stokes commits

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Wesley Stokes Commits To Missouri--(Oct. 21, 1999)

SCAWesley2.jpg (6726 bytes) Recruiting USA and several other internet recruiting sources are reporting that Wesley Stokes (5'-11" Sr. PG) from Long Beach Poly, has given a verbal commitment to Missouri's head coach, Quinn Snyder. Reports in the last few days had Stokes possibly giving a verbal, or at least taking an unofficial visit to USC this past week, while other reports stated that San Diego State and coach Steve Fisher were the leaders for Stokes.

Despite being the most exciting backcourt player in this year's senior class from Southern California, none of the local schools, including UCLA really ever got involved with Stokes, and UCLA completely backed off recruiting any players at the point guard position out of this year's senior class once they secured the early verbal commitment from Mater Dei's Cedric Bozeman (6'-5" Sr. SG/PG).

Stokes visited Missouri for their version of Midnight Madness over the weekend, and evidently it worked. But even after the visit, as late as Tuesday of this week, Frank Burlison was reporting that "Stokes, easily the outstanding high school player in Southern California during the September evaluation tournaments, spent the better part of last Tuesday visiting USC. The Trojans, who got a commitment last week from 6-4 Desmon Farmer (Northwestern of Flint, Mich.) but lost 6-8 Herve Lamizana (St. Patrick of Elizabeth, N.J.) to Rutgers, have re-entered the Stokes derby, making him their prime target.

Stokes was also a high priority for Oregon State, which was following him all over this summer and fall, and had coaches at all of his games. So once again, a high profile prospect from SoCal winds up not staying on the west coast, and heads back to the Big 12, which secured two commitments (Stevenson is the other) as a result of Midnight Madness. Well, at least we get Wesley for one more great senior season. . . .