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http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/...n_giv.html

Dad just got some job security, at least for 4 years.

Hahaha... MB, what do you think of this kid? I know it was a compilation of highlights, but I was pretty impressed. If he makes those 3's for us, he'll be a big shot in the arm for a team that has sorely lacked that for the last 2 seasons.

Great commitment... Haase is putting in work. I thought this team would be good but had limits next year with out the addition of another pg option.

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That's a great get. If we can get one more big, we should be set next year. We are going to be young, but there will be a lot of talent coming in to add to the pieces we have in place.

He looks a lot better than Mike Davis Jr did in his hs highlights

(03-22-2014 10:44 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  He looks a lot better than Mike Davis Jr did in his hs highlights

"Ah hah, ah hah...." That's a rather left-handed (or footed) compliment...

I'm just glad the video doesn't have profanity filled music

Got a feeling norton will play similar to brett comer of FGCU, except with shooting ability.

Mr. Norton will play a huge part for UAB for the next 4 years.

Does anyone who knows more about this kid think he will be able to come in an contribute immediately? I see that he doesn't have a star rating on either rivals or 247. He seems like a good pick up in that he's a shooter and a true point guard that can develop with time for us, but I was hoping for someone that could contribute immediately. Hopefully with Norton, Calhoun, and watts, we can hold down the PG position and severely limit chads minutes there. I think that will be paramount to the difference between a good and a REALLY good season.

Calhoun isn't a pg from what I've seen. Watts is still learning. With brown coming in I think you are just going to have to accept that chad will be playing pg at least part time next year. The biggest difference will be he should have solid players all around him and capable back ups if he screws up too much. Dickerson would have been a dream come true. I'll take a guy that creighton wanted all day every day though.

I know he's going to play some point guard, but I think we have to minimize his pg minutes as much as possible. If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. Chad is a scorer and volume shooter. A lot of the time he is lackadaisical with the ball and turn it over in bunches. I'd much rather have him solely focusing on scoring and not worrying much about trying to run the O or make plays for others. But I do agree, having better players around him should help him when he is at the point.

Here's a thread on his recruitment at Creighton: The BlueJay Underground. That's a darn good program and they liked him enough to make an early offer.

I think the biggest question is how healthy is his knee. Leading his team to a state title this season would seem to indicate it's in pretty good shape.

If he's been able to get close to pre-injury form then I think he's a steal for UAB.

Looked pretty good winning the state championship.

(03-22-2014 03:44 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  Does anyone who knows more about this kid think he will be able to come in an contribute immediately? I see that he doesn't have a star rating on either rivals or 247. He seems like a good pick up in that he's a shooter and a true point guard that can develop with time for us, but I was hoping for someone that could contribute immediately. Hopefully with Norton, Calhoun, and watts, we can hold down the PG position and severely limit chads minutes there. I think that will be paramount to the difference between a good and a REALLY good season.

Tore his ACL as a junior and transferred back home to Illinois as a senior when his dad moved from Missouri to UAB to become the women's coach. That affects your rating. In announcements on twitter practically all mentioned his old Missouri high school not the current one in Illinois. Perhaps he will be re-ranked as sometimes happens...

Other info
http://cihoops.com/?page_id=904
http://cihoops.com/?page_id=1902
The last member of 2014′s “super six”, former Creighton commit Nick Norton, comes in at #6 on our list. The son of a coach, Norton is a high IQ point guard with good quickness and deep range. He is very efficient in transition and has many skills that will immediately translate to the collegiate level. He understands how to play towards his strengths and take advantage of the defense’s weaknesses which is why he will have a chance to log big minutes as a freshman at whatever school he chooses.

From April 2013
http://whiteandbluereview.com/?p=23728
Creighton hopes to replace then-seniors Austin Chatman and Devin Brooks with a floor leader from the 2014 class. Coach McDermott and staff did not waste anytime getting a verbal commitment from KC Run GMC operator Nick Norton (Creighton Verbal Commit). Following a great summer, Norton was poised to breakout at Rock Bridge HS, a school Creighton has recruited heavily in the past (2011-Ricky Kreklow, 2012-Justin Miller, 2013-Travis Jorgenson). Nick was playing the best basketball of his life before he injured his ACL in February. Nick has just begun to start the rehab process. Creighton staff will monitor Nick’s progress closely, but if there is one thing I’ve learned about Norton over the last year, it is that no one will work harder than he will to get back into playing shape.

From 11-20-2013 Blazertalk thread
http://csnbbs.com/post-10040925.html
http://cihoops.com/?p=1671
Recruiting (offers marked with “*”): Alabama, Arkansas, Creighton*, Illinois State*, Iowa, Ole Miss, San Diego*, UAB, Wisconsin-Milwaukee*

"There’s no doubt that Nick Norton could be deserving of a top 5 ranking but the fact that he hasn’t played competitively since injuring his knee in February lands him at the #6 spot in our rankings. Norton, a 5’10″ point guard, may be the most college ready of all the players on this list. He’s a tough, quick, and shifty point guard that plays with wisdom beyond his years. While he’s known for his rangy jumpshot (arguably the best three point shooter in the state), it is his ability to control the game and decision making that makes him such a high level prospect. Nick is a heady player that has mastered the advance pass. He’s a guard that can score from many different areas, which keeps the defense honest, but excels at distributing in transition and making plays for others off the bounce in the half court. He recognizes his teammates strengths and mismatches on the floor and immediately looks to take advantage. Norton has great change of pace, is explosive, and has undervalued athleticism. He is coming back from an ACL tear but has looked great in the preseason and will make a case as the area’s Player of the Year this season."

He's the only real point guard on the roster. The rest are combo guards. I think Norton is a day one starter, and if he isn't, I think he plays starter minutes.

He may or may not start, but I bet he logs decent minutes early. We need his skills, and I think he'll be a very solid addition.

I doubt he starts. Watts has earned that spot in my opinion unless we go:
Frazier
Brown
Lee
Cj
Mehinti

I also think Madison has earned some minutes with his play at the end of the year. He looks like a good player, but day 1 freshman starter with what we have is tough for me to see.

We also need to see what we do with the last scholarship. A juco big can really change things

No way he is a day one starter. We need experience for our tough games at the beginning of the schedule