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(While I am on hiatus for the next month, I am leaving behind six articles--(July 1) Jamie Brandon, former King basketball star, (July 2) Q&A with Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who grew up in the Chicago area, (July 3) thoughts on the 2010-11 basketball season, (July 4) the impact of head injuries on high school football players, (July 5) the rise and fall of Quincy basketball and (July 6) the release of my fourth book, "Dusty, Deek, and Mr. Do-Right: High School Football In Illinois." Please archive past articles. And enjoy the summer)
Thoughts about the 2010-11 basketball season:
1. Anthony Davis, the fast-rising 6-10 senior from Chicago Perspectives, has indicated he will choose Syracuse, Kansas or Kentucky. He didn't blow off Illinois. Coach Bruce Weber and his staff became aware of Davis and offered a scholarship. But they were never a factor because they got involved too late. They never saw him play. In fact, only three schools saw him play in the early going. And two of them are out of the running.
2. Simeon always had a great relationship with Illinois and you can be assured that coach Rob Smith, like his mentor Bob Hambric, will be supportive in Illini efforts to recruit Jabari Parker. But Jabari's father, former NBA star Sonny Parker, is controlling his son's recruiting. At the moment, it is too early to predict where the centerpiece of the class of 2013 will enroll. Best guess? Kansas.
3. Despite Weber's change in recruiting philosophy, which was so effective in signing Jereme Richmond, Illinois remains a "no win" situation. If Weber doesn't aggressively pursue young talent in Illinois, he is criticized. But even if he does, some prospects will go elsewhere because they feel the cupboard if full. The best thing that could happen to Illinois and all Division I schools, according to Roy and Harv Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye, is if the NCAA passes legislation outlawing early scholarship offers until the fall of a player's junior year. It would take immense pressure off coaches who feel they have to offer players at such a young age and could go a long way toward helping to clean up some of the unsavory elements that surround college recruiting.
4. The class of 2011 in Illinois is oneof the best in recent memory. The class of 2012 is awful, a down year, no clearcut No. 1 player. The class of 2013 has been overhyped, at least from a standpoint of depth. How good are Parker and Whitney Young's Tommy Hamilton? Could De La Salle's Alex Foster be the best player in the class?
5. De La Salle star Mike Shaw's brother is in control of Mike's recruiting. Several influence peddlers are trying to get involved. It is a circus. DePaul is coming on strong. How much does Nike want to help new coach Oliver Purnell to re-establish DePaul's program? Michigan State will be a huge factor in Shaw's decision.
6. Dre Henley's decision to return to De La Salle after spending one year at a prep school in Carbondale raises many questions about his academics and his recruiting. Some scouts think Henley is overhyped and overrated, maybe not even a top 10 player in his class. Some college coaches doubt Henley will be an academic qualifier and others wonder if his prep school transcript will pass NCAA scrutiny.
7. Joseph Bertrand will leave Illinois by the end of the first semester.
8. Look for Purnell to sign one or two "breakthrough" recruits to get his DePaul program off the ground.
Cell Phone Alerts
First of all, my recent time away from blogging here gave me an opportunity to reflect on my approach. I apologize to you Taylor and also to the regular bloggers for stepping outside of my naturally gentlemanly nature. As I continue to write the hard facts (in my opinion)around issues, I will express my views without getting personal. Everyone knows by now I'm a professional in the school system, and I certainly have nothing to prove here. I do bring a different perspective to issues,and that's what makes blogging fun in my opinion.
My comment on this article is: I really like the idea Roy and Harv Schmidt mentioned about NCAA legislation allowing scholarships to be offered only after junior year of high school. I think that is best for many reasons. I also believe the NCAA must implement the rule that supports incoming student-athletes changing their intent to attend a school if the coach leaves. It should not be up to the university.
dear tailor,
No. 7 really bothers me.Who is Joseph Bertrand? If you have prior knowledge that a youngster is going to be running away,I suggest you contact the appropriate authorities.Just a suggestion.Oftentimes these are just idle threats,but sometimes they turn out to be real cases,like the case of ...I don't know,but everyone has had a favorite pet that has run away,and then shows up a few months later with scratches all over its face.
I'm not saying that this Jonah Bertrand would show up at his parents' doorstep with scratches all over his face,but I'm not saying that couldn't happen,either.
There are shows that people can watch that deal with these issues.On one of them,they send a bunch of real fat strong men and women out to repossess the cars of runaways.They throw the runaway down on the ground,take him to his relatives,where they cry a lot and tell him that if he doesn't leave his garbage-filled,rat-infested house or turn in his car,he will have to go live in some beautiful,ocean- front property and be waited on hand and foot for a few months,until he cleans his house.
I would tell Jonah's parents to watch these episodes,set Jonah down on the couch and force him to watch them for about a week.Tie him up if you have to for a week or however long a semester is.
There is always a chance that Jonah is just a spoiled brat who doesn't want to go to school.If he is young,I would suggest bending him over a chair,cutting some holes in a large paddle,and wailing away.
Just a thought.As to number one,I thought Anthony Davis was at Illinois already.Isn't he that skinny black kid who was related to Sammy in some way? Pretty sure he has already been there for a while.
Changing the early recruitment approach will not remove the worst issues of college basketball:namely street agents and other influences on young men. Do you think someone who ignores the rules is bothered by NCAA policy. The solution to cleaning up college basketball is to hold the coach responsible. Watch how quickly those who work on the edge change their tune when their own necks could be on the line.
Just wanted to mention that I am working, with others, on a web site-Coach Accountability-in an attempt to draw more attention to the issue of holding coaches accountable as way to try and clean up college sports. Might be tilting at windmills but gotta try.
"7. Joseph Bertrand will leave Illinois by the end of the first semester."
Hopefully, after the NCAA deals with the early verbal ussue, they can start addressing people in the media that insist on writing un-substantiated garbage about college athletes in their blogs.
The comment about Bertrand is totally uncalled for. And it has no basis whatsoever. Tell you what, Tinker...why don't you put your money where your mouth is? If your prediction about Bertrand is wrong, you stop writing for a year. Now that I think about it, why don't you stop writing permanently. I mean now.
Well the Joeys are leaving parts of Australia in record numbers. Something was in the water, perhaps the same this is happening in Champaign?
Or maybe he'll be leaving the same time Wayne Newton leaves the coaching staff?
Please keep us informed of the latest events.
There is a lot of curious buzz about the 2010-11 class nationally, and surprisingly... the Chicago area's 2010-11 Class.
Personally, I'm a little surprised, but; that is only due to the fact that I don't put much into evaluating players during the summer as opposed to their play during the high school season.
Anyway, I am here in Harlem for the "Battle of the Burroughs" and the World Basketball Festival this weekend. Not sure of the representation from Chicago, but; I'm hopeful I'll see some "rep" from the Southside or Westside.
Curtis K. Jackson Sr.