Update on Taylor and his LOI...

[LastWarrior]

Not good news... our two top recruits are going to formally ask out of their LOI's (Nick Williams being the other).


http://njmg.typepad.com/zagsblog/2008/04/taylor-to-ask-f.html#more

St. Anthony's Taylor to Ask for Release from Marquette

Tyshawntaylor4_30200St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley said he plans to ask Marquette to release senior guard Tyshawn Taylor from his Letter of Intent now that Tom Crean is set to take over the Indiana job.

"I would like the opportunity to have him released from his scholarship in the event that we don't like who's hired," Hurley said Tuesday night after his team was honored at the 76ers-Nets game for winning the New Jersey Tournament of Champions.

Hurley said he had already received phone calls from Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech inquiring about Taylor, a first-team All-State selection who averaged 15 points in two T of C games. The 6-foot-3 Taylor, ranked No. 21 among point guards in the Class of 2008, initially chose Marquette over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Kansas was also involved.

"They (Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech) would be right there because there's a comfort level," Hurley said.  "He visited both of those places."

Hurley said both Rutgers and Seton Hall were probably set at the point guard position for next year, and he did not expect them to be in the mix.

Hurley said Taylor was understandably "confused" about the situation, and that Taylor had initially chosen Marquette because of Crean.

"Yes, he liked the school but there's no doubt that the decision was based on Tom Crean," Hurley said.

"It came as a big surprise," Taylor said of the Crean news.

Crean had not called Taylor as of Tuesday night, and Hurley explained that the coach would probably first meet with his Marquette players and then inform recruits.

Hurley, the Naismith Boys High School National Coach of the Year, added that it was "ridiculous" that coaches were permitted to change schools, but that teenage student-athletes were bound to their Letters of Intent. Some student-athletes, such as Devin Ebanks of St. Thomas More, apparently had provisions in their Letters of Intent allowing them to escape if there was a coaching change. Ebanks is looking at Rutgers, Memphis, Texas and West Virginia now that Kelvin Sampson is out at Indiana after repeated recruiting violations.

"This thing of a National Letter of Intent binding a minor is absolutely ridiculous," Hurley said.

Hurley said he planned to attend the Final  Four this weekend and speak to some people there to learn more about the Marquette situation.

"I'm going to find out what the feeling is about what Marquette will do," Hurley said.

Asked if Marquette still had a chance to keep Taylor, Hurley said: "They're going to have to re-recruit him. I'm going to have to really know this guy (the new coach) well."

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

Great.

Like I been saying...I'm not upset with Crean over what he's done, it's just what he did today is what constricts my blood vessels.

If we lose out on Taylor and Williams...then putang ina. 

We could also possibly lose guys currently on the roster, like someone said Mbakwe might leave...DJ might go to Europe or whatever...frickin Crean, man...or should i say FRACKIN (seriously mods, change that to "fornicatin")...

Basically...unless we get a really good coach that can keep this team and recruits together, then we are fornicated.

[marquette09]

Its not the TC leaving thats the bad part by itself, its the domino effect on players........i.e. taylor

[mviale]

Can you blame the recruits? They are just watching out for themselves.

I get hired by a company and a boss.  He leaves and I have new boss - I am concerned, but I weigh my options. 
1) I already committed and gave notice at my old gig.
2) the new boss is pretty cool and no fake tan

I probably will go with the new gig.

[MUCrew]

...then putang ina.

I'll +1 that.  I've never really seen that spelled out before, but there you go. 

I just hope the next hire is just as good as Crean or better. There is definitely a feeling of disrespect and like he turned his back on Marquette.

[KC_Warrior]

The sky is falling.

[Tugg Speedman]

Its not the TC leaving thats the bad part by itself, its the domino effect on players........i.e. taylor

It doesn't have to be.  It's natural for Taylor to be upset and angry.  That's becuase, for the moment, he committed to a program with no coach!

Now once we can a coach.  A real person that sits down in his living room and tells him the great things he's going to do.  A real person that reminds him following Crean to IU means competing with Northwestern and Penn State for ninth place in the Big Ten and probation, he will see things differently.

[spiral97]

Hurley said he had already received phone calls from Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech inquiring about Taylor,

I'm somehow surprised that this isn't a NCAA violation.....

[🏀]

Hurley said he had already received phone calls from Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech inquiring about Taylor,

I'm somehow surprised that this isn't a NCAA violation.....

As long as they are calling Hurley, not Taylor.

[mosarsour]

Its not the TC leaving thats the bad part by itself, its the domino effect on players........i.e. taylor

You hit the nail right on the head. My biggest concern is losing Taylor, both Erik and Nick Williams, O'Tule, Mbakwe, Hazel, and whoever else decides to leave. In all honesty, the best choice for everything to remain intact would be Buzz. Otherwise we're going to be looking at a lengthy rebuilding process. Let's just hope we get someone in there quickly to talk these kids into staying.

[Pakuni]

Its not the TC leaving thats the bad part by itself, its the domino effect on players........i.e. taylor

You hit the nail right on the head. My biggest concern is losing Taylor, both Erik and Nick Williams, O'Tule, Mbakwe, Hazel, and whoever else decides to leave. In all honesty, the best choice for everything to remain intact would be Buzz. Otherwise we're going to be looking at a lengthy rebuilding process. Let's just hope we get someone in there quickly to talk these kids into staying.

We had these same discussions when Deane was fired. Henry was transferring. Wardle was transferring. Nnamaka was going back to Sweden. Etc., etc.
Rarely do such apocalyptic visions come true when these things happen. MU likely will lose a player or recruit along the way, maybe even a couple. But it won't be nearly as bad as some of the chicken littles are suggesting.