2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

[dunnyduns]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Zeller is a huge recruit for Crean to land as it really helps with IU's fans perception of his recruiting ability. Getting the top instate talent to stay instate was a top recruiting priority for many fans and Zeller fits that mold. I would have hated to have seen the backlash had Zeller have picked UNC or Butler. Now, I just hope fans don't expect too much out of Zeller right away as I don't think he is a come in right away and make a really strong impact ala Eric Gordon type of player but, more of 3 to 4 year player who will improve each year and will become a impact player by the time he leaves IU.

I'd almost bet that in the near future IU will pick up a commitment from Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell a 5 star pg in the class of 2012. He's has high interest in IU and is friends with Zeller so, I could see him committing soon.

[thaima1shu]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Pelle to St. John's according to ESPN. He was supposed to visit Washington tomorrow. Don't know what happened. Bah!

[SlimKibbles]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

I'm thrilled with who Xavier picked up for next season:

Dezmine Wells (6'5", 220, SF, Hargrave Military Academy VA)
Grade: 95

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/96330

Jalen Reynolds (6'9", 215, PF, Stevenson MI)
Grade: 91

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/97823

Dee Davis (5'10", 160, PG, Bloomington South IN)
Grade: 91

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/66843

Great recruiting class by Chris Mack. That 2011-12 team is going to be loaded.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

http://web.sny.tv/news/article****p?ymd=20101112&content_id=16080490&oid=2&vkey=21

Steve Lavin's recruiting haul gets bigger by the day.
One day after introducing a five-man recruiting class, St. John's received a verbal pledge from 6-foot-10, 200-pound Los Angeles Price center Norvel Pelle, the No. 2 center in the Class of 2011 according to Rivals.

"It feels like a home away from home," Pelle told ESPNU Thursday. "Coach Lavin is a very smart guy. He's a very smart coach. I just loved the way he approached the situation.

"He was calm and cool. He knew other schools wanted me, and he gave me space and also made sure I knew they wanted me."

Pelle was to have visited Washington this weekend, but now that visit won't be necessary.

Pelle is the sixth player to commit to St. John's from the class of 2011, following Maurice Harkless, D'Angelo Harrison, JaKarr Sampson, Nurideen Lindsey and Sir'Dominic Pointer.

"This class, which will become one of the largest signed in collegiate basketball, comprises the foundation of the St. John's program moving forward," Lavin said. "The arrival of the 2010-11 class, along with an elite returning talent in Dwayne Polee II, is the core group that will carry the Johnnies into the future."

Of Pelle, Lavin said, "Norvel's size, length and athleticism makes him as critical a piece to our class as any. Good teams are built from the inside out, and his ability to run the floor, rebound, block shots and finish around the basket will be essential to our establishing an interior presence."

Pelle uses his 6-10 frame and superior jumping ability to make him one of the country's best shot-blockers and most dominant inside players. He is extremely quick for his size and he generates a great deal of scoring off the offensive glass. Pelle also has face-up skills in the paint and a deceptive first step to the bucket. He played at Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif., (the same school that produced NBA standouts such as Tayshaun Prince and Tyson Chandler) from 2007-09.

Why isn't SJU getting any love on these boards.

Lavin's done a ridiculous job in his very first shot at recruiting here. SJU's 2011 class is ranked #2 behind Kentucky. I mean they were not on anyone's radar and just like that...we're #2.

It's cool.

Pelle is a coup. For him to be a Westcoast kid and everyone swore for months he was going to UW and he cancels his visit after his trip to SJU...Lavin's lethal.

This class is right up there with the perennial powerhouses- Kentucky, Duke, UNC, etc.

Let's get some love! We have a serious squad coming in.

1 5-star
4 4-stars
and Nurideen Lindsey

Come on.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Is it wrong for me to call shenanigans on this?

It just seems crazy to me that he's getting all these big time recruits so soon. Was Norm Roberts really that much of a dunce?

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Is it wrong for me to call shenanigans on this?

It just seems crazy to me that he's getting all these big time recruits so soon. Was Norm Roberts really that much of a dunce?

Nothing dirty going on. They loaded up their coaching staff and Lavin brought Gene Keady in. Seems like he's able to sell that he's coached guys who went pro.

Plus, he inherited a roster with basically all seniors = 10 scholarships for next year.

I don't see how it could be dirty when he just got here...it's not like a program that's already set in place trying to keep their rankings up. He's basically doing it from scratch.

And yeah...Norm Roberts was that bad. I salute him for trying to get NYC kids to SJU but Lavin's getting kids from CA, TX, OH, all over the country.

SJU needs to get its props. This is a big time class coming in.

[elicoleman]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

It'll be cool to see the Jonnies back on the CBB map again. Seems right when they're relevant. Maybe these Duke/SJU games won't be so lopsided in the years to come.

Also, pretty BA that Keady is on the coaching staff.

[jake44np]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Nothing dirty going on. They loaded up their coaching staff and Lavin brought Gene Keady in. Seems like he's able to sell that he's coached guys who went pro.

Plus, he inherited a roster with basically all seniors = 10 scholarships for next year.

I don't see how it could be dirty when he just got here...it's not like a program that's already set in place trying to keep their rankings up. He's basically doing it from scratch.

And yeah...Norm Roberts was that bad. I salute him for trying to get NYC kids to SJU but Lavin's getting kids from CA, TX, OH, all over the country.

SJU needs to get its props. This is a big time class coming in.

Trust me Gene Keady has nothing to do with these guys signing with SJ.
Keady is doing no recruiting and is merely a consultant. He isnt even going to attend all the games or practices. Show me one quote from any of their recruits that mentions Keady as the reason the signed with SJ, this is all Lavin.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Trust me Gene Keady has nothing to do with these guys signing with SJ.
Keady is doing no recruiting and is merely a consultant. He isnt even going to attend all the games or practices. Show me one quote from any of their recruits that mentions Keady as the reason the signed with SJ, this is all Lavin.

I never said Keady was the reason. The way my sentence went...I meant Lavin brought all these guys in (coaching staff) AND is able to sell the fact that he coached players who went pro.

And since you want a quote...this will clarify his role:

“The main responsibility that he’ll have with St. John’s basketball program will be to be here from October to April to observe practices, be in our coaching staff meetings and helping with our practice planning,” Lavin told ESPN.com.

If you want quotes about how the recruits felt about the coaching staff from Pointer and Harrison, I'll post them.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

I'm pretty excited about LSU's 2011 class, can;'t wait to see Johnny O'bryant and from what I heard/read John Isaac has tremendous potential. Trent Johnson has been impressive in his recent recruiting classes imo.

[justblaze09]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Amir Williams just signed to Ohio State. Now I have to become a Buckeye fan *sigh* lol

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

http://web.sny.tv/news/article****p?ymd=20101117&content_id=16135204&oid=2&vkey=21

Garrett makes it eight in SJU's class
Nevada wing joins group stocked with players at his position

To say that Amir Garrett completes a blockbuster eight-man recruiting class for St. John's head coach Steve Lavin is an understatement.
The 6-foot-7 Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep wing decided late Tuesday that he couldn't wait until the spring signing period and will sign a letter of intent today with the Johnnies.

Garrett had narrowed his choices to Oregon and St. John's, but apparently isn't deterred at all by the fact that Lavin has already landed talented wings Maurice Harkless of Queens and Sir'Dominic Pointer of Detroit.

According to Rivals, Garrett is rated as the nation's No. 51 overall player and the No. 15 small forward. With superior athleticism and a prototypical frame, Garrett is a tenacious offensive threat who specializes in transition with hard drives to the rim that result in show-stopping dunks. He is also a hard-nosed defender who has a penchant for swatting away shots in transition.

"This class, which will become one of the largest signed in collegiate basketball, comprises the foundation of the St. John's program moving forward," Lavin said. "The arrival of the 2011-12 class, along with an elite returning talent in Dwayne Polee II, is the core group that will carry the Johnnies into the future."

Here's how the eight-man class looks:

Maurice Harkless, 6-8, G/F, Queens, N.Y. - South Kent (Conn.)
D'Angelo Harrison, 6-3, G, Sugar Land, Texas (Dulles)
Nurideen Lindsey, 6-3, G, Philadelphia, Pa.
(Overbrook/Redlands C.C. (Okla.)
Dwight Meikle, 6-9, F, Uniondale, N.Y. - Quality Education Academy, (N.C)
Norvel Pelle, 6-10, F/C, Compton, Calif. (Price)
Sir'Dominic Pointer, 6-6, G/F, Detroit, Mich. (Quality Education Academy (N.C.)
Jakarr Sampson, 6-7, F, Akron, Ohio (Brewster Academy (N.H.)
Amir Garrett, 6-7, F, Lawndale, Calif. (Henderson Nev. Findlay Prep)

Props anyone??

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Where are they going to come up with the minutes for all of those forwards to play? I wouldn't be shocked if one or two of them transferred at some point.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Where are they going to come up with the minutes for all of those forwards to play? I wouldn't be shocked if one or two of them transferred at some point.

Yeah...but I'll worry about that when it happens.

I just want Ws

[sven]

Re: 2011 Recruiting Discussion Thread

Jalen Reynolds (6'9", 215, PF, Stevenson MI)
Grade: 91

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/97823

I really like what I've seen of Reynolds.

I wish I knew why Beilein never offered the kid.