2006 BIG EAST EARLY RECRUITING CLASSES: #2 LOUISVILLE

Projected 2006-2007 Roster:

Senior: Brandon Jenkins (G)
Juniors: Juan Palacios (F), David Padgett (F/C), Terrence Farley (C)
Sophomores: Andre McGee (PG), Bryan Harvey (SG), Chad Millard (WF), Terrence Williams (SF), Jonathon Huffman (BF), Brian Johnson (F)
Freshmen: Edgar Sosa (G), Jerry Smith (G), Derrick Caracter (BF), Jarvis Walker (SF), Earl Clark (G/F)


When Rick Pitino is the coach of your program, you know you are going to recruit and compete at the highest level. Now, Pitino is back in the Big East and he will be taking that up another notch. With his 2006 recruiting class, that is very clear that it is happening already.

Derrick Caracter and Earl Clark are the marquee commitments in the class. Both have the potential to be very dominant college players, but both also have questions surrounding them. At one time around the signing date, it looked like Clark was going to hold off signing a LOI and concentrate in his academics, which have been questioned at times. In the end, he did sign his LOI, but the academic side of things will have to be monitored. However, at 6'8 with PG skills, Clark will be a serious match-up nightmare for opponents at the college level.

Caracter has been destined for stardom since the 8th grade, when he competed at the ABCD camp and has always been a top target for media, fans and recruiters. He has changed schools several times in the meantime and has settled in at Notre Dame prep so he, too, can get his academics in order. Caracter also needs to stay motivated and in shape, because his skills for a player his size near the basket might not be matched by anyone else in the class. At this point, Caracter could be very good, or on of the biggest busts in history and the microscope will be intensely on him. He made a very wise choice in deciding to play for a demanding head coach in Rick Pitino, who most likely, will not let him waste the immense potential he posseses.

Louisville also added a pair of quality guards in Jerry Smith and Edgar Sosa. Sosa, a NYC native, is an excellent shooter who is quickly adapting to playing the PG position as well, which is where his size dictates his future lies. Smith is a quick and athletic guard that will shine in the uptempo style that Louisville likes to use.

Looking at the projected roster for 2006-2007, there are 15 names, of course, you can only have 13 players on scholarship. Jarvis Walker, younger brother of Antoine Walker, is likely to remain a walk-on, so that leaves one player who will not be part of the team. With the talent level of the UL program, early entry for the NBA is a possibility, and, transferring because others pass you by is also a possibility as well. One thing is certain, Rick Pitino never stops recruiting.

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