by Adam Baliatico
Back in April this reporter was told by a well connected source, "Don't sleep on Seton Hall for Earl Timberlake". At the time, I didn't think much of it. Seton Hall was still heavily in pursuit of a few other targets and I had never seen their name publicly mentioned for Timberlake beyond being one of the teams involved.
About two weeks later, this same source told me with conviction that Seton Hall was the heavy favorite for Timberlake and he would be "surprised" if Timberlake ended up elsewhere when all was said and done.
At that point I did some digging and was able to confirm from another well connected DMV source that SHU was a major player for the 4/5 star wing. At the time, Providence, Alabama, and South Carolina were the perceived leaders.
In early June, following the official visit to South Carolina, my source noted that the Gamecocks were all but eliminated from contention by the family and others close to Timberlake. The family was not fond of the big school atmosphere and was looking for a smaller campus. Another sign pointing towards Seton Hall.
Then, on June 24th, it seemed like everything changed. The first true blue blood offered Timberlake as UNC got involved. Yet my continued to say "don't worry. While the allure may entice Timberlake for a short while, the family would be rational and not rush to any decisions."
A month later the player named a top 7 that included Alabama, Miami, UNC, Pittsburgh, Providence, South Carolina and Seton Hall. My source said "only three of the seven were serious players: Providence, UNC and Seton Hall. However, the family was not very comfortable with UNC at the time. "
In August, Timberlake took a quiet visit to Seton Hall, spending time with the team more than the coaches. He already had an amazing relationship with Tony Skinn and a budding relationship with Kevin Willard. This visit was about bonding with the players. Word came down that he was blown away by the family atmosphere.
He then took two official visits, to Pittsburgh and then to Miami. After the Pittsburgh visit, my source reported he would not be going there. The family didn't like the atmosphere. After the Miami visit, my source again reported they would not be a serious player.
The next week, a week before his official visit to Seton Hall, Earl and his mother took an unofficial trip up to Seton Hall. The objective, Earl would spend the day with Myles Powell and Isaiah Whitehead while Mrs. Timberlake would spend the day with Mrs. Whitehead. The duo also spent some time with the coaching staff, but that was not the purpose of this visit.
While in South Orange, Isaiah and Myles emphasized to Earl that Kevin Willard had emerged as a father figure for them. That Seton Hall truly cares about their athletes. And that playing at the Hall gives you the opportunity to emerge as a national star and an NBA prospect.
On the other side of the visit, Mrs. Whitehead emphasized to Mrs. Timberlake the value of a Seton Hall education, the NYC spotlight, the Big East, and how Willard and his staff helped prepare her son for life ahead.
Additionally, Mrs Whitehead emphasized how the SHU coach continues to care for her son and help provide guidance even two years after his departure. Adding that her son still visits the program as frequently as he can.
The duo left Seton Hall and gushed to those close to them about the visit. From this point, my source said it was "90% Seton Hall". He also stated he'd be surprised if the UNC visit happened, as the family did not like how they pressured Earl not to take the SHU official the next weekend and how he seemed to be a backup plan for the Tar Heels.
Then came the official visit. This was the staff's chance to impress the family again. On the visit, Earl spent a ton of time with Myles and the rest of the roster but also heard an impassioned plea from the usually reserved Kevin Willard emphasizing to Timberlake that he could grow as a person, as a player, and into an NBA prospect while competing on national TV every night in front of a packed Prudential Center, following in the tradition of other Pirate star players at Seton Hall.
The Monday after the visit, something strange happened. On the 247Sports Crystal Ball site three Miami predictions came in for Timberlake. I was perplexed as I was told they had been basically eliminated.
I called my two sources and they both said to ignore those predictions. That SHU was almost certainty the choice, despite the public noise.
A day later, the UNC visit was publicly canceled. A week after that Evan Daniels stated he thought SHU would be the choice.
Thew following day was Big East Media Day at the Garden. With Myles Powell being named Preseason Player of the Year, SHU being picked to win the Big East, and Myles Powell billboards springing up all over the state of New Jersey, Kevin Willard threw one last punch in this recruitment. He sent the entire assistant coaching staff down to Maryland to spend the day with Earl Timberlake at school and at his home.
On the visit, the staff was sure to emphasize the awards, the billboards, the press, and the stardom you can reach as a star player competing in the metropolitan area of New York for a basketball only conference.
Coming off of that visit, SHU and those around Timberlake, believed SHU would be the choice when Timberlake made his commitment decision a few weeks later on November 4th.
So, what changed before then to cause him to commit to Miami?
We will never know the full story but I do know that Miami had an in home visit with him a couple days after the SHU assistants were there. After that, my source maintained that he expected SHU to be the choice.
However, despite some incredible work by the Seton Hall staff and many factors in their favor at the end of the day, Miami was able to swoop in and land him despite a sub-par official visit and SHU being the perceived front runner for a long time. In the end, another painful blow as SHU continues to struggle recruiting the elite talent.
Comments
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Back in April this reporter was told by a well connected source, "Don't sleep on Seton Hall for Earl Timberlake". At the time, I didn't think much of it. Seton Hall was still heavily in pursuit of a few other targets and I had never seen their name publicly mentioned for Timberlake beyond being one of the teams involved.
About two weeks later, this same source told me with conviction that Seton Hall was the heavy favorite for Timberlake and he would be "surprised" if Timberlake ended up elsewhere when all was said and done.
At that point I did some digging and was able to confirm from another well connected DMV source that SHU was a major player for the 4/5 star wing. At the time, Providence, Alabama, and South Carolina were the perceived leaders.
In early June, following the official visit to South Carolina, my source noted that the Gamecocks were all but eliminated from contention by the family and others close to Timberlake. The family was not fond of the big school atmosphere and was looking for a smaller campus. Another sign pointing towards Seton Hall.
Then, on June 24th, it seemed like everything changed. The first true blue blood offered Timberlake as UNC got involved. Yet my continued to say "don't worry. While the allure may entice Timberlake for a short while, the family would be rational and not rush to any decisions."
A month later the player named a top 7 that included Alabama, Miami, UNC, Pittsburgh, Providence, South Carolina and Seton Hall. My source said "only three of the seven were serious players: Providence, UNC and Seton Hall. However, the family was not very comfortable with UNC at the time. "
In August, Timberlake took a quiet visit to Seton Hall, spending time with the team more than the coaches. He already had an amazing relationship with Tony Skinn and a budding relationship with Kevin Willard. This visit was about bonding with the players. Word came down that he was blown away by the family atmosphere.
He then took two official visits, to Pittsburgh and then to Miami. After the Pittsburgh visit, my source reported he would not be going there. The family didn't like the atmosphere. After the Miami visit, my source again reported they would not be a serious player.
The next week, a week before his official visit to Seton Hall, Earl and his mother took an unofficial trip up to Seton Hall. The objective, Earl would spend the day with Myles Powell and Isaiah Whitehead while Mrs. Timberlake would spend the day with Mrs. Whitehead. The duo also spent some time with the coaching staff, but that was not the purpose of this visit.
While in South Orange, Isaiah and Myles emphasized to Earl that Kevin Willard had emerged as a father figure for them. That Seton Hall truly cares about their athletes. And that playing at the Hall gives you the opportunity to emerge as a national star and an NBA prospect.
On the other side of the visit, Mrs. Whitehead emphasized to Mrs. Timberlake the value of a Seton Hall education, the NYC spotlight, the Big East, and how Willard and his staff helped prepare her son for life ahead.
Additionally, Mrs Whitehead emphasized how the SHU coach continues to care for her son and help provide guidance even two years after his departure. Adding that her son still visits the program as frequently as he can.
The duo left Seton Hall and gushed to those close to them about the visit. From this point, my source said it was "90% Seton Hall". He also stated he'd be surprised if the UNC visit happened, as the family did not like how they pressured Earl not to take the SHU official the next weekend and how he seemed to be a backup plan for the Tar Heels.
Then came the official visit. This was the staff's chance to impress the family again. On the visit, Earl spent a ton of time with Myles and the rest of the roster but also heard an impassioned plea from the usually reserved Kevin Willard emphasizing to Timberlake that he could grow as a person, as a player, and into an NBA prospect while competing on national TV every night in front of a packed Prudential Center, following in the tradition of other Pirate star players at Seton Hall.
The Monday after the visit, something strange happened. On the 247Sports Crystal Ball site three Miami predictions came in for Timberlake. I was perplexed as I was told they had been basically eliminated.
I called my two sources and they both said to ignore those predictions. That SHU was almost certainty the choice, despite the public noise.
A day later, the UNC visit was publicly canceled. A week after that Evan Daniels stated he thought SHU would be the choice.
Thew following day was Big East Media Day at the Garden. With Myles Powell being named Preseason Player of the Year, SHU being picked to win the Big East, and Myles Powell billboards springing up all over the state of New Jersey, Kevin Willard threw one last punch in this recruitment. He sent the entire assistant coaching staff down to Maryland to spend the day with Earl Timberlake at school and at his home.
On the visit, the staff was sure to emphasize the awards, the billboards, the press, and the stardom you can reach as a star player competing in the metropolitan area of New York for a basketball only conference.
Coming off of that visit, SHU and those around Timberlake, believed SHU would be the choice when Timberlake made his commitment decision a few weeks later on November 4th.
So, what changed before then to cause him to commit to Miami?
We will never know the full story but I do know that Miami had an in home visit with him a couple days after the SHU assistants were there. After that, my source maintained that he expected SHU to be the choice.
However, despite some incredible work by the Seton Hall staff and many factors in their favor at the end of the day, Miami was able to swoop in and land him despite a sub-par official visit and SHU being the perceived front runner for a long time. In the end, another painful blow as SHU continues to struggle recruiting the elite talent.
Comments
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
