Re: tOfficial MSU Basketball Recruiting Thread: Class of 2016 (Part I)

[Turtleneck]

2016 Offer Jayson Tatum, who is one of the top recruits in the class of 2016 writes monthly entries for the USA Today where he is "chronicling everything from intimate details about his recruitment to his everyday life in a monthly blog." Nothing about MSU. MSU is not really in the mix for his services (he seems very interested in the usual suspects: UK, KU, UNC, and Duke). Just thought I would post the link since he is an MSU offer.

http://usatodayhss.com/2015/jayson-tatum-espn-jayson-tatum-chaminade-college-prep-jayson-tatum-recruiting-highlights

Also from USA Today is a write-up on 2016 Offer Josh Langford (from late January). MSU is in the mix for his services. Langford is a top 20/25 player in the class of 2016.

http://usatodayhss.com/2015/gatorade-national-poy-watch-josh-langford-is-ready-to-be-a-household-name

[Turtleneck]

Rundown of Swanigan's game from the Cal SB Nation site. Includes video. Good news, he has a high basketball IQ.

Basketball IQ. He plays the game with intelligence and is very aware of his surroundings. With his large hands he able to make simple passes out of double teams to open teammates, and also to teammates making basket cuts. It's also easy to see that he plays to what the defense gives him. He neither tries to force a specific way to the basket, nor settles for a jumper upon catching a pass. Caleb always makes the first move and then attacks on his second depending on how the defense adjusts themselves. He also realizes when to run the break and gets out in transition pretty well.

http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/2/10/8009861/scouting-report-caleb-swanigan-Cal-mbb-recruiting-kentucky-michst-purdue-indiana

[Turtleneck]

Sounds like MSU and UM are going head-to-head for a 2016 five star from Alabama.

Ranked No. 16 by 247Sports and in the 247Sports Composite, Langford has had a tremendous season. At 6-6, 200-pounds, his powerful driving game has been complimented by 40 percent plus shooting from behind the arc this year.

Michigan and Michigan State have been the trending picks in his Crystal Ball.

http://247sports.com/Bolt/Michigan-turning-up-heat-on-2016-five-star-35660317

[NigelUno]

Sounds like MSU and UM are going head-to-head for a 2016 five star from Alabama.



http://247sports.com/Bolt/Michigan-turning-up-heat-on-2016-five-star-35660317

This is a little out of my recruiting territory, but I'll see what I can do.

[Turtleneck]

This is a little out of my recruiting territory, but I'll see what I can do.

Thank you. In the meantime, put the call out for an Alabama coordinator.

[NigelUno]

Thank you. In the meantime, put the call out for an Alabama coordinator.

Maybe Nick or Bobby could help us out.

Keeping my eye on Kobi Simmons and some kids at Wheeler too. I'm kinda busy.

[The_Dude]

Lets hope MSU doesn't strike out on these 2016 studs like we did the last few years.

Winston and Bridges =

[Turtleneck]

By the way, Winston made an unofficial visit to MSU on Saturday. If you're into crystal balls, it sounds like MSU has a good shot at landing Winston.

[Other Teams Pursuing That]

By the way, Winston made an unofficial visit to MSU on Saturday. If you're into crystal balls, it sounds like MSU has a good shot at landing Winston.

Who doesn't like crystal balls?!

[Guest]

The Solid Verbal ‏@SolidVerbal 50m50 minutes ago

Rivals will soon start scouting hypothetical future children based on a couple’s physical attributes. Feel free to tweet at those recruits.

[Turtleneck]

Article on Paul VI high school team with comments from 2016 offer VJ King.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/recruiting-insider/wp/2015/02/17/paul-vi-boys-basketball-surges-on-the-court-and-on-the-recruiting-trail/

[Heat Miser]

Sounds like MSU and UM are going head-to-head for a 2016 five star from Alabama.

Ranked No. 16 by 247Sports and in the 247Sports Composite, Langford has had a tremendous season. At 6-6, 200-pounds, his powerful driving game has been complimented by 40 percent plus shooting from behind the arc this year.

Michigan and Michigan State have been the trending picks in his Crystal Ball.

http://247sports.com/Bolt/Michigan-turning-up-heat-on-2016-five-star-35660317

Does his family/coaches need jobs? If so, we're in trouble.

[NigelUno]

The Solid Verbal ‏@SolidVerbal 50m50 minutes ago

Rivals will soon start scouting hypothetical future children based on a couple’s physical attributes. Feel free to tweet at those recruits.

Actually, I think Rivals is now releasing rankings on 6th graders.

[Guest]

Actually, I think Rivals is now releasing rankings on 6th graders.

Yes, they're at least "monitoring" them, thus that tweet.

[Turtleneck]

Can we get the three recruiting threads pinned? The 2015 and 2016 FB threads, and this one?

[Turtleneck]

Swanigan will be at tonight's Duke/UNC game as part of an official visit to Duke.

From the class of 2015, 5-star center Caleb Swanigan is on campus for an official visit. Swanigan is a 6’9”, 265-pound big man from Indiana who’s considered one of the top post players in the 2015 class. He’s also being heavily recruited by Michigan State, Kentucky, and many other top programs.

Swanigan could get some persuading from Luke Kennard, a fellow 5-star prospect in the class of 2015 who’s already committed to the Blue Devils and will also be in attendance for tonight’s game.

Read more at http://dukereport.com/duke-recruiting/duke-basketball-big-night-for-recruiting-with-unc-game/daldridge/#S3Rr3tSzVQvlkh4k.99

[steveschneider]

Swanigan will be at tonight's Duke/UNC game as part of an official visit to Duke.

From the class of 2015, 5-star center Caleb Swanigan is on campus for an official visit. Swanigan is a 6’9”, 265-pound big man from Indiana who’s considered one of the top post players in the 2015 class. He’s also being heavily recruited by Michigan State, Kentucky, and many other top programs.

Swanigan could get some persuading from Luke Kennard, a fellow 5-star prospect in the class of 2015 who’s already committed to the Blue Devils and will also be in attendance for tonight’s game.

Read more at http://dukereport.com/duke-recruiting/duke-basketball-big-night-for-recruiting-with-unc-game/daldridge/#S3Rr3tSzVQvlkh4k.99

I hate duke.

[Turtleneck]

Scout's top 100 list features three players from the state of Michigan.

2017 F Brian Bowen. Bowen had an unofficial visit to MSU at the beginning of the month.

2016 PG Cassius Winston. Winston also had a recent unofficial to MSU.

2015 C Deyonta Davis, who we all know is committed to MSU.

2016 F Miles Bridges, a Michigan native, is also on the list. Bridges has so far been very interested in MSU.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/606350879841951/three-michigan-high-school-basketball-players-crack-scoutcoms-ultimate-100-prospects-list/

[Turtleneck]

MSU staff were present to watch 2016 SG Josh Langford. Also in attendance was Beilein.

The five-star Madison Academy recruit had 15 points and seven rebounds in a 60-42 win over Winfield, but the true buzz around Tom Drake Coliseum centered around who was there to see him. Michigan coach John Beilein and Auburn's Pearl were in the house by tipoff, while Alabama's Grant joined the party at halftime.

Grant and Pearl spent much of intermission chatting near media row, not even 24 hours after the Tide came out on top in basketball's Iron Bowl.

Members of Michigan State's coaching staff, among others, were also on hand to take in Langford's talents. The junior definitely didn't disappoint, piling on his production before hitting the bench early in both halves with the outcome all but decided.

http://www.cullmantimes.com/sports/northwest-regional-tournament-langford-puts-on-mvp-performance-in-front/article_aa144d1a-b7c8-11e4-baa6-b3e0f77ca439.html

[steveschneider]

Time to pay some street agents.

[steveschneider]

Time to pay some street agents.

BTW, how does one become a street agent? I hear there's some good money in this racket.

[Turtleneck]

Izzo and Stephens were on hand to watch 2015 C Caleb Swanigan, who scored 30 points in his teams 2nd loss of the season.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Homestead hadn’t lost a game to a team from Indiana all season, but that changed Friday night with a dominant performance by Snider as the Panthers left Aboite with a 81-68 win over the 4A no. 2 Spartans with Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Purdue’s Matt Painter among the onlookers.

Jessie Bates scored 22 points to lead Snider while Logan Godfrey added 20 points as Snider used a rugged inside game to top the Spartans. McDonald’s All-American Caleb Swanigan led Homestead with 30 points.

http://wane.com/2015/02/21/220-highlight-zone-izzo-painter-watch-snider-top-homestead/

The USA Today has a write-up on Swanigan as well. Five years ago, we weighed 360lbs. Today he is 6'9 and 260lbs.

It’s hard to believe the Homestead senior weighed 360 pounds when he moved to Fort Wayne nearly five years ago, sporting a physique more suitable for an offensive tackle than a basketball player. Fortunately for Swanigan, his desirability increased as his size diminished and he’s captured the interest of plenty of Division I colleges that would love to land him. His current 6-foot-9, 260-pound frame is a testament to the work ethic and sheer determination he has displayed to not only lose the weight, but also mold himself into Indiana’s top-ranked Class of 2015 recruit.

http://usatodayhss.com/2015/gatorade-national-poy-watch-caleb-swanigan

[xsanguine]

Just seems like the kind of player we haven't been able to get in recent memory...

Still got my fingers crossed.

[Turtleneck]

Izzo shares some thoughts on Davis, and it sounds like he was in Alabama watching or visiting Langford as well.

Izzo said Davis has come a long way since he first saw him as a sophomore. Izzo is allowed to talk about recruits once they sign a national letter of intent.

“I just think from the first time I saw him on this floor in practice one time Keith (Guy) had me down two years ago, he was a skinny, scrawny little guy and didn’t work that hard,” Izzo said. “Those guys, the people at this school, have done an unbelievable job both athletically and academically. I’ve watched him grow as a person. I’ve watched him grow as a student, I’ve watched him grow as a player.”

Izzo compares Davis to former Spartan and current NBA player Adreian Payne.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-12398154622907341/msu-coach-tom-izzo-watches-prize-recruit-deyonta-davis-from-muskegon/

Edit: Izzo watched Langford in an Alabama state tournament game. 247 still has MSU and UM as his leaders. You know, crystal balls and stuff...

2016 five-star combo guard Josh Langford filled up the stat sheet in leading Madison (Ala.) Academy to the finals of the state tournament. Six schools were on hand for the action.

Michigan State (Tom Izzo), Georgia, Alabama, Gonzaga, Virginia and Vanderbilt watched the 6-6, 200-pound Langford go for 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocks in the semifinal win.

http://247sports.com/Bolt/Plethora-of-schools-watch-Josh-Langford-advance-to-finals-35835607

[Turtleneck]

Swanigan off to visit Cal (not the coach).

http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/2/24/8106147/california-kansas-arizona-kentucky-purdue-michigan-state-louisville-pitt-creighton-recruiting

[NigelUno]

Izzo and Fife watched Langford yesterday. Beilein was not there...kind of strange since UM has the week off.

[Turtleneck]

Izzo and Fife watched Langford yesterday.  Beilein was not there...kind of strange since UM has the week off.

Beilein watched him last week. However, so did Stephens from MSU. This was the second time MSU watched Langford in the past two weeks. Did UM send any assistants this week?

[NigelUno]

Beilein watched him last week. However, so did Stephens from MSU. This was the second time MSU watched Langford in the past two weeks. Did UM send any assistants this week?

I think Fife actually saw him last week. Stephens was with Izzo watching Swanigan. I don't think any UM guys were at Langford's game yesterday. The weather in Atlanta might keep some coaches (Beilein) away from watching Brown tonight.

[Turtleneck]

I think Fife actually saw him last week.  Stephens was with Izzo watching Swanigan.  I don't think any UM guys were at Langford's game yesterday.  The weather in Atlanta might keep some coaches (Beilein) away from watching Brown tonight.

Just looked at the 247 updates, and MSU has watched him three times since the 11th. Izzo also visited him in January. If you buy what 247 is selling, competition is between Duke, UM, and MSU.

[Turtleneck]

Swanigan becomes his school's all time leading scorer.

• Homestead's Caleb Swanigan, one of the frontrunners for IndyStar Mr. Basketball, became the program's all-time leading scorer in a win over Fort Wayne Northrop on Tuesday. The 6-8 Swanigan, one of the country's top uncommitted seniors, will take an official visit to Cal this weekend according to Scout.com.

http://www.indystar.com/story/recruiting-central/2015/02/26/high-school-notes-ali-patberg-all-american-girls-semi-state-schedule-caleb-swanigan-visit/24056967/

[Turtleneck]

Which one of you is Frank?

Q: I feel like Coach Izzo, despite all of his success, has struggled lately (perhaps because the shine of the last NCAA championship now having faded since it was 15 years ago) to recruit top players, especially of the "one-and-done" variety. Many of those players have been lost to Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke. How difficult is it for MSU, and any other "football school" that also has a great basketball program, to convince top players to come play for them instead of the"basketball school" elite? -- Frank

A: I think there's a little something to this, but if we're ranking reasons why Michigan State has lost out on its share of key recruits over the past few years, I don't think I'd put this one at the top.

It is true that most of the blue blood college basketball programs are at places where football is an afterthought. You see the fanaticism at places like Kentucky and Kansas and maybe that's hard to match when your football team is in the national conversation.

But I also think there are benefits for a basketball program to have a strong football counterpart. Michigan State uses football weekends all the time as recruiting tools, as do other sports. And by the time college basketball really matters (ie: now), there's little going on in the football world.

Maybe some recruits are wowed by a school's total devotion to basketball. I think many more choose based on recent a program's history of success, track record of getting to the NBA and how they feel they fit in with a coaching staff and philosophy.

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/02/ask_austin_wading_deeper_into.html

[Turtleneck]

Josh Langford's Madison Academy team gets big win.

The Mustangs drilled 10 3-pointers and cruised to a 75-51 victory over Piedmont in the 3A state championship game tonight at Legacy Arena at the BJCC to complete a season sweep of in-class foes.

Five-star junior shooting guard Joshua Langford earned tournament MVP honors with a near triple-double. He recorded 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks after a slow start in the Mustangs' semifinal win over Montgomery Academy on Thursday.

http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/987606845387092653/madison-academy-75-piedmont-51-joshua-langford-dominates-as-mustangs-roll-to-class-3a-championship/

[Turtleneck]

Cal dreams big....

http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/2/28/8127151/cal-basketball-recruiting-ivan-rabb-caleb-swanigan-davon-dillard-video-highlights

Caleb Swanigan (scouting report): If Rabb can play from all spots on the court, the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Homestead center can be the big body that turns Cal into a national powerhouse. Already plenty fluid and able to play like a typical NBA four. Michigan State is the team to beat, and there are other major national programs who will play their hands. But the allure of Swanigan playing with his friend Rabb as INSTANT Cal starters could be too good to pass up.

Hilight video from the link:

[NigelUno]

Oh, here it is.

But, this is for MSU recruits, right?

So, shut it.

[Turtleneck]

Oh, here it is.

But, this is for MSU recruits, right?

So, shut it.

I asked management if the recruiting threads could be pinned, but no luck. Anyway, good point. It is a thread for MSU recruiting. Brown does have an offer from the school in Ann Arbor so it is helpful that you are scouting potential future opponents. Thank you for your efforts.

[NigelUno]

I asked management if the recruiting threads could be pinned, but no luck. Anyway, good point. It is a thread for MSU recruiting. Brown does have an offer from the school in Ann Arbor so it is helpful that you are scouting potential future opponents. Thank you for your efforts.

I don't think he's going to UM, but I could be wrong. My guess is he's waiting to see how UK's roster shakes out for next year. Kansas or UNC or UCLA seem to be the options after that. But, UK and KU haven't really visited him in awhile. He's supposed to be the #2 kid in the country. Thought I better put an effort in. Just in case. ReCROOOOOOOOOTING!!!

[Turtleneck]

Sounds like he is leaning toward UK, but you never know if a job might open up at UM for a parent.

[NigelUno]

Sounds like he is leaning toward UK, but you never know if a job might open up at UM for a parent.

The first half, I was like...this kid is the #2 player in the country?  Not seeing it.

In the 2nd half, he had 2 pretty impressive plays...and I was like...OK.

Slasher, decent handle, not a great outside shot, can jump through the roof.

Basically Klevon Trorbert.  Except a little taller.

Wheeler's big didn't play for some reason (he's going to OSU), so the kid got doubled a little.

[Turtleneck]

Swanigan will play in the Jordan Brand Classic.

http://wane.com/2015/03/06/caleb-swanigan-to-play-in-jordan-brand-classic/

Swanigan also took in the win versus Purdue, and it marks the 3rd time he has been to EL this season.

http://michiganstate.247sports.com/Bolt/Five-Star-Swanigan-In-East-Lansing-Again--36012725

[Other Teams Pursuing That]

Swanigan will play in the Jordan Brand Classic.

http://wane.com/2015/03/06/caleb-swanigan-to-play-in-jordan-brand-classic/

Swanigan also took in the win versus Purdue, and it marks the 3rd time he has been to EL this season.

http://michiganstate.247sports.com/Bolt/Five-Star-Swanigan-In-East-Lansing-Again--36012725

That article from 247 seems like it was written by a kid in middle school

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