NBA.com video interview with Tyshawn Taylor
Approximately 100 KC Gym Rats campers huddled around Kansas University veteran basketball player Travis Releford and newcomer Andrew White late Tuesday afternoon at Blue Valley Northwest High School.
The grade schoolers proved they follow KU basketball recruiting as well as the actual games by requesting just as many autographs from 6-foot-6 Charlottesville, Va., freshman guard/forward White as fifth-year senior forward Releford.
“I’ve actually worked some camps in my hometown,” said White, Rivals.com’s No. 51-rated player in the recruiting class of 2012. “This is before I was committed (to KU). I wasn’t as significant to those people as I am in this environment. I’m really enjoying it.
“Just seeing kids, adults, everybody around the city in a Jayhawk shirt is great. I can tell these people really look up to me, and I enjoy working with them.”
In fact, one of the main reasons White chose KU over North Carolina State, Louisville, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Richmond, Texas, Georgetown and others, is the interest of the KU fans.
“I think one of the most amazing things is walking to the local stores and seeing all the Jayhawk gear. That’s a big change for me. I’m getting used to it quick,” White said.
…He admits he’ll miss his mom, who is a professor at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond; dad, Andrew, who is a housing developer and brother, Andrien, a freshman basketball standout at Miller School.
“He’s on track to do some good things. Look out for him. He could be making a little noise sooner or later,” White said of his brother.
LJW
Recruiting
Conner Frankamp: A scorer by nature and out of need on the high school level, Frankamp is also a high-level playmaker for others. His skill on the offensive end serves him equally well as a scorer or facilitator and he's got matching athleticism.
...For a kid who had sat out his entire junior season, Karviar Shepherd looked pretty good playing for Urban DFW in April during the Adidas Exclusive VIP Run held in Las Vegas. Back on the West Coast for Pangos, the Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep big man looked even better. A lot better actually.
Currently ranked No. 44 in the 2013 Rivals150, Shepherd played to and even above that lofty ranking all weekend.
…He's got no favorites, but has recently visited UCLA, LSU and SMU with Louisville and Kansas unofficials in the works. Others involved include Texas A&M (where Shepherd's older brother plays), Georgetown, Oklahoma, Tennessee and more.
…One of the hotter recruits in the country has been Baton Rouge (La.) Madison Prep's Jarell Martin. Martin was the Pangos camp's top performer of the weekend after leading the camp in scoring and finishing second in rebounding.
Since arriving in Baton Rouge the new staff at LSU has turned things up and Alabama, Louisville and Oklahoma State were already strong. Others taking their chances include Kansas, Baylor, St. John's, Marquette and Ohio State.
Rivals: Pangos AA - What we learned (Video at the link)
Following an Oklahoma visit, the 2015 Team Texas duo of Austin Grandstaff & Elijah Thomas were on the Kansas campus last night.
https://twitter.com/TheRecruitScoop/status/210352930656747520
For the casual high school basketball fan, Monday night's Indiana All-Star exhibition game against the juniors in Seymour may have provided the first look at Demetrius Jackson.
The 6-1 guard from Mishawaka Marian is one of the most highly-recruited guards in the state and was named to the core group of six Junior All-Stars.
But by playing predominantly against teams in the northern part of Indiana, the uncommitted Jackson probably isn't as recognizable as some of the top players in the area.
"I try to just go out and play my game regardless of who is watching," said Jackson, who scored nine points on 4-for-6 shooting in a 104-97 loss to the Indiana All-Stars.
…There is a new wrinkle to Jackson's recruitment. He said Kansas has been calling recently. Jackson has offers from Butler, Florida State, Illinois, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Xavier.
"(Kansas) is a great school," said Jackson, who helped Mishawaka Marian to the Class 3A semistate has a junior. "Jayhawk Nation is great. I've talked to (assistant coach Norm Roberts) a couple times."
Jackson has been invited to the prestigious National Basketball Players Association Top 100 Camp in Virginia next weekend but hasn't decided if he will attend or compete in the inaugural junior all-star series against Kentucky.
"I'm still figuring that out," he said. "I have a couple more days to decide."
Indy Star
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