ESPN really likes our three recruits

[ronbo]

This is from the ESPN rating system.

80-89: High Major Prospect
Player has the potential to start or significantly contribute as a freshman for most top national Division I programs.

Hutchinson 85
Cherry 80
Woods 79

 

[montanatarheel]

On paper the best class we have had in quite some time. On paper. Back to 2006 we had we had two players rated above a 40 on espn. Though u could maybe through AJ in there if they gave JUCO's a rating. Very promising nonetheless if they come in and play hard, physical, smart basketball and bring some athleticism.

 

[mtgrizrule]

2 HS friends of mine are HS basketball coaches in CA. Both think Cherry is underrated. They both think had he gone to a bigger basketball school/conference his rating would be near 90. They both like Wood too, but feel he needs to find some consistency from the perimeter and work on his ballhandling to be an all conference type 3/SF. They love his athleticism, attitude, and strength though.

They commented that Cherry's HS coach is very dedicated to preparing him to be ready to be a starting college point guard. Skills wise he will be a shutdown defender that will bring electricity with great athleticism. Offensively, he has the skills to be a point guard, but is just now learning the leadership and mental parts of being a point guard. That apparently has been a slow ,but steady process for him.

They expect him to start for the GRIZ at PG as a true Freshman. They commented the best way to get Wood and Cherry to be most effective is to play up tempo ball. They feel Wood could help us tremendously in using him to post up weaker SF's. He is near impossible to stop inside and is tenacious on the boards as well.

Well that is the only feedback I have gotten on them. That from 2 HS coaches. Take it for what it is worth. I am confident, they gave me accurate opinions, They are much higher on Wood and Cherry than they were on Swift, Sharp, and Graves. Both loved Swift's game,but felt he may struggle blending in when not being the man (they were right). They felt with the right coaching Graves could have become quite a player, at the very least a defensive nightmare. They feel Sharp could have developed to be a SF, and surprised the GRIZ have not utiliized him more. However, they were confident Sharp would contribute to any program due to a great unselfish attitude.

They have ZERO doubt on Cherry, They only question how well Wood can adjust to the perimeter more often at this level.

I asked if they knew anything on Hutchison. One knew nothing. The other has only seen him play AAU. He loves the way he ran the court, rebounded, plays defense, and knows his role. The biggest drawback is needing to get more strength, and feel he needs a redshirt year.

I guess we will all see in Fall of 09!!!!!

 

[citygriz]

having seen cherry play, i agree fully about his intensity, hustle and athleticism. he'll surely toughen our defense. will also be a huge fan fave.

but a point guard he's not--not yet, anyway. another kid runs the mack offense. cherry roams around, creating havoc and offense all over the court. great fun to watch. but when an old board reliable reported here that montana had recruited a "big time point guard," he was, yet again, missing the point.


and don't forget about digs and ward. ward was said to have pac-10 potential. that's four kids--cherry, woods, ward and digs--who should improve our athleticism and inside game next year. if tinks can coach 'em, people will no longer think of montana as a bunch of big white stiffs. we should have the horses to play a wide-open full-court game, and that would put butts back in the seats in dahlberg.

 

[montanatarheel]

If you youtube their highschool they have is video of all three recruits.