The July recruiting period for NCAA coaches is a grueling one. Traversing the country to see the best high school players participate in various AAU Tournaments, coaches spend their days in gyms watching basketball, and nights often in low budget hotels on a hard double bed with nary a chocolate or mint in sight. One D1 coach who I know because I am cool and famous told me the other day that in the span of a few weeks in July he will have traveled to Indianapolis, Akron, Dallas, Augusta, Orlando and Las Vegas, all to watch various players that his school is interested in recruiting and not talk to them. At all.
Indeed, what's funny about this whole thing is that, according to NCAA rules, coaches can't even talk to the players or their AAU/high school coaches until these brief tournaments are over, so basically for the entire time the coaches are sitting there watching the players, that's really all they are doing aside from ferociously texting or playing Words With Friends on their mobile devices. For coaches and the schools they represent, the key is having the player they are recruiting be able to see them in the stands sporting their school's gear. Just being there is really all that matters.
July Recruiting and Georgetown's Targets after The Jump:
Today, the 2011 Peach Jam tips off, which is one of the better AAU Tournaments in the July recruiting period. Players from teams around the country will all assemble in one gym as coaches get to see them face high level competition, often for the final time before offers are extended and decisions about future incoming classes are made.
For Georgetown, this July period is especially an important one, since while the 2011 class is loaded with Otto Porter, Tyler Adams, Jabril Trawick, Greg Whittington and Mikael Hopkins, thus far Georgetown's only Class of 2012 commit is forward Brandon Bolden, currently ranked in the 90s in the top 100 prospects. Assuming Hollis Thompson leaves for the NBA after this season, the Hoyas will have three scholarships to hand out for Class of 2012 individuals.
Coach Thompson recently returned from a recruiting visit to Mississippi to see small forward Devonta Pollard, and my sources on the ground at the Peach Jam tell me that Coach Kirby is in the house. Here's a list of seven prospects at the Peach Jam that Georgetown will be eyeing very closely:
BABC (MA): Nerlens Noel - Shot blocking center, highest priority in the Class of 2013, one of the the top 10 players in the class.
Boo Williams (VA): Troy Williams - Dynamic scoring wing player one of the top 10 players in the Class of 2013. His aunt is Hoyas women's Coach Williams-Flournoy.
Playaz Basketball Club (NJ): Kyle Anderson - Versatile 6'8" PG/ point forward, biggest priority for the class of 2012, looks like he's down to Georgetown, St. Johns or UCLA and will be announcing in September.
Playaz Basketball Club (NJ): Myles Davis - Class of 2012 knock down shooter.
Spiece (IN): D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera - Class of 2012 strong combo guard, Georgetown on final list.
Team Takeover (DC): BeeJay Anya - Class of 2013 local post product with freakish wing span, reminds people of Mike Sweetney,
Team Takeover (DC): James Robinson - Class of 2012 point guard from DeMatha whose stock is rising.