GUEST POST: 2013 Basketball Recruiting Wishlist

This is another guest post from Sean LeRoy, a local Husky fan, who is so passionate about his Huskies it spills over into written word.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series on highlighting a few of the Husky targets in the 2013 class. The first part covers the guards; the second part will cover the big men. Both give you, the reader, a chance to weigh in.

As the 2012 recruiting comes to a close, there are plenty of reasons to turn our attention to the 2013 class. Because of the team’s freshman red shirts – Jarreau and Andrews – and the fact that UW was able to land Mark McLaughlin and Perris Blackwell (though it looks like he’ll sit a year), 2012 is not as bleak as it once seemed. Nonetheless, it looks like things are lining up for a pretty big 2013 class. Who’s on the UW radar? How do they stack up and who would you like to see in purple and gold?

Mark Knight has an excellent analysis and breakdown of UW’s 2013 targets. The list is 12 deep and dominated by guards. The complete breakdown by position: 7 guards, 4 forwards and 1 center.

Guards

The 2013 list includes several high profile guards, such as Jabari Bird, Stephen Domingo and Nigel Williams-Goss.

Bird is an intriguing recruit for his size at the 2. In looking at film, Bird – from Salesian in Richmond, CA (the school that produced our beloved Desmond Simmons) – is rangy, handles the rock well, and has a knack for finding his own shot.

Domingo of Saint Ignatius (San Francisco, CA) is different altogether. At 6’7” he’s longer and seems to thrive on the perimeter, though with his length he can find his way around in the paint too. One of the mix tapes floating about the internet asks the question whether or not Domingo has the “wettest jumper in the Bay Area”? Yes, it would appear so. On the several reels of tape I’ve seen on Domingo, I thought “Reggie Miller” and then I realized he also wears #31! As recent as May 7th, Domingo listed UW in his top four.

Nigel Williams-Goss of Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV), a Portland native, is also sought after by the Dawgs. NWG has great court awareness, a high basketball IQ and for a point guard is strong at the rim, using his body to initiate contact and finish. In January, NWG helped lead Findlay to a victory over Jabari Parker and Simeon of Chicago. Described as a vocal leader, Nigel does what it takes to win, even if he may lack some explosion on the offensive end. Williams-Goss is a steady-as-you-go type of point guard, a true floor general.

Local prospect, Zach LaVine out of Bothell certainly gains more than “local kid” points; he can more than hold his own! He’s listed at 6’0”, but plays “taller” and longer. Maybe it’s his NBA-type range; maybe it’s his athleticism, but he can find his way to the rim. LaVine also has above average handles, which allows him to direct and manage the offense efficiently, knowing where and when to score. I think he’d be a fantastic addition to the long and storied UW guard fraternity. Sometimes local kids want to stay; sometimes local kids want to get away from the rain. We’ll see.

Of course, you as a Husky fan would like to see them all but if you had to pick JUST ONE, who would it be?