More 2016 hoops recruiting
For the second week in a row, we’ll open Whispers with basketball recruiting in the 2016 class. Four-star point guard Xavier Simpson visited officially this weekend with his father. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound senior from Ohio spent a lot of time with members of the 2015 class and watched the Wisconsin/Alabama game with that group Saturday night. Simpson and his father, we’re told, were particularly impressed with the facilities and supports provided to UW’s student athletes.
This was the third official Simpson has taken, with previous stops at Iowa State and Illinois already in the books. Miami is expected to get him on campus this upcoming weekend, but we’re hearing this will likely be a Big Ten battle between the Badgers and Illini, two schools in desperate need of a lead guard.
It will be interesting to see how the staff moves forward with Simpson and fellow four-star point guard Jaquori McLaughlin. At this point, both are expected to make their respective decisions at the end of September, if not sooner. UW may very well lead for McLaughlin, who is also considering Oregon State, Utah and Washington.
McLaughlin will visit Madison officially the weekend of Sept. 18, his final scheduled trip. While the Badgers’ feel very good about landing the Washington standout, they likely aren’t in a position to turn away Simpson should he elect to commit before McLaughlin arrives on campus. Simpson, we’re told, is looking to play a big role right away, but would have to play behind either Bronson Koenig at UW or Jaylon Tate at Illinois should he elect to continue on in the Big Ten.
At this point, we feel good about Wisconsin coming away with one of the two point guards mentioned, which could leave Frankie Hughes on the outside looking in. The three-star prospect from Ohio is coming off an official visit to St. Joe’s with Texas A&M on the horizon. UW could turn up the heat late if they miss on both McLaughlin and Simpson.
Looking at other targets in the 2016 class, Willie Jackson, as we’ve stated in the past, is likely no longer a priority. The three-star forward just visited Akron and has officials to Temple, Boston College, Penn State and Missouri coming up.
Three-star forward Nick Rakocevic is still an option, even though the Badgers technically don’t have a scholarship for him. The 6-foot-9 senior was on West Virginia’s campus this weekend and has USC lined up next. Iowa is also another big player in his recruitment.
Football staff looking at committed prospects
Sitting on 18 commitments in the 2016 class, Wisconsin is still working hard on their top remaining targets but are also inquiring about athletes committed to other universities.
Receivers coach Ted Gilmore is still in search of a third wide out in the current class with A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor already in the mix. Lil’Jordan Humphrey remains the top option, but Boise State pledge Julian Carter, who plays at the same high school as quarterback Kare’ Lyles, is someone to keep an eye on. The three-star prospect would likely take a long look at the Badgers should they turn the heat up this fall.
Staying at receiver, three-star Colorado commit Johnny Huntley is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. The Florida standout chose the Buffs in August over 25-plus scholarship offers.
On the other side of the ball, defensive backs Ronnie Blackmon (Colorado), Baylen Buchanan (Louisville), Brandon Shuman (Purdue) and Jahcour Pearson (Northern Illinois) are targets for the staff.
Cornerbacks: Week 2
We’ll hold steady with last week’s order.
1) K.J. Sails
2) Eric Burrell
3) Armunz Mathews
4) Carlos Becker
5) Lorenzo Burns/Ke’Shan Pennamon
Odds and ends
*We mentioned it in the last Whispers report, but we continue to hear that three-star offensive lineman Matt Farniok is position coach Joe Rudolph’s top target to fill the final recruiting spot alongside Cole Van Lanen and Patrick Kasl.
*Safety commit Patrick Johnson is expected to miss the remainder of his senior season with a leg injury.
*Four-star athlete Damian Alloway is working on setting up an official visit to Wisconsin for the weekend of Sept. 25. Lyles, Sails, Antonio Williams, Becker and Pennamon are also scheduled to be in town that weekend for Wisconsin’s night contest against Hawaii.
*Three-star defensive end Thomas Schaffer has an official scheduled to Oregon (Nov. 7) and will visit Stanford later that month. The Badgers could get Schaffer on campus in either September or October.
For the second week in a row, we’ll open Whispers with basketball recruiting in the 2016 class. Four-star point guard Xavier Simpson visited officially this weekend with his father. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound senior from Ohio spent a lot of time with members of the 2015 class and watched the Wisconsin/Alabama game with that group Saturday night. Simpson and his father, we’re told, were particularly impressed with the facilities and supports provided to UW’s student athletes.
This was the third official Simpson has taken, with previous stops at Iowa State and Illinois already in the books. Miami is expected to get him on campus this upcoming weekend, but we’re hearing this will likely be a Big Ten battle between the Badgers and Illini, two schools in desperate need of a lead guard.
It will be interesting to see how the staff moves forward with Simpson and fellow four-star point guard Jaquori McLaughlin. At this point, both are expected to make their respective decisions at the end of September, if not sooner. UW may very well lead for McLaughlin, who is also considering Oregon State, Utah and Washington.
McLaughlin will visit Madison officially the weekend of Sept. 18, his final scheduled trip. While the Badgers’ feel very good about landing the Washington standout, they likely aren’t in a position to turn away Simpson should he elect to commit before McLaughlin arrives on campus. Simpson, we’re told, is looking to play a big role right away, but would have to play behind either Bronson Koenig at UW or Jaylon Tate at Illinois should he elect to continue on in the Big Ten.
At this point, we feel good about Wisconsin coming away with one of the two point guards mentioned, which could leave Frankie Hughes on the outside looking in. The three-star prospect from Ohio is coming off an official visit to St. Joe’s with Texas A&M on the horizon. UW could turn up the heat late if they miss on both McLaughlin and Simpson.
Looking at other targets in the 2016 class, Willie Jackson, as we’ve stated in the past, is likely no longer a priority. The three-star forward just visited Akron and has officials to Temple, Boston College, Penn State and Missouri coming up.
Three-star forward Nick Rakocevic is still an option, even though the Badgers technically don’t have a scholarship for him. The 6-foot-9 senior was on West Virginia’s campus this weekend and has USC lined up next. Iowa is also another big player in his recruitment.
Football staff looking at committed prospects
Sitting on 18 commitments in the 2016 class, Wisconsin is still working hard on their top remaining targets but are also inquiring about athletes committed to other universities.
Receivers coach Ted Gilmore is still in search of a third wide out in the current class with A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor already in the mix. Lil’Jordan Humphrey remains the top option, but Boise State pledge Julian Carter, who plays at the same high school as quarterback Kare’ Lyles, is someone to keep an eye on. The three-star prospect would likely take a long look at the Badgers should they turn the heat up this fall.
Staying at receiver, three-star Colorado commit Johnny Huntley is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. The Florida standout chose the Buffs in August over 25-plus scholarship offers.
On the other side of the ball, defensive backs Ronnie Blackmon (Colorado), Baylen Buchanan (Louisville), Brandon Shuman (Purdue) and Jahcour Pearson (Northern Illinois) are targets for the staff.
Cornerbacks: Week 2
We’ll hold steady with last week’s order.
1) K.J. Sails
2) Eric Burrell
3) Armunz Mathews
4) Carlos Becker
5) Lorenzo Burns/Ke’Shan Pennamon
Odds and ends
*We mentioned it in the last Whispers report, but we continue to hear that three-star offensive lineman Matt Farniok is position coach Joe Rudolph’s top target to fill the final recruiting spot alongside Cole Van Lanen and Patrick Kasl.
*Safety commit Patrick Johnson is expected to miss the remainder of his senior season with a leg injury.
*Four-star athlete Damian Alloway is working on setting up an official visit to Wisconsin for the weekend of Sept. 25. Lyles, Sails, Antonio Williams, Becker and Pennamon are also scheduled to be in town that weekend for Wisconsin’s night contest against Hawaii.
*Three-star defensive end Thomas Schaffer has an official scheduled to Oregon (Nov. 7) and will visit Stanford later that month. The Badgers could get Schaffer on campus in either September or October.
