2011 Post/Forward Recruiting List

Austin announcement

Here is some better information. Texas is included, BTW. And no OU. His comment about people being surprised obviously doesn't bode well for us
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Let me go ahead and fill you in. Texas ain't getting Austin.

And that's fine with me. I'm not too big on 7ft'ers who try their best to imitate Dirk N. Many of our clueless fans are going to scream DOOOOMMMM...but the real guy we need to land is 6-10 250lb man child Cameron Ridley.

Ridley is everything that Dexter Pittman wanted to be minus 50 lbs....mean, tough, and intimidating.
 
I'm not happy about it. Am I clueless despite seeing the guy play before? Or maybe it's a difference of opinion? I don't see how you can be overly ecstatic about a 7 footer who erases every blocked shot remotely near him with an unimaginably high ceiling likely going to one of our conference opponents. Barnes needs all the talent he can get to be able to succeed in his abysmal offensive system.
 
I don't see how a 7 footer that does nothing offensively but shoot 3's really helps Barnes' offense. It would be nice to land him because of his defense, and even better to pair him as a 4 with Ridley, but if I had to choose between the two I would take Ridley as a college player.

If he thinks a lot of people will be surprised I wonder if that means UH. He would be a HUGE recruit for UH.

After watching that film of Holmes I'm not sure what to think. He can play and definitely has skills. But, he spent most of his time on the perimeter and didn't dominate the glass. He also didn't block/change shots unless he came from behind in transition.
 
3ball: He spends a lot of time on the perimeter, but it's not "all he does." DeMarcus Cousins was criticized for the same thing and Calipari turned him into the best big man in college basketball for years. No, I'm not saying Austin is as physically mature as Cousins nor does he have his post skills. My point is that it's not inconceivable that a coach could encourage players to tap into other parts of their games, such as what Barnes did with James on the perimeter (which was truly astounding, when you think about it).

Question: Would you not take the Jr. version of Connor Atchley if you had a choice? Probably zero no's to that question. Would you take Dirk Nowitzki? Obviously zero no's. Austin is likely somewhere in between, except he actually plays defense unlike Dirk. Losing yet another top 5 big man to Baylor pisses me off.
 
I'd rather have a 6-10 250lb Center that scores almost at will inside, goobles up every rebound withing a 5 foot radius, and patrols the paint like Shaq.

We land Cameron Ridley, then losing Austin to Baylor is moot.

Now if we don't land Ridley, then...start panicking!
 
I do like Ridley, what little I've managed to see of him in Fort Bend Bush Broncos clips. Obviously his size makes him appealing, but it seems to have made him a bit lazy as he seems content to try to find an open spot and stand with arms up rather than work at getting into the defender to establish position with his back to the basket. While he can do the former as a 6'10" guy in high school, it won't suffice in Div. 1 ball. He also is a bit slow up and down the floor. However, it looks like he more than makes up for full court slowness with strength and hops and should be a real force for whoever signs him.
 
If we land Ridley definitely makes losing Austin not as big a deal, if we miss out on both though I think a meltdown would definitely be in order.
 
When I saw Ridley in person I was a lot more impressed than when I saw the State Championship on TV. He is really long. He's also improved tremendously this spring and summer. He also hasn't been playing for a very long time, maybe 3-4 years.

As for the Austin, I think there is another huge difference between Cousins and Austin. Cousins played outside a lot because he got bored posting up high school kids and dominating them. He also was trying to work on his outside skills. Austin plays outside because he is soft and has no choice.

I can't compare Austin to Dirk either since Dirk puts up crazy scoring #'s and Austin hasn't been mentioned with 25-30 point games. Not saying he hasn't had any, but Dirk is pretty consistant.

I would also like my center to play like a center. I don't know if he's anything like Shaq, but I see a lot of Andrew Bynum in Ridley. I would take that over Atchley any day.
 
Austin is out and Ridley is 50-50 and Texas is not the leader at this point. But there are a few good bigs out there. This thread has named a lot of players that are not coming to Texas but a couple are interested. Texas just has to whisper in their ear a little more and pay attention. This is old news as is Davis/dad ,every one knew about it just like the word was that Austin was a Baylor get 10 days ago.
 
Does Ridley have a leader though? He's visited campus so that's a plus. Barnes and staff need to make him their top post priority for the 2012 class.
 
That's funny. Ridley just commented a few weeks ago that he would probably commiting to UT. Now we don't lead?
 
Oh! Please. A couple of weeks is a long time for these kids. The issue here is Ridley is getting noticed by a lot of high majors and UNC and Goergetown are interested. Lets not forget Capel has been talking to him for several months.

I hope Ridley is a Texas get but when the elite teams come calling the kid is going to listen. That kid from Cali would be a nice get for Texas but he is a P/F. I would like Texas to get into the mix for Tony Parker (not the Spur) a true center and monster that is getting in shape ,uses both hands for jump hooks and defends like he stole the basket, good footwork,rebounds very well and bangs in the post but I'm thinking he stays at home.
We need a quality big that bangs and defends the rim.
 
You do realize that he has the same HS coach as TJ Ford and Kenny Taylor. Both his HS and AAU coach have a good relationship with UT coaches.

Not saying that this makes him a UT lock, but I don't think you can just throw out his recent comments. Do you really think none of those schools have been tracking his progress this summer. I know Arizona has been on him for a while. If he says he likes UT, and both of his coaches have a good relationship with UT coaches, then I think it means more than some kid that list a school because it's his best offer.
 
Saw Ridley about 5-6 weeks ago in Atlanta at the "Best of the Best" Skills camp. Ridley did mention that he wanted to visit Zona and then maybe take a look at the ACC. Also mentioned visiting UT. Who leads is not really all that matters in August but when he signs on the LOI dotted line.
Different times and factors but a point you made was very good.

"I know we offered Anthony Jones. He was quoted on Rivals as saying that he would probably commit to UT at the end of the summer. Then, two weeks later he committed to A&M. His mom found out that his AAU coach was getting $ and he decommited. He commited to Baylor about two weeks after that. What happened to UT?"
$hit happens all the time.
 
Re: Anthony Jones...I don't remember it that way. Oh I remember all the shady stuff, but I remember, maybe Gerry Hamilton, saying that we just backed off because Jones just wasn't what we were looking for in terms of defense and rebounding. That he was a Kevin Durant wanna be but with 1/4 of the skills. Then when Jones start getting flaky, we were definitely out.
 
I agree that stuff happens. That's usually because the AAU coach sees $ signs somewhere else and the HS coach is not involved in the process. That's not the case here.

I don't think Hamilton is going to print why we backed off when it involves shady stuff. I also don't think a kid is going to say "I'm going to commit to UT at the end of the summer" when he doesn't have an offer. Wouldn't he say I'm looking for an offer from UT, like Julian Lewis did? Or, something like, If I get an offer from UT, then I'll commit at the end of the summer.
 
A highlight video of Wiltjer that I haven't seen before--looks like play from this summer and shows him working inside a lot more. Really annoying how they put the action in slow motion right when he makes his moves, so you can't get a good feel about his quickness or lack thereof. Still doesn't seem quite to have Div 1 interior explosiveness, but this video shows a player with more to his repertoire than run down, spot up and shoot three pointers that was seen in San Antonio.

The Link
 
Add Khem Birch to the list for 2012, I guess. He's here talking about teams he's interested in, and Texas is on the list.

The Link

In this set of videos, he' #11 for Team Canada. Witjer is #12. I thought Kabongo was on the team, but I don't see him on the floor, and he didn't appear in any of the box scores. In the first game against US East, which was a 105-100 victory for Canada, Birch went for 25 points on 11/15 shooting and 20 rebounds.

The Link

Birch is a little on the small side, but he's very quick off his feet, shows excellent athleticism, has good timing and height on his jumps, and seems willing to mix it up underneath. He shot 27-38 for the three day tournament.

Edit: BTW in those Nike Global vids, Sim Bhullar is that very, very large person in the middle.
 
Birch has been blowing up all summer. Doubt he comes here though.

Yes, I think Wiltjer will be a post player his freshman year, possibly sophomore. Depends on the team. He's just another limited-talent Wear twin to me.

Would like one of the Bhullar's to come here.
 
Well...scratch Kadeem Jack off the list. He came out with a final 4 today:
Arkansas, West Virginia, Rutgers and Miami. No Texas.
 
Losing Daniels is VERY disappointing. Not sure we can replace his talent in this class.

As for Wiltjier I'm not sure how you can say he has limited talent. He probably has better skills and footwork that most, if not all, of the guys we are after. He has far less athleticism, but he is skilled. I'm also not sure what makes you think he will be a post. He would be a perfect pick and pop guy, in the same mold as Boddicker and Atchley but better.

Hopefully he wants to come to UT and get used to playing with his future Canadian teammates.
 
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