I was just thinking, has a mid major ever signed a 5 star player out of high school? It seems like there should be some history of this, but I can't seem to find anything reliable. Seems to me that it should probably a handful of times, but I can't recall any.

(07-16-2018 02:19 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  I was just thinking, has a mid major ever signed a 5 star player out of high school? It seems like there should be some history of this, but I can't seem to find anything reliable. Seems to me that it should probably a handful of times, but I can't recall any.

Kendrick Warren was a McDonald's All-American and one of the top forwards in his class who signed with VCU while we were still in the Sun Belt almost 30 years ago. He was a local player from Thomas Jefferson in Richmond and his jersey hangs in the rafters at the Siegel Center.

More recently, WKU signed Mitchell Robinson and Charles Bassey in consecutive classes, both consensus 5 star guys. Robinson left WKU prior to the season last year and it remains to be seen whether Bassey will suit up for the Hilltoppers this season.

(07-16-2018 05:28 AM)VCUfan Wrote:  

(07-16-2018 02:19 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  I was just thinking, has a mid major ever signed a 5 star player out of high school? It seems like there should be some history of this, but I can't seem to find anything reliable. Seems to me that it should probably a handful of times, but I can't recall any.

Kendrick Warren was a McDonald's All-American and one of the top forwards in his class who signed with VCU while we were still in the Sun Belt almost 30 years ago. He was a local player from Thomas Jefferson in Richmond and his jersey hangs in the rafters at the Siegel Center.

More recently, WKU signed Mitchell Robinson and Charles Bassey in consecutive classes, both consensus 5 star guys. Robinson left WKU prior to the season last year and it remains to be seen whether Bassey will suit up for the Hilltoppers this season.

Yeah was going to mention Western Kentucky- after signing their most recent 5 star I believe they added someone connected with him as an assistant coach which is technically not against the rules but there have been suspicions around their program and how they are landing these guys.

Another one from a couple of decades ago was Adonal Foyle- a big for Colgate - I believe he was 5 stars.

As an aside I saw something the other day where both Western Kentucky and VCU are in the top 20 ALL TIME NCAA Mens Basketball winning percentage. If true- that is very impressive and just shows how successful these programs have been for decades.

UNLV has pulled a handful of guys in the MWC over the years. Nevada has gotten one here and there - recently signed Jordan Brown this year. Ray McCallum signed to play for his dad at Detroit-Mercy back when.

I think St Louis also had a consensus 5 star, but I am not sure if he signed or just committed.

Memphis and Derrick Rose

You'd have to go to women's basketball for that. I'm pretty sure there are some.

If you consider the then metro conference a mid major you would have VT and Dell Curry. I believe Dell Curry was an all american coming out of HS.

Not a JMU person but I was curious. I went back at the last 3 ESPN Top 100 classes to see how many were going to Mid-Major programs.

2016:
No. 59 De'Riante Jenkins went to VCU
No. 63 DeJon Jarreau went to UMass
No. 68 Chris Lewis went to Harvard
No. 90 Troy Baxter went to UNLV
No. 97 Robert Baker Jr. went to Harvard
No. 98 Seth Towns went to Harvard

2017:
No. 16 Brandon McCoy went to UNLV
No. 55 Jordan Goodwin went to St. Louis
No. 80 Josh Anderson went to WKU
No. 83 Hasahn French went to St. Louis

2018:
No. 33 Jordan Brown went to Nevada
No. 75 Carte'Are Gordon went to St. Louis
No. 78 AJ Greene went to UNI
No. 90 Jermaine Harris went to Rhode Island

I know Jordan Brown is a 5-Star on other services. Brandon McCoy was a 5-Star. This also doesn't include the two that WKU has gotten recently.

(07-16-2018 12:32 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  Not a JMU person but I was curious. I went back at the last 3 ESPN Top 100 classes to see how many were going to Mid-Major programs.

2016:
No. 59 De'Riante Jenkins went to VCU
No. 63 DeJon Jarreau went to UMass
No. 68 Chris Lewis went to Harvard
No. 90 Troy Baxter went to UNLV
No. 97 Robert Baker Jr. went to Harvard
No. 98 Seth Towns went to Harvard

2017:
No. 16 Brandon McCoy went to UNLV
No. 55 Jordan Goodwin went to St. Louis
No. 80 Josh Anderson went to WKU
No. 83 Hasahn French went to St. Louis

2018:
No. 33 Jordan Brown went to Nevada
No. 75 Carte'Are Gordon went to St. Louis
No. 78 AJ Greene went to UNI
No. 90 Jermaine Harris went to Rhode Island

I know Jordan Brown is a 5-Star on other services. Brandon McCoy was a 5-Star. This also doesn't include the two that WKU has gotten recently.

Whatever that St. Louis coach is doing, wish we could get some of that!

(07-16-2018 04:02 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-16-2018 12:32 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  Not a JMU person but I was curious. I went back at the last 3 ESPN Top 100 classes to see how many were going to Mid-Major programs.

2016:
No. 59 De'Riante Jenkins went to VCU
No. 63 DeJon Jarreau went to UMass
No. 68 Chris Lewis went to Harvard
No. 90 Troy Baxter went to UNLV
No. 97 Robert Baker Jr. went to Harvard
No. 98 Seth Towns went to Harvard

2017:
No. 16 Brandon McCoy went to UNLV
No. 55 Jordan Goodwin went to St. Louis
No. 80 Josh Anderson went to WKU
No. 83 Hasahn French went to St. Louis

2018:
No. 33 Jordan Brown went to Nevada
No. 75 Carte'Are Gordon went to St. Louis
No. 78 AJ Greene went to UNI
No. 90 Jermaine Harris went to Rhode Island

I know Jordan Brown is a 5-Star on other services. Brandon McCoy was a 5-Star. This also doesn't include the two that WKU has gotten recently.

Whatever that St. Louis coach is doing, wish we could get some of that!

No kidding, but also Harvard and WKU

JMU had a chance at #1 in the nation/world.

7'4" three time NCAA national player of the year and HOFer Ralph Sampson is from Harrisonburg, VA. a few miles from the Convo.

JMU would have been ranked top 5 for four years.

While I digress and speak of those the got away, Dell Curry, Fort Defiance High School (you may have heard of his son, Steph) and Landon Turner. Turner could see Bridgeforth Stadium form his house. Turner is a New Orleans Saint Off. Guard.

I'm thinking our closest brush with a 5 star was when Michael Tate ( Michael Venson) transferred to us from Georgetown. He was ranked the 18th best player by the Sporting News or Street & Smith, made 2nd team Parade All American ( theoretically the players ranked 11-20). Don't know how many "stars" he was.

Of course, by the time we got him, he had already suffered that knee injury in practice before the Capital Classic. It never healed to his pre-injury condition. Sayonara to that awesome 44 inch vertical leap.

Good story on him: http://www.baltimorestories.com/main.cfm?nid=1&tid=292

Maybe it's just me but I don't consider UNLV as a mid-major. They've won a National Title and even their football program has been relatively big time in the past with Randall Cunningham behind Center.

In the case of St. Louis would be interested how many were local kids- from time to time DePaul even lands a 5 star player out of Chicago. One of the benefits of being located in a major city.

VCU is supposedly still in on Armando Bacot Jr a 5 star 2019 kid who is from Richmond and may want to stay home to play. They obviously have heavy competition for him- UNC, Duke, etc. are all involved.

(07-17-2018 06:40 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Maybe it's just me but I don't consider UNLV as a mid-major. They've won a National Title and even their football program has been relatively big time in the past with Randall Cunningham behind Center.

It depends on how mid-major is ultimately defined. If you go by conference affiliation, UNLV/Gonzaga would be mids. But if you use historical success or program resources, they probably would be excluded.

Vegas won that title in 1990, about the same time the Dukes men's hoop team was last relevant.

Cool article chronicling Nevada's recruitment of Jordan Brown a 5 star PF.

https://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college...622024002/

Armando Bacot Jr's final 5 are UNC, Duke, Georgia, Ok State, and VCU. He's a Richmond kid. Also interesting David Kontaxis connection here. Bacot Jr. used to play with Team Loaded in Virginia where Kontaxis is connected. Bacot Jr. also used to play at Trinity Catholic (same school as Zach Jacobs). Kontaxis's connections (along with Mike Boykins) in Virginia/DC likely landed them in the top 5 here.