The only important question about Wiggins reclassifying

[InstiGATOR1]

Will Wiggins reclassifying drive Randle further away from UK and more towards UF?

[dailydoublecat]

Will Wiggins reclassifying drive Randle further away from UK and more towards UF?

They both play different positions. I still hear that Florida is real strong for Randle. This will be a long drawn out recruiting drama till April.

[supagator]

What does this mean when one is reclassifying?

[bullish]

I hate that we are going to wait out Randle. This gives all the handlers, guiders, middle-men, agents, AAU coaches, Foster Parents, you name it, time to get in their two cents, or in some instances, cars, clothes, large amounts of cash, women. Cal has already told him to wait to see who takes the bait early. LOL

I hope that this works!

[don23lucia]

What does this mean when one is reclassifying?

A lethargic Thursday recruiting news cycle was tossed on its head when the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2014, small forward Andrew Wiggins (Thornhill, Ontario/Huntington Prep), reclassified to the 2013 class.

By making the move to his original class, Wiggins ascended past Jabari Parker (Chicago/Simeon) and became the No. 1 senior in the ESPN 100. Parker, who missed much of this past summer with an injury, lost the top spot through no fault of his own. You better believe that a player of Parker’s stature and pedigree is thinking about two things: getting his fourth state title and cranking up his own game to give Wiggins a run for his money.

The big picture, from a recruiting perspective, is clear. Wiggins as a senior is a game-changing recruit. If Kentucky were to nab him, the Wildcats would have unquestionably the greatest recruiting class of all time. They added wing James Young (Rochester, Mich./Rochester) two weeks ago, and while Wiggins isn’t worried about anyone beating him out for playing time, there remains the question of how many basketballs can be shared in Lexington, Ky. That’s UK’s obstacle to overcome in recruiting Wiggins, but it’s not the only one.

[+] Enlarge

Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images
No. 1 prospect Andrew Wiggins' reclassification from 2014 to 2013 is a game-changing recruiting development.Wiggins’ father, Mitchell, played for Florida State in the early 1980s, and Leonard Hamilton’s crew has aggressively pursued the younger Wiggins. Both FSU and UK went out of their way to have face time with Wiggins in Canada during the summer.

Aiding the Seminoles' cause is high school and travel ball teammate Xavier Rathan-Mayes, a recent FSU pledge. Rathan-Mayes' dad also played at FSU, and the two recruits' fathers played together with the Philadelphia 76ers as well. Rathan-Mayes and Wiggins grew up together in Canada and have been close ever since. The sons followed their fathers’ lead, and their relationship is a continuation of the one their fathers began nearly two decades ago.

You’ll also hear North Carolina, Kansas and Ohio State mentioned with Wiggins. They’ll make their pitches, but heading into Wiggins’ recruitment as a senior, most would agree that the first-tier players for his services are Florida State and Kentucky.

Wiggins and Parker weren’t the only guys who had their rankings affected by Wiggins' reclassification. Tyus Jones (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) woke up Thursday morning as the No. 2 junior in America. When he lays his head down Thursday night, he’ll be the new No. 1 player in the ESPN 60. Jones, who visited Duke last weekend, is the closest thing to Chris Paul on the high school level. A natural leader, winner and improving scorer, Jones now has the No. 1 bull's-eye affixed to his jersey.

We’ve seen elite players switch classes before. Andre Drummond moved up two years ago. Last winter, Nerlens Noel claimed his spot in the senior class. And less than a month ago, Noah Vonleh (Haverhill, Mass./New Hampton School) got the ball rolling in 2014 when he decided to join the 2013 group. Vonleh recently announced his final six schools.

At the heart of Wiggins’ move is the fact that he’ll now be able to start his NBA clock a year earlier. Instead of spending two more seasons in high school and one in college, he’ll finish out this season, pick a school and be the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 selection in the 2014 NBA draft.

In the meantime, one college program will score a talent the likes of Tracy McGrady -- a player who can score, leverage his athleticism and impact a campus, and possibly a franchise, the moment he signs on the dotted line for both.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/index

I personally dont think he will sign with UK, but who knows this article makes it seem like FSU will be the natural choice here, but like with all of the recruiting we can only wait and see.

If he does sign with UK, I think this will tell us a lot about Randle and where he stands.

[REM08]

Oftentimes when a student reclassifies, they're actually returning to their original class. This was the case with Noel and is with Wiggins also. Wiggins is actually older than Jabrari Parker.

I'm sure someone around here knows more about the reasons why kids do this than I would. Logically, it seems to me that this enable the kid to have more flexibility with the timing of how they're essentially starting their career. It affects what draft class they're able to be in. If they're as good as Wiggins, it ensures one extra year of income in the NBA - to some degree at least. Although Wiggins is just returning to his original class. Has anyone jumped the gun and left high school after 3 years? Didn't Wilbekin do this or did I make that up?

[don23lucia]

Scottie did do this.

[superman2318]

What does this mean when one is reclassifying?

Its a Grade Issue, If they are not on pace to grad. HS on time they reclassify back a year. If they are held back a year, but will then end up with enough credits to grad on time, then they can reclassify back to their home class. Some, as the case with an Early Enrolling Football player, will be on pace to Grad early, and then elect to Reclassify into an earlier recruiting cycle to start college early. That was the case with our Scotty Wilbiken (sp?).

Hope that helps

[richardtangeman]

FSU is on the edge of potentially having a great class.

[gatordd]

kid is all uk.. this fsu legacy crap is comical.. im willing to wager with anyone on this site.

[InstiGATOR1]

Its a Grade Issue, If they are not on pace to grad. HS on time they reclassify back a year. If they are held back a year, but will then end up with enough credits to grad on time, then they can reclassify back to their home class. Some, as the case with an Early Enrolling Football player, will be on pace to Grad early, and then elect to Reclassify into an earlier recruiting cycle to start college early. That was the case with our Scotty Wilbiken (sp?).

Hope that helps

Actually it is just as often an athletics thing. Playing in high school against kides a year younger than you often helps one get offers at the highest level of division one. Then if a kid blows up like Noel or Wiggins and can get the kinds of offers they want, they reclassify.

[REM08]

Side note: Jabari Parker's dad is crying about his son losing the top spot in the ranking to Wiggins.

"Based on what? That's what I'm asking," Sonny Parker told ESPNChicago.com. "Based on a few weeks of AAU? The AAU stuff is overrated. Jabari was the national freshman of the year, the national sophomore of the year, the Gatorade national player of the year as a junior.

"High school is more important to Jabari. He's won three straight titles and wants to win a fourth this year. You talk about athleticism. Jabari can play the 1 through 5 at 6-foot-9. It's just peoples' opinions."

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/8551419/andrew-wiggins-reclassifies-class-2013-new-no-1-recruit

Who cares? Whats this guys problem? I can't stand when parents get like this. His son is going to be great whether he has zero or ten players ranked higher than him. Its just RANKINGS. Get over it. That being said, his son isn't in Wiggin's league.

[superman2318]

Actually it is just as often an athletics thing. Playing in high school against kides a year younger than you often helps one get offers at the highest level of division one. Then if a kid blows up like Noel or Wiggins and can get the kinds of offers they want, they reclassify.

But all of this depends on the kids grades. He can not move up a class if he will not be done with HS. And he cant move back a class if he has already Graduated

[dalwood13]

That being said, his son isn't in Wiggin's league.

Disagree. I would take Parker over Wiggins.

[REM08]

Disagree. I would take Parker over Wiggins.

Disagreeing and having a different personal preference are two different things. But every single recruiting service and expert will have Wiggins ranked higher. If that doesnt do it for ya, try the eyeball test. One youtube video (which are about as worthless as you can get for assessing talent) is enough to show that Wiggins athleticism is in another category.

My wife and I actually prefer this local steakhouse to the really popular, more expensive one here in town (Malones). This doesn't mean its actually better.

[dalwood13]

Disagreeing and having a different personal preference are two different things. But every single recruiting service and expert will have Wiggins ranked higher. If that doesnt do it for ya, try the eyeball test. One youtube video (which are about as worthless as you can get for assessing talent) is enough to show that Wiggins athleticism is in another category.

My wife and I actually prefer this local steakhouse to the really popular, more expensive one here in town (Malones). This doesn't mean its actually better.

Athleticism is not the only aspect to being a great basketball player. Obviously, Wiggins is a freak athlete, but Parker is not a slouch as an athlete either. Parker, in my opinion, has a better basketball IQ, a better jump shot and a better feel for the game, plus he consistently plays against better competition. Wiggins may have the higher ceiling (slightly) but Parker is better right now.

You say my personal preference does not amount to anything but then cite popular opinion as a measuring stick. Popularity does not mean anything when it comes to performance. We'll see who is ranked where at the end of the season. I would be surprised if Wiggins was a unanimous number one, but even if he is, recruiting rankings are not fail proof.

[REM08]

Athleticism is not the only aspect to being a great basketball player. Obviously, Wiggins is a freak athlete, but Parker is not a slouch as an athlete either. Parker, in my opinion, has a better basketball IQ, a better jump shot and a better feel for the game, plus he consistently plays against better competition. Wiggins may have the higher ceiling (slightly) but Parker is better right now.

You say my personal preference does not amount to anything but then cite popular opinion as a measuring stick. Popularity does not mean anything when it comes to performance. We'll see who is ranked where at the end of the season. I would be surprised if Wiggins was a unanimous number one, but even if he is, recruiting rankings are not fail proof.

I'm comparing your personal preference (which seems to be grounded in logic and well thought out) and the consensus among recruiting "experts" and rankings. Parker isn't even a unanimous number 1 without Wiggins inclusion. You question it, but Wiggins will be a unanimous number 1. He's also listed as draftexpress's projected number 1 draft pick - compared to Parker at number 4. I realize thats a different ranking, but its yet more data available.

While we're disagreeing, lets agree on something. I agree rankings are suspect to a degree. One ranking had John Wall ranked 5th behind Avery Bradley and Xavier Henry. Some rankings also had Brad Beal behind Rivers. Who knows, maybe Wiggins is Ryan Leaf and Parker, Manning.

However, I think you under estimate how important one's "ceiling" is. The traits you like better about Parker are the same things that could have been said about a number of players in last years class over Anthony Davis - and they would have been right. The way I look at recruits, for the most part, is by looking at what they're capable of. I'd feel differently if players didn't improve (even one and done types) once in college. When I say Parker isn't in Wiggins league (which I still contend), I am talking about more than where each of them are at right now (although I still think Wiggins is better now also). I don't think Parker is better than the average number one player in the class most years. I (and many recruiting guys) think Wiggins is the once a decade type - granted there might be a little hyperbole there.

[jmoliver]

I would take Wiggins for one year over anyone in this years class or next. He is that good.

[don23lucia]

I watched wiggins all summer and he has the WOW factor (whatever that is )but he has it and no matter who was on the court against him randle, young, troy williams, any of the top talent that played in eybl he was head and shoulders above them in athleticism and as a basketball player.

[jeffphillips21]

I hate that we are going to wait out Randle. This gives all the handlers, guiders, middle-men, agents, AAU coaches, Foster Parents, you name it, time to get in their two cents, or in some instances, cars, clothes, large amounts of cash, women. Cal has already told him to wait to see who takes the bait early. LOL

I hope that this works!

agreed, hopefully it's not Bennett 2.0

[madgator]

Side note: Jabari Parker's dad is crying about his son losing the top spot in the ranking to Wiggins.



http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/8551419/andrew-wiggins-reclassifies-class-2013-new-no-1-recruit

Who cares? Whats this guys problem? I can't stand when parents get like this. His son is going to be great whether he has zero or ten players ranked higher than him. Its just RANKINGS. Get over it. That being said, his son isn't in Wiggin's league.



Did you see the quote somewhere that said Wiggins would've been the #1 overall recruit for 2012 if he was in that class?

[dailydoublecat]

Wiggins is The real deal!!!

[REM08]

Did you see the quote somewhere that said Wiggins would've been the #1 overall recruit for 2012 if he was in that class?

Interesting, no I didn't. I wondered if anyone would come out and make that statement though. Can't say I disagree.

[thetruth]

Shouldn't have any effect. Wiggins is a 2 or 3. Randle is a 4 who is too slow to guard a 3. Now, Wiggins could have an effect on the other Wildcat recruits. One of the Harrisons is likely on the bench with Wiggins there.

[tampajack1]

Shouldn't have any effect. Wiggins is a 2 or 3. Randle is a 4 who is too slow to guard a 3. Now, Wiggins could have an effect on the other Wildcat recruits. One of the Harrisons is likely on the bench with Wiggins there.

Randle is far from too slow to guard a 3. At crunch time at the City of Palms with the game tied and the opposing team playing for the last shot, Randle switched onto their point guard, stole the ball from him and slammed one to win the game.

[macaca]

Shouldn't have any effect. Wiggins is a 2 or 3. Randle is a 4 who is too slow to guard a 3. Now, Wiggins could have an effect on the other Wildcat recruits. One of the Harrisons is likely on the bench with Wiggins there.

Wiggins would play the 3 at Kentucky and will have no effect on the Harrisons at the 1 and 2 spots. James Young would lose time at the 3 and would be the first off the bench to back up the 2 and 3 spots. Randle will not play the 3 at all and is more of a 4 with some time at the 5.