Rivals Breaks Down UW 2015 Basketball Recruits
By Tom Lacock
GoWyoGo.com Staff
With the news that Justin James committed to the Wyoming men's basketball program this week, speculation began on just how good the Cowboys' five-man recruiting class of 2015 can be in the future.
GoWyoGo.com enlisted the services of Rivals.com national basketball writer, Eric Bossi, as well as contributor Russ Wood to answer just that question.
Wood covers basketball recruiting for Rivals.com out of Florida and has seen Wyoming's Florida recruiting contingent of Andrew Moemeka in action on multiple occasions. On Monday, Wood called Turner and James two of the top 25 players in the state of Florida for the 2015 recruiting class.
James comes to Wyoming from Port St. Lucie after averaging 22 points, and nine rebounds per game a year ago. Wood said James was a bright spot on a team that otherwise struggled to just 17 wins over its past two seasons.
"Justin James was a 6-foot-7 wing that flew under the radar because he was playing at Centennial HS in Port St. Lucie, Florida," Wood said. "Centennial even used him at point guard at times. James is a gym rat that constantly works on his game, plays under control and is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. He's also an underrated passer which enables him to be a good facilitator for his teammates. Off the court he's polite and quiet, but he's a killer on the court."
Eric Turner committed to Wyoming last week. The 6-foot-7 small forward from The Villages (Fla.) averaged 24 points per game last season. Wood said Turner may be closer to 6-foot-5, but that doesn't stop his ability to make plays.
"Eric Turner has a great first step which allows him to get past most defenders and either finish at the basket or make plays inside the paint," Wood said. "He's a good rebounder on the defensive end of the court and his height. Turner has something for just about anything the defense throws at him. When he's dialed in and focused he's often the best player on the court. That's something the Wyoming coaches will have to get him to understand."
Wood said he hasn't seen Moemeka play as much, but has come away impressed with what he has seen.
"He runs well, is a quick jumper and loves to contest shots," Wood said. "Moemeka can step out and make shots to about 15-feet but he's more effective off the catch-and-shoot than he is when he has to put the ball on the floor to create. At 6-foot-8 and about 200-pounds he's not a 'banger' that gets physical down low. He has narrow shoulders so I'm not too sure how much more he'll fill out."
Along with seeing the Florida contingent of the Wyoming basketball class, Wood said he also saw Wyoming recruit and Denver-area point guard Austin Conway play this summer.
"He showed the speed and quickness to push the ball in transition and get into the paint to create," Wood said. "He makes good passes and has a good enough shot to keep defenses honest. Definitely a "team" guy, at times I felt he deferred a bit too much when he could have taken his shot. In the two games I watched his combined stats were: 19 points, seven assists, three turnovers, four rebounds and one steal. He could teach a public speaking class, he's a bright young man and very articulate. He'll definitely need to add strength to compete at the next level."
Bossi said he has also seen Conway play this year and had nothing but good things to say about him.
"Conway is a guy who projects as an excellent two-way player for Wyoming," Bossi said. "He might lack ideal height, but he is a monster competitor and doesn't lack at all for toughness.
"Offensively he is quick, compact and uses his speed to push the tempo. He will get to the rim, push the ball in transition and is a pretty sure ballhandler. Defensively he moves his feet very well, can be physical without fouling and is one of those guards who can cause length of the floor problems for opposing ball handlers when he wants to heat them up."
Jordan Naughton is a 6-foot-10 power forward from Rancho Cucamonga, California's Etiwanda High School. Bossi said Naughton may be a bit of project and thought he was closer to 6-foot-8, than 6-foot-10, but added Naughton has the potential to be a special player for the Pokes.
"I think that Naughton is a little bit of a wild card," Bossi said. "He's a big kid with a body to build on but he might not be quite ready for prime time as a freshman. He can be developed into a big and physical post presence who can at least rebound and protect the rim. He runs very well from end to end and has reasonably soft touch but overall his offense is a bit raw."
UW 2015 Basketball Recruits
By Tom Lacock
GoWyoGo.com Staff
With the news that Justin James committed to the Wyoming men's basketball program this week, speculation began on just how good the Cowboys' five-man recruiting class of 2015 can be in the future.
GoWyoGo.com enlisted the services of Rivals.com national basketball writer, Eric Bossi, as well as contributor Russ Wood to answer just that question.
Wood covers basketball recruiting for Rivals.com out of Florida and has seen Wyoming's Florida recruiting contingent of Andrew Moemeka in action on multiple occasions. On Monday, Wood called Turner and James two of the top 25 players in the state of Florida for the 2015 recruiting class.
James comes to Wyoming from Port St. Lucie after averaging 22 points, and nine rebounds per game a year ago. Wood said James was a bright spot on a team that otherwise struggled to just 17 wins over its past two seasons.
"Justin James was a 6-foot-7 wing that flew under the radar because he was playing at Centennial HS in Port St. Lucie, Florida," Wood said. "Centennial even used him at point guard at times. James is a gym rat that constantly works on his game, plays under control and is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. He's also an underrated passer which enables him to be a good facilitator for his teammates. Off the court he's polite and quiet, but he's a killer on the court."
Eric Turner committed to Wyoming last week. The 6-foot-7 small forward from The Villages (Fla.) averaged 24 points per game last season. Wood said Turner may be closer to 6-foot-5, but that doesn't stop his ability to make plays.
"Eric Turner has a great first step which allows him to get past most defenders and either finish at the basket or make plays inside the paint," Wood said. "He's a good rebounder on the defensive end of the court and his height. Turner has something for just about anything the defense throws at him. When he's dialed in and focused he's often the best player on the court. That's something the Wyoming coaches will have to get him to understand."
Wood said he hasn't seen Moemeka play as much, but has come away impressed with what he has seen.
"He runs well, is a quick jumper and loves to contest shots," Wood said. "Moemeka can step out and make shots to about 15-feet but he's more effective off the catch-and-shoot than he is when he has to put the ball on the floor to create. At 6-foot-8 and about 200-pounds he's not a 'banger' that gets physical down low. He has narrow shoulders so I'm not too sure how much more he'll fill out."
Along with seeing the Florida contingent of the Wyoming basketball class, Wood said he also saw Wyoming recruit and Denver-area point guard Austin Conway play this summer.
"He showed the speed and quickness to push the ball in transition and get into the paint to create," Wood said. "He makes good passes and has a good enough shot to keep defenses honest. Definitely a "team" guy, at times I felt he deferred a bit too much when he could have taken his shot. In the two games I watched his combined stats were: 19 points, seven assists, three turnovers, four rebounds and one steal. He could teach a public speaking class, he's a bright young man and very articulate. He'll definitely need to add strength to compete at the next level."
Bossi said he has also seen Conway play this year and had nothing but good things to say about him.
"Conway is a guy who projects as an excellent two-way player for Wyoming," Bossi said. "He might lack ideal height, but he is a monster competitor and doesn't lack at all for toughness.
"Offensively he is quick, compact and uses his speed to push the tempo. He will get to the rim, push the ball in transition and is a pretty sure ballhandler. Defensively he moves his feet very well, can be physical without fouling and is one of those guards who can cause length of the floor problems for opposing ball handlers when he wants to heat them up."
Jordan Naughton is a 6-foot-10 power forward from Rancho Cucamonga, California's Etiwanda High School. Bossi said Naughton may be a bit of project and thought he was closer to 6-foot-8, than 6-foot-10, but added Naughton has the potential to be a special player for the Pokes.
"I think that Naughton is a little bit of a wild card," Bossi said. "He's a big kid with a body to build on but he might not be quite ready for prime time as a freshman. He can be developed into a big and physical post presence who can at least rebound and protect the rim. He runs very well from end to end and has reasonably soft touch but overall his offense is a bit raw."
UW 2015 Basketball Recruits
