Nothing helps recruiting more than perception. Perception is what people outside of the program think about the program. When a big in-state recruit makes a commitment to a particular program, he then influences people's perceptions about that program.
We are talking about 5-foot-9 point guard T.J. Ford (Willowridge H.S./Sugarland, Texas), one of the nation's top players, who just committed to the University of Texas.
Head Coach Rick Barnes and staff have done a great job in their short time in Austin, but getting Ford's signature on a Letter of Intent (LOI) will have a huge impact on in-state recruiting, and signify Texas as the place to go for the better Texas prep prospects.
Ford's commitment could impact the Longhorns recruiting more than the potential impact of his play on the team.
With the commitment of 6-6 wing Josh Childress (Mayfair H.S./Lakewood, Calif.), Stanford has quietly put together a great class that will definitely help the Cardinal maintain their position as one of the nation's top programs.
There is an art to recruiting that not many seem to understand. Recruiting is not just getting the best players. It's more about getting the best players who can play the style of basketball you want to play and have the temperament to mesh with the head coach.
Stanford's first commitment was 6-2 point guard Chris Hernandez (Clovis West H.S./Clovis, Calif.), a natural-born leader, feisty and aggressive, fundamentally sound and a hard-nosed defender. Next came the inappropriately named Robert Little (Pope Paul VI/Fairfax, Va.), who stands 6-10 and weights 275 pounds or so.
Little has a big NBA-style caboose and uses it. He is a big body who improved rapidly this past year and is still developing, but he has some tools that the Cardinal like to see in a big man: big frame, aggressiveness, strong finisher around the basket, and a player who knows what he is and stays within his strength.
Those commitments did not garner much attention on the national recruiting scene, since neither were considered to be extraordinary talents or impact players by others who do not understand what the art of recruiting is. The commitment by 6-6 wing Josh Childress (Mayfair H.S./Lakewood, Calif.), who is considered an impact recruit, brings that attention.
Head coach Mike Montgomery now has the three anchors you need when recruiting:
A point guard who cares about winning and will make everybody better.
A wide body who demands a lot of attention from the opponent and will do the dirty work.
And an athletic scorer who can create a shot.
That sum total brings into focus the cumulative talent of Stanford's recruiting class.
Arizona is waiting to see if they can wrap up a class that keeps the Hatfield & McCoy rivalry between the Wildcats and the Cardinal firing out of both barrels.
The 6-11 Rick Rickert (Duluth East/Duluth, Minn.) is a player who had several top schools interested. It was believed to be between Minnesota, Arizona and Duke. His parents really wanted to see him stay home, but the NCAA ruling Tuesday against the Golden Gophers became a major factor in his decision. He was in Tucson for Arizona's Midnight Madness and will be there again next year after committing to the Wildcats on Wednesday.
His AAU traveling team buddy, 6-9 power forward Dennis Latimore (Halstead, Kan.) was also at Midnight Madness. Latimore and Rickert had serious talks about attending the same school after Latimore had previously committed to Arizona.
The interesting thing about this one is what it means to both programs. Big men are always at a premium, especially skilled big men like Rickert, so it would be foolish to say that Arizona could afford to lose Rickert to Minnesota. However, the Wildcat program is "there." They are established, and could have survived if they lost out on Rickert.
For Minnesota, Rickert's commitment meant everything. While he was not that "must have" in-state recruit, he was a "must have" recruit for Minnesota. A major name who could have put the Golden Gopher program back on the map with other major talents, who would have taken notice that Rickert decided to stay home for a program that is going through some tough times.
Point guard Aaron Miles (Jefferson H.S./Portland, Ore.) was scheduled to also attend Arizona's MM. Instead, he cancelled and went to Lawrence, Kan., for "Late Night With Roy Williams." The Jayhawks have been sweating a little bit however, since the 6-foot Miles did not commit on his visit.
Sources in Oregon are still betting on Kansas over Arizon, especially since the Jayhawks have already received a commitment from his 6-2 high school teammate Michael Lee. Arizona doesn't often lose out on their number one recruit at the point position and losing Miles would sting a bit.
Rubbing elbows with Miles in Lawrence during Midnight Madness was 6-10 Jamal Sampson (Mater Dei H.S./Santa Ana, Calif.). Sampson has a sterling future in public relations as he has said the right thing about every school he has visited (Connecticut, St. Louis, California, Kansas).
He was supposed to take a visit to UCLA last weekend but cancelled. Despite the fact that UCLA can offer Sampson an immediate starting position as a freshman, it appears that our source may have been correct when we were informed that Sampson would, "Never, ever, commit to UCLA." Kansas and California are now the top choices for Sampson.
Kansas has relied heavily on their ability to recruit California. It will be a long winter in Lawrence if they don't get Miles and Sampson, the two impact freshmen that can keep everything rolling.
Kansas and Arizona have traditionally been programs that get it done year after year in recruiting, usually early, or find a way later to get it done. California is trying to get there. Having gotten an early commitment from 6-9 combo forward Julian Sensley (St. Thomas More/Oakdale, Conn.), an impact recruit, is a start. Getting Sampson would punctuate that in a big way as far as changing perception.
Mark Mayemura and David Benezra cover the national college basketball recruiting scene, both high school and junior college recruiting, at their Recruiting USA (www.recruitingusa.com) website. Call (818)783-2244 for subscription information.
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