Myron blog: Tubby Smith trying to close the deal on a 2010 PG

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Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith is vigorously pursuing a point guard from the 2010 class. His preferences: Findlay Prep's (Las Vegas) Cory Joseph or Detroit's Ray McCallum Jr.

Smith was originally scheduled to attend a coaches' clinic in Oakdale Saturday but changed plans and decided to speak at a coaches' clinic in Detroit that day. He was invited by Detroit Mercy head coach Ray McCallum Sr., the father of Smith's coveted recruit who is also recruiting his son.

Smith was in Las Vegas Monday to go after the 6-2 Joseph, the brother of current Gophers shooting guard Devoe Joseph.

A source told me Monday that Smith hopes to get some answers from both players about their prospective futures in the coming days. If he doesn't get a commitment from Joseph or McCallum prior to the early signing period in November, the source said, there's a chance that the team will hold onto its scholarship until the spring, when it can locate another talent.

Joseph is reportedly going to shorten his list soon, while the 6-1 McCallum continues to court schools from around the country. Smith recently took another trip to Detroit for an in-home visit with McCallum, who has offers from Michigan, UCLA and Florida. Joseph took an unofficial trip to Minnesota over the summer.

Smith wants both of these guys. But with one scholarship available for the 2010 class, he can only have one of them. Maybe.

Both Joseph, a five-star recruit on Rivals.com, and McCallum, a four-star recruit on Rivals.com, have compelling reasons to play for the Gophers.

Joseph's older brother, Devoe, is a shooting guard for the team. The duo could be Big Ten basketball's version of Serena and Venus. Basketball's version of the Klitschko brothers. The Tito and Jermaine of the hardwood. OK. I'm done.

But you get my point. Joseph, who has offers from UConn, Florida and Texas, has an opportunity to play with his brother, something they dreamed of growing up Canada.

McCallum is the son of a Division I coach. Smith is a Division I coach who has coached two sons in college. The Gophers have also been very active in their recruitment of McCallum. And I know Minnesota's coaches believe he can compete for minutes right away, which is what he desires.

Minnesota has a pair of verbal commitments from Nebraska standout Elliott Eliason and Tennessee prep Austin Hollins. If the Gophers get Joseph or McCallum, they should have a nationally ranked recruiting class for 2010, Smith's third in a row.

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/62...EyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUgOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

Go Gophers!!
 

Seems more optimistic than what we've been reading lately about Joseph and McCallum. Myron is right, though, land one of those guys and it's our third very good class in a row, and that's going to spell big success.
 

WanderingGopher said:
Seems more optimistic than what we've been reading lately about Joseph and McCallum. Myron is right, though, land one of those guys and it's our third very good class in a row, and that's going to spell big success.
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If Tubby doesn't land you of those guys, I think it would be an overall disappointing class. I always believe you need one blue-chip prospect per class in order for it to be successful.
 

Wies and Wand wax wise!

Watching a Tubby team with a real, natural, high-quality point guard would really be something to see.

Seems like a tall order to fill, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
 

Nationally ranked class?

Myron, Myron, Myron....

Even if they land Joesph, there's no way this class will be "nationally ranked". Look at the current rankings and tell me how a 5* and a pair of non-ranked players will leap frog any of those teams.
 


minimax said:
Wies and Wand wax wise!

Watching a Tubby team with a real, natural, high-quality point guard would really be something to see.

Seems like a tall order to fill, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
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Wayne Turner in 1998 and 1999 (63-13, 9-1 in NCAA) and Rajon Rondo in 2005 and 2006 (50-19, 4-2 in NCAA) are two recent examples of PG like you mentioned. Cliff Hawkins in 2003 and 2004 (59-9, 4-2 in NCAA) was close to those two PG but not quite at their level.
 

Art Vandelay said:
Myron, Myron, Myron....

Even if they land Joesph, there's no way this class will be "nationally ranked". Look at the current rankings and tell me how a 5* and a pair of non-ranked players will leap frog any of those teams.
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Hollins is ranked #133 by Gibbons.

Both he and Eliason may be Top 150 in springtime.
 

Friend Of Tubby said:
Wayne Turner in 1998 and 1999 (63-13, 9-1 in NCAA) and Rajon Rondo in 2005 and 2006 (50-19, 4-2 in NCAA) are two recent examples of PG like you mentioned. Cliff Hawkins in 2003 and 2004 (59-9, 4-2 in NCAA) was close to those two PG but not quite at their level.
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Yes of course. I meant in maroon and gold though.
Something like Rondo would be acceptable.
 

Actually, I'd take Wayne Turner; 4 year player rather than 2 year, and quite a bit of tourney success, if memory serves.
 




In what is close to a first, I will agree with FOT here: Wayne Turner was a very good college point guard.

While he never stuck in the NBA (played just three games), he did a lot of good things. He had a good understanding of how to play, guarded people and got the ball to the right spots and the right people. He was never a real big scorer (and wasn't as good of an FT shooter as you'd like from your PG), but he was enough of a threat that he could/would score if left open.

It is great to have a great scoring point guard, the next best thing is a consistent PG who is steady. What drives me crazy are the guys where you don't know what you're going to get and the PG is hot or cold. I'll take steady luke warm over that.
 

anonymous said:
In what is close to a first, I will agree with FOT here: Wayne Turner was a very good college point guard.

While he never stuck in the NBA (played just three games), he did a lot of good things. He had a good understanding of how to play, guarded people and got the ball to the right spots and the right people. He was never a real big scorer (and wasn't as good of an FT shooter as you'd like from your PG), but he was enough of a threat that he could/would score if left open.

It is great to have a great scoring point guard, the next best thing is a consistent PG who is steady. What drives me crazy are the guys where you don't know what you're going to get and the PG is hot or cold. I'll take steady luke warm over that.
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And he got better as junior and senior (in starting role) than he was a soph or frosh (as back-up to lesser talented Anthony Epps).

Turner was a 1st team Parade HS A-A who averaged 36 ppg in HS near Boston. He never quite achieved that status (Top 10 in the country) again, nor did he make A-A or 1st team All-SEC at UK.

But he was an excellent PG in college.
 




Friend Of Tubby said:
And he got better as junior and senior (in starting role) than he was a soph or frosh (as back-up to lesser talented Anthony Epps).

Turner was a 1st team Parade HS A-A who averaged 36 ppg in HS near Boston. He never quite achieved that status (Top 10 in the country) again, nor did he make A-A or 1st team All-SEC at UK.

But he was an excellent PG in college.
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Turner has the record of the most gamed played by a college player at UK. He was very very good at 2 things, 1. Defense, 2. Penetration. He had 7 footers defending him. The reason that he didn't make NBA was his size and outside shooting. A few years ago, he almost made it but unfortunately he got in trouble with law in Australia. He and Cliff were my all time favorite PGs. If these two guys that Tubby is pursuing are even 1/4 of those guys, we will be very good team next year also.
 

I would be just as happy with McCullum as I would with Joseph. I think that Joseph has been overhyped due to his presence on a high visibility AAU squad. Either one would obviously be great, though.

If we can nab one of these guys, the class will have fleshed out nicely in a hurry.
 

Don't give up on Devoe's younger brother becoming a Gopher. Gophs are still solidly in the mix, I think. Much, much better chance to get him than they ever had with Barnes.
 

Who's a better prospect McCullum or Joseph? Who would be a better fit for the Gophers?
 




GortonsFisherman011 said:
Cory Joseph. Guaranteed.
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I'll disagree, I'll take McCullum, he looks like he has more potential to me. Don't get me wrong, I'd be happy with either. I have a feeling we get one of them, hopefully McCullum, I think are chances of getting him are greater than Joseph anyway.
 

I'm certainly not capable of getting in between FOT and Coolhand as to who's the better PG role model.

Either Joseph or McCallum would definitely be a good "get"

I'm just happy that Tubby is burning up the jet fuel to chase these guys down. Maybe when he's done fixing health care, he can work on reducing his carbon footprint, but not for a few years.

In the words of St. Augustine, "Lord, grant me celibacy, but not yet".
 

LOL

minimax said:
I'm certainly not capable of getting in between FOT and Coolhand as to who's the better PG role model.

Either Joseph or McCallum would definitely be a good "get"

I'm just happy that Tubby is burning up the jet fuel to chase these guys down. Maybe when he's done fixing health care, he can work on reducing his carbon footprint, but not for a few years.

In the words of St. Augustine, "Lord, grant me celibacy, but not yet".
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LOL. Best post around here in a long time ! I am still laughing!

:clap: :clap: :clap:
 

Where do the Gophers go if they can't land either one of these guys? I'm sure Tubby has a backup plan. Does anyone know what that would be?
 

Weisbrod said:
Where do the Gophers go if they can't land either one of these guys? I'm sure Tubby has a backup plan. Does anyone know what that would be?
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Probably wait until the spring, which would be smart if those 2 go elsewhere.
 

minimax said:
I'm just happy that Tubby is burning up the jet fuel to chase these guys down. Maybe when he's done fixing health care, he can work on reducing his carbon footprint, but not for a few years.
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Damn, you mean Tubby is a lying socialist who is planning to take over our country? There's several serial posters who probably are already convinced.
 

KyGopherfan said:
Probably wait until the spring, which would be smart if those 2 go elsewhere.
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Gerald Fitch was a late (spring) recruit at UK in 2000. Excellent player for 4 years.

Anthony Epps was spring recruit for UK in 1993. Another dandy 4 year guy.

There will be some good ones in the spring, too.
 

centerofmn said:
I would be just as happy with McCullum as I would with Joseph. I think that Joseph has been overhyped due to his presence on a high visibility AAU squad. Either one would obviously be great, though.

If we can nab one of these guys, the class will have fleshed out nicely in a hurry.
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Joseph is not overhyped - he is legit. After watching him earlier this year in the "high school national championship," I thought he was underrated, and sure enough he's moved up the rankings since then. I really would've loved to have OSU get him - he's sort of like a rich man's Jamar Butler. He will be a great 4-year player for whatever college he chooses.
 

A source told me Monday that Smith hopes to get some answers from both players about their prospective futures in the coming days. If he doesn't get a commitment from Joseph or McCallum prior to the early signing period in November, the source said, there's a chance that the team will hold onto its scholarship until the spring, when it can locate another talent.
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IMO, locating another talent in late spring means a likely JUCO. Any quality uncommitted JUCO PGs out there?
 


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