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It probably wasn't among athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto's talking points as she successfully sold DePaul to new men's basketball coach Oliver Purnell. But if he wasn't aware of the issue before he arrived in Chicago, he almost certainly is now.
How can Purnell lure the elite players from the Chicago Public League and Catholic League when so many of them are eager to leave the city to avoid the street gangs and shootings that have turned some neighborhoods into war zones?
For example, why didn't DePaul recruit Marshall's Darius Smith, one of the leading players in the city in 2008-09? Instead, he chose Connecticut, another Big East school. There is no doubt that Purnell has a big selling job go do to keep elite Chicago players at home, as Ray Meyer did with Mark Aguirre in 1978.
"Most of the best players in the city don't go to DePaul, not because they didn't have a black coach or because they played at Allstate Arena, but because they want to get out of Chicago," said Von Steuben coach Vince Carter, president of the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association.
"They are tired of seeing their friends get shot, tired of dodging bullets. They want to get away. Derrick Rose and Sherron Collins got away. Wayne Blackshear already has committed to Louisville, Tracy Abrams to Illinois. Other top players are considering schools outside Chicago. This is a problem that Purnell has to deal with."
At one time, DePaul stopped actively recruiting in Chicago. But Ray Meyer, Joey Meyer and Pat Kennedy proved they could keep the best city players at home. At one time, DePaul had an on-campus facility that provided a fan-friendly atmosphere. But it is argued if the program was a winner, people would fill the seats at Allstate Arena, as they once did.
"What DePaul needs is another Aguirre, a pied piper, someone who has the charisma to attract other kids, as Bruce Weber is doing at Illinois," Carter said. "Aguirre helped to attract Teddy Grubbs and Terry Cummings and still allowed the Meyers to recruit nationally, to get a great player like Dallas Comegys from Philadelphia. Brandon Paul, Jereme Richmond and Meyers Leonard can do the same at Illinois."
Carter said the Public League coaches are very supportive of Purnell. But he concedes that recruiting in Chicago is a "crapshoot" because everybody from Duke to Kentucky to Kansas has been known to recruit here.
"We will be interested to see who his assistants will be," Carter said. "He needs people to identify with the top players who can compete in the Big East. It is up to the coach to figure out if they can play in his system. Some kids can play in the Big East and some can't.
"Many kids want to go away, get out of town. Kids who have both parents at home tend to be more grounded. Others dream of going away. Purnell's recruits have to sell DePaul. Historically and traditionally, we know what it is and what it can do. But kids today have to be sold on staying at home."
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It appears that Mr. Carter understands the situation.
WELL IF THIS IS TRUE, THAT MEANS UIC AND LOYOLA AND CHICAGO STATE DON'T HAVE BASKETBALL TEAMS, JUST ASKING?
EVERYONE CAN'T PLAY IN THE BIG EAST, UIC DOESN'T PLAY IN THAT CONFERENCE, NEITHER DOES LOYOLA OR CHICAGO STATE!
THAT IS WHY THE THREE ASSISTANT COACHES WERE BROUGHT IN A YEAR AGO, BILLY GARRETT, TRACY WEBSTER AND DAVID BOOTH!
THE HEAD MAN BROKE HIS LEG, DEPAUL MADE A MOVE, AND NOW YOU HAVE OLIVER PURNELL, THERE IS NO WAR ZONE ON THE NORTHSIDE OF CHICAGO, AND I AM GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN, DEPAUL UNIVERSITY IS THE LARGEST CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
REMEMBER LORENZO THOMPSON OF CRANE HIGH SCHOOL, HE PLAYED AT DEPAUL, HE GRADUATED FROM DEPAUL, AND HE IS A DEAN AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CHICAGO!
TO MY LEO HIGH SCHOOL BROTHER VINCE CARTER, PLEASE CALL OLIVER PURNELL AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, BUT HE PROBABLY ALREADY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AT VON, AND WITH YOUR AAU PROGRAM, BUT THE WAR ZONE THEORY, IS JUST THAT A THEORY, CHICAGO IS A GREAT CITY, YES WE HAVE VIOLENCE, BUT ALL MAJOR CITIES HAVE THAT PROBLEM, DEPAUL IS A GREAT PLACE TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND GET AN EDUCATION!
P.S. TO OLIVER PURNELL, CHECK OUT ANTHONY DAVIS THE 6'8"
YOUNGSTER FROM CHICAGO PERSPECTIVES!
The points made by Mr. Bell are all valid, the biggest of them all... is the most simple.
Start over, show and exhibit a "new" revise brand- that attracts new brand loyalty.
The key to DePaul's past fortunes was in understanding you can not identify or single out a certain high school coach in hopes he alone will help pave the way to greener pastures.
You have to be able to sit at the table with "all" of the coaches- city or suburban, public or catholic. It starts with a summer camp- with Oliver Purnell there everyday to meet, greet and teach.
This is what Rick Pitino did in '89 when he arrived at Kentucky, I know... I was there.
But, first... Purnell has to have a staff that reflects the city, with the ability to recruit nationally. That talent is here, but; it will cost a bit- anything worth its weight always does.
This new DePaul staff should invite key members of the city basketball scene to a "sit down", and; believe it or not... this does not include the likes of The Irvins, Larry Butler, nor any of the city and suburban high school coaches.
Purnell needs Mark Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Clyde Bradshaw, etc. Recent historical basketball figures that can explain why they chose DePaul.
Sure, the street gangs, homey hangerons, family, friends, girlfriends, all can be used as a reason to leave Chicago for safer basketball havens like Louisville, Connecticut, South Bend, East Lansing, etc. However, none of these cities or towns could love local basketball heroics like Chicago. Sell this...
To me, Purnell has a chance to do some real damage real quickly in the recruiting scene here... but; if the man delivering the package can't preach he can't teach. Reminds me of a verse in a song: "If you can believe in something, why not believe in me" (Song by the Pointer Sisters in the movie Car Wash). His top recruiting effort should not be a high school or junior college player.
It should be Mark Aguirre.
How powerful of a message could Purnell send to the city by bringing in- sorry Mr. Mika- DePaul's most celebrated recruit and player to the fold.
Next, show how important education really is to you, as a coach... by showing respect and appreciation to the success of Simeon's program.
Bring in Robert Smith, sell him on winning a "dual match" by getting his degree and paying his dues as a administrative assistant to the staff. After all, its more to running a major college program than just coaching, you have to learn and know the "business of basketball".
I must say, my enthusiasm about Purnell is not quite on par with Mr. Bell, or others. My main concerns with Purnell is with his ability to "open up" and be willing to have a beer and/ or Coke with a coach at the "50 Yard Line" or the "Dating Game"- think polar opposites of the golf clubhouses- popular watering holes of some of the more historically established coaches of the Public League.
Chicago, is my kind a town... It has parts and sides that breed hope and spread sickness equally...
Can Purnell "hug" the challenge that lies ahead? A long impersonal handshake won't due.
Is Purnell willing to risk his shoes getting a little dirty... while maintaining his ability to keep his hands clean?
This is Chicago, you have to know Ray Meyer had to do or say some things he may not have wanted to in order to land Mark Aguirre, Skip Dillard, Terry Cummings, Bernard Randolph, Teddy Grubs, and Raymond McCoy within a two years span.
All it takes is that first solid step... the next steps become a bit easier- as long a those steps are as firmly grounded as the first.
Bend, but; don't break...
Look, basketball and politics in Chicago mirror each other, just as; the above economy of the hamburger business and the below economy of drug sales mirror each other. Its all about knowing product, and; understanding and respecting your market.
Purnell, click your shoe heals, your not at Clemson anymore.
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.
Coach Carter is one of the nice guys who's an AAU coach, but he's also one of the few teachers coaching in CPS. I'm in the know, and word on the street is the sports administrator for CPS likes Carter and wants to bring him aboard into central office if the budget crisis subsides enough for him to make a few moves. DePaul has to go for Blackshear and his soft commitment to Louisville. They also have to go for Mychael Henry, Mike Shaw, and Sam Thompson. All are local stars. They have to plant seeds with Jabari Parker, Tommy Hamilton, Marquis Williams, Derrick Randolph and Alex Foster for the future. There are also 3 kids 6'6" or better in CPS grammar schools who can play. Purnell needs to hire an educated basketball operations guy who knows the ropes around Chicago as well as the things I've touched on here. Think about it.
I've never tried to make friends on the blog here because I say what I feel, but I like DePaul and since JoJo and Curtis mentioned bringing in people, Purnell should probably talk to, or have lunch with Mr Davis who runs the sports administration at CPS. He's the administrator who can give the educational perspective of the entire city. He tries hard to keep all these basketball coaches in line, and would be a great person to talk to after coming in new to a big city like Chicago. I'm just sayin..... I'm not hatin on DePaul. I want them to win and Purnell or his advisors should talk to Mr. Davis. Talking to the guy who runs high school sports in Chicago seems like a no brainer for a new coach.
SOMEONE SAID, DO NOT INVITE THE COACHES IN, DO NOT INVITE THE AAU COACHES IN, THAT APPROACH IS WAY OFF BASE, YOU MUST HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY TO EVERYONE, COACH PURNELL WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO, HE WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE JOB WITHOUT AN ACTION PLAN, HE KNOWS THE CHICAGOLAND AREA IS A GOLDMINE FOR TALENT!
COACH PURNELL IS IN A BETTER POSITION THAN CLEMSON, HE KNOWS IT, AND EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD REALIZE IT AS WELL, THE DEPAUL PROGRAM CAN ONLY GO UP, AND THE RIGHT MAN IS AT THE HELM TO GUIDE THE SHIP!
DEPAUL MUST HAVE A TEAM CAMP, AND ALSO AN INDIVIDUAL CAMP, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF EVENTS THAT OPEN THE EYES OF YOUNGSTERS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG ONES, ASK YOURSELF WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON THE BEAUTIFUL DEPAUL CAMPUS?
THE SCHOOL MUST BE SOLD IN ITS ENTIRETY, OPEN THE DOORS AND WELCOME ALL THAT WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LARGEST CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES!
FINALLY CHICAGO IS NOT A SPOOKY TOWN, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN AMERICA!
You mark my word, Oliver Purnell is going to get the job done. DePaul will be getting a top 5 recruiting class in 2011. The Chicago kids will be the reason why there class wil be ranked so high.
I just thought about it. Purnell doesn't have to do anything but what he's always done. If he doesn't win, that's when we can all second guess him. The Big East is attractive, and the Public league is a special place. You can get much of what you need to win in the Big East right here.
The suggestions about meeting people are fine. Relationships with coaches are fine, but don't forget about parents? We all know that many parents follow the lead of the coach or the AAU coach. This is especially true in the inner city and in CPS. I guess that's the reason for being good with coaches. Looking at Now he's got to turn it up to get DePaul into the final 4. Butler made it.
Phil, When were you at Leo?
I talked to Coach Purnell before I talked to the media guys.
I agree with Coach Carter, getting kids to stay home is tough, especially when they come from poverty stricken environments. Growing up poor, to say the least, is stressful and gives a kid every reason to say "I just want to get away." To put this in perspective, I recently read something that said upwards of 90 of all CPS students live below the poverty line. As so many of us can attest to, being poor is a lot like living in a very small town. You live your life in very small radius and don't experience much outside of it. I agree that Chicago is a great town, however, only for those that can afford to experience its greatness. For others it is a very stifling and depressing place and simply put, kids who have a chance want to get as far away from it as they possibly can.
Again, I agree with Coach Carter that trying to keep some kids home is going to be a hard sell.
CLASS OF 75, COACH CARTER, I WAS A FRESHMAN WHEN YOU WERE A SENIOR!
I KNEW YOU WOULD TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AT VON AND SAY HELLO TO MR. HUDSON, HE IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE!
DEPAUL IS GOING TO GET ALOT BETTER, DON'T YOU AGREE?
BEN BRUST JUST ASKED TO BE RELEASED FROM HIS DEAL AT IOWA, GREAT SHOOTER, PERFECT FOR THE BLUE DEMONS!
To: Mr. Bell
You know, I think a lot people- including some that blog here- are of the mind set that the necessity of DePaul's Oliver Purnell knowing all the "right" high school coaches and AAU/Club Ball coaches is all too important to establishing a "black hand" strong hold over the high school talent in Chicago. I disagree.
Here's a thought...
What about putting together a solid staff capable of running a solid, above board program that actually graduates its players at a rate higher than its winning percentage- that's excluding this past recent season. This would be more attractive to the parents of players- at least those who understand what comes first. And, would show what comes first to Purnell.
Or, did we forget... that ultimately, the decision of where a player goes to college, should be made by them- not the media, scouts, street agents, school administrators, high school or AAU/Club Ball coaches, etc.
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.
WINNING IS A KEY COMPONENT OF WHY THE MAN WAS HIRED!
THE GRADUATION RATE WILL GO UP, THE BLUE DEMONS ARE CARRYING WILSON CHANDLER, THE YOUNG MAN WHO BOLTED FOR THE LEAGUE AFTER HIS SECOND SEASON, AND THE LEFTY THAT LEFT LAST SEASON, THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT AS OF YET TO THE NBA!
NOW THEY WILL CARRY KOSHWAL AS WELL, HE DECLARED FOR THE LEAGUE AND SINCE HE HAS DONE THIS TWO YEARS IN A ROW, HIS COLLEGE CAREER IS OVER!
I DON'T MEAN TO DAMPEN YOUR COMMENTS, BUT YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT BLEW ME AWAY, YOU SAID THE WORD, PARENTS,
UNFORTUNATELY IN SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH OUR YOUNG MEN LIVE, THERE ARE NO PARENTS!
THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH, THE AAU COACH, THE BOYS AND CLUB LEADER IS THE DE FACTO PARENT!
DID YOU SEE THE ESPN MOVIE ON ALLEN IVERSON, THAT SAYS IT ALL RIGHT THERE?
NOW I KNOW WHO BOO WILLIAMS IS, HE WAS ALLEN IVERSON'S AAU COACH!
Phil Jr. Actually I am Class of 73 with Tony Parker.
Mr. Hudson now works at Clemente.
I think DePaul will be okay. I do believe his assistant coaches will determine if they get better in a couple of years or four years down the road.
We all wish him good luck and will support him where we can.
Curtis,
I could not agree more!
In a perfect world with traditional families and parents Curtis' points would be correct, but the inner city of Chicago and some of the surrounding suburbs are not even close to that. The best players sometimes live without even one reliable parent. That's the reality. Phil "Caps" Jr. knows the deal. Therefore, a program like DePaul must have a true pro who can deal with all of the above. Assistant, maybe, operations guy, maybe, but they need someone that they don't have now. This is why you haven't seen them get the top kids even though they play in the Big East. Purnell won't have the time to recruit, but his salary is big enough to pay for this position I'm referring to.
Sammy
Unfortunately, in more cases than I care to admit; your "profile" of the inner city high school basketball player in Chicago is right on... but; this is the case in all of the major metropolis of this country.
I'm opposed to the ideal of that people other a kid- as the one you speak of above in your post- "need" to depend on the with the shoe companies and all of their hired marketing & promotional henchmen, AAU/ Club Ball coaches, some high school coaches and administrators, etc. in order to reach their goal of landing on a college campus to play ball.
This idealism is somewhat bloodsucking...
Even Simeon's Robert Smith made the mistake of referring to the players in the CPS as "product". Wrong... These kids are not tradable commodities, their kids.
I am in the process of using some of my own money to put together an inner city youth basketball program that will be heavily emphasizing the importance of academics and the parental influence. I grew up in the YMCA's... and at one time this was "the" initial exposure inner city kids got to fundamental coaching, mentors and with family and friends to support internal and physical growth. Not anymore... most of the YMCA's in the city are used more as "breeding grounds" for the next Derrick Rose with the coaches using their influence with the kid and his parent(s) as a way to develop a "stepping stone" to becoming a high school basketball assistant coach...
How low can we go?
Personally, the Oliver Purnell hire by DePaul represents a lot of different things to me:
a. An admission of the new importance of “coaches of color”, and ; that their influence can no longer be denied on all levels of basketball;
b. there is a power shift- influenced by the major shoe companies- as to how coaching opportunities are given out by universities;
c. the "crabs in a barrel" affect on the game starting from the YMCA's on up to college basketball, makes it evident that role of being a good coaching, is not nearly as important as; being connected to those who have influence on the talent pool.
Even though, I am a "product" of Chicago Public League, it sickens me as to how far down the perception of the game played in CPS has gone- along with the coaching and administrative leadership- as it relates to respect of the kid (player) and their parent(s) or guardians.
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.
Curtis:
Until sports and recruiting is cleaned up, universities have to survive in the world of sports by learning how to attract the top players. You are absolutely correct in your perception of the way things were when we played, as well as the way things should be now. Your outlook is wholesome and traditional. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just sayin.......Times have changed... Families have changed....shoe companies have changed.....coaching has changed.... aau has come in with no rules....The entire scenario within high school sports, especially basketball has changed. Chicago does exemplify all urban cities in the country. look at Kansas, Memphis, and Kentucky and you see schools who have changed with the times in order to benefit. DePaul with Purnell leading the way, needs to change too.
Check out isaish linton former Simeon High School grad. he's about 6'6,perfect match for the blue demons. I graduated fromdepaul in 83. I know talent when I see it. I went to depaul with teddy grubbs, mark aguirre and terry. After the 78 and 79 class, Depaul has not been able to recruit chicago area talent. What a shame, you have the best of the best in the chicago area.