Three weekends later and basketball’s July Live Recruiting Period has finally come to a close. So what have we learned about SMU’s priorities in 2016? Let’s take a look at we learned from Live Period.
Priorities for SMU in 2016
With Simeon Carter looking as though he is headed elsewhere, SMU has five scholarships to work with in 2016. Before the Carter news, a source told TheHillTopics. SMU wanted to add two bigs in the 2016 class. While SMU might prefer three bigs, the staff will likely take the best player available with the fifth scholarship spot. The other two priorities for SMU in 2016 are a point guard to replace senior Nic Moore and a wing playmaker.
Who is high on SMU’s wish list?
For the point guard position, the object of SMU’s desire is four-star Team Final prospect Tony Carr, a source tells the HillTopics. The guard is a dynamic playmaker and a talented scorer with a variety of ways to score. The second choice would be three-star Andrew Jones, who plays more at the two but could easily be converted to a point guard. Jones’ recruitment is picking up steam, however, and could be a tough land.
After Carr and Jones, the list falls off a bit. Skylar Mays and DaShawn McDowell are on the list but the staff is not as hot on either prospect because of some inconsistencies in their game. One player the staff liked during Live Period is Texas PRO guard Alex Hobbs and an offer could be coming soon for him, a source says.
On the wing, the priority is clearly five-star NY Rens shooting guard Mustapha Heron, whom SMU watched regularly over the Live Period. Heron would not only represent the first five-star commit since Emmanuel Mudiay but SMU’s first recruiting victory in the Northeast in Larry Brown’s tenure. Three-star small forward Quinton Rose is up on the list too and is strongly considering SMU. Four-star small forward Lamar Stevens recently cut down his list and included SMU. He is a volume shooter and the second option for the staff at the position but LB would gladly take him if it meant his Team Final and Roman Catholic teammate Carr came with him.
The local option at the position is three-star forward Cameron McGriff, an athletic up-and-down three who SMU watched multiple times during Live Period. Five-star guard Terrance Ferguson is another local player that the staff is working on hard but despite Ferguson’s desire to take an unofficial visit to SMU it is unlikely that the Mustangs will be one of the final players in Ferguson’s recruitment.
The power forward and center slots are little more wide open than the other positions. Five-stars Jarrett Allen and Marques Bolden and four-star Schnider Herard are still players that SMU is in contact with constantly attempting to get them to stay in-state but recruiting battles for such high-profile big men are always an uphill battle.
Three-star power forward Romello White picked up an SMU offer after the first weekend of Live Period and is a player SMU would like to get on campus. He is a strong post-up player and has the athleticism to be a dynamic pick-and-roll player. Four-star power forward Mamadi Diakite is a player SMU offered earlier this spring and is really high on but there is concern from the staff that they got in too late in Diakite’s recruitment. Diakite has a deep appreciation for Larry Brown’s place in history and likes the way SMU plays, however, and the Mustangs could earn an official visit from the big man.
A local player SMU is in on is three-star center Nate Morris but he is lower on the list than most of the other players. Three-star forward Clevon Brown earned an SMU offer after his performance at GASO and is the type of rim protector SMU needs to replace Yanick Moreira. Three-star center Mike Layssard also picked up an SMU offer this Live Period but seems like a late signee who will wait to see how his interest picks up during the season.
So who will visit?
Tony Carr, Mustapha Heron, Quinton Rose and Lamar Stevens have already confirmed they will take official visits to SMU. Mike Layssard and DaShawn McDowell both are planning unofficial visits.
Priorities for SMU in 2016
With Simeon Carter looking as though he is headed elsewhere, SMU has five scholarships to work with in 2016. Before the Carter news, a source told TheHillTopics. SMU wanted to add two bigs in the 2016 class. While SMU might prefer three bigs, the staff will likely take the best player available with the fifth scholarship spot. The other two priorities for SMU in 2016 are a point guard to replace senior Nic Moore and a wing playmaker.
Who is high on SMU’s wish list?
For the point guard position, the object of SMU’s desire is four-star Team Final prospect Tony Carr, a source tells the HillTopics. The guard is a dynamic playmaker and a talented scorer with a variety of ways to score. The second choice would be three-star Andrew Jones, who plays more at the two but could easily be converted to a point guard. Jones’ recruitment is picking up steam, however, and could be a tough land.
After Carr and Jones, the list falls off a bit. Skylar Mays and DaShawn McDowell are on the list but the staff is not as hot on either prospect because of some inconsistencies in their game. One player the staff liked during Live Period is Texas PRO guard Alex Hobbs and an offer could be coming soon for him, a source says.
On the wing, the priority is clearly five-star NY Rens shooting guard Mustapha Heron, whom SMU watched regularly over the Live Period. Heron would not only represent the first five-star commit since Emmanuel Mudiay but SMU’s first recruiting victory in the Northeast in Larry Brown’s tenure. Three-star small forward Quinton Rose is up on the list too and is strongly considering SMU. Four-star small forward Lamar Stevens recently cut down his list and included SMU. He is a volume shooter and the second option for the staff at the position but LB would gladly take him if it meant his Team Final and Roman Catholic teammate Carr came with him.
The local option at the position is three-star forward Cameron McGriff, an athletic up-and-down three who SMU watched multiple times during Live Period. Five-star guard Terrance Ferguson is another local player that the staff is working on hard but despite Ferguson’s desire to take an unofficial visit to SMU it is unlikely that the Mustangs will be one of the final players in Ferguson’s recruitment.
The power forward and center slots are little more wide open than the other positions. Five-stars Jarrett Allen and Marques Bolden and four-star Schnider Herard are still players that SMU is in contact with constantly attempting to get them to stay in-state but recruiting battles for such high-profile big men are always an uphill battle.
Three-star power forward Romello White picked up an SMU offer after the first weekend of Live Period and is a player SMU would like to get on campus. He is a strong post-up player and has the athleticism to be a dynamic pick-and-roll player. Four-star power forward Mamadi Diakite is a player SMU offered earlier this spring and is really high on but there is concern from the staff that they got in too late in Diakite’s recruitment. Diakite has a deep appreciation for Larry Brown’s place in history and likes the way SMU plays, however, and the Mustangs could earn an official visit from the big man.
A local player SMU is in on is three-star center Nate Morris but he is lower on the list than most of the other players. Three-star forward Clevon Brown earned an SMU offer after his performance at GASO and is the type of rim protector SMU needs to replace Yanick Moreira. Three-star center Mike Layssard also picked up an SMU offer this Live Period but seems like a late signee who will wait to see how his interest picks up during the season.
So who will visit?
Tony Carr, Mustapha Heron, Quinton Rose and Lamar Stevens have already confirmed they will take official visits to SMU. Mike Layssard and DaShawn McDowell both are planning unofficial visits.
