Looking at hoops recruiting
The 2019-2020 Blue Raiders hoops squad is a bottom dweller in Conference USA.
They are firmly situated in the cellar of the league for this season. The heat and the pressure may be starting to rev up, putting pressure on Nick McDevitt and company to drastically improve and live up to expectations.
Those expectations, set by Kermit Davis, include at least being a serious contender in the conference.
As bad as the team has been this year, a terrific recruiting class could diminish the pessimism and skepticism surrounding the team and the coaching staff.
They already have a potential stud Christian Fussell in the boat. Fussell is pegged as a three-star and the number 36 center in all of America.
Again, Fussell is a potential star with great upside. He is a two-way player who can score, rebound and block shots.
There are other guys in the crosshairs for Middle Tennessee State. Those guys are: Donte Houston Jr, Rueadale Williams, Demarcus Sharp, and Keon Ellis.
Houston is a power forward, Williams and and Sharp are point guards, and Ellis is a combo guard who can play the wing positions at a high level.
Let's dive in deeper with the primary guys on the recruiting board.
Donte Houston is certainly a prospect that Middle is actively pursuing. The Blue Raiders are continuing to shoot their shot with the Lone Star State power forward.
Houston announced a top 10 back in August of 2019. The top 10 was: TCU, St. Louis, Tulsa, Murray State, New Mexico, Missouri State, Middle Tennessee State, Seton Hall, North Texas, and ETSU.
Houston whittled his list down to five on February 28. His top five was: MTSU, UCF, St. Louis, New Mexico and Missouri State.
Houston is a top 150 player nationally, currently situated as the 133rd player in America and the number 31 power forward in all the land.
Already having Fussell in the boat, you can imagine that the MT staff is selling the opportunity to dovetail Houston with Fussell in the front court.
You could make the argument that Houston is a raw prospect, but his upside is absolutely undeniable.
There are two junior college point guards that MTSU is putting the full court pressure on. One of those guys is the ever versatile Rueadale "Rudi" Williams.
Williams has been scorching the junior college ranks. Don't believe me? Fire up his film and see.
Williams is a guy that could be the backbone of the team at the point guard spot for the Blue Raiders. He is a guy who can fill it up offensively, not just knocking down shots, but dishing out assists and reeling in rebounds.
Williams is a floor general and would be a monster get for MTSU. He competes not just on offense, but on defense as well. He is a threat to post a double-double each outing.
Demarcus Sharp is a junior college point guard and his recruitment is picking up steam. In February alone he has offers from: Southeast Missouri, Troy, Ball State, Missouri State, Sam Houston, Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Monroe, Portland, and Coastal Carolina.
Sharp has also been offered by: NJIT, Catawba, and Illinois-Chicago.
Below is Sharp's film.
Keon Ellis is a true combo guard. He is listed as a small forward, but he can also slide over to the shooting guard position.
He is a long, rangy athlete, measuring in with a height around 6'6.
Ellis has three official offers at this point from: MTSU, Fresno State and Alabama.
Ellis a supreme athlete that would be an asset to MTSU. He is not a one trick, dunking pony, though. He can consistently knock down mid-range and deep-range shots.
Middle Tennessee State is at a crossroad and this recruiting class will likely dictate the future of the program.
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