CSNbbs

Does anyone remember 1999 and Demetric Stevens?

To update you- Stevens was a nice player at Science Hill who signed with Appalachian State but never played there.

And because he wasn't heavily recruited by Ed DeChellis, Eddie D was lambasted.

For the record, a letter was sent and Stevens was scouted at a home game.

A column written by Doug Fritz in the JC Press scathed DeChellis for not offering. Stevens was quoted as saying he'd be inspired when he played against ETSU. Letters went to the editor. Bill Meade championed Stevens.

SHHS coach Mike Poe went so far as to say ETSU should recruit a sophomore he had, which is against NCAA rules.

Nevermind the fact George Pitts has told players not to go to ETSU.

It turned out Stevens, like most SHHS players, turned out to be a huge bust. He wound up going to Lees-McRae, whereas DeChellis then brought in guys like Wadood, Fields, Rhoda, etc.

I have told that story many times, but I do so again for the benefit of the new posters and fans who do not know.

BUT NOW- LETS LOOK AT A LOCAL PLAYER AND MURRY BARTOW!!!!

Antwaine Wiggins of Greeneville is one of two players from the area who have a chance to be major level college basketball players.

He is 6-6 or 6-7- depending on who you talk to- and weighs in the neighborhood of 175 pounds. Said to be good defending in the paint, and can even add an outside shot.

Sound like a guy who with a little work in the weight room could be the guy who could replace Brad Nuckles' presence in the middle?

To date- ETSU has not offered.

Oh, he's had offers, however. Heck, Michigan has shown some interest.

But he, as we speak, has received offers from the following schools-

Appalachian, Ball State, College of Charleston, Richmond, Chattanooga, Charlotte, and even Miami, Florida in the ACC!

I want to know why Bartow hasn't offered.

There's always the chance Bartow knows something that others don't.

There's also the chance Bartow is misjudging talent or has a petty jealousy, or is simply asleep at the wheel.

BUT WHERE IS THE CRITICISM OF MURRY BARTOW?

Where is the Doug Fritz column heavily hinting Bartow should be fired? Where is the discussion on the talk show(s)? Where is the fan outrage?

Bottom line is Bartow should be able to recruit whoever he wants.

But there is a double standard concerning media treatment of the two coaches and this clearly proves it.

Simple Wiggins is a kid from North Carolina playing at Greenville, close but not Science Hill. IF it had been Wattad and he hadn't already commited somewhere else ( Bigger school) there might be more outrage. It wasn't that Stevens was a local kid it was that he was from Science Hill and played for Pitt and a few idiots still had hard feelings about ETSU not interviewing Pitt.

Precisely- but that shows you how stupid people can be around here- and also some of the geographic bigotry of the area.

But the fact remains- Bartow should get some criticism for this.

Local player whose offers indicate ETSU could get him. Has the height to fill a need.

You hear it all the time- "ETSU can find good talent here!"

Well here it is.

I actually think Bartow has probably recruited LESS local talent than any coach in recent memory. DeChellis had Lawson from Rogersville and Nuck from Council.

Robinson had Marty Story from Greeneville. LeForce had Leslie Brunn from Elizabethton- who clearly wasn't the best of this group- but he was local.

Well, what say you Murry?

Talford was from Castlewood and thats just up the road as well.


R

I'd forgotten. Thanks.

Didn't we have a player from Clintwood or one of those dirt poor counties in the coalfields?
One other thing about the debate about recruiting locally for basketball, not even in the A-Sun could we compete if we had slow white kids who can't jump on our team, and that's what I've seen in watching HS basketball locally in the last three years. For whatever the reason, the better athletes either play football, wrestle, or play baseball.

Uh, Omar Wattad is going to Georgetown.

Wiggins is going somewhere rather impressive.

Yes, I do think a lot of the basketball talent in the area is overrated. However, when the players do sprout up here- not Lees-McRae guys but legitimate talent- then you have to offer them.

You really never do get the point, do you?

If it ain't propaganda- it ain't VolLover!

You really don't have to offer them Marky. Basketball depends on what your needs are. A great example is that guy from Twin Springs (Tyler Webb) that ended up at Appalachian State and he SUCKS at the D1 level. There's tons of guys like that, which is what I'm getting at. I think it's few and far between when you can find a D-1 prospect from here that's gotten to play at a good level of competition so the adjustment to D-1 college basketball won't be as tough.

You're right.

ETSU couldn't use a forward who is good in the paint next year.

Lover- really- you're in Tex Cobb mode.

You just take punches and don't even realize that you are!