You know, when I started this blog I swore I would not spend much time talking about recruiting unless the player in question was already committed. However the recruiting world is like a black hole that sucks you in. It can be somewhat addicting. Then again, I seem to only do this with basketball. In football it still strikes me as pointless to talk about recruits given how often commits switch schools and the development curve.
Anyway.
Former Alabama forward Justin Knox is said to be coming to UNC for an official visit next week as Roy Williams continues to target possible replacements for the Wear twins. The fact Knox will actually be coming to town signals that Roy is moving him to the front of the line among the four targets discussed over the past week. The seriousness of a program’s interest in a player comes in stages. There is assistant coach contact with the prospect followed by the head coach, a visit by the coach or the prospect visiting campus. Assistant coach Steve Robinson has talked to Kadeem Jack, Knox, Eloy Vargas and Marcus Thornton at some point recently. It is my understanding that Knox alone has rated a phone call from Roy and is the only one coming for a visit at this point. In terms of UNC’s focus, it is clear they want Knox and why not? This is an experienced player who is 6-9, 245 lbs. Knox also fits Roy’s description of a “character kid” having graduated in three years with a business degree. Plus, it is a one year deal which means UNC can fill a gaping hole in the upcoming season without mortgaging the future on a recruit who might now work out.
I would not discount Roy bringing in both Knox and Jack before this is over but if you had to pick one, I think Knox is your best bet. Since he is lined up for a visit it appears Roy is placing that bet.
Maybe head coach Roy Williams has found the perfect solution for replacing the Wear twins. It’s former Crimson Tide player Justin Knox, a 6′9″/240 lbs. forward, who has used up three quarters of his elegibility in Tuscaloosa and has graduated meaning that now he can play elsewhere without have to sit a year. North Carolina is in the race for this young man along with another ACC school, Georgia Tech. If this goes through I can see positives and negatives to it, depending on how you look at things. However, with the Knox family trying to get the restrictions set by Alabama revomed all of this might be for nothing, as Knox’ first choice would then be UAB. Reading, watching, listening, thinking about this player coming to Chapel Hill I can see one major thing that could be a negative or a positive, depending on which way you look at it.
On positive side of things is if Knox was not to work for the coaching staff and what they are trying to do next season he would just be here for one season and then the scholarship would be open once again. Almost a backwards one and done. The flip side of that equation is that if you are going to have a kid just one season you are going to have to get him into the flow of things quicker than if you know you would have him longer or else you will have one guy riding the pine knowing that he will not have a next year. What scares me about all of this is that if Knox does not fit into the chemistry it might make a problem in the team gelling and that is something no one wants to see after this year. Knowing the way coach Williams likes to go deep into his bench when it comes to a rotation I would say that Knox would not have a problem getting 15-20 minutes a game, since I can see Tyler Zeller and John Henson getting 30-34 minutes per game. Those 15-20 minutes would probably be just fine with the transfer as he averaged 19.8 minutes with `Bama. The forward scored 6.3 points and had 3.7 rebounds per game average, which I would say would be also fine at UNC.
When we look at the numbers of the Wear twins they combined for 20.5 mins/game while scoring 6.4 points/game and 3.9 rebounds/game. If you we look at those and compare them to Justin Knox he could easily fill their shoes. Granted Alabama might have had less talented teams to play against, but on this season’s team Knox will be surronded by much better talent. In the end, as far as I am concerned, Justin Knox would be a good fit for the 2010-11 season as long as he can hole his numbers and not become a liability when on the floor. We also have to remember that all of this cross checking of stats would be worthless if Knox isn’t the only player coming into Chapel Hill to fill the void left by the two transfers. On the other hand, if he was one of two, even if he didn’t work out the coaching staff would have another option.
For being the offseason this is definitely a very interesting time of the year.
