Zips Recruiting Gets Good Review on ESPN Insider

[Dave in Green]

ESPN Insider has just posted a college basketball piece entitled: 10 teams to watch in recruiting -- How top programs from non-power leagues are shaping up heading into 2014. Conveniently, the first team mentioned and the only one visible without being a paying Insider member happens to be the Akron Zips. Pretty impressive that the Zips are considered one of the country's top 10 teams from outside the power conferences. Here's the first part of the story:

With the new ESPN 100 player rankings out and as the 2014 basketball recruiting cycle picks up heading into the July evaluation periods, here's a look at how 10 top teams from outside the power conferences are shaping up in the 2014 recruiting class. Team-by-team recruiting capsules for the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC, SEC, American Athletic Conference and Big East are already out.

Akron Zips

Who they have: No 2014 recruits so far.

Who they want: Power forward Peyton Aldridge and center Gavin Skelly have been identified as two in-state targets to provide help on the frontline for the Zips, but the Zips' 2014 wish list is being added to and updated daily.

Storyline to watch: Which high-major program will coach Keith Dambrot beat for an immediate-impact performer like he did back in 2009 when he landed ESPN 100 center Zeke Marshall?

Bold prediction: Dambrot will score with an up-and-coming prospect from Ohio or a bordering state who emerges from under the radar during the July evaluation period and eventually becomes a star as a college freshman.

Overall recruiting trend: The Zips' recruiting trend is even. They do an excellent job finding and convincing many late bloomers and under-the-radar prospects to turn down BCS-level programs and stay with a program that has put in more time and effort throughout the recruiting process, but this trend can be difficult to sustain over time.