Buzz's Complete List of Recruited or Developed Players

[77ncaachamps]

Who else would be on this list?

The List

Texas A&M
Josh Carter
DeAndre Jordan (Possible Lottery Pick, 2008 NBA Draft)
Antanas Kavaliauskas
Donald Sloan
Derrick Roland
Brian Davis
Nathan Walkup
B.J. Holmes
Derrek Lewis

Colorado State
Matt Nelson
Jason Smith (1st Round Draft Pick by 76ers, 2007 Draft)

[OneMadWarrior]

The emphasis here should be put on the fact that he recruited them to TAMU, and Colorado St. Both are football schools with little if any basketball tradition. Basically he helped see these programs out of the ashes and was able to get top flight talent despite the fact that these schools have not rradition or hsitory to speak of.

[bma725]

Who would be on this list?

Josh Carter? (TAMU)
DeAndre Jordan? (TAMU)

Yes to both.  Here's the quote from when he initially signed as an assistant at MU. 

You have the reputation as a recruiter. Texas A&M has had great success of late. Whom did you have a major hand in recruiting for the Aggies? I was at Texas A&M for the first two recruiting classes, and when I left to come to New Orleans last June 22, there were three players that had already committed in the 2007 class. I was a part of all of the signees during Billy Gillispie's tenure except for one.

Was Acie Law one of those? No, Acie was there before Coach. Coach took the job at A&M, he hired me to come from Colorado State. We signed Josh Carter our first year, Antanas Kavaliauskas. In our second year we signed Donald Sloan, Derrick Roland and Brian Davis. In the '07 class it was Nathan Walkup, B.J. Holmes, DeAndre Jordan. Derrek Lewis was the first '07 kid that committed to us; he was the second-best player in Oklahoma. I was a part of all of those guys.

[uncle zeffy]

TAMU is my second team, and I for one loved Antanas Kavaliauskas. He was a BIG guy and knew what to do down low.
As far as recruiting. Yes Acie LaW (who i have met) had played a year at A&M prior to Buzz's arrival, but was considering transfering when Billy G got there. I really dont know how much credit to give to Buzz, but if they were able to keep Acie at TAMU after the team finished the previous season 7-21, I think that that says something.
Oh, and how can you say anything bad about him recruiting a guy who is projected to go top ten in this years draft (DeAndre Jorden)

[Pakuni]

While at CSU Buzz very likely had a hand in the recruitment of Matt Nelson, who is the school's third all-time leading scorer and had a very brief cup of coffee in the NBA (now plays in France), and Jason Smith, a first-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers a couple years back.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

While at CSU Buzz very likely had a hand in the recruitment of Matt Nelson, who is the school's third all-time leading scorer and had a very brief cup of coffee in the NBA (now plays in France), and Jason Smith, a first-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers a couple years back.

You write "very likely". Is this a Jeff Strohm situation?

[Pakuni]

While at CSU Buzz very likely had a hand in the recruitment of Matt Nelson, who is the school's third all-time leading scorer and had a very brief cup of coffee in the NBA (now plays in France), and Jason Smith, a first-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers a couple years back.

You write "very likely". Is this a Jeff Strohm situation?

It means I don't have personal knowledge of who was CSU's primary contact with those individual players.
But since Buzz was the Rams' top recruiter back then, it's safe to say he "very likely" was involved in the recruiting of every player who signed with CSU during his tenure.

[77ncaachamps]

While at CSU Buzz very likely had a hand in the recruitment of Matt Nelson, who is the school's third all-time leading scorer and had a very brief cup of coffee in the NBA (now plays in France), and Jason Smith, a first-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers a couple years back.

You write "very likely". Is this a Jeff Strohm situation?

It means I don't have personal knowledge of who was CSU's primary contact with those individual players.
But since Buzz was the Rams' top recruiter back then, it's safe to say he "very likely" was involved in the recruiting of every player who signed with CSU during his tenure.

But it would be safe to say that he helped in the development of those players.

[Pakuni]

But it would be safe to say that he helped in the development of those players.

Don't know about Nelson, but definitely not Smith. Smith was part of Williams' final recruiting class at CSU, so by the time he arrived on campus Buzz was at A&M.
FWIW, Scout says Smith chose CSU over Oregon, Gonzaga and Utah, so that was a pretty good get for them.

[Norm]

Texas A&M's classes that Buzz had a hand in:

(Any numbers are rankings under RSCI)

2005
#81 Martellus Bennett 6'6" PF Sugar Land, TX (dropped BBall to play football)
Josh Carter 6'5" SG, Dallas TX
David Devezin 5'11" PG  Houston, TX (transferred to San Jacinto CC)
Jamar Finley 6'6" SG  Rome, GA (Panola JC) (ended up at Rome ServPro-1)
Antanas Kavaliauskas 6'10 PF  Great Bend, KS  (Great Bend Barton County Comm College)
Eddie Smith 6'2" PG  Springfield, IL  (Moberly  Area Junior College, MO) (transferred to Illinois-Springfield)

2006
#63 Bryan Davis 6'8" PF Grand Prarie, TX
#90 Donald Sloan 6'2 WG  Dallas, TX
Bryan Beasley 5'11" PG  Pflugerville, TX (transferred to Rice)
Bryson Graham 6'3" SG  San Antonio, TX
Jerrod Johnson 6'6" SF  Humble, TX (plays football at A&M – QB)
Derrick Roland 6'4" SG  Seagoville, TX

2007
#15 DeAndre Jordan 7'0" C Houston, TX
Denzell Bowles 6'9" PF  Virginia Beach, VA
B.J. Holmes 5'10" PG  Houston, TX
Derrek Lewis 6'5" SG  Tulsa, OK
Nathan Walkup 6'6"  Deer Park, TX

Here are the stats from the 2007-2008 Texas A&M team for guys that Buzz helped recruit:

Josh Carter
Started 36 of 36 games, 36 gp, 28.9 mpg, 12.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 50 A, 28 TO, 6 blk, 21 stl

Donald Sloan
Started 36 0f 36 games, 36 gp, 30.4 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 123 A, 82 TO, 1 blk, 18 stl

Bryan Davis
Started 15 out of 36 games, 36 gp,  22.8 mpg, 8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 46 A, 72 TO, 37 blk, 35 stl

DeAndre Jordan
Started 21 out of 36 games, 35 gp, 20.1 mpg, 7.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 15 A, 57 TO, 44 blk, 7 stl

Derrick Roland
No starts, 36 gp, 19.1 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 40 A, 35 TO, 6 blk, 13 stl

B.J. Holmes
No starts, 29 gp, 6.2 mpg, 2.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 14 A, 13 TO, 8 stl

Nathan Walkup
No starts, 27 gp, 5.5 mpg, 2.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 5 A, 11 TO, 2 stl

Denzel Bowles
No starts, 8 gp, 3.0 mpg, 0.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 2 A, 2 TO, 1 blk,, 0 stl

Derrek Lewis
No starts, 9 gp, 4.4 mpg, 0.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 2 A, 1 TO, 0 stl

Bryson Graham
No starts, 14 gp, 0.6 points, 0.1 rebounds, 0 A, 5 TO, 0 blk, 0 stl

[nyg]

At this point, I really don't care who he recruited at other institutions.  Thats in the past and it can be argued forever.  If he was hired because of his recruiting ability, well then it is time for him to step up to the plate and show us what he has.  2009 is loaded with at least 15 top 100 recruits showing interest in some degree to MU.  If the "flat out recruiter" can't close the deal on any of them, then its ugly and the real arguments can begin. 

[Markusquette]

Jason Smith is currently a rookie for the Sixers and he is definitely a very polished big man.  He is still learning, naturally, but if Buzz could get some guys around his talent level that would be great since Crean only put an emphasis on recruiting guards.

[77ncaachamps]

But it would be safe to say that he helped in the development of those players.

Don't know about Nelson, but definitely not Smith. Smith was part of Williams' final recruiting class at CSU, so by the time he arrived on campus Buzz was at A&M.
FWIW, Scout says Smith chose CSU over Oregon, Gonzaga and Utah, so that was a pretty good get for them.

Well put. Then he's on the list as a "recruit" and not a developed player.