We all remember with angst the regrettable Mike Jarvis comment that he wouldn't deal with AAU coaches during the recruitment process. Why? Because AAU coaches were putting price tags on their players, asking for speaking engagements at coach's summer camps and other paid "positions". The connection was clear - pay me, and i'll deliver the player.
Walter Berry tells a hilarious story of his recruitment from San Jacinto. At one game where all the schools recruiting Berry were present, Berry heard a knock on his hotel room door. When he opened the door, no one was there, but there was a paper bag there. Berry went into his room, opened the bag, and there were thousands of dollars in the bag. He says he laid on the bed and gleefully tossed the bills in the air, joyfully thinking "I'm rich, I'm rich". A few minutes later the phone rings, and the person on the phone says he is calling from the NCAA. The voice says that if Berry ever wanted to play college ball, and possibly stay out of jail, that he immediately put the money back in the bag, and leave it outside the door, and when the school who left it there called, to tell them he wasn't interested. Berry complied.
When Berry eventually chose St. John's, much later he found out that the NCAA agent who called was Ron Rutledge. The school who sent the money? Villanova.
Dirty stuff in college basketball has been happening forever. Whitehead's high school coach is a dog, but that sort of thing has happened forever.
JSJ reported that in Missouri, they are erecting a statue for Norm Stewart, but I am aware that Stewart also offered a prominent player from NY's high school coach an assistant's position on his staff, presumably to land the player. Morton is a dog, but Willard is worse. But worse than that, that's how the recruiting game is played.
Most of us know this is a shady business. It can get rather grimy in certain situations.
There is a story that John Thompson, Jr. didn't allow a recruit to finish his official visit because he and his handler wanted compensation, if he committed. Several G'town fans have stated that recruit was Khalid El-Amin.
I, vividly recall UConn coming in very late (practically, out of nowhere) in his recruitment, and snagged him.
I also heard a story that G'town had someone to fund dividends to a 2008 recruit's church, in order to land him.
There were stories I heard during John Wall's recruitment that would give you a headache. We all know about shady deals taking place, whether it's in the gray area or clearly cross the line.
Most coaches who feel they are on solid ground wouldn't have gone the route Willard went yesterday. He's not only done it once.... He's done it three times during this year alone.
Willard did this because he is trying to jumpstart the Hall's program and.... and.... he's desperate. Most of us know why he did it, but the thing about this one is it was all out in the public. Not to mention, it was obvious what took place during the final hours of this recruitment.
It's one thing to do it, and have people assuming and insinuating. This was all out for anyone halfway following recruiting to see. It's legal, so it's all good.
Like I told a couple of folks yesterday.... I'm not sweating it, as I found the whole charade to be funny and sad. But it doesn't change my opinion of the situation.
We'll be fine. "The sun will rise again."
