Men's Bball Recruiting

[Markeymark]

Why can't Zaronn Cann develop into a dominating PF? Why can't Chris Howard turn into a top notch PG?

Nobody's saying they can't, but if a player blossoms at the high-major Big East level the NBA teams will be drooling and it's nearly impossible to ignore. There are very few Shane Battier's out there who would turn down the NBA, and it would take a program like Duke for a kid to do that.

[The Sheriff]

Two guys I can comment about: David Robinson and Uncle Larry Bird.

David Robinson went to Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Virginia... and was basically a horrible center for their basketball team. He would routinely get dominated by Mike Dufrene from rival Osbourn High School (that's where I went to high school and saw both play). Until his summer between high school and college, he was a 6'7" player that was worse than Diarra. He never would have played Div 1 hoops if not for his growth spurt. The USNA took Dave because he had great grades and could've been a forward off the bench for them. While Dave sprouted that summer, his coordination improved considerably as he was constantly working out while getting ready for plebe summer. The rest is history... My frosh year of high school (1989), Dave came back to the Kiwanis Christmas Tourney that features all the local teams and put on a slam dunk competition during halftime of the Osbourn-Osbourn Park game. His brother Chucky Robinson was playing for O.P. at the time. That is the story of Dave. Eventually, Chucky went to the USNA, but never grew like Dave did. They were hoping to have another Teen Wolf story out of Chucky. He was a very good high school player, but just an average college player. Robinson was truly not good in high school.

Now, that story of Uncle Larry.

Larry Bird went to IU, but was as home sick as home sick can get. After he transferred to ISU, he met a lady named Diana Shore. Diana Shore is the sister of Robbie's Uncle's wife. So Uncle Larry joined the Robbie Mann family.

For those who are confused. Robbie's dad has a brother. He was an ISU cheerleader during the Bird years. The brother married a chick (who was also an ISU cheerleader) who's sister was Diana Shore. Throughout college, they all double dated.

Can you imagine the conversation:

Robbie's Uncle: Larry, what did you do yesterday?

Larry: Only scored 40 on Magic Johnson. And you?

Robbie's Uncle: Ugh... Just drove around the UPS truck again.

Diana eventually got married to Larry... and now Robbie has an Uncle he sees at reunions that was the greastest shooter in NBA history (he also says he's cheap as cheap can get and never picks up a tab), but is nice to him and his family. Larry's real house is also in Sarasota if anyone is ever in the area and wants to drive by.

Whenever Robbie's uncle comes down, we always pick him for Larry stories, but he keeps them basic and underwraps because he said Bird was so low key. I have seen photos of them hanging out though. Larry was a true hick in those pixs!

[GarySJ]

Nobody's saying they can't, but if a player blossoms at the high-major Big East level the NBA teams will be drooling and it's nearly impossible to ignore. There are very few Shane Battier's out there who would turn down the NBA, and it would take a program like Duke for a kid to do that.

That's the underlying problem with trying to recruit and develop player talent at a school like USF. The guys who think they're one-and-done material out of high school will never come here in the first place, because playing for a non-winning school like USF is antithetical to quickly declaring for the NBA draft. These are the kids at the top of the rankings, so by definition it's nearly impossible for a USF to get elite recruits.

The Dujuan Wagners of the world want to play on teams where they are surrounded by talent, where they can play in the NCAAs, and where they can enjoy a year of the big-time collegiate experience. Suffice it to say they will not be coming to USF.

So, a school in USF's position simply needs to build its team around upperclassmen. You can't have a "star system", because the star will never come here at all or will leave as soon as possible.

Forget Bird and the Admiral. Those are times long gone. What we really need is a Jameer Nelson.

[dabull80]

What do you mean "was" a true hick.   Man, he is country as much as Brett Farve and I doubt that is ever gonna change.