Write On Sports LLC - "Recruiting 2007-08" by Tom Zuck

Recruiting 2007-08

2008-02-18 18:48:52 | By: Tom Zuck

So there is a reason that this is a bit late. I know National Letter of Intent Day was over a week ago but I have been preoccupied for over three weeks now.

Many of you know my mother and how she beat cancer back in 1989. Well, late last month I took mom into Pitt for her annual checkup and her doctor did not like something so he did a biopsy, well, to make a long story short it was some Squamous Cells and that was not a good thing. Mom had some tests and there was no metastasizing and she had some surgery and it appears everything will turn out ok.

All told I spent a lot of nights not sleeping, just in bed but not sleeping. I guess I should have known things would be fine when mom said to me that she just hopes this does not interfere with our annul trip to the Big East Basketball Tournament next month.

But anyway, enough about that and on to the top names of the recruiting classes for 2007-08. I say 2007 because these kids were recruited all through last season and even earlier than that.

On NLID I went down to Heinz Field to meet Jay Shrum for the Pitt recruiting special event. It's held in one of the clubs where the rich folks go to be protected from the weather when they go to Steelers and Pitt games. Personally I do not see the reason for it. If I wanted to sit around on a couch and drink Beer I would stay home and NOT pay the $100 + that it costs for one of those tickets.

The good thing about that night though is that Coach Wannstedt is really good in front of a crowd. He still has his Pittsburgh voice inflection but he is a pretty funny guy and by the looks of it he is a pretty good recruiter. The trick is now to coach 'em up. They show clips of the kids and Wanny talks about each one. It's fun. Wanny did make it a point to call out Jay and said if he can't deliver Terrell Pryor to Pitt Jay's status as Panther Fan Extraordinaire will be reviewed.

Actually Wanny did not do that but the fact is all of Jay's friends will never let him live it down if Terrelle goes to Penn State.

This is not about the rankings from the different recruiting services, which by the way are complete crap. This is about the coolest names among this year's recruiting classes. So here goes!

We start with Pitt..

Pitt: Andrew Taglianetti & Tino Sunseri, Tag's dad was a Pittsburgh Penguin so I won't rip on him and Tino's dad was an All-American linebacker for Pitt. Joe Trebitz & Justin Virbitsky hark back to Pittsburgh's ethnic steel days. Cam Saddler, saddle up because this kid isn't even in school yet and he's the king of Pitt's student section at the hoops games. We also have Jarred Holley & Ronald Hobby, so we have a Holley Hobby receiving tandem.

Alabama: We won't say anything about 'Bama signing more kids than they had scholarships to give. Julio Jones, Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Don'ta Hightower, seems like they are missing a couple letters. Star Jackson, if you are a QB and this is your name you damn well better be outstanding. Undra Billingsley, I want a Red Rider BB Gun with a .. Oh wait, different Billingsley, you'll shoot your eye out Undra.

Notre Dame: Some folks said this was the best class but we shall see. Kapron Lewis-Moore, Pitt had a guy named Lewis Moore in the late 90's. Jamoris Slaughter, Jam on Mr. Slaughter. John Goodman, I really liked him in King Ralph.

Miami: The 'Canes may not have played well last season but they pulled in some cool names. LaRon Byrd, wasn't he in the movie Wildcats? Vaughn Telemaque, I have NO IDEA how to pronounce that one. Aldarius Johnson, with a last name like Johnson you have to spice it up. Jacory Harris, Cory is so 1980s. Micanor Regis, Pitt had a kid from his same high school back in the 1990s, his first name was LaFann so it's nice to see things don't change much in Pahokee.

Michigan: Will the standards drop now that Rich Fraud is the head coach? Martavious Odoms, he too is from Pahokee! Rocko Khoury, Sly Stallone's child? Boubacar Cissoko, nice wholesome kid from a small farm in the Midwest.

Ohio State: Orhian Johnson, did you see Orhian's belt? Shawntel Rowell, why do I picture David Spade in Tommy Boy when I try to say this one? Etienne Sabino, a Frenchman from Miami. J.B. Shugarts, perfect initials coming from Texas.

Florida State: The Seminoles have tons of problems but names are not one of them. Debrale Smiley, this large FB will smile while running you over. Rhonne Sanderson, I think that is pronounced Ronny. Zebrie Sanders, I will say nothing to this mountain (6'6", 273). Tavares Pressley, when I was a kid the Pirates had a guy names Frank Tavares. Toshmon Stevens, Yes Mon I will take a ride into Kingston. Avis Commack, he tries harder. Nigel Bradham, a fine English gentleman. Moses McCray, just old-school there and finally Ja'Baris Little.

Florida: Lerentee McCray, not sure if he is related to Moses. Janoris Jenkins, I think I would go by J.J. Omarius Hines, when Omar just isn't enough. Caleb Sturgis, Amish?

USC: Uona Kaveinga, You wanna? Then there is Jurrell (Casey), Malik (Jackson) and Khaled (Holmes).

Boston College: Okechukwu Okoroha, I never played Scrabble but I bet he'd get some points there. Chris Hayden-Martin, with three names he better be good but I saw Terrelle Pryor blow out this kid's knee with a serious stiff arm.

Penn State: D'Anton Lynn & Deon'tea Pannell, all for one and one for all.

BYU: You can always count on BYU to bring in some good South Pacific names. This year was no exception with Shiloah Te'o, Aloha son! Seta Pohahau, Solomone Kafu, Bernard Afutiti, Tula Moala and Jesse Taufi.

Utah: In the same conference as BYU and the Utes bring Sausan Shakerin, a boy named Sue? Siaki Cravens, Kendrick Moeai, Sealver Siliga and Aiona Key.

Wisconsin: Peter Knoz, I watched Happy Days as a kid and you Peter are not The Fonz!

Minnesota: I think I have figured out the Gopher's problem..Shaun, Lynn, Bryce and Chance.You have the start of a great new Boy-Band, but you aren't going to beat Ohio State with those names.

Virginia Tech: Joe Jones, why do people use the same first letter? He could ask Ben Barbor. D.J. Coles is not an impressive name, but his town is! Goochland, VA. Peter Rose, do you think they will talk to him about gambling? Quillie Odom, the Golden Quille Award goes to..

Arizona State: Jamaar Jarrett, nothing crazy it's just a fun first name. Ottis Jones, Ottis my man! Toa Tuitea, Samoans are cool. Deveron Carr, Kemonte Bateman & Jack Elway, with that name he better be good! Zach Schlink, I think I had bought some of his beef jerky last week. Zeb Togial. Steven Figueroa, will be appearing in ASU's Fine Arts production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.

Arkansas: Lavunce Askew, Pitt has Lavance Arky has Lavunce. Khiry Battle, he may have to battle with that first name. Jerico Nelson, is he from a walled city? Basmine Jones, did his parents want a girl?

Texas: Desean Hales, I was going to say something but then I read the two guys right after him, Dravannti Johnson & Kheeston Randall. Brock Fitzhenry, a good Irishman followed by Emmanuel Acho, a little fancier than Jesus.

Clemson: Jaron Brown, I didn't know Pitt's former small forward had remaining eligibility. Da'Quan Bowers is followed on the list by Marquan Jones. Jon Richt is from Athens, Georgia..How'd UGA let him get away?

South Carolina: Shaq Wilson, is he "The Diesel"? Aramis Hillary, politics aside Hillary is just not a cool name so they had to balance that out.

Auburn: Onterio McCalebb, I have been to Canada, it's nice. Neiko Lipscomb, a nice Greek boy from Tucker, Ga. Jomarcus Savage, his parents were torn between a nice easy name and a statement. Freddie Smooth, this "Hoss" has a nickname already. Philip Pierre-Louis, Inspector Clouseau's nephew? D'Antoine Hood & T'Sharvan Bell, just confused parents. Raven Gray, I wonder if he reads Poe?

The undisputed BCS Champion LSU Tigers also brought in some pretty good names. Not enough yet to say they won the "cool name title" as well.

LSU: DeAngelo Benton & DeAngelo Peterson, LSU leads the nation in DeAngelos. Chase Clement, Chancey Aghayere & Karnell Hatcher..hold on, they get better - Rocky Duplessis and Jhyryn Taylor, how will these names come out with a Cajun accent?

Now take a look at some of LSU's 2009 commits..these names WILL BE THE BEST for next season Abrecus Martinez, Barkevious Mingo, Ky'Var Bolden, Shaquelle Evans, Shakeil Lucas & Marjarvin Chapman.

I am speechless!

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