Here you go: Basketball recruiting update ...

With basketball season over for USF, recruiting moves to the forefront as Stan Heath works to make the most of the spring signing period, which begins April 16. Hard to say how many scholarships he has to play with in the next month, but the Bulls are all over the place, in play for as many as 10 recruits. And that's just the ones I'm aware of ...

I'll start with Hillsborough Community College standout Keith Brumbaugh, probably the name you'd hear most atop the wish list of Bulls basketball fans. HCC coach Derrick Worrels said he spoke with Heath on Tuesday, and USF is trying to get Brumbaugh lined up for a visit. He hasn't scheduled any to any schools. Here's the thing with Brumbaugh: USF's primary competition isn't Connecticut and Charlotte, the other two schools recruiting him hardest. It's the NBA. Worrels said Brumbaugh is weighing whether to enter the NBA Draft, something he nearly did out of DeLand High School. He's trying to get a sense as to whether he'd be a second-round pick or a free-agent signee, whether he'd likely spend a rookie season deep on an NBA bench, or getting more minutes in the NBA's developmental league. So right now, the decision he's making isn't where to go to college, it's whether to go to college. He was torn with this out of high school and ultimately chose the college route. (The Grizzlies were at HCC on Tuesday, asking about Brumbaugh, who plays this weekend in a Florida-Georgia junior college all-star game in Jacksonville.)

Brumbaugh likes USF and Heath, and recognizes that Tampa is a place where he's been able to play basketball and stay out of trouble. There's a mutual interest here -- when Brumbaugh played his final game at HCC, USF's Kentrell Gransberry and other players were watching in the stands; when USF finished its season against Notre Dame on Saturday, Worrels said Brumbaugh was there watching.

Another big target for USF, Chicago Curie center Steve Goins, is expected to make his official campus visit this weekend, according to Curie assistant Larry Wallace. Goins had once been scheduled for the previous weekend, but this coincides with his spring break. Connecticut is trying to set up a visit with Goins, who plans on visiting Texas-Corpus Christi the following week, according to Wallace.

If there's a prep big man USF seems to covet as much as Goins, it looks to be Maurice Sutton, a 6-foot-10, 190-pound power forward from Largo High in Upper Marlboro, Md., east of Washington, D.C., and near Andrews Air Force Base.

Largo coach Lewis Howard said Heath made a visit last week -- the Bulls are in the mix, as well as Kentucky, Seton Hall, Villanova, Marquette and Boston College. Sutton has Largo in the state semifinals for the second year in a row -- they play Thursday night in the Comcast Center, and Howard he expects USF to have a coach there then as well. Sutton is averaging 18 points and 13 rebounds a game and close to a triple-double with his blocks. Of all the recruits USF is in on, he seems to have the most impressive list of competing schools.

An update on Jeremie Simmons, the coveted guard from Mott CC in Flint, Michigan: Heath was there Friday and is trying to line up a campus visit. Mott coach Steve Schmidt, who has known Heath since he was a Michigan State assistant, said USF got in on Simmons later than other schools but is fighting for him and "very interested." The leader looks to be Butler, which is the only school he's lined up a visit for. Tennessee is trying to move in, as are Alabama, George Mason and Dayton. Mott is playing in the national junior college tournament in Danville, Ill., which starts a week from today.

Another name on USF's radar, but seemingly less so than others we've mentioned: Alex Rivas-Sanchez, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound center at Pratt Community College in Kansas. Talked to his coach there, Trevor Rolfs, and he said USF assistant Byron Samuels has been recruiting Rivas-Sanchez, who in turn is interested in USF, as well as Pittsburgh and Florida Atlantic. He's from the Dominican Republic and likes the idea of living in a warm climate, Rolfs said. Rivas-Sanchez is more of a defensive center, averaging 9.0 points and 12.5 rebounds a game. "He's a shot blocker, really bouncy, runs the floor very well," Rolfs said.

One name that shows up on Rivals.com's USF database -- but doesn't seem to be on the Bulls' radar -- is Michael Selling, a power forward from American River CC in California. His coach there said he hadn't heard from USF in some time and wasn't aware of any USF coaches attending Selling's games. His top choices are Northern Arizona, Chaminade, Seattle and Texas-San Antonio, so scratch him off your list.

USF remains on the short list for College of Southern Idaho forward Juan Pattillo, another potential impact signee -- a story in Wednesday's Twin Falls Times-News lists his options as "South Florida, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Ole Miss and Colorado State."

All this, and we haven't touched on Teeng Akol or Freddy Asprilla or Gary Flowers or Zvonko Buljan, all of which are still uncommitted and being mentioned with USF. Lots of names in play here in the next month, so we'll be busy keeping track of everybody ...

Comments

[Ari Hinkelberber]

Greg Auman is a peabody award winner..

Keep up the good work Auman. I don't believe a word that guy from the Tribune says about you.

You're first class.

[Dave W]

6'10" and 190? That doesn't even show up on a Body-Mass Index. He'll give McHugh a run for skinniest player ever. You just have to wonder how strong could that guy possibly be. Could he push the bruisers in the conference around like KG? I think we need a shot-blocking big (these guys tend to be skinny) and a rebounder (strong, if not glued to the floor).

[The Champ]

As of early January Sutton stands at 6-11 and weights 210lbs according to the numorous articles I've seen.Sutton already weights about what Hakim Warrick did at the 'cuse.He did alright as I remember.

[happy happy joy joy]

Greg,

Your blogs rock. I think I soil my pants everytime I see a long blog talking football or basketball.

[knightsrulebullssuck]

UCF would smoke USF in basketball. Why r u scared to play us? We will be playing in the NCAA's after we win the CUSA Conferense.

[DELdaBULL]

Even though USF's (my) basketball team is really bad we already beat UCiF this year. Actually we are on a 9 game win streak. Please go to your O-town blog.

Great job GA. You are the best at this right here!

[Paisa el Toro]

Greg, great update! Lot's of good information. Silly knight, UCF got waxed by USF this year. Have fun playing pygmie to the Memphis Elephant in your sloppy seconds of a conference. The Big East in basketball, top to bottom, has got to be one of the most competitive.

[UCF sucks]

USF would be second behind Memphis if they still played in CUSA. USF beat UAB (2nd place in CUSA) and beat 4th place UCF. UCF needs to give up there obsession with equaling USF. In the days of BB Waldon and Altron Jackson, USF routinely smoked UCF by 30 pts. UCF should focus on beating CUSA basketball powerhouses like SMU and RICE, haha.

[UCF Sucks]

Greg,

Could you give us an update on some former players; Altron Jackson, BB Waldon, Will Mcdonald, Terrance Leather, Cedric Smith, Chauncey Asbury, and Reggie Kohn ????

[UCF Sucks]

their

[J]

UCF Sucks, glad you corrected yourself. If you hadn't, people may have confused you with knightsrulebullssuck. Conference ends with a "ce," not an "se."

[USFMike]

In the Patillo article, there was a mention of Terry Fields making an official visit to South Florida. Any info on him?

[G.A.]

Good eye, Mike. Can't tell you much on Fields, who is a 6-6 guard averaging 6.2 points off the CSI bench. Without knowing anything else, would be surprised if he were offered a scholarship at this point.

[reality]

I told you guys KB was NBA bound!

Greg, next year, do you get to go to the BET? It is nice if you do......you and the Rutgers beat writer must be excited!

[Ari Hinkelberber]

When you watch the Big East Tourny its like we aren't even in the conference..

So funny. Nobody from our team is EVER mentioned. WE are like the ugly step child that the father only talks to during dinner time.

Just sad.

[reality]

It is entertaining to read all these UCF bloggers. By definition, you only blog on another school's blog if you are jealous of that school and feel that you are inferior. If you thought that you were better, why bother reading their blog. For example, I do not know if a UCF blog even exists nor do I care.