Spring recruits have sprung

Sporting News, The, April 22, 2002 by Mike DeCourcy

If the spring signing period still were a big deal, it's unlikely the biggest recruiting news of the week would have been made by a prospect who can't sign a letter of intent for another seven months: junior point guard Brandon Cotton of Detroit, who committed to Michigan State.

Recruiting analyst Dave Telep of TheInsidersHoops.com says if it weren't for club tournaments that must be scouted, he figures he could squeeze a vacation into the first few weeks of April.

But spring's importance to those who follow recruiting and its importance to college teams are different matters. Late additions were crucial to some of last season's most successful teams, including Pittsburgh (Ontario Lett), Kent State (Antonio Gates), Oklahoma (Ebi Ere) and Connecticut (Emeka Okafor).

Several of this spring's recruits also figure to affect their college teams next season--one way or another:

* Kelenna Azubulke, wing, Kentucky: Azubuike is a terrific student, is bright and engaging and probably is an underrated player. That is, if you don't include Azubuike's family members among those doing the rating.

They have talked openly about the possibility of Azubuike entering the NBA draft out of high school since his junior year at Victory Christian in Tulsa, Okla.

That was one reason Azubuike was rated in the 30s and 40s among high school seniors and was not chosen for the McDonald's All-American Game. Prep scouts thought the NBA talk was laughable and were bothered by what they perceived as me-first plays attempted merely to show off his talent.

Kentucky has had no shortage of players whose regard for their skills exceeded reality, whether it was Keith Bogans thinking he was an NBA player or Rashaad Carruth believing he did not need to follow instructions to get playing time. Azubuike could compound that problem or alleviate it. He's not a great shooter, despite a 39.1 scoring average as a senior, but he is a promising passer who could create plays for teammates.

* Aaron Spears, power forward, Illinois. Last summer, Spears was a doughy, 6-9, 280-pounder who struggled to move against quicker opponents. He since has lost nearly 40 pounds and averaged 27 points and 15 rebounds for Chicago's Dunbar High.

"He's got a great set of hand," says analyst Van Coleman of the FutureStars recruiting service. "If you add hops and movement to that, Spears gives Illinois something they don't have: somebody who can go inside and use his body."

Recruit Kevin Augustine is a great shooter but needs time to grow into a big man's body. Returnees Brian Cook and Nick Smith are not overpowering. Spears gives the lllini some weight up front--but, fortunately, not too much.

* Andre Iguodala, shooting guard, Arizona. Though he signed in the fall with Arkansas, Iguodala became available when he was released from his commitment after Razorbacks coach Nolan Richardson was fired. Iguodada joins Hassan Adams of Los Angeles to form the best pair of freshman wings in any program. Though he sometimes struggled to score as a junior at Lanphier High in Springfield, Ill., Iguodala emerged as a superior athlete and jump shooter during the Nike All-American Camp and was essential to the Illinois Warriors' national AAU championship.

Arizona's primary problem will be finding time for those two and fellow freshman Chris Rodgers given that young perimeter players Salim Stoudamire and Will Bynum and senior Jason Gardner already are in place.

* Ricky Clemons, point guard, Missouri. Wesley Stokes proved during his sophomore year what he already had proved as a freshman: He's a terrific backup. He is a high-energy player whose value begins to decline if asked to play more than 20-22 minutes.

Stokes can work to change that this offseason, but he'll have to improve plenty to hold off Clemons, who averaged 18.2 points, 7.5 assists and shot 39.5 percent from 3-point range for a 26-6 team at the College of Southern Idaho. With all the Tigers will have going for them next season--specifically big men Travon Bryant and Arthur Johnson and scoring star in waiting Rickey Paulding--they can't afford to miss at the point.

Get a jump on summer recruiting by keeping up with Mike Sullivan's analysis this spring at www.sportingnews.com/voices/mike_sullivan.

INSIDE DISH

Don't get hysterical about the NCAA proposal that would allow high school players to apply for the NBA draft and opt to play in college even if they're selected. An NCAA staffer says the proposal could be amended to fall in line with the rule affecting current college players, which allows them to return if they go undrafted. Coaches oppose allowing college players who are selected to return, even though it would have meant second-round picks such as F Michael Wright, G Gilbert Arenas, G Omar Cook, G Jamison Brewer and G Will Solomon might have been able to play another year in college. Coaches refuse to see that a rule change might give the college game leverage it sorely lacks.... It seems no coincidence that one week after North Carolina recruits Sean May, Rashad McCants and Raymond Felton excelled in the McDonald's All-American Game, incumbent PF Jawad Williams was griping about the team's treatment by the UNC coaching staff. Williams needs to spend his offseason complaining less and lifting weights more. His aversion to contact often damaged the Tar Heels on the boards and on defense.... Rumors that 6-10 C Toree Morris would transfer from Pittsburgh are unfounded, and he's planning a summer trip to the Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Hawaii.... Providence thought its recruiting was finished last July when SG Donnie McGrath of Somers, N.Y., committed. But Garnett Thompson's departure created room to add 6-8 PF Herbert Hill of Kinston. N.C., last week. Donell Allick is likely to transfer from Providence to a junior college, and the Friars are fighting with Seton Hall to fill that spot with PG Donald Copeland of St. Anthony's in Jersey City, N.J. --M.D.