Recruiting contemplation

[GGGG]

Right, because watching someone play basketball can tell you absolutely nothing about how good they are at basketball.  Got it.

Not if the competition is substandard compared to what they will face during BE play.  I can ball like a beast against slow, unathletic old dudes, but that doesn't mean I can play college basketball.

[NersEllenson]

Based on what? He's better than advertised and better than a lot of scholarship players we've had in the last 5 years.

I'd agree that Singleton is better than a good number of players we've had on scholarship the last 5 years.  If he EARNS a scholarship, by earning playing time in "the guts of a game," not just mop up duty - Buzz will give him one - I think it as simple as that.  Singleton by NO means is your average walk on - he has some serious skills, and to judge him on his scoring average as a freshman at High Point, really isn't the barometer of how good he can be. There are many Top 100 kids who come out and don't average 5.2ppg..and Singleton played well against the Big East teams he faced.  

[GGGG]

You cats are twisted. This is the Big East. Reserve guards from High Point are going to compete with the talent UL, Syr., St. Johns, GU, et al are reloading with? Guaranteed to be a bitchfest here when we get are asses handed to us with non-BE guard play.

Exactly.  If he were so good, why didn't he get recruited by schools more high profile than High Point, and didn't get better offers than a walk on at MU when he left HPU?  We bitch and moan that three star recruits aren't good enough anymore, but we go all nuts about a former two star walk on.

But I guess since he looked good in the Pro-Am....    

[GGGG]

I'd agree that Singleton is better than a good number of players we've had on scholarship the last 5 years.  If he EARNS a scholarship, by earning playing time in "the guts of a game," not just mop up duty - Buzz will give him one - I think it as simple as that.  

Agreed.  That is all I am saying.  If he earns it during the season, give him one.  Don't just throw him one now because he played well over the summer and performs well in agility drills.

[Skatastrophy]

But I guess since he looked good for a walk-on in the Pro-Am....   

fixed

[Pakuni]

Exactly.  If he were so good, why didn't he get recruited by schools more high profile than High Point, and didn't get better offers than a walk on at MU when he left HPU?  We bitch and moan that three star recruits aren't good enough anymore, but we go all nuts about a former two star walk on.

But I guess since he looked good in the Pro-Am....    

That's, um, pretty silly.
If Stephen Curry were so good, why wasn't he recruited by better schools than Davidson (and High Point)?
If Rodney Stuckey were so good, how come he wasn't recruited by better schools than Eastern Washington?
If Jason Thompson were so good, how come he wasn't recruited by better schools than Rider?
I am not saying Singleton will become, or even could become, as good as those guys.  It's obviously extremely unlikely. But let's not pretend a player's ultimate abilities are determined by who recruits him out of high school. If that were the case, all NBA first-round picks would come out of about 30 programs.

By the way, who's "going nuts" over Singleton? Suggesting that a walk-on (with D-1 experience, no less) could come in and eventually earn a scholie is hardly revolutionary thought. It, in fact, happens every year.

[Golden Avalanche]

Ok, if you look at it that way, a recruit will always be 'likely' out. Mike Shaw has 4 finalists, so by your logic he is even more likely out. So there will never be a recruit who isn't 'likely out'. Clearly a pessimist's way of thinking.


In cases like this, listen to what the player says. He said just days ago that 3 schools had emerged from the rest--MU, UL, FSU--and that there was no leader. No reason we don't have a good shot with him if he kept us on his list so recently.

On the first point, recruiting is in itself the most pessimistic part of any program. You are going to be turned down far more often then getting a 'yes' when you ask the girl to dinner. The second best answer is a 'no' and that's why recruitments like Dawson (when we got a 'no' early) always cause less angst then recruitments like Harrison and Faust (when we got a 'maybe' for months before the 'no').

As for your last point, don't put too much stock in the player. D'Angelo Harrison came out of the weekend by most accounts heading to SJU. He then set up an announcement for Thursday. On Wednesday morning, he said all four teams had a chance. By Wednesday evening, more then one outlet was reporting he has committed to SJU. Moral of the story, there is always misdirection in recruiting and that's why using a Ouija board may be the best chance of knowing what's going on.

[MarkCharles]

On the first point, recruiting is in itself the most pessimistic part of any program. You are going to be turned down far more often then getting a 'yes' when you ask the girl to dinner. The second best answer is a 'no' and that's why recruitments like Dawson (when we got a 'no' early) always cause less angst then recruitments like Harrison and Faust (when we got a 'maybe' for months before the 'no').

As for your last point, don't put too much stock in the player. D'Angelo Harrison came out of the weekend by most accounts heading to SJU. He then set up an announcement for Thursday. On Wednesday morning, he said all four teams had a chance. By Wednesday evening, more then one outlet was reporting he has committed to SJU. Moral of the story, there is always misdirection in recruiting and that's why using a Ouija board may be the best chance of knowing what's going on.

On your first point, thats pretty much my point exactly. You will get turned down a lot more than you'll get a yes. I just don't see the need for the overall pessimism just because we are one of 3 finalists. Being one of the last 3 is about as good a situation as you can be in for a recruit.

There is certainly a lot of misinformation. But there is absolutely nothing of substance to suggest there is a leader for Hood. If there is, show me, because all I have seen is internet speculation. Plus, Hood seems like a great kid who isn't interested in playing a lot of games with his recruitment. Maybe naive to take what he says at face value, but his words are worth a lot more to me than some dude on UL's message board.

[GGGG]

That's, um, pretty silly.
If Stephen Curry were so good, why wasn't he recruited by better schools than Davidson (and High Point)?
If Rodney Stuckey were so good, how come he wasn't recruited by better schools than Eastern Washington?
If Jason Thompson were so good, how come he wasn't recruited by better schools than Rider?

But if any of them decided to transfer after their freshman year, they certainly wouldn't be walking on somewhere.

[MarkCharles]

The only situation whereby Singleton should get a scholarship is if we decide to bank a scholarship or if a transfer opens one up. And both of those should be one year deals. He should not be given one long term.

He knew what he was getting himself in to, and he obviously has some way of paying for his tuition, so I don't know why he should get a scholarship when this team clearly has other needs.

[bilsu]

The only situation whereby Singleton should get a scholarship is if we decide to bank a scholarship or if a transfer opens one up. And both of those should be one year deals. He should not be given one long term.

He knew what he was getting himself in to, and he obviously has some way of paying for his tuition, so I don't know why he should get a scholarship when this team clearly has other needs.

We do not know if Buzz promised him anything. It could very well be that Buzz promised him a scholarship after one year.

[Canadian Dimes]

I don't care if Singleton is a walk-on...

If he's out performing other schollie players in practice and scrimmages, he deserves a schollie.

I think AL would agree...

Then I guess Deane should have given scholies to Shaw n Crawford because they were starters?  If someone transfers ala Mbakwe or Maymon last minute he may get a scholie for a year or a semester... But the kid ain't goin anywhere n Buzz ain't givin him a precious scholie

[bilsu]

Shaw and Crawford were getting their tuition paid by baseball. Does not compare to Singleton who is paying his own way.

[Earl Tatum]

  : I guess it's down to Hood, Henry, McDonald and Shaw. Would like to have 2. Here is an interesting name--Montervale Clark. Buzz let him go, I understand he was never charged with any crime. Don't know about academics though. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Shaw and Crawford were getting their tuition paid by baseball. Does not compare to Singleton who is paying his own way.

Don't bother him with the pesky details.

[GGGG]

: I guess it's down to Hood, Henry, McDonald and Shaw. Would like to have 2. Here is an interesting name--Montervale Clark. Buzz let him go, I understand he was never charged with any crime. Don't know about academics though. Correct me if I'm wrong.

He was arrested and charged in September 2009.  I have no idea where the case is now, but that ship is long gone.

Knowing Buzz we are in on a lot more....he seems to pull Jucos out of his hat like with DJO and Jae.  Plus the spring signing season will undoubtedly bring more prospects forward.

[Pakuni]

He was arrested and charged in September 2009.  I have no idea where the case is now, but that ship is long gone.

Knowing Buzz we are in on a lot more....he seems to pull Jucos out of his hat like with DJO and Jae.  Plus the spring signing season will undoubtedly bring more prospects forward.

You know, I've looked and looked for what's happened with Clark's case, but found nothing.
I will note, however, that he's now at Highland Community College outside in Freeport, Ill., which means either his case was resolved (without prison time) or some judge in Texas thought the merits of the case weren't strong enough and/or he wasn't enough of a danger to keep Clark in state.

All that said, I think we'll all take a pass on Monterale. He blew his chance.