2013 F Austin Nichols (Memphis Briarcrest)

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Austin Nichols likes six, will choose soon.

By Paul Biancardi | Oct 29, 2012 5:10 PM
Austin Nichols (Eads, Tenn./Briarcrest) returned home Sunday night after his final official visit to Auburn, and the No. 12 player in the ESPN 100 said he is ready to decide soon between six schools -- Auburn, Duke, Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Virginia.

"I will be making my decision in the next week or two. I want to focus on my senior season," Nichols told ESPN.

As he tries to sort out the schools he is interested in from an athletic standpoint, he is also looking for the place that will prepare him best for life after basketball.

"Wherever I go to school I hope to meet plenty of people that can help me find a job someday when basketball is over," he said.

Whoever lands this forward is getting a hardworking, dedicated frontcourt player who runs the floor with effort and plays with a competitive edge. Nichols has fundamentally sound footwork that helps him to hedge hard off ball screens and score inside with angles to the rim or outside with a high-post drive or a mid-range jumper. When it comes to rebounding, he does it with a high motor and length over physical strength right now. His body needs time to develop to produce at a high level, though.

Nichols said he has enjoyed the recruiting process and has gathered all the information he needs to make his decision. Now the hard part will be trying to figure out how to separate his list of six schools. Looking back on his visits, he talked with ESPN about each one and what impressed him.

Auburn
"I didn't know much about Auburn or Tony Barbee until I got down to campus. I can't say enough about Coach Barbee as a person. He can help both on and off the court. I remember all the players were wearing shirts that said 'family.' All the students know each other, as well as the players on the team -- it really felt like a big family. I was really impressed. If I go to school there, I think I can do something special."

Duke
"What can you say about Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski] that hasn't been said. He could be the best coach ever. He could really help me develop my game and turn me into a man. I believe I could get some early playing time. My host [during the visit], Marshall Plumlee, is a great person to hang out with, a one-of-a-kind type of guy. I can definitely see myself on the floor with him."

Memphis
"I could stay at home (Eads is about 30 minutes from Memphis) and my parents could see me play all the time. The fans and alumni support the program, and I like that. Coach [Josh] Pastner has a big-time recruiting class coming in and I could be part of that, which is exciting."

Tennessee
"Coach [Cuonzo] Martin is making progress and doing a great job. Based on who's leaving [after this season], I might be able to step in right away and play. I have a good relationship with the coaches, plus my sister Ashley goes to school there."

Vanderbilt
"[Vanderbilt] has great academics and is close to home. It's located right in the heart of Nashville, and I liked the campus a lot. Coach [Kevin] Stallings has them winning in the SEC."

Virginia
"What a great job [coach] Tony Bennett is doing. He is producing at Virginia. I really like the players in the program; they stood out. They are humble and hardworking, and they are the type of players that I want to be around."
 
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calban said:
Dreamed he was dunking over Poythress last night, so no doubt in my mind he'll be here.
Welcome home Austin!!
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Do you think Poythress will come back for his Soph year? Do you guys really think UK will get the Twins, Young, Randle and Wiggins?
 
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Stoked4Zo said:
Do you think Poythress will come back for his Soph year? Do you guys really think UK will get the Twins, Young, Randle and Wiggins?
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No I think poythress will be gone, unless he just has a bust year.

Well they've already got the twins, and young...I think at most they get one of the last 2 you mention, I actually could see them missing on both, but I don't think they land both.
 
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bleedingTNorange said:
Austin Nichols likes six, will choose soon.

By Paul Biancardi | Oct 29, 2012 5:10 PM
Austin Nichols (Eads, Tenn./Briarcrest) returned home Sunday night after his final official visit to Auburn, and the No. 12 player in the ESPN 100 said he is ready to decide soon between six schools -- Auburn, Duke, Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Virginia.

"I will be making my decision in the next week or two. I want to focus on my senior season," Nichols told ESPN.

As he tries to sort out the schools he is interested in from an athletic standpoint, he is also looking for the place that will prepare him best for life after basketball.

"Wherever I go to school I hope to meet plenty of people that can help me find a job someday when basketball is over," he said.

Whoever lands this forward is getting a hardworking, dedicated frontcourt player who runs the floor with effort and plays with a competitive edge. Nichols has fundamentally sound footwork that helps him to hedge hard off ball screens and score inside with angles to the rim or outside with a high-post drive or a mid-range jumper. When it comes to rebounding, he does it with a high motor and length over physical strength right now. His body needs time to develop to produce at a high level, though.

Nichols said he has enjoyed the recruiting process and has gathered all the information he needs to make his decision. Now the hard part will be trying to figure out how to separate his list of six schools. Looking back on his visits, he talked with ESPN about each one and what impressed him.

Auburn
"I didn't know much about Auburn or Tony Barbee until I got down to campus. I can't say enough about Coach Barbee as a person. He can help both on and off the court. I remember all the players were wearing shirts that said 'family.' All the students know each other, as well as the players on the team -- it really felt like a big family. I was really impressed. If I go to school there, I think I can do something special."

Duke
"What can you say about Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski] that hasn't been said. He could be the best coach ever. He could really help me develop my game and turn me into a man. I believe I could get some early playing time. My host [during the visit], Marshall Plumlee, is a great person to hang out with, a one-of-a-kind type of guy. I can definitely see myself on the floor with him."

Memphis
"I could stay at home (Eads is about 30 minutes from Memphis) and my parents could see me play all the time. The fans and alumni support the program, and I like that. Coach [Josh] Pastner has a big-time recruiting class coming in and I could be part of that, which is exciting."

Tennessee
"Coach [Cuonzo] Martin is making progress and doing a great job. Based on who's leaving [after this season], I might be able to step in right away and play. I have a good relationship with the coaches, plus my sister Ashley goes to school there."

Vanderbilt
"[Vanderbilt] has great academics and is close to home. It's located right in the heart of Nashville, and I liked the campus a lot. Coach [Kevin] Stallings has them winning in the SEC."

Virginia
"What a great job [coach] Tony Bennett is doing. He is producing at Virginia. I really like the players in the program; they stood out. They are humble and hardworking, and they are the type of players that I want to be around."
Click to expand...

Very political comments. Last week it seemed he was already a vol. I do believe that he still is.
 
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bleedingTNorange said:
No I think poythress will be gone, unless he just has a bust year.

Well they've already got the twins, and young...I think at most they get one of the last 2 you mention, I actually could see them missing on both, but I don't think they land both.
Click to expand...
You really think Poythress is a 1 and done?
Our very own Rodney Dangerfield (Derek Reese) shut him down in AAU.
D1 defense is a lot tougher.
KY is way over rated this season.
 
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calban said:
You really think Poythress is a 1 and done?
Our very own Rodney Dangerfield (Derek Reese) shut him down in AAU.
D1 defense is a lot tougher.
KY is way over rated this season.
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And jarnell stokes shut down Andre Drummond but he went top 5....NBA is obsessed with measurables and athleticism, 2 areas poythress excels in, more than actual production.

Cal will do a good job putting him in position to succeed, dunks and layups galore...you know how I feel about UK, not even top 10.
 
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bleedingTNorange said:
And jarnell stokes shut down Andre Drummond but he went top 5....NBA is obsessed with measurables and athleticism, 2 areas poythress excels in, more than actual production.

Cal will do a good job putting him in position to succeed, dunks and layups galore...you know how I feel about UK, not even top 10.
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We went round and round about Drummond last season and I was really shocked that he went that high, so you may be spot on as usual.
Think Cal's a bit worried about this team though.
 
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calban said:
We went round and round about Drummond last season and I was really shocked that he went that high, so you may be spot on as usual.
Think Cal's a bit worried about this team though.
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I disliked Drummond, new him from my CT days...but I knew he'd go high. People freak out about size and athleticism, WAY too much IMO.

I agree though, I think this could be an interesting year for Cal...if they struggle, does he change his philosophy some and recruit some guys who may stay more than one year so he can build experience etc etc.
 
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bleedingTNorange said:
I disliked Drummond, new him from my CT days...but I knew he'd go high. People freak out about size and athleticism, WAY too much IMO.

I agree though, I think this could be an interesting year for Cal...if they struggle, does he change his philosophy some and recruit some guys who may stay more than one year so he can build experience etc etc.
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I don't really think Cal is worried at all. If he struggles this year a bit, then players that do not leave will be around for the monster year next year. They should be incredibly good next year. His best team is yet to come I believe.
 
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johnnybravo said:
I don't really think Cal is worried at all. If he struggles this year a bit, then players that do not leave will be around for the monster year next year. They should be incredibly good next year. His best team is yet to come I believe.
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I disagree, I see no team of his being better than last years team.

You're basically saying he's gonna have an undefeated team, and I just don't see that.
 
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johnnybravo said:
I don't really think Cal is worried at all. If he struggles this year a bit, then players that do not leave will be around for the monster year next year. They should be incredibly good next year. His best team is yet to come I believe.
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If you compare his media talk to last year's,he's quite concerned.
Last year preseason: Special team, very special, special special, special
This year: Not very good, don't do this well, don't do that well, could be good, but right now we stink.

yes, will be right back there next season with this 2013 class.
 
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calban said:
If you compare his media talk to last year's,he's quite concerned.
Last year preseason: Special team, very special, special special, special
This year: Not very good, don't do this well, don't do that well, could be good, but right now we stink.

yes, will be right back there next season with this 2013 class.
Click to expand...

I think he's being honest with this team. Compared to the last several he has had, this team will not be no where near as good. I'm thinking sweet 16 at best. Carry over a several players to next years class then I think he will be deeper and as talented as any other class he has had.
 
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bleedingTNorange said:
I disagree, I see no team of his being better than last years team.

You're basically saying he's gonna have an undefeated team, and I just don't see that.
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Better can be compared many different ways. Not just being undefeated. He had 5 guys go first round in Walls class. Did they have better talent that year and just had a very poor coached game against WV?

They might not go undefeated, but they could win the SEC regular season, SEC championship tourny, and the NC. Something they didn't do last year. Would that make them better than last years team?

Depending how they do this year could possibly depend on who returns for next. I think they could be a very scary and deep team with very few weeknesses.
 
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bleedingTNorange said:
And jarnell stokes shut down Andre Drummond but he went top 5....NBA is obsessed with measurables and athleticism, 2 areas poythress excels in, more than actual production.

Cal will do a good job putting him in position to succeed, dunks and layups galore...you know how I feel about UK, not even top 10.
Click to expand...

Drummond went #9 actually and is going to be awesome!
 
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Does anyone else think that AN comments about UT were the least complimentary of the six teams he considering? Or is it just my take on them?
 
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dillyo51 said:
Does anyone else think that AN comments about UT were the least complimentary of the six teams he considering? Or is it just my take on them?
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He's talked about us heavily in other interviews after his visit. I think they just took bits and pieces from what he said and put it in. Auburn probably got the biggest of it because it was his most recent visit. I wouldn't be too worried.
 
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SJAVol32 said:
He's talked about us heavily in other interviews after his visit. I think they just took bits and pieces from what he said and put it in. Auburn probably got the biggest of it because it was his most recent visit. I wouldn't be too worried.
Click to expand...

:hi:Thanks
 
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#2,098
Posted in another thread....but here goes..

Memphis beat writer said he thinks Memphis is out and its TN vs. Auburn....he says he feels Tennessee will be the choice
 
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