Mail Day with JJ, 3.29
Words. Jason Jordan
Reggie Bullock
Where will Josh Selby end up? Austin Rivers looking at more schools? Reggie Bullock comparisons? Jason Jordan has fielded all of your e-mails and tackles each of these questions and more in this installment of “Mail Day with JJ.”
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Austin Rivers opening the flood gates?
So I’m a little pissed because I’m a die-hard Duke fan and now I’m hearing that Austin Rivers (Winter Park, Fla.) is about to let UNC, Texas and Kentucky jump in on his recruitment! I thought it was just us! I know you talk to Austin a lot; can you shed some light on this?
- Rick
It’s all a part of the recruiting game. Is he really going to say “Peace out Billy D” and “Hello Coach K” all in the same day? Remember back in the 2007 class when Eric Gordon made the switch from being committed to Illinois to committing to Indiana? He got crucified and villainized to some extent.
Rivers is smarter than that. I’m not saying that he’s not going to give the schools he’s opening things up to a real look — and while we’re listing, I’d add UCLA if I were you — I’m simply saying LISTEN to what he says. As you know he keeps a diary here; just peep a few things he’s said in interviews about your boys:
* When asked who was gonna win the Duke-UNC game:
“Duke! Just because they’re my team and they play harder! They just want it every game and they have better guards.”
* When asked about Duke’s Big Three:
“Those guys have Duke’s swag turned all the way up right now.”
TRUST, I could go on… Point is, you could be in a much worse position right now. All of the schools on Rivers’ list, which will be coming out soon after he de-commits from Florida in the next few weeks, will be formidable: North Carolina is North Carolina, Kentucky has Cal and his perceived genius with guards, UCLA has tradition… But the word is K has Doc Rivers. Just like Roy Williams had Harrison Barnes’ mother Shirley. And I know you know how sweet that worked out for the Tar Heels, huh? So chin up old chum.
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UK or KU for Selby?
You probably get more info about the prospects than fans do. I am a huge fan of the magazine and I was wondering with your prediction, where do you think Mr. Josh Selby (Lake Clifton-Eastern, Md.) will end up at. I personally am a big Jayhawker and I’m looking for any good news after our tough loss! Thanks so much for all you do,
- Sam
Sam, my friend, you are the man! And not just because you slipped me a compliment in there at the end. OK, so that’s exactly why, but I’m sure you’re a great guy.
Moving on, you’re going to put me on the spot, aye? Well, it’s like this: I fully expect Brandon Knight to declare for Kentucky next month. That’s the word on the street, highway and all the back roads, too. I would say that you guys are in good shape for Josh given that Knight does indeed make good on what I’m hearing is a done deal. I would put you guys slightly ahead of Connecticut at this point from what I’ve gathered.
But let me totally ruin it for you now… Most people think that Knight-to-Kentucky automatically means Selby goes elsewhere. Well, if anyone could lure two top-flight point guards to the same school and sell them on playing together it would be John Calipari (see: Eric Bledsoe and John Wall).
To date, Selby hasn’t visited Kentucky and his mother, Maeshon Witherspoon, has told us that they “may” try and visit, but nothing is definite. As long as he doesn’t go, you guys are golden. So in the immortal words of Johnny (The Outsiders): “Stay gold Pony, er, Sammie-boy!”
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Why is Knight toying with the Cuse?
If the consensus is that Brandon Knight (Pine Crest, Fla.) goes to Kentucky, why would he add Syracuse to his short list at the last minute??
- Scott in Ottawa
That’s a great question and one I posed to a colleague recently. I have heard that it was actually Knight’s camp that inquired to the ‘Cuse, too.
But to be honest with you, it doesn’t really matter why… Every source that I’ve worked on this one, all of which are reliable, say it’s Kentucky and it’s been Kentucky for a few weeks. Stay up.
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The next Joe Forte?
Give me a comparison of a former college player who Reggie Bullock’s (Kinston, N.C.) game is identical to.
- Cheven
This shouldn’t be hard to put together. Since you’re asking about Reggie, I assume you’re familiar with ex-UNC guard Joe Forte (Pretend you are, even if you’re not). Well, Reggie is comparable to Joe… No, not in the “head case” way, don’t worry.
Both can fill it up from the outside, drive and finish in the lane, get teammates involved, rebound and defend. Only Reggie doesn’t hunt his shot as much as Joe did and he’s about four inches taller (6-8).
Got a burning question for Jason? Email him: JasonJ@DimeMag.com
I have heard several rumors that C.J. Leslie is a lock for Ky. Can you shed some light on this?