Has Memphis basketball coach John Calipari dramatically changed the college football recruiting landscape by convincing the top high school quarterback in the country to concentrate on basketball? That's the suggestion of Phil Fritz of the Capital Times, who cites "very reliable sources in Memphis" who say that Terrelle Pryor, a Pennsylvania high schooler who has fans of Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State drooling at his ability to run the spread offense, may very well end up at Memphis. Fritz writes that Pryor, who is listed by Rivals as the third-best small forward in the country, is being recruited by Calipari to play basketball.
I don't know Phil Fritz and have no idea who his very reliable sources in Memphis are, but I'm skeptical of this report. Earlier this week, Pryor was asked if basketball would play a part in his college choice, and he said:
"No, it won't," Pryor said. "I really like playing basketball and I'm still considering playing both football and basketball in college, but I'm not sure. I'm leaning toward just football, but I haven't decided for sure."So, I'll take the word of Pryor over the word of anonymous sources at Memphis, even if they are "very reliable." Having said that, though, if Pryor is interested mostly in his long-term earning potential, as Fritz's report suggests, I do think basketball might be a better sport for him. Until the spread offense catches on in the NFL, I'll have more confidence that a very good high school small forward will make it in the NBA some day than I will that a great high school spread option quarterback will make it in the NFL some day. Maybe that's what Calipari has been telling Pryor.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-08-2008 @ 2:37PM
U... said...
Pryor IS NOT visiting Memphis this weekend. He has a state playoff game today. Phil Fritz is a fool.
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3-08-2008 @ 4:45PM
hery cush said...
His chances of making it in pro ftbl are vurtually assured. not so in hoops why would he major in basketball
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3-08-2008 @ 6:23PM
BuckeyeCommentary said...
Yeah, right. I will believe it when I see it.
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3-08-2008 @ 6:25PM
Blake said...
That's incredible, if true. Pryor is an odd scenario, and him jumping to Memphis to play basketball would be one of the great college sports stories ever, especially if he were to fail or succeed by a wide margin.
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3-08-2008 @ 7:40PM
RLC said...
No. He is going to Ohio State and concentrate on football. Thad Matta has told him he can participate in basketall if he wants.
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3-09-2008 @ 3:11PM
chris said...
id love to have him in memphis
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3-09-2008 @ 4:31PM
rob funicelli said...
Pryor will be going to Penn State. He will announce this on April 1!
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3-09-2008 @ 9:43PM
Dale Hoskin said...
Am I the only one getting tired of Pryor? Lets review, challenges the fans at one game because they booed him, leads his team into a brawl after another game because someone insulted him, thinks he is bigger than the game or any college. Can you say Maurice Clarette. Put me down as one Michigan fan who hopes he goes to The Outlaw State University where he appears to belong.
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6-22-2008 @ 1:18AM
Anne said...
With Calipari and the Tigers successes since 2001, be prepared for more stories like this. What player wouldn't want to play for a coach who's not only a terrific coach, but also at terrific person. Cal cares for his players. His family loves the Memphis players like they were part of the Calipari family. If I had a son who wanted to play for either Coach Cal, Coach Tommy West (Memphis football), Grant Robbins (Memphis golf), Richie Grant (Memphis soccer), or Coach Schoenrock (Memphis baseball) I'd be ecstatic and hope there would be room on the team.
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