Hoops: Simmons enjoys visit; Flowers out

Two new developments over the weekend in USF's basketball recruiting, first being that Mott Community College guard Jeremie Simmons said he enjoyed his official campus visit to Tampa, but will still visit at least one more school.

"It was great. I like the guys," Simmons wrote Sunday in an e-mail to the Times. "They've got some good guards down there. It's easy to play with them. I enjoyed myself."

While Simmons is still very much in play, another junior college standout, Chipola College power forward Gary Flowers, won't be signing with the Bulls this spring, or anywhere for that matter.

Chipola coach Greg Heiar said Monday that Flowers -- who had USF and Seton Hall as his top choices -- has decided to return for a second season at Chipola rather than sign with a four-year school.

"He could graduate this summer, but he wants to play another year here and help us win a national championship," Heiar said. "That's what he wants to do, and he'll get another year to mature and develop, so when he does to Division I basketball, he can do it with a big splash."

That could very well be true, but it also seems likely that he either was not in position to fulfill the academic needs to jump to a four-year school, or sought a higher level of team than was recruiting him. USF has power forwards Eladio Espinosa and Gene Teague coming in, so this might have been anticipated by Bulls coaches.

The spring signing period starts in two weeks, and USF seems high on the list for Simmons, a prolific scorer who would further bolster a deep backcourt for the Bulls.

"From all indications the visit to USF went well," Mott coach Steve Schmidt wrote Monday in an e-mail to the Times, saying that Simmons will visit Butler as planned and possibly one or other schools.

There's a new name I can offer in USF's pursuit of a top-line center or two for next season: The Bulls are among seven schools being considered by Krys Faber, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound center from Los Angeles.

Faber is an incredible rebounder, having averaged 17.5 rebounds per game as a senior in addition to 16 points and 5.5 blocks per game. He's already visited Minnesota and Northern Illinois and is due to visit DePaul on April 10, with UCLA, USC and St. John's also in the final mix. He nearly signed with Minnesota back in November, but then again hasn't committed to Tubby Smith's program in the months since.

"He likes to bang, likes to rebound, but he also has a nice 15-foot shot," said Ribet Academy coach William Middlebrooks. "We're interested in Stan Heath and everything he's been able to do as a coach. It could be a good fit for us."

Middlebrooks, who knows  Heath well from his time in Detroit, said Heath was in the process of getting out to Los Angeles for a home visit with Faber, and a campus visit could follow from there. Ribet, for the record, is pronounced rib-AY, though somebody there has a good sense of humor, as the school's mascot is the Fighting Frogs.

-- Former Bull Update: Guard Solomon Bozeman, transferring after two seasons at USF, has narrowed his choices to three schools: Georgia State, Arkansas-Little Rock and Tulsa. We'd mentioned Georgia State from the start, because Bozeman had signed with Rod Barnes out of high school at Mississippi. Bozeman visited GSU this weekend and was hosted by another former Bull, guard Dante Curry, who transferred there in December. He'll visit Little Rock on April 10 and likely Tulsa after that ...

Comments

[The Champ]

Looking at the NCAAT there shouldn't be any doubt that USF needs a player like Simmons.

For the last 20 years it seems that you win with guards.As I said before and will continue to say USF needs to get Simmons and just sign 2 bigs that can rebound, defend, catch and finish at the rim.No need for a BIG that needs the ball fed to him in the post everytime down the floor.

I hope Simmons realizes while USF has a number of guards on it's roster, they don't have anyone like him.Simmons shoots 91% from the FT line and 43% from the 3pt line, meaning wheather he starts or not he will be on the room to finish games because of his ability to knock it down.

If Simmons is not the type that is afraid of numbers then he will sign with USF, if numbers scare him then he will sign with another school, maybe Butler.

[AGW]

I agree that we need Simmons because of his ability to score. He will be similar to what Mercer is supposed to bring us next year. They should make a nice combo. Add that to the Jones and Verdejo combo at the other guard and possibly McMillan at the point and the guard positions at USF will be pretty well stocked. I hope he commits soon.

[AGW]

Teh part of the story that really intrigued me was about Faber. I have heard a lot about him in recruiting circles and would be a nice fit at USF, although I have heard he wanted to stay on the west coast. Maybe not? If USF can get any of these 3 big guys we will be in a great position in the future, Maurice Sutton, Frank Ben-Eze, Krys Faber, Steve Goins and Juan Patillo. Go Bulls!

[AGW]

With Flowers moving to the 09' class you can add him, Jenirro Bush (remember him the old Arkansas commit), Kenny Boynton, Raymond Taylor, Clanton and the Georgia boys to our watch list for next year. Watch out Big East, USF is on the uproar. Also, any word on Aris Williams during workouts this past week G.A.?

[mike]

AGW, where did you hear we are recruiting Kenny Boynton? If this is true, it would be tremendous to land him

[AGW]

Yeah, I heard that USF was going hard after Kenny and his PG teammate Raymond Taylor a 5'7 lightning quick playmaker. Also, don't forget about Teeng Akol as another 08' prospect. That's 6 possibilities. All we need are 3 to commit. Hopefully, we can shot 50% from the field. Its been hard in the past for USF hoops. Maybe, this year with Heath at the helm that will change starting in the offseason, recruiting.

[Old School]

GA,

How about an update piece on BB. Waldon, Altron Jackson, Cedric Smith, Chancey Asbury, Reggie Kohn, and Will Mcdonald. Thats a group of guys who hold a ton of CUSA records. It would be nice to hear of them being successful after they came so close so many times at USF.

[The Champ]

Oh no horrible news on the recruitment of Simmons, THE Ohio State University and their head coach Thad Matta are now going after him.

Not what you want in a battle for Simmons having this school going after one of your prize recruits.

FYI OSU is already getting commitments from kids in the 2010 class which they are almost finished with.They have two 5 star prospects committed for that class.

I would much rather USF deal with UCONN in the recruitment of prospects.

[Dave W]

17.5 boards and 5.5 blocks?!?!. That is serious talent, but more importantly, serious attitude right there. He would be awesome in the Big East, especially with his bulk. It takes a mean streak to be succesful as a rebounder. KG had it, and it sounds like Faber does as well.

Simmons, Mercer, Verdejo, and Jones wouold take a lot of shots combined. I like that. They would be good for 50-60 points per night. However, I think a C is more important than Simmons right now (not saying that I don't want him, but in the big picture, we at least have some talent at G).

Flowers is either looking for an ultra-high scholarship offer, or won't get into USF or the Hall. Remember, an AA no longer guarantees admittance into USF. I would have preferred Flowers over Teague, though.

[The Champ]

We need a shooter badly.As I said earlier while we have some very quality guards in McMillan, Jones, Mercer, and Verdejo, neither brings shooting to the table like Simmons.Just so have it that Simmons is very athletic with good handles making him a better then perfect fit into the system Stan is trying to put in place here.

I'm telling everyone if USF goes into next season without someone that knock it down from the FT and 3pt lines consistently things are going to be very difficult offensivily.I believe Heath knows what that is like coaching a team w/o at least one shooter.USF will potentially be one of the best transition teams in college basketball, but you still have to play some halfcourt ball.

If USF can get Simmons, Faber, and whoever with the 3 scholarships remaining then that would be fantastic.We would be a team on the raise next season and be damn good in the '09-2010 season as Heath predicted months ago.

[The Champ]

G.A. the homies at George Mason said that Sutton was suppose to visit along with Simmons this past weekend, but since you didn't mention him I take it he didn't visit.

When does Sutton come in and who else is lining up a visit for this coming weekend?

[Reality]

Dave W is correct. You would rather have flowers than anybody else in the country currently unsigned. He would have been the best player to ever put on the Green and Gold. Evidently, 2 things are in play with flowers. He would have had to go to summer school wherever he went, and seton hall is having alot of issues between the coach and the AD.

If Kenny Boynton comes to school at USf, I will never post here again. That is confidence that I will be around to bother The Champ!

So Champ, are you saying that Matta is involved so it looks better when USF gets the kid?

[Butler Fan]

I didn't realize that USF has a basketball team. You guys should be more concerned with Simmons wanting to sign with Butler, where he has been recruited since early in High School!

[Reality]

Hey Butler Fan,

Oh yes, and we have a real sport in football too. You are not in our league.

[reality]

Double Reality is back. And I agree, USF is not in Butler's league.....we are wayyyyyyy below them.

[AGW]

If Simmons doesn't sign, we already have a possible transfer to ake his spot as USF's shooter. His name is Nate Rakestraw. He was a freshman this year at Arkansas and a Stan Heath recruit. Here's the link: http://nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/63733/

[The Champ]

Nate would not be a replacement for Simmons for no other reason then he will have to redshirt a year, while Simmons would be eligible for the '08-'09 season.

I have seen Rakestraw play a couple on times on the summer AAU circuit and he was great, so much so he earned a scholarship offer from Heath who at first wanted Nate to walkon.

Nate was a 6-5, 220 pound SG that used his size to gain an advantage over his defenders, but Hog coach Pelphrey doesn't like players under 205lbs, yes that includes Bigs, so he had Nate like the rest of Heath recruits loose a lot of weight.Dropping 30lbs probably didn't help him at Arkansas plus the broken finger meant that he should have been redshirted.

Now what Heath has to decide is how many scholarships he wants for the '09 class and does Nate have the potential to play in the backcourt along with the other guards he has and plan on bringing in.

Also something else to consider is there are going to be other transfers available this offseason as well, so I would imagine Heath wants to see how everything shakes down before jumping to a decision on Nate.