Basketball Recruiting Projections/General Discussions

[ScriptOhio]

Role of recruiting's intermediaries gets slippery

One source says that agents depend on intermediaries much of the time in a process that is full of potential for breaking the rules.
The process often starts with the same four words.

I got this kid . . . .

The phrase might come from a club basketball coach, a shoe company executive, a friend or a relative -- anyone who believes he can parlay his connection to a star player into a handsome payout.
How does it happen?
In an interview, a prominent agent described how so-called "runners" serve as intermediaries between top prospects and agents hoping to cash in when the player turns pro. The agent, who has represented several NBA players, spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern that his comments might be construed as an admission he had engaged in wrongdoing.
Overwhelmingly, 95% of the time, there's a third party involved" in player-agent relationships, the agent said.
"If agents could get players in a fair, representative way without paying money they would, because everyone is a bottom-line businessman," he added. "But they can't."
Interest in how runners work recently piqued when a former associate accused Rodney Guillory, an L.A.-based events promoter, of accepting about $250,000 in cash and gifts from a sports agency and funneling them to basketball star O.J. Mayo before and during the player's one season on the USC basketball team. The allegations are being investigated by the NCAA, Pacific 10 Conference and NBA Players' Assn.
Payments to runners are made either directly or through yet another intermediary -- perhaps a real estate broker, car salesman, banker or financial advisor. There are advantages to each approach. The use of an intermediary provides the agent with plausible deniability, but direct payments leave less of a trail with fewer people involved.
The going rate for a runner, the agent said, is 1% to 2% of a player's estimated contract. For a $5-million contract, that would amount to anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000. An agent's standard 4% cut of the same contract would be $200,000.....continued......

Entire article: Role of recruiting's intermediaries gets slippery - Los Angeles Times

[LitlBuck]

Ohio State welcomes transfer to men?s basketball program
Source: BigTenNetwork.com
Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thad Matta, Ohio State head men's basketball coach, announced the addition of Zisis Sarikopoulos, a 7-foot, 265-pound center from Athens, Greece, to the Buckeye roster Thursday. Sarikopoulos played last season at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He will sit out the 2008-09 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules and will have three seasons of eligibility beginning with the 2009-10 season.

I think with this guy's transfer you can say goodbye to the recruitment of Orton. I would think that Thad will not turn his attention to the recruitment of Nelson if he is still on the radar.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I think with this guy's transfer you can say goodbye to the recruitment of Orton. I would think that Thad will not turn his attention to the recruitment of Nelson if he is still on the radar.

No reason to back off Orton...He is a one and done probably so if he wants to come you bring him in...It won't hurt anything...

I don't think we are looking at Nelson much now tho...With it looking like we will take 6 in 10' class...

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

No reason to back off Orton...He is a one and done probably so if he wants to come you bring him in...It won't hurt anything...

I don't think we are looking at Nelson much now tho...With it looking like we will take 6 in 10' class...

Bad phrasing on my part. No need to back off but this puts my mind a little more at ease. However, I will say goodbye to SvT.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Bad phrasing on my part. No need to back off but this puts my mind a little more at ease. However, I will say goodbye to SvT.

Agreed on both points...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Orton is the main target for 2009.........my darkhorse is Nelson.......

[LitlBuck]

I know that you guys are going to think that I am coming unglued when you read the following. As it stands now, we do not have any scholarships to offer for 2009 unless someone declares early. I know that everyone says that BJ will be gone because he will probably be the #1 or #2 draft pick. Stranger things have happened where some kids just enjoy college life and the guys there playing with and stay around. I am not saying that BJ will stay around but I would not completely rule it out for at least one year.

I know there is also Buford but I will say the same thing about him plus the fact I think he would benefit greatly from playing 2 years of college ball. Look at TH from UNC, he would probably have gone in the top 10 this year and look at the three UNC guys who declared early but then decided to come back for another year. I think at least one of those guys, Lawson, would have gone in the top 20. Maybe I am just a wishful thinker but I think it is possible Buford will stay for two years. He probably more than BJ.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Mullens is gone.....period.....mark it down now.......I should add barring an injury........

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I know that you guys are going to think that I am coming unglued when you read the following. As it stands now, we do not have any scholarships to offer for 2009 unless someone declares early. I know that everyone says that BJ will be gone because he will probably be the #1 or #2 draft pick. Stranger things have happened where some kids just enjoy college life and the guys there playing with and stay around. I am not saying that BJ will stay around but I would not completely rule it out for at least one year.

I know there is also Buford but I will say the same thing about him plus the fact I think he would benefit greatly from playing 2 years of college ball. Look at TH from UNC, he would probably have gone in the top 10 this year and look at the three UNC guys who declared early but then decided to come back for another year. I think at least one of those guys, Lawson, would have gone in the top 20. Maybe I am just a wishful thinker but I think it is possible Buford will stay for two years. He probably more than BJ.

I was told they had one ship to give for 09 and that ship is now used...If Orton wants to come they will find a way to get him in the class...

BJ is gone after one...Still up in the air on Buford, and will make a decision when I see his game at the college level, but he could be a one and done...

[itownbuckeye]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I know that you guys are going to think that I am coming unglued when you read the following. As it stands now, we do not have any scholarships to offer for 2009 unless someone declares early. I know that everyone says that BJ will be gone because he will probably be the #1 or #2 draft pick. Stranger things have happened where some kids just enjoy college life and the guys there playing with and stay around. I am not saying that BJ will stay around but I would not completely rule it out for at least one year.

I know there is also Buford but I will say the same thing about him plus the fact I think he would benefit greatly from playing 2 years of college ball. Look at TH from UNC, he would probably have gone in the top 10 this year and look at the three UNC guys who declared early but then decided to come back for another year. I think at least one of those guys, Lawson, would have gone in the top 20. Maybe I am just a wishful thinker but I think it is possible Buford will stay for two years. He probably more than BJ.

No way Hansbrough would have gone top 10. As an undersized 4 with limited athleticism and outside game, he's a role player at best in the league.

Isn't there a decent chance that OSU will lose a scholarship due to next year's APR score? If that happens the schollie opened by Mullens leaving will be canceled by that and there will be no opening for the '09 class.

[LitlBuck]

No way Hansbrough would have gone top 10. As an undersized 4 with limited athleticism and outside game, he's a role player at best in the league.

Kevin Love is not undersized and is more athletic than Hansbrough with a better outside shot. I don't think so but we can wait until next year and see where "Psycho" gets drafted.

[DaytonBuck]

Hansbrough will enjoy playing Italy, he doesn't have the athleticism to play the 4 in the NBA.

I think we should have taken Kenny Frease over the Greek

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

Hansbrough will enjoy playing Italy, he doesn't have the athleticism to play the 4 in the NBA.

I think we should have taken Kenny Frease over the Greek

Agree on TH...

Disagree on Frease...Kenny Frease would of slowed us down tremendously...I think that Z is more athletic...

I think Kenny can be good in the right system, but that wouldn't of been here...

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

Hansbrough will enjoy playing Italy, he doesn't have the athleticism to play the 4 in the NBA

.
Respectfully disagree. I think he can play in the NBA. His athletic, has a nice shot, and is extremely well conditioned.

I think we should have taken Kenny Frease over the Greek

Hindsight is always very good and how would Frease help us this year besides backing up BJ and Dallas.

[DaytonBuck]

Not entirely sure about either Frease or Z having outstanding athleticism but Kenny can play the 4 or 5, is by all accounts a good passer and can step out and hit some shots.

Fran Fraschilla apparently said Z would have been a top 50 guy if he played high school in the US