Mailbag: Anderson is versatile
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At 6-8, will elite 2012 prospect Kyle Anderson grow out of his point guard position in the coming years?
How does Khem Birch's move from the 2012 class to the 2011 class affect his ranking and the 2011 Pittsburgh ranking?
After landing top 50 prospect Savon Goodman, where does Villanova's 2012 recruiting stack up nationally?
These questions and more are addressed by National Recruiting Analyst Jerry Meyer in this week's mailbag.
Anderson comparisons
I wondered what your thoughts are on Kyle Anderson. Do you think he's better off staying as a point guard or transitioning to the wing over the next two years? He's talked about looking at tape on the Bobcats' Shaun Livingston, but is that a fair comparison? Thanks very much.
- Ed from Irvington
Anderson is one of the players who breaks the static mold of basketball positions. Offensively, he has the skills of a point guard, but defensively he doesn't have the foot speed to defend a quick point guard.
Basically Anderson is a player who can play any position offensively. Regardless at what position Anderson is labeled, he is a player who is best at facilitating the offense. Although Anderson is capable of putting up big numbers as a scorer what makes him special is his ability to create plays and distribute the ball.
So I like him best playing more in the middle of the floor as either a point guard or a face up four-man.
At 6-foot-8, Anderson continues to grow and could end up around 6-foot-10. More than likely, he does end up a four-man and not a point guard like Livingston. Nonetheless, there are strong similarities between the two as tall playmakers with exceptional basketball IQs.
Pitt and Birch
Because Khem Birch is coming to Pitt in 2011, will that change the ranking for its class? Where would Birch rank? He was fourth in 2012. Where is he in 2011?
- Frank from Pittsburgh
Adding Birch to Pittsburgh's 2011 class places that class right behind Rutgers as the No. 5 class in the Big East and the No. 16 class nationally.
As for where Birch's individual ranking, it is likely he will be ranked somewhere between No. 8 and No. 12 when the 2011 Rivals150 is updated.
Tar Heel targets
With Cody Zeller signing at Indiana, do you look for the Tar Heels to sign Adjehi Baru or Angelo Chol? And how do the three compare with each other?
- James from Charlottesville
North Carolina is working on both Baru and Chol, but it is no guarantee that the Tar Heels will land either one of these post players.
A number of sources surrounding Baru's recruitment feel that the College of Charleston is the team to beat in his recruitment. Maryland has also been pursuing Baru heavily.
Chol is down to Alabama, Kansas, Washington, Arizona and North Carolina. Chol visits North Carolina at the beginning of the new year, and it will take a lot of effort for North Carolina to pull Chol out of the West and away from schools that have been recruiting him over the long haul.
Zeller is the most talented player of the three. His skill level is well beyond that of Baru and Chol and he can hold his own against them physically. Baru is the most athletic and active of the three. He plays with a mean streak and is a physical defender and rebounder. Chol is a potential talent but will need time on the collegiate level to develop in all areas.
UConn bounceback?
Will UConn's victory of the Maui Invitational be a springboard in the relatively slow start to this year's recruiting class?
- Brian from Boston
Connecticut has been struggling in recruiting, and Jim Calhoun couldn't thank Kemba Walker enough for how his play has galvanized the program out of the mire of negative public perception.
It's impossible to say exactly how UConn's blistering start will affect recruiting. There isn't a lot left in 2011, and UConn was already in a strong position with Michael Chandler, the travel team teammate of UConn's lone signee, Ryan Boatright.
There is no doubt, however, that UConn's strong play this year will help it greatly in the 2012 and 2013 recruiting efforts.
Super Nova in 2012
With Savon Goodman's pledge to Jay Wright and the Villanova Wildcats, in addition to committed PG Ryan Arcidiacono, where does their 2012 class rank nationally?
- Matt from Langhorne
A total of 26 prospects in the 2012 Rivals150 are committed to 18 different schools. Villanova is one of five schools along with Indiana, Michigan State, Miami and Purdue with multiple commitments out of the 2012 Rivals150.
At this point I'd give Indiana's four-man class the top spot. Highlighting the class are five-star prospects Hanner Perea and Kevin Ferrell. Michigan State's class of three four-star prospects would be next. Villanova would then follow at No. 3 with its two top 50 recruits.
Jerry Meyer is a national basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. Click here to send him a question or comment for his mailbag.
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