Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) I have of the same concerns as you do, but like the last poster, there's a lot of time yet. First off, I think to some degree recruiting is always a little bit overrated, if you've got a good head coach and passion from a team. Just remember what Andy Kennedy did with his ole miss team the first year. He had to build on some existing players, who bought into a new system, and surprised. I have faith in this coaching staff, which on all accounts brings a little more intellect (no offense to the old staff, but it was probably B+ at best in that regard) and more discipline to their approach. I think folks will be pleasantly surprised with the '08 class. With the Chris Bass signing, we actually have some decent balance to add to the mix with Bass at point, Graham at the wing, Harris as a multidimensional PF and Warren as muscle down low--they will all get good seasoning with next year (and Trent, unlike Brady, will go deep in a rotation, even if you're young). You add that to presumably a more mature Spencer (who is a decent shooter), Farrer who's a hustler (as a senior), and Garrett Green who is at least an athletic big banger, and I don't think that all is lost. Also, Tas' going "early" is still a little premature in my mind. I think that Tas', as good of a college player as he is, is going to have to grow in some way as a pro--he's going to have to show more bounce, quickness and shot as a nba 3 and he's coming back from an injury. He's also quite honestly a very good character guy for LSU. I can see him staying 2 more years. Lastly, as we saw in recent years, the recruiting season lasts from fall to spring. I will guess that LSU will make signing the best 2009 LA kids (like Ludwig) an early priority, while also combing the JUCO ranks throughout the year--you can still always find a few good unsigned JUCOs or a kid like Bass in the spring. So, you add even 3 or so pretty good signings through the course of next year, like Ludwig and another LA kid, maybe a GA or TX kid, and you've got a good platform for the '10 year. P.S. As of now, Brandon Mitchell is not a LSU commit. He's wavering between hoops and football.
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) It will be interesting to see how CTJ handles recruiting with Jucos, im assuming there were none at all at Stanford.
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) The Louisiana Dream Team AAU boys were out soliciting for donations at the Siegen Walmart Supercenter this morning (They are going to Nationals). I briefly considered donating if any were LSU bound, but I'm sure that is an issue with the National Communists Against Athletes.
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) i like this approach. but, it will never result in a NC (unless maybe the nba really changes the draft rules). this approach should give stability to the program but to have a reasonable shot at the FF and any prayer at a NC youve got to have at least one and likely two top talents
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) I think you're right, but first of all, I think Trent is leaving that unsaid. I think he realizes, as most coaches do, that you need at least one, and I'd say more like 2-3 NBA level players who are starters on your team, to win the NC. But, at the same time, what these LSU "fans" want is consistency. Would a perinneal sweet 16 team at LSU fill deaf dome? That's probably what Trent can bring. And, even Daddy dale, with his Shaq laden teamS couldn't get reach the final four (he did that with the Blanton, Don Redden teams)... so you kind of have to build on something. I'd just as soon it start as Trent has envisioned... keep the best LA players at home, knowing that if you get good LA talent year in and year out, it gives you the chance to be very competitive. Once you get your program to a consistent winning way, you steal that top talent from TX or MS or GA every now and then to complement the DJ Augustins, Greg Monroes of the world. I think the Brady bunch in many ways always was trying to "swing" for the fences... trying to land 4-5 Mcd A-Americans. They often missed out on very good LA players as a result, and settled for more hit or miss players. I think Trent wants to build a stable base as a foundation, with LA players, and then figure out what it takes to win that NC... It'll be interesting to watch the next few years for sure. :geauxtige LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE A PART OF THE TRENT JOHNSON ERA.
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) Ok, so I don't know if there's any LSU relevance to this story, but Jeremy Jacob, a freshman on the Georgia basketball team, originally from Baton Rouge is looking to transfer. http://onlineathens.com/stories/070708/news_jacob.shtml Not sure whether CTJ would be interested, or if Jeremy would be interested in coming back to LA, but the possibility's there. Does a transfer like him, though, who has 4 years of eligibility left, count as a 2009 schollie, or would he count against LSU sitting on the sidelines in 2008? The kid was a 2006 All district MVP, and an all-stater, and considered a top 100 recruit by Dave Telep. Haven't heard anything other than the kid wants to transfer, so who knows if LSU is even interested...
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) I sounds like he is all LSU if we want him. http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/24060099.html?showAll=y&c=y
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) word in town is that the post is just too crowded. little worried because it makes it sound like he doesnt want to compete. and its not because he is being a realist about his potential (he's not voogd or lazare). he was a rivals 4star recruit.
Re: Hoops Recruiting (2009) The Jacob story is certainly intriguing, but just like the situation with Doneal Mack I think there are indications that caution and due diligence in checking him out would be appropriate. The connection to Chris Bass in AAU makes this a stronger case, it seems to me. I suspect T'ger is pretty close to the mark in summarizing CTJ's recruiting approach to local and national talent. I think it was Eddie Ludwig who was quoted as saying Johnson wants a team of "at least 90%" Louisiana players, and I suspect that number is more of an attitude than a mathematically correct one, since that would mean a max of 1 non-La. player. Although La. isn't necessarily known as a real stronghold of hoops talent, there is enough to win with and we all know how many solid La. HS players have ended up contributing elsewhere in college. Just like football in the 90's - and what baseball was becoming - La. HS basketball produces enough talent to win whether it's at LSU or somewhere else. And I can't resist... Are you suggesting that CTJ's era might be perennially "taint"ed? :lol:
