Post by aar on Apr 6, 2011 20:38:37 GMT -5
Perhaps one of the most interesting stories of all-time is The Fab Five featuring Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. Three of them had great careers.
Next in the line of great recruiting classes is Coach Calipari's 2021 recruiting class coined "The Magnificent Seven", which features seven of the top-50 recruits in the nation.
This Kentucky team is already expected to be the favorite to win the NCAA Championship because they are so stacked.
Here's how the prospects shake out:
Purnell Jackson
PG 6'7" 210 lbs
B C B C+ C A
Jackson is the #5 recruit in the nation and is a big and talented combo guard who likes to back down smaller point guards and does a great job of running the point. Jackson is a stunning passer and a decent ball handler. The biggest gripe is that he's not as athletic as most high-level point guards and he is a liability as a three-point shooter. He is creative when it comes to getting to the basket and is an improving defender. His basketball IQ is off the charts.
Jackie Watson
SG 6'3" 200 lbs
B B- C B- C- A
Watson is the #27 recruit in the nation and compares favorably to Steve Francis. He is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body. Watson is a great athlete and loves to drive to the basket. He is also a good three point shooter, making him a dual threat on offense. Watson is great at stealing the ball and getting out in traffic. Watson is a good passer, but is far too careless with the ball. Watson isn't a great rebounder, he just doesn't get into position well.
Wayne Worthington
SF 6'9" 205 lbs
A- C C C C+ A
Worthington is the #18 recruit in the nation and is nicknamed "Oop Dreams" because he finishes alley-oops with authority. He will win future dunk contests with ease. Worthington absolutely skies to the hoop.
Worthington is a good shot blocker, but a huge liability on positional defense. Worthington may never be a future all-star, but he will be one of the most marketable players in basketball.
Hasim Al-Fatun
6'11" 200 lbs
C+ D+ D+ A- C+ A
Al-Fatun is the #8 recruit in the nation based on his incredible upside. He is fast a gazelle, has a gigantic 7'4" wingspan and is a tremendous all-around defender. He swats shots with authority.
Al-Fatun doesn't do much else... Yet. He's been playing organized basketball for only 3 years and was discovered in Nigeria by scouts. He has been living in Virginia with an adoptive family learning the ropes.
Sheldon Miller
C 6'11" 330 lbs.
B+ D D+ C B A
Don't let his weight fool you, Miller is a well-oiled basketball machine. His dad was an offensive tackle in the NFL and he has the genetics of an athlete. While some coaches want him to shed weight, others love how he's light on his feet.
Miller is the #3 recruit in the nation.
Miller is a great inside scorer with tremendous post moves and footwork. Miller is bad at protecting the rock and may have some turnover issues. He has a decent wingspan, but has yet to develop the instincts of a great shot blocker.
Miller's sheer mass allows him to occupy space and naturally grab rebounds. However, Miller is a bit of a liability on defense. He essentially leans on his opponents and tries to keep them away from the basket.
Rashid Muhammad
SF/PF 6'9" 235 lbs.
C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ A
Muhammad may end up being the best of the bunch. He is a raw talent who was recruited as a 6'1" combo guard who sprouted eight inches in his senior year.
Muhammad jumped from being ranked 63rd to being ranked 9th in this year's crop.
Muhammad as a result is a good ball handler and passer, but has slowed down a bit. He has improving post moves and is a solid three point shooter. He struggles a bit from the free throw line, but is expected to improve with time.
Coaches love how coachable he is, but hate his inconsistent numbers and effort.
His wingspan is essentially a new asset to him and he's slowly learning how to block shots, but he racks up steals.
He is somewhat soft and weak, so he gets backed down in the post and faster players blow by him.
Ethan Talley
SG 6'5" 190 lbs
C A- C B- C- A
Talley is a prolific shooter who is known for simply outworking his opponents on offense. He is the king of working off of screens and using his incredible basketball iq to best his defenders.
Talley was ranked #21 in the high school crop.
He doesn't jump out of the gym or run the show on offense, but he is a workhorse who may be the most sure thing of the Magnificent Seven. He will be a prolific scorer at the next level because of his work ethic and competitive drive.
As the lone white player in the Magnificent Seven, he is hardly the odd man out. He is respected for his competitive drive and is the team's leader off the bench. It has been speculated that he would average 20+ ppg in any other situation, but his desire to win and build a dynasty in college and his drive to succeed trumped his wanting to be "the man".
The plan: Talley wants the group to play together for four years and obviously Calipari does too, but as we know from past instances, that's rarely in the cards with this sort of talent. Each year, members of this group will declare and as time goes on, their ratings may change depending on how long they stay in school.
Like the Fab Five, not all of these guys will be All-Stars. Some will pan out, while others will flame out. Only time will tell.
Next in the line of great recruiting classes is Coach Calipari's 2021 recruiting class coined "The Magnificent Seven", which features seven of the top-50 recruits in the nation.
This Kentucky team is already expected to be the favorite to win the NCAA Championship because they are so stacked.
Here's how the prospects shake out:
Purnell Jackson
PG 6'7" 210 lbs
B C B C+ C A
Jackson is the #5 recruit in the nation and is a big and talented combo guard who likes to back down smaller point guards and does a great job of running the point. Jackson is a stunning passer and a decent ball handler. The biggest gripe is that he's not as athletic as most high-level point guards and he is a liability as a three-point shooter. He is creative when it comes to getting to the basket and is an improving defender. His basketball IQ is off the charts.
Jackie Watson
SG 6'3" 200 lbs
B B- C B- C- A
Watson is the #27 recruit in the nation and compares favorably to Steve Francis. He is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body. Watson is a great athlete and loves to drive to the basket. He is also a good three point shooter, making him a dual threat on offense. Watson is great at stealing the ball and getting out in traffic. Watson is a good passer, but is far too careless with the ball. Watson isn't a great rebounder, he just doesn't get into position well.
Wayne Worthington
SF 6'9" 205 lbs
A- C C C C+ A
Worthington is the #18 recruit in the nation and is nicknamed "Oop Dreams" because he finishes alley-oops with authority. He will win future dunk contests with ease. Worthington absolutely skies to the hoop.
Worthington is a good shot blocker, but a huge liability on positional defense. Worthington may never be a future all-star, but he will be one of the most marketable players in basketball.
Hasim Al-Fatun
6'11" 200 lbs
C+ D+ D+ A- C+ A
Al-Fatun is the #8 recruit in the nation based on his incredible upside. He is fast a gazelle, has a gigantic 7'4" wingspan and is a tremendous all-around defender. He swats shots with authority.
Al-Fatun doesn't do much else... Yet. He's been playing organized basketball for only 3 years and was discovered in Nigeria by scouts. He has been living in Virginia with an adoptive family learning the ropes.
Sheldon Miller
C 6'11" 330 lbs.
B+ D D+ C B A
Don't let his weight fool you, Miller is a well-oiled basketball machine. His dad was an offensive tackle in the NFL and he has the genetics of an athlete. While some coaches want him to shed weight, others love how he's light on his feet.
Miller is the #3 recruit in the nation.
Miller is a great inside scorer with tremendous post moves and footwork. Miller is bad at protecting the rock and may have some turnover issues. He has a decent wingspan, but has yet to develop the instincts of a great shot blocker.
Miller's sheer mass allows him to occupy space and naturally grab rebounds. However, Miller is a bit of a liability on defense. He essentially leans on his opponents and tries to keep them away from the basket.
Rashid Muhammad
SF/PF 6'9" 235 lbs.
C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ A
Muhammad may end up being the best of the bunch. He is a raw talent who was recruited as a 6'1" combo guard who sprouted eight inches in his senior year.
Muhammad jumped from being ranked 63rd to being ranked 9th in this year's crop.
Muhammad as a result is a good ball handler and passer, but has slowed down a bit. He has improving post moves and is a solid three point shooter. He struggles a bit from the free throw line, but is expected to improve with time.
Coaches love how coachable he is, but hate his inconsistent numbers and effort.
His wingspan is essentially a new asset to him and he's slowly learning how to block shots, but he racks up steals.
He is somewhat soft and weak, so he gets backed down in the post and faster players blow by him.
Ethan Talley
SG 6'5" 190 lbs
C A- C B- C- A
Talley is a prolific shooter who is known for simply outworking his opponents on offense. He is the king of working off of screens and using his incredible basketball iq to best his defenders.
Talley was ranked #21 in the high school crop.
He doesn't jump out of the gym or run the show on offense, but he is a workhorse who may be the most sure thing of the Magnificent Seven. He will be a prolific scorer at the next level because of his work ethic and competitive drive.
As the lone white player in the Magnificent Seven, he is hardly the odd man out. He is respected for his competitive drive and is the team's leader off the bench. It has been speculated that he would average 20+ ppg in any other situation, but his desire to win and build a dynasty in college and his drive to succeed trumped his wanting to be "the man".
The plan: Talley wants the group to play together for four years and obviously Calipari does too, but as we know from past instances, that's rarely in the cards with this sort of talent. Each year, members of this group will declare and as time goes on, their ratings may change depending on how long they stay in school.
Like the Fab Five, not all of these guys will be All-Stars. Some will pan out, while others will flame out. Only time will tell.
