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Topic: RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Topic: RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

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bn9
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 4:43:18 PM

Shaq of the MAC wrote:

Ohio69 wrote:

Add Kevin Martin.

Great point, I always forget about the Zanesville kids.

I know it helps make your point, but if Zanesville is local, so is Columbus.

Shaq of the MAC
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 4:47:28 PM

Kind of. I guess it depends on how you look at it. I still call Zanesville southeast Ohio because technically, it is (on a map).

Columbus to me is central Ohio.

I can essentially take a back road (Rt. 13) to Zanesville ... And if you can take a curvy back road and reach your destination - then it's 'southeast Ohio' ... :)

Last Edited: 2/20/2014 4:48:50 PM by Shaq of the MAC

Shaq of the MAC
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 4:52:03 PM

Bobcat wrote:

There was an Ohio Assistant Basketball Coach at almost every Athens game last season. Asst. Coach Anthony Stewart was there watching his oldest son play for Athens. His son decided to not play this season and he sent his younger son (Frosh) to Pickerington Central because he deemed the Bulldog program would not prepare him well enough for the next level. Sad really, because the kid wanted to stay at Athens.

Ridiculous.

He would have been fine at Athens - and Athens could have really used him.

Besides, anymore, it's all about spring/summer and AAU. The young Stewart boy could have played anywhere he wanted for months before playing at Athens over the winter.

JSF
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 5:05:48 PM

Why is this important? If you said why, I missed it. I'm not being sarcastic here; you clearly seem to be bothered by this.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

Shaq of the MAC
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 5:24:22 PM

I think I stated clearly numerous times.

I, as a long time Athens resident and Bobcats fan, would love to see a local kid finally suit up for the 'Cats again.

I believe the last one we had was Corey Corrigan and that was like 20 years ago.

perimeterpost
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 5:25:08 PM

I don't care if they are from Athens Ohio, Athens Georgia, or Athens Greece, I want our team to be filled with student athletes that our coaching staff believes is the best possible fit for the team. I don't want a "local boy done good" narrative to drive recruiting decisions.

To suggest that Ohio should have signed Humpty Hitchens instead of DJ Cooper is mind blowing. And that IS what is being suggested by the OP. Imagine if we had allowed geography to dictate our recruiting decisions and Groce had signed Humpty instead of Cooper, DJ would have ended up at Kent State. We all know how much Coop carries a grudge, just think what he would have done to us every time we played them.

Good gravy I'm glad we don't take local talent just for the sake of it.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

Shaq of the MAC
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 5:32:13 PM

perimeterpost wrote:

No, I never suggested signing Hitchens over Cooper. I lumped Hitchens in a group of southeast Ohio athletes that never ended up at Ohio. There may have been good reasons to not sign Humpty, and that's fine. You can exclude him from the conversation if you wish.

And a lot of the other players I mentioned had stellar college careers! They wouldn't have been signed to play at Ohio just because they were a 'local product.'

perimeterpost
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 5:50:20 PM

Shaq of the MAC wrote:

perimeterpost wrote:

here's your quote-

Quote:

Guard Anthony 'Humpty' Hitchens played right here in southeastern Ohio at Chillicothe. He played countless tournament games at the Convo during his high school career and led the Cavs to a DII state championship. But somehow ended up in Akron and was named to the all freshmen team in 2009.

You're trying to make an ideological argument while ignoring literal examples that are to the contrary of your assumption. When you say Humpty "somehow ended up Akron" you are implying that a mistake was made by not prioritizing "local talent" but this in direct conflict with the actual truth- we signed Cooper instead and that was the better choice.

Every scholarship that didn't go to a local player went to a non local player, and we've had some really good non local players over the years.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

Shaq of the MAC
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 6:18:56 PM

"We signed Cooper instead of Hitchens."

Sure glad OU players play every minute of every game and never get injured. Since they don't recruit/sign more than one player to a position and all.

:)

Checkrama
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 6:57:20 PM

I hear the argument from Cleveland Browns fans all the time who only want to draft OSU players just because they are from that school, makes me shake my head every time.

Didn't we have like a 30 page topic about local product Jay Edwards a few years ago? Local product alone doesn't really mean much unless the guy can really play. I mean you just go for the best players, especially in basketball where you only have a few recruits each year, otherwise coaches lose jobs. How about you think of it in reverse, would you want to pass up the next DJ Cooper from Chicago or Leon Williams from Maryland just to sign a local product who is not as highly ranked by your staff? That would be real travesty.

Last Edited: 2/20/2014 6:58:12 PM by Checkrama

MiamiBlowsChunks
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 7:10:06 PM

Shaq of the MAC wrote:

That's odd. I have been to every single Athens home game the last two years and have not seen 1 single OU coach or assistant there.

When I was at Akron for the Athens/SVSM game - I looked up and seen Jeff Bowles sitting with Dambrot and some other college coaches and assistants. I made a comment to my buddy about him being there - and a SV fan overheard our conversation and said "yea, Bowles is here all the time. OSU is doing anything and everything to make sure V.J. King signs with the Buckeyes."

I don't think there is a rule forbidding college assistants from 'attending' games, paying as a general fan to just watch a kid play. But his mere presence means something and makes a difference.

Who is the Jeff Bowles you speak of? I remember a Jeff BOALS who played for the 'Cats; had bad knees but was tough.

There's Only One OU and it ain't in Norman

ohio9704
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 8:06:29 PM

Yes, one hour 30 minutes away, but best Southern Ohio high school player I ever saw in the Convo!

http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/dante_jackson...>

Shaq of the MAC wrote:

Andrew Ruck wrote:

I guess I'd like to hear more examples. So far, we've heard of a player we wanted but understandably had no room for (Kretzer), a player that we ended up being correct in not wanting (Hutchens), and a player you are only speculating is not currently being recruited....To go with 2 baseball recruits from the era of a man who most would agree was not very bright and he is now gone.

I know this is a basketball forum - and let's face it, southeast Ohio is not a 'hot bed' for talented hoops players. My point about Watson (the young man from Athens) coincides with the past 30 years in all sports. There has been plenty over the years in football, basketball and baseball that have been overlooked and ended up going elsewhere.

I would like for ONCE, a local kid to suit up for the 'Cats!

(players who I thought/wished would have wore the green and white)

1. Mike Bishop (Nelsonville-York)
2. Scott Stricklin (Athens)
3. Jeff Hendershot (Wellston, teammate of Stricklin's at Kent)
4. Justin Gail (Nelsonville-York)
5. Grant Gregory (Athens)
6. Jared Humphreys (Jackson)
7. Jake Kretzer (Waverly)
8. Anothony Hitchens (Chillicothe)
9. D.J. Cunningham (Waterford) - starting center for UNC-Ashville)
10. Cam Thoroughman (Portsmouth Notre Dame - played for Huggy Bear at WVU)

bornacatfan
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 8:32:34 PM

takes an hour thirty ? wow. Never seemed like it took that long the years I drove it.....you are right though Dante would have been a good get and he was on OUr radar.

never argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Winter comes and asks how you spent your summer.....

The game loves and rewards those who love and reward the game

Diamond Cat
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 9:10:20 PM

I think Borna would really enjoy watching a HS Game in Zanesville. Coach Scott Aronhalt is a basketball junkie and has built a program on solid fundamentals dating back to the 90's and is disseminated down to the middle schools.

He won a D1 State Title in 1995 with a record of 26-0. This year they Blue Devils were perfect in D1 at 21-0 until a Monday Night loss to Massillon Jackson (ranked 4th in D1). They currently sit No.2 in the State Poll behind Cincinnati Moeller.

This year he has taken a group lead by football players from the Final Four Team (D2 in football) and, once again, built a powerhouse program. That said, many of the players are headed to DII colleges to play football. I grew up in the Y-Bridge City and can tell you football was tops on the list. Sadly, so is the blind loyalty to Cowtown A&M.

I tried to convince Larry Hunter that Travis (Marshall) and Edwin Young (Dayton) were players worthy of the green and white but he maintained they had players of equal caliber. Not. The final straw was trying to convince TOS that Kevin Martin was good enough to play in the Convo. He didn't even return a call. Mind you I played baseball and usually avoid the "look at this kid" syndrome that never ends well. Ironically, Larry Hunter scooped up Martin and the rest is history. Martin finished 3rd or 4th in the Mr. Basketball voting behind some dude named LeBron?

Oh well. I'm too old for that stuff now. It's time for one of the younger Bobcat Attackers' to carry the flag.

perimeterpost
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 9:12:46 PM

Shaq of the MAC wrote:

"We signed Cooper instead of Hitchens."
Sure glad OU players play every minute of every game and never get injured. Since they don't recruit/sign more than one player to a position and all.

:)

PG DJ Cooper, 2 star Scout, ESPN grade 87. Commit 9/22/08
PG Jay Kinney, 2 star Scout, ESPN grade 85. Commit 10/6/08

BUT, looking closer it looks like Humpty was actually in the class before Cooper. So...

Ohio signed Frankie Dobbs at PG in 2008 instead of Humpty Hitchens. Michael Allen was the senior starter at PG.

Frankie Dobbs- 6'3", 185. Berea, OH. 2 Star Scout. Committed 4/18/08
Humpty Hitchens- 5'9", 168. LOCAL BOY!!. Committed 8/1/07

In summary- Local boy Humpty Hitchens was offered by Akron AND Ohio, but HE CHOSE to play for Akron instead of the home town Bobcats. After Ohio lost out on HH they went after and signed Frankie Dobbs 8 months later.

So regardless of the year, your local boy was not over looked by OU. There is no conspiracy.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/r...

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

bornacatfan
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 9:46:32 PM

Goood stuff perimeter. I recalled talking to Rhodes and Ku regarding HH. I was told Frankie was one of the few guys TOS recruited personally from the jump. Glad you ran down the particulars.

DC. Appreciate the personal story and the Zanesville input. I think it is safe to say I would love to see a HS game anywhere but now you have my interest piqued. Always looking for an inside tip on a good game. Maybe stop on the way to Dusquene Dayton or run up from Lancaster. this weekend. What they got this weekend? I think if you tried to talk to TOS you had the wrong guy. Should have talked to Ku or an asst. More likely to get a friendly ear at the time.

Humpty committing to Crackron just illustrates the desire to get away from home. IIRC correctly his pops passed away while he was there. I remember meeting him as he was making the haul on gamenights pretty far.

bobcat695
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 9:58:54 PM

Your list is pretty full of no-names that I don't feel any coach at Ohio "missed". Gregory's dad was fired from OU. I seriously doubt he was going to stick around after that.

If you want DJ Cunningham in an Ohio uniform, there is no way you have seen him play. I left Asheville last month glad his lone D1 offer was from them and not us.

I don't think anyone is anti-local, but I don't want local talent over better talent. I'd love to have a roster full of kids from the region, but it's not good coaching to choose a local player if he's not the best choice you have. There have been a few athletes that we either didn't recruit, or they didn't want to come to OU, but I don't think we've really done a horrible job of missing kids from a 90 minute radius. The most glaring local miss in the past three decades was by Carbone not recruiting Nick Swisher.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

Tim Ford
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 11:07:31 PM

A coach once told me the only thing worse than not recruiting a local player is recruiting a bad local player and having him sit the bench. The "local" fans will have your head. Get the best basketball players who will come to Athens, period.

bornacatfan
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 11:25:36 PM

Tim Ford wrote:

Heeeeeee sssss baaaaaaackkk

Where you been man.....?

thought you might have succumbed to something .... Warning.......NSFW www.youtube.com/watch

The Optimist
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/20/2014 11:33:23 PM

I was under the impression Ohio was recruiting the smooth 6-4 Athens 10th grader. Ibi Watson, right?

The other guys mentioned in this thread were all Groce-era and for the most part most agreed they did not fit Groce's system. Heck, if we are going back to Frankie Dobbs wasn't that TOS?!

So far, Christian is recruiting a VERY high caliber recruit to Ohio. It gets better... The guys he is recruiting for the next couple classes (9th, 10th, 11th graders) are all very talented, highly regarded players. Many of them from in-state.

If Christian doesn't offer an SEO kid, it is because he thinks he can get someone better. That happens. This program is becoming pretty well regarded. That'll help bring in some talent.

Last Edited: 2/20/2014 11:35:30 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

GroverBall
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/21/2014 1:14:24 AM

Shaq, What's up? You appear to have an ax to grind and you are really doing a poor job of it. You've got an interesting topic, and you ruin it with your absolutes, bombastic language and lack of knowledge. Maybe your personal connection to the Humphreys kid you mention is stuck in your craw?

If you've been to "every single Athens home game the last two years" how could you have missed Coach Stewart at so many of them last year? As Bobcat has already pointed out, Coach Stewart came to watch his son Anthony play and was around the program quite a bit. DJ even came to a game with him, did you miss that too? I won't claim I was at "every game" but I was at enough of them to see Coach Stewart there many times. Believe me, this coaching staff is well aware of the Athens basketball squad and the development of its young players.

You would like "for ONCE a local kid to suit up for the 'Cats" ? Are you kidding me? Is your knowledge of Ohio athletics really that poor? For "ONCE" ? Why use such language as this and in the above paragraph when it makes you sound so uninformed?

Nobody since Cory Corrigan? Josiah Yazdani is OUr kicker right now, isn't Albany "local" enough for you? Skylar Schwarzel and Ian Dixon from Athens? Jay Edwards from Nelsonville? Tanner Wood? Kyle Dean? Why don't these athletes count? There are OU athletes all over OUr rosters from Athens, Nelsonville, Gallipolis, Warren, Chillicothe, Lancaster, etc.

BillyTheCat
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/21/2014 1:31:56 AM

Shaq of the MAC wrote:

Zanesville competes in the Central District, is NOT in any realm considered SE OHIO. And someone really throw a Grant Gregory on their list of kids that got away? Wasn't his father the worse OC in the history of OHIO Football, and was being fired while he was being recruited? That had to be an easy sell, we are firing your father, but hey you'll love Athens.

GoCats105
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/21/2014 8:01:12 AM

There's only two guys in this entire argument that I would be somewhat upset about missing out on: Dante Jackson and Rob Brandenburg.

You could argue that Greenfield is more local to Cincinnati than Athens, and plus he signed at Xavier when Sean Miller was catching his stride. Why would he choose Ohio over that? Just because he played in the Convo a few times? Cmon. And I think that was still during the O'Shea era. Had Groce been at Ohio, maybe he would have been swayed differently.

And Brandenburg would have been a great pickup for us had he not chose VCU instead. However, I doubt we had room for him unless he was a #1 choice for us and just went elsewhere. And yeah, he's not all that local anyway if Columbus isn't considered local.

But even then, we're still stealing guys away from other programs. Remember that kid Tommy Freeman? Right out from under Ball State's nose. How do you think they feel about that? Or what about all these kids from Indy and Columbus we've taken over the years? There are more examples of Ohio winning these battles and taking kids and losing them.

Ohio69
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/21/2014 8:52:47 AM

JSF wrote:

Why is this important? If you said why, I missed it. I'm not being sarcastic here; you clearly seem to be bothered by this.

Why is it important? I don't know. James Kirk would get it. Spock, not so much. Community/regional/university pride I guess. I could imagine a lot of positive town/gown mojo if Burrow and Watson are the real deal and helping football and basketball win. It would be fun. Hey, rest of the state, we are using some local boys to kick your arse type of fun. Also, it just feels like we should have a leg up on a kid close to the university. Seems like we lose out on some want-to-play-close-to-home kids. Here's a few who can do that right here. That's rare. Hope we can take advantage of it.

Last Edited: 2/21/2014 8:53:17 AM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

The Optimist
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RE: Ohio recruiting tactics

Posted: 2/21/2014 9:05:04 AM

Ohio69 wrote:

JSF wrote:

Why is this important? If you said why, I missed it. I'm not being sarcastic here; you clearly seem to be bothered by this.

I don't understand the criticism... Aren't we recruiting both Burrow and Watson?

If we are recruiting them, is the critic that we aren't recruiting well enough to get them? I am VERY pleased with our incoming recruiting class. If you are not happy about it, I would love some reasons why. IMO, the only legitimate concern right now about the incoming class is the lack of a point guard signed. I believe we are targeting some kids in spring for this spot... Is the Athens High point a D-1 talent? How about Trimble's point? Nelsonville York got a DJ Cooper running around?

I've seen crazier things happen.

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