Jacobs Commits to Alabama

One of my fears when Anthony Grant left VCU and ended up in the SEC was that it put one of the country's elite recruiters right on Georgia's doorstep.

Sure enough, Grant is getting it done. He's locking up the key recruits from Alabama and now venturing into the Atlanta basketball scene and snatching away a guy that really could have helped UGA.

And I will say with no offense to Florveus or Dixon, Georgia's two post signees for 2011, that Jacobs was the power forward that I hoped Fox would have been able to get. Even more so than Julian Royal, the other big-time power forward from the Atlanta area.

As it turns out, we didn't get either. Disappointing, but not totally unexpected.

We still have a shot at Dai-Jon Parker, which would be a huge accomplishment for Fox and staff. And beyond that, there could be a surprise commitment from someone, a coach could leave unexpectedly and open up a recruit in 2011, and there are some talented guys in the 2012 class.

If Georgia plays big this season, then recruiting will be much easier in the future.

Parker and Royal?

Sounds good to me. UGA might end up with both Dai-Jon Parker, top 100 shooting guard from Milton High, and Julian Royal, top 100 power forward, also from Milton High, whether it is described as a package deal or not.

What do you think will happen? Let your views be known by leaving a comment or taking the poll below.

Very Optimistic on Dai-Jon Parker

I could see him coming in and getting minutes at the point guard position with Kentavious Caldwell playing the 2. That would give Georgia a big line-up at guard, something we haven't had in a long, long time.

It would be great to see a fast break with Parker and Marcus Thornton as options.

As readers of the Blog know, I love guys who have played both football and basketball. They bring to the hardwood a sense of toughness that the hoops-only players sometimes lack.

This AJC article recounts how Parker starred at wide receiver and at cornerback and received 11 scholarship offers for football, including Georgia, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State.

I love the quote from Milton High's coach that says that Parker is a "great shooter, great athlete and great defender." He gladly takes on the other team's best player. Add to the above superlatives the fact that he carries a 3.2 gpa and you've got a rare student athlete indeed. Parker would be perfect for the kind of team that UGA is building in Athens.

I'm optimistic that at the end of the day Dai-Jon Parker will choose the Dawgs.

Julian Royal has Dawgs in Top Three

Recruiting is a strange beast. Looked like UGA was going to sign a respectable, but not spectacular class for 2010, and then Clemson coach Oliver Purnell decided to bolt for greener pastures.

All of the sudden, Marcus Thornton, Clemson's prized recruit, was back on the market. The Dawgs got busy and reeled Thornton in. Great job for Coach Fox.

In very big news, it looks like Thornton's signing has created a boost of good will for the Dawgs. Julian Royal has Georgia in his top three. His highly ranked teammate, Dai-Jon Parker is taking a hard look at UGA.

Could it be? Georgia might start to get the best players from the state, and actually wrap up early commitments.

Sure, I know recruiting is fickle. But just because women are hard to figure out, doesn't mean that we stop liking 'em. Let's enjoy the emotion, the thrill, the hormone high.

I'm excited, how 'bout you?

Woo-Hoo! Marcus Thornton to Dawgs!

Fantastic news!

As I posted previously, put Leslie, Thompkins, Robinson and Thornton on the floor together, and UGA will be able to offer a really fun brand of basketball.

Thornton's decision for Georgia is huge for our future recruiting prospects. He is a home-town kid, and when he plays well, all the big-time recruits in Georgia will know. We may be able to bring in kids like Dai-Jon Parker and Julian Royal for 2011.

Great get for the Dawgs, and I can't wait to see him suit up.

Dai-Jon Parker: Football or Hoops?

Good article from the AJC. Should make his recruitment very interesting.

Wonder what are the chances of UGA landing both Parker and Nick Marshall as football players? After the season ended in football, those guys would really help at the 2-guard position.

Kentavious Caldwell Goes Off

Went for 41 points against Upson. Hit 7 three-pointers.

Caldwell is the kind of shooter that UGA needs. Looking at our current roster, Ricky McPhee will be graduating this year. We have Gerald Robinson who will be eligible next season, but I'm not sure if he can score it consistently from deep.

It would be great to bring in a shooter for 2010, and then Caldwell in 2011. A class of Julian Royal, Dai-Jon Parker and Caldwell would show that Fox can lock down the borders and start to pick up the best players in state. We have to get a center type, too, so a lot will be riding on whether Cady Lalanne shows he can rebound and defend.

Julian Royal and Dai-Jon Parker

Would be great to somehow pick up a commitment from these two for the 2011 class.

I like Coach David Boyd's description of Dai-Jon Parker as a guy who really works on his defense.

I view Julian Royal as a player like Howard Thompkins. Not the biggest guy on the court, but a highly skilled player who consistently gives you good scoring nights.

Milton High

Dai-Jon Parker and Milton Crush Dunbar

Not even close. No wonder Julian Royal didn't score much. With all the steals that Milton forced, it sounds like he hardly touched the ball.

Dai-Jon Parker had a great shooting game. Showed off his range, going 3 of 5 from behind the arc.

City of Palms Classic

Shannon Scott to Ohio State

Matta is one great recruiter. Not sure how he got on the radar screen of Shannon Scott, but he keeps on piling up elite recruits.

I'd like UGA to successfully recruit Shannon Scott's teammates, Julian Royal and Dai-Jon Parker. I don't think that Scott's decision to pull the trigger for Ohio State hurts our chances one way or the other.

Recruiting: Tough Business

I saw recently that both Jason Morris and Shannon Scott have eliminated Georgia from consideration.

UGA is, however, still in the running for Cady Lalanne.

These developments show just how difficult it is to get basketball recruiting going at Georgia.

Looking back at recent history, Dennis Felton arrived in Athens after the awkward personnel decisions were reached with Jim Harrick. Due to the looming NCAA penalties, Felton appropriately agreed to release Harrick's incoming class from their letters of intent.

Since Harrick had largely been unsuccessful in recruiting, Felton faced a roster with several seniors, but no juniors and no sophomores. Felton's recruiting efforts achieved the following results:

1. 2003: Corey Gibbs, Marcus Sikes, Steve Newman and Levi Stukes (two 3-star players, and 2 unranked guys. Decent last minute work, but no home runs, especially given the fact that Gibbs was coming off of a knee injury)
2. 2004: Channing Toney, Younes Idrissi, Dave Bliss, and Sundiata Gaines (two 3-stars and two unranked)
3. 2005: Louis Williams, Mike Mercer, Rashaad Singleton, Terrance Woodbury, Kendrick Johnson, and Billy Humphrey (two 5-stars and four 3-stars)
4. 2006: Takais Brown and Albert Jackson (one 3-star and one unranked Juco)
5. 2007: Chris Barnes, Troy Brewer, Jeremy Jacob, Jeremy Price and Zac Swansey (two 4-stars, and three 3-stars)
6. 2008: Ebuka Anyaorah, Travis Leslie, Howard Thompkins, Dustin Ware, and Drazen Zlovaric (one 4-star and four 3-stars)
7. 2009: Demario Mayfield and Daniel Miller (one 3-star that would stay, and one that would ask out of his commitment after Felton was let go)

Felton did a respectable job in recruiting, especially so, given the fact that he had to recruit under the cloud of an NCAA investigation for the first couple of years. His third year, 2005, was supposed to be his "money year," the year in which his recruiting and the team's performance were supposed to take off.

And from all indications, things were pretty much set. He got early commitments from two 5-star players. However, Louis Williams opted to go straight to the pro's, and didn't show up at all. Another player, Kendrick Johnson, who was supposed to provide depth in the post, showed up with hobbled wheels.

From there, instead of taking off, things went down-hill for UGA. Injuries, transfers, suspensions and dismissals decimated the roster and the team's record. Although Georgia went to the NCAA Tourney in 2008 under Felton, the team's disappointing record in 2009 and the failure in quality recruiting during the year ultimately led to Felton's dismissal.

Now what? Mark Fox is on the scene. Can he reverse the tide?

Maybe. There are reasons for optimism here. No NCAA investigation. A new training facility. Even better news, Fox does not have to recruit like crazy to be successful. He has a roster full of scholarship players. He has 9 players-- 1 senior, 2 juniors, 5 sophomores, and 1 freshman, from the Felton tenure.

He can field a competitive team with Thompkins, Ware and Leslie, with Albert Jackson, Jeremy Price and Chris Barnes. All he needs to do is have a good offensive system, and he can win now.

But Fox won't be able to win later unless he recruits. So looking at how things are shaping up, Fox has the following recruiting results:

1. 2009: Vincent Williams (one 3-star to go along with Felton hold-over, Demario Mayfield).
2. 2010: Gerald Robinson (former 3-star from 2007).

Coach Fox wasn't a "big splash" recruit like John Calipari. I don't think it was realistic for fans to expect him to bring talent with him, so his first year is sort of like Felton's. The expectation was for him to plug up as many holes in the roster as possible. Vincent Williams is decent work, considering the circumstances.

The key for Fox is whether he can compress the schedule. Make his second year much better, like a money year, if you will, and really do well in 2011.

So far, the jury is still out on the 2010 recruiting for Fox. Georgia has missed out on some guys, but we still have a shot at Jelan Kendrick, a 5-star, and Cady Lalanne, a 3-star forward. If Fox can get Kendrick, Georgia recruiting is definitely on its way up. Follow the successful recruiting of Kendrick with the commitment of Julian Royal, Dai-Jon Parker, Tony Parker, and a couple of the other elite recruits for 2011 and 2012, then Georgia will have finally hit its stride.

Let's all keep our fingers crossed. Recruiting is tough business.

Three Basketeers

Does Georgia have a shot at Royal, Scott and Parker?

If the guys want to play together, I think Fox should push to make it happen.

Top-flight Trio

Julian Royal Plays Big

Scored 32 to lead Milton into the finals of the AAAAA state tournament.

Quite impressive, especially for a sophomore. I expect him to get better and better next year. Could be a higher scoring Derrick Favors.

Royal

Milton couldn't quite get it done in the championship game against Wheeler. Even though Milton lost by 20, Royal had a good game, with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. In the end, though, Ari Stewart and Richard Howell dominated. Couple of guys are headed to N.C. State, along with Lorenzo Brown.

State has recruited the Atlanta area well. I think Stewart has big upside, and the Georgia coaching staff was extremely high on Lorenzo Brown at one point. The word on Howell is that he is a bit of a "tweener," but the guy can play. Hard to argue with success.

Georgia should have plenty of scholarships to offer to the 2011 class. That's far enough away that Georgia's new coach will be able to get his shot at successfully recruiting Royal, Dai-Jon Parker and Shannon Scott, Milton's talented sophomores.

Georgia Offers Milton Trio

This may be somewhat old news, but while we're talking recruiting nowadays, it should be noted that UGA has made scholarship offers to Julian Royal, Dai-Jon Parker and Shannon Scott.

The AJC reported on the three teammates.

Talented Trio

The good news is that UGA will have open scholarships in 2011. We project to be able to accept all three if we can garner their commitments. A number of the other schools would be over their scholarship allotments.