This is a big recruiting week for both the Men’s and Women’s programs for both the Griz and Cat’s programs. First of all the recruiting calendar has presented some tough scheduling for D-1 coaches this year. Typically the NCAA will put dead periods on the calendars around important holidays (Easter), around championships (the Final Four), and then a day or two around the start of the signing day (April 15th). This year all of these events happen with –in 10 days of each other. Again typically the week before the signing date is a big week to bring kids in for their official visits, this year programs will be limited between April 9th at 12:01 pm to April 12th mid night to getting recruits on campus through the program and on their way home. To make thing more difficult the NCAA also scheduled this time period to be a one of the few “contact periods” for the year, which is the only time coaches are allowed to make home visits with recruits. What this means too many head coaches will be trying to get in a few home visits Thursday and then flying back to get on campus for recruits who arrive on Friday.

I believe both campuses will be hosting a quite a few athletes this week-end. Here is some scuttlebutt on what I hear is going on with the four Montana D-1 programs.

Bobcat Men’s Basketball – The Bobcats should sign at least three athletes, and possibly four. JC transfer 7-0 center Michel Swita and 6-3 Colt Idol who both committed in December are on board and will sign on the 15th. Past that it could be interesting. Originally I had heard the Coaches were interested in signing a high school point guard or possibly a JC point that would have three years of eligibility. I think that is still what they want on paper, but I think you can mix in the term “or player too good to pass up”. It has come to my attention the Cat’s are looking hard at least two players that fall into the later category. The first is a high school forward who we have a great chance of signing, and the other is a transfer athlete (sort of) who would be eligible to play next year, but is a real long shot. Both players are big time scores and could contribute next year.

I believe the Cat’s are very high on center Kristopher Frazier, and point Eric Allen Cleveland’s East Tech high but they have not taken their ACT/SAT, and I do not believe the Cat’s get them in for a visit until the do.

Bobcat Women’s Basketball – The Bobcat Women, should sign two players this spring. I was told by a friend in Denver that fall signee Kelsey Roben may still be having trouble with here knee it is possible that that could open up a scholarship, but I think not. One of the two signees will be 6-0 Rachel Semansky from Highwood who committed earlier this winter. The second scholarship I believe will go to the best player available, and to that end I have heard from a couple sources that they may have already gotten a commit a Washington post player. I had someone throw a couple names at me but I am not sure if it was based on good information or a guess. Look for Tricia Binford to finish up her recruiting early in the signing period.