Louisville won't find its 2009 recruiting class in the top five as per the last few years, but coach Rick Pitino's newest additions sit a combined 19th in Scout.com's early class rankings.
Each of Louisville's recruits expected to sign—Rakeem Buckles (four-star), Peyton Siva (four-star), Mike Marra (three-star), and Stephan Van Treese (three-star)—have sent their faxes in and will plan on playing for Pitino.
5'11" point guard Peyton Siva highlights the class and expects to fill in where his predecessors haven't.
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"He's an explosive offensive talent, very fast, very athletic and he shoots the ball well," Pitino said. "With Andre (McGee) leaving after this year and Edgar (Sosa) the next, he will be needed by our basketball team."
Four-star recruit Rakeem Buckles is also expected to do big things at Louisville, checking in at the power forward spot and looking to replace star Earl Clark when he arrives on campus.
The biggest compliment of the day from Pitino came when he called Marra "the best high school shooter I've ever seen in over 30 years of coaching," adding that NBA three-point distance isn't a problem for the shooting guard out of Northfield Mount Hermon School.
Stephan Van Treese is a typical Pitino player. He plays tough defense, has speed and intensity, and Pitino says, "He will fit into our system like a glove."
The sky continues to be the limit for the Cardinals.
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about 1 month ago
Jonathan great article keeping us informed on Louisville. I pose a question to you though. I read the Pitino's comment on Marra and I wondered whether there is positives or negatives in hyping a prospect that much. Yes it could build confidence in the player and excitement in the community about the player, but does it also set a bar that could be too high. If you say something like that the pressure could be on the player to produce more than expected. I mean he said the best shooter he had seen in high school in his 30 years, not just ones he got to come to Louisville or he recruited. I remember Coach Boheim saying when he got Paul Harris signed that he was a better prospect than Carmelo Anthony. Now even if true I thought at the time how can you say that about an incoming freshman. You are setting them up to never live up to expectations. I was wondering your opinion.
from about 1 month ago
If anything, it's just typical Pitinospeak. He'll call Murray State the toughest game on the schedule next Saturday if that's what it takes. I think shooters need confidence, and hearing that out of Pitino would make me think I was the best shooter ever too.
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