-It's still too early to get a feel for the national hoops scene, as rosters are still in a bit of flux (see Dante, N'Faly), but man...it's just a weak year across the board. I *guess* Sparty has the most complete roster in terms of talent, experience, and "fit", but they're not head and shoulders above anyone.
-Every year I buy a TCP Yearbook out of habit and to get info on stuff you can't get anywhere else. And every year I SCH at all the editorial mistakes in that thing. Good grief.
And then I also bought a Lindy's preview mag. They've upped their game recently. Buuuuut they have Nico Mannion, that redhead FR at Arizona, as the 5th-best player in AMERICA??? I'm guessing his uncle's last name is Lindy? I wouldn't even put him ahead of Anthony, Maxey, and Hampton. Just weird.
-I realize that recruiting is such a precarious thing to follow. Daishen Nix says he wants to hear more from UK, then commits the UCLA the same weekend. Scottie Barnes plans to visit Lexington, then immediately commits to Florida State. And I know sensationalism draws clicks. But honestly, the best, and typically most accurate basketball recruiting coverage is the near-daily stuff being put out by the national Rivals guys. Just following all of them on Twitter basically gives you a daily update of some sort, and they seem pretty level-headed about things.
-If he gets Cade, Cal better go all-in on Greg Brown. Not only are those two perfect alongside each other, as proven by Cade's reels, but there's just not much left in terms of elite bigs. Banchero is the only reclass candidate that makes sense, and there don't seem to be any college JR's that would look to be Blackshear-level grad transfers. So I guess adding Brown and Jackson to Ware is about the best you can do. None of them weigh over 200 pounds, but maybe just feed them steak every night?
-Alabama is cheating at basketball recruiting. It's Alabama, and it's Nate Oats. It's not Dreamland that has elite prospects suddenly interested in Tuscaloosa. No offense, Clark.