MU recruiting target Darius Smith named first-team all-pulbic league

[NYWarrior]

he's having a great year

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basketball/1452478,022609-all-public-team.article

The first team is led by Marshall's Darius Smith, a 6-foot guard.

Smith is a four-year starter who almost singlehandedly kept Marshall afloat after Harris went out for 12 games. Smith averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals. He has won a state championship, two third-place state trophies and one city championship.

''He's a true warrior,'' Marshall coach Henry Cotton said. ''He has an old-school love for the game. I don't think there is any other player in the state that could have taken 12 [junior varsity players from a year ago] and held things together like Darius has. He makes everyone else on the team better.''

[lab_warrior]

You cannot go wrong recruiting good players from this league.  If they can compete in the Chicago Public league, that's basically D1 competition...a very high level of play.

[GOMU1104]

Would take him over Riley in a second.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I don't know how current this list of schools might be, but we may be competing against Mr. Crean among others.


http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=73641

[lab_warrior]

Hmmmm...join a top 20 recruiting class...or join a gutter trash, 1-win, probation-hit team in the Big 10???  Tough.

[bma725]

Not that simple folks.  Memphis and Duke have started sniffing around Smith in recent weeks.  There's conflicting reports about whether they have offered or are waiting to offer, but they are definitely interested and the interest is growing.  Some say Kentucky is the leader, some say Arizona State is the leader, no one really knows for sure because Smith isn't talking until his season is over.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hmmmm...join a top 20 recruiting class...or join a gutter trash, 1-win, probation-hit team in the Big 10???  Tough.

Didn't stop him from landing a top 10 recruiting class already there.  Kentucky is on the list as well as a few other notables.  Why isn't Illinois?  Or did they just not make this particular list

[bma725]

Didn't stop him from landing a top 10 recruiting class already there.  Kentucky is on the list as well as a few other notables.  Why isn't Illinois?  Or did they just not make this particular list

They are full at those spots. 

Check out their 2009, 2010 and 2011 classes.  They've got three guards coming already in 2009, another in 2010 and one more in 2011.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Chicos good thing we can count on you for the IU perspective and thanks for the updates on their recruiting class.  Besides you no one else gives an F!

[mu_hilltopper]

.. and that would be wrong on many levels.   You're such a pleasure.

.. I would indeed love to hear the conversation between 3-4-5 star recruits & parents .. and a coach of a team like Indiana. 

I just don't get it why top talent, with offers with programs that are expected to be in the top 25-50 .. would go with a program expected to be conference bottom dwellers for near half their collegiate careers.   -- besides a desire to play crappy basketball near home, of course.

[dwaderoy2004]

Memphis and Duke have started sniffing around Smith in recent weeks. 

must be the john wall insurance plan.  i hope we nab him, but we seem to be a longshot, at best.

[Warrior Forever]

Didn't stop him from landing a top 10 recruiting class already there.  Kentucky is on the list as well as a few other notables.  Why isn't Illinois?  Or did they just not make this particular list

Bruce Weber hasn't made many friends in the public league in Chicago.  Most of his Illinois talent has come from downstate, ie Peoria. 

[Jam Chowder]

Chicos good thing we can count on you for the IU perspective and thanks for the updates on their recruiting class.  Besides you no one else gives an F!

Good grief.

[79Warrior]

Hmmmm...join a top 20 recruiting class...or join a gutter trash, 1-win, probation-hit team in the Big 10???  Tough.

Every ranking service I have seen shows Crean's class higher than ours.

[bma725]

Every ranking service I have seen shows Crean's class higher than ours.

Everyone except HoopScoop.  They have MU #2 behind UNC, with IU at 5. 

[tower912]

The wild card in all of the recruiting stats is Liam.  He counts toward this year's class, though he was redshirted.   If his athleticism is properly channeled and trained he could be a gamechanger.     So, though next year's official class is somewhere in the top 20,  it doesn't accurately represent the newcomers next year.

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

The wild card in all of the recruiting stats is Liam.  He counts toward this year's class, though he was redshirted.   If his athleticism is properly channeled and trained he could be a gamechanger.     So, though next year's official class is somewhere in the top 20,  it doesn't accurately represent the newcomers next year.

Good point.  In that case, you also gotta throw in Chris Otule and Joseph Fulce.  Their injuries didn't allow them to get into the flow , but if they can stay healthy and develop in the off-season, we will essentially have 8 new guys coming in.