Good stuff from gopowercat.com Thursday on Buchi Awaji (BOO-che uh-WAJ-ee) – I give props where it’s due. I spoke with his coach at Citrus College, Rick Croy, on Thursday and he said Awaji is a priority for K-State. “They need someone to come in and score,” he said. “The way they recruited him has been real professional… Real consistent.” Usually, Croy said, the recruitment has been handled by Matt Figger and Brad Underwood, but yesterday, it was Frank Martin. “I know they feel confident he can help them,” Croy said. He called Awaji “a great scorer with really, really good character.” The other schools in the mix are Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Iowa State.
Right now, it doesn’t look good with Tyree Evans. Not saying K-State isn’t interested, but the Motlow State guard said Thursday he hasn’t been contacted by the Wildcats since the season has ended. Maybe Awaji is more of a priority – I don’t know. He said he hasn’t heard from “anyone,” and he’s trying to get his grades in order.
Wesley Witherspoon can’t make up his mind. I spoke with his mother, Carol, on Thursday, dubbed “The Gatekeeper” by Wes’ father, Will, because she has taken such an active role in his recruitment. Anyway, “The Gatekeeper” said she spoke with Dalonte Hill this week, and she spoke with him last week as well. Only problem, it seems, is the lack of attention that showered on Witherspoon during the season. “The communication wasn’t there,” Carol said, adding she didn’t think her son would take one of his two remaining official visits to K-State; he has already gone to LSU, Texas and Virginia. But, because her son’s mind changes like the weather, she wasn’t willing to rule anything out. He is playing in the Jordan Classic in Madison Square Garden on April 19, and he might make a decision the first week of May. Interesting tidbit – former K-State assistant Charles Baker recruited Witherspoon’s older brother, Wynton, to Manhattan. Baker is now an assistant at Colorado, which is also recruiting Witherspoon.
K-State is going to be the second official visit for Cowley County’s Montrell McDonald. The former George Washington guard is scheduled to be in Manhattan tomorrow. Frank Martin and Brad Underwood were in touch immediately after the season ended. “There are no negatives about the school,” McDonald said. “As for the positives, it has to be the coaches. They’re good guys. I don’t really know any of the guys.” His first official visit was Oregon back in the fall, and McDonald said there was a possibility he might take his remaining three trips.
48 Comments
Good stuff JMART! Just one concern about the juco guards. Any idea if they were similar scores to Blake Young when he was in florida???
Just really want to see a shooter in the purple, white, and now black. Not another athletic kid who dominates at the juco level and has a hard time scoring at the d1 level.
Although, Blake’s defense and tenacity would be much welcomed..
It seems like the staff has moved on from Evans/Witherspoon to Awaji/McDonald. Also interesting to not hear Hill mentioned with any of these guys. Is ‘te focusing on 09?
KingKong,
For what it’s worth, Buchi shot 40% from three and 55% overall…so he can shoot. His is also very atheletic.
Yosh, would you want ‘Te focusing anywhere but his D.C. connections? Have you seen the ‘10 and ‘11 kids in the Assault? Good Lord, there’s some talent there.
How do you manage to get better recruiting updates than the two websites I pay to view?
Isn’t it the rule that you cannot formally recruit anyone until after their Sophomore year? So can’t Te only really focus major time on 08′ and 09? I’d love to see more 4/5 star guys, but if we can’t even focus that way until after may…
I agree J-Mart, but I figure Dalonte could just stop in, flash his pearly whites for these guys and close the deal. You know, kind of a “set them up and knock them down” type of thing.
Um, Dalonte could have taken some time during the season to give Witherspoon a call or two and not hurt us (at all) with the ‘10 or ‘11 DCA kids.
They completely screwed up the Witherspoon recruitment.
Oh, but nice update, BTW.
Of course. I’m not suggesting he’s formally recruiting anyone. I said focusing on his connections. That’s all.
Yeah, I’m not sticking up for the staff on that one. Wes wants a lot of love. I think the staff thought he wasn’t attainable. Weird…
He could just be blowing smoke to make it seem like he has a good reason to drop KSU.
thank you mr. martin
J-Mart,
Great work, any sense of where the staff is at with Sean Kilpatrick or a big man? Kilpatrick seems like he would be a great high school get, and a big man would be really nice. Thanks
Good, stuff. Thanks for the updates. I would love to get a true shooter on this team for next year.
Well that sucks.
1. I never said thanks, so thanks and good work.
2. While we might have butchered the WW recruitment, about 15 other school seem not to have, and he still doesn’t know what he wants to do. I just imagine him standing under the basket after driving in and looking back and forth between the rim, a forward, and a kickout, and just going back and forth until he gets 3 seconds in the lane called. I’d like the talent, but he seems like a head case. I don’t think the staff wanted to waste time on a 1 in 29 shot.
3. Te’s ability is not from a one time meeting, but an ability to make a connection and keep it through contact. I’m surprised he wasn’t used more in this way.
4. We’re done with big men for the year. Judge comes in next year, and we’ll still have Anderson, and Samuels.
5. Any way we’re recruiting Flowers? I’d love info if we’re spending any time on him.
ww is using it as an excuse to drop ksu. jmo.
WW= Terrel Pryor.
Personally, I blame KSUfans…
I’d rather not see Wes end up at UT. If he lands in the Big 12, I hope its in purple or nothing else.
WW at CU would REALLY hurt. Bad.
Glad we’re looking for character in 40% 3-pt shooter. Evans has too much baggage.
I heard from a very good source Buchi Awaji meet with Paul Hewitt and is going to Georgia Tech. Thats a shame he is a very good player.
WW would be an idiot to go to CU or Virginia. He’s got too good of offers.
JMART?? Are you still around?
JMart, come back to us
I second Zac’s comments.
This site has died! WTF? I hope you’re busy working to break the “Beasley is coming back” story!
I miss you
been a long time without any recruiting news, ya know?
you start to hear things, people asking questions – “is kstated still the place to go for ksu themed information?” these days, the response is often an uncomfortable silence.
Can we at least get a new mama sayz? Thoroughly disappointed in the downfall of this blog…
Are you sure Carrie Rengers isn’t writing this blog—(here a week, gone two weeks, here a week…) I have to agree with purplereign and olathecat, we’d sure enjoy seeing some fresh news, or at least stuff from Mama. I am so sick (and tired) of hearing so much stuff about the yellowbeaks I’m becoming ill. Please, provide us with some really good stories, soon!
this is pathetic.
he said he was going to be covering the final4 and would not post any updates…relax peeps.
Ray Lewis or O.J.
Just answer the damn question, Jmart.
What a shameful absence. Lazy Vermont work ethic.
Jmart, I think I want to take a break. I just feel like i don’t get enough attention anymore…I left my key under your door.
this is so unbelievably depressing.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Is Todd Bishop really a KU fan?
Hello? Crickets? Anybody?
You let Gopowercat.com trump you on a Tyree Evans update. Man that is ridiculous. Tell me you arent pimping a new Blue and Red T-shirt with creases still in it too.
what’s is the scoop on Tyree?
J-Mart Died.
Or went on vacation.
Loggin in huh?? Trying to keep us away? Never… hoo hoo haa haa haa haa…
So, since JMart is on “vacation”. Everyone get ready for Monday at 5:00P.M. Mike is announcing his plans.
This whole “announcement” is strange. He’s good freinds with Durant and a lot of the guys that are declaring for the draft and he is going to be the #1 pick. The nation already knows Mike Beasley’s intentions so why the drama? It was a disappointing ride this year… I really wish that they made players stay for a minumum of 2years because with the talent KSU had this year and the depth they will have next year we COULD make the final four!! Think about it… Clemente, Samuels, and possibly Hoskins…Plus we MAY get Evans!!! This team would be REAL DEEP!! More so than Memphis or Kansas was this year!!