Rivas Sanchez: 'I want to go to South Florida'

Things have gotten a little interesting with the oral commitment of junior college center Alex Rivas Sanchez -- after consulting with him, I'm no longer putting a hyphen in his name -- who remains committed to USF ... but isn't positive he wants to sign with the Bulls.

"I want to go to South Florida," Rivas Sanchez said Thursday afternoon. "It's a good school in a good town that I like, and I'd love to play in the Big East. I talked to the coaches and told them I want to go there, but I need to get done with school here first and talk to my family about the decision."

USF can't bring Rivas Sanchez in for an official campus visit -- with expenses paid, that is -- because the Bulls are bringing guard Gaby Belardo in this weekend, and he's their 12th visit this year, which is the maximum the NCAA allows in a year. Rivas Sanchez said he would be going to Fort Lauderdale after his classes end May 9, so Tampa isn't that far out of the way if he drives over from there.

Rivas Sanchez said he does not plan to take any other visits to other schools, but won't sign with USF until he talks to his family in the Dominican Republic, making it close to two weeks before he's likely to sign with the Bulls. "I think South Florida is the best, for me and for my family, but I want to talk to them about that before I sign," he said.

Check back tonight and I'll finally get that new football name detailed, as well as a new walk-on who will be joining the basketball program this fall ...

Comments

[Dave W]

It sounds like we are his best (only?) offer. And yet he's hesitant. That's not a good sign for our prestige.

I understand that his family may not be as involved as some other families because of the distance between them, but on the other hand, what could his other options be?

I think I fall in the camp that supports getting him, because we need warm bodies and if he's a complete stiff, he'll only be around for 2 years. But, Akol is an absolute must get for us.

[Miles Lamoureux]

Have no fears, Akol will be a USF BULL this fall.
How many of those 12 visits that we used were on players we had a chance at getting? That would be a fun fact to know

[The Champ]

I was wrong about Rivas Sanchez, he did have offers from FAU, Tenn Tech and Texas-San Antonio.

Hopefully this will workout for both parties, Sanchez signs with JMU where he plans on visiting, hopfully they offer when he visits, and USF can save this scholarship for a transfer.With us at our limit we must get Belardo this weekend and then shut it down.Wait to see what Akol will do this summer, please choose us over Depaul, and adjust your team to it's strength which are our guards.

[The Champ]

There are a lot of good transfers out there and so far USF is not mentioned with either one that I know of.Hopefully that changes because we can build half our '09 class off some of these blue chip transfers.That way the coaching staff won't have so much pressure on them to sign more then 2 quality D-1 players.

Also with the '08 class all but finished after this weekend, it is now time to replace the dead weight on the bench, in other words get rid of Hansen and Samuels.

[AGW]

I agree with the Champ. I hop ethat Sanchez decides not to sign for any reason, then I hope we decide to target big-time transfers. I have a few in mind thta USF should go after. Julian Vaughn (FSU), Eli Holiman (IU), Brian Carlwell (Illinois), Chace Stanback (UCLA), and Eric Wallace (OSU). Take two of these guys, then hopefully we can add Fogg and Akol and we will be fine. Not sold on Belardo. Then, after we get these guys fire the 2 assistants.

We'll talk about Gaby Belardo after next season, no matter where he's at.

[Paisa el Toro]

Champ, what's the basis for your dislike of assistants Hanson and Samuels? Are they poor recruiters; therefore, dead weight on the bench?

[Dave W]

The problem with the assistants is there is no guarantee that we can actually upgrade them this year, and even if we did so tomorrow, it may be too late to impact a potential recruit's decision. If we struggle with in-season recruiting next year (I thought that they did well to grab Espinosa during the season), then a change should be made immediately following the Big East Tournament, with new hires in place before the end of March.

[AGW]

DeAndre Thomas from Indiana just asked for a transfer as well. He played JUCO ball in Florida so that could be an option for us as well. He is 6'8 300LBS.

[The Champ]

Toro the answer is yes to both of your questions about Hansen and Samuels.

When the Head Coach has to bench his assistants during this critical time of recruiting that says everything you need to know.

BTW even when assigned to office duties they still messed up.Cannot say what it is but it will effect recruiting for the '09 class in some way.I'm sure it will get reported within a month or two.

Other then Hipsher Coach Heath doesn't have a staff.

[The Champ]

Sure wish we could get a Chace Stanback down here.We're going to need a wing forward or two for the '09 class.

[Ken]

Greg, what is Champ talking about? Why can't it be reported now?

Speaking of transfers, what about Ramar Smith from Tennessee. He was down to Tennessee and Arkansas out of h.s so maybe he knows coach Heath. I know he is another guard but he is as good as Beverly.