Valley Recruiting Trends

[brocks]

I've tried to start this conversation over on the BU board but there are a bunch of hyperventilating drama queens over there who interpret this as a broadside attack against Jim Molinari, which it's not.

Looking at Bradley and Valley recruiting the last 5 years or so, I see a real upward trend, and I wonder whether other MVC fans agree.

Some of you gave me some flack for noting that BU's latest commit chose BU over an offer from Iowa Sate (and others likely to follow). But I don't see it as such a minor point. I KNOW I KNOW . . . Iowa State is no Duke. But it's Big 12 school in a BCS conference with a BCS name and a BCS budget and the sales pitch, "Come play against Kansas and OSU . . ." etc etc.

Here's my point: I think 5-6 or so years ago, we typically saw "[fill in recruit's name] picked [fill in MVC school] over strong interest from Ball State, Youngstown, and UIC. He was also starting to hear from WKU and Loyola IL." That's a long way from "picked Bradley over an offer from Iowa State." The beauty of it is that nobody even thinks that's a big deal anymore!

Can only speak for BU, where Les has beaten out programs like Iowa St, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech for recruits. I know the same thing is going on at Illinois State, Wichita, Creighton, SIU. Would be interested whether it's starting ti rub off on Drake and others.

Those programs I just named are not at the top of their conferences, but another couple Sweet 16's and I won't be surprised to see Les or Lowery or Altman snag a guy from Illinois or Indiana or the like.

Who have YOU been out-recruiting lately?

[DUBulldog]

Can only speak for BU, where Les has beaten out programs like Iowa St, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech for recruits. I know the same thing is going on at Illinois State, Wichita, Creighton, SIU. Would be interested whether it's starting ti rub off on Drake and others.

I'm not sure if it's rubbed off on Drake or not, but I know that the guys Drake is known to be interested in seem to much higher rated than in the past.....the question is whether Phelps can actually land some of these kids.

[WSUfan]

Didn't this type of discussion come up previously? Like here http://www.valleytalk.net/showthread.php?t=6877?

According to this link http://kentucky.scout.com/a.z?s=48&p=8&c=1&nid=3332463, WSU signee Garrett Stutz had offers from Kansas State, Nebraska, St. Louis, SMU and Northwestern and interest from Kentucky and Marquette.

[upsaluki]

We are actually still getting beat out by bigger names. Louisville, Northwestern, Indiana, Illinois, and Oregon come to mind with recent recruits. Several high profile schools tried to steal Booker, but he verbaled before blowing up.

I would say the talent in the Valley keeps climbing.

[Dawgbit]

Good old Bill Self tried to steal Anthony Booker at the 11th hour, and from the Creighton board comes a story of a recruit that they were competing with Kentucky for:

Creighton recruit (http://thebluejaycafe.com/BB/viewtopic.php?t=1763&highlight=dillard)

PS- he signed with neither Ky. nor CU.:innocent:

[WakanTanka]

Drake is surely going to compete more for Iowa guys than in the recent past. UNI's been doing it for a while, too (Ben J, great example). Relevant to Iowa State, especially, it's not so much about recruiting guys as whether you can keep them around (and/or eligible) for 4 years. Iowa State just hasn't lately, for a lot of reasons. A lot of Drake's "magic" last year was that they had several guys who'd been around 4 years. Makes a huge difference.
Since you mentioned Iowa State ...... the Iowa Shmuckeyes, too. They just can't seem to keep guys around anymore. We'll see what Lickliter can get done long-term.

Just for fun ...... Drake has won 8 straight against Iowa, Iowa State and UNI .... and Bradley beat Iowa State last year, too.

[upsaluki]

Good old Bill Self tried to steal Anthony Booker at the 11th hour, and from the Creighton board comes a story of a recruit that they were competing with Kentucky for:

Creighton recruit (http://thebluejaycafe.com/BB/viewtopic.php?t=1763&highlight=dillard)

PS- he signed with neither Ky. nor CU.:innocent:

I think Bob Sakamoto got a little over-zealous on that one. Dillard will be a great player for us though.

[upsaluki]

Drake is surely going to compete more for Iowa guys than in the recent past. UNI's been doing it for a while, too (Ben J, great example). Relevant to Iowa State, especially, it's not so much about recruiting guys as whether you can keep them around (and/or eligible) for 4 years. Iowa State just hasn't lately, for a lot of reasons. A lot of Drake's "magic" last year was that they had several guys who'd been around 4 years. Makes a huge difference.
Since you mentioned Iowa State ...... the Iowa Shmuckeyes, too. They just can't seem to keep guys around anymore. We'll see what Lickliter can get done long-term.

Just for fun ...... Drake has won 8 straight against Iowa, Iowa State and UNI .... and Bradley beat Iowa State last year, too.

Iowa State is a really bad program. Iowa is a middle tier B11 team that gets recruits based on that reason alone. At least both teams will schedule you guys. Illinois has a habit of ducking MVC teams from the same state.

[WakanTanka]

It's pathetic for Illini, if they duck anybody in Illinois. All good with me if Salukis and Redbirds and Braves get the chance and beat that crap out of them. Seems like pretty good odds on that right now. That's all good for the Valley.
Don't be surprised if Drake makes it 12, from 8, with the other Iowa schools, either, this year.
Seems like Indiana State and Creighton have won some games in-state lately, too. More the better.

[bberilam]

Missouri State beat out Nevada for Wade Knapp, Texas Tech for Drew Richards, just the first two that come to mind. Both haven't been impact players (drew graduated, Knapp has a chance this year).

Something I have noticed is coach Martin has been recruiting a lot more athletes than Barry, and is reaching much higher. Almost all of our recruits now have BCS schools in the offering list, we have yet to land any of them, but it's cool to see us trying finally.

It's good for us to get hyped up about, but I look forward to seeing our most un-recruited/hyped player Derron Hobbs more than any of the other recruits this upcoming season.

Here's a cool little clip showing the MVC moving up in the recruiting world:

Talking about Meyers Leonard:
"Indiana joins Iowa, Purdue, Indiana State and Missouri State on his early list of scholarship offers. He's also receiving interest from Illinois – who Leonard says has indicated will offer later in July – Florida, Cincinnati, Miami, Virginia and Southern Illinois."

[WakanTanka]

A relevant question .... does MS get to play MU lately? And if so, what kind of roster does MU have eligible anyway? Or, Illinois, for other people? Surely we can strive for better in the Valley, and keep people around??? If we can, we can beat these people, consistently. It's Emmenecker Magic. Everyone in the Valley should hope for some Emmenecker Magic. Guys who stick around for 4 years and have a brain in their heads. Doesn't sound that difficult, does it? But it's the most special thing you could ever ask for in the Valley. Drake's got some more Emmenecker attitude comin' back again, baby, let's see what happens.

[upsaluki]

A relevant question .... does MS get to play MU lately? And if so, what kind of roster does MU have eligible anyway? Or, Illinois, for other people? Surely we can strive for better in the Valley, and keep people around??? If we can, we can beat these people, consistently. It's Emmenecker Magic. Everyone in the Valley should hope for some Emmenecker Magic. Guys who stick around for 4 years and have a brain in their heads. Doesn't sound that difficult, does it? But it's the most special thing you could ever ask for in the Valley. Drake's got some more Emmenecker attitude comin' back again, baby, let's see what happens.
I would temper my expectations this year. This season has as good a chance to be a very long season for you guys as it does being a good one. Same goes for my team and some others.

[iSASO]

For WSU, I think the depth of quality recruiting is the key since Marshall has arrived.

In the 80's it was a bunch of guys recruited by the bluebloods, the 90's featured KU recruit Mo Evans and prep star John Smith but the depth wasn't there in the 90's.

Turgeon recruited to his system and with a lot of help from Brent Kemnitz (baseball) landed a Sweet 16 team.

But now, Marshall and his staff are pulling in a bunch of guys like we haven't seen since Gene Smithson left town in 1985. Two 7-footers, a bunch of 6'3 guards...things you normally see "other" places. Obviously, we have to wait to see how things pan out but at least the tallest player in the system isn't 6'6" and 225.

[WakanTanka]

I would temper my expectations this year. This season has as good a chance to be a very long season for you guys as it does being a good one. Same goes for my team and some others.

Yep, for sure, but it's hard not to think any team with Josh Young and Bucky Cox wouldn't compete in the Valley again.
But, pretty hard to read Phelps. Ya just never know.
Tough schedule early for Drake ... Butler, Cancun, Iowa, at Iowa State. Guess we'll find out early how excited we should be.
Objectively, the Valley looks more wide open than it's been in a while.

[upsaluki]

Yep, for sure, but it's hard not to think any team with Josh Young and Bucky Cox wouldn't compete in the Valley again.
But, pretty hard to read Phelps. Ya just never know.
Tough schedule early for Drake ... Butler, Cancun, Iowa, at Iowa State. Guess we'll find out early how excited we should be.
Objectively, the Valley looks more wide open than it's been in a while.
Agreed. Should be a fun year.

[Little Eddie]

I would definitely agree that the talent level is increasing of late...maybe moreso for the haves than the have nots but even the have nots are getting more depth on their benches which could prove to be all that is needed to make a push towards the top.

Depth is key this year...I guess it is for most years though.

[upsaluki]

This would be a major coup


http://midstatehoops.com/blog/?p=69

[WSUfan]

This would be a major coup
http://midstatehoops.com/blog/?p=69

Jordan Prosser? Jarod Oldham?

http://www.midstatehoops.com/players/profiles/2009/jordan_prosser.html
Jordan Prosser: Offers from Bradley, Iowa, Baylor, Illinois State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Southern Illinois, Xavier & Wisconsin.

How does that compare with WSU freshman Garrett Stutz, who had offers from Kansas State, Nebraska, St. Louis, SMU and Northwestern and interest from Kentucky and Marquette. Since he picked WSU early, some BCS schools didn't go after him as hard as they might have. Some say Kentucky would probably have offered him if he had not already picked WSU. Is Stutz a "major coup"?

[LincolnJay]

Is Stutz a "major coup"?

No. :noexpression:

PS - I was told by a very fine recruiter for a major college that I ran into that 2009 was the WORST year for big men coming out of high school in recent memory. There are quite a number of bigs at high level schools who will be on the transfer list after a year or two of picking up splinters on big time benches because they should have been going to the Toledo's and Idaho's of the world in the first place.

[WSUfan]

No. :noexpression:

PS - I was told by a very fine recruiter for a major college that I ran into that 2009 was the WORST year for big men coming out of high school in recent memory. There are quite a number of bigs at high level schools who will be on the transfer list after a year or two of picking up splinters on big time benches because they should have been going to the Toledo's and Idaho's of the world in the first place.

Good thing Stutz will be playing for WSU in 2008. (Those "bigs" in 2009 are terrible but the "bigs" in 2008 are great!! :innocent:)


It will be interesting to see how well Garrett Stutz and Ehimen Orukpe do in the Valley. Since the "very fine recruiter for a major college" can't be wrong, I'm sure Stutz will sit on the bench for four years at WSU. I certainly don't expect Creighton fans to complain that Stutz beat them. (Of course, did CU fans ever give Paul Miller any credit?)

[LincolnJay]

Actually, I meant 2008, fat fingered the keyboard. 2009 and 2010 have some good talent.

This wasn't a "someone told me that they talked to someone who said...." thing. This was told to me directly a number of months back. I guess it's either true or not but I have no reason to think he wasn't being straight with me.

[upsaluki]

Good thing Stutz will be playing for WSU in 2008. (Those "bigs" in 2009 are terrible but the "bigs" in 2008 are great!! :innocent:)


It will be interesting to see how well Garrett Stutz and Ehimen Orukpe do in the Valley. Since the "very fine recruiter for a major college" can't be wrong, I'm sure Stutz will sit on the bench for four years at WSU. I certainly don't expect Creighton fans to complain that Stutz beat them. (Of course, did CU fans ever give Paul Miller any credit?)
I've heard good things about Stutz from a guy who works for Scout. Prosser has been recruited longer and harder by bigger names though. He's also ranked higher. I think it's a bigger deal for Bradley to be in at the endgame than for a valley team to offer and get a verbal on a guy earlier. Just my opinion. Of course, they still have to land him. The proof will be in the pudding out on the court though. We'll get to see what these kids can do soon and rankings and who offered who won't matter.

[WSUfan]

I've heard good things about Stutz from a guy who works for Scout. Prosser has been recruited longer and harder by bigger names though. He's also ranked higher. I think it's a bigger deal for Bradley to be in at the endgame than for a valley team to offer and get a verbal on a guy earlier. Just my opinion. Of course, they still have to land him. The proof will be in the pudding out on the court though. We'll get to see what these kids can do soon and rankings and who offered who won't matter.

I'm a little confused by your comment. Stutz signed a LOI last fall, is taking classes at WSU right now (I think) and is playing with other WSU players on campus right now.

Apparently Stutz and Orukpe are really going at it against each other; it's great to have two seven-footers playing in the summer and getting ready for Valley play. I hope our height helps us if and when the Shocks play in the NCAA tourney during the next four years.

[Ictjay]

I'm a little confused by your comment. Stutz signed a LOI last fall, is taking classes at WSU right now (I think) and is playing with other WSU players on campus right now.

Apparently Stutz and Orukpe are really going at it against each other; it's great to have two seven-footers playing in the summer and getting ready for Valley play. I hope our height helps us if and when the Shocks play in the NCAA tourney during the next four years.


They should be great. Can't wait to see them play.

[upsaluki]

I'm a little confused by your comment. Stutz signed a LOI last fall, is taking classes at WSU right now (I think) and is playing with other WSU players on campus right now.

Apparently Stutz and Orukpe are really going at it against each other; it's great to have two seven-footers playing in the summer and getting ready for Valley play. I hope our height helps us if and when the Shocks play in the NCAA tourney during the next four years.

Crappy writing on my part. What I meant was that Bradley is in a dogfight with a highly recruited player until the end and is holding it's own with some big name schools. That is a bigger coup to me than when a school gets a guy to verbal early in the process before he gets a lot of other offers. For instance, we got Booker to verbal before he had a lot of offers. He then blew up. Quite a few schools tried to change his mind before he signed the LOI, but he stayed loyal. If he would have jumped to #29 before we got a verbal would we have signed him? I doubt it. It makes it pretty tough when Kansas,etc come calling.

I guess the Prosser situation is that quite a few schools offered, but have filled those needs. Now it's down to them and Iowa. In this case sticking with a recruitment might pay off even though it looked like he would be out of reach for them.