UCF adds some more talent

There has been a lot of talk this summer about Central Florida and Memphis heading to the Big East.

While the obvious reason for that is for football -- essentially, the Big East wants some insurance in case the Big Ten decides to try and raid them -- I don't think anyone is going to be complaining about Memphis playing the likes of Georgetown, Pitt, Villanova, and Syracuse on a yearly basis.

Donnie Jones is doing good things at UCF.
(photo credit: UCF.edu)

But what about Central Florida? Is this just going to be another case of DePaul, a tag-along during expansion that does nothing more than dilute the Big East?

Back in April, I would have said yes. But a lot has changed since April.

It starts with Donnie Jones, the former Marshall head coach who made raised some eyebrows when he took the UCF job. Is there really that big of a difference between one middling Conference USA school in West Virginia and another in Florida?

But since his introduction back in May, Jones has quietly been collecting chips down in Orlando. It started when Jones added Josh Crittle, a 6'8" center who transferred in after two seasons at Oregon. Then is was Jeffrey Jordan, the former Illinois point guard who decided to join his brother Marcus at UCF.

Jones' ended the summer by landing three talented players in the last nine days. Tristan Spurlock, a 6'8" small forward and former top 100 recruit, decided to transfer to the Knights after one unsuccessful season playing at UVa. Then came Kasey Wilson, a former VCU-commit, who is rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.

The cap it all off, Jones earned a commitment from Rod Days. A 6'6" wing, Days is a borderline top 100 player that has gotten quite a bit of interest from the big boys, fielding offers from Maryland, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Arizona State, Michigan, Richmond, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Alabama and Florida State.

"I felt like it was the best place for me," Days told the Orlando Sentinel. "It had the best basketball program, the best education, the best major I wanted to study, the best coaches, the best of everything."

Reportedly, the fact that UCF offers a forensic science major was a big factor in Days' decision.

Days may or may not be destined to be the next Horatio Caine, but he is a Knight, joining what will be one of the best incoming classes in 2011 in C-USA. Don't be surprised when this group is fighting for a spot in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.