USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend

It's a big football weekend at Southern California.

But it's worth noting that Tim Floyd, Bob Cantu and the rest of the USC basketball staff will also have a lot at stake over the next 48 hours as the Trojans host what could be the best group of recruits to visit a campus at one time in the history of the sport. There is no way to prove that statement, of course. But if you know of a school that has ever produced a more significant list of visitors feel free to shoot me a note and let me know

Anyway here's a list of basketball prospects expected to be at USC-Ohio State game.

(Class ranking, if available, in parenthesis)

-- 2009 --

Renardo Sidney (ranked fifth by Scout.com)
Kenny Boynton (ranked eighth by Scout.com)
Jordan Hamilton (ranked 13th by Scout.com)
Tyler Honeycutt (ranked 21st by Scout.com)
Noel Johnson (ranked 58th by Scout.com)
Terrence Boyd (ranked 82nd by Scout.com)
Shaunessy Smith
Derrick Williams

-- 2010 --

Josh Smith (ranked fourth by Scout.com)
Jeremy Tyler (ranked seventh by Scout.com)
Anthony Brown (ranked 51st by Scout.com)
Gary Franklin

-- 2011 --

Kyle Caudill

Add it up, and that's nine prospects ranked in the Top 85 of their respective classes -- including five Top 15 guys -- expected to be on campus in either an official or unoffical capacity -- plus Caudill, who is considered one of the better sophomores in the nation (it's just that Scout.com and Rivals.com only rank sophomores through the Top 10, and he's not in that group). So, like I said, this is a huge weekend for USC basketball. And with that, let's get back to the Beanie Wells Watch, can we?

USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend

Cster0905 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 27, 2006	Posted on: September 13, 2008 11:19 pm Score: 87 USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend UNC football is a joke? Sure, they aren't great now (though things are obviously improving under Butch Davis); however, did you watch college football in the 90s? North Carolina had national title contending teams with players like Julius Peppers, Dre Bly, Ronald Curry and the school was Mack Brown's launching pad. They finished in the top 5 of the polls and one season they went 11-1 and destroyed VT in the Gator Bowl. Clearly you nothing about UNC sports history. What has USC basketball done that is even comparable? I can't think of a recent Final Four berth. They lost in the first round last season with one of their most talent-laden teams. UNC has been just as 'solid' at football as USC has been at basketball - and neither have been impressive. And regarding Florida, there is nothing that suggests that their titles were anything more than a fluke - at this point. Sure, great teams that brought home the hardware but where was Florida this past season? The NIT. They do have some good recruits lined up but no one at Florida considers UF to be both a football and basketball school. It always has been a football school and most likely will stay that way. I agree with you that being predominately a football school doesn't hurt a resource-rich school like UF, UNC, USC, etc becoming great at both big revenue sports but it's unlikely their identities will ever change. [ Reply to Comment ]
dchild Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: May 4, 2008	Posted on: September 13, 2008 5:23 pm Score: 95 USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend Puh-leaze. Yes, at USC football will always be the top draw, but enough of that tired line of reasoning please - you just saw Florida win back-to-back titles in basketball - at a football school. Comparing USC basketball and UNC football is not even acceptable hyperbole...USC is a solid - but not spectacular - program. UNC football is a joke. In the past it was true that USC was not a real factor in recruiting talent like what Gary has compiled on the list, but that was before Tim Floyd. Floyd can recruit and has made the Trojans a real factor. And, for the record, Pete Carroll is probably the second most active basketball recruiter on campus - he is the ultimate team player and further defies that ridiculous notion that you can't win basketball games at the highest level at a "football" school. Throw in the fact that USC recently changed addresses from the worst arena in which I ever watched a basketball game to a beautiul, gem of a facility in a much better location - and every opportunity exists for USC basketball to be among the best programs in the country. USC will almost assuredly play second-fiddle to UCLA as long as Howland is there, but you can still be 2nd best in the conference and a national power. [ Reply to Comment ]
Bizotchs Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 26, 2006	Posted on: September 13, 2008 11:00 am Score: 81 USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend USC is a football school and will always be a football school. This article is ridiculous. Sure USC may get a couple of big name recruits but they will all be one and one, and that's not how you build a college basketball super power. USC and basketball is like UNC and football, it just doesn't make sense. Top recruits go to top programs to be seen not to be in the shadow. Any basketball recruit who goes to USC for basketball will always play second fiddle to Pete Carroll and the football team. It is what it is. Besides it's just a matter of time before the NCAA finds some violations against USC and coach Floyd. [ Reply to Comment ]
t20wenties Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 21, 2006	Posted on: September 12, 2008 6:01 pm Score: 56 USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend USC is not quickly doing anything over Arizona, or Stanford. Somebody's makes a few shots & now they're ready to push aside Arizona ?? not so quick goofy. AZ is still a top program in the country & a few years of bumps doesn't change what AZ's accomplished over the last 25 years. ignorance. [ Reply to Comment ]
ku102 Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: May 23, 2008	Posted on: September 12, 2008 3:33 pm Score: 80 USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend Wow, they're all sure to feel like VIPs with only a dozen other recruits visiting at the same time. [ Reply to Comment ]
11 Banners Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 21, 2006	Posted on: September 12, 2008 3:28 pm Score: 92 USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend Too bad Sidney will opt to play in Europe and, more than likely, Hamilton becomes a Bruin. SC is quickly surpassing Arizona and Stanford as UCLA's biggest rivals in the Pac 10 - if they continue to grow under Floyd and get a few of these guys to sign they are a national contender as well. [ Reply to Comment ]

UNC football is a joke? Sure, they aren't great now (though things are obviously improving under Butch Davis); however, did you watch college football in the 90s? North Carolina had national title contending teams with players like Julius Peppers, Dre Bly, Ronald Curry and the school was Mack Brown's launching pad. They finished in the top 5 of the polls and one season they went 11-1 and destroyed VT in the Gator Bowl. Clearly you nothing about UNC sports history.

What has USC basketball done that is even comparable? I can't think of a recent Final Four berth. They lost in the first round last season with one of their most talent-laden teams. UNC has been just as 'solid' at football as USC has been at basketball - and neither have been impressive.

And regarding Florida, there is nothing that suggests that their titles were anything more than a fluke - at this point. Sure, great teams that brought home the hardware but where was Florida this past season? The NIT. They do have some good recruits lined up but no one at Florida considers UF to be both a football and basketball school. It always has been a football school and most likely will stay that way.

I agree with you that being predominately a football school doesn't hurt a resource-rich school like UF, UNC, USC, etc becoming great at both big revenue sports but it's unlikely their identities will ever change.

USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend

Puh-leaze. Yes, at USC football will always be the top draw, but enough of that tired line of reasoning please - you just saw Florida win back-to-back titles in basketball - at a football school. Comparing USC basketball and UNC football is not even acceptable hyperbole...USC is a solid - but not spectacular - program. UNC football is a joke. In the past it was true that USC was not a real factor in recruiting talent like what Gary has compiled on the list, but that was before Tim Floyd. Floyd can recruit and has made the Trojans a real factor. And, for the record, Pete Carroll is probably the second most active basketball recruiter on campus - he is the ultimate team player and further defies that ridiculous notion that you can't win basketball games at the highest level at a "football" school. Throw in the fact that USC recently changed addresses from the worst arena in which I ever watched a basketball game to a beautiul, gem of a facility in a much better location - and every opportunity exists for USC basketball to be among the best programs in the country. USC will almost assuredly play second-fiddle to UCLA as long as Howland is there, but you can still be 2nd best in the conference and a national power.

USC set for huge hoops recruiting weekend

USC is a football school and will always be a football school. This article is ridiculous. Sure USC may get a couple of big name recruits but they will all be one and one, and that's not how you build a college basketball super power. USC and basketball is like UNC and football, it just doesn't make sense. Top recruits go to top programs to be seen not to be in the shadow. Any basketball recruit who goes to USC for basketball will always play second fiddle to Pete Carroll and the football team. It is what it is. Besides it's just a matter of time before the NCAA finds some violations against USC and coach Floyd.

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