Kansas Head Coach, Bill Self, made the trip to Mouth of Wilson, Virginia on Thursday to visit with SF, Roscoe Smith, and SG, Doron Lamb. They are #16 and #33, respectively, in the ESPNU 100 for the class of 2010. While both top ranked players are busy adjusting to being back at school, they are also busy preparing for their senior season at Oak Hill Academy, one off the best high school basketball programs in the country. Along with academics and basketball, both players have been making room on their calendars for the recruiting process. With in-home visits taking place all over the country, Self, along with assistants, Joe Dooley and Kurtis Townsend, had their opportunity to discuss why Kansas could be a good fit for both players.
TheShiver.com had the opportunity to talk to Oak Hill Head Coach, Steve Smith, about Thursday’s visit and what the recruitment process looks like for both Smith and Lamb.
“Pretty well,” Smith said of Thursday’s visit with Kansas. “They (Smith and Lamb) are just going through the process,” added Smith.
When the “process” for Smith and Lamb will end appears to be a bit of an unknown right now.
“They both have a list of about five to eight schools,” Smith said. “They could decide late in the spring, or they could decide to end it early. Doron has about five schools he’s looking at in Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arizona and UCONN. Roscoe has a bit longer list with Kansas, Florida, Duke, Georgetown, UCONN, Memphis and UCLA,” Smith added.
As for any official visits, neither Smith nor Lamb have any scheduled, but that could be coming in the near future for both.
“No visits have been set up,” said Smith. “I think they will visit, but nothing has been set up.” added Smith. “Some schools are recruiting both of them, and some schools are recruiting just one of them,” added Smith.
Living away from home to attend a school like Oak Hill can make the recruiting process a little tricky for college coaches, who have to make sure they visit the player at the school, and visit the parents at the players hometown. This is the situation for Baltimore native, Smith, and New York native, Lamb.
“Both parents are really involved,” said Smith of both Roscoe and Doron’s parents. “Coaches have to come here, and go to the home. Gotta do both though,” added Smith.
That is exactly what the Kansas staff has done in both cases. The staff spent time visiting Roscoe Smith’s home on Wednesday and are trying to schedule a time to do the same with Lamb’s parents next week.
It also helps to play for a coach like Smith, who is entering his 25th season at Oak Hill. Smith has coached some of the most highly recruited players in the country during his time at Oak Hill. With that kind of experience, both Smith and Lamb have someone that can ensure that both players have the best information possible to make the best decision for their respective futures.
