Another local guy uprooted by the closing of Hayes High School is 2009 prospect Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe, rated by Rivals.com as the number 67 rated prospect in his class, has slowly but surely climbed his way up the rankings by displaying his abilities as a pure point guard.

A year ago, Eric was not even in the Rivals Top 150, flying under the radar. After a strong junior season and a coming out party this summer, he has climbed the charts and has popped up on many teams' lists of priorities.

Bledsoe has the ability to control the game, involve his teammates, push the ball in transition and get to the rim when he wants. The last game I watched Eric play, I didn't see him take one shot outside of 15 feet. That's because he didn't have to. He was either setting up a teammate for the shot or getting into the teeth of the defense.

In terms of his performance this summer, Eric won MVP at the Battle at the Bluff and the Peach State Jam (both of which his team, Birmingham ICE, won). Double-digit assist games are more prevalent than not for him. He is the true definition of a point guard.

Eric will now be headed to play his senior season at Parker High School, coached by Maurice Ford. When I asked about the number one thing he wanted to accomplish for this season, he said "To win the state championship...beat LeFlore."

As far as a decision goes, Eric told me that he would make his decision "in the spring...in April." So teams like UAB, Minnesota, Kentucky, South Carolina and South Florida will have to wait a while.

Short Q&A with Eric Bledsoe

BH: What all have you been up to this summer?
EB: "Just playing ball. We were in the Kings of the Hill, the Real Deal, Battle at the Bluff, the Peach State Jam, and Nations."

BH: What was your favorite moment?
EB: "When we played in the Peach State and the Battle at the Bluff, cause we won both of them."

BH: Which player did you enjoy facing up against this summer the most?
EB: "Maalik Wayns"

BH: What aspect of your game do you need to work on the most?
EB: "My jump shot. "

BH: What is your role when you step on the floor?
EB: "Get the team involved in the game."

BH: Who is your favorite player?
EB: "College, I like Jerred Bayless and I like Chris Paul."

BH: What schools are recruiting you the hardest?
EB: "UAB, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Florida and South Carolina."

BH: You did an interview recently where you talked about the struggle of deciding on whether or not you want to stay close to home...are you still struggling with that?"
EB: "Yeah, it's a hard decision. Still not sure."

BH: What schools are YOU interested in the most?
EB: "All of them right now."

BH: You have a leader?
EB: "No, sir."

BH: If you could go to ANY school, what school would you go to? Your dream school?
EB: "Duke cause I like how they play….their style of play."

BH: Do you have a timeline on when you’re going to make a decision?
EB: "In the spring, in April."

BH: What’s your favorite part about being a high profile recruit?
EB: "Everybody knows you."

BH: What’s your least favorite part?
EB: "You gotta try to make a decision on what school you’re gonna go to."

BH: How often do you get bugged for interviews?
EB: "Not that often."

BH: What’s in your iPod?
EB: "Lil Wayne."

BH: What is one thing you are looking forward to the most about going to college?
EB: "Getting to graduate. Girls…partying."

BH: Tell the readers one thing about Eric Bledsoe that sets you apart
EB: "That I share a relationship with my teammates off the court."

After May of this year, Hayes High School in Birmingham, AL shut its doors for the final time. With the closing of Hayes, many of the top local talents in Birmingham have now been dispersed across the city. Ed Daniel, class of 2009, is one of those players.

For guys that are a part of the 2010 class, the recruiting heat is about to start getting turned up another notch. Travis McKie, the 2010 6-foot-6 guard/forward combo, has already seen things go to that next level.

I'm reluctant to post this (because of the insanity that will result afterwards - haha), but I just spoke with a very good source who has told me that it is only a matter of time before Angel Garcia, incoming freshman for the University of Memphis, is cleared by the NCAA eligibility center. He said that his core class GPA corresponded to his SAT score and that both were high enough per the standards.

Less than one month ago, on July 22nd to be exact, Tamir "Pop" Jackson officially decommitted from the University of Alabama at Birmingham after verbally committing in April.

Jackson, a native of Paterson, NJ, averaged 14 points and 3 assists last year for St. Benedicts. He was a big part of their 24-1 record and #2 national ranking.

Check out Alex Schwartz's lastest entry on Northstar Basketball's Blog. If you haven't bookmarked his blog by now, do it. It is always a good read loaded with tons of information.

Dominic Cheek's coaches for the Playaz Basketball Club recently told Adam Zagoria that it would be at least until September before he even came up with announcing his preliminary college list.

Cheek, standing at 6'5", is the No. 4 shooting guard in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals.com. He recently told reporters in Connecticut during his visit to elite camp that UConn, Villanova, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Kansas will make the list and that he’s planning an official visit to UConn.

According to Adam, Memphis is also very interested. Cheek recently told Indiana's primary Scout.com writer with regard to an official visit to Indiana that he's "going to make it happen".

“I’m really, really thinking about them now,” Cheek said. “They’re definitely going to be on my list when I make my list.”

Scout Marc Maggard of RoundballRecruiting.com recently said on Nashville's affiliate of ESPN radio, 106.7 The Fan, that he did not feel like Tennessee was a real contender in the race for Cheek's services. In speaking with UConn's staff after Cheek's visit to elite camp, Marc said that the staff did not seem to think Tennessee was one of the teams to fear.

*EDIT

Adam Zagoria caught up with Cheek today and he said he has plans to visit both Indiana and Memphis. He said he is considering, “Memphis, Kansas, UConn, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Villanova, Wake Forest and Tennessee...That’s probably the list I’m planning on cutting down soon,” Cheek said.

“I’m definitely going to visit those two schools (Indiana and Memphis),” he said. “I’ve been to Seton Hall, I’ve been to Wake Forest and Villanova (and Rutgers).”

* image courtesy of Scout.com

Jeremy Jacob, originally from the 2007 class, could be close to verballing to UAB. Let me look a little more into this one and I'll update a little later today.

Jacob originally signed with Georgia out of high school but announced in July that he planned to transfer. Jacob, a 6-8, 230 lb. small forward from Baton Rouge, La., played in the first six games of the 2008 season as a true freshman, averaging 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds. However, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot, missing the remainder of the season.

“Jeremy has expressed an interest in playing for a program where he can play a more prominent role than he believes he will play at Georgia,” Felton said. “We have thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We wish Jeremy the very best for his future.”

Since Jacob appeared in less than 20 percent of Georgia’s total of 34 games last season, he was granted a medical hardship by the NCAA and therefore, he will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Jacob attended Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game. He was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals (27th best small forward and 90th best prospect overall in the class of '07).

I'm not offering any commentary on this one besides this...drunk college kids do some funny and idiotic things sometimes. Just getting it out there. It's only fair:

Freshman Jayhawk basketball player gets court date after BB gun incident
By Jesse Fray (Contact)
Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Notice to Appear for Markieff Morris (PDF)

An incoming Kansas University basketball player is accused of shooting an Airsoft rifle BB gun out of his university dorm room, possibly hitting a woman in the courtyard below, the KU Public Safety office said.

Markieff Morris, 18, was issued a notice to appear in court after the incident, which the KU Public Safety office said occurred about 11:15p.m. Saturday at Jayhawk Towers. The suspect was intoxicated, according to a police report.

A 47-year-old woman from Mequon, Wis., was shot in the arm with a plastic BB in the courtyard of the building, police said. She received minor injuries.

Morris was found in a nearby building, where he admitted to shooting the BB from the window of his residence at Jayhawk Towers, police said.

Officers seized a 3-foot-long black Airsoft rifle, valued at $100, and a medium-sized plastic bag of BBs, a police report states.

The Kansas University Student Housing Department is conducting its own investigation into the incident, said Jim Marchiony, KU associate athletics director.

“We’re not going to have any comment until that process is complete,” he said. “The fact-finding is ongoing.”

Police charged Morris with battery, court records indicate, which is defined by city code as “intentionally or recklessly causing bodily harm to another person; or intentionally causing physical contact with another person when done in a rude, insulting or angry manner.”

He is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Sept. 10 in Lawrence Municipal Court. The case was not sent to the Douglas County district attorney for consideration of charges, a spokeswoman said.

Markieff Morris and his twin brother, Marcus Morris, known as “The Twins,” came to KU from Philadelphia in late June. The NCAA hasn’t determined if they are academically eligible to play basketball this season.

*image of Markieff Morris courtesy of Scout.com

According to Jeff Goodman, USC guard Angelo Johnson is transferring to Southern Mississippi. That is a nice pickup for Larry Eustachy. Johnson will have to sit out this year and will be eligible to play beginning the 2009 season.

On a side note related to USM recruiting, former UAB commit and Wingfield High School star Maurice Bolden has enrolled at Southern Miss and will join Johnson as eligible in 2009. Bolden, the 6'9 220lbs SF, was named to the Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen in high school and attended Marion Military Institute last season. He will have to sit out for a year since he was not a full qualifier out of high school.

So here's the thing...I'm doing this in order to nip the all out chaos in the bud that will ensure if and when rumors begin to fly.

As of Monday, August 25th, 2008, the fall semester of the 2008-2009 school year will begin for all students, including student athletes.

Angel Garcia and Matt Simpkins, two members of the University of Memphis' 2008 recruiting class, are still awaiting word from the newly established NCAA Eligibility Center on whether or not they are CLEARED to play. Now, you may ask yourself, why did I capitalize that word?

Speaking in NCAA jargon, there is a distinct difference between a student-athlete being ELIGIBLE and CLEARED. For example, if Matt Simpkins is eligible to enroll, that means that he has passed all necessary coursework and received scores for any necessary tests (exit exams, standardized tests, etc). So now you ask yourself, "Well, if he's passed everything then shouldn't he automatically be cleared?" The answer to that question, looking through the eyes of the NCAA, is no. In order to be cleared, Simpkins' transcripts, test scores and all paperwork must be submitted and reviewed by the Eligibility Center. The object of reviewing this documentation is to verify their authenticity. They go as far as calling former teachers, guidance counselors, classmates, etc.

So, now that we have our jargon defined, here's why I feel the need to explain. If and when the rumors begin to swirl that Matt Simpkins and Angel Garcia are on campus at the University of Memphis starting this weekend, please understand that you can enroll at a university and begin classes if you are eligible, whether or not you have been CLEARED.

The NCAA has a process in which a school (in this case, the U of M) can submit an application for a 'waiver' (of sorts) that allows for a player to enroll and begin classes, if eligible, while waiting on clearance to play. This allows for student-athletes to not miss classes due to delays of the NCAA; somewhat 'protecting' the athletes' grades.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the wait. It could be next week...it could be September.

*EDIT*

So, less than 24 hours after I posted this entry the rumors have started to fly. First, on a prominent Indiana basketball message board, a poster says:

For all those who were spreading rumors about Angel not going to Memphis well, I hate to dissapoint you, but he's on his way to Memphis today and will enroll tomorrow. He came through on his SAT and proved he is capable of getting it done in the classroom despite constant barage of insults regarding his academic standing that never had any merit whatsoever.

Apparently Garcia got into Memphis. Angel Garcia won't be having to go the Junior College route as we were informed that he miraculously made the grade at the last minute. Congratulations and good luck to Angel!

Rivals.com has released its 'post-summer' and evaluation period rankings for the class of 2009. John Wall remains at #1 overall, while UAB commitment Demarcus Cousins moves up 5 slots to #2 overall.

Memphis targets are ranked as follows:

• John Wall - #1
• Xavier Henry - #3
• Derrick Favors - #4
• Kenny Boynton - #7
• Avery Bradley - #8
• Renardo Sidney - #10
• Abdul Gaddy- #13
• Mouphtaou Yarou - #14
• Thomas Robinson - #18
• Rashanti Harris - #26
• Tyler Honeycutt - #29
• Christian Watford - #34
• Karron Johnson - #45
• Nolan Dennis (verbal) - #47

Yarou and Robinson are two of the three newcomers to the 5-star status. Robinson jumped from #82 to #18 overall while Yarou went from completely unknown to #14 nationally. Pretty big jump, huh?

Tyler Honeycutt also made a large jump, going from #121 to #29. Ole Miss verbal, and former Memphis target, Reggie Buckner went from #91 to #30.

Sources close to the UAB program have said that the Blazers will add 6-8 SF Cameron Moore as a walk-on. Moore also turned down other Division 1 offers (at least one Conference USA program's offer) to join the Blazers. Cameron Moore committed to South Alabama late in the spring signing period but chose the Blazers as his primary option.

Moore graduated from Roosevelt High in San Antonio, Texas and had received an offer from Tulsa (also, recruited by a number of other D1 schools including Tulane and Army). Moore averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks per game as a senior (to go along with 58% shooting from the field).

According to USA's coach, Ronnie Arrow:

I'm a little late getting to this one due to some travel, so many of you already know that Memphis picked up a verbal commitment from class of 2009 big-man Will Coleman. Coleman is a 6'9" 260lb beast in the mold of Joey Dorsey.