Whispers: Arizona duo overlooked

MOREWHISPERS:Daniels|Richardson|KU

WhatisinterestingabouttherecentlyannouncedJordanBrandClassicrostersisn'tsomuchwhomadetheteambutwhodidn'tmaketheteam.JustaswasthecasewiththeMcDonald'sAll-AmericanGame,ArizonasigneesJosiahTurnerandNickJohnsonareleftontheoutsidelookingin.

TurnerandJohnsonnotmakingtheMcDonald'sgamewasn'tthatsurprising.TurnertransferredhighschoolsundercloudycircumstancesandthoseinpowerontheMcDonald'sselectioncommitteeoftenfrownonsuchsituations.

Yetoff-the-courtissuesdidn'tkeepLanceStephensonandRenardoSidneyoutofthegameduringtheirseniorseasons.EvidentlyitdidkeepTurner,whoistheNo.2pointguardandNo.10overallprospectintheRivals150,outofthegame.

Johnson,whoispresentlyrankedNo.40intheRivals150,hasarguablybeenthebestplayeronnationalpowerHenderson(Nev.)FindlayPrepandhashisstockclearlyontherise.Johnsonprobablygotcaughtupinapositionalnumbersgame.TheMcDonald'sgamehasvotersvotebyposition,andtheshootingguardpositionisbyfarthestrongestpositioninthe2011class.

Five-starshootingguardJabariBrownandhighlyrankedfour-starshootingguardsLeviRandolphandTrevorLaceydidn'tmakethegameeither.

Brown,however,didmaketheJordanBrandClassic.TurnerandJohnsondidn'tmaketheClassicdespiteplayingononeofthetopNiketravelteams,alongwithBrown.

TheprevalentthoughtintherecruitingworldwasthatNikewouldcertainlygettwoofitsownintheJordanBrandClassicafterseverallower-rankedprospectsmadetheMcDonald'sAllAmericanGameoverthem.

ArizonafansarehopingtoseeTurnerandJohnsoncometoArizonawithachipontheirshoulders,readytoprovetothebasketballworldthattheyshouldhavebeenincludedintheseall-stargames.

Downtoeight

Classof2012four-starprospectJ.P.Tokotohadasubparshowingonthetravelteamcircuit,butitcertainlydidn'thurthisrecruitment.The6-foot-5smallforwardoutofMenomoneeFalls(Wisc.)isnowfocusedoneightschools:Connecticut,Kansas,Kentucky,Marquette,Maryland,NorthCarolina,UCLAandWisconsin.

Top25commitment

NationallyrankedUtahStatelandedacommitmentthisweekfrom6-foot-8,255-poundCroationIgorPremasunac,whoisaveraging10pointsandeightreboundsforLonMorrisJuniorCollege.

PremasunachadinterestfromCaliforniaandColoradoandoffersfromArkansas-LittleRockandCentralMichigan.

Backonboard

A6-foot-7wing,AbdelNaderisnolongerapartofthe2011NewMexicorecruitingclass.Hehasopenedbackuphisrecruitment,leavingNewMexicowithatwo-manrecruitingclassofDominiqueDunningandCheirAjou.

Newwrinkle

Hereisthelatestwrinkleintherecruitingsagaoffive-starprospectDeAndreDaniels.MultiplesourcesoutofMinnesotaaresayingthattheGophersaremakingheadwayintherecruitmentofDaniels,whohasfamilyconnectionsinMinnesota.SourcesclosetoDanielsandoutsideofMinnesota,however,feelitisunlikelythatDanielswouldendupatMinnesota.

Regardless,moretwistsandturnscanbeexpectedinDaniels'unusualrecruitment.

Athletic6-foot-5smallforwardandIowaStateClickCoachesfromGeorgiaTechClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink.,OklahomaStateClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink.andUSCClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink.wereallatEdmond(Okla.)SanteFeonTuesdaytocheckinwithRivals150prospectJoshRichardsonClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink..HeretoviewthisLink.signeeElginCookClickCoachesfromGeorgiaTechClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink.,OklahomaStateClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink.andUSCClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink.wereallatEdmond(Okla.)SanteFeonTuesdaytocheckinwithRivals150prospectJoshRichardsonClickFreethrowsHeretoviewthisLink..HeretoviewthisLink.isreclassifyingfromthe2011classtothe2012class.

Class of 2012 wing prospect Wally EllensonClick Class of 2011 point guard Jaquez MotleyClick Here to view this Link. put up 33 points Tuesday night in front of coaches from Jacksonville and South Carolina-Upstate. Motley recently visited Clemson and Wright State and Sam Houston State have recently shown initial interest.Here to view this Link. has picked up offers from Holy Cross and Cal Poly. Ellenson currently has offers from a number of mid-major schools.

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