Lavin Recruiting

[thakid]

Not to bring up old wounds, and I know he often played this game so perhaps it's nothing, but could Lavin's advice to Sampson not to sign a LOI, and I believe that is what we were going to do with Briscoe as well, be because Lavin in part was going to use that as "leverage" re: an extension, etc.?

Obviously I know Doughty signed, but Doughty was not in a class like Sampson/Briscoe where options would be there for him for sure at top schools in the spring.

Just curious if that was done entirely in the player's best interest, or if it was also self-interested advice.

 

[mjmaherjr]

I thought Sampson committed after the signing period. I don't think anyone is crazy enough to tell people to not sign to use that as leverage later on for extension. Too many snakes in recruiting and any coach would be nuts to not lock in a kid when they had a chance

 

[SJU61982]

Not to bring up old wounds, and I know he often played this game so perhaps it's nothing, but could Lavin's advice to Sampson not to sign a LOI, and I believe that is what we were going to do with Briscoe as well, be because Lavin in part was going to use that as "leverage" re: an extension, etc.?

Obviously I know Doughty signed, but Doughty was not in a class like Sampson/Briscoe where options would be there for him for sure at top schools in the spring.

Just curious if that was done entirely in the player's best interest, or if it was also self-interested advice.

Sampson announced his decision in between signing periods. No chance to sign.

Briscoe always said he would wait until the spring to sign, in order to sort it all out (ie, our coaching issue, Kentucky's players issue). By all accounts, Calipari forced the issue, so he signed his LOI.

 

[thakid]

I thought Sampson committed after the signing period. I don't think anyone is crazy enough to tell people to not sign to use that as leverage later on for extension. Too many snakes in recruiting and any coach would be nuts to not lock in a kid when they had a chance

Good point...but hasnt Lavin advised kids in the past not to sign until late? Is that just because they were academic risks --- I just was only befuddled when we'd get a verbal but not a signed LOI previously - maybe they were all in dead periods, but for some reason I felt differently.

I think you are right that Sampson didnt verbal until signing period was over though.

 

[mjmaherjr]

I thought Sampson committed after the signing period. I don't think anyone is crazy enough to tell people to not sign to use that as leverage later on for extension. Too many snakes in recruiting and any coach would be nuts to not lock in a kid when they had a chance

Good point...but hasnt Lavin advised kids in the past not to sign until late? Is that just because they were academic risks --- I just was only befuddled when we'd get a verbal but not a signed LOI previously - maybe they were all in dead periods, but for some reason I felt differently.

I think you are right that Sampson didnt verbal until signing period was over though.

I don't know if Lavin told anyone that he might have I just don't remember. maybe like you mentioned it was academic risks. that would make sense in that case I'd think

 

[Avon Barksdale]

ex-SJU Coach Lavin was well aware that his job was in jeopardy last year, and if he had the opportunity to have these kids sign he would have because that would have helped him try to get an extension.

ex-SJU Coach Lavin came to SJU with the reputation as a "prime time" recruiter, and ironically that (recruiting failures) led to his demise- striking out on the cream of the crop recruits and then bringing in high risk players with academic issues and fringe MAAC level players to round out the roster - which is why Coach Mullin is playing catch-up, but i am fully confident that this staff will not only talk the talk (how many times have we heard "no stone will be left unturned"?) but they will also walk the walk - because they will not only recruit top level players, but with the great reputation in the bball community the staff members will have, we will be in the mix for stud recruits year in and year out.

With our new Coach and his staff, we will never, ever again have a roster the way ex-SJU Coach Lavin left it for next year, which is, quite frankly an utter disgrace.

 

[thakid]

If the Mods would prefer delete this thread I'm fine with it, my concern was clearly uneducated/unfounded and no need to even have the suggestion out there that he would have done that.

 

[SJUalum98]

I disagree about the extension part.

He never pushed kids from what I recall to sign during the early signing period.

I remember him saying that he told a recruit to enjoy the recruitment process and being wooed by other schools. I think it was the kid that ended up going to Baylor (not Gathers).

Maybe that worked at UCLA where the program could sell itself.

But to hear the NJ coaches say that they never saw him and the OSNA coach say that he was the least visible coach on Diallo (handler aside) when the rest of the coaches were out of state speaks volumes.

He was Mr. Homerun swing.

And that left us scrambling each and every Spring.

 

[Spruces2]

ex-SJU Coach Lavin was well aware that his job was in jeopardy last year, and if he had the opportunity to have these kids sign he would have because that would have helped him try to get an extension.

ex-SJU Coach Lavin came to SJU with the reputation as a "prime time" recruiter, and ironically that (recruiting failures) led to his demise- striking out on the cream of the crop recruits and then bringing in high risk players with academic issues and fringe MAAC level players to round out the roster - which is why Coach Mullin is playing catch-up, but i am fully confident that this staff will not only talk the talk (how many times have we heard "no stone will be left unturned"?) but they will also walk the walk - because they will not only recruit top level players, but with the great reputation in the bball community the staff members will have, we will be in the mix for stud recruits year in and year out.

With our new Coach and his staff, we will never, ever again have a roster the way ex-SJU Coach Lavin left it for next year, which is, quite frankly an utter disgrace.

Zzzzz...

Onward and upward!

 

[bobo]

I disagree about the extension part.

He never pushed kids from what I recall to sign during the early signing period.

I remember him saying that he told a recruit to enjoy the recruitment process and being wooed by other schools. I think it was the kid that ended up going to Baylor (not Gathers).

Maybe that worked at UCLA where the program could sell itself.

But to hear the NJ coaches say that they never saw him and the OSNA coach say that he was the least visible coach on Diallo (handler aside) when the rest of the coaches were out of state speaks volumes.

He was Mr. Homerun swing.

And that left us scrambling each and every Spring.

He also racked up a ton of frequent flier miles going back and forth to Europe
on his recruiting vacation trips. Something he couldn't do by going to Newark NJ

 

[shamsman2]

I disagree about the extension part.

He never pushed kids from what I recall to sign during the early signing period.

I remember him saying that he told a recruit to enjoy the recruitment process and being wooed by other schools. I think it was the kid that ended up going to Baylor (not Gathers).

Maybe that worked at UCLA where the program could sell itself.

But to hear the NJ coaches say that they never saw him and the OSNA coach say that he was the least visible coach on Diallo (handler aside) when the rest of the coaches were out of state speaks
volumes.

He was Mr. Homerun swing.

And that left us scrambling each and every Spring.

He also racked up a ton of frequent flier miles going back and forth to Europe
on his recruiting vacation trips. Something he couldn't do by going to Newark NJ

if he brought in Mussini would you have cared? What will you say when Mullin goes overseas? It is part of the game now, deal with it.

 

[buckethead]

I disagree about the extension part.

He never pushed kids from what I recall to sign during the early signing period.

I remember him saying that he told a recruit to enjoy the recruitment process and being wooed by other schools. I think it was the kid that ended up going to Baylor (not Gathers).

Maybe that worked at UCLA where the program could sell itself.

But to hear the NJ coaches say that they never saw him and the OSNA coach say that he was the least visible coach on Diallo (handler aside) when the rest of the coaches were out of state speaks
volumes.

He was Mr. Homerun swing.

And that left us scrambling each and every Spring.

He also racked up a ton of frequent flier miles going back and forth to Europe
on his recruiting vacation trips. Something he couldn't do by going to Newark NJ

if he brought in Mussini would you have cared? What will you say when Mullin goes overseas? It is part of the game now, deal with it.

I don't think people's issue is him flying overseas so much as the clear indication from the CTK situation, that he was ignoring locals while doing so.

 

[bobo]

I disagree about the extension part.

He never pushed kids from what I recall to sign during the early signing period.

I remember him saying that he told a recruit to enjoy the recruitment process and being wooed by other schools. I think it was the kid that ended up going to Baylor (not Gathers).

Maybe that worked at UCLA where the program could sell itself.

But to hear the NJ coaches say that they never saw him and the OSNA coach say that he was the least visible coach on Diallo (handler aside) when the rest of the coaches were out of state speaks
volumes.

He was Mr. Homerun swing.

And that left us scrambling each and every Spring.

He also racked up a ton of frequent flier miles going back and forth to Europe
on his recruiting vacation trips. Something he couldn't do by going to Newark NJ

if he brought in Mussini would you have cared? What will you say when Mullin goes overseas? It is part of the game now, deal with it.

I don't think people's issue is him flying overseas so much as the clear indication from the CTK situation, that he was ignoring locals while doing so.

Agree 100%

 

[TonyinFairfield]

ex-SJU Coach Lavin was well aware that his job was in jeopardy last year, and if he had the opportunity to have these kids sign he would have because that would have helped him try to get an extension.

ex-SJU Coach Lavin came to SJU with the reputation as a "prime time" recruiter, and ironically that (recruiting failures) led to his demise- striking out on the cream of the crop recruits and then bringing in high risk players with academic issues and fringe MAAC level players to round out the roster - which is why Coach Mullin is playing catch-up, but i am fully confident that this staff will not only talk the talk (how many times have we heard "no stone will be left unturned"?) but they will also walk the walk - because they will not only recruit top level players, but with the great reputation in the bball community the staff members will have, we will be in the mix for stud recruits year in and year out.

With our new Coach and his staff, we will never, ever again have a roster the way ex-SJU Coach Lavin left it for next year, which is, quite frankly an utter disgrace.

You really need to let go of your absolute hatred of Lavin. He's gone. It's what you wanted. Why do you still care?

 

[redmannorth]

ex-SJU Coach Lavin was well aware that his job was in jeopardy last year, and if he had the opportunity to have these kids sign he would have because that would have helped him try to get an extension.

ex-SJU Coach Lavin came to SJU with the reputation as a "prime time" recruiter, and ironically that (recruiting failures) led to his demise- striking out on the cream of the crop recruits and then bringing in high risk players with academic issues and fringe MAAC level players to round out the roster - which is why Coach Mullin is playing catch-up, but i am fully confident that this staff will not only talk the talk (how many times have we heard "no stone will be left unturned"?) but they will also walk the walk - because they will not only recruit top level players, but with the great reputation in the bball community the staff members will have, we will be in the mix for stud recruits year in and year out.

With our new Coach and his staff, we will never, ever again have a roster the way ex-SJU Coach Lavin left it for next year, which is, quite frankly an utter disgrace.

You really need to let go of your absolute hatred of Lavin. He's gone. It's what you wanted. Why do you still care?

Not that Avon can't speak for himself but I don't see any hatred in his post but only the truth. Coach Lavin inherited an NCAA team and left a holy mess. G d willing the new staff can adequately complete the roster which I trust they will be able to do.
Personally I think Avon is being polite as only half of the ignoring has been posted.

 

[otis]

If the Mods would prefer delete this thread I'm fine with it, my concern was clearly uneducated/unfounded and no need to even have the suggestion out there that he would have done that.

Hey Kid

If every thread was deleted that was "uneducated/ unfounded" then there would not be much to read on this site.

Thanks for your positive contributions to this site and enthusiasm.