Coach: Bulls backing off on forward Pattillo

Just as it looks like you have a USF update in one direction, the story goes the opposite way, as was the case today with the Bulls' pursuit of Juan Pattillo, a coveted forward from the College of Southern Idaho.

A story in Tuesday's Oklahoman quotes CSI coach Barret Peery as saying that Pattillo was visiting USF this weekend, that his top options are "mainly South Florida and Oklahoma." But a call to Peery on Tuesday shows a new twist, as Pattillo's visit to Tampa has been cancelled, with a trip to Kentucky now planned instead.

"They're backing off," said Peery, noting that USF had not rescheduled the visit. "I think they're going in a different direction."

USF already has two freshmen coming in at forward, with Eladio Espinosa signed and Gene Teague committed. This could be a sign that Stan Heath is focusing his recruiting efforts on prep centers, such as Frank Ben-Eze of Arlington, Va., and Krys Faber of Los Angeles. It could also mean that two returning forwards -- rising senior Aris Williams and sophomore Orane Chin -- are more likely to stay.

I spoke over the weekend with a friend of IMG Academy's 6-foot-11 Teeng Akol, who said USF is "absolutely" his No. 1 choice, though the Bulls will likely have to wait until summer to know whether or not he has the necessary SAT scores to meet NCAA eligibility standards -- he isn't taking the test until May or June. So the possibility exists that Akol won't sign during the spring signing period, which starts a week from Wednesday, but still could be in a Bulls uniform next fall.

Comments

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Kentucky or USF????

What a hard choice. I bet the kid is seeking spirtual advice on this decision.

[Dave W]

30 minutes per game or 8? Kentucky or Tampa?

On the other hand, Teague or Patillo? I think we picked the wrong one, if we really were picking. However, at 6'7", Patillo does not solve our biggest problem right now.

Faber is the answer to the problems. He will fill KG's rebound production, and eventually could be a better player. His stats indicate that he is intense, which is key to the middle of a good Big East defense.

I highly doubt that we'll sniff Ben-Eze. Too bad, too. He'll be a good one. But I'd take Faber over him on the basis of Faber's ability to rebound.

[The Bull Gator]

Have to like the fact a kid also looking at Kentucky and Oklahoma was thinking about the Bulls. USF may be "backing off," but it's still nice to hear the Bulls mentioned with bigger programs.

[AGW]

I agree that Faber, Ben-Eze and Akol may be better options than Patillo due to their size and the fact that they will be freshman next year, instead of a junior. BUT, I do not agree with USF's logic of "backing off" before we have the signatures of two of the bigs. We should not be too confident. Get people signed thats all I can say. Signing period starts next week.

[Terry Lucas]

Just called my brother for an update on Frank the Tank... My brother's coaching in the 2nd half of a soccer game and told me he'll hit me up when it's over. Curious to see what he says...

[reality]

I trust Coach Heath to lead us to the promised land. He can outrecruit every coach in the Big East.

[The Champ]

G.A. you can do the story on Faber now as he is likely to visit just in time for the spring football game.

Yes Akol has visited USF 3 times and has been a lock for them.Just get the test score young man.

With Espinosa signed and Chin likly staying around, Pattilo just doesn't fit at this point.Getting Teague has little to do with USF backing off of Pattilo.

BTW the Simmons recruitment had quite the story line today, but that will stay private out of respect for my very, very reliable source.

[Bill]

Champ,
out of respect for all the readers of this blog, do not tease us with simmons news man

[Josh]

Not sure what Greg means by "rising senior" Aris Williams. Did he sell his soul to the devil or something??? I never saw that guy hit a shot more than 5 feet away in warmups once...he has to be the worst player our team had last year even out of Holmes, Saaka, etc.

[ucfrocks]

Baseball anyone???

[reality]

This just in. Delbert has missed another field goal. Stay Tuned.

[Bull Hooper]

i am sure i will be ridiculed for saying this, but even though Aris' junior season was a bust, he has shown some potential at USF. He's 6-9 with long arms. He has had bad problems with both knees. in 2006-07, he had good games against East Carolina and, as I remember, against Wake Forest. Remember that most big men who have "excelled" at USF, like Will McDonald and Solomon Jones, did not develop until late in their college careeers. If Aris is on next year's team, I would not be shocked.

[Dave W]

Bull Hooper, what I've seen from Aris is that though he has decent size, he has no strength or athletic ability. Like you said, those knees have sapped whatever leaping and running ability he had. He can't shoot, and he can't push anyone out of the way for a board or jump over them. I hear he's a great guy and excellent student, but as a basketball player, he just can't be a useful Big East player.

That said, as one of the very few veterans on next year's team, he could be a good role model for the new guys and a solid leader, especially if he makes back to active status. I'm not sure if we could land 3 or 4 quality big men anyway, so freeing up a scholarship isn't that big of a deal.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Who is Aris Williams??

Give me a break.

Guy is the back up forward on the practice team.

[ucf rocks]

WE BEAT YOU FOOLS IN BASEBALL. WE HAVE A PARADE TODAY AT 5 PM.

GO GOLDEN KNIGHTS

[jarred]

So your all proud now because it took you two games to do something you were expected to do with ease? gimme a break, we still almost won it at the end

[ucf rocks]

We have real men at our university.Our men may walk funny but we know how to stratch ourselves.

TAKE THAT YOU USF FOOLS!!!

[AGW]

I agree with Ari about Williams. But, how in the world can Akol not be eligible, he was supposed to come out in 06' not 08'. Give me a break. Get your qualifying score young man. We need you and apparently you need us. Also, is it a lock that Faber is coming in this weekend? What are our chances with Sutton and Ben-Eze? Give me a prediction. Because if its less than 50% we need to look for a few more guys if they dont work out.

[reality]

Sutton, about 1 %

Akol, should just go pro like Brumbaugh. He should not be matriculating in a college.

I trust Stan will have Faber signed sealed and delivered after this weekend.

[Norb]

I'd have to agree with UCF Rocks, I don't think anyone at USF knows how to "stratch" themselves. Must be a God given talent only found at UCF.

[chux2]

I have spoken, and read, English for nearly 70 years. Also studied French, Spanish, Latin, and German. Never came across "stratch". They must be very advanced and have large vocabularies over in Orlando. UCFrocks, could you explain this term to us? Go slow, and don't use a lot of big words. We are not as linguistically capable as you.

[jarred]

They may walk funny? Must be from all that part time work in the mickey mouse suit.

[Hooked on Phonics]

For a limited time UCF students can receive a free "Hooked on Phonics" booklet. Please apply on our website, if you cannot spell your name/address or our website please call 1-800-You-are-mentally-retarded.

Thanks.

[ucf rocks]

At least we work.

USF is the reason why the jobless rate keep raising in america.

A usf degree is about as meaningful as cheap boxers,HaHaHa!!!

[Hooked on Phonics]

"keep raising in america" or "keepS raising in America".

Is it that hard for you to put together a real sentence even when you are being exploited for the moron box that you are?

[Bill]

Greg, get these trolls off your blog

[Ken]

Greg, get those trolls off OUR blog!

[G.A.]

They're posting to get reactions from you. Ignore them and they'll stop eventually.

[Bill]

you should take control and not let people ruin this blog

[Herman Momart]

Are we "going in a different direction" because we have no shot at the kid now or is there something better on our radar?

Im guessing we have no shot with UK and OU in the mix. Seth Greenberg said it best "Kids dont wake up and say I want to play basketball for South Florida". I hope we dont end up with scraps like we always do, but I guess Heath gets paid the big bucks to avoid that. we hope.

ps people complaining about annoying posters are just as annoying.

[Bull Hooper]

hey Greg, could you please clarify why you call Aris a "rising senior?" I was under the impression his USF Basketball career was likely over. What, if anything, has happened to change his situation?

[JP]

hey i dont know if this has already been posted but i found video on Teeng Akol

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1231022455&channel=1215674518

he looks pretty good could be like a Kevin Garnett type of PF if he reaches his potential...

[Bull Hooper]

i heard on the radio: Orane Chin will transfer?