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Basketball Recruiting Update: With five seniors on the current roster, Oregon is in need of depth

Anthony Bennett (photo by Andrew Daniel) l.yimg.com

No matter what happens as the season winds down, this year has to be looked at as a success for the Oregon Men's basketball team. Oregon has had to incorporate four new junior college transfers into its regular rotation, while sustaining the early season transfers of McDonald's All-American shooting guard Jabari Brown and backup point guard Bruce Barron. After over-achieving last year, Dana Altman's squad is doing it again behind the scoring ability of Devoe Joseph, the grit and leadership of E.J. Singler, and Carlos Emory's explosiveness off the bench. Dana Altman has proven himself to be a great coach and a good recruiter, regardless of the defections of Brown and Barron. With five rotation players set to graduate this year, coupled with the two transfers, Oregon has at least seven scholarships to offer, and a need to fill some holes and add depth. Ideally they would save one or two of those scholarships for next year and get a couple JUCO guys this year to balance out the classes. Oregon already has three high school commitments: PG Dominic Artis from California, PF Ben Carter from Nevada, and SF Damyean Dotson from Texas, in addition to C/PF Arik Armstead, who has a football scholarship.

After the jump, a look at some of the other players on Oregon's radar.

Star-divide

Anthony Bennett PF - Anthony Bennett is a consensus top 10 player in the country. At 6'7 and 230 lbs, Bennett is slightly undersized for the PF position, though this is less important at the college level. He is very strong and athletic and a great rebounder. Bennett plays for prep powerhouse Findlay Prep in Nevada, the same school as Oregon commit Dominic Artis. Artis is reportedly advocating on Oregon's behalf and Bennett has Oregon in his final five, along with Florida, Kentucky, UNLV, and Washington. Given his ability and Oregon's lack of depth at the power forward position, Bennett would likely start right away for the Ducks.

Jarion Henry SF - Henry is a 6'9, 200 lbs forward from Texas who is playing his high school basketball in La Jolla this year. Henry has great size, though he needs to add some weight. He is athletic and tenacious with a lot of upside, though he's not a great shooter yet. He originally committed to New Mexico, but his recruiting is now apparently open.

Nick Wiggins SG (JC) - Nick Wiggins is a junior college guy who was recently covered by Bob Rickert. Wiggins is a 6'6 shooting guard from Canada and the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins. He's a slasher who is averaging 18 points and 5 rebs a game for Wabash Valley. In addition to Oregon, he is being chased by Baylor, Pittsburgh, Villanova, and Wichita State, among others. Oregon and Wichita are reportedly at the top of his list.

Devon Branch SG (JC) - Branch is another 6'6 juco shooting guard who can light up the scoreboard. Oregon is in desperate need for a SG this year, especially a shooter, and Branch fits the bill: he is a high percentage 3-point shooter and is averaging 20 ppg this year. Sounds like he may favor Maryland right now, but Oregon is in the mix.

Spencer Coleman SF (JC) - Coleman is a Eugene native who has been putting up good numbers this year in junior college. Matt Prehm reports averages of 15 points and 8 boards. Coleman apparently doesn't have an offer from Oregon but is a name to keep tabs on as the recruiting season wears on.

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Great article!

Basketball recruiting is arguably more important than football recruiting, seeing how much effect a single star player can have on the team. Thanks for the update, and I am rooting for Bennett to be in a Ducks uniform next year.

I don't mean to impose...

by TheOcean on Feb 22, 2012 9:32 AM PST reply actions  

Good night, Rose Bowl Campers

I have been up for 30 straight hours and imma take a nap.

I'm not here to cause no trouble, I'm just here to do the… well, I don't really know what I'm here to do.

by Bill Musgrave on Feb 22, 2012 10:57 AM PST reply actions  

I believe I heard/read Coach A

is trying to “un-Ernie” the roster – which might involve a JC guy that has 3 years left.

by Coastal Duck on Feb 22, 2012 11:05 AM PST reply actions  

Or

a one-year guy such as transfer Olu Ashaolu.

by Coastal Duck on Feb 22, 2012 11:10 AM PST reply actions  

i'm sure they'll look at one-year transfers too

but it’s the 2010 and 2011 classes that lack depth, so better to have JC guys who can play a couple years.

by nds500 on Feb 22, 2012 12:05 PM PST up reply actions  

From what I understand, he's not terribly interested in coming back to Eugene

though that was back in the Fall, so who knows?

"Forget it. If 21 gets behind you, you can play the fight song." --Scott Van Pelt
[Will Auction Off Sig To Highest Bidder]

by axemen23 on Feb 22, 2012 12:03 PM PST up reply actions  

I can buy that.

Just seems like he’d get a good opportunity to actually play here, over most places, and get some attention if he wants to go further with his career.

Things like that.

by qrsouther on Feb 22, 2012 12:30 PM PST up reply actions  

He'll certainly have his opportunities to play D1 somewhere

"Forget it. If 21 gets behind you, you can play the fight song." --Scott Van Pelt
[Will Auction Off Sig To Highest Bidder]

by axemen23 on Feb 22, 2012 12:36 PM PST up reply actions  

Thanks for the BBALL recruit post

"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin

by haveasoda on Feb 22, 2012 12:04 PM PST reply actions  

Well, technically we can't hang those banners anymore

and I don’t know that a CBI is something we want to sell to Anthony Bennett…

"Forget it. If 21 gets behind you, you can play the fight song." --Scott Van Pelt
[Will Auction Off Sig To Highest Bidder]

by axemen23 on Feb 22, 2012 12:20 PM PST up reply actions  

Note I purposefully used the singular.

TALL FIRS REPRESENT YO

Now with mustache guarantee!

by HoodRiverDuck on Feb 22, 2012 12:28 PM PST up reply actions  

HRD, I am so glad to see you came through in the clutch yet again.

I was fearing this might turn into a rationale comments section devoid of pandering, brimstone, and fire.

You of course brought your A game in all regards.

I don't mean to impose...

by TheOcean on Feb 22, 2012 12:41 PM PST up reply actions  

You do KNOW THO, that the text body (after the headline) can be in bold and it then lOOks like its a headline, right?

"What you are entrusted to do as a coach is to create an environment where your players have a chance to be successful." CHIP KELLY

by Famous Duck on Feb 22, 2012 1:18 PM PST up reply actions  

I am aware of that bit of formatting arcana.

I reserve it for extremely special circumstances, not just my garden variety internet clown show like the above.

Now with mustache guarantee!

by HoodRiverDuck on Feb 22, 2012 1:53 PM PST up reply actions  

the question is

will Altman recruit players who want to play in his system or will we have to endure another Jabari Brown situation?

by westspec on Feb 22, 2012 12:30 PM PST reply actions  

That's the biggest question going forward

Obviously we know that Altman can bring in 1 or 2 year transfer kids and make them fit in (Joseph, Olu, Strowbridge, Nared). He needs to be able to bring in young guys too and develop them. We’ll have some good youth in Armstead, Artis, Kingma and Kuemper next year, but we can’t lose any of them, and if we get 1 or 2 of the above, we have to get them to stick around.

The All I Saw Was Green Blog, that's it I'm telling SBN legal

by Matt Daddy on Feb 22, 2012 12:48 PM PST up reply actions  

it's a legitimate question

especially since barron followed jabari out the door. still, i’m a little puzzled by both situations. it’s not like they didn’t know the coach and style of play coming into the season. seems like they both had maturity issues.

by nds500 on Feb 22, 2012 2:30 PM PST up reply actions  

I think people are making too much of the Jabari situation, he supposedly has a history of doing that in high school I don’t really think that is on Altman as much as people make it out to be.

The Legend

by KJ Brophy on Feb 22, 2012 7:34 PM PST up reply actions  

Just stopped by to say:

Football offseason sucks. And these weeks without a basketball game are even worse!

But we are still the ROSE BOWL CHAMPIONS!!!

by NICKPAPAGEORGIOTHEDUCK on Feb 22, 2012 2:03 PM PST reply actions  

Holy Moly
- Anthony Bennett is a consensus top 10 player in the country. At 6’7 and 230 lbs, Bennett is slightly undersized for the PF position

If this is considered ‘undersized’ then I am Danny Devito

by BLAZERDUCKs on Feb 22, 2012 2:31 PM PST reply actions  

Den weee ahhhhh twinz!!!

Go ahead and run around with your off-season rumors. I'll be at the corner of Wait and 'C'.

by DuckUntilDeath on Feb 22, 2012 2:48 PM PST up reply actions  

The Ad-Blocker columns are white which just makes the page look bigger, I think.

"Forget it. If 21 gets behind you, you can play the fight song." --Scott Van Pelt
[Will Auction Off Sig To Highest Bidder]

by axemen23 on Feb 22, 2012 4:18 PM PST up reply actions  

I think Bennett said he wants to take his visits first

The Legend

by KJ Brophy on Feb 23, 2012 6:46 AM PST up reply actions  

november/april

early signing period is november, regular signing period is april. players can of course make verbal commitments before then.

by nds500 on Feb 23, 2012 8:34 AM PST up reply actions  

Why does Altman have to recruit?

basketball can just be another platoon opportunity for the football D line.

Speed Endurance Talent is how Track Town USA plays football. Win The Day

by webfoot73 on Feb 22, 2012 10:09 PM PST reply actions  

Bennett is fantasic

DeJuan Blair clone. But longest shot to get him. Stay away from Jarion Henry with a longish pole. Multiple de-commits, thinks of himself as a lottery pick, very if he can stay qualified.

Love Dotson and Carter, very good commits. I think the JC guys are the most likely. Most of the HS 2012 class is done already.

by bunk moreland on Feb 24, 2012 10:24 AM PST reply actions  

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