Recruiting: JUCO PROSPECTS

Sporting News, The, July 26, 1999 by Rick Ball

Often, a top college basketball team is composed of unique pieces. There are the blue-chip high school recruits, the occasional walk-on, maybe a fifth-year senior or two and the junior college transfers. The success rate of junior college transfers is a mixed bag, baby, but the four-year schools hope for a best-case scenario in which a player emerges as the second coming of Steve Francis, who jumped from junior college to Maryland last season and is now in the NBA. Below are the top junior college prospects for the fall of 2000, as ranked by recruiting analyst Rick Ball.

                            Point guards/Combos

Rk.  Hgt.  Player                  Junior College (State)

1.   5-10  Warren Busby            Weatherford (Texas)
2.   5-10  Lincoln Glass           Lincoln Trail (Illinois)
3.   5-11  Robert Yanders          SW Missouri State
4.   6-0   Maurice Baker           Dixie (Utah)
5.   6-1   Jannero Pargo           Neosho Co. (Kansas)
6.   6-1   Deon Green              L.A. City College
7.   6-2   Joe Gordon              Brevard (Florida)
8.   6-2   Antonio Henderson       Atlanta Metro
9.   6-3   Kerwin Fleming          Kennedy-King (Illinois)
10.  6-4   Immanuel McElroy        Tyler (Texas)

                            Point guards/Combos

Rk.  Hgt.  Player                  Skinny

1.   5-10  Warren Busby            A prototype penetrating point,
                                   he gets teammates open shots.
2.   5-10  Lincoln Glass           Strong/quick point can get own
                                   jumper. A bit like Tim Hardaway.
3.   5-11  Robert Yanders          Top assist man on NJCAA national
                                   team that toured New Zealand.
4.   6-0   Maurice Baker           Physical presence in backcourt
                                   is similar to Mateen Cleaves.
5.   6-1   Jannero Pargo           Sweet 3-point shooter is
                                   effective at either guard spot.
6.   6-1   Deon Green              Strong with the ball like Rod
                                   Strickland.
7.   6-2   Joe Gordon              Off bench for 17 ppg via 46
                                   percent of 3s; instant offense.
8.   6-2   Antonio Henderson       Big vertical leap and solid 3
                                   threat; 22 ppg, 90 percent
                                   from line.
9.   6-3   Kerwin Fleming          Long point, he's a defensive
                                   stopper like Vern Fleming
                                   (no relation).
10.  6-4   Immanuel McElroy        Destroys from the 1 or 2 slot,
                                   plays like Kendall Gill.
                                   Likes Memphis.

                  Shooting  guards/Swingmen/Small forwards

Rk.  Hgt.  Player                  Junior College (State)

1.   6-3   Derrick Franklin        Howard (Texas)
2.   6-3   Clinton Sims            St. Catharine (Kentucky)
3.   6-4   James Hall              Bacone (Oklahoma)
4.   6-4   Jeremy Brown            Scottsdale (Arizona)
5.   6-7   Cedric Taylor           Garden City (Kansas)
6.   6-7   John Grice              Shelby State (Tennessee)
7.   6-7   Eric Batchelor          Northeast (Mississippi)
8.   6-8   Corey Hightower         Indian Hills (Iowa)
9.   6-8   Antwan Jones            Tallahassee (Florida)
10.  6-8   DeeAndre Hulett         Sequoias (California)

                  Shooting  guards/Swingmen/Small forwards

Rk.  Hgt.  Player                  Skinny

1.   6-3   Derrick Franklin        Small-town Texan is an
                                   aggressive 205 pounds.
                                   A 'tweener.
2.   6-3   Clinton Sims            B.C. transfer has big-guard
                                   ability to return to high-major
                                   level.
3.   6-4   James Hall              Big-time athlete with midrange
                                   jumper, similar to Blue Edwards.
4.   6-4   Jeremy Brown            Helps team at 1-2-3 spots and is
                                   a Jimmy Jackson-type.
5.   6-7   Cedric Taylor           Slinky, similar to Shawn Marion.
                                   Likes University of Houston.
6.   6-7   John Grice              24 ppg as frosh, this Memphis
                                   native gets to the hoop on
                                   everyone.
7.   6-7   Eric Batchelor          Goes to Dontae Jones' JC and
                                   with similar scoring (22 ppg).
8.   6-8   Corey Hightower         Perimeter talent from Michigan
                                   who wins. Can you say
                                   Jalen Rose?
9.   6-8   Antwan Jones            From Live Oak, Fla., to SEC/ACC.
                                   Legit 3-man like UF's
                                   Mike Miller.
10.  6-8   DeeAndre Hulett         A 32-ppg frosh year. Drops the
                                   deep 3 and isn't afraid
                                   to post up.

                             Power forwards/Centers

Rk.  Hgt.       Player             Junior college (State)

1.   6-7        Johnie Selvie      Southeastern (iowa)
2.   6-7        Jamaal Davis       Barton Co. (Kansas)
3.   6-7        Thomas Terrell     Copiah-Lincoln (Mississippi)
4.   6-7 1/2    Reggie Evans       Coffeyville (Kansas)
5.   6-8        Patrick Okafor     Lee (Texas)
6.   6-10 1/2   Melik Yavasner     Hill (Texas)
7.   7-0        Earnest Brown      Indian Hills (Iowa)
8.   7-1        Octave Morariu     Trinity Valley (Texas)
9.   7-1        Paul Rower         Arizona Western (Arizona)

                             Power forwards/Centers

Rk.  Hgt.       Player             Skinny

1.   6-7        Johnie Selvie      Quick off feet, at 215 pounds,
                                   he is very active.
2.   6-7        Jamaal Davis       Purdue transfer must knock off
                                   redshirt rust. He plays big.
3.   6-7        Thomas Terrell     Small-tower bombs the 3 like
                                   Chuck Person and can post,
                                   as well.
4.   6-7 1/2    Reggie Evans       220-pound rebounding hog, his
                                   game is similar to Bo Outlaw's.
5.   6-8        Patrick Okafor     22 ppg and 12 rpg as frosh--game
                                   similar to Antawn Jamison.
6.   6-10 1/2   Melik Yavasner     Usual European mobility/skills,
                                   but is willing to mix it
                                   up also.
7.   7-0        Earnest Brown      24 ppg and 16 rpg as frosh and
                                   has a Kevin Willis jump hook.
8.   7-1        Octave Morariu     Massive man, much potential, JC
                                   quickness is a problem at times.
9.   7-1        Paul Rower         Big Brazilian (300-plus) has
                                   soft hands. Big Country from
                                   the South.