A little mundane but it is a slow news day. Via Inside Carolina here is what the scholarship roster will look like for the 2011-12 season.
| Player | Class |
|---|---|
| Tyler Zeller | Senior |
| Justin Watts | Senior |
| John Henson | Junior |
| Dexter Strickland | Junior |
| Leslie McDonald | Junior |
| Harrison Barnes | Sophomore |
| Reggie Bullock | Sophomore |
| Kendall Marshall | Sophomore |
| James McAdoo | Freshman |
| P.J. Hairston | Freshman |
| Stillman White | Freshman |
| Desmond Hubert | Freshman |
| Jackson Simmons | Freshman |
Jackson Simmons, who committed as a preferred walk-on, will be on scholarship for 2011-12. I have no idea if that could change in subsequent years based on needs. The attrition after 2012 is going to be pretty significant so I imagine he will hold onto it. Here is the depth chart and scholarship slots based on current information for 2012-13.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2012 Commits | 2012 Offers | 2013 Offers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slots | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| PG | Kendall Marshall | Stillman White | Marcus Paige | L.J. Rose | |||
| SG/WG | Justin Watts | Dexter Strickland Leslie McDonald | Bronson Koenig | ||||
| C | Tyler Zeller | Desmond Hubert | Kaleb Tarczewski | ||||
| PF | John Henson | James McAdoo Jackson Simmons | Julius Randle | ||||
| SF/WF | Harrison Barnes Reggie Bullock | P.J. Hairston | J.P. Tokoto | Shabazz Muhammed |
In terms of definite open slots for the 2012 recruiting class there are three: Tyler Zeller and Justin Watts will graduate while Stillman White will leave for a two year Mormon mission. In terms of expected slots it is probable Harrison Barnes and John Henson both leave for the NBA which means UNC would have five slots open for 2012. At present UNC has two 2012 commits from PG Marcus Paige and SF J.P. Tokoto with offers to PG L.J. Rose, SF Shabazz Muhammed and C Kaleb Tarczewski. Rose and Muhammed would be redundant at this point and I would be surprised if either came to UNC. Tarczewski and possibly another big is the real focus for the rest of this class. Scout.com’s Evan Daniels said on Twitter earlier today that half of the 2012 top 25 could be centers which is good news for UNC who really needs to grab an elite big man or two to really round out the class.
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There is one wildcard with Shabazz (I think, but please double check me on this). IF the NBA switches from “One and Done” to “Two and Through”* then the overcrowding in the backcourt would be just as bad (or maybe even worse) at Kentucky and Duke as it is at UNC. Unfortunately, that might move Kansas to the top of the list but who knows, maybe he still picks UNC.
*(c) 2011 850inExile Productions
Apparently Shabazz has been told by UNC they will continue to recruit him but their priorities will shift to going after big men for the 2012 class. In other words they consider Shabazz a “be nice to have him” versus “we need him” kind of prospect.
Interesting that Simmons has been moved to scholarship status. The reason: 7-footer John Cannon a 3-star player from Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville, NC will announce his decision where he is going to play in college next week. Cannon is holding scholarship offers from and considering Georgia, Northwestern and Old Dominion. He is also considering an offer as a “preferred walk-on at UNC”.
Where in the heck is Burnsville?
Burnsville is a WNC metropolis… just kidding, but it is a small mountain town in WNC.
A place where you can live 10 years and still be the the “new guy”
Such a great season. It is going to be hard to realize that nothing of consequence will happen in UNC sports again until November. I did see this by Shane Battier in SI, and had to sign on to share, especially in light of his current achievements:
SI: Will you decorate [your children's] nursery with Memphis colors or Duke colors?
Battier: It’s always Duke. Duke is forever. That is my legacy. When I’m old, fat and gray, people won’t remember me for my NBA career as much as they will for my Duke career. Blue-and-white.
Harrison Barnes understands this. Joeseph Forte, Marvin Williams and Brandan Wright did not.
Barnes appears to understand the importance of legacy - at least he says all the right things. But if they don’t bring home the title next year, and Barnes bolts, is that really any more than what Marvin Williams did?
It also seems, from what he himself said, that his decision might have been different had Zeller and Henson decided to turn pro. So, while I like and appreciate all the things Barnes has done, to this point, he has a ways to go to etch a commanding place in Tar Heel history.
from this week’s Sports Illustrated, Dan Patrick talking to Shane Battier.
Patrick: Looking back at your college days, are you on the Mount Rushmore of taking fake charges?
Battier: I only faked half the time. I always said that the ability to draw the charge was essential to my career. People didn’t know if I was going to jump out of the way, if I was going to dive under them, if I was going to block their shot.
should be on the front cover of the dook basketball program.
lack of actual D. GIMMICKS.