From 4/22...
MEMPHIS - Highly sought junior forward Adonis Thomas and his high school coach are in dispute with the University of Memphis over how aggressively the Tigers are pursuing the Melrose basketball star.
Melrose coach Jermaine Johnson said Wednesday that Memphis hasn't used its seven recruiting opportunities allowed by the NCAA in an academic year to see Thomas, a 6-6 wing and the area's top-rated prospect in the Class of 2011.
"I know for a fact they haven't used up their seven. I know that for a fact," Johnson said. "I did tell (Thomas), 'Three minutes away (from Melrose) and we haven't seen (Tigers coach Josh Pastner)?'
"We heard Josh Pastner was in Texas the last two days and has been to Clarksville (Tenn.), but this kid's stock is steady rising."
Pastner is not allowed by NCAA rules to discuss potential recruits. However, a source close to the Memphis program said the school has written documentation of each of its seven trips to see Thomas, including twice during the Region 8-AAA tournament at Central High.
Johnson said Thomas, whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 3 small forward prospect in the Class of 2011 and the No. 11 overall junior prospect nationally, received visits Wednesday at Melrose from
coaches Thad Matta of Ohio State, Billy Donovan of Florida, John Pelphrey of Arkansas, Mike Anderson of Missouri and Tony Barbee of Auburn.
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin and Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford also made visits to Melrose this week, Johnson said.
"I just get a lot of calls (from Memphis)," Thomas said. "That was kind of the thing that Coach J was trying to bring to their attention, that they're so close that they should be recruiting me harder by coming to the school every so often."
Contrary to a recent radio report, Thomas said he hasn't narrowed his college list, which includes offers from Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Memphis, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Thomas' father, Eric, said Wednesday his son has been a Tigers fan "since he was a baby," and that Johnson was simply sticking up for his top player.
"(Johnson) isn't trying to downplay Memphis or any other school or whatever," Eric Thomas said. "He's just telling Memphis, 'This guy is in your backyard.' I mean, Melrose is what, three miles from Memphis?
"We don't want Memphis to violate any kind of recruiting rules just to be recruiting Adonis. No. That's crazy. We're not saying that. It's just whenever you can do it or however you can do it -- whenever it's allowed by NCAA laws -- then you've got to be there to do it. I think that's what Johnson is saying."
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2010/apr/22/memphis-apathy-upsets-melroses-adonis-thomas/
