deshawn stevenson recruiting update

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

DeShawn Stevenson Update:
UCLA Today, Fresno Yesterday--(Sept. 15, 1999)

We heard from our sources up in Fresno late last night that DeShawn Stevenson (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) of Fresno Washington Union HS, probably the consensus No. 1 player in the senior class in the Western U.S., had his home visit last night with Fresno State, and it was a very impressive show that Tark put on. Charts, pictures, tapes, floor diagrams with offense and defense. Essentially, DeShawn was assured that he would be a starter, that he would get the ball virtually whenever and wherever he wants. . . want 30 shots a game? No problem, you've got it. Tark also reportedly assured DeShawn that the backcourt would pretty much look like the Washington Union backcourt from the State Championship team, with DeShawn and Demetrius Porter (6'-0" Jr. PG), and with Chris Jeffries (6'-8" So. SF/PF) on the wing and inside. Apparently they're really playing the "three-amigos" hometown hero angle too, whether to good effect or not though is something only time and DeShawn will tell. But there's no doubt that a Fresno State team with these three, together with Shannon Swillis, and the rest of the returning FSU players would definitely be a contender for a national title. And without benefit of any samurai swords either. . .

Many people do not realize just how good a shot Fresno has at getting DeShawn. In addition to the hook of being able to reunite with his former high school teammates, and getting assurances that he'll have a significant starting role on the team and virtually unlimited touches and shot opportunities, a lot of people are unaware that DeShawn also has a new baby brother to whom he's become very attached, and this could also be a factor in the Bulldogs favor. Again, only time will tell.

UCLA goes into the home for their visit today. UCLA is, after all, UCLA, and they've won 11 national titles to Fresno's. . . well, you get the picture. While Tark has been to the mountain, it was a while ago. But at least he's been there as a head coach which would seem to give him a leg up on at least some of the competition (more on that below). Whether they can make the same assurance of a starting spot is sort of intersting, because among the projected starters this year, none (with the exception of guys who don't play DeShawn's position) are rumored or anticipated to possibly leave for the NBA (i.e., Gadzuric or Moiso). . . a three-guard rotation would be possible. But whether Lavin, who will be accompanied by Saia on the home visit will even attempt to make the same assurances the Bulldogs seem to be making (we're willing to bet they will) is, like most of this, pure speculation on our part. Until it happens, nobody besides the coaches knows what they'll say. . . Boy would we love to be a fly on the wall . . . :-)

As for his other home visits, DeShawn is also being pursued by two other prominent suitors: Georgia and San Diego State. Duke is, as we reported last week, out, and Kansas, while still in it, seems to have at least one drawback, which is the widely circulated rumor that Roy Williams might move to another school. Apparently the home visit with Kansas was a good one, very professional and DeShawn was suitably impressed, but he won't decide about Kansas (or anywhere else) until the spring is what our sources seem to indicate.

Georgia and Jim Harrick got involved a bit later in the game than everyone else, but they put on quite a show, and were very impressive, but we'd have to consider the Bulldogs (the East Coast ones) sort of a long-shot right now. Still, Harrick's been to the Dance as a head coach, knows what it takes to get there, and DeShawn is, right now, committed to being the best college player he can possibly be, which means he is really jazzed about the idea of attending a Division I school and winning a National Title.

This of course means, according to our sources, that the only way DeShawn will consider jumping to the NBA straight out of high school is if he doesn't qualify, something that's not out of the question, but DeShawn will do everything he can to prevent that, and he's taking SAT prep classes.

San Diego is a school that we wouldn't have thought DeShawn would consider, but he reportedly met with Coach Fisher last week, and according to our sources, made an impressive presentation too. We wouldn't exactly consider the Aztecs any kind of favorite, and in fact think they're an extremely long shot right now, but they also have another hook: Apparently DeShawn's uncle, who trained him and coached him as a youngster, lives in San Diego, and the two are apparently very close, so San Diego does have at least one other intangible to throw into the hopper besides having a National Championship-caliber coach.

Right now, the bottom line appears to be that DeShawn's leaders are probably Fresno State, UCLA, and the NBA (but only if he doesn't qualify), with Georgia, Kansas and San Diego State still in, and still others in waiting.