Looks like a pretty good crew to me. I think those two Texas HS guys look like they could turn out to be the kind of guys we build our program around – JaDarius Davis in particular. At 6'7", 225 lbs. already, he'll be probably the most physically imposing guy we've had since moving up. Already looks like a grown-ass man, and he'll only get bigger/stronger. Looks like just about the right type of guy for Corliss to be able to teach some tricks of the trade to. And the dude has LUFKIN tattooed down the length of his upper arm, so you know he's a badass. According to what I found through the Googling, he had offers to Texas A&M and Oklahoma State and also bench presses north of 300 lbs. Doesn't sound like a guy you want to pick a fight with.
Davis also
evidently has a half brother who is also a half brother to Texas Longhorn star and Green Bay Packer tight end Jermichael Finley and former Texas A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane. Not sure how that all works out and if he is also a half brother to those two or not, but he at least comes from some sort of athletic stock.
And then there's
this from ESPN - a scout's take from a bigtime summer showcase prior to his junior year:
Quote:
Jadarius Davis, F (6-6, 210)
Junior, Houston/ Lufkin
Davis is a tad undersized for the 4/5 position, but Davis plays with reckless abandon at both ends around the basket. He did an excellent job defending the much taller Evan Anderson and showed no signs of being timid when he attacked the basket. His post moves are raw and he needs to sharpen his footwork, but he has the heart and athleticism to compete at the mid-major level or higher with more skill development.
And that was prior to his Jr. and Sr. years of HS ball with some AAU time thrown in – you would figure he's had some skill development since that was written.
Here's something on Ball, from ESPN as well...
Quote:
Ellis and the Mustangs call Ball “the head of the snake,” because he leads the team on the floor and does a bit of everything, averaging 16 points, five rebounds and 5.3 assists. Built like a strong safety, the 6-foot-2 point guard can post up and bull smaller guards right into the lane.
Sonnier has already signed with Arkansas-Little Rock, while Ball has received interest from Stephen F. Austin and Santa Clara.
“They’re both dynamic players, and they not only have the ability to score by themselves, but to find way to get their teammates shots,” Ellis said. “It’s not just about how much they score. They always seem to keep a steady head.”
Obviously I haven't seen the guys play, but just based on their numbers, where they come from and the kind of stuff written about them, it seems like they'll be guys who can step in and contribute immediately as freshmen. The two junior college guys you would hope to be able to do the same. Jackson from LR Central was a ranked as a national Top 150 prospect earlier in his HS career - not sure about later, couldn't find anything definitive. But he played at a loaded JUCO and while his stats from there aren't great I don't think that really means a lot about what kind of player he is. The guy in front of him went to UCLA. Last I checked, that's a pretty solid program.
With the Rutledge guy, you get a 6'4" guard who is versatile in how you can use him on the floor, and he's got good JUCO experience and had good numbers. And you have to love Corliss' quote about him...
Quote:
We believe he can play three positions in our system. I coached against him last year and was really impressed by his will to compete. Taking charges, playing defense, diving for loose balls, whatever it takes to win, Mark does it."
I can't wait til around this time next year when Corliss and his staff have had a full year to recruit instead of trying to play catch-up in a two-month span.
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