Stealth Recruiting in the Internet Age

[Lennys Tap]

While Marquette fans were busy debating how potential targets (Bryant, Kane, Parrom, Latavious Williams and many,many more) might fit as future Warriors, Buzz and his staff have received committments from 5 players virtually unknown (or at least unmentioned) by "insiders" and the media(Mbao, Johnson-Odom, Clark, Bowen and Roseboro). Most coaches are very public in the courtships of their targets while Buzz seems to prefer flying under the radar. What do posters think of his modus operandi and how does he pull it off in the internet, "there are no secrets" age?

[tower912]

I've posted elsewhere that every time I hear we are in a competition with another team for a player, I assume (1)that player is going elsewhere and (2) Buzz and co are going to get another player that nobody was talking about with equal or near equal ability.     Amazing.    I assume this latest signing means that Liam won't be playing. 

[bma725]

Mbao, Clark and Roseboro were neither unknown nor unmentioned.  You just had to look in the right places for the information, and do a little more work than the typical recruit search. 

Anyway, I'm okay with the private courtship because it minimizes the damage from things not working out and helps protect your image.

Even if two players are absolutely equal in talent, how it is reported effects the public perception of Buzz's recruiting.  No  one really cares if we lose out on a kid where the only MU mention occurred in a hometown newspaper blog somewhere in Texas.  But everyone complains when a kid goes on national TV or the internet and chooses someone else.  Better to play things close to the vest and minimize the damage.

[Wareagle]

While Marquette fans were busy debating how potential targets (Bryant, Kane, Parrom, Latavious Williams and many,many more) might fit as future Warriors, Buzz and his staff have received committments from 5 players virtually unknown (or at least unmentioned) by "insiders" and the media(Mbao, Johnson-Odom, Clark, Bowen and Roseboro). Most coaches are very public in the courtships of their targets while Buzz seems to prefer flying under the radar. What do posters think of his modus operandi and how does he pull it off in the internet, "there are no secrets" age?

One thing that enables Buzz to pull it off is the fact that the bright lights of the AAU scene and the media that comes with it are not shining on Junior Colleges and Prep Schools.  While the players in some of those programs may be very good, Rivals and Scout have less incentive to cover these schools because their subscribers want AAU coverage more.  Plus, a media guy can cover over half of the top 150 if he goes to huge AAU tournaments like the King James or Real Deal.

That said, my guess is he also puts more effort into it than 95% of current NCAA coaches.  

As far as insiders go, some knew a few of these guys, but didn't say anything until the signings became a sure thing out of respect for the program and Buzz.  

BMA's right too, some of the names were mentioned, it's just that they were mentioned with much less frequency than others.

[4everwarriors]

Who's this kid named Stealth and is he a 2009 recruit?

[YoungMUFan4]

Mbao-there was some speculation he may be the guy back in march
johnson odom-one internet report mentioned MU told DJO that they would take him in 09 and that was back in February.
Clark-People obviously knew of him from his days in Milwaukee and some were monitoring him during the season
Bowen-We were on his trail since last spring...it was just unknown that he was a big target for us.
Roseboro-blew up at the is8 league and thats when MU really turned up the heat on him