Per the Usual

[jcalz88]

Willard will get killed on this board for not getting Bryce...

We got Powell the much better player I can not complain one bit. Bring me a big man and I will even smile!!

 

[Seton75]

After how last year ended, getting Powell was huge, Getting Bryce too would have been great. Losing Silva last year and then not getting any big in the fall really killed me. This is disappointing but for me not close to that level..

 

[Flnj86]

Agree 100%. Myles Powell is the much better player and he proved it on the court.

 

[SPK145]

Willard will get killed on this board for not getting Bryce

Aiken wanted Harvard, can't fault him for that. No big deal if Whitehead sticks around.

Bring me a big man and I will even smile!!

Depends on who leaves to open up that scholarship, you may not smile...............

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Disappointing, but not surprising. He made the better decision IMO given the situation, and Amaker vs. Willard is a ridiculous mismatch.

Are there any bigs of significance we're involved with for '16?

 

[HallBall10]

I think Myles Powell is the better fit with our current roster. We needed a guard who can light it up from 3 and Myles fills that need.

I think getting Jevon made the need to get Bryce a lot less significant. Those who may know better than me... Do you think there is much of a difference between what Jevon and what Bryce hypothetically could bring to the table in the 2016-2017 season? I'm thinking it would be close.

I guess one of the things that troubles me, is that for the past two years, we know we need an upgrade in our front court and we just haven't targeted big men like we have for guards. For example, verbal commits shows that we've offered 17 guards but only 3 PF and 0 centers in the 2017class.

 

[TrueBlue1989]

Willard will get killed on this board for not getting Bryce...

We got Powell the much better player I can not complain one bit. Bring me a big man and I will even smile!!

Agreed. Powell is a stud. I would be pleased To get bryce but he is not a difference maker. Harvard trumped SHU which is no shame. Good luck to him.

 

[Vegas pj]

Are there any bigs of significance we're involved with for '16?

Players or coaches?

 

[Hall91]

at this moment, I think our bigger need is to bring in some quality big men.

 

[lokiSHU]

Willard and staff chose to target Aiken. Another swing and a miss for Willard. Glad we got Powell. But for Powell and Aiken who do/did we even have a chance with. Nothing has changed about Willard's inability to close on recruits. Spring diamonds in the rough here we come.

 

[shupat08]

Well the staff said they want to get a big signed this fall.

But I haven't heard one serious name aside from Powell and Aiken in a very long time.

 

[HallLine69]

Willard will get killed on this board for not getting Bryce...

We got Powell the much better player I can not complain one bit. Bring me a big man and I will even smile!!

I have little use for Willard, but no way I can slam him for losing a kid to Harvard. But I will join you in a smile if and when we land a quality big man.

 

[SnakeTom]

I can't believe that I'm saying this but there are more important things in life than basketball and a degree from Harvard certainly could be considered one of them.

PS: I recently saw an interview of Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick when he was asked what would he have done with his life if he were not in the NFL. He responded "I'd be CEO of a major Corporation". He's probably right. I Harvard degree can take you pretty much where ever you want to go.

Tom K

 

[Flnj86]

The most important thing in life is health and happiness, all the money in the world will not do you any good if you do not have your health. On a side note- Alex Mitola put up big #'s as a freshmen at Dartmouth (Ivy League) and could have graduated from that school, but chose to transfer to George Washington. He must not have been happy, you also need to pick a University where you are happy. There is a reason why 600 or so Division 1 basketball players chose to transfer this past year alone.

 

[mbraue]

Alex graduated with an economics degree from Dartmouth in three years. He wanted a more competitive basketball environment, and may want to play professionally in Europe. Jaren Sina will join his teammate from Gill after sitting out a year. The two have played together for a long time, on AAU and travel teams.

Harvard is a different animal with Amaker. They have a top 10 recruiting class this year and have 3 players in the NBA.

 

[SPK145]

Alex graduated with an economics degree from Dartmouth in three years.

Stop with the facts, they have no place in this discussion, LOL!

 

[Vegas pj]

I can't believe that I'm saying this but there are more important things in life than basketball and a degree from Harvard certainly could be considered one of them.

PS: I recently saw an interview of Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick when he was asked what would he have done with his life if he were not in the NFL. He responded "I'd be CEO of a major Corporation". He's probably right. I Harvard degree can take you pretty much where ever you want to go.

Tom K

+100

 

[cernjSHU]

I can't believe that I'm saying this but there are more important things in life than basketball and a degree from Harvard certainly could be considered one of them.

PS: I recently saw an interview of Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick when he was asked what would he have done with his life if he were not in the NFL. He responded "I'd be CEO of a major Corporation". He's probably right. I Harvard degree can take you pretty much where ever you want to go.

Tom K

I guess you all won't be disappointed when we lose a recruit to Princeton then. After all its a better school than Harvard. Or what about NorthWestern? After all it is ranked #12 in the nation and its in the Big 10. Oh Wait we did lose a recruit to NorthWestern. And we lost a recruit to Rice. But that's ok cause it is a great academic institution. Anytime we are up against Georgetown and we lose a recruit, it should be no big deal cause it is a top 20 school plus it is a great basketball school.

If you are ok with losing out to Harvard, then any other excellent academic institution should be ok as well. I think this line of thinking is total BS. It is an embarrassment to lose to a recruit to Harvard. We are not talking a student on the debate team. Oh wait didn't Harvard lose to inmates?????

 

[SOBO1]

I've shared this story before on piratecrew but it seems appropriate to share it again....

I had a friend in high school who had athletic scholarship offers all over. My friend LOVED West Virginia, loved everything about school, loved the coach, loved the program, the potential teammates, etc. My friend also had an offer to play at Georgetown but didn't like the school really. My friends parents would not let my friend go to WVU and made my friend go to Georgetown strictly for educational purposes.

The school that does the best job recruiting doesn't always win

 

[shu99]

I guess you all won't be disappointed when we lose a recruit to Princeton then. After all its a better school than Harvard. Or what about NorthWestern? After all it is ranked #12 in the nation and its in the Big 10. Oh Wait we did lose a recruit to NorthWestern. And we lost a recruit to Rice. But that's ok cause it is a great academic institution. Anytime we are up against Georgetown and we lose a recruit, it should be no big deal cause it is a top 20 school plus it is a great basketball school.

If you are ok with losing out to Harvard, then any other excellent academic institution should be ok as well. I think this line of thinking is total BS. It is an embarrassment to lose to a recruit to Harvard. We are not talking a student on the debate team. Oh wait didn't Harvard lose to inmates?????

It doesn't help our cause when Harvard is simply a better basketball program than we are. They have a legit shot of playing in NCAA tourney every year and we.... well... we don't.

 

[lokiSHU]

This is about results. We targeted a kid that had Harvard and some other high academic schools on his list (Stanford at one point for example). Coaches should have know the parents were pushing academics. This staff needs to target kids they will land. They repeatedly misread the situations. Willard absolutely is terribly at closing the deal with recruits. This is not about SHU vs Harvard; its about who this staff targets. Now we are scrambling again and looking at recruits for the first time in the fall. Who else, right now, does this staff have a shot at. My disappointment is not with the Aiken decision, but the decisions of this staff and the end results.

 

[Shuathelete]

It doesn't help our cause when Harvard is simply a better basketball program than we are. They have a legit shot of playing in NCAA tourney every year and we.... well... we don't.

THANK YOU!!!

All this stuff about education. Our fans are becoming delusional. This was a basketball decision, academic decision, just about an everything you can think of decision.

 

[cernjSHU]

THANK YOU!!!

All this stuff about education. Our fans are becoming delusional. This was a basketball decision, academic decision, just about an everything you can think of decision.

Let Harvard play in the Big East and see how good of a program it is. They play against Ivy competition. You think that team could withstand the rigors of playing against Big East teams night after night? No way. If it is a basketball decision, does playing against Brown and Dartmouth and the rest of the Ivies challenge you basketball wise or would you rather be playing against Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette etc?

If Seton Hall played against Ivy League competition, they would go dancing every year too. If Amaker was the coach of Seton Hall, do you honestly think he would lose a kid to Harvard?

 

[shu99]

Let Harvard play in the Big East and see how good of a program it is. They play against Ivy competition. You think that team could withstand the rigors of playing against Big East teams night after night? No way. If it is a basketball decision, does playing against Brown and Dartmouth and the rest of the Ivies challenge you basketball wise or would you rather be playing against Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette etc?

If Seton Hall played against Ivy League competition, they would go dancing every year too. If Amaker was the coach of Seton Hall, do you honestly think he would lose a kid to Harvard?

You can also say that we are unable to withstand the rigors of playing against Big East teams night after night. The Big East is clearly a better league than the Ivy league, but our position in the league isn't necessarily a huge draw for every recruit. So is it better to win a league and enjoy the NCAA tourney (while admitted playing against lesser competition night in and night out) or play against better competition throughout the season, take some beatings along the way, then sit home watching CBS come March? It's an individual decision and I can see the validity of option #1.

 

[SPK145]

Now we are scrambling again and looking at recruits for the first time in the fall. Who else, right now, does this staff have a shot at. My disappointment is not with the Aiken decision, but the decisions of this staff and the end results.

With a full roster for next year as of now and no available scholarships, who is scrambling?

Willard and co. were right in it up to the end for a good player at a position of no need. He actually deserves some credit for that.

 

[hallgrad80]

CERN
The question isn't whether we would have gotten Aiken if Tommy were the coach here, the question really is would Harvard even be in the picture if TA were not the coach at Harvard. I would submit that the answer is no.

 

[hallgrad80]

With a full roster for next year as of now and no available scholarships, who is scrambling?

Willard and co. were right in it up to the end for a good player at a position of no need. He actually deserves some credit for that.

SPK
You're point is well taken and Willard and Sha should be given credit for getting us in the final three for Aiken. That doesn't mean that those who raise questions about why we're struggling to land high quality players at any position of need for us don't also have a valid issue to raise.

 

[cernjSHU]

CERN
The question isn't whether we would have gotten Aiken if Tommy were the coach here, the question really is would Harvard even be in the picture if TA were not the coach at Harvard. I would submit that the answer is no.

You are right about that. However, let's keep Amaker at Harvard. Do you think Jay Wright, John Thompson, Ed Cooley, or even Mullin loses out to Harvard? I don't think so.

 

[Seton75]

The staff got no one last fall to play with our hyped up frosh. None of our targets were close to coming here. This year we got one top 100 local kid and missed on a second in a close call. After the way last season ended, frankly, I think this very surprising and a better job than they have done in most years. Man, I guess some would have been killing PJ for losing Shea Seals to Tulsa (Tulsa!!!!! are you kidding me...lofl) and Ed Elisma to Ga Tech.

I could not name a kid on Harvard's roster, but five minutes on the net tells me:

Chris Egi - considered UConn, Cal, Florida
Chris Lewis (a top 50 kid I think) ND, Auburn, Ga Tech, Miami
Seth Towns - OSU, UM

 

[bluemoments]

SHU will be fine without Aiken.

 

[NYC Pirate]

Tons of different angles when speaking about SHU Recruiting. In this particular case the recruit and his family chose Harvard. Going to an Ivy League school is a great achievement. Many of us would have done the same. The parents are going to love the idea that one of their kids will be attending Harvard.

I won't kill the SHU staff on this one. They did everything they could. If IW stays and I think he may, it won't be that big of a deal. We can be critical of the local recruiting when looking back, but it seems as though they are doing better. Last year's class was terrific, but we know the deal with that.

Looking at the big picture you have 2 viewpoints on Seton Hall Basketball recruiting. There is the first one and how this Coaching staff has done and can do in their remaining time however long that could be? Second, a better feeling that it is possible to land some bigtime talent as a Seton Hall Basketball coach. So in that sense I believe there will be positive recruiting results for SHU in the future.

 

[shu09]

You are right about that. However, let's keep Amaker at Harvard. Do you think Jay Wright, John Thompson, Ed Cooley, or even Mullin loses out to Harvard? I don't think so.

This post right here proves what I had suspected in your rantings about this recruiting loss. Your agenda against all things Willard is blinding you in this instance. Willard has certainly done enough to anger the fan base. He probably should have been fired after last season, a decision I would have supported. But he wasn't and now it is what it is. However, this situation is not one to pin on Willard for "failing." I'd argue he did a very good job just to have us in the mix given the state of our program, the playing time available and the uncertainty about his future at Seton Hall.

 

[cernjSHU]

Chris Egi played 4 minutes a game for Harvard. Do you think UConn, Cal and Florida really wanted this kid?
Seth Towns was no where a priority recruit for OSU or UM. One of the many offers that schools give out but not a hard push.
Chris Lewis is a legit top 100 recruit. No doubt about that.

With regard to PJ and Shea Seals. When you had PJ's recruiting and on the court success, I don't question him losing a recruit. With regard to Willard, in 6 years, his record for landing recruits is miserable without giving out jobs.

 

[Shuathelete]

But harvard isnt in the big east. And if they were theyd probably be better than us... not to mention what their recruiting game would be like thne.


bottom line is that you get to dance at harvard and youre basically guaranteed to stay at home at SHU

 

[Seton75]

Chris Egi played 4 minutes a game for Harvard. Do you think UConn, Cal and Florida really wanted this kid?
Seth Towns was no where a priority recruit for OSU or UM. One of the many offers that schools give out but not a hard push.
Chris Lewis is a legit top 100 recruit. No doubt about that.

With regard to PJ and Shea Seals. When you had PJ's recruiting and on the court success, I don't question him losing a recruit. With regard to Willard, in 6 years, his record for landing recruits is miserable without giving out jobs.

I am not surprised my info was inaccurate cause like I said, I have no clue who these kids are. But by you saying Chris Lewis is legit, I assume you are saying ND did lose out to Harvard.

And I don't know who the other top level kids TA has brought to Harvard, but I bet some good programs wanted them too.

 

[SPK145]

That doesn't mean that those who raise questions about why we're struggling to land high quality players at any position of need for us don't also have a valid issue to raise.

Of course but the roster is full for next year at this time so where is there any position of need?

I personally think the frontcourt outside of Delgado is weak but it's full for next year.

 

[Section112]

This is Harvard's 3rd 4-star recruit this year putting them in the Top 10 recruiting class on many lists for 2016. They are getting it done and raising the specter of their program for sure. Hard to argue that right now. With the coach's poor record at SHU I have to give him and the staff credit (especially Sha) for recruiting Powell and coming really close with Aiken. Hopefully we land a big for next year that can contribute right away - that is what we really need.

 

[Vegas pj]

Heaven forbid a kid makes a decision based on academics and life after basketball rather than thinking about making the "show". Maybe, just maybe, he isn't delusional in thinking he'll make it in the NBA considering his size. Maybe he, and his parents, used Shamaker & Harvard as a way to increase his chances in life after basketball. Shame on him & his parents if they did that. Not!

 

[The Crows Nest]

Let Harvard play in the Big East and see how good of a program it is. They play against Ivy competition. You think that team could withstand the rigors of playing against Big East teams night after night? No way. If it is a basketball decision, does playing against Brown and Dartmouth and the rest of the Ivies challenge you basketball wise or would you rather be playing against Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette etc?

If Seton Hall played against Ivy League competition, they would go dancing every year too. If Amaker was the coach of Seton Hall, do you honestly think he would lose a kid to Harvard?

um, you cant make those statements out of context. If Harvard, with Amaker was in the Big East....I render a guess to say his recruiting would be even better. Conversely, if we were in the Ivy League (my diploma just did a double take).....I fear to think of the players we would be recruiting....

The players we get now, albeit not at the level we all know we need, would NEVER come here if we were in the Ivy League....we cant close with kids now, imagine with no league to brag about!

 

[HALL85]

um, you cant make those statements out of context. If Harvard, with Amaker was in the Big East....I render a guess to say his recruiting would be even better. Conversely, if we were in the Ivy League (my diploma just did a double take).....I fear to think of the players we would be recruiting....

The players we get now, albeit not at the level we all know we need, would NEVER come here if we were in the Ivy League....we cant close with kids now, imagine with no league to brag about!

The short analogy of this is to name KW as the Princeton coach........bahahaha