Basketball Recruiting Big Board - 9.30.13

Preseason practice has just gotten underway, but that doesn't mean the #doworkPat movement is slowing down. We're currently in the middle of the fall recruiting period, which lasts from Sept. 9th until Nov. 10th, so let's take a look at how Penn State stands currently.

2014 - 1 scholarship available

Commits

PLAYER	HOMETOWN	POSITION	STARS	NOTES
Isaiah Washington	Williamsport, PA HS: Williamsport Area HS AAU: We-R-1	Combo Guard 6'4" 180		Committed 4/2/12
Shep Garner	Philadelphia, PA HS: Roman Catholic HS AAU: Team Final	Point Guard 6'2" 180		Committed 6/15/13

Targets

PLAYER	HOMETOWN	POSITION	STARS	NOTES
Melvin Swift	Houston, TX HS: Jack Yates, Houston TX AAU: Houston Hoops	Combo Forward 6'7" 195		Offered Visited 9/14/13
Dominique Uhl	Point Pleasant, NJ HS: Point Pleasant Beach, PA AAU: Jersey Shore Warriors	Power Forward 6'8" 180		Offered
Tory Miller	Lees Summit, MO HS: New Hampton HS, NH AAU: KC Run GMC	Forward 6'8" 235		Offered

Gone: Kyle Kuzma (Utah), Terry Larrier (VCU)

Names to watch: Satchel Pierce (C), Darreon Reddick (G), Peyton Allen (G), Ryan Skovranko (F), Ryan Luther (F)

Despite the fact that the 2014 class doesn't enroll for another ten months, Penn State doesn't seem to have many more targets for the next incoming group. Garner and Washington are pretty solid commits, and with one scholarship remaining, there are only a handful of kids the staff appears to be pursuing. First and foremost is Melvin Swift, a combo forward from Houston, Texas. (highlights) A Xavier decommit, the 6'7" Swift was not even an option for Penn State a month ago. Pat Chambers was able to get him up to State College for the Central Florida game, and now it sounds as though the Nittany Lions are actually frontrunners for his commitment.

The first choice, you'd have to think, for the remaining scholarship was Kyle Kuzma. The Rise Academy (PA) product committed to Utah a few weeks ago despite heavy interest from PSU and loads of other high-major schools, including UConn, Florida State, Missouri and Arizona State. Kuzma's coach went so far as to say his decision came down to two schools, with Penn State finishing in a close second. Unfortunately, there's no consolation prize in recruiting.

If you were a betting man, you wouldn't put money on either Uhl or Miller coming to Penn State. Neither has visited campus, and they're really only included on the board because they're uncommitted and the Nittany Lions appear to remain interested. At this point it's Swift or bust in 2014 - obviously that could change, though it would be kind of surprising if Chambers didn't save the scholarship for the loaded 2015 class if Swift decides to attend school elsewhere.

2015 - 3 scholarships available

Commits

PLAYER	HOMETOWN	POSITION	STARS	NOTES
Michael Watkins	Philadelphia, PA HS: Math, Civics and Sciences HS AAU: Team Philly	Forward/Center 6'8" 210		Committed 6/12/13

Targets

PLAYER	HOMETOWN	POSITION	STARS	NOTES
Tyler Lydon	Pine Plains, NY HS: New Hampton HS AAU: Albany City Rocks	Power Forward 6'8" 180		Offered
Derrick Jones	Radnor, PA HS: Archbishop Carroll AAU: We-R 1	Small Forward 6'6" 180		Offered
Bryant Crawford	Washington, DC HS: Gonzaga HS AAU: Team Takeover	Point Guard 6'2" 170		Offered Visited 10/27/12
Traci Carter	Philadelphia, PA HS: Life Center Academy (NJ) AAU: We-R-1	Point Guard 6'0" 160		Offered Visited 9/15/12
Levan Alston	Haverford, PA HS: The Haverford School AAU: Team Final	Point Guard 6'4" 165		Offered Visited 9/28/13
Sean Lloyd	Haverford, PA HS: The Haverford School AAU: Team Philly	Guard/Forward 6'5" 200	NR	Offered
Donte DiVincenzo	Wilmington, DE HS: Salesianum, DE AAU: Team Final	Shooting Guard 6'3" 180		Offered
Jamil Hood Jr	Albany, NY HS: Green Tech Charter AAU: Albany City Rocks	Point Guard 6'2" 170	NR	Offered Skills Camp Attendee
Justin Simon	Temecula, CA HS: Temecula Valley AAU: Gamepoint	Point Guard 6'4" 180		Offered
Josh Reaves	Fairfax, VA HS: Paul VI Catholic HS AAU: Fairfax Stars	Shooting Guard 6'4" 185		Offered Visited 9/7/13
Justin Jenifer	Gwynn Oak, MD HS: Milford Mill Academy AAU: Team Takeover	Point Guard 5'9" 160		Offered
Sam Miller	Washington, DC HS: Gonzaga College HS AAU: DC Assault	Forward 6'7" 215	NR	Offered Visited 10/27/12 Skills Camp Attendee

Gone: Tim Delaney (Villanova)

Names to watch: Samir Doughty (G), Ernest Aflakpui (F-C), Milik Gantz (G), Jarvis Johnson (G), Malachi Richardson (G), Malik Ellison (G), Esa Ahmad (F), Carlton Bragg (F), Tyler Kohl (G/F), Jon Davis (G)

Penn State hired Chambers to recruit in Philly, among other things, and in this 2015 class he'll really get to show what he can do in his old stomping grounds. He's already received a commitment from a consensus top-150 forward form the area in Michael Watkins, and there's plenty of talent remaining in the mystical land of swagger. Ideally, the team will be coming off of a not-awful season in 2013-14, so there's a feeling this could be a special group of future Lions.

There are a few kids on the board who are nothing more than pipe dreams as it currently stands. Derrick Jones and Tyler Lydon are both top-50 talents that appear set for Syracuse, although Jones may be enticed by the Kentucky offer he picked up in July. Bryant Crawford has visited Penn State, but Indiana looks to be his favorite. Don't get your hopes up for any of these kids, you'll only be disappointed.

Traci Carter and Levan "Shawn" Alston are two top-150 Philly point guard targets that Penn State has a realistic shot with. Carter is an AAU teammate of Washington's and has been on the Lions' radar for some time now, having visited last football season. He was recently named MVP of the Philly vs. NYC All-City Classic and sports offers from Iowa, Xavier and most of the city schools. Alston, who holds offers from Rhode Island and most of the Big 5, came up for an official visit this past weekend. Chambers would likely want a point guard in this class and either would be a great fit in Penn State's system, despite the four underclassmen guards that will be on the roster by the time of their enrollment.

Sean Lloyd, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Reaves are all newer targets that didn't appear on the last edition of the big board. Lloyd, another Philly kid, is AAU teammates with Watkins and has some D.J. Newbill in his game. Delaware's DiVincenzo is getting some looks nationally and Rivals has him slotted in the top-100 of their junior rankings. Reaves is a Virginia kid with other offers from Villanova and VCU who is being recruited by newly-hired assistant Dwayne Anderson. The lack of forwards currently being targeted may be slightly unsettling, but with Watkins already in tow, expect the rest of the 2015 class to be perimeter oriented.

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