MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As point guard Tarik Phillip prepared to make a weekend recruiting visit to West Virginia, his junior college coach said Thursday that Kansas has taken an interest.
“The University of Kansas was in today to see him,” Independence (Kan.) Community College coach Tony Turner told MetroNews. “They are aware that he’s going on a visit to West Virginia this weekend. He’s got two big dogs in the Big 12 recruiting him, and he’s just looking for the right fit.”
Rivals.com photo
A redshirt freshman this season, the 6-foot-3 Phillip averaged 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists for Independence, becoming MVP of the Jayhawk Conference. Because he sat out most of first semester as a transfer, power conference teams had fewer opportunities to see him play.
West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins and assistant Larry Harrison liked what they saw upon visiting Phillip in late March, subsequent providing his first high-profile offer of this recruiting cycle. Back in 2012, Phillip had committed to South Carolina but failed to qualify academically.
“He liked talking with Larry and Coach Huggins and I think he’s leaning toward West Virginia,” Turner said.
Whether Kansas has officially extended a scholarship offer was unclear, but Turner said “they have a spot for him.” Freshman center Joel Embiid formally announced Thursday his plan to enter the NBA draft.
Juwan Staten’s decision not to enter the draft hasn’t deterred Phillip from prioritizing West Virginia or WVU from pursuing him.
“Tarik’s not going to worry about that,” Turner said. “He’s the kind of player who will figure out a way to get on the court, and he’ll look forward to playing alongside (Staten).
“He’s a point guard and a two-guard—he’s just a ‘guard.’ He can play the one, two or three. He’s about ‘Let’s do whatever we can to win games and compete for a national championship.’ That’s the kind of kid he is.”
West Virginia’s coaching staff went searching for another guard recruit when sophomore Eron Harris asked to transfer in the aftermath of a first-round NIT loss at Georgetown.
Phillip shot 55 percent from the floor overall and 38 percent from 3-point range, attempting three 3s per game.
“He can get to the rack … but you can’t label him as a kid who couldn’t shoot, because if you sag off of him he’ll make the jumper,” Turner said. “He could score from wherever you needed him to score.
“He’s just a very coachable kid and I think teams will see how much he affects the game.”
Forced to sit out his senior year at Brooklyn (N.Y.) Academy reportedly because of a disciplinary issue, Phillip spent a post-graduate season at Queen City Prep in Charlotte, N.C., where he averaged 26 points and seven assists per game before committing to South Carolina.
Rivals senior writer Keenan Cummings first reported Phillip’s plan to visit Morgantown on WVSports.com.
“Phillip is aggressive on both ends of the floor and has a pit-bull mentality,” Cummings said. “He will have three years of eligibility and has the mentality that should help him fit into the program.”
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Comments
MikeCowen
Stop with the literal interpretations. Muscle to fat is a common expression that is well understood.
April 11, 2014 at 1:51 pm |
Shawn H
It's supposed to be warm this weekend. I trust the ladies will be dressed appropriately, and by that I mean, with hardly anything on. Take him on a stroll of the campus.
April 11, 2014 at 1:01 pm |
Dave
Tarik Phillips, You would make a great fit to our team and would definitely see lots of playing time. I'm sure once you get to Morgantown and see what they have to offer, you will commit. A brand new basketball facility awaits you, open 24/7.
April 11, 2014 at 12:34 pm |
GoEers
What a great addition to the team! I look for a commitment made this weekend.
April 11, 2014 at 12:29 pm |
WVU FAN
If Huggs likes the kid so do I ..... Here is to him and Staten becoming to two peas in a pod!!!
Another floor General that can handle the rock and understands the game of basketball is what WVU needs (less turnovers = more opportunity for everyone on the team)
Lets win games here at West Virginia!!
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!Mountaineeeeeeeers!!!!!
April 11, 2014 at 11:46 am |
Holgie
Game over. Who would you rather play for Huggs or Self?
No contest.
April 11, 2014 at 10:50 am |
Aaron
I guess young Mr. Phillip answered your question, huh!!!!!
April 14, 2014 at 6:27 pm |
Beaver Sniffer
Game over. Who would you rather read a post from? Holgie or anyone else? No contest.
April 12, 2014 at 8:00 am |
Jay
Huggs. Not even close.
April 11, 2014 at 3:32 pm |
GoEers
+1
April 12, 2014 at 5:04 am |
Ike
Kind of like our chances here with the relationship between Frank Martin and Bob Huggins both going after the same ball player. If this young man plays to his stats, plays hard nosed defense and can dribble the basketball, we are already ahead of what we lost. I would welcome this as a solid pick up for WV Basketball. The hills are calling Tarik. Come experience Wild and Wonderful WV.
April 11, 2014 at 10:21 am |
ole sasquatch
Will his personality be a fit for our team? Has to be asked.
April 11, 2014 at 8:56 am |
Tyrone
Good one Ole . If he is not a good fit or if it is a good fit. it wont matter Huggs will run him off so who cares.
April 11, 2014 at 6:23 pm |
Rick55
This kid isn't the kind of marginal recruit that some lone D1 coach is taking a chance on. You can't hide him away. If he's a player, other schools are going to find and recruit him. If we get him, it will be because he wants to play for us.
April 10, 2014 at 11:02 pm |
Motown fan
Kansas wants to take a wvu starter and turn him into a bench warmer just so we can't burn them later with him. It's how recruiting works.
April 10, 2014 at 10:39 pm |
KeatonsCorner
nope, Kansas is reportedly losing at least one of the PGs to transfer. Considering PG play was what cost them games this season, Phillip could come in and play/start from day 1.
April 11, 2014 at 10:47 am |
Aaron
Another factor in the recruiting process is that Kansas is also seeking the the services of Devonte Graham, ranked higher than Phillip.
I cannot imagine why he would go to Kansas to compete with 2-3 other point guards but who knows.
April 11, 2014 at 11:25 pm |
Aaron
FR 4-star recruit Frank Mason recently replaced former 4-star recruit JR Nadir Tharpe in the lineup last year meaning that 3rd string 4-star recruit Connor Frankamp, who played well when he managed to get on the court. His problem was, he couldn't get on the court.
SG is out as in addtion to 5-star recruit Wayne Selden who is coming back to Lawrence, they have 5-star recruit Kelly Oubre coming in this year.
I guess he could play a forward and battle with the 5-star recruits KU has coming in there for quality playing time, huh.
April 11, 2014 at 8:14 pm |
squad
you are correct, he will never see anything but pine at KU.
April 11, 2014 at 10:31 am |
Aaron
Particularly with programs that are rolling their rosters on a yearly basis.
April 10, 2014 at 10:43 pm |
Marcellas
Shawn 108, what makes Allan such a judge/expert on recruiting talent?
April 10, 2014 at 10:17 pm |
Aaron
Hopefully he will see the revolving door that has become Kansas and know that if a 5 star PG decides to come to Lawrence, he could easily be sent to the bench.
In WV, he has a better opportunity to become part of a team while seeing significant minutes at both guard spots before being handed the keys to the kingdom in a year.
Time will tell.
April 10, 2014 at 9:57 pm |
clair
Hmm- combo guard with three years to play sounds good. Does anyone know what Statens real height is, he looks about 5-9.
April 10, 2014 at 9:57 pm |
Shawn 108
Allan
Have you seen the dude play? Do we want him?
April 10, 2014 at 9:56 pm |
Allan Taylor
Have not, Shawn. And after speaking with his juco coach, it seems a lot of programs haven't seen him play either.
April 10, 2014 at 10:16 pm |
Shawn 108
If Kansas wants the kid he must be decent. Hopefully he sticks with the first team to want him. But we really need a big man. In my opinion
April 10, 2014 at 9:55 pm |
Motownfan
WVU already has a quality big man coming from in state playing and currently playing for Huntington prep. Levi Cook. If Billy Hahn can teach him how to turn fat into muscle he'll be an absolute beast.
April 10, 2014 at 11:20 pm |
Pt
It is impossible to turn fat in to muscle. Fat is fat. Muscle is muscle. One doesn't become the other.
April 11, 2014 at 8:58 am |
Bill Wagner
If anyone can turn muscle into fat its our strength coach Andy Kettler! He will show this young man how to work out and eat right. Look out for our future!
April 11, 2014 at 12:10 pm |
JT
Unless he's made tremendously huge strides at Huntington prep, he's a non issue in D-1 basketball. Can't jump, gets burnt and takes about 3min to run the floor when he actually makes the effort to run. And before anyone asks, yes I've seen him play multiple times.
April 11, 2014 at 7:15 am |
Richard A Fisher
JT I thought he played well against Montverde in the National Tourney. I feel he can definitely play D-1 especially when he gets his baby fat off.
April 11, 2014 at 10:42 am |
JT
I hope he has made huge strides and I must qualify my statement by saying I've not seen him since he has played at Huntington prep. But at liberty he was as described above.
April 12, 2014 at 11:15 am |
JoeyO
Cook will be a Sr next season at Huntington... at this point he can only jump about 2 inches.
April 11, 2014 at 12:28 am |