Losing Tyler Smith stung, and

[DodgerHawki]

Where guys are drafted in the NBA...

Ok, do you think he would be getting as much attention this year if he stays at ISU as he is at Syracuse?

has next to nothing to do with "attention" in college. If you can play, the NBA will find you. Yes, tons of guys from UNC, Duke, UCLA, etc. get drafted. But in 2009 alone, first-round picks were also from Arizona State, Davidson, Florida State, and club pro teams in France and Spain.

I would guess Johnson at ISU wanted to play at a program that had a greater chance of winning and (if true) was not happy with how ISU staff handled his foot injury.

 

[FreddyBrown]

No way would I trade NCAA sanctions for a short run of success. Nor would anyone in the University admin.

 

[olivecourt]

This is where I think I differ with most people. I would gladly take an NCAA tourney run even if Iowa couldn't hang it in the rafters after a couple of seasons. Just being mentioned with the best of the best does more for recruiting than anything else. I am not for outright cheating by any means, but Calipari has never been indicted for his actions. When you recruit the highest echelon of talent, usually you also have to deal with their entourage. I know it sucks, but it is what it is now in big time college basketball. You gotta play the game in order to be successful at this level or you need Coach K to get the best suburban kids in the country every season.

i completely disagree, but i am glad you are at least upfront about it. i would also argue that willfully ignoring violations and "outright cheating" are the same thing. you should acknowledge, though, that calipari's final four appearance with umass was also vacated by the ncaa, that he hired dajuan wagner's dad for six years in order to get wagner to come for one year, and hired tyreke evans' personal strength coach as an administrative assistant. if that's what it takes to get those guys, i don't want them.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Re: Where guys are drafted in the NBA...

has next to nothing to do with "attention" in college. If you can play, the NBA will find you. Yes, tons of guys from UNC, Duke, UCLA, etc. get drafted. But in 2009 alone, first-round picks were also from Arizona State, Davidson, Florida State, and club pro teams in France and Spain.

I would guess Johnson at ISU wanted to play at a program that had a greater chance of winning and (if true) was not happy with how ISU staff handled his foot injury.

Yeah, you're right that scouts will find you no matter where you play. But Johnson probably wouldn't have been able to showcase his talents as much as he can in Syracuse's system, and the difference between a mid-late first round pick and lottery pick is millions of dollars.

 

[JHHawk]

Re: JHHawk, #1 in 2012?

Being the #1 pick in 2012 when you haven't set foot on a college court yet as a player is ludicrous, so why make the statement? And just because someone put it out there isn't a legitimate reason.

Well,lets look at the #1 rated HS preps in recent years:

Lebron James.....#1 pick
Greg Oden.........#1 pick
Rose/Beasely/Mayo...#1,2,and #3 picks
John Wall...........expected to be #1 pick in 2010

Clearly, being the #1 HS prep player is not guarantee to be #1...but history suggests that there is a good chance to be top 5,minimum.

As far as getting top recruits automatically meaning that schools cheat...well, UNC and OSU are not on probation the last time I looked and they are taking turns with the top recruiting classes.

KU has pushed the envelope on recruiting for years...but when was the last time they went on probation?

I never suggested Iowa cheat, only that they should get top a top recruit or two...like Barnes or Jok or Paige.
It is not 1957 and college bb has changed since the ''Hoosiers''era. It took SA about 5 years to figure that out and now it seems our coach has needed to re-learn this lesson.

 

[FreddyBrown]

i completely disagree, but i am glad you are at least upfront about it. i would also argue that willfully ignoring violations and "outright cheating" are the same thing. you should acknowledge, though, that calipari's final four appearance with umass was also vacated by the ncaa, that he hired dajuan wagner's dad for six years in order to get wagner to come for one year, and hired tyreke evans' personal strength coach as an administrative assistant. if that's what it takes to get those guys, i don't want them.

(In my best Nixon voice) Let me say this about that: Hiring people connected to a recruit is not cheating unless they're being paid some above-market salary and/or are simply not qualified for the position. Larry Brown hired Ed Manning and won an NCAA title, but I believe Ed had some hoops background. Iowa hired Ray Thompson's high school coach, but he had good ties in what had been a fertile recruiting area for Iowa. Certainly the practice holds the potential for abuse, and I'd hate to see qualified people already on staff being run off in favor of someone with close ties to a recruit--but if you have an opening and the person is qualified, this is one way completely within the rules that recruiting can be enhanced.

I still don't really like the practice but of all the things Memphis probably did to buy their run to national prominence, at least that one was legal, on the surface of it.

 

[JHHawk]

The NCAA has recently made a rule no coach associated with a recruit can be hired by the school the recruit commits to two years before or after the commitment.

This will eliminate the hiring of AAU coaches to bring in their players.
Not sure if the rule applies to fathers or other relatives, but I presume it does.

 

[lumuhawk]

I would gladly be satisfied with Iowa getting to a point where they can continually reload with 'one and done' players. Look at every program in the country doing it and they are a consistent Top 25 and/or national contender.

 

[IAJay]

i completely disagree, but i am glad you are at least upfront about it. i would also argue that willfully ignoring violations and "outright cheating" are the same thing. you should acknowledge, though, that calipari's final four appearance with umass was also vacated by the ncaa, that he hired dajuan wagner's dad for six years in order to get wagner to come for one year, and hired tyreke evans' personal strength coach as an administrative assistant. if that's what it takes to get those guys, i don't want them.

I didn't know about the Wagner and Evan's thing, but I also don't really have a problem with that either. I know Baylor signed John Wall's AAU coach and he didn't follow him there but Beasley did follow his coach to KSU. I guess I just figure that if everyone else is doing it, why not Iowa? I understand this is not a popular sentiment here, but that is what these boards are for.

I also understand that the UMASS final four was vacated, but I also know that my parents got me the UMASS hat that I wanted at the time. Would I have heard of UMASS at that age if not for them making the FF? Nope

 

[ripvdub]

The rumor was that Wes. Johnsons brother was pretty pivotal in his leaving as well. Supposedly the brother was offered money by a Kentucky coach. Reason why there were certain schools that he wasnt "released" to, UK was one of them. Pretty wild accusation, but thats message boards for ya.

 

[clicheusername3]

Of course, if anyone talented chooses to move on they must be paid off by someone. So you are saying Jim Boeheim is a cheater now? Maybe Johnson realized he couldn't be a top 5 pick at ISU so he went to a place that is on ESPN every other game. Shocking I know, but it has to be about money hand shakes doesn't it?

Wouldn't that be a backdoor money handshake?