Next Beasts of Big East: Gathers & Noel Are Two of SU’s Top Targets
D.A. | Dec 19, 2011 | Comments 11
Ricardo Gathers and Nerlens Noel remain two of Syracuse’s top basketball targets this winter. After a whirlwind of signings spanning the past two months, a handful of top 100 recruits remain uncommitted. Since mid-July, SU has offered a scholarship to 4-star small forward Gathers, and before that the ‘Cuse named young star Noel a top priority for 2013.
The Orange secured landmark center D.C. 2.0 and top 50 forward Jerami Grant, while hoping prospect Isaiah Whitehead stays interested in SU despite the Fine scandal. Here’s the latest on the Next Beasts of the Big East:
Ricardo Gathers/SF/Laplace, LA
Riverside Academy
Height: 6′ 7″ Weight: 240
Gathers remains uncommitted as of now, but has three schools on his list: LSU, Syracuse, and Oregon. LSU is the local favorite to land the 30th best recruit in the country. His brother Greg said Gathers needs to be completely committed to leaving home if he chooses anyone but the Tigers, since Ricardo has already backed off from St. Johns in early November:
“You want to be 100 percent sure with leaving Louisiana and going to New York. At this point in time [Ricardo] wasn’t totally sure about his decision in going to New York.”
We’ll see if another New York school can overcome distance to grab Gathers. The Fizz pointed out the SF is just the type of player Jim Boeheim loves: big, aggressive, with a solid jumper. Recruiting insider Adam Zagoria told The Fizz in early July that he had a hunch Gathers might end up in Orange.
Nerlens Noel/C/Tilton, NH
The Tilton School
Height: 6’10″ Weight: 205
N2 is a central piece of SU’s 2013 recruiting class: the Orange has gone after him since this summer. Although Noel told Fizz Radio he wouldn’t reclassify to make himself available this year, the ‘Cuse is recruiting him hard. Problem is, so are a list of other powers. Pitt, UConn, Kentucky, Florida, G’town, and Kansas all have offered. Noel is the No. 2 center prospect in his class for a reason, scouts say.
“Noel is one of the better shot blockers in the 2013 class. He gets off the ground quick, has extreme length and is a tremendous athlete. His skill set has developed and he’s a terrific passer from the high post.
Good news is, Noel said the Fine scandal is one thing that won’t deter him from coming to SU:
“Well if it was Coach Boeheim it’d be a different story, but I wouldn’t stop looking at them based off of what an assistant coach may have done years ago. I don’t think that’s fair.”
It’s difficult to tell Noel’s level of interest in SU because he’s still very early in the recruiting process. But SU has made Noel a top priority for ’13, and to consider a starting five with both D.C. 2.0 and N2 is sweet music to Orange Nation’s ears.
Posted: Jake Moskowitz
Filed Under: BB Recruiting • Featured
http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/12/18/billy-donovan-watches-ricardo-gathers/
Gathers doesn’t even mention he has an offer from Syracuse. Seems pretty slim that we get him considering that
And how is it difficult to tell Noel’s level of interest in SU? He went to our midnight madness this year and has a lot of his BABC teammates being recruited by us and playing for us currently. I’m pretty sure it’s easy to tell he has a high interest in Syracuse.
I gotta say if we see Nerlens talking about us in June, I think it’ll be safe to say were still tops for him.
Gathers isn’t getting recruited by us.
We are very high on Nerlens list and his teammate Goodluck Okonoboh’s. Goodluck may commit here first with Nerlens to follow.
Hey DA Did your DOUGIE T-shirt sell out for Christmas. LMAO!!!!!
Good article. I’m guessing Gathers goes to LSU. Lots of pressure (and likely a payoff) to stay at home, so it would be a surprise to see him come to SU. We have signed guys like Josh Pace from the deep South, so that’s not an impediment. I’d like to think that we have a good shot with Noel, based on his attendance at Midnight Madness and all his positive tweets and pictures that night and the following days. Playing time shouldn’t be a huge issue with Noel as it appears that Baye’s ceiling is pretty limited and Rakeem and Dajuan (I’m not calling him DC, yet) will be mainly playing PF. As always, there could be an under the radar recruit that SU is working on that will outshine any of the players mentioned in the story. We have two top notch recruiters in Coach Hopkins and Red Autry. Gmac is still learning, and they have Boeheim to close the deal when needed. SU should be looking for at least one more guard starting in 2013 and I haven’t heard much about one. I suspect that 2013 will be Dion’s last year and MCW could be following him to the NBA in 2014. Cooney is more of an off guard, so we need to focus on a ballhandler in either the 2013 or 2014 classes. I’m assuming the coaching staff is keenly aware of that, and are recruiting accordingly.
What chad said I havent seen any place talk about gathers bein intrested in the ‘cuse since he signed in nov. With st.johns. Noel would be huge.
Hey guys– Good note on N2, he has shown interest in SU, I think that the part that remains uncertain is if there is official word from SU as far as their interest in him. Obviously he’d be a huge fish to land, and it’s true we’ve been seeking him out since June, so those are convincing arguments for why Noel is the ‘Cuse’s #1. As far as Gathers, ESPN reports that SU has officially made an offer. No word on whether Gathers is taking it up yet. http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player?id=97995&_slug_=ricardo-gathers
LSU seems like the logical decision for him, though.
yeah SU isnt on gathers list anymore, about 98% sure of this. There listed as an offer but that ship has sailed the second he commited to st johns and when he re-opened his recruitment he did not mention su. I wouldnt even make sense to go after him at this point su will be stacked with PF’s who are going to be about 100 times better then him when he plays next year, with xmas and coleman. If he plays the 3 in college could replace joseph, but with coleman and xmas likley playing the 4, fair, grant, and southerland are already in line. SU already looks completely stacked for next year to and will likely have higher expectations then this year, only thing i could see hurting is if waiters gos pro but even then have MCW and triche who when running the point has played like a pro prospect.
Also i think a combo of landing coleman an the fine situation has given the recruitment of noel a big blow, was all about su before, now him goodluk, and seldon are all about that dirtbag from kentucky
Noel went to our Midnight Madness, and I believe he is taking an official visit on February 10, or 11.
I think he has a lot of interest in Syracuse, but the playing time won’t be available right away. He’d have to fight with Melo, Keita, Christmas, and Coleman. If it weren’t for playing time, I think he’d be locked up already.
Because teams like UCONN and Kentucky could give him more playing time right away, I think he has a tough choice on his hands. Hopefully he makes the right choice, and commits to Cuse.