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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 10, 2006
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Yes, this is a different sport, but we are all sports fans. This is insane...I guess Gillispie can withdraw the offer during the next four years but still. I guess this means we need to get our scouts out to the Little League World Series to get the elite talent, huh? LOL.
http://www.kentucky.com/276/story/393152.html
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 26, 2006
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Major college coaches watch and develop relationships with players at a very young age, that's just the way college basketball has turned, this isn't a huge deal.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 14, 2008
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the Yankees signed danny almonte not long after his appearance in the little league WS. granted, he was 2 or 3 years too old to have participated in that event, but still.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 10, 2006
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Yeah...
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 5, 2007
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Zacky - if U check my profile I also happen to be a UK fan as well.
Not to bore with details, but the issue that ultimately sent Tubby Smith to Minnesota was his inability to land top recruits. So in rides Gillispie, who'se primary rep is that he is a recruitaholic. He immediately starts landing commitments from kids two and three years out - likely becuase Kentucky was already off the radar for most of the seniors a year ago (Pat Patterson being the notable exception).
It's been music to the ears of the Big Blue Nation so far, but this "commitment" from Michael Avery for the class of 2012 (!), even has most of the Kentucky writers shaking their heads.
Personally, I think the needle swung a little too far in the other direction this time.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 17, 2007
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This activity will be condemned in the public and envied in the inner offices.
Don't expect to see this go away unless the NCAA and the national school teachers union get together. Not likely that will happen.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 22, 2006
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We are talking about Kintucky.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 10, 2006
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It's just that there is such a difference between junior high, high school, and college. In many places, pretty much anyone that wants to play can make a team in junior high. By the time you're a freshman in HS, there are usually two teams so about 30-35 players make it, out of probably 40-50 trying out. But by sophomore year, that gets down to the 10-15 players who are the most talented. By the time college rolls around, maybe three or four of those kids if lucky will make ANY college team. Unless you know something about this kid that I don't, this committment is WAAAAAAY too early.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 17, 2007
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I am sure there's an out clause somewhere. Hell, the kid is only ... what, 12 years old?
No guarantee he will even like basketball after he gets his first real piece of tang.
All the same, it's one scholarship, not much of an investment if the kid is good and I'd assume he comes from some predictable stock (healthy parents) ...
And there are some things that make some players naturally more gifted no matter how old they are. I don't know how anybody is able to evaluate that through the baby fat, but I doubt we will hear much more about it for a couple of years.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 13, 2007
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Considering the fact that MLB teams sign kids from the Carrribean and South America as young as 15 (assuming their handlers has not lowered their age) this is not too much of a stretch. But, unlike baseball where a 15 year old throwing 85 MPH or already showing superior bat speed can be groomed relatively cheaply until ready for rookie ball, so many variables can impact this "commitment". Out clauses or not, the NCAA may move to restrict such moves in the future. There is one other thing to consider that may be a positive - those street recruiters who steer kids towards certain programs are a little weakened when it comes to this Avery kid.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 17, 2007
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Every so often, a 12-year-old graduates from Princeton with a degree in advanced mathematics and we think that's OK.
The fact that this kid is interested in Culver Academy strikes me as odd.
That is kinda no man's land for h.s. basketball here where we run the picket fence.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 5, 2007
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Keep in mind, in this instance it is just an oral commitment so both parties can walk away at any time. Nothing becomes binding until he signs a letter of intent in four years.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 1, 2008
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It is ok as long as these colleges honor these kids scholarships even if they don't pan out. If schools do not honor those scholarships then it will become a big issue. I think it is stupid to recruit kids at those ages, because some kids grow faster than others and eventually those kids who are towering over other 8th graders will have those other kids catch up to them and they might not be as imposing.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 25, 2007
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The thing is though is that he doesnt play with other 8th graders. he plays on a 17U AAU team from Belmont Shore, CA. They are playing in that Arizona Tournament this weekend and are taking on D-One Sports which includes John Wall, and some of the top talent for the next few classes. he is certainly not playing down to other "kids".
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 4, 2006
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you are absolutely right ruppsrunt. when people here 8th grader they think oh well playing against other 8th graders. D1 coaches had been talking to OJ mayo since he was in the eigth grade. probably wasnt a bad idea. this kid is playing in top competition and why not take a chance considering it is not binding and you can back out anytime you want to.
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 27, 2006
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Daimon Bailey was being scouted by Bobby Knight while in Junior High, so it is not far fetched once college coaches get word of a talented young kid in grade school. How tough must Lebron James have been considering only four years after his eigth grade graduation, he went pro?
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Eighth Grader Recruited by Kentucky
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 17, 2007
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Recruiting of kids from the junior high level goes back to the days before the movie "Hoosiers" was made.
I saw it back in 1960, when I was in 8th grade. A kid from a small rural school got enticed into the "bigger" town to play high school ball. As it turned out, he was on a winning program and did end up with a nice scholarship that he would NOT have gotten had he stayed at the small township school.
Now, that was junior high to high school projections. The way kids train now with the coaching and (steroids?) ... projecting them | |
