2013 PG Kendal Harris unofficial visit Sept. 3

[OUBBall95]

2013 PG Kendal Harris of Richardson Berkner will be in Norman on Sept.3 for an unofficial visit. If you didn't know he's the younger brother of former OSU player Terrel Harris.

 

[OUHoops]

Thanks for the info.

Sam, have you seen this kid on the AAU circuit? Thoughts?

FWIW...Rivals lists him at 6-4, 195 and has him ranked 123rd nationally in the '13 class. They also have him already with offers from Houston and Marquette.

 

[OUBBall95]

Watch him play in the spring before his injury, he's definitely a Top 50 player in the country. He's a tall point guard with good size, he loves to attack the basketball and has a nice mid range game. He broke his ankle right before summer, so he pretty much missed the entire summer of AAU basketball. The recruiting service did not have a chance to evaluate him, so I think that's the reason why he's ranked so low. Sam I would like to get your thoughts as well.

 

[MNsooner]

Thanks for the info. It looks like some good programs are in on him.

 

[okcsooner83]

Any other visitors this weekend?

 

[garyeb2]

Any other visitors this weekend?

It was reported on this board that Waverly Austin has been scheduled to come in this week for quite some time. He is the junior college big from florida.

 

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

Sign em' up and call it a class. LOL

 

[Sam]

Only saw Kendall play briefly down in Dallas inn July and he was still recovering from his leg injury so he barely played so I don't know much about his game first hand.

Shaq Morris is also likely to visit this weekend, Stevie Clark might as well. I think a few younger local prospects will make the trip to Norman too.

I don't think Waverly Austin will visit, it seems like OU is focusing on freshman in the fall then will go after jucos as a back up plan.

Look for the Missouri game to be a big weekend as they try to bring in a lot of different players for visits (Jordan Mickey, Karviar Shepard, Marcus Foster, etc).

 

[garyeb2]

Only saw Kendall play briefly down in Dallas inn July and he was still recovering from his leg injury so he barely played so I don't know much about his game first hand.

Shaq Morris is also likely to visit this weekend, Stevie Clark might as well. I think a few younger local prospects will make the trip to Norman too.

I don't think Waverly Austin will visit, it seems like OU is focusing on freshman in the fall then will go after jucos as a back up plan.

Look for the Missouri game to be a big weekend as they try to bring in a lot of different players for visits (Jordan Mickey, Karviar Shepard, Marcus Foster, etc).

Sam, is that speculation on Austin? It has been reported that OU has offered Austin. Have they withdrawn the offer?

 

[Sam]

Sam, is that speculation on Austin? It has been reported that OU has offered Austin. Have they withdrawn the offer?

Yeah, it just looks like for roster balance they're focusing on freshmen and not jucos.

 

[garyeb2]

Yeah, it just looks like for roster balance they're focusing on freshmen and not jucos.

You may be right. i don't have any inside information. But, I would think that Kruger would be focusing on trying get players that can win for him next season.

 

[Sam]

You may be right. i don't have any inside information. But, I would think that Kruger would be focusing on trying get players that can win for him next season.

OU is going to return everybody but one senior and any possible defections. Add in M'baye (seems to be getting a lot of good buzz) coming off redshirt and I think the roster this year is what will compete in 2012-13.

Unless they get a Marcus Smart or Jerami Grant type (elites), I don't think any newcomers will have a profound impact on the success in 2012-13. Its about laying the foundation for the future and with 6 expected seniors in 2012-13, its important to maintain some class balance.

 

[cowboysooner]

Makes sense sam. I am usually for getting the best players, no matter where they are from or how much time they have left, but it does look like we need to get some youth now, so we aren't starting from scratch in 2013/2014.

 

[garyeb2]

OU is going to return everybody but one senior and any possible defections. Add in M'baye (seems to be getting a lot of good buzz) coming off redshirt and I think the roster this year is what will compete in 2012-13.

Unless they get a Marcus Smart or Jerami Grant type (elites), I don't think any newcomers will have a profound impact on the success in 2012-13. Its about laying the foundation for the future and with 6 expected seniors in 2012-13, its important to maintain some class balance.

I couldn't disagree more. What do you think this years team can do? 16-19 wins? Or mayby not that good.

Kruger needs to sign 3 new starters. And I expect that is exactly what he will try to do. He has done enough good things to get a pass this season. The $2,000,000 man is getting paid to win games. Not balance the roster and fight for NIT bids.

 

[boksooner]

I couldn't disagree more. What do you think this years team can do? 16-19 wins? Or mayby not that good.

Kruger needs to sign 3 new starters. And I expect that is exactly what he will try to do. He has done enough good things to get a pass this season. The $2,000,000 man is getting paid to win games. Not balance the roster and fight for NIT bids.

So you think Kruger should worry about a 2012 team that will already have 6 seniors, instead of worrying about the long term health of the team?

 

[garyeb2]

So you think Kruger should worry about a 2012 team that will already have 6 seniors, instead of worrying about the long term health of the team?

That is a false choice. He should do both. Winning next year is the best way to get that done.

 

[Sam]

I couldn't disagree more. What do you think this years team can do? 16-19 wins? Or mayby not that good.

Kruger needs to sign 3 new starters. And I expect that is exactly what he will try to do. He has done enough good things to get a pass this season. The $2,000,000 man is getting paid to win games. Not balance the roster and fight for NIT bids.

You say that like Kruger can just wave a wand and magically bring in three guys automatically better than a bunch of upperclassmen.

The 2012-13 roster is dominated by experienced players. Its hard enough to start as a freshman normally, but on a team with so many players with Big 12 experience coming back, its becomes an even taller order.

2012-13 will feature 6 seniors
Posts
Fitz
Arent
Osby

Guards
Blair
Pledger
Grooms

then 4 Juniors
Post
M'Baye

Wings
Clark
Neal

Guard
Newell

Thats 10 guys coming back with division one experience and you expect Kruger in "short notice" to pull in three guys who will jump seven of those players in the rotation?

One of the biggest facets of recruiting is building relationships early on. Its the exact reason why during the past alumni game OU brought in Jacob Hammond and Omega Harris to sit courtside for it. Neither one of them are locks to be high major players at this point but both had flashed major potential at a young age and the current OU staff is working hard to develop a relationship with them.

Now that is relevant because in the 2012 class the new OU staff is trying to jump in on many kids they likely hadn't talked to it at UNLV or ORU. They're battling against some schools that have been talking to some of these kids since they were freshmen in high school.

The Kruger staff was placed behind an eight ball when it comes to 2012. Very few previous relationships with the recruits, a lack of open scholarships, and the NCAA stuff hanging over their heads.

And you expect them to bring in 3 impact players to play over a core of upperclassmen?

If you look at the three players who seem to be the dream class, only one them seems likely to earn a whole lot of playing time as a freshman.

That one is Marcus Smart. I'm one of the biggest Marcus Smart homers out there, I wont deny, been watching that kid since 09 so perhaps I'm biased on him. Still I think with his unbelievable motor and the skills he's developed recently, he wont be sitting on the bench much. He'll find a way on to the court as a freshman, no matter where he goes.

Next is Jerami Grant, he's solidly in the top 50 nationally but at the same time isn't as ballyhooed as some of the elite names. He'll likely earn some minutes but I dont see him jumping upperclassmen like Fitz, Osby & M'baye as a wet behind the ears freshman.

The likely third part of the "dream" class is Phil Forte, a tough as nails, good shooting combo guard. While he'll be a 4 year contributor, he isn't the type of prodigal talent to jump experienced players as a starter as a frosh.

If OU signed that trio, it would be an amazing class for a new staff but with so many returning players its hard to see those three becoming instant starters.

I'm sure with as competitive and successful as Kruger is, if there were jucos they believed that had the chance to start, he would go get them. If not, as it seems to be the case, he'll get the best high school seniors out there and start building for the future.

I think with improved coaching, experience and a couple athletic bigs (Osby & M'baye), more PG competition (Grooms), the core roster from last year will be able to compete if not be a NCAA team in 2012-13.

 

[garyeb2]

Sam, we have covered this before. You have a faulty premise. You and others seem to think that players like Blair, Fitz, Pledger, and the others from last years team are somehow good enough to roll on up to the tourney.

They are not, they have not been, and they won't be. Kruger is a good coach. But, he is not Merlin the Magician. Osby is probably good enough. M'buy is probably good enough. Clark might be good enough. But, mayby not. Grooms is probably better than Blair. But, he isn't likely to be good enough. Arent can probably defend and rebound from the post better than Fitz. But, he probably isn't good enough either.

It would be easier to conjer up 3 guys that are better than guys that are not good enough than it would be to wave a wand and make guys that are not good enough good enough.

Yea, I know we have a bunch of seniors next year. And the team has a chance to be better. Much better. If, and only if, the majority of those seniors only get their warmups off on senior night.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

You say that like Kruger can just wave a wand and magically bring in three guys automatically better than a bunch of upperclassmen.

The 2012-13 roster is dominated by experienced players. Its hard enough to start as a freshman normally, but on a team with so many players with Big 12 experience coming back, its becomes an even taller order.

2012-13 will feature 6 seniors
Posts
Fitz
Arent
Osby

Guards
Blair
Pledger
Grooms

then 4 Juniors
Post
M'Baye

Wings
Clark
Neal

Guard
Newell

Thats 10 guys coming back with division one experience and you expect Kruger in "short notice" to pull in three guys who will jump seven of those players in the rotation?

One of the biggest facets of recruiting is building relationships early on. Its the exact reason why during the past alumni game OU brought in Jacob Hammond and Omega Harris to sit courtside for it. Neither one of them are locks to be high major players at this point but both had flashed major potential at a young age and the current OU staff is working hard to develop a relationship with them.

Now that is relevant because in the 2012 class the new OU staff is trying to jump in on many kids they likely hadn't talked to it at UNLV or ORU. They're battling against some schools that have been talking to some of these kids since they were freshmen in high school.

The Kruger staff was placed behind an eight ball when it comes to 2012. Very few previous relationships with the recruits, a lack of open scholarships, and the NCAA stuff hanging over their heads.

And you expect them to bring in 3 impact players to play over a core of upperclassmen?

If you look at the three players who seem to be the dream class, only one them seems likely to earn a whole lot of playing time as a freshman.

That one is Marcus Smart. I'm one of the biggest Marcus Smart homers out there, I wont deny, been watching that kid since 09 so perhaps I'm biased on him. Still I think with his unbelievable motor and the skills he's developed recently, he wont be sitting on the bench much. He'll find a way on to the court as a freshman, no matter where he goes.

Next is Jerami Grant, he's solidly in the top 50 nationally but at the same time isn't as ballyhooed as some of the elite names. He'll likely earn some minutes but I dont see him jumping upperclassmen like Fitz, Osby & M'baye as a wet behind the ears freshman.

The likely third part of the "dream" class is Phil Forte, a tough as nails, good shooting combo guard. While he'll be a 4 year contributor, he isn't the type of prodigal talent to jump experienced players as a starter as a frosh.

If OU signed that trio, it would be an amazing class for a new staff but with so many returning players its hard to see those three becoming instant starters.

I'm sure with as competitive and successful as Kruger is, if there were jucos they believed that had the chance to start, he would go get them. If not, as it seems to be the case, he'll get the best high school seniors out there and start building for the future.

I think with improved coaching, experience and a couple athletic bigs (Osby & M'baye), more PG competition (Grooms), the core roster from last year will be able to compete if not be a NCAA team in 2012-13.

Was that Harris with the PC West shirt on? He seemed to be chatting a lot with Tommy Griffin. That can never be a bad thing

 

[boksooner]

Sam, we have covered this before. You have a faulty premise. You and others seem to think that players like Blair, Fitz, Pledger, and the others from last years team are somehow good enough to roll on up to the tourney.

They are not, they have not been, and they won't be. Kruger is a good coach. But, he is not Merlin the Magician. Osby is probably good enough. M'buy is probably good enough. Clark might be good enough. But, mayby not. Grooms is probably better than Blair. But, he isn't likely to be good enough. Arent can probably defend and rebound from the post better than Fitz. But, he probably isn't good enough either.

It would be easier to conjer up 3 guys that are better than guys that are not good enough than it would be to wave a wand and make guys that are not good enough good enough.

Yea, I know we have a bunch of seniors next year. And the team has a chance to be better. Much better. If, and only if, the majority of those seniors only get their warmups off on senior night.

And yet somehow your premise that freshmen and sophomores won't improve year to year is a valid premise?