Commits, Visits, Recruiting Contact Persist
The hot, energy-infused gyms and boiling locker rooms deservedly get almost all of the February attention, but it is important to recognize the behind-the-scenes machinations throughout the 2022 and 2023 classes. You will notice a lot of moving parts in…
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Continue ReadingThe hot, energy-infused gyms and boiling locker rooms deservedly get almost all of the February attention, but it is important to recognize the behind-the-scenes machinations throughout the 2022 and 2023 classes. You will notice a lot of moving parts in the next three months with the now-unlimited transfer portal in the college off-season.
Eli Walls Eli Walls 6'5" | SG Powell | 2022 State TN ended his recruitment with a commitment to Milligan College. Eli is a player that was, frankly, raw, thin, and full of promise throughout his 15u AAU season into his sophomore season. He toned his body, put on some good weight and began to really take advantage of his 6-foot-4 height with finishes above the rim and in traffic.
The physical maturity enabled a player with an already focused basketball mind to take off.
Walls selected Milligan College over offers from Sewanee and Maryville (TN).
Isn’t He Grand?
Seth Grandberry Seth Grandberry 5'11" | PG Lausanne | 2023 State TN took a visit to Murray State, the power OVC-program across the border in Murray, Kentucky.
Murray State truly is a geographically-hidden gem. The fanbase is extraordinary. The media put forth a real effort to track them. The gym has fire every night. What did Seth absorb from the night?
“It was just an unofficial visit,” said Seth Grandberry Seth Grandberry 5'11" | PG Lausanne | 2023 State TN . “It wasn’t much to it. I just had a good conversation with [an] assistant coach and enjoyed the atmosphere. Front row!!”
Seth Grandberry Seth Grandberry 5'11" | PG Lausanne | 2023 State TN is a unique talent, and a player the demands an evaluation to fully appreciate. He will always fight against the embedded height-bias necessary for a vertical game. Seth can play, he can score, and anybody that watches him will instantly see it.
Historically, Murray State Head Coach Matt McMahon recruited and coached some undersized guards to success before: Munford HS Jonathan Stark (5’10”), Rod Thomas (6’0″), Bryce Jones (6’0″ SG), DaQuan Smith (6’1″ SG).
Did Seth see anything that aligned with his style or game, we asked?
“I love they’re back court duo,” said Seth Grandberry Seth Grandberry 5'11" | PG Lausanne | 2023 State TN . “Justice Hil and Tevin Brown. Justice is a do-it-all point guard who locks up, facilitates and scores. He is also close to my height. Seeing guys like that gives me hope and set a great example for someone like me.”
Grandberry keeps in contact with Walters State and Radford is semi-frequent contact. They are tracking his season(s).
West Cuts to 10
Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN released his Top 10 teams on Instagram and Twitter.
Virginia
Vanderbilt
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Georgia Tech
Clemson
Tennessee State
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Cincinnati
Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN is currently ranked as #3 in the state, down from #1 six months prior. There are almost no flaws in his game, but a minor weakness is outside shooting consistency. He is not bad from deep, rather spotty though much-improved.
It is important to be clear. A ‘final 10’ or ‘cut to 10’ does not mean final necessarily. If Team A was holding back from offering, but was consistent in their recruitment, it is almost always possible that Team A can get into that ‘final 10’ after it was released.
Enjoyed Today at Murray State!🐎 Thanks @CoachTKAINE pic.twitter.com/QyvmHRATYW
— $moove.Seth🏀💥 (@SethGrandberry) February 6, 2022
Nothing against Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN personally, but Top 10 lists are pretty absurd for actual predictions. For example, Louisville is listed on Isaiah’s Top 10. Louisville has no head coach. Louisville fired their head coach in January. Obviously, the offer extended by Louisville to every player nationwide are now irrelevant. The new staff will extend new offers and likely “ask” most of the current players to leave.
Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN will wind up at a MM-HM program and make a difference. Just be apprehensive around Top 10 lists. Ten is a big number and Isaiah is about 15 months away from graduating high school.
Nearing Commitment
Will Biven Will Biven 6'3" | SG Knoxville West | 2022 State TN is really enamored with one college basketball program right now. “He had an incredible visit to Anderson,” said Biven’s father Russell Biven. “Wants to major in theology. That would be two from our [AAU] team if he does. Lentz has already committed to Anderson.”
Another AAU-teammate Ryan Neal earned a Tusculum offer late in January. They all played for an incredibly-successful Tennessee Fury/BMaze Biven 17u team last summer.
Yet another guard from that team is in his final recruiting season. Dillon Atwell is “a 6-foot-1 physical guard that played extremely well defensively for us against the most talented teams,” evaluated Coach Biven. “Off the chart character. Reminds me of a Carson-Newman-type smaller guard.”
My guy @andrewlaw_03 stayed the course, kept playing and is being rewarded. The best shooter I have ever coached. https://t.co/NeUxyJetBJ
— Mike Burns (@CoachBurns13) January 28, 2022
Cleveland High junior guard Gabe Leeper Gabe Leeper 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN will visit VMI’s campus soon. Leeper is “Also attending the Chattanooga versus the VMI game on the 19th,” shared CHS Head Coach Reggie Tucker. Chattanooga hosts VMI on that date. Gabe lives up I-75 from Chattanooga.
VMI is Virginia Military Institute, a Division I basketball program member of the Southern Conference (SoCon).
Moore Please
Sunday night, ’22 PG Tyler Moore Tyler Moore 6'0" | SG Beech | 2022 State TN (Beech HS) added an offer from Life University. He a key player on #1 Beech High, and a deeply-respected lead guard locally. His name is slowly gaining a little traction among small college scouts.
Follow @AndrewForce8 and @PrepHoopsTN for the most extensive recruiting coverage.