Justin Safford?

[Big Mike]

Anyone heard of this kid? I just found this article!

http://www.midstatehoops.com/articles/2007/safford.html

http://ncpreps.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=60906&sport=2

[amckillip]

Hmmm, interesting.

[tornado]

Re: Justin Safford?

Anyone heard of this kid? I just found this article!

http://www.midstatehoops.com/articles/2007/safford.html

http://ncpreps.rivals.com/viewprospe...=60906&sport=2

Justin Safford fell off the recruiting map due to very poor grades.
Apparently very early in the kid's senior year, everyone knew he was headed to juco and wouldn't qualify, so there was very little talk of him.
Many of these articles and references say he is Class of 2007, but he only just enrolled at juco this past fall, so his proper Class is Class of 2006 out of high school and Class of 2008 out of junior college.
Now that I see a picture of him, I recall he was at a Bradley game earlier this season, and possibly he was the tall kid someone mistook for XC?



He has been discussed here before:

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=8650#8650

Here are a couple of recruitng pages on him

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=60906

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=2692214

And a couple quite recent articles on him

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=633799

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=638360

These articles say:
"Coaches Swarming to See Stafford"
Charis Prep is 25-3 and "Leading the way is 6-foot-9 forward Justin Safford."

""He is averaging a little over 18 a game, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocked shots."

"He's got a very good skill package, shoots the three, can put it on the floor, take you off the dribble, finishes well and if the rotation prevents him from getting inside, he can shoot the mid range all day long," the coach said. "He is basically the type of player that can score from anywhere on the floor. He's kind of a guard in a big body."

""I've had a chance to talk to whole coaching staff from Missouri, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Xavier, Providence and a couple of other ones," Safford reports.

No schools have yet offered a scholarship, but Safford said that both Mizzou and Oklahoma have talked about it.
Missouri, Winthrop, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Wake and Nevada have sent coaches to see Charis Prep play this season."

"Safford has also taken unofficial visits to Missouri, Bradley and Illinois."


also


"JUSTIN SAFFORD
Safford is a 6'9, 220 pound combo forward from Charis Prep in North Carolina... Originally from Illinois... Averaging 18 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 2.7 bpg through 28 games... Very skilled and ambidextrous... Can put the ball on the floor, shoot from three, finish at the basket and post players up inside... A whole host of schools have taken notice, including PC, Missouri, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Xavier, and Bradley; and he's already taken unofficials to Illinois, Bradley and Missouri."


and


"Justin Safford, PF, Charis Prep ???‚¬??? Line the mid-major programs up for the Illinois native. He was impressive when we saw him in the fall and frankly performed completely different than our last observation. Normally a face-up power forward, Safford went to work in the paint for 18 points and 8 boards. Combine that effort with what we know he???‚¬?„?s capable of on the perimeter and you have a guy who should be pinging a lot of mid-major radars."

[Da Coach]

Bradley has recruited Justin Safford since he was at Bloomington Central Catholic. Bradley remains interested, but he will graduate from the Charis prep schoo this spring, and rigfht now Bradley does not have another scholarship to give.

In a PM I sent to some members a few weeks ago, I mentioned that Justin Safford was at a Bradley game and that he was still a recruiting target of Bradley. He visited Bradley and attended the Dec. 23 game at Carver Arena against Southern Mississippi. That was the same game Dwight Buycks attended and committed shortly afterward.

It should not be a surpirse that Jim Les is continuing to recruit and stay in touch with 2007 kids, because scholarships frequently open up unexpectedly. Safford is just 1 of a number that are still being recruited. If he is interested in Bradley, he will have to wait until the scholarship situation changes.

[tornado]

Now it sorta looks like Safford's recruitng has hit the fast lane, as several articles have come out on him in the past couple of days.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/colleges/university_of_missouri/16639475.htm

http://www.wilsondaily.com/Wil_region/Local_News/288853829397584.php

http://www.projo.com/pc/content/sp_bkc_pcjo07_02-07-07_FV4A87K.1ba9de0.html

[tornado]

Yet another new article on Justin Safford.

http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/622320.html

"With frontcourt targets in the senior class at a premium, Justin Safford is going to play college basketball at a high level. The 6-foot-8 power forward out of Goldsboro (N.C.) Charis Prep by way of the state of Illinois, has a litany of offers.

According to coach Carlos Peralta, Winthrop, Missouri, Oklahoma, Xavier, South Carolina, Providence and Virginia Tech have offered. Wake Forest is evaluating him."

"ike Anderson was here; Providence and Wake Forest (were there) the last two days of the tournament.

???‚¬?“Illinois was there last night. It???‚¬?„?s just a lot of activity. Oklahoma is coming back tomorrow for some face time.???‚¬??


No mention of BU but Safford was at one game early this year.

[dogsrus]

I spoke with him briefly at the BU game....nice kid. Don't have anything to offer just wanted to show you guys how cool I am

[Da Coach]

Can I have your autograph?