Meyers Mailbag: Breaking down Carson
Advertisement
Previous mailbags
Got a question? Click here to send it to Meyer's Mailbag
Is Jahii Carson's game comparable to 2010 five-star prospect Joe Jackson?
Is 2012 No. 1 ranked prospect Andre Drummond destined for Connecticut?
And how is Pittsburgh doing with its 2012 recruiting class?
These questions and more are addressed by National Recruiting Analyst Jerry Meyer in this week's mailbag.
Carson comparisons
Do you see any similarity in Jahii Carson's and Joe Jackson's game? Who would you give the edge to and who has more NBA potential?
- Terry from Memphis
Carson and Jackson do have similar games. Both are lead guards who can distribute but specialize in scoring. They are on the small side but make up for it with their athleticism and instincts.
On the defensive side they are both tenacious on the ball defenders with excellent lateral quickness. They also have a knack for picking up steals.
Jackson, who will be a freshman at Memphis this year, does have a couple advantages over Carson, who is a 2011 Arizona State commitment. Jackson is a little longer and a little more explosive athletically than Carson. Otherwise, their games are pretty much a wash.
UConn leads for Drummond
Is Connecticut leading for Andre Drummond, 6-foot-11 basketball player at St. Thomas More Prep in Connecticut, or is he wide open?
- Lenny from Glastonbury
Put it this way. I would be somewhere between surprised and shocked if Drummond did not end up at Connecticut. The Huskies were there from the beginning of his recruitment, the first to offer him and there are strong regional connections.
Drummond's recruitment likely follows the path of Austin Rivers' recruitment after his decommitment from Florida. Duke was the first school, even though other schools were placed on the list and entertained as possibilities.
What's next for Duke?
Now that Duke has landed Austin Rivers, they are a lock for being a top five class, correct? Also, are you expecting any other commits for Duke? Maybe Quinn Cook or Quincy Miller?
- Justin from Boston
Despite how the recruiting chips fall for the class of 2011, it is difficult to envision this Duke class as it stands falling out of the top five. At this particular point in the race, Duke has the second-best recruiting class behind only Kentucky.
Duke has a marquee talent and prodigious scorer in Rivers to go along with a borderline five-star prospect in Michael Gbinije. The frontline is then covered with physical four-star big man Tyler Adams and athletic four-star post player Marshall Plumlee.
As for more 2011 commitments for Duke, Cook is the most likely possibility. The main question is whether or not Duke is going to officially offer Cook. With Miller, it appears that Louisville and Baylor are the frontrunners in his recruitment.
The Thomas debate
Why is Adonis Thomas so low? There aren't 14 better players than him. He has dominated all summer long and is one of the most athletic players in the class, so why do you have him 15? He should definitely be in the top five or 10.
- John from Memphis
Thomas is a great player, and I definitely wouldn't look at his No. 15 ranking as low. He is an outstanding defender, a strong finisher at the rim and a great overall player in the open court.
In the halfcourt, Thomas is good, but it isn't his strong suit. The two forwards - Branden Dawson and P.J. Hairston - ranked right ahead of Thomas both have specialties in the halfcourt game. Dawson is a rebounding specialist and Hairston is a scoring specialist with deep range. These specialties in the halfcourt give them a ranking edge on Thomas.
Pitt looks good for 2012
How is the 2012 recruiting class for Pitt shaping up? Does Jamie Dixon have a shot at any of the Rivals top 25?
- Pittmir from Indianapolis
Dixon is off to a fabulous start recruiting the 2012 class. One of the more athletic big men to come around in a while, Khem Birch, the No. 4 prospect in the class has already committed to the Panthers. With a relentless motor and bouncy athleticism, Birch is a potential Dennis Rodman/Kenyon Martin type player.
Pittsburgh also has secured a commitment from New Zealand big man Steven Adams. A four-star prospect Adams most recently impressed at the August adidas Nations in Chicago.
A logical addition to balance this class would be Birch's travel team teammate Ricardo Ledo. The No. 7 ranked prospect in the 2012 Rivals150, Ledo is a big-time athlete with a versatile perimeter game at 6-foot-5.
Jerry Meyer is a national basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. Click here to send him a question or comment for his mailbag.
[rl]