Turkish Import gaining high major offers

After a strong showing at the adidas Nations this summer in Dallas and strong performances in open gyms at his Beckley (W.V.) Mountain State Academy, Deniz Kilicli of Samsun, Turkey has picked up two high major offers and more are on their way.

Kentucky and West Virginia are the first to offer Kilicl a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward, after recent open gyms.

"USC and Texas have both called and I expect them both to be coming in this week," said Mountain State Academy head coach Rob Fulford. "UConn is coming tonight, and Marquette has also been in to see Deniz workout.

"He really played well at the adidas Nations in August and came away with comparisons to Luis Scola of the Rockets and Blake Griffin of Oklahoma. He is a physically dominating player who is good with his back to the basket. He's even more comfortable in the high post. Around the basket he finishes most everything with his left hand and shoots everything from the outside with his right hand."

Kilicli, who played for the Turkish U18 national team last year, might not be as athletic as some as the top big men in the class of 2009, but Coach Fulford his convinced that his skill level makes up for the difference.

"He does need to improve his lateral quickness to guard athletic four men, but he's also a major mismatch on the offensive end if he gets position in the post," said Coach Fulford. "He might not be as athletic as the top five or so big men in his class, but he is just as productive because he is more skilled."