Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler has stated recently that he’s interested in recruiting an athletic wing player to go with incoming junior college transfer Andre Almeida for their 2010 class. Carrick Felix fits that bill.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, Carrick Felix a 6-6 redshirt freshman at the College of Southern Idaho has been drawing attention from the Huskers. He would have 3 years to play 3. They’re hoping he can fill the athleticism/slashing void in the lineup left by Ade Dagunduro.

Felix has also been drawing attention from Duke, Idaho and Kent State.

Here’s a quick video of Felix taking part in a slam dunk contest at CSI a few months back.

Click here to view the embedded video.

McNeaill mentioned that he didn’t see much playing time available for him since the Husker’s younger guards seemed to be playing well. The guards who will be back next year should include Lance Jeter, Brandon Richardson, Ray Gallegos, Eshaunte Jones, and walk-on Drake Beranek who is sitting out this season to satisfy NCAA transfer guidelines.

I can see where McNeaill is nervous about his playing time possibilities. The competition will be fierce for time between those 5 next year. But I also think it says something about how McNeaill views himself. While I like our collection of perimeter players, nobody is confusing them for NBA caliber players. If he doesn’t believe that he’s good enough to find a spot in the rotation, then he’s probably not going to be the kind of player the Nebraska wants.

Doc Sadler’s reclamation project with NU, looks to be on its way and is arguably a quality point guard away from being special in the next couple of seasons. We’re young and we finally have some size with Jorge Brian Diaz at 6-11, Brandon Ubel at 6-10, Chirstopher Niemann at 6-10, and incoming junior college transfer Andre Almeida at 6-10. Plus forwards Quincy Hankins-Cole at 6-8, Christian Standhardinger at 6-8, and Toney McCray at 6-6. And some decent outside shooting guards in Jones, Richardson, and Gallegos. A difference-making point guard could push the Huskers over the top.

McNeaill’s back-out opens up a scholarship for the 2010 class. Also, with Adrien Coleman’s departure from the team at the semester break that should give Doc 2 scholarships to fill for the 2010 class.

Doc Sadler reportedly received an oral committment from Kenyon McNeaill. McNeaill is a 6-1, 170 lb. point guard from Conway, AR who will be entering his senior year of high school this coming fall. He was in Lincoln on an unofficial visit a few days back and apparently liked what he saw. Should he officially sign with Nebraska, he would join Vander Joaquim as expected members of the 2010 recruiting class.

Sadler has rightly identified the point guard position as a position of need for his 2010 class with the departure of Cookie Miller this past spring and only Lance Jeter and Brandon Richardson on the current roster who are true point guards.

McNeaill was a member of Class 7A all-state team as a junior and was considering Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Memphis and UAB in addition to Nebraska for his college choice. Class 7A is the largest class in Arkansas. Sadler’s recruiting of McNeaill returns him to the state of Arkansas where he went to college and coached for a number of years. Obviously he knows the state well and has many contacts there.

Here are a couple of YouTube videos featuring Kenyon McNeaill:

Kenyon McNeaill State Tournament Highlights 2008

Kenyon vs Bryant and Cabot

Think About It!!! featuring Kenyon McNeaill

Vander Joaquim has decided to go to the College of Eastern Utah, a junior college, before attending Nebraska. Joaquim, who had signed a letter of intent to play ball for the Huskers next season now looks to be a part of the 2010-11 recruiting class. It’s another disappointment in recruiting for Nebraska basketball. The trouble they’ve had in recruiting lately (Sallie, Diaz) could cause some to believe that someone has put a voodoo curse on them.

Joaquim, a 6-10 F/C once listed as a Top 100 recruit by ESPN.com, will redshirt one semester at Eastern Utah and play one season before attending Nebraska. He also must earn a JC degree before coming to Lincoln. While there is no guarantee that he’ll join the Huskers in 2010, odds are good since the Eastern Utah coaching staff has strong ties to the Nebraska coaching staff. The head coach and an assistant were former players under Doc Sadler and another assistant has connections to NU assistant Walter Roese.

It’s these kind of things that make me not like following the recruiting trail. It’s no lock that this kid will ever play at Nebraska. Sure the odds look good, but no one can predict how this young man’s mind might change in a year and a half. I, for one, won’t be counting on him until I see him in a Husker jersey.

This situation now opens up a scholarship for this year’s recruiting class and it appears that Doc Sadler and his staff have their eyes on 6-7, 235 lb. power forward Anthony Harris from Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College. Harris has interest from Oklahoma State, Utah, Houston, North Texas as well as Nebraska.

The absence of Joaquim from the 2009 recruiting class will continue to leave Nebraska somewhat short-handed when it comes to experienced depth with their big guys. Next season the roster looks to include 6-8 Chris Balham (Sr.), 6-7 Alonzo Edwards (So.), 6-11 Christopher Niemann (So.), 6-8 Christian Standhardinger (Fr.), 6-9 Brandon Ubel (Fr.) and possibly 7-0 Jorge Diaz (Fr.) whom the Huskers are still recruiting.

SignOnSanDiego.com reports today that Vander Joaquim is leaving Christian High School in San Diego to attend Mountain State Academy in Beckley, West Virginia. Joaquim was recruited to Nebraska by new Assistant Coach Walter Roese. Doc Sadler and Roese surely convinced Vander that the move would benefit him through playing against more talented and competetive opponents.

Mountain State Academy is a private, college prepatory high school. While researching the school, I discovered that Nebraska is looking at another player at the school. That player is Kofi Mensa, a 6-4 shooting guard. Currently a junior, the Toronto, Canada native is being pursued by Marshall, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, North Carolina St., Nebraska, and Akron which has already offered him a scholarship.