DePaul won't release recruit from LOI

[TomW1365]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5243526

When a young kid asks for a release from his Letter of Intent, is the school obliged to go along with the request?   Has there been any examples of a recruit sticking w/ a program despite wanting to be released that has done well?   

[MerrittsMustache]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5243526

When a young kid asks for a release from his Letter of Intent, is the school obliged to go along with the request?   Has there been any examples of a recruit sticking w/ a program despite wanting to be released that has done well?   

This story is yet another embarassing incident for DePaul athletics. Unfortunately, that has become the norm for a once proud basketball program.

(No, a school is not obliged to let a played out of his NLI)

[mugrad99]

From the article:

The former coach promised Walter the world and that he would be the poster boy of the program.


Not sure you really want that albatross around your neck...

[4everwarriors]

What's the school goin' to do, force the cat to attend? Hey, if a recruit wants out due to a coaching change before he even pees in a campus urinal, then let his ass out. I'm certain DePaul wouldn't hesitate to Oliver him if the dude didn't pan out.

[chapman]

Their AD is a joke.  Hopefully the kid never sets foot on campus even if it means transferring or going to prep school and sitting out a year.

[Marquette84]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5243526

When a young kid asks for a release from his Letter of Intent, is the school obliged to go along with the request?   Has there been any examples of a recruit sticking w/ a program despite wanting to be released that has done well?   

There have been a few high profile cases over the last several years.

Jarrid Famous wanted out at USF--they didn't release him and he wound up a major contributor for the Bulls
http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/05/26/famous-wants-out-at-usf/

The most famous example was when UK refused to release Joe Crawford, who stayed at UK. 

Arizona didn't release Jeff Withey in the turmoil of the Olson/O'Neill situation.  He wound up sitting out a year and playing for Kansas.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3684369

And then there's the case of Ajmal Basit--who signed to play under John Calipari at UMass.  Calipari left before Basit's freshman year, and UMass refused the release him from his LOI, Basit proceeded to spend three years in Bruiser Flint's doghouse. 

Basit was coached in HS by Bob Hurley.

[Dawson Rental]

What's the school goin' to do, force the cat to attend? Hey, if a recruit wants out due to a coaching change before he even pees in a campus urinal, then let his ass out. I'm certain DePaul wouldn't hesitate to Oliver him if the dude didn't pan out.

Don't you mean Puree him?

[79Warrior]

Their AD is a joke.  Hopefully the kid never sets foot on campus even if it means transferring or going to prep school and sitting out a year.

absolutely. She is a complete idiot.

[GGGG]

absolutely. She is a complete idiot.

You know what's happening here right?  She's taking the heat so Purnell won't have to.

[Brewtown Andy]

You know what's happening here right?  She's taking the heat so Purnell won't have to.

It's not like she's got a stellar track record to fall back on here.

[GGGG]

It's not like she's got a stellar track record to fall back on here.

Well...getting Purnell was more than De Paul deserved.