Duke and North Carolina don't have McDonald's All-America-caliber big men locked up, but do have commitments from some high-powered prospects.
N.C. State has a commitment from a big guy in Joseph Uchebo who may be better than any post player the Blue Devils or Tar Heels get in the Class of 2011. With the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions concluded, here's a look at how the 2011 basketball recruiting class is shaping up for the three Triangle ACC schools:
Duke: Michael Gbinije, a 6-foot-6 shooter from Richmond, gives the Blue Devils an excellent forward prospect who will reduce the impact of losing Kyle Singler after his senior season.
The Blue Devils also have a commitment from 6-8 Brandon Adams of Brandon, Miss., who has a big body at 250 pounds but isn't a top-50 prospect because he's not a highly skilled scorer - yet. If Duke doesn't get Quincy Miller, a 6-8 power forward from Westchester Academy in High Point, it might not end up with a big-time post scorer in this class.
Duke's most pressing issue at this point is to lock up 6-4 scoring guard Austin Rivers of Winter Park, Fla. He's rated as one of the top five players in the class, and the Blue Devils appear to be in excellent shape with him.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels are in good shape at a couple positions.
They have an excellent inside-outside forward prospect committed in 6-8 James McAdoo of Norfolk, Va. P.J. Hairston, a 6-5 wing from Greensboro, puts North Carolina in great shape at that position when you consider that Harrison Barnes (who may only stay one season) and Reggie Bullock are in the 2010 class.
With Kendall Marshall coming in to play point guard in 2010, point guard isn't a big need in 2011. But the low post is, especially because Alabama transfer Justin Knox has just one year of eligibility remaining.
Will the Tar Heels offer Cody Zeller or Marshall Plumlee? Is there another big target out there who hasn't materialized yet? Roy Williams always seems to find answers in recruiting, and it will be interesting to see what he comes up with.
N.C. State: It's impossible to overstate the value of 6-9 Joseph Uchebo, the Oak Ridge Military big man who's reclassifying from 2012 into 2011 and has committed to N.C. State.
At the Tournament of Champions, Uchebo demonstrated remarkable ball handling ability and a toughness that may make him one of the top big men in his class. Along with Richard Howell, he should make the Wolfpack strong up front in 2011-12 and 2012-13 even if C.J. Leslie does only stay one season.
Uchebo is all N.C. State has committed at the moment in 2011, but the Wolfpack's needs aren't as great because its 2010 class (Leslie, Lorenzo Brown, Ryan Harrow) is so strong.
Getting Jerome Seagers or Quinn Cook out of the Washington, D.C., area would improve N.C. State's depth at point guard. The Wolfpack also could use a scoring forward like Gbinije or McAdoo, but doesn't appear likely to get one of that caliber.
Still, with Uchebo emerging as a high quality big man, N.C. State is in good shape at a key position.
Ken Tysiac
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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25 comments:
"N.C. State has a commitment from a big guy in Joseph Uchebo who may be better than any post player the Blue Devils or Tar Heels get in the Class of 2011."
Scout has the 5-star McAdoo rated as the #2 PF and #5 player overall in 2011. Uchebo is a 3-star player reclassifying from 2012 to 2011. It's flat out wrong to even suggest that Uchebo may be a better post player than anyone UNC or Duke may get in 2011. UNC alreaady has someone better locked up in that class.
Ken,
Where is your information regarding the fourth ACC school in our great state?
It's great to see that the UNC-CH crybabies are out in force (again).
What an absolutely worthless article. No McDonald's All-American caliber big men? What exactly is McAdoo?
Must be "bring your kid to work and let them do it for you day" at the Observer.
Ol Roy better pay that his Karma has been lifted for next year. Otherwise, the ghosts of Pres. College and Haiti will follow him to the grave. Oh, and the infighting in the locker room is why the Wears transferred. They didn't want to deal with the same mess again.
If you're going to spend 15 minutes doing a quick summary of recruiting, why in the world would you address three of the big four ACC schools and not the fourth?
Since when was Wake considered a "big school?" Not saying it isn't a GREAT school, but honestly you guys need history of winning to be relevant. It's an afterthought to the rivalry. Of course, NC State has sucked the last 15+ years, but has the history of the rivalry. I would agree that the Observer is ridiculously absent minded in not discussing this, but then where does the ball stop - UNCC will be crying, App. upset, etc....
It's Tlyer Adams for Duke not Brandon...
Thanks for the wake forest updates! Its cool. We are pulling in another top 15 class again. Dont mind us, we like it when people don't think we are good!
Read the title - and you learn what to expect. "Duke, UNC, Pack..."
Why would you be let down that Wake isn't in the article. CO never insinuated it was within the article.
Wake's a yawner at best = consistently underperforms, lacks a true rivalry (who is your rival? Vandy?), terminated a good coach, sits in a terrible market (winston), and still has a tie dyed fanbase that thinks a handful of winning years puts them ahead of everyone else.
Sit in your spot and wait your turn - grown people are talking.
UNC-CH's whiners can follow Roy's lead and stroke out. Isn't there a Kansas ticket scandal gaining steam that began while Roy was the coach there? LOL!
"Read the title - and you learn what to expect. "Duke, UNC, Pack..."
Why would you be let down that Wake isn't in the article. CO never insinuated it was within the article.
Wake's a yawner at best = consistently underperforms, lacks a true rivalry (who is your rival? Vandy?), terminated a good coach, sits in a terrible market (winston), and still has a tie dyed fanbase that thinks a handful of winning years puts them ahead of everyone else.
Sit in your spot and wait your turn - grown people are talking."
You know nothing about college basketball, do you?
"Scout has the 5-star McAdoo rated as the #2 PF and #5 player overall in 2011. Uchebo is a 3-star player reclassifying from 2012 to 2011. It's flat out wrong to even suggest that Uchebo may be a better post player than anyone UNC or Duke may get in 2011. UNC alreaady has someone better locked up in that class. "
It is not "Flat out wrong" to say that. Uchebo is proving it where it matter: on the court. Just wait for the newer ratings now that he has reclassed to 2011. I garuntee he won't be a 3-star. Uchebo is a flat-out STUD.
In any event, stars are useless. Here's one for you: Russell Wilson, First team All-ACC as a Freshman, 2-0 against UNC. Number of stars? 2. You can take your stars and shove them up your @$$.
Get my Wake info. from Dan Collins from the W/S Journal! None better in the state!!! IMHO...
"Since when was Wake considered a "big school?"
"Big Four" is a term that has always been used to refer to the four ACC schools in NC.
My point wasn't that I felt duped by the article's title, I was just curious why they wouldn't also include a little blurb about the fourth ACC school (who happens to have a very good incoming class as well, by the way).
really? no Wake talk? is wake not good enough with there 5 commits that make there class a top 15 class? why do you over look them so much?
The CO may fail to cover WF because of their reader demographics and their writers' alma mater, so some of this blog's posters may want to check the following links.
Tobacco Road?
http://www.amazon.com/Tobacco-Road-Carolina-Backyard-Rivalries/dp/1592289150
Big Four?
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Corners-Carolina-Basketball-Universe/dp/0803283008/ref=pd_sim_b_2
Wiki fairer than CO?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlantic_Coast_Conference_rivalries
ESPN fairer than CO?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=5207635
I don't know if you have heard of someone named Stephen Curry or not, but he was a 3 star recruit coming out of high school. How's he doing now?
Uchebo is one heck of a player. I have seen the kid twice.
To the poster that suggests that star ratings don't matter. You are a freaking idiot. Only a NCSU fan would suggest that stars don't matter. Probably because your football coach can only get supposed diamond in the rough kids. You were luck that Crip grew up a NCSU fan, or that kid would be hanging out with Uga down at UGA right now. The facts are clear NCSU fans! Your basketball coach is finally getting some studs to compete. Your football coach is getting MAC caliber players, and he will be gone in two more years. Heck he should be gone after this year if he has another losing record! But the crappie administration will probably give him a extension. Of course I don't care if he stays or goes, as we own the Packs ass!!! Go Tigers!
Let's get it right! State sucks in football and is improving in basketball. Okay I buy that.
NCSU fans trip me out. They love to down play star rankings. I sometimes check out the message boards, and it's borderline comical. Some truly are smoking the red pot, and believe that TOB will build the football program into a national power. Too funny! History lesson on O'Brien. He got his record at BC by playing cup cakes. I suspect he will do the same when he can add his input on scheduling. The guy is old and the game has passed him by. He can't recruit with the Jimbo Fisher, Butch Davis, Dabo, and Randy Shannon of the world! Face it!! You guys are going to be Duke in football. Face the facts wolfies!
As a loyal state fan, I can't argue with the last posters comments. It has been difficult in the TOB era.
3-0 baby!
Very good point in the record vs UNC. Frankly as a UNC fan, I have little to say besides we have really enjoyed traveling to all of our bowls. It was also nice to have ESPN here to broadcast our spring game. It's also nice to have an athlectic department that gets it! hehehehehehehehehehe! Wolfies are so fun to pick with.
Have fun with boring old O'Brien! Atleast he can win one game every year right? We don't care, as Duke is our rilvary my friends.
The landscape of college ball today really makes it hard to recruit since it is rare that many of the great players stay 4 years. Pretty soon they will be recruiting elementary aged kids.
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