BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CINCINNATI

July 12, 2007



COMMITMENT ALERT: Darnel Wilks, a 6-foot-8 forward from Pioneer Christian Academy in Nashville (TN)

The Cincinnati Post reports that a 2008 UC Recruit Will Play for Bearcats this Year as Wilks, who orally committed to UC last November, originally was scheduled to graduate in 2008 after moving to Pioneer Christian Academy in Nashville for his fourth year of high school. However, the plan has changed and Wilks got his academics in order and has enrolled at UC earlier this week.


Projected 2007-2008 Roster:

Seniors: John Williamson (F), Marvin Gentry (G), Jamaul Warren (G), Marcus Sikes (BF), Adam Hrycaniuk (PF/C)
Juniors: Mike Williams (PF)
Sophomores: Deonta Vaughn (PG)
Freshmen: Larry Davis (SG), Rashad Bishop (G/F), Kenny Belton (F/C), Jason Henry (F), Alvin Mitchell (G/F), Anthony McClain (C), Darnell Wilks (F)
Early 2008 Commitment: Yancy Gates (BF)
Early 2009 Commitment: Danny McElroy (F)



Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!



The Cincinnati roster continues to change often. The latest news is that former 2008 Bearcat commitment Darnell Wilks has enrolled at UC and will be part of the 2007-2008 squad. Last season, Wilks averaged 17.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game at Pioneer Christian Academy. Wilks is a 6'8 small forward who is a plus-athlete at the high major level. He needs to add strength (weighs in about 195 lbs) and fine-tune his skill set, but the raw talent and athleticism to be an outstanding talent is there. In short, there is a lot to work with here.


A class of Alvin Mitchell, Jason Henry, Larry Davis, Rashad Bishop, Kenny Belton, Anthony McClain and now Wilks is a very good group that will matriculate into the Bearcat program next season and join eligible transfers Mike Williams and Adam Hrycaniuk to give the UC program a much needed lift in depth and talent. Mick Cronin has a big job ahead of him in the ultra-competitve Big East, but he is certain to be out there working hard to get things done. This season Cincinnati debuted under Cronin with six new players and he has added another 8 new players (including eligible transfers) to the mix for next season. In 12 months time, Cronin has COMPLETELY turned over the Cincinnati roster. That is some HARD work on the recruiting trail!

Again, it will take some time for this group to assimilate with each other, but there is a solid core of athletes to begin building the program back up. Now, we will wait to see how the Bearcats get themselves to the 13 player scholarship limit. About five weeks ago Mick Cronin said that if incoming freshman Jason Henry didn't qualify academically, the Bearcats had a plan B on which they could fall back. The 6-foot-7 Henry, long rumored to be in trouble academically, was a major recruiting coup for the Bearcats, but the chances of seeing him on the floor next season seem to be getting slim, although Mick Cronin insisted that adding Wilks to the 2007 class had nothing to do with Henry's qualifying status and they are still working to get him eligible. If he does, they will deal with the 14 players for 13 scholarships at that time.


A great resource on UC recruiting can be found at Bearcat News. They have the possibility of another large class for 2008 and already have a commitment from Withrow HS standout Yancy Gates, who got the ball rolling earlier in the spring.