7-foot-2 center, '12 guard made visit to USF

You've probably read by now that 6-foot-10 center Waverly Austin made an official visit to USF this past weekend, liking things enough that he committed to play for the Bulls next season. Turns out he wasn't the only big recruit taking in the USF-West Virginia game with Bulls coach Stan Heath.

Four talented players from Montverde Academy in Orlando made unofficial visits to take in the game, according to Montverde coach Kevin Sutton. It's a very international group, one that could be part of USF's recruiting efforts for the next three seasons.

"They had a great time," Sutton said. "Any kid at a boarding school is going to enjoy the chance to take in a big college football game on ESPN(2) and meet people like Ozzie Guillen before the game."

The first name is one we've mentioned here before -- Haukur "Hawk" Palsson, a 6-foot-6 senior guard from Iceland who has a scholarship offer from USF but isn't likely to make his decision until the spring signing period. Sutton said Palsson is also considering Vanderbilt, Central Florida and Idaho but won't take official visits until after his season at Montverde.

Literally the biggest of the group is Mark Overdevest, a 7-foot-2, 260-pound junior center from New Zealand who just enrolled at Montverde this past month, Sutton said. Overdevest is "wide open" in the recruiting process, but USF was the first college campus he's visited. "He just got here," said Sutton, whose team opens its regular season on Nov. 27.

Another intriguing name is Michael Avery, a 6-5 sophomore guard who transferred to Montverde from Thousand Oaks, Calif., and has already made a name for himself in recruiting circles. Avery made headlines when he committed to Kentucky as an eighth grader, essentially picking a college before he had picked a high school. Coach Billy Gillispie is no longer at Kentucky, but one of his assistants, Jeremy Cox, is now on Heath's staff, giving the Bulls a close connection beyond the proximity to Montverde.

Also taking in the USF game was Caleb Clyburn, a point guard at Montverde who is from Winter Garden and was a teammate of USF recruiting target Keith Clanton at Orlando Christian Prep before transferring to Montverde.

Lots more basketball recruiting to come, so keep checking back for updates on Heath's options for his final scholarship in this class ...

Comments

[gobulls32]

Heath has done nothing to impress me. Plus he screwed Tonelli who I know and like. He's showed signs of impropriety with the Gilchrest and his jock clinging handler deal. I still say there will be more shady things to come from him. Hopefully nothing to cost the program any penalties.
He wasn't run out of Arkansas with a successful record for nothing.

[Rick]

OK, so when are we going to get a Big East caliber coaching staff?

[BC]

That's crazy tall. Greg, is he still growing or has he just kinda peaked at this point?

[Turd Ferguson]

G.A....

This guy is 7'2" as an 11th grader??

Yeowsah.

[G.A.]

He would graduate from college in 2016 -- usually we identify recruits by the year in which they graduate from high school ...

[Ken]

I think it is class of 2016--he'd begin in 2012. We all just got older.

[Gary S.]

Class of '12? Man, that makes me feel old.

[Sam]

"My 5 1/2 year old daughter has commited to USF, essentially picking a college before actually picking a sport."

I'm going to go ahead and nominate you for father of the year, Norb. I know the lure of $EC schools can be tempting, but you've obviously guided her well. Good post man.

[G.A.]

Got caught up in getting "Overdevest" correctly I messed up the kid I've already written about. Overdevest, of course, answers the age-old question, "Where should you wear de sportcoat?"

[G.A.]

Bill's right. Fixed the last name. Thanks much.

Congrats to Norb, proud USF papa.

[WYKindly]

I really like the direction Stan Heath is taking USF Basketball. He deserves all the ridiculous amount of money that we are paying him.

[DELdaBULL]

Nice update Greg

[Bill]

hey greg isn't it Palsson, not Talsson?

[David Weber]

If "Hawk" picks USF, can we change his nickname to "The Viking?"

[Norb]

"he commited to Kentucky as an eighth grader, essentially picking a college before he had picked a high school."

My 5 1/2 year old daughter has commited to USF, essentially picking a college before actually picking a sport.