[Cracked Sidewalks] Buzz Williams casts a wide net on the recruiting trail

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Buzz Williams casts a wide net on the recruiting trail

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (NY Warrior)

Marquette needs a point guard for the 2009 class -- this we know.    Point guard and center are the remaining priorities for that class, which already boasts a pair of Top 100 forwards in Erik Williams and Jeronne Maymon.

So, who will it be at the point?

For now there's quite a list of players from all over the country who have been mentioned with MU.  In the past we've talked about Johnny Lacy as one potential option.  Need a few more names?    Try A.J. Walton, Darius Morris, Darius Smith, Michael Dixon, Junior Cadougan, Chris Colvin, Sheldon Cooley, Eric Bledsoe, Xavier Thames, Naadir Tharpe, Justin Crosgile, Marshall Henderson, and Nick Russell.

With the summer evaluation sessions kicking off soon -- the annual Rumble in the Bronx is next weekend over at Fordham -- we'll learn soon enough who emerges as The Priority for Buzz Williams.  Let's see who actually visits.

2008 Update
Even before we get to the 2009 class, Buzz Williams might not be done with 2008.

With Varez Ward recently committing to the University of Texas, MU is focused on 6'5" guard Donald Williams per Rivals.com.  Williams, a shooting guard from Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian Academy, is down to St. John's and Marquette after ruling out UNO and UAB.  Williams was recently named the Select MVP at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions event.

Williams' coach is playing the Bully Hurley card, saying he prefers the Johnnies for his player on the basis of playing time.  Hey, some coaches have an affinity for programs in the basement (and given the mass exodus from the MU backcourt after next season that can hardly be a long-term concern).

MU has one remaining scholarship available for next year's roster, and expects Williams to visit Milwaukee next weekend.  Williams will visit SJU this weekend.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/06/buzz-williams-casts-wide-net-on.html

[nola03]

Such a dramatic reaction to the coach's quotes. The bunker has been rebuilt quickly since Crean left. 

[Henry Sugar]

Such a dramatic reaction to the coach's quotes. The bunker has been rebuilt quickly since Crean left. 

Yeah, because Cracked Sidewalks has been such an overzealous supporter of Buzz and all that he does. 

I agree with NYWarrior.  I think it's bullshit when coaches put pressure on their players through the media.

[dwaderoy2004]

Buzz HAS to be able to close the deal over Norm freakin Roberts.  This kid is a shooter, exactly what we need for next year and beyond.  Get this kid.  he sounds like a late bloomer that would be a true 2, something we just don't have.  If he comes to MU, and can shoot as advertised, he'll play 15 minutes a game next year...

[chapman]

Buzz HAS to be able to close the deal over Norm freakin Roberts.  This kid is a shooter, exactly what we need for next year and beyond.  Get this kid.  he sounds like a late bloomer that would be a true 2, something we just don't have.  If he comes to MU, and can shoot as advertised, he'll play 15 minutes a game next year...

Yeah, I think he sounds like someone we want.  And it seems like all the other recruits that go to St. John's to get their minutes as freshmen end of transferring out anyway.

[ecompt]

I would hope his coach would look at the big picture. He comes to MU next year and probably doesn't play much but the following year plays 25-30 minutes on a Big East contender. He goes to St. John's and he plays 25-30 minutes a game for four years on teams that will go 6-12 in the league every year.

[NCMUFan]

I hope he comes with his parents and they get a good feel of what it will be like to get a Marquette education and play for Marquette.  I think they will be sold.

[esotericmindguy]

I hope he comes with his parents and they get a good feel of what it will be like to get a Marquette education and play for Marquette.  I think they will be sold.

Maybe, but its not like St. Johns doesn't have a lot to offer on that front as well.  Milwaukee is also a long way from home so you can't really blame Buzz if he doesn't want to come.

[dwaderoy2004]

Maybe, but its not like St. Johns doesn't have a lot to offer on that front as well.  Milwaukee is also a long way from home so you can't really blame Buzz if he doesn't want to come.

This kid is from Baton Rouge, LA.  How is that any closer to NY?  He's already spent a year in prep school away from home in MD.  Location is not going to be the key.   I'm not saying that if Buzz misses here that it's the end of the world, but if we can't close out a kid ahead of St. John's, that ain't cool. 

http://theeastcoastbias.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/recruiting-update-donald-williams/

[bma725]

 I'm not saying that if Buzz misses here that it's the end of the world, but if we can't close out a kid ahead of St. John's, that ain't cool. 

A lot of very good coaches have been unable to close out kids over Norm Roberts and SJU despite how bad the school has been.  Norm Roberts can recruit with the best of them, his 2005-2007 classes had seven 4-Star players who chose SJU over places like Kansas, Michigan State, Arizona, UConn, Memphis, Pitt, Villanova, Florida, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Indiana, Texas and yes even Marquette.  If Buzz loses out on the kid, he'll be adding his name to a very illustrious list of coaches who couldn't out recruit the terrible Norm Roberts....they can put him right next to Crean, who lost out on two different 4-star recruits to SJU in the last couple years.

[dwaderoy2004]

Not sure why you brought up Tom Crean, but ok.  Secondly, if you go by Rivals, the great Norm Roberts only signed 1 four star player in his 2005-2007 recruiting classes.

My point is that this kid has publicly said "it's only St. John's and Marquette."  It seems that both schools have only been in this player for the last month or so, with both offers coming in the last 2 weeks.  Neither school has had a chance to recruit this kid long term and build up a relationship or advantage over the other.  So as a result, this situation is entirely different than most recruits Norm has signed in the past.  Therefore, in my mind, at least, Buzz should be able to close this kid in a head-to-head battle with Norm Roberts on a level playing field.  Again, if Buzz misses, it is not the end of the world.  But with his burgeoning reputation to keep up, this is Buzz time. 

[bma725]

Not sure why you brought up Tom Crean, but ok.  Secondly, if you go by Rivals, the great Norm Roberts only signed 1 four star player in his 2005-2007 recruiting classes.

My point is that this kid has publicly said "it's only St. John's and Marquette."  It seems that both schools have only been in this player for the last month or so, with both offers coming in the last 2 weeks.  Neither school has had a chance to recruit this kid long term and build up a relationship or advantage over the other.  So as a result, this situation is entirely different than most recruits Norm has signed in the past.  Therefore, in my mind, at least, Buzz should be able to close this kid in a head-to-head battle with Norm Roberts on a level playing field.  Again, if Buzz misses, it is not the end of the world.  But with his burgeoning reputation to keep up, this is Buzz time. 

If you go by Scout, he had 7 4 star players.  Also, Rivals isn't updated.  They list 2 4-Star players with St. Johns, Calhoun in 06, and Burrell in 07.  But they show Calhoun as committed/not signed, which is wrong.  He did sign with SJU, and played there for a year before transferring. 

My point is, Roberts has shown an ability to out recruit some of the top recruiters in the country over the last few years.  Kids don't seem to care that he can't coach his way out of a wet paperbag, they still want to play for him(at least for a year or so).  So expecting Buzz to close the deal when guys like Calhoun, Calipari, Olson, Izzo etc couldn't is a bit much.

[esotericmindguy]

This kid is from Baton Rouge, LA.  How is that any closer to NY?  He's already spent a year in prep school away from home in MD.  Location is not going to be the key.   I'm not saying that if Buzz misses here that it's the end of the world, but if we can't close out a kid ahead of St. John's, that ain't cool. 

http://theeastcoastbias.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/recruiting-update-donald-williams/

Oh, my fault....thought he was from the east coast.

[Pakuni]

Not sure why you brought up Tom Crean, but ok.  Secondly, if you go by Rivals, the great Norm Roberts only signed 1 four star player in his 2005-2007 recruiting classes.

My point is that this kid has publicly said "it's only St. John's and Marquette."  It seems that both schools have only been in this player for the last month or so, with both offers coming in the last 2 weeks.  Neither school has had a chance to recruit this kid long term and build up a relationship or advantage over the other.  So as a result, this situation is entirely different than most recruits Norm has signed in the past.  Therefore, in my mind, at least, Buzz should be able to close this kid in a head-to-head battle with Norm Roberts on a level playing field.  Again, if Buzz misses, it is not the end of the world.  But with his burgeoning reputation to keep up, this is Buzz time. 

Failing to land this kid would by no means poorly reflect on Buzz or his recruiting ability. He just outrecruited Tim Floyd, Bruce Pearl ans the mighty Scott Drew for a top 75 kid, but we're supposed to think badly of him if he doesn't land Donald Williams?
Sheesh.

Why would this kid choose St. John's?

1. Playing time. With the three amigos back, plus Acker, plus Cubie, plus Jimmy Butler, getting minutes would be very difficult as a freshman and pretty challenging after that. This is not the case for St. John's, which returns no guards who averaged more han 20 minutes or 10 points per game last year.

2. His current coach pretty obviously is leaning on him to choose St. John's.

3. For a kid with no geographic ties to either place, New York City looks pretty exciting compared to Milwaukee.

4. Regardless of what anyone says, Norm Roberts is a quality recruiter.

- immediate playing time

[dwaderoy2004]

I don't know.  My point here wasn't to say that I will cast Buzz as a failure if he doesn't land this kid, or that it would be embarassing if he didn't, or a sign of his recruiting prowess.  It's just that, in my mind, in my opinion, Buzz should land this guy if he really wants him, especially given the situation where it's MU and St. John's only, and neither team had a time advantage to recruit him.  In scientific terms, this is a good control study.  Both schools started to recruit the kid at about the same time, and we'll see who comes out on top.

[Big Daddy Z]

Dude...he's a 17 / 18 yr old kid....sometimes they don't make rational decisions....don't lay it on Buzz

[ATWizJr]

When is he visiting?

[dwaderoy2004]

Dude...he's a 17 / 18 yr old kid....sometimes they don't make rational decisions....don't lay it on Buzz

all the more reason buzz should be able to land him.  regardless, i'm really just basing this off gut feeling.  there are some recruits where you just feel that more likely than not, the recruit should come here.  for me, personally, this is one of those situations.  I, personally, will be disappointed if buzz does not land him.  me.

[77ncaachamps]

If he goes to SJU, good luck.

They're sophomore heavy: 9 on that team.

And even though Roberts was re-signed to an extension, he's only two faltering seasons away from "getting the hook."