Top Prospects

Sporting News, The, August 2, 1999 by Stephen Wacaser

TSNumbers 9/14

In a game at the adidas Big-Time Tournament in Las Vegas, power forward Eddie Griffin blocked nine shots--in one half. He finished that game with 14 blocks. Griffin certainly used the July recruiting period to prove he's more than just a shooter. He ranked among the top three in scoring (21.3 a game) and rebounding (9.0) at the adidas ABCD Camp, and he led the camp in blocks (3.6). --M.D

Check out TSN online and get the scoop on college hoops. TSN online is your one-stop spot for what is happening on the hardcourts. Go to sportingnews.com/cbasketball/recruit/for Mike DeCourcy's biweekly columns, Stephen Wacaser's complete list of the top overall prospects (No. 1 through No. 50) and Brick Oettinger's weekly recruiting news and notes column.

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CAMPUS RUMBLINGS AND LOCKER ROOM WHISPERS

Bobby Cremins' promise to make changes in the nature of his recruiting appears to be sincere. Georgia Tech accepted a commitment from 6-2 point guard Brendan Plavich of Dalton, Ga., who averaged 30 points and eight assists as a junior but is not rated among the top 100 players in his class. In previous years, Cremins only would have considered signing an elite-level point guard, but he is trying to build greater depth in his program.... The adidas ABCD Camp, which had more than 220 players this year, is considering cutting next year's group to about 160.... The only question regarding the commitment of 6-4 Matt Lottich to Stanford is whether he'll be a shooting guard or a starting pitcher. Lottich, of Winnetka, Ill, is an outstanding baseball player as well as one of the top 100 basketball prospects. He shot .444 from three-point range at the adidas ABCD Camp.... Expect one of the more heated battles of the recruiting race to involve 6-9 power forward Arthur Johnson of Detroit's prolific Pershing High. In a year short on big men, Johnson has strong post skills despite the few extra pounds he carries.... With point guard Jason Hart entering his senior season for the Orangemen, Syracuse is trying to find his replacement. The best bet may be 5-8 Andre Barrett of New York, who is the most wide open of the elite playmakers.... One of the true surprises of the summer evaluation period was 6-5 wing Wayne Tinsley of Fontana, Calif. Tinsley is among the most spectacular athletes in the class and also understands the game. Texas A&M is one of the schools that made a quick move to recruit him.... Point guard Chris Duhon of Slidell, La., has become the obvious No. 1 target for Duke even though the Blue Devils got last year's best playmaker, Jason Williams. Coach Mike Krzyzewski saw most of Duhon's games in July and had to have liked what he saw.3