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Ben Mills wants out of his LOI to Boise State

GeorgeHayduke

GeorgeHayduke

Active member
After Boise State fired their head coach Graham, Mills, a 7 footer, asked to be released from the LOI he signed with Boise State. I know Weber State offered Mills, who had 19 offers. We(USU) offered Mills as well, but dropped off him when we signed another 7 footer, DiLoreto.
 
We could really use him here at Weber. It would be nice to have some friendly competition with Tresnak and Hajek next season. GeorgeHayduke, do you think the Aggies are still interested in him?
 
Yeah, at this point, most of the interested programs probably found other players. However, I'm not to worried for Mills. I'm sure he will find a home. Weber couldn't offer him a scholarship...we don't have any to give.
 
He made his decision and now kinda has to live with it.

Its kinda interesting that some of Mills top schools were in this area. I'm guessing he has family around here. If he wants to play for Rahe and the Cats, I say come on down and walkon. I know Weber would grant him an academic scholarship.
 
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/03/26/1131134/two-recruitshappy-withnew-coach.html

Earlier in the day, the family released a statement, saying they had asked that their 17-year-old son be released from his national letter of intent so he could explore other options. He had 19 scholarship offers on the table when he chose Boise State in part because of his relationship with Graham and assistant Tim Cleary.

Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier declined the request, which was something he told the Idaho Statesman on March 12 that he would do to any request for release.

"Their status, from our end, is that our commitments are firm with them," Bleymaier said. "I'll wait until we hire a new coach. I'm not going to release them before that for sure. We'll hire a coaching staff first and deal with those interests second."

If Mills still wants out after he meets with Rice, Bleymaier can release him or hold him to the commitment.

If he does the latter and Mills chooses to enroll at another Division I school, he would have to sit out a year and lose a year of eligibility. Or he could attend a junior college for a year, then transfer to a Division I school and have three years of eligibility remaining.

Mills is fresh off winning a state title - the first in Arrowhead High's history. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in three games.

"I hope that people over the last three days can now appreciate Ben Mills," Arrowhead coach Craig Haase said after state. "I've been saying it all year, I still don't think he gets enough credit.

"He's just a phenomenal, phenomenal player. Very special player."

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/03/26/1131137/statement-from-ben-mills-parents.html

"Ben, who is a minor, and ourselves, have officially signed a request for his immediate Complete Release from the National Letter of Intent he signed with Boise State last November. We have spoken with AD Gene Bleymaier multiple times, and are disappointed to report that our request has been verbally denied. We have asked him to reconsider.
 
Evidently I was wrong with this assumption, but I was under the impression that a recruit could back out of his/her LOI if the coach that recruited him/her was terminated. I read something about it, when Cravens was let go a few years back. Supposedly, Joe was bringing in a guard that was Boyettelike and that the kid decided to go elsewhere once Joes tenure at Weber ended.

Also, if an athlete has yet to use his/her redshirt, why can't they enroll somewhere else and then just sit out a year? Also, doesn't he have the option of not enrolling at any school for a year? If I was Mills, I'd tell Boise where to stick it and go somewhere else. I'm sure he would win back another year from the NCAA if it came to that.

The Boise AD is acting like an idiot over the matter. Granted, Mills is a huge recruit and you don't want to lose him, but, at the same time, you will lose more recruits throughout the Department, not just basketball, if you continue to act defensive. Parents, students, and athletes will see the actions of the AD and decide that Boise isn't an honorable school, and will decide to go elsewhere.
 
talhadfoursteals said:
Evidently I was wrong with this assumption, but I was under the impression that a recruit could back out of his/her LOI if the coach that recruited him/her was terminated. I read something about it, when Cravens was let go a few years back. Supposedly, Joe was bringing in a guard that was Boyettelike and that the kid decided to go elsewhere once Joes tenure at Weber ended.

Also, if an athlete has yet to use his/her redshirt, why can't they enroll somewhere else and then just sit out a year? Also, doesn't he have the option of not enrolling at any school for a year? If I was Mills, I'd tell Boise where to stick it and go somewhere else. I'm sure he would win back another year from the NCAA if it came to that.

The Boise AD is acting like an idiot over the matter. Granted, Mills is a huge recruit and you don't want to lose him, but, at the same time, you will lose more recruits throughout the Department, not just basketball, if you continue to act defensive. Parents, students, and athletes will see the actions of the AD and decide that Boise isn't an honorable school, and will decide to go elsewhere.
Click to expand...

If you sign a LOI, you must complete at least one academic year at that institution, or you must sit out a year AND you lose a year of eligibility if you go to another institution to play -- unless the school you signed iwth originally gives you a release. What BSU is doing is not unusual, BTW. Most programs that have coaching changes don't release kids from their LOIs until they get a new coach in. The new coach can then evaluate whether he wants to keep the kid, and then try to "re-recruit" him if so. Typically, not always, but typically, the new coach will eventually release a kid from his LOI if he's absolutely adamant he doesn't want to play for him.
 
not to put any damper into recruiting thoughts about Ben Mills, but when he verbaled to Boise State, his list was Boise State #1 HAWAII #2 OREGON STATE #3, utah state and weber state were already off his list..
 
I heard he had an offer from Marquette. Why would anyone want to play for the Rainbows. Granted, it is Hawaii and all, but that program is piss poor. Same with Oregon State. Wow...he was really looking at bad programs. Why?
 
yes they want him now after the State Play-offs leading his team to the title... Coaches make mistakes evaluating how a player will progress.. like Idaho's Trevor Morris , where was Boise State , Idaho and Idaho State? How could any school let Lillard out of Cal? We must trust Coach, he does a great job recruiting...Nebraska and Creighton kick their butts in two yrs over Hajek...Same as Arizona and State over Tresnak...
 
fatcat said:
yes they want him now after the State Play-offs leading his team to the title... Coaches make mistakes evaluating how a player will progress.. like Idaho's Trevor Morris , where was Boise State , Idaho and Idaho State? How could any school let Lillard out of Cal? We must trust Coach, he does a great job recruiting...Nebraska and Creighton kick their butts in two yrs over Hajek...Same as Arizona and State over Tresnak...
Click to expand...

The AZ schools wont just be kicking themselves over Tresnak, even though he will be the bulk of the kick, but also over Fulton, Davis, and yes, I'm saying it now, Woods.
 
Don't look now but Arizona State just made a call to Woods, he'll never leave the state i bet...he just too good...
 
The Arizona schools don't do that well recruiting and/or keeping AZ players. Brendan Lavendar at U of A was one of top players in the state, has languished on the bench as Lute Olson left and Sean Miller came in. I believe he is getting his release.
Taylor Rhode at ASU was also a top player, one of Sendek's first recruits. He has played a limited amount, and asked for his release last week or two.
NAU also has had a revolving door for AZ players, usually only 1 or two that stay on the roster.

only a couple noted 2010 recruits staying in state in AZ:
Corey Hawkins ( Hersey Hawkins son) going to ASU
Daniel Bejarano (originally committed to Texas,) now is an Arizona signee

Terrell Stoglin from Tucson goes to Maryland
Royce Woolridge ( Orlando's son) to Kansas

Kyle Tresnak (WSU signee) made 2nd team in 5A (largest schools conference)

Most AZ players go out of state, Woods is being recruited by ASU, OSU Cal, Wash State and others in Pac Ten
 
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