Looking Ahead to 2010

With National Signing Week beginning today, TKR felt that it was time to start focusing on the class of 2010. Earlier this week, our correspondent was able to interview Jonathan Henderson, who coaches for the Nashville Celtics. The Celtics feature two Gonzaga targets, with Deandre Daniels and Casey Prather. TKR would like to thank both our correspondent and Coach Henderson for taking the time to provide Gonzaga fans with this interview.

TKR: What would you say are Deandre and Casey's greatest strengths on the basketball court? Also, what would you classify as their biggest weaknesses?

Coach Henderson: Deandre: Great length, natural skill shooting the ball. Can go by guys his size off the dribble. He just needs strength, maturity, and game repetitions.

Casey: Wickedly athletic guy. Plays with a non-stop motor, has quick feet and can get by guys. He affects the game on both ends. No real weaknesses, he has improved his perimeter game immensely. He probably needs to slow down more.

TKR: Where have you seen both Deandre and Casey improve the most in the past year?

Coach Henderson: Deandre has improved his intensity on the floor.

Casey has improved his shot and ball skills tremendously.

TKR: Do you think that both Deandre and Casey will be able to contribute immediately at the DI level?

Coach Henderson: Yes for both. Casey most likely will fight for a starting spot somewhere. Deandre just needs to get physically mature to get there, but should contribute early.

TKR: What schools are recruiting Deandre the hardest? What schools have offered him, and does he have any favorites?

Coach Henderson: Deandre is getting looks from all over; from Wake Forest, to Washington, to Gonzaga, and etc. I wouldn't say he has any favorites.

TKR: What schools are recruiting Casey the hardest? What schools have offered him, and does he have any favorites?

Coach Henderson: Casey is being recruited hard by a lot of schools: Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Ole Miss, Minnesota all have offered (may be forgetting one or two). Kentucky is starting to recruit him hard along with Florida. Gonzaga, Stanford, and Michigan have been calling him for a while now.....no real favorites though.

TKR: How would you describe both Deandre and Casey away from the basketball court? What interests do they have away from the basketball court?

Coach Henderson: Both are extremely high character kids with great dispositions and are very respectful to other people. Both are confident but humble. Good students.

TKR would once again like to thank both our correspondent and Coach Henderson for taking the time for this terrific interview.

So that Gonzaga fans can have an image of these two recruits, here are some pictures of both Deandre and Casey.





Deandre Daniels (Taft High, Nashville Celtics)

Rivals- #148 player in the nation

Scout- No Evaluation














Casey Prather (North Side, Nashville Celtics)

Rivals- #30

Scout- 3 star