2010 Recruiting Preview

Here's a look at the needs for the 2010 recruiting class and who Bo is looking at to fill them.  First, here's what the Badgers will be bringing back:

• PG: Jordan Taylor (junior)
• SG: Robert Wilson (junior), Diamond Taylor (likely redshirt freshman)
• SF: Tim Jarmusz (senior), Ryan Evans (likely redshirt sophomore), Mike Bruesewitz (sophomore/possible redshirt freshman), possibly Jamil Wilson (sophomore)
• PF: Jon Leuer (senior), Keaton Nankivil (senior), Jared Berggren (Junior)
• C: Ian Markolf (likely reshirt sophomore), JP Gavinski (senior)

As you can see, that's 1 PG, 2 SG, 3 (poss 4) SF, 3 PF, and 2 C (okay, technically Berggren will be the starting center, but he'll be the PF the year after).  One need is for another PG, or at least a ball handler.  The other is for a big man, especially because three will be seniors.

Here's what the possibilities at guard look like.

• Vander Blue - A combo guard that from Madison Memorial has an offer from Bo.  He has great anticipation on defense and is really good at attacking the basket.  He's not bad at handling the ball either.  The current downside to him is that he's not a true point guard and that he's not a real good shooter.
• Kameron Cerroni - Another combo guard, he's from Sussex Hamilton and is one of the elite shooters in the state of Wisconsin - and he's only a sophomore.  He was recently named the MVP of the 16U division of the National Grassroots Shootout in Louisville.
• DeAndre McCamey - He's the younger brother of Illinois' Demitri, and a true point guard.  There's a good possibility that he'll be better than his brother.  He plays on the same team as '09 Badger commit Diamond Taylor.  As much as I like Blue and Cerroni, McCamey's the one I want.
• Other names that you might see come up include Lenzelle Smith, Anthony Johnson, and A.J. Darby, but those are based on geographic proximity to Wisconsin and not any evidence on who Bo is targeting.  Then there's also the players that will emerge between now and then.

Now on to the big men.

• Evan Anderson - Currently #5 overall on Rivals for his class and the second player who has an official offer from Bo.  His top two schools were Wisconsin and Marquette before Crean left, and right now he looks like a heavy Wisconsin lean.  We'll find out soon enough because he still plans on announcing his commitment sometime this spring.
• Kyle Kelm - After an underwhelming performance at the state tournament he's been tearing it up.  He fits the mold of another Leuer, possibly better.

Finally, the guys in between.  It's unfortunate that there isn't a need at the wing, because there's some serious talent at the 3.

• Harrison Barnes - The third and final recruit that has an official offer from Bo, but the probability of him becoming a Badger is slim.  He was born and raised an Iowa State Cyclone, though his coach has advised him to wait on committing, which increases his chance of going elsewhere.
• Flavien Davis - Regarded by some to be the best player in the '10 class from the state of Wisconsin (yes, better than Anderson).
• Marquis Mason - Another big, athletic wing.

Nothing else is happening on here, so allow me to play Nostradamus for a few minutes while I'm taking a break.  Here's my prediction for how the next few years play out personnel-wise.

2008-09
Class Breakdown (scholarship, walk-on)
Senior: Morris Cain, Joe Krabbenhoft, Marcus Landry, Kevin Gullikson
Junior: Trevon Hughes, Jason Bohannon
Sophomore: Brett Valentyn, Tim Jarmusz, Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, JP Gavinski
Freshman: Jordan Taylor, Robert Wilson, Jared Berggren
Redshirt: Ryan Evans, Ian Markolf

Depth Chart
PG: Hughes, Taylor
SG: Bohannon, Wilson
SF: Krabbenhoft, Jarmusz
PF: Landry, Nankivil, Gullikson
C: Leuer, Berggren, Gavinksi

Notes:  I think that Evans and Markolf redshirt next year.  You might have figured that out.  Nankivil will also challenge Leuer and Berggren for minutes at center.

2009-10
Class Breakdown
Senior: Trevon Hughes, Jason Bohannon
Junior: Brett Valentyn, Tim Jarmusz, Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, JP Gavinski
Sophomore: Jordan Taylor, Robert Wilson, Jared Berggren
Freshman: Jamil Wilson, Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, Ian Markolf
Redshirt: Diamond Taylor

Depth Chart
PG: Hughes, JTaylor
SG: Bohannon, RWilson
SF: JWilson, Jarmusz, Evans
PF: Leuer, Nankivil, Bruesewitz
C: Berggren, Markolf, Gavinski

Notes: Bruesewitz is basically a coin flip as far as redshirting goes.  He's much more ready physically than DTaylor will be, but there may not be a ton of playing time open for him.  The decision is up to him.  If DTaylor is smart he'll redshirt.  Oh yeah, forgot about a guy named Jamil Wilson.  I do think that he'll be a Badger, and that he gets Evans' scholarship.  Also, I like the lineup of Jordan, Jason, Jamil, Jon, and Jared if only for the alliteration.

2010-11
Class Breakdown
Senior: Brett Valentyn, Tim Jarmusz, Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, JP Gavinski
Junior: Jordan Taylor, Robert Wilson, Jared Berggren
Sophomore: Jamil Wilson, Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, Ian Markolf
Freshman: Vander Blue, Diamond Taylor, Evan Anderson
Redshirt: none

Depth Chart
PG: JTaylor, Blue
SG: RWilson, DTaylor
SF: JWilson, Jarmusz, Evans
PF: Leuer, Nankivil, Bruesewitz
C: Berggren, Markolf, Anderson, Gavinski

Notes: Yep, I'm seeing Bo bring in two top 10 recruits in two years.  Anderson could be the #2 center right off the bat, but I've got Markolf there simply because he'll already have two years under his belt.  You could switch them if you want.  Same goes for Jarmusz and Evans.  Also, Vander Blue has said that he plans on making a commitment sometime in the next couple months, which is good for Wisconsin if you want him to be a Badger.  I think he will be.  I also don't think that Anderson or Blue will reshirt.  They'll both be in the mix for playing time right away.  I feel a little bad for Gavinski, because by this point he should be a Chappell-type player (maybe not quite as good) that could be used in a pinch, but the depth at center will be very good and there's really no scenario where he'll be needed other than a Michigan State BTT-style hackfest.

2011-12 and Beyond
It's too early to predict recruiting for 2011, or much else for that matter.  There are a couple of things, though.

• Jamil Wilson stays for three years.  That means that 2011-12 will be his last.
• Ryan Evans gets his scholarship back in 2011.  There will be four available, and Evans will have earned one of them.  He essentially gets the one that Jarmusz opened by graduating.  The other three will be used on a guard, a SF/PF, and a PF/C.
• Evan Anderson takes the starting center spot.
• Wilson leaving means that there will be four scholarships available in 2012.  Bo will go after two guards, a SF, and a PF/C.