2015 prospect Karl Towns Jr

[RD_gator]

This might be old news (June 2012) that may have already been discussed this past summer. If so, my apologies for the repeat.

When I saw this quote about 6'11 Towns (#1 Center and overall #1 for 2015)...and how he was a huge fan of UF & Al Horford...I thought it was scintillating news.
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/150656/karl-towns-jr

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0602/espnhs_karl_towns_jr_al_horford_300x300.jpg

247Sports: What was your dream school growing up?

KT: When I was young I always was a big Florida fan and loved the locals like Rutgers and Seton Hall being I am a New Jersey kid. I have always felt that we had the best basketball so I would keep them on my list, but when i was young I would say Florida. I was a big Tim Tebow fan and loved watching the Gators when they had Joakim Noah and Al Horford my fellow Dominican.
http://http://247sports.com/Article/2015-Intro-Karl-Towns-67449 (http://247sports.com/Article/2015-Intro-Karl-Towns-67449)

Is uf going to be on this kid big time?

http://espn.go.com/high-school/boys-basketball/story/_/id/8001784/new-jersey-native-karl-towns-jr-16-play-dominican-republic-olympic-qualifying

"Al Horford sent me a message on Twitter saying he can't wait to play with me, and now he's following me (on Twitter)," Towns said. "I was real happy to hear from him because as a Dominican, I've always looked up to him."

Now Horford will be Towns' teammate when the Dominican Republic plays in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2-8 in Venezuela,

http://espn.go.com/high-school/boys-basketball/story/_/id/8192576/new-jersey-native-karl-towns-jr-16-played-dominican-republic-olympic-qualifying

For the past two months, Karl Towns Jr. was known as Young Buck -- an affectionate reminder from his teammates on the Dominican Republic national team that, despite standing taller than all but one of them, the 6-foot-11 Towns is still just 16 years old.

Taking that ribbing from his older teammates was a small price to pay considering how much he learned from them on the court. And even though the Dominican Republic failed to qualify for this summer's Olympics after finishing fourth at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.) rising sophomore will return to school in the fall with talent well beyond his years.

"We're all young, but he's really, really young," teammate and NBA All-Star Al Horford told reporters after one D.R. practice. "He's really impressed me. I didn't think he could play the way that he's playing. He has to learn that the international game is different; it's more physical. But I was encouraged to see that's he confident."

Horford and D.R. coach John Calipari took it upon themselves to educate Towns on the physicality of the professional ranks, sending the sweet-shooting big man to bang in the post during daily practices. No mercy was shown once Towns entered the paint, granting the No. 1 player in the ESPN 25 a dose of painful wisdom that few high school players receive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIh23UIEbxc

Looks like an incredible prospect!

[gatordd]

big boy! let's suit him up

[don23lucia]

Great post, he's just such a long way away from actually making a real decision. Horford helps and Burno should be a impact here with his recruiting, like everthing else only time will tell.

[InstiGATOR1]

Well keep in mind:

1. Towns played for Dominican Republic coached by Calipari in the Olympic qualifying tourney. That gives UK a certain edge.

2. Towns probably liked UF because Donovan has had a good deal of success with centers born in the Dominican Republic, ie Horford.

3. Town's like of UF is probably partly fueled by UF's success with a Dominican Republic center when he was just learning about basketball.

4. Among Town's teammates on the Dominican Republic team in the Olympic qualifying tourney was Horford.

[SwampFox]

How is he 16 already and a 2015 prospect???????????????

[InstiGATOR1]

High school SRs or 2013 recruits are 17 or 18 during this academic year.
High school JRs or 2014 recruits are 16 or 17 during this academic year.
High school Sophs or 2015 recruits are 15 or 16 during this academic year.

So he seems to be about where he should be. At most he started late or was held back one year likely for athletics. That is pretty standard.

[Nicho]

How is he 6'11" already and a 2015 prospect??????????????

A better question.

[don23lucia]

How is he 16 already and a 2015 prospect???????????????

Probably held back so he dominate everyone in his class and when he is a junior it gives him the option to reclassify to 2014 if he is ready, like Noel did last year, Seldon did this year, and Wiggins will possibly do this year as well.

[REM08]

Whoever ends up with this kid is lucky. Besides being a phenomenal talent, he seems like he's got a lot going for him as a person as well. Looks like another UK/UF decision again IMO.

[InstiGATOR1]

Probably held back so he dominate everyone in his class and when he is a junior it gives him the option to reclassify to 2014 if he is ready, like Noel did last year, Seldon did this year, and Wiggins will possibly do this year as well.

My birthday is in January. A million years back I was 18 when I graduated from high school. That means I entered my SR year at age 17, I entered my JR year at age 16 and I entered my Soph year at age 15. I was never held back.

So depending on his birth date Towns may not have been held back.

[StrangeGator]

Wonder how big he'll be when he suits up in college.