Keith Stone - Small Forward (Zion Lutheran, Deerfield Beach, FL)
Height | Weight | AAU Team |
6'7" | 240 lbs | Florida Vipers |
Ratings: 85 by 247 / 80 by ESPN / 3-star by Rivals
Interest: Alabama (Warm), USC (Cool), South Carolina (Cool), Texas Tech (Cool)
The Red Raiders offered Keith Stone a few weeks ago before the Nike Peach Jam tournament in Georgia. At the event, Stone played on the AAU team Florida Vipers with fellow Tech offers CJ Williamson and Antonio Vrankovic. Tech offered Williamson back in January, but are just now offering two of his fellow teammates. Keith has many offers throughout the nation, including Auburn, VCU and Virginia Tech, along with the schools listed above. Keith Stone plans to name a Top 10 by the end of the month, and on September 19th he planned to officially visit Alabama. I have a feeling that Tech has a good chance to be on his Top 10 list and could be a major player for Stone when it's all said and done. Now let's take a look at Keith Stone's highlights. Keith is listed as a SF on the recruiting sites, and has a great size for that position. He's listed as 6'7" and weighting in a 240lbs, which is great for a college forward. What I like the most about Keith is his ability to pull up from anywhere and hit a shot, especially in the mid-range. Tech had some problems creating their own shots last year, and Stone could be similar to Crockett for Tech in which he could be given the ball in a late game situation. His range tends to be from mid-range to 3-point range, but Keith is also not afraid to drive in the paint and score. There wasn't a ton of defensive highlights, but he did have an impressive block along with an effective double team in which the ball was stolen. Questions are surrounding the Red Raiders on who could play SF, and if Tech can grab Stone, some of their problems will be solved. Let's hope we can get Stone to visit campus and maybe get his commitment. Here are some more highlights on Stone.
Antonio Vrankovic - Center (Pine Crest School, Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Height | Weight | AAU |
6'10" | 240 lbs | Florida Vipers |
Ratings: NR by 247 / 80 by ESPN / NR by Rivals
Interest: Charlotte (Cool), American (Cool), FGCU (Cool), Texas Tech (Cool)
Antonio Vrankovic from the Red Raiders just a couple weeks ago after his performance in the Nike Peach Jam. He joined Williamson and Stone in Florida Vipers with Tech offers. Vrankovic's offer list isn't very big right now, with only 5 or so schools offering with Texas Tech being the only BCS school. It should be noted that Antonio does have interest from Yale, which means that he probably has good grades in addition to his basketball talent. Texas Tech is currently going after some big name centers, including Tyler Davis and Samir Sehic, and Vrankovic could be another good center to add to the list. While he's not as polished and athletic as the other two, he is being under recruited and could be someone the Red Raiders could pull in. Now let's take a look at what Antonio Vrankovic can do on the hardwood. Antonio is a large center who can use his size and strength to create room and get rebounds. He resilient on the glass and consistently makes his shots underneath the basket. I'm not sure if he has any range at all, but if he's playing center, he doesn't really need range. He also hustles throughout the game, blocking shots and running down opponents. He doesn't seem as athletic and fast as some of centers, but maybe that could improve with some work. However, he doesn't have a great basketball mind and looks to give his all on the floor, which some athletes don't do. As far as I know, he doesn't have any official visits schedule yet, but maybe we could see him visit Lubbock in the future.
Here are some more updates:
Football 2015:
- Jarrett Stidham, 98 rated QB commit, visited Lubbock yet again last week. He sent a tweet to some recruits about his visit while there, including Kris Boyd, Justin Reid, Tyron Johnson, Malik Jefferson, Kahlil Haughton and Trent Irwin.
- Madison Akamnonu, 93 rated OT, told WreckEm247 that he has decided his Top 3 are Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech with TTU and OU being the two favorites. He will make a decision on August 24th. Paulling of WreckEm247 said Family, Engineering and the People are what he likes the most about Tech. Has visited both OU and TTU. Fehoko and Stidham recently reached out to him to try and get him aboard.
- Jalen Bates, 89 rated DE, visited both LSU and Michigan last week. Bates plans to visit Tech for the season opener and will likely decide sometime in September. Along with Tech, Miss St and ULL at top.
- Kendall Bussey, 87 rated RB, said that Texas Tech has been trying to flip him the hardest. He is currently committed to Nebraska and says he's solid to the program.
- Jaelan Austin, 84 rated WR, will visit Texas Tech for the Arkansas game. He visited TCU eariler this week and will visit Oregon the week before Tech.
- Keisean Lucier-South, 98 rated DE, named a Top 5 this week and Texas Tech did not make the cut. Lucier-South gained new interest in Tech after The Opening, but not enough to crack his Top 5.
- James Lockhart IV, 93 rated DE, picked A&M over Alabama last Friday, He had a Tech offer and listed us in his Top 6, but it was down to Alabama and A&M in the end.
Basketball 2015:
- CJ Williamson, NR SF, will visit Texas Tech on September 13th. He stated it would be the 19th, but change his visit hours later. This may be because Tech plays a football game on the 13th or possibly so Keith Stone could tag along, who is visiting Alabama on the 19th.
- Marquez Letcher-Ellis, NR SF, was offered by the Red Raiders this past week. He likely played at the AAU Super Show case last week where Tubby and Esposito were.
- Chad Lott, 83 rated SG, recently said that Texas Tech are one of the schools recruiting him the hardest. I don't know if Tech has offered Lott or not.
Football 2016+:
- Collin Wilder, 86 rated S commit, visited Texas Tech this Friday and did an interview with AJ Media. He states in the interview that it was his 5th visit, visited with teammate LB Patty Fisher and committed to Tech because of their trust in him and it felt like a family. His goal is build Tech the best recruiting class and maybe get a few teammates to tag along.
Basketball 2016+:
- Nick Sherod, NR 2016 SG, has been offered by Texas Tech. His offer list only consist of a few schools right now, but Virginia Tech looks to be in the lead (he is from Virginia).