A Sea Of Red

Hey, last time I posted it was a repeat, so hopefully this is new? Rival.com has their list of top prospects by position for 2008. Check out McMasters.

Rivals.com recruiting analysts pick the best prospect at each position headed to each conference. Check out the complete conference breakdowns here.


Top Dogs: Best at each position

ACC
Point guard: Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech
Shooting guard: Elliot Williams, Duke
Small forward: Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
Power forward: Ed Davis, North Carolina
Center: Tony Woods, Wake Forest

Atlantic 10
Point guard: Mark Lyons, Xavier
Shooting guard: Paul Williams, Dayton
Small forward: Luke Fabrizius, Dayton
Power forward: Josh Benson, Dayton
Center: Kenny Frease, Xavier

Big 12
Point guard: Dashan Harris, Texas A&M
Shooting guard: Travis Releford, Kansas
Small forward: Anthony Jones, Baylor
Power forward: Marcus Morris, Kansas
Center: Orlando Allen, Oklahoma

Big South
Point guard: Seth Curry, Liberty
Shooting guard: Andre Jones, Winthrop
Small forward: Gideon Gamble, Winthrop
Power forward: Carter McMasters, Liberty
Center: Chad July, High Point

CAA
Point guard: Andre Cornelius, George Mason
Shooting guard: Jerel Stephenson, UNC Wilm.
Small forward: Rodriguo Peggau, James Madison
Power forward: Kevin Foster, George Mason
Center: Adam Pegg, Delaware

Horizon
Point guard: Courtney Stanley, Loyola Chicago
Shooting guard: Chase Stigall, Butler
Small forward: Garrett Butcher, Butler
Power forward: Jelani Poston, Illinois-Chicago
Center: None

MAAC
Point guard: None
Shooting guard: Kyle Smith, Iona
Small forward: Andrey Semenov, Marist
Power forward: Julius Wells, Marist
Center: Bernard Webb, Manhattan

Mountain West
Point guard: Nate Garth, New Mexico
Shooting guard: Phillip McDonald, New Mexico
Small forward: Kevin Butler, TCU
Power forward: Will Brown, New Mexico
Center: Jason Washburn, Utah

Ohio Valley
Point guard: Tyrone Caldwell, Austin Peay
Shooting guard: Zach Bailey, Tennessee Tech
Small forward: Tyler McDaniels, Tennessee Tech
Power forward: Ivan Aska, Murray State
Center: None

Patriot
Point guard: None
Shooting guard: Bryan Cohen, Bucknell
Small forward: Yaw Gyawu, Colgate
Power forward: Enoch Andoh, Bucknell
Center: Nick Pascale, Colgate

Southern Conference
Point guard: Jasper Williams, Chattanooga
Shooting guard: Kevin Giltner, Wofford
Small forward: Neil Duval, Furman
Power forward: Damian Eargle, UNC Greensboro
Center: Matt Roberts, The Citadel

Summit
Point guard: Larry Stone, IUPUI
Shooting guard: Drew Maynard, Oakland
Small forward: Dominique Morrison, Oral Roberts
Power forward: Jay Thames, Oakland
Center: Zach Fields, IUPUI

WAC
Point guard: London Giles, Nevada
Shooting guard: Mark McLaughlin, Nevada
Small forward: None
Power forward: Luke Babbitt, Nevada
Center: Bryce Webster, Utah State

Missouri Valley
Point guard: Kevin Dillard, S. Illinois
Shooting guard: Torres Roundtree, S. Illinois
Small forward: Bobby Hill, Illinois State
Power forward: Anthony Booker, S. Illinois
Center: Jeremy Robinson, Illinois State
American East
Point guard: Tiki Mayben, Binghampton
Shooting guard: Garvey Young, Vermont
Small forward: Jordan Clarke, Vermont
Power forward: Jake Lindfors, Albany
Center: None

Atlantic Sun
Point guard: Wayne Dedrick, Lipscomb
Shooting guard: Jarvis Jones, East TN State
Small forward: Chris Reynolds, Campbell
Power forward: Markieth Cumming, Kennesaw St.
Center: Ladaris Green, Kennesaw State

Big East
Point guard: Kemba Walker, UConn
Shooting guard: Nate Miles, UConn
Small forward: Mookie Jones, Syracuse
Power forward: Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Center: Henry Sims, Georgetown

Big Ten
Point guard: Korie Lucious, Michigan State
Shooting guard: William Buford, Ohio State
Small forward: Devin Ebanks, Indiana
Power forward: Delvon Roe, Michigan State
Center: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State

Conference USA
Point guard: Damier Pitts, Marshall
Shooting guard: Jason Jones, UTEP
Small forward: Armond Battle, Tulsa
Power forward: Angel Garcia, Memphis
Center: Chano Rashiduddin, UTEP

Ivy League
Point guard: Zack Rosen, Penn
Shooting guard: Max Kenyi, Harvard
Small forward: Patrick Saunders, Princeton
Power forward: Andrew Van Nest, Harvard
Center: Frank Ben-Eze, Harvard

Mid-American
Point guard: Ronnie Moss, Kent State
Shooting guard: Daniel Barnes, Eastern Michigan
Small forward: Tyler Storm, Northern Illinois
Power forward: Flenard Whitfield, W. Michigan
Center: Julian Mavunga, Miami-OH

Northeast
Point guard: Velton Jones, Robert Morris
Shooting guard: Jason Burns, Robert Morris
Small forward: None
Power forward: Eric Coggins, Quinnipiac
Center: Nick Greenbacker, Sacred Heart

Pac-10
Point guard: Jrue Holiday, UCLA
Shooting guard: Demar Derozan, Southern Cal
Small forward: Drew Wiley, Oregon
Power forward: Emmanuel Negedu, Aizona
Center: Michael Dunigan, Oregon

SEC
Point guard: DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky
Shooting guard: Scotty Hopson, Mississippi State
Small forward: Tony Mitchell, Alabama
Power forward: Eloy Vargas, Florida
Center: Kenny Kadji, Florida

Southland
Point guard: Tre Nichols, Texas State
Shooting guard: Walt Harris, Stephen F. Austin
Small forward: Zach Williams, Stephen F. Austin
Power forward: Desmond King, SE Louisiana
Center: Jordan Kinnear, UT-Arlington

Sun Belt
Point guard: Ronald Nored, Western Kentucky
Shooting guard: LaShun Watson, South Alabama
Small forward: Dago Pena, Florida Atlantic
Power forward: Jacolby Pittman, New Orleans
Center: Freddy Asprilla, Florida International

West Coast Conference
Point guard: Grant Gibbs, Gonzaga
Shooting guard: Brad Tinsley, Pepperdine
Small forward: Collin Chiverton, Saint Mary's
Power forward: Tim Williams, Saint Mary's
Center: Andy Poling, Gonzaga

Best of the Rest: Top overall signee:
Big Sky: C Josh Lepley, Northern Arizona
Big West: William Brew, UC Santa Barbara
MEAC: PG Darian Norris, South Carolina State
SWAC: PG Brian Talley, Southern

hadn't seen that before. Why does HPU get good recruits? What could Lundy possibly be selling these kids on?

"Well, you'll have no problem adjusting to the size of our gym since you've been playing in something similar for the last 4 years. We've never won anything but we do a lot of almost winning. You'll get a top notch eductation ranging from 'history of the armoire' to 'Wicker vs wrought iron: the battle for outdoor sitting'. Oh and we wear purple too."

LUconn wrote:hadn't seen that before. Why does HPU get good recruits? What could Lundy possibly be selling these kids on?

"Well, you'll have no problem adjusting to the size of our gym since you've been playing in something similar for the last 4 years. We've never won anything but we do a lot of almost winning. You'll get a top notch eductation ranging from 'history of the armoire' to 'Wicker vs wrought iron: the battle for outdoor sitting'. Oh and we wear purple too."

The guys on the Winthrop board are already arguing that their Point Guard recruit is better than Curry.

olldflame wrote:The guys on the Winthrop board are already arguing that their Point Guard recruit is better than Curry.

Already? They really do need a football program.

This class we pulled in looks great.

Great diversity! 6 recruits from 6 states ranging from 5'7" to 6'11". The only thing missing is a big banger, but I think 3 of these guys can contribute in the post in various ways. As a group, they had schollie offers from about half the programs in the SEC and ACC. (OK, that might be a slight exageration)

The best thing is that most if not all of this group decided to come to LU BECAUSE of what we are, not in spite of it. That has not always been the case.

El Scorcho wrote:

olldflame wrote:The guys on the Winthrop board are already arguing that their Point Guard recruit is better than Curry.

Already? They really do need a football program.

Amen.

Even tho I'm pretty sure they think their power forward could get more yard on the ground than Rashad.

olldflame wrote:The guys on the Winthrop board are already arguing that their Point Guard recruit is better than Curry.

That was really only me posting I agreed with the assessment so far except for curry at pg. Middleton has been better against better competition. I think Mcmasters is a good pick up, but the other guys are pretty normal for the Big South, including Curry. As for the HPU kid and Luconn's question, I think that's more a result in that no one else has really picked up a true center other than them.

That was my thought about the Center as well. But it's still a valid question as they've had a couple of good players over the last few years.

I think that we got the best 1, 3, and 4.

Rivals picked Gideon Gamble as the top 3 in the conference, but he's supposedly a shooting guard and weighs only 175lbs. Either way, Brolin Floyd looks like the best prospect in this conference at the 3.

I like WU's Andre Jones, but it looks like he and Gamble will be battling for playing time at the same position.

LUconn wrote:That was my thought about the Center as well. But it's still a valid question as they've had a couple of good players over the last few years.

I wouldn't write McMasters off as a potential center. He has a reputation as a strong defensive prescence in the paint and he is a very effective rebounder. The fact that he has great shooting range and strong passing abilities only means that he is going create match-up problems for our opposition.

We could go with Carter at the 5 and a combination of Ty and Sammy at the 4.

Yes feel the wrath of our 200 lb CENTER

Schfourteenteen wrote:Yes feel the wrath of our 200 lb CENTER

Carter may not be a bruiser, but let's not get ridiculous here. He's about 215 right now, and I'm sure with the LOI signed, our strength coaches will be working with him. I will wager he is a lean and solid 225 by the start of next year.

olldflame wrote:

Schfourteenteen wrote:Yes feel the wrath of our 200 lb CENTER

Carter may not be a bruiser, but let's not get ridiculous here. He's about 215 right now, and I'm sure with the LOI signed, our strength coaches will be working with him. I will wager he is a lean and solid 225 by the start of next year.

Tyler Baker played some 5 the other night btw. I think you can certainly get away with playing Carter at the 5 in the big south.

[quote="SCAR"][quote="olldflame"][quote="Schfourteenteen"]Yes feel the wrath of our 200 lb CENTER [/quote]

Carter may not be a bruiser, but let's not get ridiculous here. He's about 215 right now, and I'm sure with the LOI signed, our strength coaches will be working with him. I will wager he is a lean and solid 225 by the start of next year.[/quote]

Tyler Baker played some 5 the other night btw. I think you can certainly get away with playing Carter at the 5 in the big south.[/quote]


We also played Coker the other night. I do believe that Carter could handle the Center in the Big South, maybe not as the starter though. I don't think you can start Carter and Tyler in the same lineup either.[/code]

Weight-wise McMasters is very similiar to Peter Aluma in his first two seasons at LU.

Other similarities: Aluma had a nice scoring touch and was a great defender in the paint. Also, McMasters seems to have the potential to be a better rebounder than Aluma.

When interviewed about his signing, Carter's coach didn't even mention his 3 point shooting. he talked about his disruptive defensive presence. Carter avereged 5 blocks a game last year and held his own playing heads up with Phil Jurik, who is a true post, and I believe is going to Tennessee. I think between Carter, Austen Smith and Sammy Jackson (who IS a bruiser, even if he's only 6'5") we'll be fine.

paradox wrote:Weight-wise McMasters is very similiar to Peter Aluma in his first two seasons at LU.

Other similarities: Aluma had a nice scoring touch and was a great defender in the paint. Also, McMasters seems to have the potential to be a better rebounder than Aluma.

That's an interesting comparison dox, and not one I would have thought of. I agree with the similarities with the young Aluma. IMHO, Peter ate his way out of a possible NBA career. As a senior, at about 260, he had lost much of his quickness and was not the shot blocker he was as a slimmer sophomore.

As far as rebounding is concerned; Peter had the potential to be much better than he was, but he sacrificed defensive rebounds by trying to block every shot within 15 feet of the basket.

Of course, the Biggest difference is that I suspect Carter will surpass Peter's career 3 point total in his first 20 minutes or so on the floor.

Realist wrote:

olldflame wrote:The guys on the Winthrop board are already arguing that their Point Guard recruit is better than Curry.

That was really only me posting I agreed with the assessment so far except for curry at pg. Middleton has been better against better competition. I think Mcmasters is a good pick up, but the other guys are pretty normal for the Big South, including Curry. As for the HPU kid and Luconn's question, I think that's more a result in that no one else has really picked up a true center other than them.

One good recruit, is that what you're saying? Ouch.

We won't know anything until the guys step on the court, but on paper I thought the class looked pretty good.

kel varson wrote:

Realist wrote:

olldflame wrote:The guys on the Winthrop board are already arguing that their Point Guard recruit is better than Curry.

That was really only me posting I agreed with the assessment so far except for curry at pg. Middleton has been better against better competition. I think Mcmasters is a good pick up, but the other guys are pretty normal for the Big South, including Curry. As for the HPU kid and Luconn's question, I think that's more a result in that no one else has really picked up a true center other than them.

One good recruit, is that what you're saying? Ouch.

We won't know anything until the guys step on the court, but on paper I thought the class looked pretty good.

Not that Realist needs me to defend him, but I don't think he's saying that at all; just that in his opinion we only had the BEST BSC recruit at one position (McMasters). Paradox says we had 3 in McMasters, Curry and Floyd. Rivals says 2. needless to say, this is about as subjective as it gets.

I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of Steadman Short or Jourdan Morris? Of course if Steadman would have gone to LU or wu he would have been required to redshirt, because both programs have 6'9" players at the 3 position. Short has a chance to be poy in SC. Then there is Jacob Iati, sporting news honorable mention All American. Iati had an offical visit to LU.Everyone already knows about Chad July, he only got mentioned because no one else had a 6'9" 250 lb center. You know, sometimes you get mentioned just by default. And then there is David Singleton, a 6'4" Philly point guard.I didn't say to much about Morris , he is a 6'7" pf who transfered from ST. Bony. Projected as A10 all conference coming out of high school. The two things that all of these players have in common is that their respective AAU teams were not real good and they are all going to HPU.Gee I wish HPU could have steller recruiting years like LU and wu. Maybe Rivals could help us out of the recruiting doldrums.

These arguments are pointless and laughable. Unless anyone here has seen all the players (which I doubt anyone has) play, then how can anyone be so sure. Realist seems to like to make controversial statements it seems. Curry most likely is the best guard coming in, but who's to say he is or he isn't. Obviously Rivals is the most accurate source here and the rest of us really don't have a clue.

09, I know a lot about the players that I mentioned, but even considering that, your post is almost accurate. The exception being that Rivals is the best source. They are not the best source.

LUFlamer09 wrote:These arguments are pointless and laughable. Unless anyone here has seen all the players (which I doubt anyone has) play, then how can anyone be so sure. Realist seems to like to make controversial statements it seems. Curry most likely is the best guard coming in, but who's to say he is or he isn't. Obviously Rivals is the most accurate source here and the rest of us really don't have a clue.

Actually, the guy I know most about is Curry. I've seen him play a few times and met him actually. This kind of stuff is subjective, heck, even coaches don't know what they are getting half of the time. Also, I didn't say LU had a bad class, I think it's pretty good (it usually is in comparison with the rest of the Big South save WU and maybe HPU), but I think you're problem hasn't been getting quality players anyway (dees, blair, etc.), it's been getting quality character guys.

From seeing Curry play and seeing the competition, I think he's pretty status quo for a Big South guard, he doesn't put up great numbers and doesn't play anyone, his attention has been a lot from people speculating b/c he's stephen curry's brother. I do know he is a quality character guy, so that can only help.

Talent wise, the best guard hands down is Andre Jones, judging from 95% of people who try to evaluate these things professionally, and Middleton after that. But who knows.