Why is jp tokoto announcing at ten at night?

[GGGG]

Then who is? If the answer is "no one", then the answer by default is JPT.

He isn't known well enough to rise to that level.  The correct answer is "no one...period."

[brewcity77]

If you have to start a sentence with "dumb as it may seem" then likely what you're saying is Really stupid.
There is. No way. He Will. Leave MF.
Let me be clear: No way in hell.

You misinterpret what I mean. All I'm saying is that if he chooses UNC and transfers to Oak Hill Academy, he has a better chance of being named a McDonald's All-American than he does if he chooses Marquette or Wisconsin and stays at Menomonee Falls. Regardless of level of play, regardless of success he attains in the next year, the odds of him earning national acclaim in the next 15 months markedly improve if he goes with option A as opposed to option B.

The odds also increase greatly that major recruiting services will rocket him up their boards and he will end up as a 5-star player ranked in the top 15 of the nation rather than a 4-star player ranked 30-40 in the nation. That's just what happens when you are a UNC recruit from Oak Hill (or something similar).

And while it seems dumb that his ratings and accolades would be influenced by that, I fully believe that they would be.

[TallTitan34]

He isn't known well enough to rise to that level.  The correct answer is "no one...period."

Based on this logic Milwaukee doesn't have an NBA team either 

[Tugg Speedman]

Another84....why would he wait until June?  Makes no sense at all.  

I said if he's going to announce that he's leaving MF for Oak Hill and going to UNC, he has to understand some will view that as a repudiation of the state of Wisconsin (MF, MU, UW, etc).  In this case, he's better off making the announcement when not in school and getting out of town ASAP.  No need to put himself through unnecessary grief.

[butchbadger]

I agree it is an odd place and odd time.  I have heard MU is out and I am pretty sure it is UNC.  UW would not be on board with a school switch IMO.  That sounds like Huckleberry Roy to me.  

It also sounds like Ritchie Davis who has been sucking in all the attention over this like some Hollywood starlet.

[Tugg Speedman]

I agree it is an odd place and odd time.  I have heard MU is out and I am pretty sure it is UNC.  UW would not be on board with a school switch IMO.  That sounds like Huckleberry Roy to me.  

It also sounds like Ritchie Davis who has been sucking in all the attention over this like some Hollywood starlet.

Who told you MU was out?  You have Trimble's mobile number?  And he told you and no one else.

Fact is you have no idea what you're talking about.

[rocky_warrior]

I agree it is an odd place and odd time.  I have heard MU is out and I am pretty sure it is UNC.  UW would not be on board with a school switch IMO.  That sounds like Huckleberry Roy to me.  

It also sounds like Ritchie Davis who has been sucking in all the attention over this like some Hollywood starlet.

Alright, now I've got to point this out.  If you want to post condescending crap like that, keep it on the UW boards.  I don't want people thinking an MU fan posted stuff like this.

[brewcity77]

He isn't known well enough to rise to that level.  The correct answer is "no one...period."

So by this logic, you can never use a sample size or poll to determine the actions or feelings of a whole? Come on, that's just silly.

LBJ was a household name throughout the nation for most everyone. He made an announcement about his future in the most public way possible that snubbed his hometown and created jilted feelings. Idiots lashed out at him, he because a minor pariah, and is widely regarded as an idiot in terms of public relations.

JPT is a well-known name throughout the state for college and high school basketball fans. He is going to make an announcement about his future in the most public way possible that could snub his hometown and create jilted feelings. Idiots could lash out at him, he could be regarded as a local pariah by hoopniks, and if he did, it would have to seem a bit misguided in terms of public relations when he could have announced at MF and likely taken no backlash.

I'm not saying it's the same, but you can't tell me that on a vastly different scale there are certainly a number of similarities. And I'm sorry, but if you can't, then I would suggest never looking at another political poll or sample size research study again, because clearly you could never trust what 1,000 people say to determine the general feelings of the nation, despite the continued statistical evidence that shows you can.

[Benny B]

I'm about to the point where I'm hoping he just lip syncs the chorus to Mighty Mouse on Thursday night.

[NavinRJohnson]

I'll leave all the uninformed analysis and speculation about the meaning of the site and time to others, not to mention ridiculous comparisons to LeBron, and simply say that if the kid somehow puts an MU hat on, Buzz Williams' stock goes through the roof.

[Lennys Tap]

The one really big thing lost in this whole discussion is that evidently UW never had a chance with this kid. Bo personally recruited JP like I've never seen him recruit anyone. All the "insiders" had Wisconsin as the leader and the story they'll write is that the Badgers lost out because almighty Carolina swept him off his feet. But if it hadn't been UNC it would have been MU, Maryland, Kentucky, UCONN or ANYBODY who doesn't play that God awful slowdown style of Wisconsin. JP wasn't going anywhere that didn't play uptempo and has said as much. So when some "insider" tells you that UW finished "second" in the Tokoto sweepstakes smile with the knowledge that they were a lock for second from day one - with no chance for first.

[reinko]

Hey BrewCity, Sultan, Navin, and CBB.  You are arguing about a metaphor.  Really, it's a metaphor.

[uncle zeffy]

The talks about JP getting booed at school the next day if/when he chooses UNC are laughable... I went to HS with Candace Parker, arguably the best woman to ever touch a basketball in the state of IL. **not trying to get in a WBB debate** and after she announced her decision to attend Tennessee on ESPN Radio there were no boos for snubbing the instate schools, there were congratulations and good jobs....

I would expect the same thing here. A kid deciding to go to a good school with a strong basketball tradition and a respected coach will earn any 17/18 year olds respect.

[reinko]

The talks about JP getting booed at school the next day if/when he chooses UNC are laughable... I went to HS with Candace Parker, arguably the best woman to ever touch a basketball in the state of IL. **not trying to get in a WBB debate** and after she announced her decision to attend Tennessee on ESPN Radio there were no boos for snubbing the instate schools, there were congratulations and good jobs....

I would expect the same thing here. A kid deciding to go to a good school with a strong basketball tradition and a respected coach will earn any 17/18 year olds respect.

Ok.  But did anyone in that room really think she was going to U of I?  I imagine it was down to UCONN and Tennessee.

[brewcity77]

Ok.  But did anyone in that room really think she was going to U of I?  I imagine it was down to UCONN and Tennessee.

And announcing on ESPN Radio and in front of likely a few hundred people and news cameras is apples and oranges. Was she at a public venue in front of fans of the schools in question, or was she at a private venue, such as a radio station or her high school where she likely had a partisan crowd in her favor?

[uncle zeffy]

Ok.  But did anyone in that room really think she was going to U of I?  I imagine it was down to UCONN and Tennessee.

The point is that HS kids are going to be the LAST ones to get extremely worked up about what school the kid is going to go to. It's the Alumni of said schools that feel snubbed and will give him grief.

[TallTitan34]

It's the Alumni of said schools that feel snubbed and will give him grief.

So the people who will be at the announcment.

I agree with you though.  You have to be a piece of crap if you boo the kid wherever he decides.  I doubt anyone will.

[Lennys Tap]

The talks about JP getting booed at school the next day if/when he chooses UNC are laughable... I went to HS with Candace Parker, arguably the best woman to ever touch a basketball in the state of IL. **not trying to get in a WBB debate** and after she announced her decision to attend Tennessee on ESPN Radio there were no boos for snubbing the instate schools, there were congratulations and good jobs....

I would expect the same thing here. A kid deciding to go to a good school with a strong basketball tradition and a respected coach will earn any 17/18 year olds respect.

I hope you're right about reactions to JP's decision, but comparing the interest and passion surrounding the Tokoto situation to the Candace Parker one is ludicrous. About as many people cared about Parker's decision as care about a topnotch high school hockey player picking Wisconsin or Notre Dame. The fact that ESPN televised her announcement is an indictment of the network's politically correct post Title 9 attitude.

[cheebs09]

I just don't envision him being booed at D & B if he chooses UNC. I would say the average citizen doesn't know who JP is. The people who really care are those of us on message boards and those who follow high school basketball. I don't envision many of those people to be camped out at D&B at 10 on a Thursday night waiting for his decision. I'm guessing the normal person will only see a story about him on the news and wonder why the heck he didn't choose UW.

As for the people who think it is a big deal he is doing it in a public place with the news and that it means he is going to UW, I don't think that's the case. From the POV of JP and his family, wouldn't the news like to hear a local kid making it big time and going to UNC? That doesn't exactly happen often in our state. What if he was going to do something at school on Friday and the news stations wanted to do it on the night news the night before?

I really hope he comes to MU, but I would be shocked if he went anywhere but UNC. I don't have any inside info, but it just seems that UNC is the way most seem to think he is leaning.

[Benny B]

So the people who will be at the announcment.

I agree with you though.  You have to be a piece of crap if you boo the kid wherever he decides.  I doubt anyone will.

Perhaps I missed the "Party at D&B's on Thursday Night" memo... are people assuming the announcement is open to the public, or is this actually being advertised somewhere as open to the public?  Otherwise, the only people who would boo are the losers who would show up any way... very unlikely that any of these are going to be MU fans.  Heck.. my guess is the closest thing to an MU fan in that crowd will be LBJ.



Seriously... listen to the Eagle.  If you're an MU fan or well-wisher and you happen to see JPT on Thursday, shake his hand and genuinely wish him the best of luck.  Even if he goes to UNC, it can still be somewhat positive for MU; perhaps JPT will drop in on Buzz occasionally or mosey on over to the Al for a pick-up game during the association's off-season... stuff like that may seem insignificant, but it might go a long way towards landing a future Top 10 recruit.

[pmi]

There is. No way. He Will. Leave MF.
Let me be clear: No way in hell.

http://bit.ly/TokotoUpdate

When asked whether Tokoto will be staying at his current high school next year, Trimble replied, "We will evaluate what's the best fit for JP...that includes looking at every opportunity."

[wadesworld]

Some people are blowing this WAY out of proportion. WAY out of proportion. This is a kid making his FIRST college decision that is ranked between 30-40. This is not the #1 recruit who has already committed to the in state school only to decommit and go to their biggest in conference rival who they will play twice a year (Eric Gordon, anyone?). This is a kid who is choosing THE BEST basketball program in the country (and he is choosing this) over 2 good in state programs. Agreed with TT that there would be more negativity if he chooses MU or UW by the opposing program's fans than if he chooses UNC. You'd be a fool to feel wronged if he chooses UNC. You'd be a fool to feel wronged if he chose any school really. If he committed to you and then backed out that's a slightly (but only slightly) different story. He's making a personal decision of where to go to school. He owes nothing to any of us. He wants to give local media a chance to air it live on News shows. It won't be out in the middle of D&B's with the place silent and him on the microphone.

You all REALLY think that the time of day and place of announcement gives clues to where he's going?! More so than the fact that he JUST visited UNC and had other visits planned for the future that he CANCELLED. Yeah, that means nothing, but the fact that he's announcing at D&B's at 10 PM show he's not going to UNC!  Come on!

And to compare him to LBJ is hilarious. Yeesh. Maybe the most recognizable athlete in the entire world compared to a 17 year old top 40 basketball recruit. Yeah I see the similarities! Not. He isn't shunning the local teams...he was never part of them and will never be part of them. And if you want to compare to LBJ's decision...what was Lebron's decision? He made a public decision in his hometown, so he must've chose the Cavs, right? This is such a similar situation (hah) so he must be staying in state! Err...about that...

And to those who think that 11 PM is a late time to announce for the East Coasters...so what? They will not be showing this on local TV in Chapel Hill. I know some here think this kid is as recognizable as LBJ (lol) but he's not. This is not going to be nationally televised. Also, he's not going to be surprising the coaches. The suspense will be over by this time for them. They will know if he is coming or not. They will not be tuning in to see who he's choosing.

Som very foolish ideas on here.

[Tugg Speedman]

When Vander decommitted from Wisconsin their was nothing but back-slaps and well wishes for him from the UW faithful?  I remember vitriol spewing from them.  This is what Tokoto risks, especially among UW fans because they genuinely think he's going to say UW (MU fans seem hopeful but do not expect it).

You sorely naive to think D&B will only have random people Thursday night that have no idea some big-time high-school kid is making an announcement for the local 10PM broadcast live in front of them.  The memo is out, BASKETBALL FANS know this is happening and they will show up, get drunk, and hope he says their school.  And their will not be many UNC fans in the crowd.  It will be dominated by MU and UW fans.

Maybe he's doing it a back room, I don't know and no one else at this point.  But why drive from MF to Mayfair to a 34,000 square foot restaurant that seats 900 to hold this in the back corner away form the spotlight?  Again, D&B is not going to give them the space for free unless he turns it into an event for the public.  I cannot imagine Tokoto family paying for this when they could do it for free at home or in their high school.

[wadesworld]

Also, make this into a big event to draw people into D&B's?! How many people do you think are going to go to this only because his decision is being made outside of his family?! This isn't Taylor Swift, Kanye, The Beatles, etc. playing live music for the night. It's a high school kid announcing his college decision!

And even if people are dumb enough to give him crap for choosing UNC (did I mention they have 2 National Championships in the last 6 years?) over Wisconsin and Marquette (who's last National Championship combined was 34 years ago, and they have 2 Final Fours combined since that time), so what? If I were him I'd laugh and say "Haha have fun shoveling snow, raking leaves, and cleaning your cars all year and looking at obese girls all day...I'll be in warm weather looking at gorgeous girls wearing mini skirts and winning a National Championship while never having to see you again!" He's going to UNC, who neither MU or UW play. He'll never see us fans again so who cares if we hate him?

[groove]

Also, make this into a big event to draw people into D&B's?! How many people do you think are going to go to this only because his decision is being made outside of his family?! This isn't Taylor Swift, Kanye, The Beatles, etc. playing live music for the night. It's a high school kid announcing his college decision!

And even if people are dumb enough to give him crap for choosing UNC (did I mention they have 2 National Championships in the last 6 years?) over Wisconsin and Marquette (who's last National Championship combined was 34 years ago, and they have 2 Final Fours combined since that time), so what? If I were him I'd laugh and say "Haha have fun shoveling snow, raking leaves, and cleaning your cars all year and looking at obese girls all day...I'll be in warm weather looking at gorgeous girls wearing mini skirts and winning a National Championship while never having to see you again!" He's going to UNC, who neither MU or UW play. He'll never see us fans again so who cares if we hate him?

+1 as I sit here on a beautiful day in Raleigh