Welcome to this week's installment of "Weekly Whispers," our weekly series in which we keep Bearcat Nation updated on the latest recruiting news for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Lets see what happened this week on the recruiting trail.
Brooks makes it official
After officially adding '16 SG Jarron Cumberland, an in-state prospect, to the program last week, the Bearcats were able to officially add the other piece to the 2016 puzzle this week. '16 C Nysier Brooks, a 6'9, 200-pounder, signed his letter of intent with the university exactly one week ago.
Brooks, a Pennsylvania native, was originally planning to sign during the first week of the early signing period but as you can see, that was not the case. The reason for the delay was simply because Advanced Prep International (TX) pushed back the signing ceremony.
The addition of Brooks for the Bearcats will give Mick Cronin some help along the front-court very soon. Brooks, while only being graded as a three-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite scale, is a physical presence on the hardwood and should have very little problems fitting in with an always defensive-minded Cincinnati squad.
JUCO OL visits UC, gets offer
After plucking out DeLonte Murray fom Lackawanna Community College in Pennsylvania for the 2015 recruiting class, the Bearcats are heading back to the program in hopes to grab another offensive lineman. '16 OT Kendall Calhoun picked up an offer from UC last Thursday and the interest from Calhoun was shown immediately.
According to JUCO Football Frenzy on Twitter, the 6'7, 290-pounder was on an official visit to the Clifton-based campus this past weekend. After doing some digging, it seems that Cincinnati joined Texas Tech and UAB as programs to received an official visit from the junior-college prospect.
The Bearcats joined Boise State, Buffalo, Houston, Idaho, Middle Tennessee State, Monmouth, Purdue, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Troy, and UAB on the three-star prospects offer sheet. For whatever it's worth, Calhoun is originally from Paducah, Kentucky -- about four hours away from Cincinnati. We'll see if the possibility of playing close-ish to home and the aforementioned Murray gives the Bearcats any sort of advantage in this recruitment.
Gak grabs UC offer
The JUCO prospect wasn't the only athlete to be rewarded with an offer from the Bearcats this past week. Switching gears to hardwood, it was '17 C Deng Gak who snagged an offer from the red and black as well. This news was first reported by Pat Lawless of MADEHoops.com. Gak is a 7-footer who is currently playing his ball at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. Minnesota, Seton Hall, and SMU are three other programs who are in pursuit of the lanky prospect from the Garden State.