C Dallas Lauderdale (official thread)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Here is a pic of Lauderdale in action from this past week...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/8/05

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Monday, December 05, 2005

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Who are the Torch Bearers?
Well, now that helmets and shoulder pads are locked away for the winter, it's time to move from the frozen tundra of area gridirons to inside to where it's warm, loud, and fast-paced. The basketball season is upon us and this past weekend we got an early glimpse at some of the top teams and players in Northeast Ohio.

While the area has and will always be considered a football hotbed, the local hardwood has seen some superb players over the years. Looking back, Northeast Ohio has produced such future collegiate and pro stars such as Earl Boykins (Cleveland Central Catholic), Melvin Levett (Euclid), Damon Stringer (Cleveland Heights), Sam Clancy & Steve Logan (St. Edward) and of course, LeBron James (Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary). The list could go on. But enough of the past. Who is going to carry the torch and become the next great player to hail from the area?

Well, the list is extensive. There is a plethora of talent on the courts this season and several names have been mentioned when talking about the state's best. But this season, being among the best in the state just isn't good enough. We have players that are among the best in the country.

I would be remiss if I didn't start with Solon's dominating big man, Dallas Lauderdale. The 6'9" center/power forward has been a force since freshman year and has become one of the top recruits in the country. According to several recruiting sites, Lauderdale is among the top 25 players in the country for the class of 2007. That's right, he's is only a junior. Lauderdale has a great frame (235 lbs.) that he utilizes very well. With a superb combination of height, bulk and natural athleticism, it easy to see why Lauderdale has caught the attention of most of the major collegiate basketball programs in the country. He has reportedly already been offered by Ohio State and Syracuse.

Next, but certainly not least, is Villa Angela-St. Joseph senior star David Lighty. A 6'5" swingman, Lighty has already announced his intention to become a member of the "Thad Five" at Ohio State. Lighty, the #2 ranked prospect in Ohio and 21st ranked prospect in the country for the class of 2006, will join the top-ranked prospect in the country Greg Oden and top-ranked prospect in Ohio, Daequan Cook, in forming the likely #1 recruiting class in the country. Lighty is a player that can do a bit of everything. He is an accomplished scorer, but is fully capable of running the point or even banging with the big boys down low. He is the reigning Plain Dealer Player of the Year and should be considered a favorite to repeat the honor.

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[Pula_86]

I've talked to a number of people who go to school with Dallas in Solon and they all tell me that Dallas is in love with North Carolina. While he likes OSU a lot they indicate that Lauderdale would love to end up in Chapel Hill. Not having spoken to him I'm not sure about how truthful this is. Right now I'd take this as a RUMOR. Hearing the same thing from many different people at Solon (including teammates) makes me think that this might not be as much of a lock for OSU as it we think on this board.

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by Pula_86

I've talked to a number of people who go to school with Dallas in Solon and they all tell me that Dallas is in love with North Carolina. While he likes OSU a lot they indicate that Lauderdale would love to end up in Chapel Hill. Not having spoken to him I'm not sure about how truthful this is. Right now I'd take this as a RUMOR. Hearing the same thing from many different people at Solon (including teammates) makes me think that this might not be as much of a lock for OSU as it we think on this board.

I talked to several people from Clayton Northmont back during the summer that told me Kurt Coleman was in love with Miami...and look how that turned out. This is pure hearsay...similar to the rumors from the BN free board that you posted about Thad Gibson and Michigan. As someone who has been following recruiting for a quite a while now, I can tell you that it is pointless to put stock in every rumor you hear or things that other people say about a recruit. Until you hear it directly from the recruit's mouth, take it with a grain of salt. For every FD and JG that pull strings with reporters from different websites, there are thousands of kids out there doing interviews who give their honest opinion of their situation, and everything Dallas has said up until this point has been more than favorable for the Buckeyes.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/29/05

Pics of Lauderdale in action from a 89-71 win this week, by Gary Housteau.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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1/15/06

Midseason Awards
This weekend marks the midpoint of the high school basketball season. It has been an exciting season thus far, with plenty of teams and players in northeast Ohio making a name for themselves.

Without further ado, here are my picks for the area's top teams and players as we prepare for the backstrech of the season.

Top Team: Solon. The Comets and Dallas Lauderdale have been relatively untested through nine games, but have been impressive nontheless. They have a legitimate shot of cruising into the playoffs unscathed.

C Dallas Lauderdale, Solon.
Another OSU recruit, Lauderdale is the most dominating frontcourt player in the state. He can single-handedly alter an opponent's offense with his shot blocking ability.

[CoosMeister]

Actually Pula_86 is right. I have heard this from everone but his mouth. (I am from Solon, in his grade, and used to know him quite well, not so much anymore) He loves NC, but there are family issues and stuff. I think he ends up at OSU.