'07 OH PG/SG Dante Jackson (Xavier Verbal)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Turner is certainly more well regarded nationally among scouts and gurus than Jackson. I also think the staff loves his defense and they like Diebs shooting range. I have no problem with either of those offers over Jackson. Those 2 just fit the system better.

Jackson is a great player and will do well in Xavier, but Turner has the whole package, he can do it all and he is versitale. I think your comment about fitting in the system is dead on. It was simply a case of who fits better for the staff.

The move I really can't figure out is passing on Tyus ( who wants to play the wing ) and not going after Jackson ( for whatever reasons ) and then to go after other wings Hudson and end up signing Wallace. I'd have preferred Tyus to either of those two and might well have preferred signing Jackson over Wallace. If we are to take "fliers" and longer shot prospects I'd rather an OH athletic raw prospect than one from NC who is not very prolific yet and about similar in potential and upside. I guess his 4.0 gpa really attracted the staff.

We didn't pass on Tyus, Turner simply beat him to the spot in reality. On Hudson, he is not a longshot. Wallace in my mind has his best basketball ahead of him. His athletic ability is what is special, he can jump out of the gym. The staff feels he can be that tough match-up inside that can do the dirty work. He needs to work on his shot, but that will come, you cannot teach what he has athletically. I would rate Hudson above Jackson anyday, not taking anything away from Dante.

I hate it that we have only one more opening ( and that is with the supposition that Oden and Cook are both gone by the 2008-2009 season ) for the 2008 recruiting class with T25 talents Roe, Gates, Babbitt, Frease(already passed on due to too few ships), Ebanks(unlikely since they want a PF), Evans(probably ended with Crater verbal but would love to have an opening to still offer him) all having shown some degree of interest. I know we couldn't have signed all of them, but I'd rather ANY TWO from that list of 6 than Wallace and only one of them. Have to second guess Wallace in 2007 and Madsen in 2006 considering who they will end up costing us ( super major T25 elite talents in 2008 and 2009). We'll never know for sure, but I think Matta would have bagged BIG GAME with those ships had he not used them up on those two high gpa "longshots".

Can't sugar coat it!

I don't understand why you are questioning the addition of Wallace, mark my words he will be a very good player at Ohio State. As far as Madsen, I find it hard to believe he will get many minutes next year. Lets see how things shake out the next few years with spots before making a judgement.

[jwinslow]

Scout Free

6/6

Photo Gallery of OHSAA Track Finals... feat. Pead, McCarthy, Egler, Jackson, Toussaint, Morgan, among others.

[wadc45]

NCAA hoops blog

6/27

Similarly, Dante Jackson was the best offensive player in the gym last night (at least until I left right before the final game). Again, it's just summer league, but he looks comfortable playing point guard.

[LitlBuck]

I will never understand why Matta did not offer him. The kid wanted to come to Ohio State and he has turned into an excellent player for Xavier. From what I saw yesterday, he probably could have solved some of our PG issues if we had him.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I will never understand why Matta did not offer him. The kid wanted to come to Ohio State and he has turned into an excellent player for Xavier. From what I saw yesterday, he probably could have solved some of our PG issues if we had him.

In fairness, Holloway handles their PG duties for the most part. I don't understand why we didn't pursue Holloway harder when he was released from his Indiana commitment. There is another really nice PG up at Wright State from Ohio in N'Gai Evans that can't shoot, but is quick and handles the ball extremely well. He'd have carved up the zone last night and provided tons of scoring opportunities for others. We just need a PG with handles. But that isn't PJ or Jermemie's fault, as they both have played extremely hard and done everything asked of them.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by billmac91

In fairness, Holloway handles their PG duties for the most part. I don't understand why we didn't pursue Holloway harder when he was released from his Indiana commitment. There is another really nice PG up at Wright State from Ohio in N'Gai Evans that can't shoot, but is quick and handles the ball extremely well. He'd have carved up the zone last night and provided tons of scoring opportunities for others. We just need a PG with handles. But that isn't PJ or Jermemie's fault, as they both have played extremely hard and done everything asked of them.

I think you're forgetting that if you transfer within the Big 10 you must pay your own way. I did not realize that about Jackson but he seemed to handle the ball quite well from the PG position yesterday. From my knowledge, there are no PG's on the horizon for next year unless we go JUCO.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I think you're forgetting that if you transfer within the Big 10 you must pay your own way. I did not realize that about Jackson but he seemed to handle the ball quite well from the PG position yesterday. From my knowledge, there are no PG's on the horizon for next year unless we go JUCO.

as an FYI, due to Indiana's recruitng violations, all freshmen signees were released from scholarship and could play anywhere without facing consequences. Holloway would have been a great pick-up but for whatever reason the Bucks took a pass on him. Probabaly b/c they had Noopy in the fold at the time.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by billmac91

as an FYI, due to Indiana's recruitng violations, all freshmen signees were released from scholarship and could play anywhere without facing consequences. Holloway would have been a great pick-up but for whatever reason the Bucks took a pass on him. Probabaly b/c they had Noopy in the fold at the time.

forgot about that but you are probably correct Re:Snoopy