SMU close to landing transfers Josiah Turner, Crandall Head

Larry Brown is following the Fred Hoiberg blueprint.

The new SMU coach is putting together a team of transfers for the short-term, and then will likely make a run at talented high school players.

Brown and his staff -- which includes coach-in-waiting Tim Jankovich and recruiters Jerrance Howard and Ulric Maligi -- are on the verge of landing a pair of high-profile transfers. Former Arizona point guard Josiah Turner, who was dismissed from the Wildcats for off-court issues, will visit Wednesday - a source told CBSSports. Illinois transfer Crandall Head will visit next week and told CBSSports.com that the Mustangs are the leaders.

"I trust Jerrance," Head said on Monday night. "They are the leader."

Head also said that playing for a head coach who has coached more than 2,000 NBA games is important.

"It matters a lot," Head said. "We all want to get to the next level and I can learn a lot from Coach Brown."

While Turner obviously has his issues -- he was cited for a DUI this past weekend -- who better to handle second-chance kids than the 70-year-old Brown.

He dealt with Allen Iverson in Philadelphia for about six years. He coached Rasheed Wallace.

Turner will be a walk in the park for Brown.

The Mustangs might even wind up cracking the top five of one of the elite players in the Class of 2013: forward Julius Randle.

I questioned the hire of a senior citizen who hadn't been in the college game in more than two decades, but Brown has pulled in a pair of quality recruiters and a head coach who will help sell recruits on the transition when the 70-year-old does retire. Brown has also -- according to sources - added former NBA guys George Lynch (strength and conditioning) and Eric Snow (player personnel).

Things are looking up at SMU.

Then again, was there anywhere else to go?