Catching up with UAB's recruiting
Posted by Brooks
UAB's staff is still scrambling to try to find a big man to come in and play for 2008. Who cares though...because UAB has, by far, the most offensively talented big man in his class slated to enter into their program in 2009, resurrecting the Blazer's from the ashes. Demarcus Cousins (the hope of UAB basketball) is currently in Orlando, FL playing in the AAU Nationals.
Wednesday, Cousins matched up against UConn commit Alex Oriakhi, the #21 overall prospect and #3 rated center in the '09 class (per Rivals.com). Despite a loss for Cousins' Birmingham Storm team, Cousins dominated the battle of the big-men in this game. He finished with 26 points (including a couple threes) and some dazzling passes that wowed the crowd. In the words Justin Young from Rivals, "trying to defend Cousins is almost laughable at this level."
Eric Bledoe (center) at Chris Paul's Camp
Another UAB target for 2009, Eric Bledsoe, is playing in Orlando as well with the Birmingham ICE. Bledsoe suffered an ankle injury earlier in the event but still managed to score 8 points and make big plays down the stretch for his team. Bledsoe has shown throughout the summer that he is just a winner, plain and simple. Watching this kid a few times myself, I truly feel as though he's highly underrated and a potential top 50 prospect for 2009.Mike Davis was in the stands watching all of this. Don't think he wasn't there checking up on Cousins (with all of the recent speculation about a possible decommitment). I think Davis liked what he saw.
* On a negative side note (relatively speaking) for UAB recruiting: Tamir Jackson '09 of St. Benedict's (NJ), who recently de-committed from UAB, is unsure of where he will be headed but he did recently say that UAB would still be considered along with a baker's dozen of other schools including Harvard, Miami, Davidson, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Arizona, Rice, Seton Hall, St. John's, Clemson, NC State, Providence and Rhode Island.
