Recruiting Wars

[n.ogdencat]

This is kinda early, since the Spring Signing period hasn't begun yet, but I think its time to start weighing the Big Sky.

Right now...I think this is the BEST in decades the Sky has done with recruiting. There will be a thorough write up later, probably sometime in June, looking at each team in the Sky and how they did. However, looking at last fall and what some teams are touting right now. It looks like the Sky's RPI will continue to rise.

Where do the teams stand:
1. UM: For the second straight season it looks like the Grizz have turned out the best in the sky. The currently have two ESPN 90s in Vaughn Autry and Kareem Jamar (I think I got that right). Now, I'm not a huge believer in the ESPN ratings, but usually a 90 turns out to be pretty good.

2. UNC: Tab Boyle is a recruiting genious. Its amazing that UNC was able to keep there coach.

3. Weber: Granted, I think Weber really needs taller wings, Blake Davis is the Cats only 6-4+ wing at 6-5, however, no matter this problem I think the Cats recruited exactly what they needed. As long as Session sticks around, which now I'm thinking will end up happening, Weber will be really quick, deep, and thankfully with the addition of Tresnak, taller. UNTIL they officially leave the team, which I don't think will happen (there are a lot of ways to find funding for student athletes: splitting scholarships, academic scholarships, departmental scholarships, special interest scholarships, a thousand different grants, and other aid options) I believe Noble and Washington will both be back next year. Which is a great thing. Senior leadership is always key in helping a team mold. They may not play much, I'd love Washington to be moved to a 3/4, they will help the team in a lot of other ways. Most notably in practice and through their work ethic. Anyway, this is about recruiting. Personally, Weber got a steals in Jordan Richardson, Scott Bamfoth, and James Hajek. We all know Tresnak is going to be good. Hajek will red-shirt but at 16...yes he is only 16, and will step onto Weber State as a 17 year old. He has another year to mature, grow, and learn the game. He is already 6-9 245...YIKES!! He could easily be 6-10 260 by this time next year. Also, Bamforth having three years will really help the Cats. He averaged 18.5 as a Freshman for one of the best JC's in the country. Granted, he didn't get off to the best start this season, but nonetheless, he is an excellent athlete and good basketball player. The most notable aspect of his game is his ability to shoot the longball, but things that scouts tend to overlook, his work ethic, his defensive prowless, and most notably and needed, his ability to CREATE, are all aspect that are really going to help this team. He can penetrate, dish, and like Will Figures did so well, create off the dribble. Jordan Richardson is FEARLESS. The kid has great ball control, is an excellent FT shooter, has the ability to be a good outside shooter (shows moments of greatness he had game highs of 46, 43 and 41 last season), and can pass very well. No matter, HE IS A SCORER...

4. MSU: With the addition of Tre Johnson, I think the Cats have assembled an excellent class. I'm still not sold on Salley or Nichols (I'm sure both are going to be good additions, but not great). In all reality though...Weber, MSU, PSU, and Eastern could all be tied. Like the conference season, there is a great deal of parity in the Sky, which hopefully, will translate into more OCC wins for the conference.

5. PSU: ESPN 90 centers are hard to come by, but PSU seems to have gotten one. However, his score may be more about how big this kid rather than how good he is. Nothing I have looked at tells me he is worth his score, but then again, I'm not even an amature scout, so what do I know. I do this purely as a hobby. I guess we will all find out next season, since he (Catalado) will be playing next year. PSU MUST HAVE HIM PLAY, they don't have much height or big men coming back next year.

6. Eastern: the Eagles definitely don't have to worry about their guards for a few seasons, but like the CATs they need Bigs.

7. NAU: The Jack are always a wildcard in my opinion. You never know how good they will be until you see them play. Personally, I think the Jacks will be one of the better teams in the conference next year. However, they need more veteran and experienced players. I wouldn't doubt seeing the Jacks bring in a couple JC's this spring.

8. SAC: Sac's class is excellent that just shows you how deep the Sky is becoming.

9. Idaho State Just because I don't know whats going on. O'Brien doesn't really communicate to anyone what he is doing.

 

[weberskipc]

I think Montana State looks like they may have the 2nd best class now that they have picked up a very nice commit in Tre Johnson PF 6'7" ESPN 89, Jordan Salley PF 6'7" ESPN 79, and Shawn Reid SF 6'5" ESPN 81 and Idaho 5A MVP. They also just got a commit from JC PG Tre Nichols who played at Texas St. and was once recruited by Oklahoma,Texas Tech,Baylor,Houston and Rice.

 

[heyoh22]

IMHO, you can't use the ESPN ratings as a major criteria in looking at talent. Having followed and watched dozens of games in AAU tournaments in the Midwest and West over the past 2-3 years, there are kids that have rankings that are based on comments posted on web sites by club coaches, fans, parents and sources like Rivals and Scout.com. I know of three specific players that have rankings that are based on Scout recaps and the writer from Scout never saw the kids play, only repeated info from a message board evaluation done by a writer where the kids live -- and he is known to "puff-up" a kid's abilities. Coaches look for a lot of things when they evaluate an athlete, above and beyond the skills shown in an event or tournament, and most don't read websites for rankings when they evaluate.

Actual play in college will determine the truth, so coaches find good kids that can stay eligible and will buy in to the coach's system

 

[n.ogdencat]

I think one of the biggest facets coaches look for in a player is his ability to develop, to get better, and his willingness to buy into the coaches system. You can have all the 90s in the world, if they don't buy into the system and play team ball the team wont be successful. Talent alone wont win titles.

 

[Waldo2]

I agree - Look at Fresno State as an example of having great talent and a terrible team. They have four players who are being discussed as NBA draft picks, yet they had a losing record in the WAC.
How many draft picks are there on Butler's team? I doubt 4, maybe 1. Yet, they are in the final four.

College basketball begins and ends with the coach. He is the linchpin to a successful program and that is why I am glad to have Rahe sign an extension.

 

[oldrunner]

Every year, some of the best players entering D1 are not the ones who were the highest rated or the most reqruited. Some of the highest rated players, coming out of high school, to ever sign with Weber, turned out to be the biggest dudds. Likewise, we have had players who nobody else wanted, who made themselves into all Americans. I have watched the way that Randy and his assistants work, and I have total confidence that they will bring the right young men to Ogden. There is a reason why we are winning and that same reason is why we will keep winning. We may not win a championship every single year, but we will always have a chance with this crew.

I also agree, with the earlier posters, that the ESPN rankings are not worth the ink it took to print them. It is nice that someone thinks highly enough of a player to talk them up in the media, but it isn't what really counts. I would rather go to battle with overachievers than someone who will never live up to their hype.