Basketball Recruiting Projections/General Discussions

[buckeydoptimist]

We will not have back-to-back #1 classes. Even if O.J. Mayo does come to tOSU this class will not be #1 and many had us #2 to UNC last year.

What is germaine though is that it is very difficult to string two straight T5 classes together. You need quantity and quality to have a class ranked that high and when you do it scares off most players in the next class. All of these elites want to start from day one and if you just signed one bunch the next year know they will struggle to break the lineup.

With that in mind, what Matta is assembling is astounding. Because it looks like it could well be THREE IN A ROW. Some of that is being helped by the NBA rule as some of those guys like Oden will be giving up their spot quickly to one of the following classes. But it is still UNPRECEDENTED. If Mayo does sign with Matta he could literally have 3 straight T2 classes. 08 already has two T20 players and may end up with 2 or even 3 more.

MATTA HAS THEM QUAKING IN THEIR BOOTS ( all over the country )

[buckeydoptimist]

Back to the Tyus subject, I think there are many reasons why TM has decided not to keep going after Tyus.

1. As a 3/4, signing Tyus may well interfere with the recruitment of Roe ( also looked at as a 3/4 ) who the staff is high on. If Tyus ends up at the 4 it would also hurt their chances with Gates and if a 3, it would hurt their chances with Buford. I think they want 2 of these 3 '08 class members and signing Tyus would likely mean they could only sign 1 of them.

2. Taking Tyus would mean no room would be left for O. J. Mayo. In the back of their minds they may feel they still have a good shot at him. If they fill up their allotment of GIA's they can't even offer Mayo. Whereas Tyus would be a block to one of the '08 recruits, Mayo will be gone after a year and won't affect the '08 class size at all.

3. Several newspaper articles and websites have indicated that Turner was the staff's first choice of the two that were "competing" for this wing spot. They indicate that Turner had the squeeze put on by the staff when it was apparent that Tyus may well commit this weekend or early next week - after the planned visit with his folks. That may have been because they desired a "true wing" like Turner with this spot. Turner is a great defender and good shooter with a handle whose natural position is on the wing and he can even play some PG along with WF and 2G. Tyus is a skinny, fast, shotblocking and dunking inside PF who wants to learn to play WF for the NBA. Who knows if he can develop the outside shot and handle and defensive ability it would/will take. Turner already comes with most of those skills. His weakness may just be strength, at 175 lbs, and shooting range.

Turner seems to match this staff's definition of a wing much better than Tyus. The 1 in 4 out is on offense. They still like a wing that can defend other 3's on that end.

[LitlBuck]

Optimist,
So I guess what you are saying is that the staff must feel pretty good about getting Roe. I do not think that they can get both Gates and Roe both but I never thought that Matta could go into Illinois and get one of their prize recruit. But on the other hand, having Tyus already in the fold, would not leave any doubt for a PF in 2008. It's the old bird in the hand philosophy.
Re: Mayo, I know that he could take us one more step towards the promised land but you also have to remember that Turner has not signed his LOI and I always worry about verbals and if Mayo would commit I don't know what Turner's thinking would be.
To an extent, I disagree a little with your thoughts about Turner being afraid of a Tyus commitment because they really do not play the same position. Turner is definitely a wing player while Tyus is more of a around the rim type of player. I don't know maybe the staff did squeeze him a little bit.
I guess it's an interesting problem to have.

[buckeydoptimist]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Optimist,
So I guess what you are saying is that the staff must feel pretty good about getting Roe. I do not think that they can get both Gates and Roe both but I never thought that Matta could go into Illinois and get one of their prize recruit. But on the other hand, having Tyus already in the fold, would not leave any doubt for a PF in 2008. It's the old bird in the hand philosophy.
Re: Mayo, I know that he could take us one more step towards the promised land but you also have to remember that Turner has not signed his LOI and I always worry about verbals and if Mayo would commit I don't know what Turner's thinking would be.
To an extent, I disagree a little with your thoughts about Turner being afraid of a Tyus commitment because they really do not play the same position. Turner is definitely a wing player while Tyus is more of a around the rim type of player. I don't know maybe the staff did squeeze him a little bit.
I guess it's an interesting problem to have.

Litl,
Tyus has made it very clear in several interviews that he wants to play the 3 in college to prepare for playing it in the NBA. I think Matta was selling him on playing the 3 at tOSU as well and we needed another wing. So I think both parties may have been thinking of Tyus as a 3 and when Turner beat him to the punch that was it. Tyus probably wouldn't want to be taken as a 4 and even if he did you have Koufos as a 4 in that class already. Like it or not, it looks like Turner and Tyus were being recruited for the same position/ship. If not, then why did TM call off the visit and withdraw the offer to Tyus?

If Mayo committed now it might effect Turner, though everyone knows Mayo will only be a one year player so maybe it wouldn't. But the speculation is that Mayo may wait until next Spring to sign - exploring his European pro options as long as possible. If Turner signs in the Fall, as expected, then it would be too late once Mayo decides in the Spring. Who knows?

[RhodeIslandBuck]

I am still very confident that Tyus will still be a part of this year's class.

[Bucks21]

Originally Posted by RhodeIslandBuck

I am still very confident that Tyus will still be a part of this year's class.

Rhodeisland look at the post above yours. I don't see what you can be confident about, Tyus cancelled his visit for this weekend with us right after Turner committed. They were being recruited for basically the same spot so his recruitment is pretty much over.

[Oh8ch]

I have nothing against tOSU. Saying Matta is best ever is Rediculous.

If I ever grow tired of OSU sports I will keep reading message boards just to see the word 'rediculous' on occasion.

[LitlBuck]

Tyus has made it very clear in several interviews that he wants to play the 3 in college to prepare for playing it in the NBA

If that is indeed the case, I certainly would take Turner over Tyus because, as of now, Tyus needs a lot of work to become as good as Turner to play the 3 position in college.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

If that is indeed the case, I certainly would take Turner over Tyus because, as of now, Tyus needs a lot of work to become as good as Turner to play the 3 position in college.

any reason you type in tiny font every time?

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

any reason you type in tiny font every time?

Litlbuck is a field worker for the See Clearly Program.

[buckeydoptimist]

Easy guys, Litl recently posted saying he is a quadriplegic who uses voice synthesizing s/w to post. I had chided him on his calling Madsen, Madden ( like John ) and he said it was the s/w's fault. My guess is that the font size is related to that s/w. Besides, it fits with his nick - Litlbuck with a litl font!

[LitlBuck]

any reason you type in tiny font every time?

I am a c -5 quadriplegic and do use voice-activated software because I cannot type. Sometimes my voice-activated software will not dictate in the “Reply to Thread” Message box. I realize that typing in a larger font takes up more server space and I will try to keep the font smaller but it will take me longer to post. I will also try to proofread better before posting.

[jwinslow]

sorry, didn't realize the extenuating circumstances... if it's too much trouble don't worry about it. Tho I agree you should make an effort not to inadvertently praise 'Madden' if at all possible

[HotMic]

Now that we have found out we are banking another spot for the 08' class, I would love to see (and think we have a good shot) of the 08' class shaping up like this:

1. Mullens
2. Offutt
3. Roe
4. Crater
5. Buford
(I wouldn't mid a Frease taking one of those spots if someone falls though)

..WOW

[osugrad21]

Sporting News

7/4

Ohio State's encore
The only thing that approaches the wonder of having 7-0 center Greg Oden on your team is having all the guys who want to play with Oden join your team as well.
Also entering Ohio State this fall are top 30 prospects point guard Mike Conley, shooting guard Daequan Cook and wing David Lighty. If Oden decides to become a sophomore, he'll get four more highly regarded preps as teammates.
The OSU recruiting class of 2007 started with shooting guard Jon Diebler, who committed to the Buckeyes last fall. Diebler excelled at the NBPA Top 100 camp and led Scout.com analyst Dave Telep to predict Diebler would become a 1,000-point scorer at Ohio State.
Next up was 7-0 forward Kosta Koufos, who has a European name and a European game but is very much an Ohioan. Analyst Van Coleman of Hoopmasters.com loves how Koufos has grown on offense and ranks him No. 14 in the 2007 class.
OSU's third recruit for '07, 6-8 Dallas Lauderdale, will add muscle and toughness to the frontcourt and likely will be Oden's replacement. The Buckeyes' last 2007 scholarship went to 6-6 wing Evan Turner of Westchester, Ill. He had been a prime target for Illinois.
That gives the Buckeyes a total of eight top 100 recruits in the past two years. Five are from Ohio. You can say coach Thad Matta is an exceptional recruiter, but even he would have to admit he has excellent timing.