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College basketball recruiting has entered a five-week quiet period. The quiet period is defined as follows: "During this time a college coach cannot watch you compete at any location. It is allowed for the college coach to make in-person contact with you or your legal guardians if it occurs on the coach's campus. The coach can still make telephone calls to you or your legal guardians, and you can make visits to college campuses during this time." The quiet period is in effect until September 8th.
The late-summer quiet period is often when recruits cut their lists to finalists. This is also when coaches begin implementing back-up plans. They've just come off of 3-weeks evaluating on the road, and now the coaches can begin nailing down who to go after should their top options fall through.
FSU's top option is 6-6 wing Dwayne Bacon (Mouth of Wilson, VA). The consensus 5* is expected to cut his list any day, and it will almost certainly include Florida State. He has visited FSU multiple times, and has a great relationship with the staff. The Noles have not been able to bring in a consensus 5* player since Michael Snaer. With zero small forwards on the roster, Bacon would be a near lock for starter's minutes from day one. His athleticism is impressive, and entering his senior year in high school he's already adept at scoring over smaller players in the post.
Another 5* that is high on FSU is 6-4 shooting guard Antonio Blakeney (Sarasota, FL). He cut his list this morning.
My final 7 : FSU, Louisville , Mizzou, Kentucky , Oregon , LSU and USC . No order . Thanks to all the other schools who recruited me !!
— Antonio Blakeney (@blakeney96) July 28, 2014
I expect that this will be a Kentucky/Louisville battle, but you never know. A year ago everyone had him penciled in to Gainesville.
Another 2015 recruit to keep an eye on is 7-3 center Jean Marc Christ Koumadje (Monteverde, FL), who will visit on September 5-6. His recruiting will be interesting as another International big man - a likely top center in the 2016 class - is Udoka Azubuike, who is very high on FSU.