College Basketball Recruiting: Where Will Top 75 Prospect Rosco Allen Commit?

Bishop Gorman High School's Rosco Allen is part of what might be the most talented high school basketball team to ever come through the state of Nevada. Featuring four senior starters who are all ranked among the best 150 prospects in the United States, it's easy to understand why.

The 6'9" Allen is a major reason why the Gaels are such a dangerous team in the desert. He is a combo-forward who oozes potential. He runs the floor extremely well for a player his size. He can rebound, score, pass, and dribble with ease, and he is a recruit who can be molded into a college star. 

He has narrowed his focus to four programs, and each would love to welcome the burgeoning star into their program. Unfortunately, only one lucky college team will sign him.

What follows is a ranking of the teams in the race to land Rosco Allen, with one lucky team being my choice for him to sign with when he makes his decision next week.

2012 Recruiting Class:

C.  Joel James   6'10" 260 lbs.   Dwyer High School (FL)    4-Star Prospect

PF. Brice Johnson 6'9" 200 lbs.  Edisto High School (SC)   4-Star Prospect

SF. J.P. Tokoto   6'6" 190 lbs.   Menomonee Falls High School (WI)   4-Star Prospect

PG. Marcus Paige 6'0" 155 lbs.   Linn-Mar High School (IA)   4-Star Prospect

Analysis:

As you can see, the Tarheels 2012 class is already loaded. Power forward Brice Johnson snatched up North Carolina's last scholarship when he committed to the program earlier this week.

Rosco Allen was scheduled to visit Chapel Hill this coming weekend, but cancelled after the Edisto High School product revealed that he was Tobacco Road bound. As it seems right now, UNC won't be landing the Las Vegas wing-forward. 

2012 Recruiting Class:

SG.   Christian Sanders   6'3" 170 lbs.   St. Thomas High School (TX)   3-Star Prospect

PF.   Grant Verhoeven   6'8" 220 lbs.   Central Valley Christian High School (CA)   3-Star Prospect

Analysis:

Johnny Dawkins and the Cardinal staff are praying that the Las Vegas recruit decides to attend the prestigious institution nestled in northern California. However, I just don't see it in the cards.

Though he has taken an official visit to campus, the Stanford program just doesn't have the allure that the others do. They may have made it to the talented recruit's final four with other quality programs, they end up missing out on Allen. 

2012 Recruiting Class:

SF.   Terrence Daniel   6'5" 220 lbs.   Bishop O'Dowd High School   2-Star Prospect

Analysis:

Oregon head coach Dana Altman is doing a tremendous job of turning the basketball program around in Eugene. He landed Oakland's Jabari Brown for his 2011-12 squad, and the five-star star prospect and potential NBA player might be just the beginning of the type of talent he could bring to the Nike affiliated school.

Altman recently had Allen and high school teammate/friend/top prospect Ben Allen on campus, and they both may play together at the next level. Unfortunately for the Ducks, I don't think he will be competing in the Pac-12. 

2012 Recruiting Class:

PG.   DaQuan Cook   6'1" 175 lbs.   Digital Harbor High School   3-Star Prospect

SG.   Katin Reinhardt   6'4" 175 lbs.   Mater Dei High School        4-Star Prospect

PF.   Demetris Morant  6'8" 190 lbs.   Bishop Gorman High School   3-Star Prospect

Analysis:

New UNLV head coach Dave Rice is walking into the perfect situation in the desert. The city of Las Vegas is absolutely loaded with high school basketball talent for the foreseeable future, and Bishop Gorman High School is where the majority of the city's stars attend high school. Coincidentally, his brother Grant is the high school coach at Gorman. 

As soon as he was hired, he made it a priority to to make inroads at the local high school. It has already paid off with the commitment of Demetris Morant. Rosco Allen, Ben Carter, and the consensus number one basketball player in America, Shabazz Muhammad, are all also being heavily pursued by the Rebels staff.

Look for Rosco Allen to find it too appealing to leave home so he can build a national power in Vegas with some of his high school teammates.

If Ben Carter also commits, look for the Gaels teammates to attempt to sway Muhammad to stay in the desert with them. If he does, UNLV would be the recruiting story of the year.