Kabongo de-commits from Texas, Cook down to two
Words. Jason Jordan
(Myck Kabongo)
By now we’ve all heard about Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) point guard Myck Kabongo’s de-commitment from Texas over the weekend.
Kabongo, a senior who is ranked No. 6 in the HSH National Top 50, said he’d open up his recruitment to Syracuse, Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky, while keeping the Longhorns on the list as well.
For months, Kabongo and I have had talks about the possible de-commitment, but he always maintained that he was “150 percent” committed to Texas. Reality was that he was wrestling with the decision.
Taking a look at the schools on his list, I can’t see Kabongo going to Kentucky, with Pike (IN) point guard Marquis Teague, ranked No. 4, in the bag for 2011. Syracuse will have Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche manning its backcourt, and I’ve basically coined the phrase “you don’t de-commit to re-commit,” which tells you what I think about Texas’ chances.
Still, to be fair, Kabongo’s Grassroots Canada AAU coach Ro Russell tells me that “Texas is still No. 1 at this point.”
The most interesting development involves Oak Hill Academy (VA) point guard Quinn Cook, ranked No. 25. Cook, who grew up a North Carolina fan, told me last week that North Carolina said they couldn’t offer him “because they had two point guards (Larry Drew and Kendall Marshall),” but since Kabongo’s de-commitment UNC called, trying to get Cook to visit this weekend. Word is Roy Williams is headed to Oak Hill to meet with Cook Tuesday.
That’s no coincidence. Still, per Oak Hill coach Steve Smith, Cook plans to announce this week between Duke and UCLA. Expect Cook to be a Blue Devil, which means Kabongo won’t be.
Conventional wisdom says that the Heels up their interest in Kabongo, which is appealing with Hargrave Military (VA) shooting guard P.J. Hairston, ranked No. 18, and Norfolk Christian (VA) forward James McAdoo, ranked No. 7, already in the bag for the 2011 class. Kabongo’s told me countless times,”I want to go where I have the best chance to win right away.”
Either way, don’t expect Kabongo’s situation to be done quick. Russell expects it to go into the spring.
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North Carolina & Duke with more tampering. NCAA wake up
I’m certain from interviews that it’s actually the student athletes that want to make the best decision for their future and for which team they would best fit.
Before you cry wolf on UNC and Duke, I would check your sources.
Myck Kabongo recommited to Texas after feeling out the climate.
Quinn Cook just commited to the Duke Blue Devils. He ended up keeping to his word and deciding between UCLA and Duke.
Don’t hate… peace.
Great read! Had no clue. Kabongo will look great thrashing the dookies.
After Kabongo recommited I guess he decided UNC- Chapel Hill was not the place where he has “the best chance to win right away.”
Besides Carolina’s already got a number of scholarship point guards. I don’t Kabongo wanted to wait a few years to earn a starting position even for UNC.
HAHAHA UNC HASNT EVEN OFFERED
Isn’t scoop a senior this yr?
How does that effect kabongo?
If this kid wants to play AND win, he’ll pick Syracuse. A top 10 recruit is better than Jardine and Triche any day. Besides, Roy Williams is a terrible coach, all the blue chips in the world can’t help Roy win!
To be fair, Roy Williams has won the NCAA title in 05 and 09. I don’t consider him the greatest coach in the world nor in college basketball but he does know how to get things done.
Kabongo in Syracuse Orange would have been tight with Fab Melo and rest of the team.
Hey powdablue, Who got hammered by 32 points last year? Duke is landing all the great players and expect your Holes to get smacked again by Duke!!! GO DUKE!!!
yeah carolina got beat by 32 but to allude to unc not landing great players, wow! carolina has two five stars this year in bullock and barnes, a 5/4 star in kendall marshall, and two five stars already locked up in 2011 class mcadoo and hairston. along with henson, zeller, and strickland (5star/4 star) thats 8 five star guys according to some of the recruiting services. we will see if duke continues their one year of domination. You should also recall the 8 previous seasons or is your memory that short term.
UNC’s got so much star power, I don’t know how to get these guys to play together.
I take full responsibilitae for them tough Porta Rica losses. It’s on me. Course everybody knows it was Henson’s daggum fault and Barnes is learning to hit some of his jump shots so we got some work ta do.
Shoot… sometimes I wish I could put on a jersey and play some starting minutes because this team just is not playing the game I want them to play it.
2 losses in a row will finally knock some sense into these five star basketball players so they can actually start listening to my coaching instead of trying to get on an espn highlight video.
Roy had great players last year, but he can’t coach like Coach K, that is why he is not coaching the Olympic team or the USA team!!!