2012 Recruiting Thread

[sys]

a few 2012 things from rivals:

cassidy's ellis report (nothing new).

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1191115


update on jordan granger (no mention of kstate).

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1190516


new (elite) kstate combo guard mention.

Countless programs have called and expressed interest in addition to the Horns, including Kansas State, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, Baylor, Maryland, Xavier and Georgetown. Since Simith-Rivera has opened it up he's getting a lot of interest.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1190805

[WillieWatanabe]

Who were the other people around Ellis?

[sys]

Who were the other people around Ellis?

friends/family.

[Trim]

Shortly after the buzzer sounded and his mother finished up photographing homemade "Perry Ellis" signs that surfaced in the student section, a return trip was set.

His mom reads goEMAW.   

[sys]

http://bigbluecorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/perry-ellis-k-state-visit-update.html?spref=tw

[sys]

6'9 junior Dominique Wilson has returned to KC from Maine and will now be attempting to play in the KCKAL next year. Rumor is Washington.

kcprephoops.

[CNS]

6'9 junior Dominique Wilson has returned to KC from Maine and will now be attempting to play in the KCKAL next year. Rumor is Washington.

kcprephoops.

NJSloan212 Nick Sloan
Dominique Wilson will be an awesome addition to Washington. The 6'9" forward will make a nasty tandem with Rakim McCoy, who could be 6'7".

NJSloan212 Nick Sloan
@
@KCPREPHOOPS It's a done deal. He's enrolled at Washington and will play there next year.

['taterblast]

 

[wetwillie]

6'9 junior Dominique Wilson has returned to KC from Maine and will now be attempting to play in the KCKAL next year. Rumor is Washington.

kcprephoops.

How would you classify his type of play?  Is he more like Jamar or more finesse?

[sys]

i can't recall if anyone has mentioned the smart/forte package deal talk here or not.  if not, some people have talked up that smart may have an interest in matriculating to the same school as hs & aau teammate phil forte.  osu is currently recruiting both, most high-majors aren't.

at any rate, if it matters, forte was born in wichita.  his father (and smart's coach) is from kc.

UIL Violation? FM Marcus Standout Lives in Home Owned by Booster Club VP

One of the top basketball players for the No. 1 high school team in the area has lived in a house owned by the team’s booster club vice president, who has also helped coach his AAU team, since he transferred during his freshman year.
Estimates from real estate agents familiar with the area indicate that the booster, Phil Forte, is charging the family of Flower Mound Marcus junior Marcus Smart less than market value for rent.
UIL rules prohibit recruiting, defined by the UIL as encouraging “a student in any way to change schools for the purpose of participating in UIL activities at any grade level.” According to Section 5 of the UIL Constitution, recruiting could include offering a student or a student’s parents “board or lodging.” According to Section 1203 of the District Executive Committee handbook, the offer could come from a “school official or local fan.”
UIL rules, according to Section 441 of the constitution, also prohibit an athlete from receiving “valuable consideration” for participating in a sport.
“Valuable consideration” is defined as “any tangible or intangible property or service, including anything that is wearable, usable or salable.”
UIL policy director Mark Cousins said any investigation into possible recruiting and valuable consideration violations would be launched by a district executive committee or the State Executive Committee on a case-by-case basis. Investigations aren’t launched until a formal protest is received.
Lewisville schools communications director Karen Permetti said that the school reported the living arrangement to a DEC, that the situation has involved no rule violations and that Smart should be eligible to attend Flower Mound Marcus. Basketball coach Danny Henderson declined to comment on the situation, deferring to Permetti.
Forte bought a house, separate from the one in which he lives, on Homestead Street in the Flower Mound Marcus district in September 2008, according to Denton County real estate records. Smart’s mother, Camellia Smart, signed a lease that month, and Smart enrolled at the school in October.
According to state driver’s license records, Marcus Smart and Billy Smart reside at the home that Forte owns. No father is listed on the Texas birth index for Marcus Smart, but Camellia Smart married Billy in 1975.
Marcus Smart, currently ranked by recruiting clearinghouse Rivals.com as the No. 22 player overall in the Class of 2012, had attended Red Oak High School. Forte is the father of a Marcus basketball player who has played AAU basketball with Smart as far back as 2003.
Since Smart’s transfer in 2008, four other basketball players have moved into the Flower Mound Marcus district. Three of them are contributors on the varsity, and one plays on the junior varsity. Two have played on the same AAU team, Texas Assault, that Smart and the son of Forte play on. None have been found to have violated UIL transfer rules.
Billy Smart did not respond to repeated attempts for an interview.
Approached at a basketball game last week after not responding to multiple phone calls, Forte said he could not remember why he bought the house, which cost $143,000, according to Denton County real estate records.
“I don’t even know,” he said. “I own about four properties.”
The Lewisville ISD provided a copy of the lease last week, with Forte as the lessor and Billy and Camellia Smart as the lessees. The monthly rental agreement lease, signed in September 2008, calls for the Smarts to pay Forte $800 a month. Flower Mound real estate agents interviewed for this story estimate that fair market value for a house its size in that area valued at around $140,000 would be $1,100 to $1,300 a month. A comparative market analysis established that similarly sized properties in the area were rented for an average of 77 cents per square foot, which would put the house Forte owns at $1,184 per month.
Forte called the $800 payment reasonable, saying in an e-mail the home was occupied by someone he was comfortable with. He said that he never took calls regarding minor repairs and that the payment was enough to cover the interest and principle he paid.
Asked about his relationship with Smart, Forte said he knew him from long ago and wanted him to be in a better environment and “on the right path.” Permetti said Forte and his family leased the house because they wanted to help the Smarts, who were friends.
Cousins said it was a school’s responsibility to verify the legitimacy of all athletic transfers and also the involvement of its booster clubs. Permetti said that the school properly verified Smart’s residency and eligibility when he moved into the district and that he met all UIL requirements. She said that last spring the UIL determined Smart eligible after another school expressed concern.
UIL compliance director Ed Stidham said he did not recall the issue of Smart’s eligibility ever coming before the UIL.
“I’m not saying it didn’t happen,” he said.
It wasn’t until this fall, Permetti said, that the district discovered Forte’s ownership of the house. Marcus Principal Gary Shafferman said the school found out while investigating and affirming the eligibility of another Marcus basketball player. Permetti said Shafferman interviewed Forte and Camellia Smart regarding the situation. Permetti said Shafferman secured a lease and established that the family was paying rent per the lease agreement.
Permetti said in a statement that while at a hearing for another Marcus athlete, Shafferman informed the District 8-5A Executive Committee that Smart’s family was leasing from another basketball team family. At the end of the hearing, Permetti said, Shafferman asked the committee if it wanted more information regarding the situation.
“That’s when the DEC needed to come back and say if they needed more information,” she said.
Steve Williams, chair of the 8-5A DEC, said he remembered a reference to Smart at the meeting but said nothing had been brought forward to the committee regarding details of the situation. Told last week that Forte bought the house the fall that Smart transferred, and informed of Forte’s involvement in the booster club, Williams said, “I don’t think anybody knew of all those details.”
He added: “In my opinion, none of those people [Shafferman, Lewisville ISD Athletic Director Randy Mayes and Marcus coach Danny Henderson] would do anything unethical.”
Asked whether a booster’s purchase and ownership of a house in which a transferred athlete lived could prompt a hearing, Williams said that “it could definitely raise an eyebrow.”
A district executive committee, according to the DEC handbook, can hold a hearing after a school self-reports a possible violation, an opposing school or an individual files a protest, or the UIL refers a case to the committee. Williams said it was the responsibility of each school to verify the eligibility of all students and report any incongruities to its DEC.
Last season, Flower Mound Marcus went 37-3, reaching the state tournament. This season’s team is 32-1 and ranked No. 1 in The Dallas Morning News’ area rankings. From 2004 to 2008, Marcus made the playoffs three times — 2006, 2007and 2008 — losing in the first round twice and advancing to the fourth round once.
Smart averages 13.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

[WillieWatanabe]

hmmm... 

[pissclams]

p ellis & q buchanen PAK together

[michigancat]

p ellis & q buchanen PAK together

and serge afeli.

Also LOL @ body language analysis. Someone should debunk that bullshit.

[pissclams]

good catch, i saw serge there but didn't put 2 + 2

one last question before moving on from this pic

[chum1]

it looks like whoever took that pic was infiltrated.

[Stevesie60]

good catch, i saw serge there but didn't put 2 + 2

one last question before moving on from this pic

I'm nearly positive that he made this video.

[Underdog Wildcat]

Oak Hill handles ACD(and Ian Baker)without much trouble.

http://schools.jacksonville.com/sports/basketball.php?game=4079

Baker not mentioned in Hoopfest recap from ESPN.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=6144072

[Underdog Wildcat]

Murphy update from NYChoops, no mention of KSU

http://virginiatech.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1190555

[SoonerHoopsfan]

UIL Violation? FM Marcus Standout Lives in Home Owned by Booster Club VP

One of the top basketball players for the No. 1 high school team in the area has lived in a house owned by the team’s booster club vice president, who has also helped coach his AAU team, since he transferred during his freshman year.
Estimates from real estate agents familiar with the area indicate that the booster, Phil Forte, is charging the family of Flower Mound Marcus junior Marcus Smart less than market value for rent.
UIL rules prohibit recruiting, defined by the UIL as encouraging “a student in any way to change schools for the purpose of participating in UIL activities at any grade level.” According to Section 5 of the UIL Constitution, recruiting could include offering a student or a student’s parents “board or lodging.” According to Section 1203 of the District Executive Committee handbook, the offer could come from a “school official or local fan.”
UIL rules, according to Section 441 of the constitution, also prohibit an athlete from receiving “valuable consideration” for participating in a sport.
“Valuable consideration” is defined as “any tangible or intangible property or service, including anything that is wearable, usable or salable.”
UIL policy director Mark Cousins said any investigation into possible recruiting and valuable consideration violations would be launched by a district executive committee or the State Executive Committee on a case-by-case basis. Investigations aren’t launched until a formal protest is received.
Lewisville schools communications director Karen Permetti said that the school reported the living arrangement to a DEC, that the situation has involved no rule violations and that Smart should be eligible to attend Flower Mound Marcus. Basketball coach Danny Henderson declined to comment on the situation, deferring to Permetti.
Forte bought a house, separate from the one in which he lives, on Homestead Street in the Flower Mound Marcus district in September 2008, according to Denton County real estate records. Smart’s mother, Camellia Smart, signed a lease that month, and Smart enrolled at the school in October.
According to state driver’s license records, Marcus Smart and Billy Smart reside at the home that Forte owns. No father is listed on the Texas birth index for Marcus Smart, but Camellia Smart married Billy in 1975.
Marcus Smart, currently ranked by recruiting clearinghouse Rivals.com as the No. 22 player overall in the Class of 2012, had attended Red Oak High School. Forte is the father of a Marcus basketball player who has played AAU basketball with Smart as far back as 2003.
Since Smart’s transfer in 2008, four other basketball players have moved into the Flower Mound Marcus district. Three of them are contributors on the varsity, and one plays on the junior varsity. Two have played on the same AAU team, Texas Assault, that Smart and the son of Forte play on. None have been found to have violated UIL transfer rules.
Billy Smart did not respond to repeated attempts for an interview.
Approached at a basketball game last week after not responding to multiple phone calls, Forte said he could not remember why he bought the house, which cost $143,000, according to Denton County real estate records.
“I don’t even know,” he said. “I own about four properties.”
The Lewisville ISD provided a copy of the lease last week, with Forte as the lessor and Billy and Camellia Smart as the lessees. The monthly rental agreement lease, signed in September 2008, calls for the Smarts to pay Forte $800 a month. Flower Mound real estate agents interviewed for this story estimate that fair market value for a house its size in that area valued at around $140,000 would be $1,100 to $1,300 a month. A comparative market analysis established that similarly sized properties in the area were rented for an average of 77 cents per square foot, which would put the house Forte owns at $1,184 per month.
Forte called the $800 payment reasonable, saying in an e-mail the home was occupied by someone he was comfortable with. He said that he never took calls regarding minor repairs and that the payment was enough to cover the interest and principle he paid.
Asked about his relationship with Smart, Forte said he knew him from long ago and wanted him to be in a better environment and “on the right path.” Permetti said Forte and his family leased the house because they wanted to help the Smarts, who were friends.
Cousins said it was a school’s responsibility to verify the legitimacy of all athletic transfers and also the involvement of its booster clubs. Permetti said that the school properly verified Smart’s residency and eligibility when he moved into the district and that he met all UIL requirements. She said that last spring the UIL determined Smart eligible after another school expressed concern.
UIL compliance director Ed Stidham said he did not recall the issue of Smart’s eligibility ever coming before the UIL.
“I’m not saying it didn’t happen,” he said.
It wasn’t until this fall, Permetti said, that the district discovered Forte’s ownership of the house. Marcus Principal Gary Shafferman said the school found out while investigating and affirming the eligibility of another Marcus basketball player. Permetti said Shafferman interviewed Forte and Camellia Smart regarding the situation. Permetti said Shafferman secured a lease and established that the family was paying rent per the lease agreement.
Permetti said in a statement that while at a hearing for another Marcus athlete, Shafferman informed the District 8-5A Executive Committee that Smart’s family was leasing from another basketball team family. At the end of the hearing, Permetti said, Shafferman asked the committee if it wanted more information regarding the situation.
“That’s when the DEC needed to come back and say if they needed more information,” she said.
Steve Williams, chair of the 8-5A DEC, said he remembered a reference to Smart at the meeting but said nothing had been brought forward to the committee regarding details of the situation. Told last week that Forte bought the house the fall that Smart transferred, and informed of Forte’s involvement in the booster club, Williams said, “I don’t think anybody knew of all those details.”
He added: “In my opinion, none of those people [Shafferman, Lewisville ISD Athletic Director Randy Mayes and Marcus coach Danny Henderson] would do anything unethical.”
Asked whether a booster’s purchase and ownership of a house in which a transferred athlete lived could prompt a hearing, Williams said that “it could definitely raise an eyebrow.”
A district executive committee, according to the DEC handbook, can hold a hearing after a school self-reports a possible violation, an opposing school or an individual files a protest, or the UIL refers a case to the committee. Williams said it was the responsibility of each school to verify the eligibility of all students and report any incongruities to its DEC.
Last season, Flower Mound Marcus went 37-3, reaching the state tournament. This season’s team is 32-1 and ranked No. 1 in The Dallas Morning News’ area rankings. From 2004 to 2008, Marcus made the playoffs three times — 2006, 2007and 2008 — losing in the first round twice and advancing to the fourth round once.
Smart averages 13.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

From Metroplex hoops, the FM Marcus take on it.

I am writing this with the permission of both families', the Smarts and the Fortes. It is important to know the facts, and the entire story, rather than blurbs, half-truths, and rumors/lies. It is unfortunate that no one really has a recourse to the media giant, the Dallas Morning News, or to anonymous/cowardly emails and sources that started this whole chain of events. One is left with only public perception, and that is not fair. Think how you would feel if this were to happen to you on the front page of a newspaper for-profit. Most of the facts below were presented to Mr. Dent (by the  LISD ) who wrote the article, and the Editor of the Dallas Morning News, Mr. Whitfield, who chose to publish it on the front page. They chose not to use the personal and truthful facts in their article. They left most of it completely out,  on purpose.
Social media is our only recourse to get the truth out. This has nothing to do with a player on a basketball team. It has everything to do with a 16 year old kid  (Marcus) and a 17 year-old kid (Phillip) who I admire, respect, and love. Please spread this publication and its facts to all your social media friends. Facebook helped elect a President, so I'm sure it can be just as effective as the front page of a newspaper for-profit.
 
The Facts:
Fact- The Dallas Morning News had  information that they presented in their article  before their chosen publication date (Saturday, Feb. 19th). They chose to investigate it and publish it 3 days before the start of the State Playoffs and one day after the conclusion of the UIL Regular Season, a regular season we went 32-1 in.
Fact- Mr. Forte transparently owns the Smarts' rental home.

Fact- The Smarts' transparently have rented, for $800/month, the property from Mr. Forte over the past three years. The $800/month rent is excess of $100 of the principle and interest payment of Mr. Forte's mortgage of the property.

Fact- LISD initiated and transparently released this information to the District 8-5A Executive Committee  in September, 2010 (the beginning of the school year) as soon as it was discovered.

Fact- The Forte's and Smart 's are close, personal friends, and have been for many years.

Fact- Marcus and Phillip are LIFELONG friends, to the extent of brotherhood.

Fact- Marcus struggled in South Dallas (Red Oak) academically and on state mandated tests (which he did not succeed on). Tragic events in their family played a part in this.

Fact- Marcus' uncle Gary (Marcus' mom's brother) was shot and is wheelchaired because of a car theft incident while they were living in South Dallas.The are now his primary care-giver.

Fact- Mrs. Smart receives dialysis three days (3-4  hour sitting each time) a week for reasons I'm sure you can figure out. It is extremely tough on her on the days of dialysis.

Fact- While in his old residence in South Dallas,  Marcus' oldest brother, a great  basketball player and someone Marcus idoled, was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age 15. He passed away at age 33 after a lengthy and painful battle with this cancer.

Fact- concerned about their son because of the facts mentioned above, Mr. and Mrs. Smart decided they needed to move for the well being of their son.
 
Fact- The Smart's moved to Flower Mound late summer between Marcus' 8th grade and 9th grade year with the recommendation of their friends, the Fortes. They also researched the community and school.

Fact-  Marcus HS Basketball won 18 games prior to the Smarts moving, had only made it to the regional tournament twice in its schools' twenty year varsity-eligible existence (once in the 90's and 2006)

Fact- If the Smart's wanted to move their son for "athletic purposes", it would be to a  basketball powerhouse, like the ones in their backyard (Desoto/Duncanville/Cedar Hill/Lancaster/Kimball/etc...), not Flower Mound, Texas.

Fact- Mark Dent of the DMN spent a paragraph in his article about the four move-ins/transfers...
"Since Smart’s transfer in 2008, four other basketball players have moved into the Flower Mound Marcus district. Three of them are contributors on the varsity (Aj/Nick/JJ ), and one plays on the junior varsity (Ricky ). Two have played on the same AAU team (Nick/Ricky ), Texas Assault, that Smart and the son of Forte play on. None have been found to have violated UIL transfer rules."
                                            These players are all black.
 
Fact- Mr. Dent did not do his homework/research. It is obvious in his article he knows nothing about the fifth move-in/transfer. A junior on the varsity who moved in/transferred two years ago.This player is white.

Why did Mr. Dent focus solely on the black players and mention not one word about the white player?
 
 Fact- Mr. Dent Facebook friend-requested all five black players, and only those players. Their parents found out and immediately deleted that. He also friend requested me. That request is still "pending", for proof.
 
Fact- Marcus Smart is an A/B honor roll student at Marcus, an Exemplary TEA Campus.

This is embarassing to have to write this. For parents to have to justify their incomes and personal information about their lives because of a choice they made to move- a choice to pursue happiness. I pray the anonymous/cowardly emails that sparked this did not come from within the community- a community I was born in and grew up in. A community where every single one of us MOVED INTO. More than likely, the vicious attacks were a result of jealousy and lies outside of the community.
 
The LISD has supported these two kids and families wholeheartedly and without bias, a move very appreciated by all involved.
 
Spread this information, as it is truth. And support us at the games. And if you don't support us, at least know the truth. Their families moved here with the assumption and rumor that our district and community is a great place to live and raise their kid. And know this- that the Smarts and the Fortes are good people, starting with their son(s) and daughters.

[WillieWatanabe]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-D%27Vauntes-Smith-Rivera-91036

[Pett]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-D%27Vauntes-Smith-Rivera-91036

WANT!

[sys]

good find, shf.  from what i've seen of the situ, the reporter is basically being a giant dick over nothing.  the rent is within the realm of appropriate, and the story about the fortes and smarts being long standing friends is legit.  calling mr. forte a booster and headlining the event as "star bball player lives in booster's house" rather than "dude rents house to friends, possibly for slightly less than market value - their kids also play bball" is pretty mumped up.

that weird little comment about his father not being on his birth cert, despite that the fact that his parents were married at the time of his birth is beyond mumped up. 

[sys]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-D%27Vauntes-Smith-Rivera-91036

good job, mr. sandwich man. 

[MakeItRain]

p ellis & q buchanen PAK together

Also LOL @ body language analysis. Someone should debunk that bullshit.

He's always like that, always.  WTF do people want to see him acting like he's at Def Comedy Jam or some crap, he's watching a damn basketball game.

BTW he didn't go to Big Monday because he had a game the next day.  Generally frowned upon to be on the road at 1AM when you have school at 8AM and a game that night, idiots.

[Underdog Wildcat]

Smith-Rivera vids, not extended action, but it's something