40 Years Of Recruiting: Has That Much Changed?

R

Ray Morgan

Well-known member
Look at the Recruiting Central page, this staff has put a lot of time in with 5* high school recruits. I stress high school, because the competition is the most intense for high school players vs. JUCO's and transfers. The staff has certainly fared better with the latter. There have been plenty of posts knocking the staff for missing on the most coveted of recruits. Paultzman often refers to up and coming talent blowing up beyond our wheelhouse. So for those who have followed the program pre-internet, when you had to rely on newspapers, how many 5* high school players have landed here. I'm talking about recruits that weren't on Duke or Kansas radar to fill out the bench, but coveted recruits that were couldn't miss stars.

My memory says Mel Davis from the 70s, Mullin from the 80s, Felipe Lopez from the 90s, and maybe Artest as well, although I can't remember. Anyone since 2000? One or 2 a decade. Who have I missed? And if this is our history, is this staff really any different than the Looie days, except college basketball is much more popular and the battle for talent even more competitive now.
 
Walter Berry. I don't think guys like Cook, Harkless & Sealy were 5 star in the sense of top 20 ranked guys in the country, but I could be wrong. Rysheed Jordan was higher ranked than Harkless but wasn't heavily recruited because of other issues. I remember Ed Searcy being highly rated in HS (not sure he was top 20 though), but of course we got him as a transfer from Duquesne.
 
Zendon Hamilton was in the McDonald's All America Game with Felipe if I remember correctly.
 
[quote="sjc88" post=319340]Zendon Hamilton was in the McDonald's All America Game with Felipe if I remember correctly.[/quote]
Correct
 
[quote="L J S A" post=319329]Sealy?[/quote]
With Werdann on McD AA squad
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Wayne McCoy? Wasn't he a high school stud (earlier bloomer) that didn't develop as expected?
 
Mullin, Berry Artest, Felipe, Zendon, Omar, Glover, Barkley, Artest, Sealy, Werdann Were all 5 star. McKoy probably as well though I think he might predate recruiting services.
 
Makes me think of another question: how long would Looie have survived in today's era of fan boards and social media? I can't imagine the reaction after Alcindor went west or some tough tournament losses.
 
[quote="firestorm" post=319369]Makes me think of another question: how long would Looie have survived in today's era of fan boards and social media? I can't imagine the reaction after Alcindor went west or some tough tournament losses.[/quote]

Good question. Looie is a walking soundbite though and oozes personality on camera so he might be different but who knows because as you said social media and boards etc makes everything 24 hour news
 
What about Chucky Sproling?? Wasn’t he very highly rated out of HS? Didn’t he score like 73 pts in a HS game his senior year?
 
[quote="Steve Knortz" post=319355]Wayne McCoy? Wasn't he a high school stud (earlier bloomer) that didn't develop as expected?[/quote]

Good call on Mckoy. Was a big time star at L.I. Lutheran. Reggie Carter was on that team. His problem was that he was 6'8 at age 16 and stayed there.
 
All of the names mentioned were either Mcdonald's All Americans or Parade First Team All Americans. About 15 All Americans in 40 years. Rysheed Jordan was a first team Parade All American. Last 5 star was Jordan. We are due this season for another.
 
[quote="Mean Gene" post=319388]What about Chucky Sproling?? Wasn’t he very highly rated out of HS? Didn’t he score like 73 pts in a HS game his senior year?[/quote]

That is what every announcer always said. me and My brother would crack up laughing each time. Went on for a long time!!!
 
You can laugh all you want, but Chuck Sproling shot 52% from the field, 67% from 3, and averaged in double figures on the biggest stage, the 1991 NCAA Tournament on the way to the Final 8. I'll take that any day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top