Coaches Busy Visiting Prospects

Before we set sail to Houston for the Kingwood Classic, we thought we’d leave a quick glimpse of what’s been going on around the country in terms of visits and recruiting rumblings. Coaches from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference-USA, Pac-10 and Mountain West were all on the road and visiting prospects across the country.

A number of high major programs have been hot on the trail of Charlotte, N.C. forward Jamie Skeen. Wake Forest’s Skip Prosser came to North Mecklenburg High School on Tuesday to evaluate the class of 2006 prospect. NC State head coach Herb Sendek will stop by on Friday.

Buzz Peterson of Tennessee, Florida coaches and members of the Clemson staff will travel to the school next week to see Skeen in an open gym, according to North Mecklenburg head coach Duane Lewis. He also said North Carolina has been trying to get down to Charlotte to make a visit as well.

Skeen continues to grow into an elite player. Last weekend at a local AAU event, the 6-foot-8 forward scored 70 points in two games, including eight three pointers in that span. He will play with the Carolina Celtics on the AAU circuit, making a stop at the Tournament of Champions in late May.

Sources have told us Wake Forest and NC State are on the verge of offering a scholarship.

SCHOOLS VISITING FLORIDA PLAYERS

New University of Miami head coach Frank Haith wasted little time getting on the recruiting trail, sending members of his staff to see Adrian Thomas and Christian Soto.

The Hurricanes have also been busy with Brooklyn native Cliff Clinkscales. The senior point guard spoke to the school this week and plans on an official visit sometime next week. Clinkscales will suit up for the New York Panthers this weekend at the Kingwood.

The University of Nebraska continues to work the South as they visited scoring guard Jermaine Taylor. UMass will stop Tavares High School on Thursday to see Taylor. Maxwell Dubois hosted South Cal on Wednesday.

Alex Ruoff had originally planned his first official visit to Virginia Tech this weekend but decided to postpone his trip to Blacksburg in order to play at the Kingwood Classic. A new visit date has not been reset. The University of Georgia saw Ruoff at the Capitol Invitational and called on him this week.

After shining in Washington D.C., a member of the Arkansas staff called on Jermonte Bush. Florida made a visit to Boyd Anderson High School to see Ryan Reid. The two, along with Ruoff, will get back to action on Friday at the Kingwood with the Tallahassee Wildcats.

MORE PLAYERS, MORE IN-SCHOOL VISITS, MORE TRIPS

Indiana and Oklahoma State stopped by Rainier Beach in Seattle, Wash. to check out Terrence Williams, the No. 69 in the class of 2005, in an open gym setting.

Louisville and Utah both visited Brighton High School and saw Salt Lake product Brayden Bell, the No. 50 player in the class of 2005, in action. The big man is one of the most sought after post players in the nation.

After opening his recruitment back up, former UTEP recruit Alex Galindo has become a top target for several high major programs. The No. 65 player on the Rivals150 will visit Pittsburgh this weekend. He will visit Kansas on May 7th.

Duke’s Coach K was in Washington state to see junior prospect Micah Downs in an open gym setting on Monday night. But his biggest recruitment of the month came on Wednesday night as he visited with his 2004 point guard signee Shaun Livingston. Can the Hall of Fame coach persuade the possible lottery pick to Durham, N.C.? We’ll see.