Tobias Harris! Tobias Harris! Tobias Harris!

by Sean Keeley on Nov 18, 2009 12:42 PM EST

The Intertubes is aflutter with Tobias Harris news. Ah, recruiting. Such a weird topic worth discussing. This fascination with 17-year-old boys and their bodies.

Something worth noting as we travel down this path, a reminder from The Glaude posted in the comments last night.

People are making it out like this guy is Basketball Jesus. If he commits to Syracuse, fine. If not, fine. I just don’t care and I’m sure Boeheim and Syracuse will be OK.

These guys just don’t matter to me until they get on campus and start running with the roster. There have been so many flame outs over the years that I just can’t get worked up about a teenager anymore.

The obvious question becomes, when COULD you get worked up about a teenage boy?

Fair enough, keep that in your back pocket as we delve into The Madness of King Tobias.

The folks at Orange Fizz have been all over this one and they boil down what's happened in the last 24 hours thusly:

The New York Daily News is reporting that 6'6" forward Jayvaughn Pinkston (pictured) will sign with Tennessee this afternoon.

How does this affect the 'Cuse? He plays the same position as Tobias Harris, and that's critical.

So, like The Merovingian taught us, the natural cause and effect of that decision would mean that Tobias is going to cross Tennessee off the list. And since UT has arguably been one of the front-runners in the Tobias sweeps, that would be a big deal for Cuse.

So why did Tobias visit Knoxville yesterday?

Tobias was visiting Georgia Tech, which apparently still has a basketball team, and decided he's just jaunt two hours on over to Tennessee. The rumor virus spread like wildfire and it wasn't until late at night that Tobias put the kibosh on it himself:

"I was in Knoxville, but I am not committed to Tennessee. I still have to talk everything with my family."I told him that rumors were circulating that he had chosen Tennessee and he simply stated, "No, that is not true."

Harris was also asked by Anthony Wireman what he liked about each school. For Syracuse, it was "the style of play and their facilities." Just in time on that Melo Center, huh.

Now comes word that Pinkston's decision on UT might not actually be happening at all, thereby erasing everything you just read and putting us back at the starting line. And now, my head hurts.

My advice to Cuse fans who are concerned? We should probably just put our heads down and ignore the rumors from now until tomorrow at 5:30pm EST when Tobias announces. If you want to read into the fact that Tobias is making his announcement in Manhattan the same day the Orange are there to play Cal, read into that. Like Glaude said, sometimes we get the Greatest Player Ever, sometimes we don't. But we always seem to do fine. And judging by the recruiting class we have in place, we're going to be all set either way.

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Comments

I keep seeing that photo and thinking

This KID is what we’re going crazy about? He looks 10 years old.

Also, the photo looks too much like Stephen Colbert with his black friend.

Go Tartans!

by voteprime on Nov 18, 2009 12:59 PM EST reply actions

How Many

Wing players can we have at one time? If the kid commits to SU, that’s great. But in theory (before transfers/defections/etc) here are the forwards SU would have on the roster next year. Kris Joseph, James Southerland, Mookie Jones, CJ Fair and Wes Johnson. Now I now some of those guys play multiple positions and mookie is more of a guard – but that’s a lot of guys in the 6’6 to 6’8" range.

by Russianator on Nov 18, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions

You have to consider Wes Johnson might bolt for the NBA next year. So I have no problem with loading up on forwards. No problem at all. Plus what’s wrong with stockpiling talent or playing a deep 10man rotation. I know Boeheim doesn’t normally do that but that could be because we never have depth.

You never know with some of these highly touted guys. Some don’t develop (Paul Harris). You take what you can.

Plus if Tobias signs…we have the nastiest recruiting class in the country coming in. Hands Down. End of Story. That’s something to brag about.

by JRSu1 on Nov 18, 2009 1:18 PM EST reply actions

I agree

If he comes to SU that’s great. I’m just saying, if he doesn’t come here, SU isn’t exactly shit out of luck. Like Glaude, I just can’t expend mental energy on it – I need to save that for googling greg robinson sucks

by Russianator on Nov 18, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with Russianator's agree

I’ve never cared that much about coaches coming and going but I truely, deeply, want to see the Greggers fail. Fail earlier, fail often and fail hard for the shit he left us.

by moosedontbounce on Nov 18, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

It does make me laugh

seeing Michigan routinely give up 30+ points to Big 10 teams.

by MrPlow99 on Nov 18, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

FWIW, via Rivals.com...

The article’s behind a subscription wall, but there’s a one sentence preview that states…

November 18, 2009
Decision time for Harris

Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting

Elite prospect Tobias Harris has wrapped up his seven school visitation tour and even threw in a surprise visit on the way home from Georgia Tech. Tonight he plans to decide on a school and sign a National Letter of Intent.

by wildcatlh on Nov 18, 2009 1:54 PM EST reply actions