2014 Recruiting Class Review

[atlantasooner]

I'll finalize this post signing day, but with no other 2014 players on the radar it's going to be more or less accurate.

2014 Basketball Class Fall Recruiting Wrap-Up

OU came into 2013-2014 recruiting with 6 ships available due to upcoming graduation and roster gaps.
To recap, Sherri signed 5 players/1 transfer in 2012-2013 (heights and positions from current roster)
Gioya Carter 5-9 SG/PG
Derica Wyatt 5-10 SG
T’ona Edwards 5-5 PG
Shaya Kellogg 6-2 F
Felicia Gibbs 6-2 F/C
Peyton Little 5-11 SG
From the exhibition game, it looks like Kellogg will be a PF, and Gibbs will be Center.
OU’s graduations losses this year
Nicole Griffin 6-6 C (starter, only listed post on roster)
Portia Durrett 6-1 F (reserve)
Morgan Hook PG (starter)
Aaryn Ellenberg SG (starter)
Roster wise OU’s biggest needs were at Center, then Point Guard, then best player available.
So how did Sherri do position by position?

PG -
Gabe Ortiz 5-5
LaNesia Williams 5-6
Ortiz is the best player signed in the class according to the various rankings services. Ortiz is top 30 in several and top 50 in almost all services. She’s the best PG signed by Sherri since DRob and will likely push for a starter job as a freshman. She’s that talented.
OU also received a verbal from in instate prospect LaNesia Williams. Williams is the teammate of T’ona Edwards. She’s not currently ranked by any of the various services in their top 100 lists but ESPN ranking system would place here somewhere in the top 150/200. One issue with LaNesia is that she verbaled so early to OU (Dec 2012) that we don't have a clear picture of how heavily recruited she would have been. Some debate as to whether Williams will play SG or PG this season in HS. I may need to switch her position to SG.
Recruiting Quality Grade: A- (Ortiz is an A+ recruit. Williams is more in the B range)
Recruiting Need Grade: A+ (OU loses their starter PG and has very likely signed their new starting PG)

SG
Gileysa Penzo 5-10
Penzo was a real surprise of the class. Penzo has previously played hoops for the Puerto Rico FIBA Under 17 team. She’s been playing HS hoops in Florida. She’s not ranked in the top 150 by any service. To be fair, I cannot a service that provided a recent scouting report of her AAU action from this summer. I cannot find other schools that offered Penzo. So she has significant international experience, but seems to have flown under the admittedly limited recruiting scouting radar for women’s hoops. Penzo was AAU teammates with Vionise Pierre Louis this summer.
Recruiting Quality Grade: B (hopefully after her senior year there will be more data to review this grade.Her international experience makes you wonder if she is being overlooked.)
Recruiting Need Grade: C (OU didn’t need a shooting guard in this class. And OU has more heavily recruited players ahead of Penzo, especially with Peyton Little becoming eligible next year)

Big Guard/Small Forward
Sherri signed no one at this position. If Kellogg or Gibbs provide depth here moving forward, then this was not a position of great need with Kornet, Campbell, and hopefully a healed Manning in 2014 eating up most of the minutes at this position. Ideally, Sherri signs an elite player here in 2015 to provide depth and competition.
No grades offered.

PF
No prospects signed. OU could have used more interior depth, talent and competition at this position. OU needs to sign a top ranked mobile PF in 2015.
Recruiting Quality Grade: INC
Recruiting Need Grade: INC

Center
Vionise Pierre Louis 6-4
OU received a critical verbal from Pierre Louis after her visit during the TCU football game weekend. Vionise is ranked in the top 100 by ESPN and Prospects Nation and had an excellent AAU summer camp session. In limited highlights, Vionese displays a good offensive game and excellent athleticism. She looks like a post that can keep up with the speed at guard that OU has been signing. Vionise played on the same Florida based AAU as Penzo.
Recruiting Quality Grade: A (Vionise is ranked in the top 100 by several services. She’s had great AAU scouting reports this summer. She is extremely productive in HS as well.)
Recruiting Quality Grade: A (OU had to sign a post player. OU got it.)

Overall Class Grades
Quality Grade: A- (OU got an elite player in Ortiz. OU got a second top 100 player in Pierre Louis at center. Both players could easily start for OU in 2014 - 2015.
Penzo and Williams are not ranked in the top 100/150 by any services.)
Recruiting Need Grade: A (OU had to get a quality post prospect and delivered. OU in addition got a potential starter in Ortiz at PG.
A starting lineup of Ortiz/Little/Kornet/Kaylon/Vionise (Manning excluded purely due to injury status. You could sub Campbell for Kornet/Kaylor as well) in 2014 is entirely possible.
OU did not really have a need at SG in this class. It will be interesting to see how the PG/SG position plays out with so much depth. From a strict number standpoint, OU has a log jam at PG/SG)
Including new recruits OU’s depth for 2013-2014 would be
PG - Edwards,Ortiz, Williams
SG - Wyatt, Little, Carter, Penzo
SG/SF- Manning, Kornet, Campbell
PF - Kaylon Williams, Kellogg
C - Pierre Louis, Gibbs

Who got away?
Khaalia Hillsman verbaled to atm after visiting OU. Hillsman and Pierre-Louis would have given OU their best interior player class since the Paris Twins. OU never got a shot at top rated Texas HS star Briana Turner. Will OU regret taking Penzo and/or Williams over higher rated in state guard prospect Toree Thompson who decommitted from Washington? Will OU wish they had more than 2 ships for the 2015 class?

What’s next for the Sooners?
OU will likely now focus on 2015 recruiting and save the one remaining ship for next year. I guess that there could be some amazing JUCO spring signee but I think the odds are pretty low. That will give OU two ships for 2015. Ideally OU would sign a PF/C hybrid and an athletic big wing with shooting range. OU has solid depth at SG and PG at this point unless there’s some unforeseen roster attrition. In addition, OU has a verbal from top 2016 national player Chelsea Dungee 5-10 SG further reducing the need for a SG prospect in 2015. OU has already had a bunch of unofficial visits and activity from players in the 2015/2016/2017 classes.

 

[sybarite]

Supposedly, Edwards was the point, and Williams was the SG last year for NE.

 

[atlantasooner]

sybarite,
so I need to list Williams as a combo guard?
I was thinking Williams will play more at PG her senior year with Edwards' departure.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Atlanta, I really enjoyed your post...just excellent!!! I wish we had more posts like this as it not only makes us all think, but it gives a great summary of recruiting, past, present, and a peak into the future.

I think Sherri has decided that she never wants to be in a position of not having enough players again. In previous years, I don't think she would have offered Penzo, Williams, or Gibbs. That said, all three may turn out to be outstanding players but, as you said, no other coaches were beating down their doors but even if they are never starters they should be able to provide needed depth. I think what we can conclude is, Sherri wanted a full roster so she isn't caught short-handed again.

Did she sign too many? If they all stay, I would say, no. If some leave because they see the log-jam ahead of them at their position, then I guess you could say, yes. But, I don't blame her for filling her roster (14) as it is better to have too many than not enough.

Ortiz is obviously the highlight of this recruiting class but I really like what little I've seen of Pierre Louis. She is tough like Courtney, has better skills than Courtney, much more mobile and athletic, and fills a critical need. She most likely will never be as productive as Courtney (one of the best college centers of all time) but she seems to have exactly what we need right now to take over for Griffin.

I cannot express how bad I feel that Maddie got hurt again but I expect her to come back next year ready to go. If we have Ortiz, Maddie, Peyton, Pierre Louis, and Kornet, that should be a really good starting 5.

It will be interesting to watch this year's team while keeping an eye on who Sherri recruits for next year. I think the best is yet to come.

 

[MisterF]

Atlanta is the star of many boards and we are lucky to have him here.

AS....send cash!!!!

 

[SoonerNorm]

Atlanta is the star of many boards and we are lucky to have him here.

AS....send cash!!!!

Absolutely!!!

 

[sybarite]

sybarite,
so I need to list Williams as a combo guard?
I was thinking Williams will play more at PG her senior year with Edwards' departure.

I think she will probably play the point at NE this year. But, I think that she projects as more of a two for college, especially with Ortiz here.

 

[atlantasooner]

Norm,
It's possible Sherri has gone with a stock the roster approach.
The last recent injury season may have pushed her to that strategy.
Still, if Sherri continues to sign high ranked impact freshman it's going to cause some tension for minutes.

 

[atlantasooner]

syb,
The only concern there playing Ortiz and Williams together is matchup issues with opposing backcourts, especially if ou is already giving up height at the 4 by playing Kornet or Campbell.
And at SG she's competing with Penzo and Carter for backup minutes behind presumed starting SG Little (everything we hear on Little makes it sound like she's the heir apparent to Ellenberg's spot)

 

[sybarite]

syb,
The only concern there playing Ortiz and Williams together is matchup issues with opposing backcourts, especially if ou is already giving up height at the 4 by playing Kornet or Campbell.
And at SG she's competing with Penzo and Carter for backup minutes behind presumed starting SG Little (everything we hear on Little makes it sound like she's the heir apparent to Ellenberg's spot)

I don't know how matchups are going to work out, but isn't she a bit taller than you have listed? I've seen 5-9 on several occasions.

 

[atlantasooner]

syb,
now that's a great question. I've seen her listed at 5-6. If she's really 5-9 then that changes things. Again, happy to edit any factual errors or update if there's more scouting info on any of the verbals.

 

[SoonerNorm]

syb,
now that's a great question. I've seen her listed at 5-6. If she's really 5-9 then that changes things. Again, happy to edit any factual errors or update if there's more scouting info on any of the verbals.

I have seen her listed from 5'6" to 5'9" so who knows. Apparently when it comes to recording the height of basketball players a measuring tape is optional.

 

[OKUman]

Visitor - young lady with her parents escorted by Chad at the Men's game. Any knowledge on this - anybody?

 

[mystery32]

Visitor - young lady with her parents escorted by Chad at the Men's game. Any knowledge on this - anybody?

Williams is taking her official this weekend.

 

[mikeareese]

Also J Johnson was in attendance.

 

[Sooner Suzie]

Excellent analysis, AS!! I agree with the A- assessment based on a combo of talent/needs.


It hard to say OU will be in contention for a NC, but then injuries and plain luck have a lot to do with that as much as merely talent level. However, it's plain to see that OU will be in contention for additional conference championships in the forseeable future. Several other very competitive conference foes surely will have something to say about that tho.

 

[atlantasooner]

Norm,
I'll update the heights once Sherri/OU publishes the player capsules after their LOIs are received in November.

 

[mikeareese]

Ortiz posted a picture with Sammie Woodward. Last year Woodward was listed at 5'5". Ortiz is about 2 to 3" taller. She is in that 5'8" range.