[LUconn]

It's like talking to a wall. Who is it that you want LU to recruit? There is no talent here. It's obvious that you are "into" the local high school sports scene and I think that is clouding your judgement. There is no purpose to wasting a scholarship on a local who is only there because of where he was born. That anonymous coach's reason for getting the anonymous player is "it would make their roster look good"? What does that even mean?

[ballcoach15]

When dealing with recruiting, I try to refrain from mentioning coaches/players names. I am confident, I have spoken with more colleges coaches on the recruiting trail, than most posters on this board.

If you don't believe what I say about local players, just check the rosters of other schools, and see how many central virginia kids are on them. Check all sports.

If LU recruits Central Va, it's very very limited.

[Sly Fox]

I believe we have been referring to men's hoops. If we want to discuss other sports this is probably not the correct forum. Certainly our women's team has had plenty of local products.

[LUconn]

But you're not giving any reasons as to why they are on the rosters. Is it for luck? And what VA teams are we wanting to emulate? There's only 3 or 4 schools that would consider CVA kids to be "local" and I don't think our goal is to be anything like those teams.

[BJWilliams]

I think he is speaking to PH's point about being more relevant within the community. I dont think we should get local kids at the expense of kids from outside of VA, or this region, but at the same time, it would be nice to actually take an active look at the players around here and if one could be seen as a good fit, athletically and philosophically (as far as the university is concerned), itd be worth trying to get them here.

As for this local kid who went to an ACC school, you can be a straight A student and a "good kid" and still not be a good fit for a school ballcoach so there may have been other reasons as to why he wasnt offered by LU so I would not cast aspersions about the coaches wanting or not wanting a player.

[bballfan84]

the fact that he went to an ACC school and I assume he got playing time would mean that we arent a good fit for him...ACC>Big South..thats a losing battle. We will lose that 99% of the time.

[LUconn]

he claims he would have accepted if LU offered

[bballfan84]

ok didnt see that..who are we talking about here..lets just name this player. Are we talking about Ethan Layer quality or Larry Blair??

[ballcoach15]

I stand by my comments, they are 100% factual.

Granted there are probably less mens basketball players in central va that could play at LU than any other sport.
But when one comes along, we should make every effort to sign him.

[BJWilliams]

your first statement is (to borrow a Sheldon Cooper phrase), statistically unlikely. What is missing from this equation is the underlying reasons as to why LU didnt offer...could it have been that the coach at the time found someone he felt was a better fit philosophically (basketball philosophy in this case)? How many scholarships were available the year in question? Who would have been the coach recruiting this player at the time? Had there been any personnel changes that led to the perceived "lack of interest" on LU's part? Its not often as cut and dry as "LU didnt want him". If you dont know the answers to those questions, then there is no way to know that your comments are "100% factual"

[bballfan84]

I stand by my comments, they are 100% factual.

Granted there are probably less mens basketball players in central va that could play at LU than any other sport.
But when one comes along, we should make every effort to sign him.

Who is the player and I will tell you what the deal was

[LUconn]

ok, so it seems to me this is mainly about community support, I guess. I just don't know that I agree if the community cares if a local kid is sitting on the bench. Maybe there is some value in that, but is it enough to justify using 1 of your only 13 scholarships (That's 3.25 per year on average IF you haven't lost any like keeps happening to us)? That could affect offering to a kid who might be a project that could pay off big, or a guy that helps your APR and/or grad rate.

[ballcoach15]

The basketball player in question is Andrew Rousey of Rockbridge County. He is averaging 38 points a game.

[olldflame]

I´d be interested in knowing how the advocates of ¨local¨recruiting define ¨local¨. Is it just CVA, and if so, how far does that extend? Is Richmond local? If so, why isn´t Raleigh? They´re about the same distance from LU, and we have Trap Speakes who is from Raleigh and Twan Burrus who isfrom just a bit East of there in Winterville. Certainly, if you are going to consider any VA athlete local you would be including areas much further away than both of those.

[BJWilliams]

I think (and you can correct me if Im wrong ballcoach), his definition of local includes Lynchburg and Roanoke City, and Campbell, Bedford, Botetourt, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Appomattox Counties

[LUconn]

The basketball player in question is Andrew Rousey of Rockbridge County. He is averaging 38 points a game.

See now we're getting somewhere. Interesting to know that he was interested in us. Should be fun watching him at UNCA with that knowledge.

[olldflame]

I think the player we would be interested in having identified ballcoach, is the one you say would have signed with LU if offered who was a starter in the ACC for 4 years. Quite frankly, I don´t know of any local player who has done that since JJ Reddick.

[Bigsouthking]

The basketball player in question is Andrew Rousey of Rockbridge County. He is averaging 38 points a game.

See now we're getting somewhere. Interesting to know that he was interested in us. Should be fun watching him at UNCA with that knowledge.

How do you know he was interested in LU?? -- LU had NO chance in signing Rowsey... thats a FACT!

[ballah09]

The basketball player in question is Andrew Rousey of Rockbridge County. He is averaging 38 points a game.

See now we're getting somewhere. Interesting to know that he was interested in us. Should be fun watching him at UNCA with that knowledge.

How do you know he was interested in LU?? -- LU had NO chance in signing Rowsey... thats a FACT!

wrong

[LUconn]

The basketball player in question is Andrew Rousey of Rockbridge County. He is averaging 38 points a game.

See now we're getting somewhere. Interesting to know that he was interested in us. Should be fun watching him at UNCA with that knowledge.

How do you know he was interested in LU?? -- LU had NO chance in signing Rowsey... thats a FACT!

I don't know that. I guess I was just trusting some guy I don't even know that posted on this board that said so. But now that you've said we had no chance, I now believe that we had no chance.

[olldflame]

When it all comes down to it, this entire discussion of the available local talent this year is about one player (which in itself reinforces how little there really is). While we have had widely differing statements on the subject, I don´t think we can say for sure he had even the slightest interest in coming to LU.

BTW, flamefan84s sources have proven to be very reliable in the past.

[Purple Haize]

PH-

Difference is JCS is a senior and Rowsey is a fresh... you going to tell JCS to leave?? you gotta take what you need that year PH... thats called roster building... LU needs athletes hopefully they go get one or 5!! got enough shooters.

Being seen as a recruiter in public is more important than actually signing players... kids in CVA dream of playin for VT, UVA, or VCU... Liberty isnt a dream school for them... take kids that want it!! not kids that settle for it!!

I would sit JCS and start Rowsey. He can play the 1 and probably will at UNCA. It's called upgrading your current roster. Under your template, you might have a 6'10 stud you could get but since you already have. 6'10 player starting you should pass. If you can't upgrade than that's fine but Rowsey is an upgrade. Also, roster development is about having a replacement ready when your current player at that spot leaves.

OLD- this is not about 1 player, it's a mindset. We finance the full allotment of scholarships and having a local kid, who the community has heard about is not wasting a scholarship. As I stated earlier the kid won't be a drill buster and their PR value would more than make up for the cost of their scholarship. No one plays 13 deep anyways so where is the harm? It's not like I'm advocating for taking one every year. If no local kid has HAD the experience of playing at LU, even if it is as a practice player, then how can any coach or player have a point of reference when a player from CVA comes along who CAN contribute and LU wants?

[Bigsouthking]

PH -- your middle paragraph statement is why your NOT coaching... JCS is the 2 and Marshall the 1 -- is Rowsey good enough to help LU, no doubt... But that's not the point, read my post it lays out plans of who LU should recruit.

Your 2nd paragraph is why you are also NOT coaching... If you take a local kid and He never plays (walk on, etc) then the family is ticked for 4 years and so is his HS coach, etc. =tons of headaches!

LU Hoops coaches should NOT recruit local unless the kid is a big time difference maker or has an LU connection.

Example: Duke rarely if ever signs North Carolina High School kids, UNC, NC State sign them all... Duke signed Plumlees from Christ School, but they are transplants from Indiana not typical NC kid... LU is just like Duke in that regard, go National...

Rowsey was NEVER going to LU or Radford or VMI... UNCA was only team that recruited him HARD after summer AAU, High Point recruited him a little bit.... Anything else is FALSE

[Purple Haize]

PH -- your middle paragraph statement is why your NOT coaching... JCS is the 2 and Marshall the 1 -- is Rowsey good enough to help LU, no doubt... But that's not the point, read my post it lays out plans of who LU should recruit.

Your 2nd paragraph is why you are also NOT coaching... If you take a local kid and He never plays (walk on, etc) then the family is whizzed for 4 years and so is his HS coach, etc. =tons of headaches!

LU Hoops coaches should NOT recruit local unless the kid is a big time difference maker or has an LU connection.


Rowsey was NEVER going to LU or Radford or VMI... UNCA was only team that recruited him HARD after summer AAU, High Point recruited him a little bit.... Anything else is FALSE

JCS dominates the ball and is interchangeable with Marshall in that regard. Putting Rowsey on the floor with Marshall gives LU an instant offensive boost and upgrade. You have someone who is a better distributor, ball handler, shooter and someone better at creating their own shot. Thus, instant upgrade. Why would you not want to upgrade?
Who says a local kid who never plays is going to be a problem? Every program has players like that and they do great. Who says their HS coach is whizzed? Maybe they are happy that LU gave them a shot. Maybe the kid becomes a solid back up by their senior year? Not every player recruited becomes a starter. Not every player on the roster becomes a solid contributor. And not everyone of those players give a staff headaches There are examples of other sports at LU that prove your statement false. Also, your statement does not address the point about a local player actually having the experience.

Why shouldn't LU recruit a local kid with the same talent as someone out of state? Just because you say it, does not make it true. Same with the Rowsey recruitment.

And I think I may have an Upward Bound assistant gig lined up. My patience and networking looks like it paid off!

[Bigsouthking]

Your dealing in hypotheticals PH.... I said before LU needs athletes, they have no Smittys that can play above the rim, I agree Rowsey would help LU, but he isn't the difference maker LU needs to win a Championship next season. And why bring in local walk ons when LU is full of intramural walk on legends....