MU recruiting stories to fill the break

[Washiman]

Stealing from Tower here..

Since we've got time to chat between games, does anyone have stories about MU recruits?

Big daddy said he'd tell the story about Grimes recruitment/commitment after he was out of college.


So when does Big Daddy get out of college?

[4everwarriors]

Scooter is lucky that Rick walked in instead of Brad Davison.

Scooter's lucky Rick didn't drop a deuce write next ta Rosie Palm and her five friends, aina?

[MU82]

I just remember how freakin' sad Rick was when Wolf picked UNC.

[94Warrior]

Big Daddy was definitely connected, and had the type of Insider info that we all crave. 
But, unfortunately I have a feeling we may have seen the last of him on Scoop.

[Goose]

MU82

Freakin sad is an understatement. Losing Joe changed his life. Thankfully, he ended up having an unreal career.

[We R Final Four]

I just remember how freakin' sad Rick was when Wolf picked UNC.

Yes. Rick and every MU fan as well.

[oldwarrior81]

I've brought up the recruitment of Lloyd Walton several times in the past but in case anyone has missed it, I believe it shows the foundation of Rick's recruiting style.

Lloyd originally considered Marquette but had problems with grades out of high school.
He had completed his freshman season at Moberly JC in Iowa.

Still with an eye on MU, his college coach was telling him Jacksonville would be a better fit for his style.  Remember this was Jacksonville right after Artis Gilmore played in a championship game vs UCLA.  The previous few seasons they had been a top 10 program, averaging over 90 points a game.

Back in Chicago, the phone rang and it was Al.  Lucky told him he had a flight in the morning to Jacksonville and planned on committing while there.
Al told him not to get on a plane until he had a chance to talk to him.

Al called Majerus and told him to get down to Chicago.
90 minutes later Rick shows up at Lloyd's door with a pizza.  They talked for a while, then Rick drove him up to Milwaukee and Lloyd signed with MU.

[Its DJOver]

Nothing too special about the story, but I really enjoyed the recruitment of Wesley.  To steal him from right down the street from UW, and having the UW parent connections that he did.  Also setting the trend for players from that High School (although I doubt Wesley had too much to do with it) to go to MU was great.

[Goose]

oldwarrior

Always liked the Lucky recruiting story. Plenty of great ones during the Al era. Walter Downing recruitment was an interesting one. How he ended up at DePaul, and then MU, was quite the saga.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

How about when Tommy Naismith showed up at Iman Shumperts doorstep at midnite on a 4 wheeler.  Shumpert knew the dude was weird n committed to Georgia tech.

Funny how Cream lost his IU job because all the HS coaches hated him n the 4-5 stars went elsewhere.  Archie is cleaning up the instate recruiting.  2 five stars n 3 four stars in two recruiting cycles.  So much talent only a douche nozzle could f it up.

[MU82]

Al called Majerus and told him to get down to Chicago.
90 minutes later Rick shows up at Lloyd's door with a pizza.  They talked for a while, then Rick drove him up to Milwaukee and Lloyd signed with MU.

This would be considered an improper benefit now. Maybe it was then, too!

[MUfan12]

Nothing too special about the story, but I really enjoyed the recruitment of Wesley.  To steal him from right down the street from UW, and having the UW parent connections that he did.  Also setting the trend for players from that High School (although I doubt Wesley had too much to do with it) to go to MU was great.

The way that whole class came together was something special. Jerel was the first, Dominic the next day, then Wes a couple weeks later after the previous two put the press on.

Gotta give Crean credit, he helped cultivate a bond between those three while recruiting them that ultimately helped close the deal.

[TallTitan34]

How about when Tommy Naismith showed up at Iman Shumperts doorstep at midnite on a 4 wheeler.  Shumpert knew the dude was weird n committed to Georgia tech.

Funny how Cream lost his IU job because all the HS coaches hated him n the 4-5 stars went elsewhere.  Archie is cleaning up the instate recruiting.  2 five stars n 3 four stars in two recruiting cycles.  So much talent only a douche nozzle could f it up.

I believe he showed up in a limo.  The four wheeler is what he almost flipped at Marquette Madness.

[mileskishnish72]

Honestly, some of these stories must be made up.

Majerus lost a recruit because he found him abusing a pet? You wouldn't think that would bother a guy who could make such good use of a towel.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

The way that whole class came together was something special. Jerel was the first, Dominic the next day, then Wes a couple weeks later after the previous two put the press on.

Gotta give Crean credit, he helped cultivate a bond between those three while recruiting them that ultimately helped close the deal.

McNeal and James were the same day. I remember waiting for James to have his press conference when the McNeal news broke.

[oldwarrior81]

Al called Majerus and told him to get down to Chicago.
90 minutes later Rick shows up at Lloyd's door with a pizza.  They talked for a while, then Rick drove him up to Milwaukee and Lloyd signed with MU.

This would be considered an improper benefit now. Maybe it was then, too!

Lloyd never said that Rick "shared" that pizza.
May have just been something to hold him over when walking from the car to the door.

[4everwarriors]

I've brought up the recruitment of Lloyd Walton several times in the past but in case anyone has missed it, I believe it shows the foundation of Rick's recruiting style.

Lloyd originally considered Marquette but had problems with grades out of high school.
He had completed his freshman season at Moberly JC in Iowa.

Still with an eye on MU, his college coach was telling him Jacksonville would be a better fit for his style.  Remember this was Jacksonville right after Artis Gilmore played in a championship game vs UCLA.  The previous few seasons they had been a top 10 program, averaging over 90 points a game.

Back in Chicago, the phone rang and it was Al.  Lucky told him he had a flight in the morning to Jacksonville and planned on committing while there.
Al told him not to get on a plane until he had a chance to talk to him.

Al called Majerus and told him to get down to Chicago.
90 minutes later Rick shows up at Lloyd's door with a pizza.  They talked for a while, then Rick drove him up to Milwaukee and Lloyd signed with MU.

Moberly JC is located in Missouri, doe, hey?

[Goose]

4ever

Was Saddleback the best JV connection for the program?

[MuMark]

Nothing too special about the story, but I really enjoyed the recruitment of Wesley.  To steal him from right down the street from UW, and having the UW parent connections that he did.  Also setting the trend for players from that High School (although I doubt Wesley had too much to do with it) to go to MU was great.

At one point during the recruitment Bo or one of his assistants.....can't remember which....told Wes that Crean was taking the Ohio State job.

Steve Novak

Bo had just taken the UW job......asked Steve and his family if he could do an in home visit.....when he got there he asked Steve which schools he was considering.....he mentioned his top 3....Bo went right into negative recruiting mode.....telling his family why he shouldn't go to any of the schools.....said Crean would be gone before he graduated.....Steve's dad asked Bo if he was going to ever get around to telling them why Steve should attend UW?

They weren't impressed with his pitch.....

[The Lens]

At one point during the recruitment Bo or one of his assistants.....can't remember which....told Wes that Crean was taking the Ohio State job.

Bo was half right, Ohio State was one of a couple of time where TC went Zero Dark Tommy and no one knew where he was.  Arkansas amazingly was another.  He whole staff was wondering where he would land.  Tommy went hard after a few gigs.

[Its DJOver]

At one point during the recruitment Bo or one of his assistants.....can't remember which....told Wes that Crean was taking the Ohio State job.

Steve Novak

Bo had just taken the UW job......asked Steve and his family if he could do an in home visit.....when he got there he asked Steve which schools he was considering.....he mentioned his top 3....Bo went right into negative recruiting mode.....telling his family why he shouldn't go to any of the schools.....said Crean would be gone before he graduated.....Steve's dad asked Bo if he was going to ever get around to telling them why Steve should attend UW?

They weren't impressed with his pitch.....

I had never heard that Wes story, thanks.  I just thought it was incredibly cool that we were able to win that one despite the family connection.  The family connection has been used as an excuse a lot lately (by multiple sets of fans).  Ellenson, Hauser, QG's mom went to Kansas, the whole Thurl +Pace = Nico thing, even Ed to Nebraska originally had a family aspect.  Being able to overcome that is no small feat.

[4everwarriors]

4ever

Was Saddleback the best JV connection for the program?

Bill Mulligan had it all goin' on. J got to us from Waukegon via Saddleback

[MuMark]

Wes wasn't close with his dad growing up and his Mom and Bo didn't see eye to eye from what I recall so there wasn't really much to overcome.

[4everwarriors]

Eye got sum #5 recruitin' stories. Only MU part dat any y'all wood care 'bout wuz in reference that Buzz wuz thought ta knot be trusted, hey?

[4everwarriors]

Bo was half right, Ohio State was one of a couple of time where TC went Zero Dark Tommy and no one knew where he was.  Arkansas amazingly was another.  He whole staff was wondering where he would land.  Tommy went hard after a few gigs.

Illinois didn't want the mf'er. Smart folks in Champaign. Of course, T-Cube spun it to sound like he turned them down. In reality, they never offered. Nads, have I got that right, hey?