Tokoto

[texaswarrior74]

Is at the Duke/UNC game sitting with Harrison Barnes and UNC 2011 commits, PJ Hairston and James McAdoo.

Hmmmmm......

[Markusquette]

like anyone thinks we would get him anyway

[GGGG]

Yeah, IMO the only way we get him is if he falls off.  I just hope he doesn't go to UW.

[willie warrior]

Yeah, IMO the only way we get him is if he falls off.  I just hope he doesn't go to UW.

Why can't we get him? Why is that just accepted?

[GGGG]

Why can't we get him? Why is that just accepted?

Because he doesn't seem that interested.  Don't get me wrong, I think Buzz should work his tail off to get him, but if I were a betting man, I would bet "no."

[avid1010]

Why can't we get him? Why is that just accepted?

How would you recommend stealing him away from the likes of Duke and UNC?  I'm sure Buzz will be all ears.

[Shack]

How would you recommend stealing him away from the likes of Duke and UNC?  I'm sure Buzz will be all ears.

20 minute car ride back to your parents house whenever you feel like it.  Big savings for his parents to come see him play whenever they want as well.   Let's hope he likes it at his house and wants his parents and high school friends around him for support.  All the other factors we lose. 

[Benny B]

Because he doesn't seem that interested.  Don't get me wrong, I think Buzz should work his tail off to get him, but if I were a betting man, I would bet "no."

It's still early, and JP has a lot of opportunities to explore before making his decision.  If I were him, I'd still be taking my trips to Duke, UNC, etc. even if I wasn't absolutely positive I wanted to go there.  At least if he did commit to UW or MU, he would have done his due diligence and could feel comfortable about the decision.

Good for him for not automatically committing to UW or MU.  Get out there, see the world (metaphorically speaking), leave no stone unturned, then make your decision.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

20 minute car ride back to your parents house whenever you feel like it.  Big savings for his parents to come see him play whenever they want as well.   Let's hope he likes it at his house and wants his parents and high school friends around him for support.  All the other factors we lose. 

Like most rationally thinking teenagers, he's probably looking to get away from his parents.

[NersEllenson]

Like most rationally thinking teenagers, he's probably looking to get away from his parents.

+1 - An unfortunate reality for MU in this case, but probably true of most 18 year old boys.  At least with the Madison Memorial kids, they are getting away to an extent and experiencing a different city/feel.  All this said, I'm sure Buzz is going to do everything he can to land the kid.  The Big East might be his biggest selling point, combined with an ability to scrimmage with some of the Bucks on occasion.

[wadesworld]

Like most rationally thinking teenagers, he's probably looking to get away from his parents.

That is not what people very close to him say.  The thinking is that he wants to stay close to home and is very family oriented.  I still think he ends up somewhere in North Carolina, but I think that is because it is the right basketball situation for him.  I think that decision will be tough on him because he is so close to his family, though.

[HoopsMalone]

If Buzz is able to sign 2 quality big men in 2011, Tokoto then walks in to a really good team and could be the final piece to the puzzle on a Big East Championship team.

[Blackhat]

Rationally speaking I'd go to Duke out of those four options.

NC may be harder to get highlighted at.  

But that's not always how these kids go about things and NC will probably win.   It's usually about which coach sells himself and the program best.  

Hopefully some day Marquette can get to the level of a Duke but we aren't there yet.  

[hdog1017]

Not living in Wisconsin, I don't know much about this kid.  Is he one-and done material? 

[reinko]

Rationally speaking I'd go to Duke out of those four options.

NC may be harder to get highlighted at.  

But that's not always how these kids go about things and NC will probably win.   It's usually about which coach sells himself and the program best.  

Hopefully some day Marquette can get to the level of a Duke but we aren't there yet.  

I think Duke basketball will become the next Seton Hall after Coach K leaves...Not like 5 star recruits will be lining up to play for WoJo.  Even though he could teach them the fine art of slapping the floor as your opponent dribbles the ball up court.

[willie warrior]

How would you recommend stealing him away from the likes of Duke and UNC?  I'm sure Buzz will be all ears.

Tiring to listen to smug comments why we can't compete with the big boys. How about:

• Playing at home in front of his family and friends
  MU is a great school in a great city
  MU plays in a great conference--BEast tourney in NYC
  Can live at home or on campus
  UNC is sliding big time this year--yeah I know that is negative but is true. Also UNC does recruit over players. At MU he will get ample playing time.
  
  
  
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[Blackhat]

I think Duke basketball will become the next Seton Hall after Coach K leaves...Not like 5 star recruits will be lining up to play for WoJo.  Even though he could teach them the fine art of slapping the floor as your opponent dribbles the ball up court.

Duke would be insane to hand over the team to Wojo and not go with Jeff Capel.   I don't think they are that dumb. 

[bma725]

Not living in Wisconsin, I don't know much about this kid.  Is he one-and done material? 

Possibly, if he progresses the way people think he will.  But, it's still very early in the process.  Plenty of kids who are thought of as can't miss prospects as freshman and sophomores turn out not be big time recruits as seniors.

[4everwarriors]

Duke would be insane to hand over the team to Wojo and not go with Jeff Capel.   I don't think they are that dumb. 

Damn, I would had bet the mortgage Crean would be next in line there.

[mikeDEANmeminger]

Not living in Wisconsin, I don't know much about this kid.  Is he one-and done material? 

Simply, NO

[avid1010]

Tiring to listen to smug comments why we can't compete with the big boys. How about:

• Playing at home in front of his family and friends
  MU is a great school in a great city
  MU plays in a great conference--BEast tourney in NYC
  Can live at home or on campus
  UNC is sliding big time this year--yeah I know that is negative but is true. Also UNC does recruit over players. At MU he will get ample playing time.
  

I'm confident Buzz realizes what you listed.  Your comment was really the only smug comment on here, like we should just pull a rabbit out of a hat and land this kid.  I'm sure Buzz is doing his best, and I hope he has better ideas than yours, but I think many on this board are realistic on our chances.  They're not being smug, as I'm sure they'd love to see this kid in blue and gold as well.  I like how Buzz recruits, and I don't think we could ask for a better coach to land this kid when considering MU's position against the competition.  That being said, I don't think we'll land him.    

In my opinion UNC is less likely to recruit over players than most of its competition, and if he's as good as advertised, it won't matter.  If Buzz can land players like this I'd be more worried about Buzz over-recruiting than UNC when comparing the two coach's histories.  [/list]

[Benny B]

Like most rationally thinking teenagers, he's probably looking to get away from his parents.

My experience is that teenagers RARELY think rationally, especially about their futures.

[79Warrior]

Tiring to listen to smug comments why we can't compete with the big boys. How about:

• Playing at home in front of his family and friends
  MU is a great school in a great city
  MU plays in a great conference--BEast tourney in NYC
  Can live at home or on campus
  UNC is sliding big time this year--yeah I know that is negative but is true. Also UNC does recruit over players. At MU he will get ample playing time.
  

The reality is UNC, Duke are elite programs. You are kidding yourself to think we can compete with them. MU can certainly hold its own against most programs, but the Tobacco Road boys are in a class by themselves.

[cheebs09]

That is not what people very close to him say.  The thinking is that he wants to stay close to home and is very family oriented.  I still think he ends up somewhere in North Carolina, but I think that is because it is the right basketball situation for him.  I think that decision will be tough on him because he is so close to his family, though.

Doesn't he have family in North Carolina? I thought I remember that was one of the reasons Duke and UNC were likely to get him. Also I thought I heard about a relative, possibly his father, played in the ACC.

[bma725]

Doesn't he have family in North Carolina? I thought I remember that was one of the reasons Duke and UNC were likely to get him. Also I thought I heard about a relative, possibly his father, played in the ACC.

His biological father is Brian Oliver, who played for Georgia Tech's Final Four team 20 years ago.  Tokoto does not have a relationship with Oliver.

He has family all over the place, but most of it is concentrated in Rockford, where he grew up until his mom moved to the Falls a few years ago.