Is Derrick Favors nearing a decision? Does the AJC know anything about basketball recruiting?

Basketball Recruiting27

I am not saying that the AJC is wrong…I just haven’t gotten the feeling that they really have much of a clue what is going on with Derrick Favors throughout the recruiting process. FWIW, this link speculates that a surprise decision by Favors may be coming soon. Then again, the AJC seems to pen some kind of article that doesn’t really say anything other than they are convinced that Georgia Tech and Georgia are definitely his leaders. Its really kind of weird.

Is South Atlanta’s Derrick Favors about to make his heavily anticipated decision between Georgia Tech and Georgia?

South Atlanta basketball coach Michael Reddick declined to comment on Tuesday, but he said that he hoped that Favors would announce his decision by the early signing period, which begins Nov. 12.

The 6-foot-9 Favors is ranked as the country’s No. 1 basketball prospect by Scout. He took official visits to Georgia Tech and Georgia, which have always been believed to be his favorites, and a recruiting trip to North Carolina State.

Last weekend, Favors was scheduled to make an official visit to Memphis, but did not go. Reddick said he didn’t know why Favors didn’t go to Memphis, and he has not talked about that subject with his prized player. South Atlanta began basketball workouts this week.

Reddick also said he did not know if Favors would schedule any more official visits. Favors had hinted he may take a trip to Florida State, but never scheduled a date.

A commitment by Favors would add quite a jewel to Coach Sidney Lowe’s existing 2009 recruiting haul that is currently considered a Top 10 class.

The following is a detailed look at the NC State Basktball program’s projected scholarship breakdown.

Projected 2008-2009 NC State Basketball Roster

Senior Class
(1) Courtney Fells (Wing)
(2) Ben McCauley (F/C)

Junior Class
(3) Brandon Costner (F)
(4) Trevor Ferguson (G)
(5) Dennis Horner (F)
(6) Farnold Degand (PG)

Sophomore Class
(7) Javi Gonzalez (PG)
(8) Tracy Smith (4F)

Freshman Class
(9) Johnny Thomas (Wing)
(10) Julius Mays (PG/SG)
(11) CJ Williams (Wing)

HS Sr Commits
(12) Scott Wood (SG)
(13) Lorenzo Brown (SG, PG, Wing)
(1) Richard Howell (3F, 4F) (Courtney Fells Scholarship)
(2) Open – Potential Derrick Favors or John Wall (Ben McCauley’s Scholarship)

HS Junior Commitments
(3) CJ Leslie (F)
(4) Ryan Harrow (PG)
(5) Open
(6) Open

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Basketball Recruiting

27 Responses to Is Derrick Favors nearing a decision? Does the AJC know anything about basketball recruiting?

  1. Alpha Wolf 10/28/2008 at 8:18 PM #

    It’s good for us that Favors skipped the Memphis dog-and-pony show.

    I’d say despite the AJC homerism, we’re still in it, and with a good class coming in Raleigh is attractive. Don’t count out Tech though.

  2. redfred2 10/28/2008 at 8:36 PM #

    I have all the confidence in Sidney Lowe in this situation. If Favors has ever been seriously considering NC State throughout all of this, then Lowe is the best man for the job of convincing him to follow through and sign to play in Raleigh. We’ll just have to wait (fingers crossed) and see what happens.

    I also like the timing of the article and a few other things that were mentioned in it.

  3. Trip 10/28/2008 at 8:49 PM #

    Well, here’s hoping. I think we have a chance with him, but that will close the books on next years class unless someone doesn’t use a scholarship.

  4. Sw0rdf1sh 10/28/2008 at 9:41 PM #

    I like Favors a lot. A whole bunch. I would love him play here in Raleigh, but for some reason, I just really want a home town kid to play here….but WANT to play here.

    I’m big on dedication, and if Wall were to play here he would be treated like a hero. Not saying Favors wouldn’t, but if we only have room for one, Wall would be the one I personally would want.

    I know we have been establishing the Georgia pipeline, and I have heard there might be room for both of them….but I’m not in the know and I have no idea where it could come from….outside of a Costner early exit to a next level.

  5. PhilipRiversWannabe 10/28/2008 at 9:45 PM #

    Actually, we can sign both of them. When Marques Johnson transferred, his scholarship opened up. THerefore, we have another scholarship for our next recruiting class.

  6. WTNY 10/29/2008 at 7:43 AM #

    Wannabe — I don’t see how we have another. Look at SFN’s numbering beside the names. 13 scholarships is the max and Favors OR Wall would be 13.

  7. packbackr04 10/29/2008 at 7:48 AM #

    I also read yesterday that Sid and Towe are looking at some Eastern European 7 footer. I know it would be silly to NOT have a back up plan for next year at the 5 spot in case Favors doesnt come but this kid is on the top of Arizona St’s list for 09 and that is not the kind of player i want to see here anymore.

  8. Noah 10/29/2008 at 7:50 AM #

    I’ve asked a couple of folks and the answer is always the same. “If Wall and Favors want to come here, there will be a scholarship for them.”

    I take that to mean that someone currently on the roster…won’t be.

  9. Alpha Wolf 10/29/2008 at 7:59 AM #

    “I know it would be silly to NOT have a back up plan for next year at the 5 spot in case Favors doesnt come but this kid is on the top of Arizona St’s list for 09 and that is not the kind of player i want to see here anymore.”

    A seven footer that can shoot, especially if he has the usual Euro solid fundamentals, would be a great addition here or anywhere.

    And yes, I would light a cigar if Sid denied HWSNBN a recruit he wanted.

  10. StateFoxer 10/29/2008 at 9:12 AM #

    Just to speculate, don’t we have a couple players pretty close to graduating who aren’t part of the “senior class”?

    And didn’t Wall make a comment along the lines of “If Favors were to go to State, I’d probably go to State too.”

    And if I’m wrong on those, just delete me. I don’t want to spread rumors or have false hope.

  11. Ed89 10/29/2008 at 10:12 AM #

    Simon Harris is currently a listed as a Senior, also. I think he may have already graduated, though. That’s an additional scholly, I think. Also, I think Trevor is on schedule to graduate this Spring. I believe Wall actually said something along the lines of he’d really like to play with Favors, as he knows how well he can play. The chant “Wall to Favors” at the open practice was classic!

  12. JeremyH 10/29/2008 at 11:00 AM #

    that link doesn’t work, btw.

    also, georgia schools probably have an edge, but being able to play with the other georgia players here and having wall feed him the ball would be good is an advantage also. let’s face it, the team would be absolutely disgusting with those two additions.

  13. SEAT.5.F.2 10/29/2008 at 11:07 AM #

    Favors seems destined for GT, but the silver line in the cloud may be that we will end up not having to wait around and put off being proactive.

    Saw the blurb about 7′ Russian playing stateside. At a NBA sponsered event he opened eyes with skills and hands for a big man. That was the good, but the not so good was “looked out of sync when the game was up tempo” or something to that effect.

    Sid needs to find an approach to his version of a college basketball and stick with it. You say you want up tempo and you sign Marques Johnson. You say this time we’re really going to push it and you look at this guy as plan B as the only C you would have on the ’09 roster.

  14. PacknSack 10/29/2008 at 11:14 AM #

    I like the fact that while either GT or UGA seem like a lock, he visited Raleigh, and Raleigh only, outside of his state. It doesn’t mean much, really, but it does throw up a flag that maybe staying in-state isn’t bankable yet.

  15. Noah 10/29/2008 at 12:12 PM #

    The eastern european guy is Ruslan Pateev. I’ve never seen him play, but I will add that if people’s exposure to him is limited to his appearances at basketball camps, you’re probably looking through the wrong end of the lens.

    Those camps are where spectacular athletes really make a name for themselves. There’s not a lot of structure, there isn’t a lot of defense and the game really favors people who can thrive taking someone else off the dribble.

    Several years ago, I was watching such a camp with a bunch of other folks. One guy mentioned that a particular recruit (who was lighting it up) wanted “to play in an uptempo offense.” Someone else quipped, “Translation: I want to dunk, jack up threes and never play defense.”

  16. JeremyH 10/29/2008 at 1:24 PM #

    Well Noah I think Sid’s hook is that he knows first-hand what type of molding it takes for a player to make it to the NBA, and he helped make it happen for J.J. The up-tempo offense I’m sure is apart of that pitch. He can equip these young men for their future jobs. I hope Favors realizes there is plenty of room for him to shine on next year’s team, and his addition to it would take the team further in the tournament than if he were to join Tech.

  17. ncsu_kappa 10/29/2008 at 2:49 PM #

    While I really hope we get them both, I’m not holding my breath anymore. A friend of mine writes for ESPNRise and ESPN the mag and he told me that its almost a done deal for GaTech. The fact that he came to visit says alot about Sid (who I’m not sold on as a coach/leader yet) He boy said that one of Favor’s fellow friends, whom is now a recruit for another triangle school, told him that Favors is probably going to Tech.

    I’m still keeping my fingers crossed. Can’t hurt to hope… generally speaking

  18. packalum44 10/29/2008 at 4:27 PM #

    I read all the time that Sid is special b/c he put J.J. in the NBA. However, what college coach can’t say that? If anyone is bored, maybe you could prepare a pros/cons worksheet for the three competing schools, GA, G. Tech, and NC State. This is how most people make decisions, whether it be consicously or not. I’ll get it started and add to it.

    NC State:
    Pros:
    Head coach with NBA head coaching experience
    Put JJ in NBA
    Good connections to Atlanta
    Charming, somewhat charismatic
    Good recruiter, especially in ATL
    The best B-Ball arena in the ACC
    Awesome, hungry fans
    Immediate playing time

    Cons:
    Little success to date as a head coach
    Coaches a bad team with a bad reputation
    Winning is not a given

    GA Tech and GA, don’t have time right now but fire away if interested

  19. Matthew 10/29/2008 at 4:39 PM #

    Last weekend, several people on one of the Tech sites reported seeing Favors at a practice. (Same weekend he was supposed to be in Memphis). If that is true, it probably doesn’t bode well for us.

    Still, who knows. Anything can happen. A couple of years ago, we were hoping for Hickson, T. Smith, or C. Wright, and none of them seemed very likely. Sid reeled in two, and almost all three. Hopefully, he can get at least of these guys. Either one would be a HUGE addition for our program.

  20. McLovin 10/29/2008 at 5:04 PM #

    I don’t know why but I feel NC State got completely dissed by the AJC:

    “He took official visits to Georgia Tech and Georgia… and a recruiting trip to North Carolina State”

    I know its subtle – and hell it may not even matter in the long run – but Favors didn’t just take a “recruiting trip” to NC State. He took an official visit. And for the AJC to call it something different just seems obnoxious to me.

    I’ve been called over-analytical before…

  21. McLovin 10/29/2008 at 5:06 PM #

    I may also be a little frustrated that these rumors actually seem plausible 🙁

  22. JeremyH 10/29/2008 at 7:52 PM #

    ncsu_kappa, i hope you’re wrong. and how could anyone besides him and his very inner circle know, at this point..

  23. ncsu_kappa 10/29/2008 at 9:10 PM #

    I couldn’t agree with you more JeremyH. I hope I’m wrong too. But my friend has interviewed John W. plenty of times and said he is still up in the air. I think if we have a semi descent season we may be able to snag him. But on to favors, my friend said that one of the recruits who played ball with Favors alot at the elite bball camps has said that he of course doesn’t know where Favors is going to go ultimately. However he was leaning towards GaTech enough thats where he thought he was going to to go. My friend also thinks this same recruit/informant who shall remain nameless is going to commit to Duke over GaTech.

    What does it ultimately mean? Absolutely nothing but if you were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet everything you had on Favors coming. I’m a loyal state fan so trust me, I want him hear just like the next man. I’ve just learned to temper expectations in the Lowe era. So now I can be excited by the small “we almost won, we’ll get them next time” moral victories.

  24. Classof89 10/30/2008 at 8:42 AM #

    ^
    moral victories? Last time I checked, you don’t get anything for finishing 2nd in recruiting except a bad taste…just ask Les Robinson…

  25. redfred2 10/30/2008 at 9:47 PM #

    I wouldn’t come down too hard on the AJC, hell, NC State’s own hometown fish wrapper didn’t even report the story until later.

    “I’ve just learned to temper expectations in the Lowe era. So now I can be excited by the small “we almost won, we’ll get them next time” moral victories.”

    What in the hell is that all about???

    “learned to temper expectations in the Lowe era”

    Oh so, all of your expectations were being met before now, huh?

    So now I can be excited by the small “we almost won, we’ll get them next time” moral victories.”

    “NOW” you say, if Herb Sendek’s entire ten year tenure at NC State was anything, it was less than the equivalent of a “moral victory”.

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