Tokoto Interview

[texaswarrior74]

Not a single mention of Marquette. I don't see that we have any chance here gang.

http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/961644.html

Let me know if it won't open and I'll post excerpts.

[HoopsMalone]

It asks you to sign in.  I wouldn't count Buzz out yet, especially if he shows he can develop talent this year.  But Tokoto sounds like a very, very long shot for Buzz to get. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

He will commit this Summer....to the Tarheels.  The only reason UNC hasn't offered yet is because they abide by NABC rules to wait until a kid is finished with his sophomore year.

[texaswarrior74]

excerpts: My mistake, one mention, in his list of offers but he did leave out the fact that Duke has already offered

Where does your college list stand at this point?

It goes Wisconsin, Marquette, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Kansas. Getting looks from Florida, North Carolina hasn't offered yet, Michgan State has offered......

Do you think that North Carolina will offer?

Yeah, June 15th.

Are you excited about that?

Yeah, I'm very excited to talk to Coach (Williams). I'm waiting for it.

How does that process work? Is there a mutual understanding that an offer will happen or is it a situation where it might happen?

It's more of something that might happen. It's just a matter of time. If I keep playing the way I'm playing, and keep getting better, it's going to happen.

Does Coach Williams explain why he hasn't offered when so many other schools have?

He explained why he doesn't offer sophomores. He's part of a committee where they made a promise to each other not to offer a player until his sophomore year so he's honored that commitment ever since. .....

With so many schools, how will you cut that down?

I'm just going to look at education, basketball history, who's there, the recruits that are coming in my grade. I know I'm not going to be handed a position, but I want to play. ....

What coaches do you think have been the most frequent visitors to your gym over the last year?

Wisconsin, even though they're the home team, they make a lot of visits to my school and show how much they're interested in me. Coach (Roy) Williams has come up four or five times – twice to my open gym, two of my games and I believe he came another time. ....

Are there any other coach relationships that you've developed that stand out?

Coach Bo Ryan (at Wisconsin), we talk a lot. Coach (Greg) Gard from Wisconsin. I talk to Coach O(rlando Antigua) from Kentucky a lot ... Michigan State just recently came up for a game so I talked to Coach (Dwayne) Stephens. Every time we talk to a coach they're real cool, which is part of the recruiting pitch, but it's pretty nice. ... I've talked to Coach K(rzyzewski) on the phone about three times already and like I said with Coach Williams, he stays on the phone with me for like an hour. I love talking to Coach K and talking to Coach Roy Williams on the phone. That's every kid's dream – everybody wants to talk to them.

[brewcity77]

No luck linking here either.

On the plus side, he's really under no pressure to declare for another year and a half or so. If Lazar gets drafted, along with Wesley's success, and maybe a Sweet 16 or Elite 8 run next year, we could be right in it. If Cadougan and Blue show well next year, the idea of Tokoto joining them for a season, even as a one-and-done, might be appealing. After all, he's virtually assured starter minutes from day one here, something he might not find as easily at a Duke or North Carolina.

[texaswarrior74]

I agree with Chicos

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Probably won't go to MU because he read something he didn't like here. 

[Hards Alumni]

I am pleased with all the time and resources that UW seems to be wasting on him.

He is a Tarheel.  Book it.

[GOMU1104]

That came from a North Carolina Scout site, so expect it to have some sort of lean/bias.

JPT and his Family were at MU's selection show party.  There is a long ways to go in this recruitment. I highly doubt he commits this summer. Remember when we had no chance at Vander Blue?

Dont write this one off just yet.

[NersEllenson]

Obviously Buzz would like JPT - That said, I think Buzz may be letting all these other coaches blow their load, and not overexpose himself to JPT at this point in time.  My guess would be that Buzz would work to try to line up a meeting with JPT and his family before UNC would offer.  Sometimes, less is more - and these kids get so showered with attention and praise, that I'm sure at some point it actually gets a little annoying.  It's like the hot girl, who ultimately goes for the dude who doesn't fall all over her, chase her around, kiss her a$$ - I think to an extent, some of this same strategy could be effective and apply in recruiting, in certain cases.

[Tugg Speedman]

JP is a Sophomore.  UNC offers June 15 and he accepts.  As I understand it, he cannot sign a LOI until November of his senior year, 18 months later.  He can decomitt anytime he wants.

That's a loooong time between a verbal and signing.  A lot can change, and often does.

Ask Vander Blue
Ask Aaron Bowen

[brewcity77]

Tokoto could be the type of guy to have a Carmelo-type impact here, maybe even leading us to a title. But if he does go elsewhere, I just hope it's not to Wisconsin or another Big East school. He'll do what he thinks is best for him and his NBA future, I just hope it doesn't lead to us seeing him in an opposing uniform for all of his college years.

[butchbadger]

He is only  a soph, but his game is very incomplete right now.

He can't shoot at all.  He is an athletic freak with a very good feel for the game.  Nice passer and good instincts. 

Not a 1 and done and not Carmelo.

Most of his points are put backs and dunks right now.  I assume he will get a lot better but he does have a lot of work to do. More of an Alando Tucker type player right now

I wonder if the appeal of UNC lessens after watching this year's debacle.  Bo has been all over him and Buzz and his parents seemed to be very comfortable at one of the games I was at.

[MerrittsMustache]

I wonder if the appeal of UNC lessens after watching this year's debacle. 

But it's North Carolina. It's North Carolina.

As much as I'd like to see JPT in a Marquette uniform, let's face it, if any one of us was a stud HS player, we'd pick UNC over MU without batting an eye.

[Canadian Dimes]

i guess i am a little confused ove rthe article...the orignal postaer states thereis no mention of Mu then another poster copies and pastes a mention of MU 

[HoopsMalone]

I wonder if the appeal of UNC lessens after watching this year's debacle. 

It's UNC, but making the NIT finals is not a complete disaster.  I think the coach, the tradition, the Jordan brand, and all the talent they have still makes it a top 3 destination with KU and UK right now.

[Tugg Speedman]

It's UNC, but making the NIT finals is not a complete disaster.  I think the coach, the tradition, the Jordan brand, and all the talent they have still makes it a top 3 destination with KU and UK right now.

Yes it does, but what will be the view in UNC one year from today if they have another dismal season?

[brewcity77]

Yes it does, but what will be the view in UNC one year from today if they have another dismal season?

Something tells me that adding the top high school player in the country in Harrison Barnes, along with returning 4 of their top 5 scorers and another top ten recruit will keep them from having a repeat next season. They may not be a top 5 team all season long, but they'll probably be a top 15 team next year.

[MUBurrow]

They came back from the period between Smith and Williams as strong as ever.  UNC is not going to see another precipitous decline under Roy Williams.  A couple of down years will not hurt what is probably the best program in college basketball.  Even this year they are going to have a lottery pick.

[BrewCity83]

With so many schools, how will you cut that down?

I'm just going to look at education, basketball history, who's there, the recruits that are coming in my grade. I know I'm not going to be handed a position, but I want to play. ....

He wants to play.  At UNC, will he get to play as much with all of these studs coming in?

[texaswarrior74]

i guess i am a little confused ove rthe article...the orignal postaer states thereis no mention of Mu then another poster copies and pastes a mention of MU  Roll Eyes

I'm the OP and I am also the person who corrected the mistake when I reposted the excerpts. It was much longer, I just picked out things that were not solely directed at UNC.

FWIW, the "insiders" on the UNC board (who happen to be well connected) are saying that Roy is going "all in" for JP just like he did for Harrison Barnes. From what they say, he rarely loses when he goes "all in."

This will be interesting to watch since Shabazz Mohammed is also high on their list in that class.

[reinko]

This will be interesting to watch since Shabazz Mohammed is also high on their list in that class.

Just yesterday, I was convinced the coolest recruit name ever was Fab Melo, now a Shabazz Mohammed.  Damn that's dope.

[brewcity77]

FWIW, the "insiders" on the UNC board (who happen to be well connected) are saying that Roy is going "all in" for JP just like he did for Harrison Barnes. From what they say, he rarely loses when he goes "all in."

One advantage we have here in Wisconsin is that there is a basketball tradition, and I'd say it's much more impressive than that of Iowa, where Barnes is from. Neither Iowa State nor the Hawkeyes really have the pedigree of Marquette or even Wisconsin. Both schools here have national title banners, and both have Final Four appearances in recent memory. Whereas Barnes was looking at the two main in-state schools as having one Final Four appearance between them since 1956, both Marquette and Wisconsin have been there in the past decade. Not saying that will keep Tokoto here, but I do think that there's a far more legitimate pull from either Marquette or Madison.

What I would like to see Buzz do is try to bring Wade in on the recruiting. Maybe see if he'd come back to do a summer camp at the Al, and make sure that Tokoto is there. Not sure how Buzz's relations with D-Wade are, but if we can use him to say "hey, this is a place where you can maximize your star potential and turn a few college years into NBA greatness" with the guarantee of playing time, it might be worth more than him just being one more faceless McDonald's All-American at UNC.

One can at least dream of that, right?

[Badgerhater]

Get him into the AL this summer for "open gym" and let him make some Marquette friends.

[housecreaning]

Probably won't go to MU because he read something he didn't like here. 

He fears getting Buzz Cut!