(09-29-2009 08:57 PM)BroncoOrBust Wrote: Ranked #2 Power Forward by Bankhoops. He is from 1 hour away in Grand Rapids. According to Bell he is choosing between Drake and CMU. And to top it all off he is coached by Mike Redell's brother. Would think we would have an in with him.
Decisions, decisions.
Made on both side of the fence. Some pay off. Others don't leaving you holding the bag.
I
think WMU made a new decision and held to another.
First, they need and want players they think will play immediately. Not someone that they think would need to red shirt and develop. This is a relatively new approach by the staff. I know that the spring evaluation period was gone so much got pushed back but staff's knew who they intended to target and others they intended to evaluate and then decide. WMU probably could have taken several other kids earlier if they chose to based on the kid passing some muster and the kid wants to play at WMU. I believe WMU felt that there were others that they had legit shots at that were a cut above. There is an inherent risk in that approach and it is obviously that the competition will be tougher and the likelihood of not getting the kid increases. A risk I think is worth taking if you feel you need to sign impact players now.
The principle I believe this staff has held to is to be truthful with the kids and theirs by not telling a kid, "Your #1 on our list" only to do the same with a couple others all vying for that one spot. I don't know but I don't think WMU tells a kid, "Look if player A doesnt commit we'll take you." They do likely tell a kid who they honestly will not offer that they won't so the kid doesnt miss other chances. If a "peer" signs him it's no loss because you never intended to sign him. In the long run that will bode well for the program because handlers, coaches and kids will remember who spoke with forked tongue and who did not.
From what I have read, with no "inside" knowledge, it is clear the fab four that has been listed as such were the 4 kids WMU really wanted. The exception could be the kid from K-Central. I'm told he is awfully talented but I'm guessing equally confused/verklempt and truely looking to go to a bigger program. If he doesnt want or think he fits in at WMU and is a bigger fish then you really don't need that "chemistry" on your squad. On the other hand, as we all mature we realize the value of what we have in hand and don't worry about what you can't control. Unfortuneately for the kid, he's just that, a kid. No chance to understand that point until he's long into adulthood and the opportunity passed him by.
Regardless of this fall's outcome, the spring still holds some opportunities. Programs lose their HC for either reason or the recruitng AC leaves and a signee often is given the opportunity to "reopen" recruitment. Not to mention a kid who later developed or healed up from an injury is now available. I can point to Jarrod Jones, who was once a WMU target, but WMU jumped at getting Mo Conteh in the fall. JJ with his stress fracture fell to the spring and WMU did not have an opening. But BSU did. I know the Workman schollie became available and that landed Lowe. That was a bit of a fluke and I strongly suspect that we had stop sending love to JJ. Even without Lowe I'm not sure we even on JJ's radar.
At the end of the day wouldnt you rather have had JJ then either LL or MC? But it's such[/u] a crap shoot.
