Miami Hurricanes Basketball Recruiting Radar Update (9/23/13)

At this point, the Hurricanes have used six of their 12 visits. Commits Ja'Quan Newton and James Palmer both visited for the Florida football game, and are the only backcourt players who have or will visit. Both plan to sign with the Hurricanes in November's early signing period. Also visiting that weekend were JUCO C Stephen Hurt, who is down to Wichita State, Kansas State, and Miami, and Chicago F Paul White, who not surprisingly committed to long-time favorite Georgetown the following week on his official to that school. The following weekend, the Hurricanes had C Chinanu Onuaku, a fast-riser from the DC area who is also considering Louisville, Indiana and Georgetown, and under-the-radar Texas C Ben Lammers, who cut his list to Miami, Marquette, and Georgia Tech. Both Lammers and Hurt are expected to commit in the next two weeks, but we believe the Hurricanes are not favored for either big man at this point. Onuaku's recruitment is much murkier, with Louisville the presumed leader, but the big man still adding schools and visits. Sources tell SOTU that after returning from Miami, Onuaku was "bunkered down."

Here are seven other players who could get the final six official visits, or perhaps visit unofficially:

Omar Sherman (PF) - Sherman, from Texas, is an inside-out power forward with a mature post game and range out to the three-point line. Despite increased attention this summer and four-star rankings from both Scout and ESPN, Sherman is still under-the-radar, having only added offers from Georgia Tech and Houston to his Miami, Weber State and Wichita State offers. His recruitment has been quiet, but SOTU confirmed that he was on campus this past weekend. Two prognosticators on 247sports.com have taken the plunge that Sherman will commit to the U - will it happen while his visit is still fresh?

Ivan Cruz Uceda (PF) - Uceda, the skilled Spanish forward, originally scheduled a visit for the weekend of the Florida game. However, the visit was postponed as the staff wanted to see him in person again, as junior college players and foreign players can both be trickier to get through admissions through no fault of the player's. Coach L and two assistants rolled into his Pennsylvania junior college the week of September 9, asking themselves if he was worth the effort. SOTU sources tell us that the answer is a resounding "YES!", with the player confirming to us that he will be visiting officially the weekend of September 27. Uceda lists offers from Seton Hall, Iowa State, and others, but so far has only visited Florida Atlantic this past weekend. Will his second straight trip to South Florida yield a commitment?

Ben Bentil (PF) - Bentil, the high-motor, consensus top 100 power forward, is the closest thing to a player that Miami can expect to commit - but also the furthest from a commit. Despite a recruitment that has focused on the Hurricanes, Georgetown, and Providence, including visits for each, Bentil has gone radio silent - after insisting that he hadn't cut his list, and did not know when he was going to commit. In spite of this, there are clearly positive signs for Miami, including the commitment of top 100 F Paul White to Georgetown (Bentil canceled a scheduled official visit to Georgetown this past weekend)- Bentil is currently predicted to commit to Miami by all 8 analysts on 247sports.com's Crystal Ball. Bentil was originally scheduled to visit on September 12, but reports have him rescheduling to the weekend of October 4 for an unknown reason. With the Hurricanes potentially leading his recruitment, will he make it off campus without committing - if he ever makes it to campus?

Mike Gilmore (PF) - Gilmore, the nephew of NBA legend Artis, Gilmore is a stretch 4 from current Nike Peach Jam champions Each 1 Teach 1 and has been on the Hurricanes' radar for a long time. After serving as a role player on the AAU powerhouse, Gilmore drew widespread praise this summer for his range and versatility. With a final four of VCU, Kansas State, Georgia Tech and Miami, Gilmore confirmed to SOTU that the Hurricanes will get the final visit on the weekend of October 4.

Dominque Uhl (CF) - The combo forward, an import from Germany currently playing on the Jersey Shore, is a relatively new name on the scene, having played well over the summer and drawn offers centered around his potential and versatility. Most of his offers are in the Northeast from schools like Boston College, Temple, and St. Joseph's, with Miami and Iowa as his furthest outliers. The Canes saw him in early September and scheduled a visit for the weekend of October 4. With a trip to Iowa on tap, and most pundits thinking that BC or the relatively local Philadelphia schools lead, it remains to be seen if Uhl will make it to campus.

Bonzie Colson (CF) - The undersized forward, considered to be a nearly consensus top 150 player, Colson fits the "old school" blue-collar systems of schools like Pittsburgh and Notre Dame - both of whom are joining the new ACC this year. Many think the Irish lead for Colson, who has visited Pittsburgh and Florida State already, and will visit Notre Dame on the weekend of September 27. Colson has confirmed to SOTU that he has a long-standing visit scheduled for October 4, but will multiple schools still be standing on his list by that weekend? If so, he follows Coral Gables with a trip to UConn the following weekend.

Dante Buford (CF) - Buford, the athletic combo forward from Florida prep powerhouse Arlington Country Day (home of 2017 commit DJ Russell), has the Hurricanes on his final list of five. Originally from South Carolina, the Hurricanes staff visited his family this past week and visited Buford at school as well. Most likely, the staff saw that the powerful finisher has added face up skills to his game in the past year, which is why Buford is a consensus top 150 player. Buford's family confirmed to SOTU that he will visit on October 11.

Now, for those of you who are capable of simple arithmetic, you've noticed that all seven of these players cannot take official visits - so who is likely to drop out? Based on the prevailing winds in recruiting and the timing of the visits, we feel it most likely that Uhl or Colson commit before ever making it to campus, but that's purely speculation on our part. If others drop off as well, here are a few more players to look for - Louisiana PF LaDamion Keys (now at Arlington Country Day in Jacksonville with Buford and Russell), Maryland C Andre Walker, Canadian C Jabari Craig, and Missouri PF Tory Miller.