For those Canes basketball fans bumming because of the injuries and struggles this team has gone through, here's something that might brighten up your day.
The Hurricanes are awfully close to getting a commitment from one of then nation's best 2008 recruits, 6-8 swingman Devin Ebanks, who is rated the No. 2 small forward in the country by Rivals.com and the 14th best player overall.
Scout.com national recruiting analyst Jeff Goodman interviewed Ebanks two weeks ago and the St. Thomas More (Conn.) junior told him Miami was his clear frontrunner.
``They are definitely number one on my list,” said the 6-foot-8 junior forward told Scout.com. “They’ve been great. Coach (Frank) Haith and the rest of the staff have given me a lot of love and I’m feeling it right now.”
``The chance to come in and play right away is important,” he added.
Ebanks is supposed to visit UM at the end of March, after his high school season ends. While Haith can't comment on potential recruits, the feeling around The U is the Hurricanes have a real shot at Ebanks, who is also being courted by Memphis, Indiana, Illinois, Georgetown and St. John's. He would certainly be the biggest name Haith has ever landed -- and maybe even the best basketball recruit the program has ever landed.
Haith, I've been told through others, was just in Connecticut to checkout Ebanks and another Connecticut recruit, 6-9, 270-pound center Christian Morris, who also has UM up high on his board. Morris is also rated a Top 100 recruit in the Class of 2008.
I'll have more on UM's basketball future in the coming days, but I wanted to share this tidbit with you now. I'm going to try to get a hold of Ebanks myself and have a little Q&A I plan to provide online here for you.
Manny, I like the potential grab of this guy. But what about the local players? That Calusa Prep Jr guard looks like he's a baller, too. Got Shipman as a Jr, too. How are we looking on the home front in terms of b-ball recruiting?
Posted by: Esteban | February 16, 2007 at 09:11 AM
Getting this caliber recruit would help the program tremendously. Manny, we appreciate your coverage of Canes sports (inc. bball). Try to get an interview with Ebanks.
Posted by: brad | February 17, 2007 at 02:02 PM
if this guy is truly high on the list and wants to come to the u by all means bring him in. to build a future you got to hit it big with national ranked preps.
Posted by: Caneudigit | February 18, 2007 at 05:08 PM
hey guys come join a great messege board to talk just about Miami Hurricanes sports. From baseball to basketball to football we got it alll covered even recruiting come join it!!!
http://canesboard.proboards50.com/
Posted by: Brett | February 19, 2007 at 12:08 AM
more than a week w/o a post?
did UM give up on athletics?
Posted by: aqua | February 23, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Who was the baseball coach prior to Morris-He did shuch a great job and I'm ashamed to not recall his name??
Posted by: Phil | February 26, 2007 at 09:30 AM
i think you're referring to fraser
Posted by: cane8o8 | February 26, 2007 at 06:49 PM
i think you're referring to fraser
Posted by: cane8o8 | February 26, 2007 at 06:49 PM
You two might be the laziest bloggers I have ever come across. Is it spring break over at the Herald?
Posted by: Darth Coker | February 27, 2007 at 09:43 AM
does anybody know if um is really getting new football uniforms? If this is true, is there any website where we can see them? Thanks
Posted by: jthcanes | February 27, 2007 at 11:46 AM
does anybody know if um is really getting new football uniforms? If this is true, is there any website where we can see them? Thanks
Posted by: jthcanes | February 27, 2007 at 11:46 AM
fuk U guys, delete this site if U ain't gonna blog anymore.
Posted by: aqua | February 28, 2007 at 10:28 AM
dream on.......
Posted by: kycowboy | March 01, 2007 at 04:45 PM
I wish the Herald would get a better Canes beat writer. Someone who WILL go the extra mile and is enthusiastic enough to want to manage a Canes blog. What you've got here is not even enough to be called weak.
BTW, excellent article by manny navarro on the state of Canes hoops
http://www.miamiherald.com/588/story/30706.html
"Hurricanes basketball stuck in neutral"
Posted by: Nobody | March 04, 2007 at 01:31 PM
The fact is that the university's athletic programs suffer from a significant lack of support from the surrounding community. Gator alums in Coral Gables continuously block our attempts to have an on campus stadium, and as far as the city of Miami goes, forget it. The only way we'll get a new OB is for bullfights to be legalized and we share the arena with the toreadors. If the basketball team could hold pre-game and halftime chicken fights with legalized gambling, then we might get a crowd for at least part of our basketball games.
This is what happens when your university is surrounded by a bunch of folks who consider their area a temporary place to live. When the BEARDED ONE kicks (which may be sooner than we think) and one of the Bushes attacks Raoul and Co., these folks will be gone faster than you can say, "Hasta la vista, baby". The Miami community could care less about anything that goes on at UM or with our pro sports, either. They won't even support the Marlins, and most of these folks think baseball is a religion......just not here.
Posted by: bettyn | March 05, 2007 at 12:44 PM