#1 Basketball Recruit In Class of 2010 Commits To Memphis
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The word came late Friday night, after Will and Antonio Barton had spent just a few hours participating in the University of Memphis' first elite camp under head coach Josh Pastner.
"It's official. We have committed," said Antonio Barton, referring to he and his brother's verbal pledge to the Tigers on Friday.
Having led Baltimore Lake Clifton High to a 28-0 record and a Class 3A state title this past season, Will, a highly ranked 6-6 shooting guard, and Antonio, a 6-2 combo guard, became Memphis' first two commitments from the Class of 2010.
"It was just that coaching staff, man," said Will, whom Rivals.com and Scout.com each rank a five-star prospect and the No. 1 shooting guard prospect in the Class of 2010.
"I've been having a good relationship with (Memphis assistant) coach (Glynn) Cyprien and coach Pastner for a while now, and those guys are great coaches and great human beings. I know they've got my back.
"Plus, the atmosphere down here, man. There's a lot of support down here."
The Baltimore Sun's All-Metro Player of the Year, Will averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Lake Clifton this past season after he and Antonio transferred from National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Md.
Will, who is 11 months older, had scholarship offers from more than a dozen schools, including Kentucky, Maryland, Syracuse and Xavier.
Antonio, who averaged 15 points, seven assists and four rebounds as a junior, had also been considering offers from Miami (Fla.), Virginia and Xavier. Rivals.com ranks Antonio a three-star prospect.
"I just fell in love with the whole place. When they took us around on our visit (Friday), I liked the place, I liked the coaching staff and I liked the tempo that coach said that we're going to be playing," Antonio said.
"My mother liked it. My godfather. All of us liked it."
Just a few hours earlier Friday, Will told a crowd of Memphis media he and Antonio wouldn't necessarily land at the same school, though Memphis, Xavier and Virginia had apparently each offered to sign the brothers as a package deal.
"It's all about the right situation. Some schools I've got have not offered him, and he's got school's on him that haven't offered me," said Will, who is headed to prep school this fall while Antonio will remain at Lake Clifton.
But by Friday night, the brothers had made up their minds.
"This is 100 percent, right here," Will said of the pair's commitment. "One hundred percent."
Re: #1 Basketball Recruit In Class of 2010 Commits To Memphis
Jesus, I thought Brandon Knight or Josh Smith had committed to Memphis, you god damn liar. This kid is not the #1 recruit. Maybe he will turn himself into that (no he won't), but that title was misleading.
Still, nice nice pick-up for Memphis, I guess losing Calipari won't kill their program as a contender like so many (including myself) thought it would. Now can Pastner put the talent he still seems to be reeling in to work, and keep the Tigers making Elite Eights and such?
Also, is Roburt Sallie going to stay at Memphis? I suspected he might transfer due to the coaching change, but retaining Will Coleman and landing Latavious Williams, and now the Bartons, might just change his mind. Or maybe he was never going to leave, I don't know.
Re: #1 Basketball Recruit In Class of 2010 Commits To Memphis
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Originally Posted by A.M.G.
Jesus, I thought Brandon Knight or Josh Smith had committed to Memphis, you god damn liar. This kid is not the #1 recruit. Maybe he will turn himself into that (no he won't), but that title was misleading.
#1 Basketball Recruit In Class of 2010 Commits To Memphis
