Watch the Texas assistant coaches break down the highly-rated 2012 class coming in next fall for the 'Horns.
On Thursday evening, the Longhorns added much-needed depth to the frontcourt for 2012 with a commitment from Garland Naaman Forest PF Prince Ibeh. Joining recent commit Connor Lammert and stud C Cameron Ridley in the class, Ibeh provides the Longhorns with a shotblocker and athlete in transition who is still scratching the surface of his immense potential. Consider this some recruiting momentum generated for Rick Barnes and his staff at a crucial time.
The rumor mill has been in full swing in regards to top 2012 prospect Isaiah Austin ever since he set his announcement for Monday night. Over the last 24 hours or so, all of those signs have looked an awful look like bear tracks and several sources are now definitively reporting that Austin will suit up for the Bears a little more than two years from now. It's a major setback for the Longhorns, trying desperately to add interior depth and Austin now represents the second major in-state miss in the last several months after the commitment of Zach Peters to Kansas. And this is inevitably where the accusations will start flying at Scott Drew, hardly Rick Barnes' best friend, but let's try to keep things as civil as possible.
It's no secret to those who have been following Texas basketball recruiting that landing big men is a major priority for both the 2011 and 2012 classes. Rick Barnes and company will find out Monday night if they will be receiving some help on the interior in 2012 when one of the top-ranked players in the class makes his announcement -- C Isaiah Austin. The five finalists are Houston, Baylor, Texas, Arizona, and Oklahoma State. Baylor was the last visit for Austin and has commented to those close to him "lots of people are going to be surprised."
2012 Prestonwood Christian Academy forward Zach Peters has verbally pledged to Kansas, choosing the Jayhawks over Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina. The decision comes as little surprise after the Kansas Rivals site first reported the breaking news of his announcement. At one point thought to be a Texas lean, Peters represents a significant loss for the Longhorns, but the top target for 2012 appears to be talented center Isaiah Austin.
2012 Prestonwood Christian Academy forward Zach Peters will announce his collegiate decision on Wednesday, choosing from a group of schools that includes Texas, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. At times the Longhorns have looked like the clear leader for his services, but the basketball program no longer has the positive momentum from last year, when three top 2011 players pledged to head to Texas, and the news of Peters' announcement broke through the Kansas Rivals site -- neither are good signs. The smart money here says that the Jayhawks are in the driver's seat, with Texas sitting second and remaining a strong possibility. If the Longhorns miss on Peters, Isaiah Austin becomes the top target on the interior for the 'Horns, in desperate need of some bigs in 2010, 2011, and 2012.