This will be a weekly post updating the status of Cooley and Co’s efforts on the recruiting trail. Here goes for this week:

During Ed Cooley’s radio show last night he mentioned that PC’s coaches have been all over the world and the country “actively recruiting a couple more guards”and they are competing with a lot of teams for “3 of the best guards in the country.”

2014 Targets

JaQuan Lyle – PC is still recruiting Lyle. I personally would not take the chance that Lyle isn’t eligible next year and pulls a Ledo. Cooley and staff must believe the risk is worth the reward. I would personally pull the trigger on…

Tarin Smith – The St. Anthony (NJ) lead guard had a solid showing at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield over the MLK weekend but left Massachusetts without contact or an offer from PC. He seemingly would commit upon receiving said offer but for some reason it hasn’t materialized as of yet. He seems like the perfect player to come in for 2014 and provide some depth at the Friars least deep position. He also isn’t such a big time recruit that it might scare away a highly rated PG in 2015 or 2016. This seems like a no brainer to me. Hopefully there is some more news at next week’s recruiting update.

One of the top remaining point guard prospects in the class of 2014 has to be Tarin Smith of Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony. His team faltered late against Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI, but Smith had some very nice moments while scoring a team high 16 points and dishing out three assists. Smith is a solid 6-foot-1 floor general with good speed and the ability to make shots and get to the rim. His handle is a little loose at times, but he is a pretty good competitor and is a bubble high major prospect.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1600220

Austin Tilghman – Tilghman is a former HS and current AAU teammate of PC signee Ben Bentil. He’s 6’1 and 205 lbs and also has a few offers to play football at the next level but he has recently started to get some more interest from some high majors like PC, Temple and St. Joe’s.  He has said basketball is his first love. I’ve only seen a little bit of video and was not very impressed but PC is obviously very thin at this position. Apparently Tilghman has a good basketball IQ and is a strong PG.

Devonte Graham – Still no word on his release from App State but he continues to garner more and more praise the more people see him play.

https://twitter.com/BrewsterHoops/status/425809768263860225

Mar’Qywell Jackson – 6’5 SG/Wing from Detroit who also has offers from Providence, Iowa State, Rhode Island, UTEP and others.

“I’m just looking for a school that’s the best for me,” he said. “I want them to have a good basketball program and coaching will be a factor. I just want to go somewhere that will develop me as a player.”

2015 News

PC went full staff for Donovan Mitchell this weekend as it has become more and more obvious that Cooley and staff are making Mitchell their #1 priority for 2015. I hope he appreciates their efforts more than Jakarr Sampson(St. John’s) and Abdul-Malik Abu (NC State).