PG Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)

[AmeriBuck007]

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

I try not to read between the lines when recruits do interviews especially after a visit and the interview is done by the visiting school because the majority are slanted and the recruit is given leading questions.

Now, after saying that and reading Conley's comments about his visit. I am still sticking with 55% to Ohio State at this point. I believe he likes Matta as a coach better than Prosser.

I feel exactly the same way. I remember just a couple months ago after Andre Mathis visited Tennessee he told OSU insiders that they were dead even. And he followed up by telling Tennessee insiders that Tennessee lead. After saying this ill go out on a limb and say Conley 85% to OSU

[Yertle]

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

Its time OSU basketball fans start to expect big time prospects looking our way because that is going to be the norm.

Don't get me wrong, I believe we have a great shot at Conley and Oden (ignoring the NBA thing). However, I'm not going to expect big things in b-ball recruiting until it BECOMES the norm.

We thought we had a great shot at Hairston. Sure, Cook is a big time recruit, but that just makes 1 for Matta (sure, maybe you can count Mullens at this point). If he actually lands a couple out of the Oden, Conley, Young, Lighty group, then my expectations will start to rise. Then OJ Mayo jumps on board in 07 and Mullens sticks to his commitment in 08, my expectations will be through the roof.

But, until any of this happens, it's kind of like a dream, and I know I'm going to wake (no pun intended) up at any minute.

[Reebokbigtime]

Considering that Oden joined their team in 7th grade part-time, that is quite early to "have his ticket punched". Anybody who has watched them play in HS or AAU will tell you that the simple fact of having an Oden in the middle allows Conley to (1) be a much more aggressive perimeter defender, showcasing his quickness and (2) enhance his offensive skills by having very open looks at threes and (3) showing Conley's impressive open court skills. When you have a 7 footer run the court like Oden it can make things much easier

Oden starting playing his 6th grade year and was terrible. He never started and no AAU team in Indiana that was a national level program wanted him. He never got big mins until 9th grade year. Cook didn't start until 9th grade year, who do you think was winning all of those tourneys/nationals before then? Conley had major D1 programs who wanted committments the beginng of his freshmen year. Right now Oden's game is like Amare Stoudamire, he runs the floor well and just dunks everything. Conley gets him the ball in the situations where he can just dunk. Oden plays much better with Conley in the game, than the other way around. Did you not see the game in Ft Wayne against Marques Johnson? Oden was in foul trouble and Conley only had 21 pts 11 rebs, 9 assists, and 6 steals. I watched the kid score 16 pts before halftime when Oden was out with fouls.

[hoopsfan]

Originally Posted by Reebokbigtime

Oden starting playing his 6th grade year and was terrible. He never started and no AAU team in Indiana that was a national level program wanted him. He never got big mins until 9th grade year. Cook didn't start until 9th grade year, who do you think was winning all of those tourneys/nationals before then? Conley had major D1 programs who wanted committments the beginng of his freshmen year. Right now Oden's game is like Amare Stoudamire, he runs the floor well and just dunks everything. Conley gets him the ball in the situations where he can just dunk. Oden plays much better with Conley in the game, than the other way around. Did you not see the game in Ft Wayne against Marques Johnson? Oden was in foul trouble and Conley only had 21 pts 11 rebs, 9 assists, and 6 steals. I watched the kid score 16 pts before halftime when Oden was out with fouls.

I am not trying to argue Conley's skills, but Greg being there takes him to a different level. Just to get the facts straight -- Greg was playing for a Terre Haute AAU that finished top 5 in the nationals 6th and 7th grade - that in my mind would constitute a national level AAU team in Indiana. When Mike Conley Sr. started really pursuing Greg was after the nationals when Greg was in 7th grade, and he went for 22 and 20 against a team from Dallas. So to say nobody wanted him is simply not true. I agree he wasn't very good through 6th grade, but the teaching of the game he received from three coaches in Terre Haute prepared him fundamentally to become the breakout player he is -- when that potential started coming to light in 7th grade was when Conley and others in Indy started recruiting Greg for their AAU teams.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Don't get me wrong, I believe we have a great shot at Conley and Oden (ignoring the NBA thing). However, I'm not going to expect big things in b-ball recruiting until it BECOMES the norm.

We thought we had a great shot at Hairston. Sure, Cook is a big time recruit, but that just makes 1 for Matta (sure, maybe you can count Mullens at this point). If he actually lands a couple out of the Oden, Conley, Young, Lighty group, then my expectations will start to rise. Then OJ Mayo jumps on board in 07 and Mullens sticks to his commitment in 08, my expectations will be through the roof.

But, until any of this happens, it's kind of like a dream, and I know I'm going to wake (no pun intended) up at any minute.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yertle....I don't think hairston should be considered, because that was a different staff completely. You are right, Cook only makes 1, but that verbal plus all of the sudden we have several big time prospects visiting the campus and listing us, I have to ask how you can not be excited about the future of basketball recruiting? Do you realize in less than a year, Matta has blue chip prospects in the 06/07/08 classes listing OSU and some even have us as the leader!

Mark this down....Lighty will be a Buckeye, that is 2. Matta has turned the tide and is starting to get national attention.....enjoy this. We may not land all of the current targets but the fact they are coming to campus is huge considering where we were with Obe.

[hoopsfan]

IMO, just the fact that the elite players like Oden and Conley have OSU on their "short list" says alot for Matta's recruiting, and that publicity alone will improve the recruiting clout OSU has.

[Reebokbigtime]

Originally Posted by hoopsfan

I am not trying to argue Conley's skills, but Greg being there takes him to a different level. Just to get the facts straight -- Greg was playing for a Terre Haute AAU that finished top 5 in the nationals 6th and 7th grade - that in my mind would constitute a national level AAU team in Indiana. When Mike Conley Sr. started really pursuing Greg was after the nationals when Greg was in 7th grade, and he went for 22 and 20 against a team from Dallas. So to say nobody wanted him is simply not true. I agree he wasn't very good through 6th grade, but the teaching of the game he received from three coaches in Terre Haute prepared him fundamentally to become the breakout player he is -- when that potential started coming to light in 7th grade was when Conley and others in Indy started recruiting Greg for their AAU teams.

I don't know where you got your information from but it is not correct. Greg Oden played on the Terre Haute Stars AAU team. 6th grade nationals was held in Coca Beach, Conley Jr and his Arkansas Hawks team won his 2nd in a row in the title game they defeated Indy Riverside Oddbreakers who had Curtis White, Reece Cheathem, and Devin Williams who currently play for Pike. Riverside got to the finals by defeating a team out of Oklahoma who had Drew Haymaker. Conley Jr got to the finals by defeating Memphis Bellevue with Wille Kemp.

The next year 7th grade nationals ( summer before there 7th grade year) Conley Jr moved to Indy and Sr started the Indy Heat. He added Greg Oden, but if you read a article he did in High School hoops magazine coaches in Indiana said terre haute had a big guy but he was "terrible". Oden joined the team but was pretty much the last guy off the bench. Again Conley Jr lead them to a AAU Nationals title in Virginia Beach.

The next summer the team added big man Aaron Pogue from Dayton. They won nationals once again in Memphis, Oden got some starts during the run.

The following year they added Daequan Cook from Dayton who was the 6th man. Oden finally became the full time starter, that team lost to Ramar and tracy smith of the Family in the final 4 of nationals. Conley was always highly regarded and as Oden got bigger and better he too climbed in rankings along with Cook, but Conley had always been there.

[hoopsfan]

Originally Posted by Reebokbigtime

I don't know where you got your information from but it is not correct. Greg Oden played on the Terre Haute Stars AAU team. 6th grade nationals was held in Coca Beach, Conley Jr and his Arkansas Hawks team won his 2nd in a row in the title game they defeated Indy Riverside Oddbreakers who had Curtis White, Reece Cheathem, and Devin Williams who currently play for Pike. Riverside got to the finals by defeating a team out of Oklahoma who had Drew Haymaker. Conley Jr got to the finals by defeating Memphis Bellevue with Wille Kemp.

The next year 7th grade nationals ( summer before there 7th grade year) Conley Jr moved to Indy and Sr started the Indy Heat. He added Greg Oden, but if you read a article he did in High School hoops magazine coaches in Indiana said terre haute had a big guy but he was "terrible". Oden joined the team but was pretty much the last guy off the bench. Again Conley Jr lead them to a AAU Nationals title in Virginia Beach.

The next summer the team added big man Aaron Pogue from Dayton. They won nationals once again in Memphis, Oden got some starts during the run.

The following year they added Daequan Cook from Dayton who was the 6th man. Oden finally became the full time starter, that team lost to Ramar and tracy smith of the Family in the final 4 of nationals. Conley was always highly regarded and as Oden got bigger and better he too climbed in rankings along with Cook, but Conley had always been there.

The nationals I was referring to were the BCI Nationals in Dallas -- that was where Conley first saw Greg's potential with the 22/20 game.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Daequan Cook's high school team (Dayton Dunbar) will play Oden/Conley (Lawerence North, IN) on December 8, 2005. The game will be played in Indianapolis and may be televised.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[Yertle]

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

[color=red]I have to ask how you can not be excited about the future of basketball recruiting?

Mark this down....Lighty will be a Buckeye, that is 2. Matta has turned the tide and is starting to get national attention.....enjoy this. We may not land all of the current targets but the fact they are coming to campus is huge considering where we were with Obe.

I didn't mean to say that I'm not excited. Hell, I read basketball recruiting updates on a daily basis now. Before this year, it was once a month at the most. However, I'm trying to keep for letting my expectations sore away. That can only lead to disappointment. That was all I was trying to say - I'm not going to expect this year in and year out quite yet.

And yes, Matta can now claim 2.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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Greg Oden

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>Spiece Tourney Tips Tonight
By Evan Daniels Basketball Recruiting Editor
Date: Apr 28, 2005

Wake Forest recruits Greg Oden and Mike Conley are sure to be in attendance this weekend in Fort Wayne, as well as a lot of young talent. DeaconSports.com will have full extensive coverage.
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The Spiece Run N Slam in Fort Wayne is one of many stops on the AAU circuit that will be filled with all kinds of talent. While Boo Williams and Kingwood were loaded from top to bottom with talent, the Spiece Run N Slam isn’t going to be any different.

Among the top AAU teams in the country in attendance this weekend will be 64 senior division teams including the host team Spiece Indy Heat, The Family, Michigan Hurricanes, Illinois Wolves, Illinois Fire, D-I Greyhounds, Blessed IJN and many, many more.

The tournament will feature many of the top players in the class of 2006, but features a strong contingent of players from the class of 2007, including 8 of Scout.com’s top 20. There are also several top 2007 stars in attendance including:
O.J. Mayo- D-I Greyhounds
Billy Walker- D-I Greyhounds
Keenan Ellis- D-I Greyhounds
Derrick Rose- Meanstreets Express
Eric Gordon- Spiece Indy Heat
Cole Aldrich- Minnesota Magic
Darquavis Tucker- Michigan Hurricanes
Alex Legion- Michigan Hurricanes
For more on the tournament and the participants stay tuned or check out their Official Site


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</CENTER><CENTER> </CENTER>

Looks like a talented group of players will be on display.

[jwinslow]

Excellent tidbit of info I had not read before... this poster is WF's equivalent of nevadabuck:

exclusiveclothes
Posted: 4/29/05 10:57:38 am <hr size="1"> Thad Matta recruited Angelo Smith who played for LN when Conley and Oden were in 8th grade. The LN basketball team would go to team camps at Xavier along with other high schools in the Indianapolis area. Conley and Oden have known Matta since they were in 8th grade. Matta also recruited Indiana Mr. Basketball Justin Cage a few years ago from Pike HS. Daequan Cook pickup was just good recruiting, but Conley and Oden have had a long standing relationship with Matta. More importantly Matta has had a good relationship with the LN coaching staff as well as Pike coaching staff. Those 2 schools have produced most of the D1 talent in Indianapolis the past 7 or so years.

[wadc45]

I'd been hearing about the WF boards lighting up lately, so I finally decided to take 15 minutes out of my life to read that thread as well. All I can say is wow...apparently the Scout network just breeds the same kind of posters. That as like a Gold and Black version of the Bucknuts board. I mean, that was seriously nauseating...taking shots at OSU and Matta any way they could. I give NewYorkBuck credit for taking a chance and posting over there, before being unmercifully ripped apart. Great stuff...

Conley could end up being their FD...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I still believe we are in the lead for Conley......55%

[gsnuts]

44820, when are you going to bump it to 60-65% . I'm loving how the mo Thad has built is starting to topple the domino's the way he wants them to fall!!