Prospect watch: Thomas Welsh

Thomas Welsh, 7-0, 240
Loyola | L.A. Rockfish
Scout: Four stars | Rivals: Four stars

Thomas Welsh isn’t a flashy player, but true 7-footers are rare at any level of basketball. The Loyola standout has boosted his stock significantly over the past few months, impressing coaches with soft hands. He’s not a dominant inside presence, but can hit a turnaround jumper or a 10-footer along the baseline. He can catch and shoot accurately from the elbow, and also showed nice form at the free-throw line. Very vocal on the defensive end, he uses his length well to grab boards and contest shots.

Welsh said he has spent this summer focusing on his footwork and quickness. A high-end projection for him could be former North Carolina All-American Eric Montross, who won an NCAA championship in 1993 and spent eight seasons in the NBA.

In addition to UCLA, Welsh is fielding offers from schools such USC, Cal, Gonzaga and Arizona State. He said he doesn’t have any visits planned yet for the near future, though he took an unofficial to Cal in June. He added that distance from home isn’t a factor.

Q: What schools are recruiting you the hardest right now?

Still the Pac-12 and WCC schools. It’s been pretty even.

Q: Do you plan on deciding by the early signing period in November? Continue reading “Prospect watch: Thomas Welsh” »

Offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor decommits from UCLA

Though football commitments don’t count for much in July, UCLA’s slow start to the 2014 cycle has nevertheless disappointed some fans.

The decommitment of offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor won’t help. A top JUCO recruit who had picked the Bruins in early June, Eluemunor starred at Lackawanna C.C. in Scranton, Pa., just a few years after moving from London, England. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle had openly discussed his interest in other schools for weeks, and tweeted Wednesday that he had cut UCLA from his list. He will choose either Arkansas or Ohio State on Friday.

JUCO lineman Dominick Jackson also flipped to Alabama in late June a few weeks after initially picking the Bruins. UCLA now has four commitments in the 2014 class, all of them wide receivers.

Safety Dietrich Riley takes medical retirement

UCLA safety Dietrich Riley has taken a medical retirement after missing all of the 2012 season due to a neck injury, ending the career of a once-touted four-star recruit. The Los Angeles Times first reported the news.

The 6-0, 200-pound rising junior would have been the most experienced member of the Bruins’ secondary, a unit that lost all four of last season’s starters. He had not played since colliding with Cal running back Isi Sofele in October 2011, an injury that required him to undergo single-level fusion surgery.

Riley had sounded optimistic about his chances to return, saying that his neck felt even stronger than it did before the operation. He also injured his shoulder during spring practices and was held out of most full-contact drills.

Pac-12 links: Isaac Hamilton denies only targeting USC

» For what it’s worth, Isaac Hamilton said he isn’t only targeting USC as he tries to back out of his NLI to UTEP: “It’s a school close so she (grandman) can see me play.” Tim Floyd has his doubts.

» Two Arizona players joined Ed O’Bannon’s lawsuit against the NCAA: All-American linebacker Jake Fischer, and transfer kicker Jake Smith.

» Is Jahii Carson the quickest point guard in college basketball? Continue reading “Pac-12 links: Isaac Hamilton denies only targeting USC” »

Prospect watch: 2014 forward Trevon Bluiett

Trevon Bluiett, 6-5, 185
Park Tudor | Spiece Indy Heat/Indiana Elite
Scout: Four stars | Rivals: Four stars

Trevon Bluiett is a skilled swingman who boasts a diverse offensive game. He played for UCLA assistant Ed Schilling when the coach worked at Indianapolis’ Park Tudor School, and won the state championship game MVP as both a freshman and a sophomore. That feat becomes even more notable once you consider that he played with Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell during that first title run. Continue reading “Prospect watch: 2014 forward Trevon Bluiett” »