Micheal Miller and Tracy Pierson from Pac-West Hoops are predicting that both Point Guard E.J. Harris
from Los Angeles' Crenshaw High School and Wing Forward Jason Morrissette from L.A.'s Fairfax High School will verbal with the Wildcats following their visit to Manhattan this weekend. The information surrounding Harris is in no way new, as All-Star Hoops had a similar report following Coach Asbury's September in-home visit. Morrissette also had an in-home visit during that time, but this is the first known information of his possible verbal. Should both pledge they would be commitments number 2 and 3 in a class which already includes Jason Robinson, a wing player from Seward Community College. All three have talked all along of wanting to sign during the early period.Hoop Scoop ranks Harris as the #41 PG nationally, Morrissette is #35 nationally at wing forward (Shooting Guard/Small Forward).
| Ventura, California (Newbury Park High School) |
6'2" | 200 | 4.7 |
Chris is a Michigan Wolvernines fan...he'll be the first to tell you that he's cheered for them since he was a kid, therefore it should be no surprise they have been his clear leader for quite some time. If they do offer there is little doubt he would accept. Lombardo has been told by Michigan coaches that he's the #2 QB on their list, and has probably moved up after their #1 choice Jeff Smoker decided to verbal with Michigan State earlier this summer.
So why hasn't they offered? Well, Go Blue Wolverine.com says Michigan is simply waiting for more time to evaluate Chris and hopefully will get back to him in mid-October. So why the wait? It may have something to do with Lombardo missing the Wolverines summer camp. A good portion of Michigan's signees from the past few seasons have come from camp attendees (16 of last years recruits) and Chris was busy with a camp in Newbury Park and could not attend. Another line of thought is that since UM apparently missed out on its number one target (Smoker) and have picked up many quality young QB's in their most recent classes they may not even take one in the 2000 class. That viewpoint is supported by the fact that the Wolverines had both Zac Wasserman AND John Rattay at their camp before their junior years and did not offer both of them before they commited elsewhere (Wasserman to Penn State, Rattay to Tennessee). Also, there were several top QB recruits at this years camp who to this point have not been offered.
Wrapping it up...
My comments: While K-State has reportedly offered other QB's this early...it's appears though they have a real shot with Lombardo. While Chris was a somewhat known name at the time...his performance at the Nike summer camp on the Southern Cal campus in June really boosted his stock. Reports are he's got a rocket for an arm and has a real fluid, quick and accurate delivery. Perhaps his only potential problem is his mobility and speed outside the pocket. After the USC camp one recruiting guru compared Lombardo to Ty Detmer.
Sit back and watch how this turns out over the next few months...
Webmaster- Chris Peitsch