Recruiting --- Marcus Sikes visiting Bradley

[Da Coach]

As we wait for word on who will fill the final 2 scholarships for 2006, the BU coaching staff are also working hard to recruit the class of 2007 as they start their AAU seasons.

An AAU coach from Indiana reports that Jim Les and the Bradley staff are again busy recruiting Indiana hard.
Here are a couple names of point guards to remember -
Jeff Teague- a 6'1" junior point guard for Indianapolis Pike (now coached by Billy Wright).

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=2329606

Adrian Moss- a 5'10" junior point guard from Franklin Central. He is described as a "jet quick with the ball, and a very good shooter".

[Da Coach]

MATT ROTH

Another Rivals.com article reports on Washington sophomore shooting guard Matt Roth. He is described this way-
"The 6'3" sophomore shooting guard is being heralded as the best pure shooter in the State of Illinois, and is now working on becoming a better all-around player."

Article requires a subscription-

http://www.chicagosports.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=531133

It reports that--
He'll be playing AAU ball this summer with Team Indiana and his season begins in a little over a week when they travel to Arkansas to take part of in the Real Deal on the Hill.

He is working on becoming a shooting guard and not trying to hone his point guard skills.
These schools are recruiting Roth-
"Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, DePaul, and Northwestern have all expressed interest, with Bradley and Illinois expressing the most."

[Da Coach]

Here are a couple links to articles with recruits who list Bradley

Chicago Lincoln Park Junior J.J. Henley (posted 4/3/06)-

http://www.freewebs.com/chipatsj23h/henleyrecruitment.htm

Talented unsigned senior Thijin Moses of Boys to Men Academy lists Bradley at the top of his list. (posted 4/3/06)-

http://www.freewebs.com/chipatsj23h/mosesrecruitment.htm

Other news-
Highly rated junior college shooting guard Michael Taylor of Chipola College in Florida committed to Iowa State and new coach Greg McDermott. He has cancelled a planned visit to Minnesota. Taylor visited Iowa State last weekend, and McDermott visited him in Florida Wednesday to secure the committment.

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=43320

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=531847

[collegehoopjunkie]

The fact that McDermott hired the Chipola assistant coach that was very close to Taylor probably had a little to do with it.
Since guys like Bill Self are so adept at hiring the fathers and coaches of the recruits he wants (he did it at Illinois, too), does this now mean Greg McDermott is going to use this ploy?

[romar]

What about hiring the son of an assistant coach you want on your staff - Ok I'm just kidding!!!

[thefish7]

Talented unsigned senior Thijin Moses of Boys to Men Academy lists Bradley at the top of his list. (posted 4/3/06)-

http://www.freewebs.com/chipatsj23h/mosesrecruitment.htm

oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy.

Or something like that. I'm excited about this player, and really hope he does choose to come to BU.


edit: interesting that DePaul has been mentioned as a front runner for Moses, but doesn't appear in this list. Does that mean DePaul has fallen out, or that this list isn't reliable...

[BU fan]

That is interesting. DePaul had been listed as the leader since Moses was at Julian high school, and Dave Leitao was the DePaul coach.

DePaul is now pursuing Moses' teammate at BTM, Mac Koshwal.

[Da Coach]

Another decommittment announced Friday--

Stephen Jones, a 6'2" point guard from Bethalto, Illinois who committed almost a year ago to Ball State, has decommitted since Ball State is changing coaches.

http://chicagosports.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=40181

[cpacmel]

Another decommittment announced Friday--

Stephen Jones, a 6'2" point guard from Bethalto, Illinois who committed almost a year ago to Ball State, has decommitted since Ball State is changing coaches.
http://chicagosports.rivals.com/view...2&pr_key=40181

DA Coach, according to that link, Jones signed a Letter of Intent. He will have to be granted a release from the university.

this link says he that is true:

http://www.hoopmasters.com

Also this link says Jones is honoring his commitment to Ball State:

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/SPORTS/604050336/1006

Stephen Jones, Ball State's only current high school recruit, hadn't talked to Thompson as of Tuesday evening but said he intended to honor his commitment to Ball State.

"I'm looking forward to talking to the son of a Hall of Fame coach and see what he has to say," said Jones, who is from Bethalto, Ill., near St. Louis

[user1]

Jamarcus Ellis
At one time Jim Les was interested, but he will return to Chipola juco for his soph year, and is being recruited by both Texas A&M and DePaul.
Not sure if JL is still pursuing.

[Da Coach]

DA Coach, according to that link, Jones signed a Letter of Intent. He will have to be granted a release from the university.

this link says he that is true:

http://www.hoopmasters.com

Also this link says Jones [b]is honoring his commitment to Ball State:

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/SPORTS/604050336/1006

The second article was written sometime before April 5 when it was posted in the Muncie newspaper. The Hoopmasters article was just posted yesterday, April 7. That is why I assumed the decommittment and release was the latest and most current news.

I checked the Ball State message board and they are very much in the dark about whether Jones has actually been granted a release. With Maurice Acker leaving, Jones, a point guard, would get a lot of immediate playing time. http://www.bsufans.com/modules.php?o...wforum&forum=1

[pak82]

Look for a commitment from Marcus Sikes soon. He is on campus this weekend and will be a Brave next year.

[Big Mike]

...........I hope your right ........he is a BIG BODY and it looks like we will need one!

[Da Coach]

Look for a commitment from Marcus Sikes soon. He is on campus this weekend and will be a Brave next year.

The coaching staff has made several trips to California to recruit Sikes. They want him bad. He is exactly what Bradley needs next year, a mobile, big forward who can score. Nice to hear rumors he is visiting.
Marcus Sikes played this past year for Mt. San Jacinto College, in San Jacinto, California.

http://www.msjc.edu/athletics/mbasketball/players05/no44msikes.htm

http://www.msjc.edu/athletics/mbasketball/news06/msikes010606.htm

http://www.msjc.edu/athletics/mbasketball/news05/nr08090501.htm

He is rated the #6 overall player in junior college by Hoopmasters and Van Coleman (maybe the best talent evaluator on the internet).

http://www.hoopmasters.com/classranking.php?class=2006&type=2

JuCo Junction has him at #37. A month ago he was #17 on their rankings.

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1199

He is from Petersburg, VA and is a 2003 graduate of Notre Dame Academy of Middleberg, Virginia. He was highly recruited as a high schooler (he was offered a scholarship by Virginia his sophomore year) and went to the University of Georgia and then-newly named coach Dennis Felton. He appeared in 26 games as a freshman in 2003-2004, averaged 12.9 minutes, 2.2 points, 2.1 rebounds.

http://georgiadogs.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/sikes_marcus00.html

In September, 2004, he was suspended from Georgia's basketball team and then left UGA at the end of the 1st semester of 2004-2005, and enrolled at Indian Hills CC in Iowa. But he never played there either and ended up at Mt. San Jacinto for the 2005-2006 season.


Here is a JuCo Junction article from 2/22/06 that lists the best big men in California. They list Sikes at #5 and say-
One of the most physically imposing players in California, Sikes has been a big part of the Eagles' season. He's an excellent scorer in close, has 3-point shooting range and is an excellent passer. His versatility was demonstrated when he led the Eagles in both rebounds and assists both times (and scoring once) we saw him this year. He's averaging 13.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per game

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=515877

Here is a 12/10/05 Scout article about Marcus.

http://hsnewyork.scout.com/2/476990.html

[Big Mike]

Nice work DC...............