Another basketball recruiting read

Responding to any email sent to you from Nigeria, divorce and college recruiting.

Name three things that can majorly reduce the numbers in your bank account.

Yes, that's a bit over the top (notice the qualifier) plus there's always the question of who in the Western Athletic Conference could afford to subterfuge $$$ to recruits even if so inclined? Or more accurately, who in the WAC has the necessary connections to have dollars bestowed upon certain recruits? Maybe another is does the WAC have talents who 'merit' such financial largesse?

But the practice (which makes it sound like an art that those inclined must work on to perfect) is alive and well, in the power conferences.

jc25 at the "A Sea of Blue" site recently wrote a column on college basketball recruiting -- utilizing material from Dave Telep, Dan Wolken, Gary Parrish and Dan Wetzel -- that opens and then closes with the following quotes respectively:

"Imagine every bad thing you hear about college basketball recruiting. Multiply by it 10. That's 20% of how dirty it is."
- Jonathan Tjarks

and

Just got a text from a college coach about the Mike Beasley story. Here's what it said: "We have kids going to college who don't want to go to college. If the NBA doesn't want them, then the D League should be set up for them. But the sad fact is that these kids are getting paid more money to go to college for a year than to play in the D League."

Here's the link to jc25's article.

To cleanse or not to cleanse, that is the question

Actually, here's the most important question: is "cleansing" possible?

jc25 at Sea of Blue posted an intriguing article on the "cleanliness" of some of the big time college basketball programs -- here's a pair of quotes:

"... There's one particular program right now - an elite program that most fans wouldn't ever guess - that everyone in basketball knows is straight-up paying guys. Will they get caught? I don't know, but the more this stuff gets exposed, the more we can shatter these ridiculous media-fueled notions about who's dirty and who isn't ..."

and

"...Just got a text from a college coach about the Mike Beasley story. Here's what it said: "We have kids going to college who don't want to go to college. If the NBA doesn't want them, then the D League should be set up for them. But the sad fact is that these kids are getting paid more money to go to college for a year than to play in the D League ..."

But before unleashing righteous indignation on these players, coaches, runners, et all: would you support 'your' college basketball program and head coach if it was so-called clean yet continually finished at .500 or even below?

That's also part of this whole big equation.

A little more about factors in college recruiting

PTW has previously written about the X factors in college basketball recruiting but we came across some information in a Jonathan (Draft Express) Givony Sports Illustrated penned piece that we thought deserved greater exposure.

About various NBA teams waiting on foreigner draft picks currently playing abroad, Givony typed this (and much more) on Ricky Rubio:

"...Another factor to consider could be Rubio's contract with Nike, which expires in two years. The company has made no secret of its preference to see Rubio in a bigger NBA market than Minnesota, according to sources, and it will be interesting to see whether the dollars Nike throw into the equation sways things. His agent, Dan Fegan, just put the finishing touches on a $25 million contract with Reebok for John Wall, the presumed No. 1 pick in next Thursday's draft, and will likely be looking to make a similar splash for Rubio, who is already the most marketable player in Europe..."

With college recruits (almost exclusively the top level ones), it's very unusual for a player to be on a Nike-sponsored club basketball team while in high school and end up signing with a school wearing Reebok or Adidas shoes and clothing. Under Armour also seems to be making a move, or planning one, into this marketplace.

Here's a 2005 Sports Illustrated feature by Luke Winn on prepster Kevin Love and the 'battle' between Nike and Reebok for Love wearing a certain brand of shoes.

In Winn's article, he writes: "...Of his favorites, five are swoosh schools -- Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, Duke and UConn -- and the other two, Kansas and UCLA, wear adidas..." 

 

Love eventually decided on UCLA (meaning Adidas) after starting out earlier in high school as a Nike wearer. Winn's article details why the switch was made.

 

Remember Drew Gordon deciding on UCLA/adidas when most, if not everyone, thought he would go with Washington/Nike? That call perplexed most everyone because Gordon participated all through high school as a member of a Nike-sponsored club basketball team.

By the way, Gordon's decision was also a strange one on another level: Gordon is a run-and-jump athlete and a tough competitor who needed to spend greater time working on his specific basketball skills. No-nonsense Ben Howland is noted for tough, physical players -- hey, for the most part okay -- and preferring to play at a 'safe' speed while pounding the ball inside offensively. Most -- but not all -- of this description fits for Gordon but the young man definitely prefers running the court.

 

On the other hand, Washington employs a lightning blur type of offense, preferring to get up and down the court as if in a sprint race. It would have been a perfect fit for Gordon, although not necessarily for aiding in his developing some go-to moves inside. Lorenzo Romar relates to his players on a much different level than Howland does to his.

Ultimately, the personalities of Gordon and Howland clashed -- something seemingly inevitable -- and the former is now at New Mexico --notably a Nike-affiliated school. We have offered this before but worth mentioning again is that Lobo Assistant Coach Wyking Jones is coming off a stint as a Nike travel team manager. Let's just call that quite the bonus for a school that has a solid -- if spotted -- basketball history but is generally considered out of any of the great basketball landing spot vortexes.

Keep all this in mind when a player X -- one at a prominent level -- is transferring from one of the basketball powers and you have the highest of hopes that he will come to 'your' school or when high school player Y is mentioned in conjunction with 'your' school and you are wondering about the odds of success. 

Check the shoes.

More recruiting updates

These are not really updates in that they were known before but we're still posting them.

SCOUT is reporting:

*** Oregon prep Stephen Holt is getting major PAC-10 interest plus Mountain West and WAC offers. Utah State and Boise State have offered. Here's a June, 2009 ESPN evaluation of Holt. Here's a June, 2009 video interview of him. (we just don't see him landing in the WAC)

*** 6-foot-9 Oregon high schooler Jordan Railey is currently projecting as a high major. Utah State and Nevada are following him and his current offers are from mid-majority type schools. His college destination will be based on his projection when he is a senior. Here's an April, 2009 ESPN evaluation of him.

In the spirit of recruiting...

We did a full length article a while back at the Silver and Blue Nevada site on this subject but let's break it down a bit further with individual team posts.

First up is Fresno State.

Hey there are reasons to be optimistic if you are a Fresno State men's basketball fan. APR purgatory is concluding and a bushel full of new and talented recruits have arrived.

Incoming are:

* wing Jerry Brown
* wing Garrett Johnson
* point Steven Shepp
* center Greg Smith
* backcourter Shawn Willis (who will redshirt in 2009-2010)

Now consider the above batch with who was rounded up in the previous recruiting batch (including walk-ons):

* point Bryce Cartwright
* forward Paul George
* forward Justin Johnson
* guard Mychal Ladd
* forward Bryan Seals
* backcourter Brandon Sperling

The excellent play of Paul George notwithstanding, it's apparent a serious upgrade in potential -- a peculiar but accurate term -- has been landed even though the newest collection has yet to play a minute for the Bulldogs. Granted, 'po' isn't production but that's still the early near unanimous judgment.

However, an asterisk is needed because the recruiting rhythm for the 2008-2009 newcomer class was thrown off by the decision of Reggie Moore to ask out of his signed letter of intent. The timing of Moore's request proved troublesome because the Bulldogs had stopped recruiting other points and the unexpected need for then finding another WAC-level talent to run the team was never satisfactorily fulfilled.

Ultimately, it is the head coach who will bear the brunt of criticism when a team doesn't perform as the fans wish but it's a stretch to somehow nail Cleveland for Moore's opting out and when he did so. Getting Moore to wear a Bulldog uniform would have brought righteous kudos from the fans and certainly more wins last season. Moore's betterment between when he said yes and then signed and when he changed his mind put him at a level of competition above the WAC (he went east for prep school and eventually signed with Washington State) and he simply chose not to honor his commitment. That is a gamble coaches take.

As background, each head coach has a preference for the players he recruits. Some like recruits with shooting/scoring as the top talent. Others want tough muscle guys who will compete, still others prefer raw potential types who, if they pan out, pay huge dividends.

Cleveland's preference has generally been for skill-based talent, primarily shooters and scorers. Paul George is a prime example. By the way, does anyone remember his recruiting history? He verbaled to Santa Clara, reneged and signed with Pepperdine but ultimately landed in Fresno after Vance Walberg resigned as coach of the Waves. Hey, you win some and you lose some.

Sylvester Seay is another example of a Cleveland prototype recruit. Even 6-foot-8 Nedeljko Golubovic's best skill is as a shooter. Newcomers Brown and Johnson also seem to fit that mold.

But besides the Moore situation, what has also hindered the Bulldog revitalization was a couple of 'misses' -- if you will. Louisville transfer Bryan Harvey never really panned out (the last we heard was that he was playing for Cal State East Bay). Rekalin Sims' legal entanglements were ultimately none too serious but similar preceding problems with other players -- primarily footballers -- eliminated his opportunity to ever wear a Fresno State uniform. Those two also seemingly fit into Cleveland's ideal recruit.

So it appears Cleveland has returned to his recruiting roots with this season's haul.

But we offer this absolutely unsolicited advice: it's best that Cleveland very carefully determine the attitude and academic stability of any available transfers he considers in the future. There really is no need for him to reach or gamble any longer. Fresno State can land enough talent -- high school or junior college level -- to be WAC competitive without taking further big chances. He may get tempted with this possibility or that probability but here's hoping he holds fast. Having 13 scholarships to hand out is a necessity to get and remain in the upper tier of the WAC.

Since this is THE week for talent evaluation and decisions on who to recruit...

Our note: The temp in Las Vegas is currently 105 degrees. Three coaches from damn near every staff is there evaluating high school players -- we are skipping it this go-around for the sake of our sanity.

Luckily, every school gymnasium in Vegas is air-conditioned but there is zero shade for parked cars outside. The availability of a car navigation device is always talked about as a must to get from gym to gym but it's actually air conditioning that is a dealbreaker when renting. Hey, it could literally be the difference between life and death. Maybe the weather conditions are one of the reasons at least some of those who get offered and sign on don't pan out -- you know, delerium. Eric Sondheimer has a bit about this:

Las Vegas is hot and full of coaches
Eric Sondheimer
Los Angeles Times

If you didn't make a reservation for a rental car, be prepared to pay $130 a day or higher in Las Vegas because this city is loaded with high school basketball players and coaches for a week of travel ballgames...

A bevy of recruiting mentions

This is a compilation of mentions associating WAC teams to various high schoolers:

Ben Vozzola - Nevada

Kory Thieleke - San Jose State

Josh Ritchart - Nevada

Alex Tiffin - Hawaii and San Jose State

Jordan Gathers - Nevada

Please remember that 'interest' doesn't necessarily constitute a two-way relationship nor an actual offer having been made. Plus, there are other non-WAC schools pursuing these kids.

Yes, Gathers is the nephew of the late Hank Gathers.

Coaches gild the lilly...oh the shock, the horror

We actually love reading the articles about how this coach or that program is pulling a fast one via creative interpretation, even if no infractions are involved (or have yet to bubble up to the cess pool surface).

It's like viewing a car wreck as you go by on the highway -- the siren-like call to look over is close to irresistible.

This subject actually brings mixed feelings. After all, college basketball IS a business. Win or at least be victorious enough, and the AD/college president will return your calls. Be 'successful' and the platitudes of the television announcers will flow towards a coach as if he discovered a cure for cancer.

Lose too much and start packing. Be deemed a failure if your players graduate and none get into trouble with the law but there just aren't enough notches in the victory column to keep up the prerequisite level of attendance and the donor dollars flowing.

And all this at an institution of higher learning.

Oh well, there's no new ground that hasn't already been tilled here. College basketball is no different from everyday life. The coaches and the players are no different than those persons populating other business enterprises. Why should we ever be surprised by anything that takes place? Or concerned?


Gray scale: Recruiters struggle with perfectly legal yet ethically questionable
Dana O'Neil
ESPN.com
November 19, 2008

Nearly 20 years ago, Eddie Sutton resigned as Kentucky coach after a package sent from assistant Dwane Casey to the father of recruit Chris Mills opened in transit, spilling $1,000 for all to see.

Pardon some coaches if they wax nostalgic for the days gone by, when rule breaking was clear-cut and obvious..

Like the evolution from Chuck Taylors to Air Jordans, the art of cheating has been refined and streamlined.

Sure, rules still are being flat-out broken the old-fashioned way, but the new wave sweeping the game is rule circumvention, not rule breaking. Clever coaches are employing a strong grip on semantics to expose loopholes and reinterpret rules to their benefit.

It's not so much cheating as it's, well...

Go here for the remainder.