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Guys, I talked just a few minutes ago with Dayton Dunbar (OH) four-star RB Tavion Thomas, who signed today with the Bearcats. HUGE addition.

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Obviously, the first thing is Thomas needs to get his grades up where they need to be. That's why he fell out with Oklahoma, because there was concern he wouldn't qualify. But Cincinnati is confident he'll get where he needs to this semester.

I won't include it in the story, but Thomas told me before I started asking him questions, "It wasn’t really my plan, but I had to think about it. I think I made the right decision." And I think that's a very honest answer.

Thomas said he loved defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, his primary recruiter. He said he loved how Freeman "believed in me" and kept pointing to how Thomas could play a big role against UCLA this season.

He also told me he loved everything on his visit from a few weeks ago to UC: "They really care for you. Its your city and they took care of me, showed me love. I was like, this felt like home. The players are really trustworthy, so that’s why I picked it."

The other factor, Thomas said he spoke a lot with fellow four-star Leonard Taylor, who also signed with UC today. Thomas told me, "We’re like, let’s put on for our city. Let’s bring the ‘Nati here, show everyone we ain’t no joke. We’ll turn it around. I felt that and I was like, ‘let’s go.’"

Full story coming tomorrow, but man, this is a big-time get. HUGE addition.

Guys, the day is not over, so this ranking may fall slightly, but the Bearcats are up to No. 46 nationally in the Rivals team rankings. They signed three four-star guys (Tavion Thomas, Leonard Taylor and Malik Vann), while only one other AAC team signed a four-star kid (Eriq Gilyard to UCF). That definitely won't change, with UC having the best recruiting class in the conference by far.

Unbelievably impressive finish for UC. Thoughts overall from you guys?

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We detailed the possibility the other day in our INsider, but four-star DE Leonard Taylor officially announced today for the Bearcats:
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Wasn't much of a surprise but great news to land a 4-star RB

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Guys, Cincinnati's big fish, Tavion Thomas, isn't announcing until 3:15. But in the meantime, this is a great spot to follow along with all the updates across the country:
https://cincinnati.rivals.com/news/2018-national-signing-day-announcement-guide

This one was a laugher. Never close. UC cruises over UCF.
VIDEO/RECAP:
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Less than two days now from national signing day No. 2. As you all know, most of Cincinnati's 2018 class is wrapped up. But the Bearcats are looking to close strong with a couple of late additions.

*First off, the big news is with Rivals250 RB Tavion Thomas, No. 239 from Dayton Dunbar (OH)
Login to view embedded media Thomas has a top four of Cincinnati, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee. He officially visited the Bearcats Jan. 27. This past weekend, he was supposed to visit Ohio State, but cancelled at the last minute. He was committed to Oklahoma from last summer until last Monday...a week after he got back from his UC visit.

I'm told his Cincy visit went extremely well, better than hoped. And the Bearcats' staff came off that visit feeling really good about its chances. Ohio State I think has been seen as the biggest competition. And those are the two it's really down to, though because his Buckeyes visit didn't happen, it doesn't look great for them.

One very good source close to the Buckeyes has told us, "Unless something takes a major left turn the next few days Tavion Thomas to Cincinnati on Wednesday." We haven't heard anything else recently to dispel that, so it sounds like that is very likely unless we hear different. That would be a HUGE pickup for the Bearcats and coupled with Malik Vann, make a big statement in SW Ohio.

**Four-star DE Leonard Taylor has been the next-biggest possibility for UC. He officially visited the Bearcats the same weekend as Thomas, just over two weeks ago. It sounds like those two hit it off well, a good sign for UC that it could pull off a coup and land both.
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An interesting tidbit, that his top four is Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville and Texas A&M. I'm told right now, he's not a take for the Wildcats. I know he's loved the Aggies coaches and his visit there, but I'm not sure if that's not too far away for Taylor to go.

Our sources have told us that "he's in the dark" and isn't sure where he wants to go. Cincinnati sounds like the safe play. So a lot of it may come down to if Taylor thinks he'd be ok to go far away from home. Odds are definitely in the Bearcats' favor.

***Not a ton out there on two other big targets, local four-star linebacker Chris Oats and Louisville Waggener (Ky.) cornerback Jairus Brents. We've heard that the Bearcats have been gaining steam for a while with Oats, whom I know Malik Vann has especially worked on. We'll see if it works. He and Brents have both kept their decisions VERY close to the vest. Not a lot out there from sources. But we'll keep active on those sources and see what we can find.
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If I had to say, best bet is Tavion Thomas, followed by Oats, then Taylor. Brents looks like he's really up in the air. I've heard UC, Louisville, Pitt and Kentucky. If I had to say here, I think Brents goes with the Cardinals, who have gained a ton of momentum and whom he visited this past weekend also. Here's a good story from our Louisville site: https://cincinnati.rivals.com/news/major-shake-up-in-the-recruitment-of-jairus-brents

Highest ranking for the Bearcats since 2004. On that borderline 2/3 seed line at the moment, so in a great spot. Release from UC:

University of Cincinnati men’s basketball received its highest national rankings since 2004 on Monday when the Bearcats were listed sixth in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.

Cincinnati (21-2, 10-0 American Athletic Conference) last made the Top 6 in the polls on Jan. 20, 2004, when it was listed fifth in the USA Today poll and sixth in the AP poll.

The Bearcats have been ranked in the AP poll for 29 consecutive weeks, the longest streak of the Mick Cronin coaching era (since 2006-07).

UC has won each of its last 14 games, tied for the fourth-longest current win streak in the nation and also owns the country’s longest active home-court win streak at 38 games entering Tuesday’s contest against UCF at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky., (7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and 700 WLW).

The Bearcats boast one of the nation’s toughest defenses, second in the nation in both scoring defense (56.8 points allowed) and field-goal percentage defense (.366), and are posting the best offensive numbers of the Cronin coaching era in points (76.5 per game), field goal percentage (.458) three-point percentage (.371) and assists per game (16.3).

UC features four players with more than 1,000 career points, led by junior swingman Jacob Evans III (14.1 points with 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks) and senior forward Gary Clark (13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks). Evans has scored in double figures in 21 of 23 games this season. Clark has 27 career double-doubles, including nine this season, and is one of only five players in school history with at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

UC is one of eight schools to appear in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past seven seasons.

Good win today for UC that started with the game's first 13 points:
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Good article here from Rivals on its hits and misses of guys playing Sunday. One of those is former Bearcat Brent Celek:
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Guys, to follow up an earlier INsider, here's the full story on a recent UC offer, Juan Powell:
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Hell of a comeback tonight by UC, down at one point by 18:
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Highlights and recap from Cincinnati's win Saturday night:
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Guys, I just spoke with one of the many new offers UC has given out recently, Douglass (Ga.) 2019 ATH Juan Powell. The Bearcats offered him on Tuesday. Powell said he's up to 6 offers, the other most recently from Syracuse.

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I'll start by saying Powell isn't much of a talker. I had to ask him 3-4 questions to get the same info that I'd ask other guys one question. Seems like a good kid, just doesn't really talk.

Powell couldn't remember the Cincinnati coach who offered, which might say something, but said he did like talking to him. The Bearcats have told Powell he could play either side of the ball, but it sounds like the preference is for cornerback. Powell played wide receiver, quarterback, running back and cornerback this past fall. Also, he told me he's considering business or engineering as his major, so keep that in mind.

With Syracuse, Powell did tell me "It meant a lot to get that offer." He also likes that the Orange would let him play on both sides of the ball. Interestingly, Powell said he thinks running back is his best position.

Powell said he's visiting Tennessee and Syracuse next month for junior days but he can't remember the dates. And the only visits he's taken recently were to Georgia Tech in the fall for practice and last month to Alabama for bowl practice. Powell said he does want to visit Cincinnati this spring.

Full story coming.

I expect this kid to blow up soon...

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Guys, below are the highlights/recap, as well as post game press conference from the Bearcats' win:
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He is a kid with huge upside, but he will have a really hard time qualifying.

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Add another award for Clark, who's been rock solid for UC of late:
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Wasn't pretty for more than half of the game, but the Berarcats still ran away from East Carolina in the second half for an 86-60 win Saturday:
Recap & Highlights:
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Post game presser:
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Guys, still trying to get further confirmation, but we've had a very good source inform us that Cincinnati could be in better position than most have thought with a four-star kid for 2018. And it's a local kid.

Winton Woods (OH) four-star LB Chris Oats had previously set up an official visit with Michigan State for this weekend. But it sounds like, he didn't make it.

Instead, we're told he's been at UC this weekend. And tonight, he's staying at the hotel where the Bearcats have their official visit recruits stay. If true, this would certainly be surprising.

We'll monitor this situation more, but again, this would be a big development for the Bearcats.

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Guys, just to follow my INsider from the other night, here's the full story on Gordon. Cincinnati in good early position, but he's not even into his recruitment much until basketball season is over:
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From the Bearcats' win Tuesday night. Post game video coming:
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Guys, I caught up just a few minutes ago with one of the Bearcats' latest offers, 2019 Sidney (OH) athlete Andre Gordon. Cincinnati offered him Monday as a quarterback.

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The biggest thing with Gordon is he's not even sure which sport he wants to play in college. For football, Gordon has offers from UC, Iowa State, Syracuse and Toledo. Basketball is much lower offers, but they're from Toledo, Grand Canton, Wright State and Cleveland State, all as a point guard. Syracuse is as an athlete, other football offers are for quarterback.

As far as UC goes, Gordon said he visited for the UCF game and the SMU game. He mentioned the close proximity to where he's from and that he liked the atmosphere. Assistant coach Doug Phillips made the offer and Gordon said he appreciated that Phillips told him he wanted to be as close to Gordon as he and his dad are. Also, Gordon liked that Phillips told him they want him to come in for quarterback, but that he can play wide receiver if he wanted to.

I did ask Gordon about Toledo, since that's the one school to offer him for both sports. He said he hasn't looked into the Rockets a ton, but likes how they use their quarterback, including the success this past fall. Cincinnati's football staff has also told Gordon there's a possibility he could play both sports at UC, but he hasn't talked to the basketball staff.

No visits planned right now, since Gordon is in the middle of basketball season. Full story coming.