Boulder – Colorado men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton calls the Buffaloes’ seven-man recruiting class the best since he arrived as a CU assistant a dozen years ago.
“I think all the guys we signed will eventually make money playing basketball (in the NBA or overseas),” Patton said Tuesday. “If you start beating other good programs for talent, eventually you’ll beat them on the court.”
Following NCAA rules, Patton was able to announce five signees from whom CU had received letter-of-intent paperwork: 6-foot-10 center Sean Kowal, DeSmet High School in St. Louis; 6-4 guard Xavier Silas, Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H.; 6-3 point guard Dwight Thorne, Arlington (Texas) Martin High School; 6-6 forward Dale Vanwright of Houston’s Bellaire High School; and Jeremy Williams, a 6-8 forward at Hamilton High School in Memphis, Tenn.
Another scholarship will go to Ohio State transfer Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, a 6-5 forward sitting out this season at CU under transfer rules.
“Jermyl would be a starter this year if he were eligible,” Patton said.
Colorado will sign one more player during the early signing period that ends today, Patton said. According to recruiting services, that scholarship was given to Kalvin Bay, a 6-1 point guard at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Ariz. Bay averaged 18 points and eight assists as a junior. CU will seek a post player in the spring signing period to complete the class, Patton said. With Williams and Vanwright listed as small forwards, Kowal is the only true inside player.
“Sean is 240 pounds and powerful, a post player that doesn’t mind being one,” Patton said. “All the guys have the right body type to play in the Big 12.”
There were some disappointments. CU finished second to Ohio State for Othello Hunter, a 6-9 power forward at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla., and lost 7-foot center Josh Lomers of Boerne (Texas) High School to Baylor. CU’s recruiting class lacks an in-state player, although the Buffs sought ThunderRidge guard Matt Bouldin, a consensus national top-100 prospect who signed with Gonzaga. Patton said CU is recruiting several in-state juniors he predicts will become the best class produced by this state in more than a decade.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
