How the Scott Suggs Red-Shirt Affects Recruiting

This morning it was announced that Scott Suggs would red-shirt this season. He had surgery in October to repair a problem he was having in his foot. Now after missing the first 7 games, Suggs and Coach Lorenzo Romar have decided to save his talent for next season.

This is when things get interesting because UW has no signed or even verbally committed recruits for the 2012 year. Which was thought to be a down year anyways for a couple of reasons.

1. There were to be only 2 seniors graduating this year, Darnell Gant and Scott Suggs.

2. Romar was going all-in for the 2013 class.

Suggs taking a red-shirt this year drastically affects how UW recruits this season and in 2013 and here is why:

• UW now only has 1 scholarship in 2012 that is guaranteed. This is if no one leaves for the NBA. Thus they really can’t do much recruiting until after the season and until guys like Terrence Ross, CJ Wilcox, Tony Wroten, decide if they are ready for the NBA.
• In 2012 there is already speculation that UW has a “soft commit” from a recruit by the name of William Howard. I haven’t heard whether or not he is that far along as to be a “soft commit” but UW is definitely the team to beat in his recruitment. This leaves no more room in terms of scholarships (as of now).
• However, in 2013 this now opens up another scholarship. Scott Suggs essentially gave Romar an extra scholarship for potentially one of his biggest recruiting classes. UW will now have 3 scholarships for 2013 with more players potentially leaving for the NBA.

Here is what 2012 and 2013 looks like in terms of specific players:

2012

• William Howard is already being watched by many NBA scouts. He has been on their radar for the last couple of years. The rumor is UW locked him away at New Hope Academy for him to get eligible to come to Washington.
• Anthony Bennett is a relative long shot for UW as he has 8 others on his final list and all are big time schools.
• Sam Cassell Jr. also has come on strong lately but seems to be nowhere near making a decision about his college.
• There are a couple of others out there but these are the 3 that seem to be the highest on UW’s radar.

2013

• Aaron Gordon is one of the top prospects in the 2013 class. A really impressive small/power forward.
• Jabari Bird is also listed as one of, if not the top shooting guard in this class.
• Jabari Parker is listed as the number 1 overall recruit in 2013.
• Stephen Domingo in my opinion is the best shooter in 2013.
• Isaac Hamilton is also a really impressive 5-star player.
• Zach Lavine from Bothell may be the top player in WA this year as a junior.
• Nigel Williams-Goss is impressing a lot of people down at Findlay Prep.

This is why Romar is going all-in for 2013. He will potentially have 3-5 scholarships in 2013 and he has 7-10 of the top talent in 2013 interested in Washington.

If Terrence Ross, CJ Wilcox, and Tony Wroten all stay for next year. Getting Scott Suggs back could make 2012 one of UW’s best seasons and that is without landing anything from the 2012 recruiting class.