
According to his coach, Papapetrou has no leaders at this time, and he didn’t get the impression he was leaning one way or another.
This post was edited on 10/14 9:58 AM by Suchomel
