2013 F Austin Nichols (Memphis Briarcrest)

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by Purplehaze26

Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in. Some circles here in Memphis are now saying Nichols prefers the roster makeup of Duke over UT. Don't know exactly what that means, but I am guessing the level of players Duke gets must be a part of this thinking. I still think it is down to UT and Duke. Cuonzo has a lot of work ahead of him for Austin!

I find that to be hard to believe. People from duke say that's actually Austin's turn off with duke. Playing time, and depth at his position are huge factors in his decision on where he ultimately decides to go. Duke got Jefferson this year, a very similar player as Nichols, and is in on many other top F prospects in the 2013 class.

Austin very well could pick duke, but it won't be because of the roster makeup, it'll be more about K, and the way he puts guys into the league.

[Midfielder10]

I think we can assume florida is out of it for nichols now.

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by Midfielder10

I think we can assume florida is out of it for nichols now.

Why, did I miss something?

Edit: nvm I just woke up and forgot Chris walker was committing today. He committed to Florida, for those that don't know he's a top 10 PF, so yes that probably eliminates Florida for Nichols.

[VFL 24/7]

I really hope we land this kid, Nick King and Hubbs, then if Jarnell came back another year we would be a top 10 team IMO!

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by VFL 24/7

I really hope we land this kid, Nick King and Hubbs, then if Jarnell came back another year we would be a top 10 team IMO!

Golden/Moore/Landry
Hubbs/McRae
King/Edwards
Nichols
Stokes/Yemi

I may have to buy some final four tickets ahead of time, just in case!

[knucklehead_vol]

Originally Posted by bleedingTNorange

Golden/Moore/Landry
Hubbs/McRae
King/Edwards
Nichols
Stokes/Yemi

I may have to buy some final four tickets ahead of time, just in case!

Um...HELL YEA!!!

[Scotty's Flat Top]

Originally Posted by VFL 24/7

I really hope we land this kid, Nick King and Hubbs, then if Jarnell came back another year we would be a top 10 team IMO!

Please god let this happen

[OCIVol]

LAS VEGAS -- It wasn't too long ago, only about 18 months or so, when Austin Nichols was a mostly off-the-radar prospect just hoping to catch the eye of his hometown school.

"I actually remember telling my dad how I wish I could get Memphis to look at me," Nichols said, and, wouldn't you know it, his wish came true. About six months after that father-son conversation, Memphis wasn't only looking -- the Tigers were offering. So was Tennessee. And Florida. And Duke. And North Carolina. And ...

"Everybody," Nichols said. "I'm blessed."

Thousands of prospects are participating in various tournaments this week here in the shadows of fancy gaming resorts, and hundreds of them are enjoying (or enduring) a recruiting process ranging from customary to insane. But there aren't many players anywhere with a recruitment as interesting as the recruitment of Class of 2013 standout Austin Nichols, if only because it involves so many variables and most of college basketball's heavy hitters.

"It's out of hand," Nichols' father, Mark Nichols, told me with a laugh after a game here at the Fab 48 Tournament, which is being played at Bishop Gorman High. "I'll be glad when he commits."

There's typically a decent indication at this point in the recruiting process about where a prospect might be heading, but with Nichols it's still anybody's guess. The 6-foot-9 forward said he has no list of schools and described himself as "neutral." But that hasn't stopped some from considering recent developments and connecting dots that may or may not need to be connected.

For instance …

Nichols opted not to travel with USA Basketball's 17-and-under team to Brazil earlier this summer, leading some to assume he won't be comfortable leaving home and will thus play at Memphis. But Nichols' twin sister is headed to Tennessee, which probably means he's gonna be a Vol, according to others … unless, of course, Nichols decides to go to Auburn. Because didn't you hear what Auburn is doing?

Auburn coach Tony Barbee is in the process of hiring former Missouri assistant Ryan Miller, who just so happens to be cousins with Nichols' summer coach, Ernie Kuyper. So now some folks think Missouri might be out and Auburn might be in. But Missouri still has an assistant named Dave Leitao, and Leitao's son is teammates with Nichols on this Memphis-based summer team even though Leitao's son isn't from (and has never lived in) Memphis. So perhaps Mizzou remains in play after all.

And then there's Florida.

I mean, don't forget about the Gators.

Because Nichols' summer coach's other cousin is Florida alum and NBA veteran Mike Miller, and Mike Miller is still tight with Florida coach Billy Donovan and assistant John Pelphrey, both of whom recruited him to Florida many years ago and got to know Kuyper back then, too. Plus, Nichols' summer team is called M33M. The first M stands for Mike. The second M stands for Miller. The 33 is the jersey number most commonly worn by Miller, who funds the team. So the Gators might actually be the school to beat.

Unless the school to beat is UNC.

I mean, don't forget about the Tar Heels.

Because North Carolina coach Roy Williams was courtside for M33M's game against the DC Assault late Wednesday, and it should be noted that the most heralded basketball prospect from Briarcrest Christian School before Nichols emerged was a kid named Leslie McDonald, who is now a guard for the Tar Heels, which may or may not be important. But what's undeniable is that North Carolina is tough to beat on the recruiting trail -- as is Duke, which has made Nichols a primary target. In fact, Nichols and Mike Krzyzewski have become something of texting buddies.

"I text a lot with Coach K," Nichols said. "And we talk every once in a while."

So maybe Duke is really the leader heading into August.

I honestly have no idea.

And, for what it's worth, neither does anybody else, which is why this recruitment will be fascinating to watch unfold. Nichols said he'll narrow a list of schools next month, take all five official visits allowed by the NCAA and then pick a destination. That destination might ultimately be Memphis for the reason previously stated. Or Tennessee for the reason previously stated. Or Auburn or Missouri or Florida or North Carolina or Duke or somebody else entirely for reasons previously stated or to this date not established.

In other words, who knows?

"We'll see," Nichols said. "I'm just trying to take it day-by-day."

Per Gary Parrish

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by OCIVol

Per Gary Parrish

Good read, don't feel as good about him as I once did, but still believe all signs point to orange.

[golfballs]

Originally Posted by bleedingTNorange

Good read, don't feel as good about him as I once did, but still believe all signs point to orange.

Why? Because of the attention from schools like Duke?

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by golfballs

Why? Because of the attention from schools like Duke?

No not any ONE school in particular, I just feel like he's much more open than maybe thought. Like I said still expect him to be a Vol, just don't feel AS good about it as in once did.

No schools make sense, Duke a UNC dont make sense, I don't see him there. The weird thing is I could see Memphis, I'd be most scared of them if it weren't for everyone saying, including Memphis people, that there's no chance he goes there.

I don't know, weird recruitment, but as I said all signs still tell me he's a Vol when it's all said and done.

[golfballs]

Why don't you think Duke makes sense?

[OCIVol]

Originally Posted by bleedingTNorange

No not any ONE school in particular, I just feel like he's much more open than maybe thought. Like I said still expect him to be a Vol, just don't feel AS good about it as in once did.

No schools make sense, Duke a UNC dont make sense, I don't see him there. The weird thing is I could see Memphis, I'd be most scared of them if it weren't for everyone saying, including Memphis people, that there's no chance he goes there.

I don't know, weird recruitment, but as I said all signs still tell me he's a Vol when it's all said and done.

You're overthinking this...

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by golfballs

Why don't you think Duke makes sense?

For one, one of the things Nichols is looking at in each school is depth at his position. He wants to come in and play right away, and that's VERY important to him. He will not get that at duke, he may see limited time year one, MAY, and probably will be year 2 or 3 before he starts.

Also, proximity to home is a growing factor that has come into play with him. Duke is no easy trip for the family to take to catch all his games.

He could end up at Duke, I just don't think it happens. All things considered UT makes the most sense, unless they just have an awful year, then who knows.

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by OCIVol

You're overthinking this...

Probably so.

Trying to understand 17 year olds minds isn't an easy thing to do.