In the past few years USC have grabbed a few basketball players from La. They got two for next year http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=107&p=9&cfg=bb&c=4&yr=2007 I just hate to see anyboddy from La in any sport go to USC!
Let's remember that Tim Floyd, former NBA and UNO coach, and someone with really strong recruiting ties to LA is coaching at USC--a university that has recently spent good $millions building its very own on campus basketball facility to bring its basketball program closer to where football is. So, Floyd is coming in and picking up folks that presumably LSU passed on. Leonard Washington (who might play football) and Marcus Simmons both end up getting schollies from Floyd, when Simmons stated publicly that his top choice would have been LSU. But, he supposedly had some academic issues, and LSU must of felt that they needed some size and shooting over another 6-5 guard and 6-6 power forward. Obviously, you hate to see LSU lose out on good LA talent, but at the same time, you can debate whether LSU needs to recruit outside of the state to become a constant national contender. This year, Brady goes to TX, Canada, and CA to land four signees. Only time will tell if these guys end up being better finds than staying close to home. Next year, we clearly have targeted Greg Monroe, who's arguably the best junior in the country, much less LA. But, along with Monroe, we're recruiting broadly across the US. It just seems that LSU's name goes a little beyond the bayou state these days.... :geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. PACK THE PMAC.
I remeber watching Marcus Simmons at the Top 28 last year when they played Northside. He jumped from a little bit in front of the free throw line, and dunked in 6'10 Perry Stevenson's face. It was one of the sickest dunks I've ever seen. He's a hell of an athlete.
Don't get me wrong, I love the job LSU has done recruiting, I just would'nt mind having some icing on my cake. Icing being, not only having good players but also good players form La. I live in TX now but I lived in La for 20 years. One of the best things about last years final four run was that most of the kids were La boys! Now I have to say one more time, I love LSU recruiting, icing is the key. It’s not just the two guys USC picked up (well maybe it is I just hate USC) but there were also a few big guys LSU passed on. The guy from Glen Oaks in Baton Rouge ( http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=1991642 ) . I read he was putting up 21ppg and 15rpg. He’s gone to Ole Miss and wouldn’t you rather take a chance on him then that Juco guy we picked up. Also take a look at this guy http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=2623307 Now of course I’m not a recruiter and I don’t see what they see and maybe the Juco guy could become the next T. Thomas but the key word is icing. How much better could we be if we could swap Tac and Vgood for Texas Tech La backcourt? But I’ still excited about this and next year!
In my mind, you take Elgin Bailey over Hendrix every single day and twice on Thursday. Inexplicable decision by the staff to let him escape to Miss St. Ditto for Leonard Washington. I'd rather have 2 3-star in staters than guys lik e Garrett Green and Elgin Bailey. Some might say it's only because we whiffed on Reynolds and Arthur, but it's still fairly inexcusable
You know, I hear you, but basketball recruiting is a little bit of a different animal than football. There is no "monopoly" on keeping kids in state generally. Because you don't need that many on a team and every kid wants to go to a school where they think they can play. Would I loved to have gotten (and this by no means an exhaustive list)... Demond Carter, Chris Duhon, La Darius Dunn, Jarius Jackson, DJ Augustin, Perry Stevenson, etc.? Sure. LSU's going to win some and lose some. BUT, when you pick up kids like Anthony Randolph by going out of state, you're doing something right. Other points to made in this discussion: 1. LSU DID recruit some of these kids. We extended an offer to Bailey. We brought Brittain in for an unofficial last year. It's not like we didn't recruit them. Bailey probably, however, saw a chance to play sooner at MSU, and LSU has a stacked frontline coming in. 2. Marcus Simmons. OK, he might have been a great player, but he's a swing guard/forward on a team that's loaded at that position. Do you hold a schollie for that spot a year later, so that you can land a top 50 kid in that year (like Ray Shipman) when Tas', Mason and Martin are seniors? 3. We don't see the kids play, the staffs do. You never know if Elgin Bailey, even if he's a 3 star, is going to be the right guy for our system. LSU wants long, athletic bigs and perhaps there was just something about Elgin's game that makes him better for MSU. Not saying I know this, but perhaps the kids are just going where they're comfortable playing and the staffs are recruiting kids that fit better in their systems. I guess you'd like to see the home town kids sign with the purple and gold, but you know, if LSU is going to challenge for the final four in basketball year in and out, you've got to mix in some kids in from out of state. I agree it's a mistake not to try to land your top one or two kids from your state, it's just so happened that this hasn't happened for LSU the last couple of years, and the staff has had to adjust. It's a good thing Pierre and Nikita can and have had the good fortune of being able to sign some pretty interesting out of state guys.
I don't think LSU missed out on Bailey. I think he's a little overrated. Big, but no a dominant player. He could be dominant if his HS coach knew how to use him. Last year Belaire was running the Flex with him, what a waste.
As compared to Hendrix though? I mean, if you believe the star ratings at all it's more desirable to get a local 3-star over a juco 3-star.... especially in not letting the kid go to an SEC West rival.
First, let's remember Hendrix out... Thornton in. To your point, the debate is whether you go after 3 star Juco, 6-9 230, Quinton Thornton, over hometown 3 star, Elgin Bailey. While it's a good debate, "Q" is an athletic, built out and mature post player at 6'9" with good leaping ability and got offers from Tennessee, St. Joes, and Va Tech, in addition to LSU. Bailey is a 6'8" 245 PF, who got schollie offers from MSU (where he signed), Ole Miss, S. Cal and Miami. When he signed with MSU, this is what he had to say: "I decided to go there because my family and I really like Mississippi State," he said. "My family won't have to travel far at all. We liked the area. They are very supportive and stuff like that." Bailey took an unofficial trip to Starkville a couple of weeks ago, but has yet to take any official visits, since he has yet to take the ACT. He claims a 2.5 GPA and plans to take the test next month before scheduling a trip. "I just wanted somewhere small to go and I liked the system and I liked coach Kirby and coach Stansbury and all them, so I just chose them," he added. To me, do you take a guy who can fill needs right away, or take a chance on a local guy who has yet to qualify? Further food for thought--Rivals has more on the wrap up of hoops recruiting: http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=612399. Basically, they have the SEC pulling the sixth best recruiting haul in, with Florida ranked #1, and LSU #2. Of LSU's class, Anthony Randolphs ranks as the "best pro prospect", and Rivals lauds Brady for their "under the radar" picks including D.J. Wright and Garrett Green. I've got to think that Brady and Butch saw something in these guys to make them prioritize them over the in-state crop.
