It feels like it's starting to line up for 2017. Unless we strike out on all of our main targets and have to get in late on a few kids, the class may very well round out like this:
-2 of Goodwin, Scruggs, Eastern, Frazier, and (outside chance) Verge. These are the playmaking ball handlers.
-1 or 2 of Tilmon, Kiir, John, Uyaelumno, Justin Smith, and (as a fallback) Negron. These are the guys that offer defensive versatility and special physical traits.
Of course there's still a chance that a new name emerges in the next few weeks, or maybe someone like Terrence Lewis is still a viable option despite buzz to the contrary. But from the outside looking in, the above seems to make sense.
I think the ideal scenario would be Goodwin, Scruggs, Tilmon, and any of Uyaelumno/Kiir/John/Smith. The worst case would be something like Frazier, Verge, Negron, and a 5th year big. I don't see either extreme happening, and I'd gladly take almost anything in between. Goodwin, Frazier, Tilmon, and John? Sold. Eastern, Frazier, Smith, and Kiir? Not blown away, but I'll be content landing two instate top-75 guys any year.
To further elucidate, I don't think Scruggs or Theo John will pick us (hope I'm wrong!) and I don't think the staff would take Verge or Negron until late in the spring, so they're probably off the table, too. That leaves a most likely list of Goodwin, Frazier, Eastern, Tilmon, J. Smith, Kiir, and Uyaelumno. Four kids from Illinois and three from Florida.
