2008 recruiting class can't get much worse
The class of 2008 stinks. Usually, I'd try to be more elegant in making such a statement, but working hard to massage the truth seems like a waste of effort. I could be less elegant, too, you know, and not be any less accurate. I spent the first four days of the NCAA's summer evaluation period looking for greatness at the adidas It Takes 5ive Classic and Nike's LeBron James Skills Academy. And I saw plenty -- it's just that all of it was contained in the junior, sophomore and freshman classes. The seniors mostly were uninspired and uninspiring. Whether you're looking at the rankings presented by Rivals.com or Scout.com, I saw seven of the top eight players in the 2008 class. There were guys out there who appeared to be very fine college prospects, but each has some sort of design flaw. Greg Monroe, PF, Harvey, La. Long and agile with shoulders you could hang a set of drapes on, but he doesn't have a consistent means of generating points. Jrue Holiday, SG, North Hollywood, Calif. Though fabulously tough and inventive as a scorer, he's got to shoot better. Al-Farouq Aminu, PF, Norcross, Ga. Not a good enough shooter to be a wing, not strong enough to be a power forward. He'll find his game if he gives it time. But will he? Ed Davis, PF, Richmond, Va. He is solid and efficient but does not play with great energy and does not attack. Delvon Roe, PF, Lakewood, Ohio He's a power forward in a small forward's body. And, it'd be nice if he'd pass the ball once or twice. Samardo Samuels, C, Newark With his physicality and finishing ability, and with the level of opposition being what it is, he should dominate. So why doesn't he? Tyreke Evans, SG/PG, Aston, Pa. See entry for Samuels, Samardo. This isn't the first time this decade that we've seen a relatively weak class. It's just that with all of us remembering the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant class of 2006 and waiting for the 2007 class of Mike Beasley (Kansas State), O.J. Mayo (Southern California), Derrick Rose (Memphis), Eric Gordon (Indiana) and Kevin Love (UCLA), it's hard to reconcile that the class of 2008 could wind up so vacant. We won't know for a few years if the 2008 class is as poor as the 2005 class or 2003. At least at the top, though, 2003 had LeBron James. The first 10 players this year combined won't have that kind of impact. Chris Paul was buried in the top 20 that year. No. 2 Luol Deng and No. 3 Charlie Villanueva turned out nicely. But there were enough busts to fill a Rodin museum: No. 8 Ndudi Ebi; No. 13 Mike Jones; No. 16 Dion Harris; No. 19 Sean Banks; No. 24 Wesley Green; No. 33 Brandon Foust. After four years, only Paul made first-team All-American, and only Oregon guard Aaron Brooks (No. 82) made second team. The 2005 group gave us No. 3 Tyler Hansbrough, a two-time All-American. After that, it's No. 5 Julian Wright, No. 6 Brandon Rush, No. 19 Chris Douglas-Roberts, No. 24 Jon Brockman and a whole lot of guys who haven't lived up to their rankings. How bad was it? Forward Keith Brumbaugh was ranked 12th; you couldn't find him now with a GPS. All of this does not mean your team's top 100 commitment is as worthless as a Zimbabwe dollar. The 2003 class had hidden gems such as Dominic James (No. 49) and Darren Collison (No. 96). If you're a fan of Connecticut looking forward to No. 36 Kemba Walker at point guard, or if you're eager to see No. 28 Scotty Hopson play the wing for your Mississippi State Bulldogs, you've got cause to be excited. They'll make your teams better. But, on the whole, their classmates won't be changing the future of the game. "I think Tyler Hansbrough is the best of this years class. Plus he played amazing so far in the March Maddness" commented
Antelope Valley Personal Injury Lawyer and UNC Alumni Steve Sepera. "I hope he stays one more year".
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