This topic contains 3 replies, has 2 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar mikeyvthedon 11 years, 6 months ago.

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  • #43003
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    mikeyvthedon
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    Dezmine Wells, the recently expelled Xavier forward who began a recruiting tour Thursday at Kentucky and continued it Friday at Memphis, will decide on a destination by Tuesday from a short list that also includes Maryland, Ohio State and Oregon, a source told ESPN.com’s Dave Telep.

    Wells added the Buckeyes and Ducks as possible considerations Friday morning, the source told Telep.

    Kentucky, however, was dropped after an academic deadline passed Thursday night with Wells still unready to commit.

    From Memphis, Wells will leave Saturday for Maryland before going to Ohio State on Sunday and Oregon on Monday for visits that last five to six hours.

    A grand jury rejected sexual-assault charges against Wells on Tuesday. But Xavier announced the sophomore would remain expelled from the school, saying it was standing by the University Conduct Board’s decision to expel the sophomore for what it termed "a serious violation of the student code."

    Wells started 32 games as a freshman last season and was the team’s fourth-leading scorer while making the Atlantic 10’s all-rookie team. He would have been the only returning starter for a team that reached the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. The forward averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds.

    He was suspended for four games for his role in an on-court brawl with rival Cincinnati during the season. Wells was among four Xavier players suspended, with Cincinnati also suspending four players.

    Dave Telep is ESPN.com’s senior national recruiting analyst. Information from ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil and The Associated Press was used in this report.

    http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8321782/ex-xavier-musketeers-forward-dez-wells-visit-ohio-state-buckeyes-source-says

    Wow, thought Kentucky really had a chance. I know they were trying frantically to add one more player to their already (as per usual) stacked recruiting class. There were talks of Mislav Brzoja (who committed to Northwestern, did not qualify and is now going to Villanova), Montrezl Harrell (after he de-committed from Virginia Tech following firing of Seth Greenberg, now going to Louisville) and Tony Trocha (the Columbian prospect who was hyped as a possible top 20-30 prospect as a 6’10 PF/C. Now ranked just outside the top 100 and apparently staying 2013). Kentucky would have had room for Wells, but their late registration period was Tuesday and I guess he was not ready to commit:

    http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/30/dez-wells-eligibility-issues-and-the-chance-for-a-waiver/

    So, looks like it is between Memphis, Maryland, Ohio State and Oregon. Memphis apparently had their late registration period ending on Thursday, so I guess they must have had some wiggle room as he is apparently visiting them today. Seems like he may get a chance to go to a Football game at Maryland on Saturday. Maryland’s late registration period is September 12, which clearly gives him more time to think it over. Memphis and Maryland were the first couple of schools along with Louisville (who I guess is out of the sweep stakes) to be mentioned as possible Wells destinations.

    Ohio State would be Sunday and Oregon Monday. I have no idea what Ohio State’s registration periods look like, but I know Oregon is trimestered and school does not start until September 24th this year. I think this was one thing that made us an attractive last minute alternative for Waverly Austin when he was not able to transfer his credits to USF and it could help us with Wells. I am guessing Oregon could be on the outside looking in, just know I am a fan of Dez Wells and would be very happy to add him to the team.

    Now, beyond his transferring, he is applying for a waiver to play as early as next season (something I did not believe he would be granted, but am happy to hear he is trying to after he pretty much got screwed in Xavier’s proceedings). There is apparently a rule that goes along with this waiver in that if Wells did not get a waiver and enrolls after the 12th day of classes, that semester would not count towards his transfer season. I know, blows my mind as well, but basically translates to he better be enrolled relatively soon. Could this be another thing on Oregon’s side? Or, could he just take a gamble and go to Maryland/Ohio State, maybe even slip past Memphis’ late registration? Time will tell, but there appears to be a chance for Wells to play this season, though we all know how rarely the NCAA comes through to do the right thing, lol.

    This kid has major potential and can absolutely fly. Know he impressed me in the games I saw of him at Xavier last season and I see him as a legit draft prospect over the next few years. He averaged 9.8 ppg and 4.9 rpg on 50% FG and 38% 3PT as a freshman and I was thinking he could have a major boost as a sophomore. Despite the charges filed against him, it seems like he got a bad rap and the comments seem to be that he is a good kid. It is really unfortunate that this situation went down, feel bad for Dez and I am sure he would have loved to have stayed at Xavier. Just know that all of the sudden, it looks like 4 schools might be in line for a potential major addition on the wing.

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  • #710909
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    FastAndFurious
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     According to sources he already cut Kentucky off his list, because they can’t accept anymore students this year.

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  • #710935
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    mikeyvthedon
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    "Dez Wells with one less option. Ohio St cancelled visit. MD and Oregon on deck."

    So, looks like it is down to Memphis (who, as I said, apparently ended their registration yesterday), Maryland and Oregon. I can dig it. It looks like Maryland would be the most legit comp with them also having a later registration date. Terps probable starters are Nick Faust and freshman Jake Layman, Ducks look like they might go with JUCO Devon Branch and EJ Singler (or Carlos Emory, either one will be playing PF at times as well). Definitely both seem like situations Wells could crack into and get nice time on the wing this season, definitely next season. Well, just wanted people to know the Buckeyes now look to be out of the Dez Wells sweepstakes. 

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  • #711386
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    mikeyvthedon
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    Posted at 10:03 AM ET, 09/03/2012

    Dez Wells decision to come within next two days

    Former Xavier forward Dez Wells has narrowed his transfer options down to Oregon, Memphis, and Maryland, and the decision will likely come within the next 48 hours, a source closed to Wells told The Post late Sunday night.

    Wells, who was expelled from his former school amid sexual assault allegations that an Ohio grand jury later declined to pursue, spent Sunday visiting Oregon after taking in the Terps football game in College Park on Saturday. Wells plans to fly back to his Raleigh, N.C. home Monday evening before discussing his options with his mother and sister.

    While Wells was at Maryland, he was frequently tweeting from his @DezWells_5 account. He never tweeted from the locations of his other visits.

    “I credit Maryland, they really got his spirits up,” the source said. “It was a blessing to me to hear. It started out a rough week for him. He went through Kentucky, Memphis, but Maryland was the first time I heard the excitement back in his voice.”

    The source said he heard from Wells “every two hours” via text while the former top-tier recruit was at Maryland, but never received a message during Wells’s Oregon visit, aside from when he touched down at the airport.

    This alone, the source said, could offer a clue into the ultimate decision.

    “Just by his excitement,” the source said. “If I had to bet the house on it, I would be betting in the blind, I would have to say, my gut, I know how he felt, sounds like possibly Maryland.”

    The Terps have an open scholarship and would almost certainly pursue a waiver to get Wells eligible to play this season, given that, as Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said last week, his expulsion was the result of “something seriously flawed” in the university’s judicial process.

    Wells would offer depth to the Terps back court, plus NCAA tournament experience. Wells averaged 5.3 points per game, including 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in the second round against seventh-seeded Notre Dame, as the 10th-seeded Musketeers reached the Sweet 16 this March. Wells started every game as a freshman last season and would have been Xavier’s leading returning scorer this season.

    Only two current Terps have been on teams that reached the NCAA tournament. Senior James Padgett never appeared as a freshman in Maryland’s two tournemnt games during the 2009-10 season, and Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz will have to sit out the 2012-13 season per NCAA rules.

    Enrollment, as detailed in this Terrapins Insider post Thursday, should not be an issue, regardless of where Wells decides to attend. Oregon is on a tri-mester schedule and does not start classes until late September, while both Maryland and Memphis would have to seek administrative override to let Wells in after classes began. This, according to NCAA bylaw expert and former compliance officer John Infante, should not be a problem.

    In Wells’s camp, the decision cannot come quick enough. Kentucky was ruled out earlier this week, and Louisville did not have an open scholarship to offer. Ohio State also cancelled its visit.

    “He’s ready to get it over with,” the source said.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/post/dez-wells-decision-to-come-within-next-two-days/2012/09/03/fb6dfc76-f5c7-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_blog.html

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