History / McGuire recruiting

[HoopsterBC]

My wife was cleaning the basement and she found many MU programs in the 60's and early 70's.  Good years. 

I was looking at one year particularly and Al recruited Mike Mills, Guy Lam, and Gary Grasck (sp.?).  That was 3 kids from Milwaukee that never saw the court.  I know Al did a great job of recruiting but more often then not, Al recruited an All-American type player? 

Whom did he miss out on that year, I think that was 67-68?  Was it Mel Davis, Ed Searcy?  He did get Gary Brell I think as well but he was a transfer. 

[Goose]

Hoopster

Very cool on having the old programs still. Those three guys seldom saw the court is right. Al always filled in with local guys after getting his All-American guys.

[tower912]

Murf/GR8one has rhapsodized poetic on this topic many times in many forums over the years.    I can't do it justice.    To summarize, Al would recruit about 8-9 guys who he knew would be players.    He would fill the rest of his roster with local guys who were not likely to be stars, with the intent that they would be practice fodder and occasional minutes if there was an injury or foul trouble.     Al didn't try to have 15 All-Americans.     In Murf world, this is still the preferred template.   

[oldwarrior81]

I saw a McGuire interview where he said he would focus on one top recruit each season.  In 13 seasons he landed 11 of those recruits.  The only two he missed on were both New York products. 
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19970518&id=rbQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803,6195896&hl=en

Jim McMillan went to Columbia and was a first round pick of the Lakers in 1970. 

Brian Winters went to South Carolina and also was a first round pick of the Lakers in 1974.  The McGuire's lived down the street from the Winters in Rockaway Beach.  Al thought he could pull Winters away from Frank McGuire at South Carolina.   There was a time Allie McGuire was set to go to South Carolina if Winters choose Marquette.  Al said he lost out on a kid he babysat for but at least Frank let me keep my son.

[HoopsterBC]

I saw a McGuire interview where he said he would focus on one top recruit each season.  In 13 seasons he landed 11 of those recruits.  The only two he missed on were both New York products. 
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19970518&id=rbQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803,6195896&hl=en

Jim McMillan went to Columbia and was a first round pick of the Lakers in 1970. 

Brian Winters went to South Carolina and also was a first round pick of the Lakers in 1974.  The McGuire's lived down the street from the Winters in Rockaway Beach.  Al thought he could pull Winters away from Frank McGuire at South Carolina.   There was a time Allie McGuire was set to go to South Carolina if Winters choose Marquette.  Al said he lost out on a kid he babysat for but at least Frank let me keep my son.

Brian Winters was not the year I mentioned.  To bad Brian did not come, Allie was not that good, nor as good as Winters.  McMillan was earlier, so there was somebody else.

[keefe]

He did get Gary Brell I think as well but he was a transfer.

The Goose came over from UWM of all damn places.

[thanooj]

The Goose came over from UWM of all damn places.

I thought he transferred to Marquette for South Dakota.

[GooooMarquette]

I saw a McGuire interview where he said he would focus on one top recruit each season.  In 13 seasons he landed 11 of those recruits.  The only two he missed on were both New York products. 
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19970518&id=rbQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803,6195896&hl=en

Jim McMillan went to Columbia and was a first round pick of the Lakers in 1970. 

Brian Winters went to South Carolina and also was a first round pick of the Lakers in 1974.  The McGuire's lived down the street from the Winters in Rockaway Beach.  Al thought he could pull Winters away from Frank McGuire at South Carolina.   There was a time Allie McGuire was set to go to South Carolina if Winters choose Marquette.  Al said he lost out on a kid he babysat for but at least Frank let me keep my son.

And the year he lost out on Winters, he had to "settle" for his #2 choice - Maurice Lucas.

[Dawson Rental]

The Goose came over from UWM of all damn places.

I thought he transferred to Marquette for South Dakota.

North Dakota (for a semester), by way of UWM (where he did not play).

[TedBaxter]

Murf/GR8one has rhapsodized poetic on this topic many times in many forums over the years.    I can't do it justice.    To summarize, Al would recruit about 8-9 guys who he knew would be players.    He would fill the rest of his roster with local guys who were not likely to be stars, with the intent that they would be practice fodder and occasional minutes if there was an injury or foul trouble.     Al didn't try to have 15 All-Americans.     In Murf world, this is still the preferred template.   

For Murff's world to exist today, Marquette would have to recruit orphans and foster kids since parents are too involved now.

[MU62]

Gary Brell did transfer from South Dakota as someone already mentioned.   He went to Pius high school in Milwaukee. 

[oldwarrior81]

And the year he lost out on Winters, he had to "settle" for his #2 choice - Maurice Lucas.

Winters was a year ahead in the class of '74.  Lucas was class of '75 but left a year early.

[4everwarriors]

Just ax 'im. So yo, #31 where did ya come from, hey?

[oldwarrior81]

I think Brell played part of one season at North Dakota.  Left mid-season when averaging 15 pts and 13 rebounds a game as a freshman.

Transferred to UWM (where he never played), then transferred to Marquette.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19691112&id=zXVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8BAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1340,2708614&hl=en

[Goose]

Goose will let you know where his pre-MU travels took him. Have not see a post from the Real Goose in awhile.

[real chili 83]

Goose will let you know where his pre-MU travels took him. Have not see a post from the Real Goose in awhile.

Was just thinking the same.....

[4everwarriors]

Actually, I 'member readin' somethin' from 'im in April. Think it was 'bout a recruit, maybe Gill, hey?

[Lennys Tap]

I think Brell played part of one season at North Dakota.  Left mid-season when averaging 15 pts and 13 rebounds a game as a freshman.

Transferred to UWM (where he never played), then transferred to Marquette.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19691112&id=zXVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8BAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1340,2708614&hl=en

Our self appointed moralist/scold would have found the whole Gary Brell saga squirmy. Real Marquette fans recall it fondly.

[tower912]

Our resident scold would have found the entire Al era squirmy.   

[Lennys Tap]

Our resident scold would have found the entire Al era squirmy.

True that.

[HoopsterBC]

I got kicked off Dodds site because I stated MU and particularly Al, much like Coach Wooden had a Sam Gilbert type person at MU.  George came to MU without seeing
the school, 2nd year Dean Memminger, 3 time first team all New York City, showed up.   Even Allie who I played ball with admitted things were being done outside
the box.  Even Marquette got out bid for Sam Bowie, visited 2 schools,  Kentucky.  Al was a little squirmy.  I am sure Al knew what was going on, compared to Wooden
who had is head in the sand.

[swoopem]

The two recruits that Al missed on (or maybe didn't go after) that I'm curious about are Bernard King and Ernie Rumsfeld. After seeing their 30 for 30 and knowing they were NYC guys I'd think Al woulda been all over them.

Bernard King seems like the perfect 70's Marquette player. Anyone know why he wasn't?

[brandx]

The two recruits that Al missed on (or maybe didn't go after) that I'm curious about are Bernard King and Ernie Rumsfeld. After seeing their 30 for 30 and knowing they were NYC guys I'd think Al woulda been all over them.

Bernard King seems like the perfect 70's Marquette player. Anyone know why he wasn't?

King was never interested.

King would have been one of the all-time greats with injuries. As it is, he is still in the HOF. He was as close to unstoppable as any player I have ever seen. Unbelievably quick release on his shot and he was a great, great shooter.

Never heard of Rumsfeld. Just kidding - I'm sure you meant Grunfeld.

[brandx]

I am sure some of the older guys can attest to al's style of recruiting. He wanted one stud a year.

And then, that guy was expected to be a complimentary player until his time came. Al always wanted a senior to be his star if at all possible.

Of course he had to make concessions with some of the great recruits.

[4everwarriors]

I actually had that discussion with Ernie when he was Bucks GM. Was recruited by Al. Had somethin' to do wit worshippin' da Father, and not da Son, ai na?