Louisiana major college programs still looking to fill current men’s hoops recruiting classes

College basketball coaches are scurrying to fill gaps by the end of the late signing period, May 15th. Here is a look at all the state’s major college basketball targeted recruits.

LSU is making up for lost time now that head coach Will Wade is back from his suspension from the program. Not sure exactly how many holes he will have to fill but a big chunk of his SEC title team must be replaced. Tremont Waters and Naz Reid are gone for sure along with the graduated Kavell Bigby-Williams. Other are testing the NBA Draft waters.

Power forward Khadim Sy, a highly rated JUCO out of Daytona State Community College. The 6-foot-10, 240 pounder lists LSU, Ole Miss, East Carolina, Pittsburgh and Arkansas as his top five.

Power forward Trendon Watford (6-9, 230) from Birmingham, Alabama is a force down low. LSU is at the top with Memphis while Alabama, Indiana are slightly trailing.

Shooting guard Lester Quinones (6-5,180) from IMG Academy has LSU, Maryland, Memphis, Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Michigan as his top school to ponder.

ULM may lead for point guard Rodney Smith (6-0, 165) and 6-7 forward Trey Jenkins from Sikeston, Missouri.

Louisiana Tech hopes that shooting guard Brandon Weatherspoon (6-4, 182) from Canton, Mississippi comes aboard. He has La. Tech, Georgetown, Ole Miss, UAB and Miss. State as his favorites.

New Tulane head coach Ron Hunter has hit the ground running for the Green Wave since the program can use a few players who can help immediately.

Indianapolis shooting guard Jalen Windham (6-5,180) has Creighton as his favorite but Hunter has roots in Indy that may heelp here. Tulane, Miami (Ohio), Georgia State, Toledo, Western Michigan and Ohio U. are Windham’s known considerations.

Shooting guard Jordan Wright (6-6, 200) from Dunham School in Baton Rouge has Georgia Tech, Tulane, Houston, Grambling, La. Tech, Minnesota, Richmond, Texas A&M, TCU, Va. Tech and UAB as interested parties.

Detroit prep forward Robert Carpenter (6-6, 195) has a host of offers including North Texas, UMass, Saint Louis, Tulane, Youngstown State, St. Joseph’s, Iona, St. Bonaventure, Temple and Stoney Brook.

Small forward Robert Carpenter (6-6, 200) from Baltimore likes Tulane, Temple, Eastern Kentucky, Iona, North Texas, Saint Louis and St. Bonaventure.

Power forward Kyran Dawson (6-8, 200) out of Greenville, South Carolina has Tulane as his favorite.

Mark Slessinger hopes to climb back to the very top of the Southland at UNO. Here are at least three players who may be on the Privateers’ radar.

Point guard Justin Minter (6-4,165), a Birmingham, Alabama product, averages 15.3 points per game, hitting 41.7% from field.

Mareng Gatkuoth (6-6, 180), a shooting guard at Mount Zion Academy via Anchorage, Alaska is interested in the Privateers. He creates off the dribble, moves well without the ball and shows a nice stroke from long range. He needs to add bulk and strength.

Point guard Norris Williams (6-1,165) a Covington product who was injured in basketball as a junior, but played receiver in football this past season is very athletic with good feet. He holds a 3.3 GPA. Nearby SLU also has monitored Williams.

Speaking of Southeastern, Sarasota, Fla. shooting guard Johnnie Williams (6-4,180) has Arkansas State, SLU and Florida Gulf Coast as potential options.

The ULL Ragin Cajuns may have combo guard Stantravious Smith (6-3,170) from Albany, Ga. on the backburner. He is looking at Salem, Columbus State, ULL and Mississippi Valley State.

McNeese has added a big class already as part of a program rebuild. Marvens Petion (6-6, 200) out of Point Saint Lucie, Fla. may be the next new Cowboy. Albany, Illinois State and La. Tech are also in race.

Southern University may be a match for 5-9 point guard Andre White from Elgin, Illinois.

Six-foot point guard Demarcus Johnson from Atlanta is considering Morehouse, Fort Valley State, Southern and North Florida. Another point guard, Chicago’s Marquise Walker (6-0, 175) likes Southern, but Illinois has shown some interest.

Terrell Williams (6-5, 198) from Mansfield, Texas is considering Southern, Texas-Permian Basin and Clark College.

Northwestern State has interest in Chicago’s Tujautae Williams (6-6,185) but some big hitters like DePaul, Buffalo, New Mexico, Texas Tech, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minnesota are also showing varying degrees of interest.

When a coach is recruiting, he has to use all the edge he can muster. A trick that the late Jim Valvano used when he was at Iona College could only work in his situation at the time. He would wait for the prospects to be surrounded by all of the top programs around the country. Valvano would walk up to a collection of prospects, stick out his hand and say, “Jim Valvano, Iona College” and walk off. Needless to say, all eyes were on Valvano as he made his exit. Many would think or even say out loud, “Did that guy just say he OWNS at a college?” He had gotten their attention.