Ye olde notebook:
If you check the "way too early" 2017-18 college basketball rankings, you'll see teams familiar to Mountain State fans like Kansas, WVU, Baylor and TCU. As always, the Jayhawks are normally the first of those listed with the others mixed within.
Yet there are two teams missing that should be included. Two teams that West Virginia state sports fans should get to know now.
The first is Texas. Coach Bob Huggins and his Mountaineers won't have to worry about former Longhorns 6-foot-11 center Jarrett Allen anymore. He's hired an agent and is entering the NBA draft process.
One would think then that Texas should be a breeze for WVU after the Longhorns went 11-22 last season, correct?
Except there's a matter of coach Shaka Smart's 2017 recruiting effort. In a word, it's been stellar.
You might have read that Smart landed five-star center Mohamed Bamba. The guy picked the Longhorns over Kentucky, Duke and Michigan and, at 6-11, has a 7-foot, 9-inch wingspan. In the McDonald's All-America game, he had 15 points, including six dunks.
Yet look a little deeper. Smart also landed not one or two or three but four four-star recruits, according to 247 Sports, to go with Bamba: Matt Coleman, Jerico Sims, Royce Hamm and Jase Febres. Coleman and Sims are considered Top 50 players.
In addition, Texas guard Andrew Jones pulled a "Jevon Carter" and decided to return to school after checking out the NBA draft. Now Jones can move to his natural position of shooting guard and allow Coleman, a Jordan All-America pick, to take over the point.
The recruiting class has been dubbed No. 5 nationally by 247. Also, in the Lone Star State, Bamba, Coleman and Jones already have been referred to as the "Big Three" and the team a "national title contender."
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The second team Mountain State fans should get to know? Well, particularly if you're a Marshall fan, it's Western Kentucky.
My take, though, is any real college hoops fan should take note of the Hilltoppers. Because what coach Rick Stansbury is doing there is stunning.
You know the aforementioned recruiting rankings? WKU is No. 8. Not among Conference USA teams. Among all teams. Ahead of Louisville. Ahead of North Carolina. USA Today and Scout have the class No. 10.
Stansbury, formerly of Texas A&M and Mississippi State, is known for his recruiting chops, but no one expected him to land a Top 10 player like five-star center Mitchell Robinson, who stands 6-11. No one expected him to land another Louisianian in four-star Josh Anderson or four-star JUCO guard Jordan Brangers.
And Stansbury kept rolling, landing graduate transfers Darius Thompson of Virginia and Jared Savage of Austin Peay. The latter must sit out a year.
If you're wondering how Stansbury signed Robinson, who had committed to A&M, well, there was the legwork put in first as an associate head coach in College Station - plus the coach hired Shammond Williams, a former UNC teammate of Vince Carter who happens to be the player's godfather.
In case you're wondering, WKU rep Zach Greenwell said the IAWP (Individual Associated With a Prospect) legislation doesn't apply there, only to someone in a non-coaching staff role.
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Western Kentucky isn't the only eye-opening school to land a Top 25 2017 recruiting class. According to 247, Alabama is No. 6, Missouri is No. 7, UNLV is No. 14 and Virginia Tech is No. 15. And the No. 1 class, at this point, for 2018? Arkansas.
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WVU's 2017 class, by the way, was rated No. 38 overall by the service and sixth in the Big 12, right behind - wait for it - Kansas. Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and TCU all have classes rated higher. In 2018, however, West Virginia's one-man class consisting of 3-star recruit Jordan McCabe is ranked No. 22.
Go figure.
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Marshall? Well, its 2017 class has been ranked No. 10 among C-USA teams and No. 167 overall. I did, however, reach out to Hargrave Military Academy coach A.W. Hamilton on Tuesday to ask about signee Iran Bennett, a potential impact player for the Thundering Herd.
Hamilton said there's "no word yet" on Bennett's eligibility, but the player "finished very strong." Stay tuned.
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So a collection of NFL owners got together on Tuesday and approved end-zone snow angels and increased the chance games will end in ties. Whee!
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Best wishes to now ex-WVU basketball player Elijah Macon as he moves to the next chapter of his life. We sketched out the possibility of his departure in this space April 18, saying "Macon could graduate and decide to pursue a pro career overseas. His mother tragically passed away in 2014 and family concerns could come into play."
Truth be told, though, the scenario was privately a possibility even before last season began. Good luck to a young man that grew both on and off the court.
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And finally ...
A taste of college football.
Las Vegas' CG Technology released its early over/under win projections for the upcoming season with about 50 schools listed.
Within the Big 12, Oklahoma is at 9.5, Oklahoma State is at 9, Kansas State and Texas are at 7.5 and WVU and TCU are at 7. Marshall was not mentioned.
Enjoy your day.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.