Year of the Hometown Hero?

Clockwise from Top (Hikeem Stewart, Tony Wroten, Kevin Davis, Kasen Williams, Austin Seferian-Jenkins)

“I want to be that home town guy, that local guy to help bring them back up.” – Austin Seferian-Jenkins

2010. I am going to call it now: The year of the hometown hero. ASJ started it and we hope Tony Wroten will finish it. Not often will we cross pollinate with UW Football, but the recruiting trends will share some sparkling similarities in regards to their hometown guys.

On my birthday, ASJ delivered me a wonderful gift in deciding to attend the UW on a Football scholarship. As arguably the best TE in all the land, ASJ is looking to deliver a Rose Bowl and National Championship back to Seattle. By far, one of the most heralded in-state recruits UW has hauled in for their football program since Jake Locker. An extra added bonus was that he declared he would play basketball for Coach Romar in 2011 as a walk on. (More to come on that later)

ASJ has started what most Dawg fans hope will be a domino effect of local talent staying home to represent their city and state to play their respective sports. The next domino to fall is Kasen Williams, the #1 WR on the West Coast, who we all prayed would don the purple and gold next fall over a myriad of big name schools. And today, we got our wish.

Kasen used the same reasoning as ASJ did regarding his final decision. He values his family, the proximity to home, and playing for a program on the rise. Could there be assimilation with our basketball recruits? Without a doubt.

As a Seattle native, what basketball recruit could say no to the notoriety that comes along with being the primary focus of basketball in Seattle? The Sonics are long gone, may they rest in peace. UW Basketball is now the epicenter of the basketball community not only in Seattle, but in all of Washington.  (No disrespect to WSU or Seattle U) But without an NBA team, local players would become instant celebrities walking down the streets of downtown. Seattle’s homegrown ballers will have an opportunity to play for a national contender in the comfort of their own backyard. Their families would be a five minute drive away to watch their kids play under the bright lights of Hec Ed. What could be better? Simple answer: Nothing.

Although Wroten has been heard again and again about UK being his leader, I just don’t see how UK can eclipse UW here. Wroten, the cousin of Nate Robinson, is all about the 206. He even etched those numbers in his hair when he played in his AAU tourney in Vegas this summer.  Many argue that Terrence Williams and Peyton Siva both loved the 206 just as much, but in the case of Wroten the proximity to home will definitely become a major factor in his decision. Not a day goes by where I don’t see him tweet about the home team and reppin’ Seattle. He gets awfully homesick when he is away longer than a weekend and that will definitely work in UW ‘s favor.  With the local grooming of his BFAM (Brothers From Another Mother), former Huskies have to be urging Tony to continue the legacy of Seattle hoops at UW.

Hikeem “the Dream” Stewart, close friend of Wroten, is also likely heading to the UW following everything I have heard about his recruitment. UW is still #1 on his list and he, like Wroten, talks about representing his city. Kind of funny, but both Wroten and Stewart recently tweeted about Kasen Williams’ recruitment.

Tony guaranteed Kasen’s choice at UW:

“UW. Garenteed RT @ymmij2k: @ToneTone13 Kasen Williams is announcing his college tomorrow, where u think he goes?”

Hikeem further stressed the importance of being a hometown hero:

“Kasen Williams stay home be a hometown hero lol but real talk”

Could this be a little foreshadowing for the early signing period for UW Hoops? Fingers are crossed.

And with Kevin Davis remaining a verbal  UW commit for the 2011 class, the Dawgs will have the opportunity  to field a squad with as much, if not more local talent than the 2004 squad with Conroy, Nate Rob, Simmons and B-Roy.

Enter Tony Wroten, Hikeem Stewart, Kevin Davis, Abdul Gaddy and Isaiah Thomas.

The second coming is almost here, are you ready?