Will Barton spent this past weekend once again impressing onlookers while at the Pangos All American Camp in Los Angeles, where he played so well he was voted to the ‘Cream of the Crop’ Top 20 All Star game, and again played well.
“I did real good,” Barton said. ” I think I did well the entire camp. I think I had around 17 points in the All Star game,” Barton added.
It’s these types of performances that have made Barton one of the most highly recruited players in the country. One of the programs that is very interested in Barton is Kansas, where head man Bill Self has made sure that Barton knows they are interested.
“Coach Self is a great coach. His teams get up and down in transition,” Barton said. “I like him (Self) a lot. I have talked to him a lot and always have good conversations. Coach Dooley has been out to see me too at an open gym. They are doing a good job recruiting me,” Barton added.
When it comes to the Jayhawks, Barton certainly knows a lot about the high profile Kansas program.
“Kansas is a great school, a great program, good academics, and great school,” Barton said. I have watched KU a lot and like how they get up and down, good defensive pressure, which I am familiar with since my high school plays a similar style,” Barton added.
Barton has some knowledge when it comes to the Jayhawks as well, knowing about James Naismith, Adolph Rupp, and Dean Smith amongst others as former Kansas coaches and players. However, some more recent Jayhawk players are much more fresh in the 6′5″ 170 pound swing man’s mind.
“I liked Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, and Sherron Collins,” Barton said. “I watched them a lot,” added Barton.
The top programs in the country are investing a lot of time in recruiting the Baltimore star. Programs like Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Texas, Miami, Georgetown, Arizona, Xavier, Marquette, Providence, and Pitt are some of the schools Barton rattled off.
With the Jayhawks likely heading into the 2009-10′ season as the #1 team in the country, they will have the attention of Barton.
“I will certainly follow Kansas either way, but it’s cool that they will be #1,” Barton said. “Kansas is a top 5 program in history, so you have to follow them,” added Barton of the Jayhawks.
At program like Kansas, basketball completely dominates the state and the fanbase. This is something that Barton thinks fondly of.
“I like that it (basketball) is the center of the universe there because basketball is the center of my universe,” Barton said.
Although Kansas is halfway across the country, location doesn’t seem to be an issue for Barton.
“Leaving home is not an issue. I’m just looking for the best situation for me. The school could be 5000 miles away as long as it was the best situation,” Barton said.
As far as cutting his long list down, it certainly isn’t from a lack of effort that he hasn’t been able to do it. Time has been the main problem thus far.
“I’ve been trying, but I have been so busy with the AAU circuit,” Barton said.
Barton added that he hopes to get the list cut down by the end of the summer, but as far as deciding on visits, that will be more of a group decision with his mother and coach.
As far as his game goes Barton see himself similar to former Jayhawk star Brandon Rush.
“I am usually taller than my opponent and shoot over them. I can defend, rebound, and I’m athletic,” said Barton. “I would say that versatility is the best part of my game,” added Barton.
When it comes to things to work on, Barton appears to always be looking to improve his game.
“Everything,” Barton said about parts of his game to improve. “I am just trying to get better, but I am working on my strength a lot,” added Barton.
Barton will certainly continue to be one of the top recruits in the 2010 class. With his great scoring ability, willingness to play defense, and his great play in transition, Barton looks and plays the part of a Bill Self type player. If the Jayhawks are lucky enough to have Barton in for a visit, they could certainly find themselves very much in the running for one of the best players in the class.
