Top 3 remain the same in AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Villanova drops out again.
Kansas, Duke and Tennessee remained the top
Kansas, Duke and Tennessee remained the top
By JACOB POLACHECK
Walker Kessler, the 6-foot-10 center from Woodward Academy (GA), broke down his recruitment for ZAGSBLOG Sunday. Kessler, who has taken official visits to Vanderbilt (Sept. 21) and Michigan (Nov. 2), broke down each school:
Vanderbilt: “I loved my visit. It’s a great school in a great area (Nashville). They have a great coaching staff. Simi [Shittu] and Darius Garland were both McDonald’s All-Americans and are great kids. So I liked it a lot.”
“They just said pretty much, ‘Hey if you come here, you’re going to be our guy. We’re going to run our offense around you.’ Similar to how they did with Luke Kornet.
Michigan: “Pretty much the same as Vanderbilt. It’s a great school with a great atmosphere. The coaching staff is great. They had the same pitch, but this time with Mo Wagner. That’s who they said I would play like and who they would run their offense through.”
Kessler will take his third official visit to Virginia next month (Jan. 5). He broke down his thoughts on Virginia.
“Obviously, they’re probably going to be a final four team this year,” said Kessler. “They are a great defensive team with a great coach, [Tony] Bennett. They have great facilities and are a great school overall. I just like the area also.”
By ADAM ZAGORIA
Josiah James, the 6-foot-5 combo guard from Charleston (S.C.) Porter-Gaud School, committed to Rick Barnes and Tennessee on Wednesday.
James chose the Vols over Clemson and Duke.
“Yes, I’m committing to the University of Tennessee,” he wrote in MoultrieNews.com.
James said he’s remaining loyal to the coach who offered him a scholarship when he was 13.
“Loyalty is something that goes deep with me. Relationships are everything,” he wrote. “When we got to Tennessee for my official visit, the whole coaching staff and all the players were waiting to meet me and my family. We played pickup with some of the team one morning while the coaches were still at breakfast. Lamonte Turner was guarding me and I remember I got by him one time but I got fouled on the layup. He pulled me aside and showed me a little trick to get more space at the rim. He didn’t have to do that. Little things like that matter to me, man.
“Coach Barnes sat in the gym with me for about an hour after. When I get tired, I start to sling the ball instead of having it in the high pocket. He noticed that right away and tried to help me fix it. I swear Tennessee has the best player development in the country. What other coach will sit in the gym with me for an hour and point out my weaknesses instead of just talking me up? That really stuck out to me on my visit. It wasn’t just a show.”
He explained why he chose the Vols over Duke and Clemson.
“It really isn’t anything against Duke or Clemson,” he wrote. “They both were great. Really great. But people always said when you know, you’ll know. And I knew. I already knew in my heart so I didn’t think it was fair to waste anybody’s time. That wouldn’t be a cool move on my part.”
James is a physical guard who likes to get to the hoop. He also is noted for excelling in transition as he displays great court vision. His length is another attribute that stands out away from other guards. His length helps on the defensive end as he plays great on ball defense.
By JACOB POLACHECK Chuks Isitua, the 6-foot-11 center
