If they are going to keep the maple leaf then they should add on a hockey puck. Run with the full allusion. Hmmm... guess those circles at the top could be pucks. They could verify that by adding a few shattered teeth around them.
drgnslayr
11251 posts
Wow.... even Kentucky is now after Ebuka:
Who is Ebuka Izundu and is UK recruiting him? ↗
BTW: he is Class of 2016, isn't he? Or did he reclassify, because he just stepped out of his LOI?
I seriously doubt he cut us from his list this late. I'm not saying we land him (or we don't).... but he is going to go into his news conference with several teams on the table and he'll do something like pick a hat or whatever.
Girls like him because he always picks up the Cheick!
I'm expecting Adidas to update this shoe with some camo.
Guess the question for Brown is... does he want to maybe be a Sweet 16 team (at the most), or possibly win a National Championship? I doubt Michigan has a chance at that.
Diallo is a work horse. His energy level is off the charts. He is picking up the game of basketball very quickly... much like JoJo did.
"When he hits 11 3's in a single game I'll call him "downtown." Until then Terry has a lock on it."
You mean Freddy? Downtown Freddy Brown?
[link text](
I bumped into Freddy in Maui at a bar a month after they lost to the Lakers in 1980. Very friendly guy and I let him know how much I appreciated his julie.
Man could that cat get hot and put a string together!
According to many sports authorities, Jaylen Brown is a heavy lean to Michigan.
The problem was... Michigan didn't have a scholarship to give for 2015. Until now...
U-M's Hatch takes medical redshirt, concludes career
↗
If you follow recruiting "experts", Michigan has spiked upwards in recent polls. Is this an indication that Brown is Michigan bound?
Jaylen Brown's Crystal Ball Predictions ↗
Perhaps. Perhaps not. The move by Beilein to free a scholarship can be viewed as making room for the Brown signing, or it can be seen as a sudden desperation move similar to St. John's recent all-out tactics to sign Diallo (that failed).
It is coming down to the wire.
I recall just a short time ago... Jaylen came out with a shocking statement that he would only consider going to an Adidas school:
Jaylen Brown, Top Player In 2015 Class, Says He’s Going To An adidas School ↗
Is he going to stick to his guns and go Adidas?
If so... look back at the Crystal Ball predictions and scratch Kentucky from the list. You won't find even a worn-out Adidas shoe near Lexington. It then looks like a showdown between Michigan and Kansas, two Adidas schools. Two Adidas schools... or maybe not?
Report: Could U-M leave Adidas for Nike or Under Armour? ↗
I guess the question to ask on April 30, 2015: Is Kansas closing the perceived gap for Jaylen Brown's services... or even PASSING by Michigan in the final moments?
Here seems to be the momentum working for Kansas as the shot clock winds down:
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Michigan may be flipping to Nike or UA.
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Kelly Oubre declares for the draft, leaving 3ManU without an all-star swing man.
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Kansas lands Cheick Diallo and suddenly appears as a real threat for a National Championship next year.
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Bill Self has targeted his recruiting down to a full-court press on Brown to make Kansas the #1 contender for a National Championship next year.
I'm starting to feel like Beilein just made a Mullin move. Desperation as the clock winds down to zero!
Donovan appears to be leaving for OKC. Sounds like he is in closing negotiations with the Thunder.
I've got my waders and bacterial gloves on today, ready to dig out Stone for sure from the toasty Gator can. He may not be quite the catch Brown is... but at least he offers up more of the kind of skills we need at the 3 if we don't land Brown.
Billy Donovan is the coach the Thunder need to keep Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City
↗
I don't remember MWs All Stars. I just remember the Chuck Taylors being a flat piece of rubber between my souls and the pavement.
Most of my early ball was played on concrete and asphalt, until the local YMCA opened up court time in the summers to help get kids off the streets (and playgrounds). I ended up paying the YMCA back by donating more than a decade of volunteer services before I left abroad.
"After reading Brown's comments on Zagsblog about Michigan I think we can forget about him. He likes how the Mich HC takes lower ranked players and turns them into lottery picks. Not that he should be concerned about that. So who else is available?"
We just experienced Coach K's full court press for a guy pay off. Lets see how Self's late game pressure does. I believe we are hammering down on Brown now. Maybe we can roll with some momentum after signing Diallo and suddenly showing up on the national radar screen again.
You said it right. Brown is a difference maker and we stand a great chance of being FF-bound if we land him. He is the missing piece left.
Enjoyed your posts. Must have been something to see those guys play back in '68. I'm having a hard time remembering back that far.
I grew up with Chuck Taylors. I have strange fitting feet and always suffered immensely in those shoes. I became conditioned into thinking that foot pains were just part of the game. Turned out I was right, but the shoes improved just enough to counter some of the increased force I put on them as I became older.
"Should I respond?"
Na... it's not worth it. I always believe that you shouldn't force a lasso... just leave the rope on the ground and watch people hang themselves.
"I am very slow. Practically asleep! "
I'm with you. I feel like I haven't slept in a month! All of this soap opera business keeps me counting OADs at night instead of sheep. I'm not good with drama... especially when played out slowly over time. Pour medicine in the spoon and gulp it down!
I hope the best for Naz. He's a tough guy, tough competitor. I know I'd like us to go at him next year and have him be at full strength.
(belch) I've really got to watch what I eat out of a can.
I found another potential future Gator who might want to make a last-second jump to a real program (after Donovan leaves).
Keith Stone - 6-7, 240 | Class of 2015 | 4-Star
Offered by Florida, Alabama, SC, VCU and VT... signed with Florida.
Stone is a combination forward with great size. He can finish at the rim with either hand with excellent touch and body control for a player his size. In the halfcourt Stone scores in a variety of ways inside the arc.
Here is a backup if Brown doesn't come.
[link text](
(burp) Eww... scampi heartburn!
Okay, I'm back in the Florida Gators dumpster and look what I unearthed:
Noah Dickerson - 6-8, 237 | Class of 2015 | 4-Star
Offered by a lot of big schools, like Pitt, Georgetown, Tennessee.... but signed an LOI with Florida.
Dickerson is a wide body post player that is strong, physical and more athletic than he appears. He has a good back to the basket scoring package that includes a nice baseline spin move. He has good hands and is an excellent area rebounder on both ends.
If Donovan takes off, my guess is that this big guy will want out of his LOI. He's a great multi-year project with plenty of strength to start out with so we don't have to hope Hudy can build him...
[link text](
I feel like the greatest benefit offered by OADs is to give a team that extra bump to cross over the finish line for a NC in that one year. I see Brown giving us that bump. It can be the difference from an Elite 8 finish to a National Title.
That is a great reason to sign an OAD player. Not just to fill a roster with revolving door talent.
"I would take the 7' Greek over either of them as he seems to be a player that will stay in the system longer."
The ultimate Christmas package would be Brown and the Greek. Brown to accomplish a potential NC next year and the Greek for a long term project and some experienced depth in future years. Plus, I'm pretty sure the Greek could help us in spots this coming year.
(sniff sniff) Whats that smell? Oh... it's me! I should stick to university dumpsters but veered off into an Italian restaurant can. Day-old scampi, anyone?!
I believe we lifted our chances of obtaining the services of Brown once we landed Diallo.
Take out a piece of paper and sketch out the Kansas roster. We are pretty solid everywhere BUT the SF. I'm a big fan of BG, but even before he was hurt his real position is a 2 not a 3. And Svi is definitely a 2. Perry can pick up a few minutes at the SF this year... but Brown is a perfect fit into this lineup and then Kansas has all the pieces necessary to contend for a NC.
If we draw him up half the offense we opened up for Wigs he'll be a screaming success because he actually has an assortment of moves to either get to the hole or pull up. I mentioned some of his offensive skill set in my previous post, but what I really like is how he has the discipline to pull up short and take the gift sometimes instead of always forcing it to the hole. That also saves the merchandise. Saving the merchandise is not only good for Brown, but also for Kansas. Just look back at the March hit we took two years ago when JoJo went down.
Makes me wonder... does Florida have any guys we want to cherry-pick out of their LOIs? BTW: they are on my dumpster diving list.
"I think Brown is the way to go."
Brown makes us easily be the team to beat for the NC.
Look at the video carefully. I know videos often don't tell the story. But if you compare him a bit to Wiggins, you will see that this kid can actually deliver a lot more offense than Wigs could while he was at KU. Brown can score from either side and has a crossover good enough to throw at most NBA defenders NOW!
Wigs brought a one-sided spin move with him to KU... only. Brown brings a spin move from both sides, a crossover to both sides, a step back jumper, a fadeaway jumper, and several other things. His toolbox is already full. His adjustment to college ball will be very very quick. Once defenders figured out Wigs one-sided spin, they had him pegged and he then had to try to learn on the fly. Brown will keep defenders guessing from day 1 in college. Plus... he has some serious handles... much better than Wigs had.
If we land Brown... hard to imagine us not making the FF, unless we get some untimely injuries late in the year.
This thread started before we acquired the services of Diallo.
But the big mistake now would be to go on cruise control thinking we have what we need for next year (and more importantly, for following years).
Even though a 220 lb lobster just came down on our plate, we still need all the dressings. We don't have a meal yet. Lets stay in scavenger mode and lets finish this thing! We are all on the same page concerning winning a NC... so let's push so we don't come up just short like Wisconsin did this year. Those close seconds are very painful!
We have two spots still available. It would be awesome to acquire someone like Brown for next year's run at the title. I'm convinced if we did land him we would be favored to win it all with this team.
I'm with HEM and would like us to acquire the Greek, too. Get some extra needed size with a developmental player who also would be able to contribute this coming year but may be around long enough to give us needed experience in coming years.
And if these guys fail to come to Kansas, we should have scavenged other guys that will, in the least, give us developmental players to soak up experience and hard work now to be ready in a couple of years when we lose a bunch of guys.
I'm excited to see Diallo challenge McKay and Niang in the low post... actually... all over the floor! Diallo has the motor and the quick ups to reject both of these guys shots. They live off of timing quick shots and if Diallo adapts as quickly to D1 speed as many project, he is the perfect defender against players like that.
After signing Diallo the big light bulb went off in the sports media world that Kansas is likely to repeat. Too bad. It helps us more to have them question our ability to repeat and let our players think they may be the team to blow the streak.
I'm also thinking we lost our 1-year "sleeper status" in March. Back to the bright lights.
What a legitimate OAD looks like:
[link text](
It's not often you see NBA moves in a high school kid.
Proper pronunciation:
I hear what you are saying. Coach K wasn't going to win this year without his OADs, just like the year before when UCONN won without a single OAD. I don't think they have to define the game. I'm not against recruiting OADs, just not liking how we are left in a do-or-die position this late. And also, I think we always need a solid core of non-OAD players at all positions who are willing to stay and learn the game, and learn Self ball. My biggest concern now is two years from now, when we look back at this year and if we only snagged OAD players then we will be in that tough position of losing most of our core players all in one year. I think it is vital we recruit 3 and 4 year players every year, at least a few, to keep our future team full of experienced players.
I have recently vented on this circus we call college basketball and recruiting OADs. It is tiring and too much focus is put in this direction. I don't like the idea of thinking we can just recruit our way to a NC. I like to still emphasize hard work, leadership, coaching, and with multi-year players.
What a motor. Imagine having this guy for 4 years?! At least we have him one!
"Hear that? Hear that?"
( sigh of relief )
I wonder if our recruit class (two 5-star recruits) now places us on the ranked recruit charts? Surely it will. If we land at least one more good fitting piece, we may just have the top class.
I still want a guy that will stick around because I see the blood in the water two years from now.
No time to rest now... let's score a post player that will develop nicely and stick around for 3 or 4 years. Great chance that Cheick is only in Lawrence for a year.
"I think this gives us the best recruiting class in the State...."
Even better than KState's?
As for Iowa State... I'm thinking it is not a good day to be a clone!
"trust thy Self."
And trust thy Embiid! Thanks, bro, for remembering you are a lifelong Jayhawk!
"I think it would be helpful if our coaches/recruiters quit losing out on talent that's right in our area. Otto porter, buddy heild, WC stein, olajeie? etc etc. I know I've missed a few but this constant chasing of FOOLS GOLD is getting old. Ok so duke won it all last year, that doesn't prove the OAD way is the best way. They had plenty of upperclassmen and a senior PG quin cook, Jefferson, a mason or Plumlee plus another player or two. We are recruiting like we need to go after all the top 10-15 guys, and it doesn't seem to be the best way to go about getting the best TEAM on the floor. I'm sure we will keep trying to land these players but it's so shortsighted and has produced zero in the tournament. Ive wrote it in other threads enough times, this team will be fine and is loaded with talent for next year."
There are several issues we have because we are just chasing our own tails by STRICTLY going after OADs. First off... we've passed up a lot of quality guys that would have stayed more than one year and actually had time to learn Self's system. Second... if you examine our current roster, in two years we lose a boat load of guys that came in the big haul we had two years ago. We will probably lose a couple of OADs then, too. So... in two years we will lose something like 6 top guys in one year. That is what happened 3 years ago and we are still trying to recover from that.
Recruiting is more than grabbing guys for this year's team. Going only after OADs is a strategy of only filling this year's plate. It doesn't help us plan for the future and install real building blocks to the team. It creates an insatiable appetite for the temporary player... and by saying "temporary" I'm saying players for only a few months.
I'm fine with recruiting a few of these. But we should be living off the guys just a notch down that will stay longer. We were devastated 3 years ago by losing 6 or so top guys... and now we are about to walk right into the same problem because we didn't use at least 2 of our available scholarships this year on quality developmental players. Who knows... it still may work out, but it will only work out because of luck. The quality stock of 4-starish players are gone. We will probably land someone with just a year or two of eligibility left, when we need a couple of long range players with full eligibility to give us some experience on our team two years from now.
And then there is the issue about development... the white elephant in the room that no one addresses. The one area where Kansas could EXPLODE their dominance over the entire basketball world!
I feel like we lost a load when we lost Danny Manning on the sidelines. And that goes to show just how much of a gold mine it would be if we build a structure for development in our program instead of going off in other directions. No one in here can tell me that we can't recruit a team of 3-4 and 5 star recruits that would seek out a school focused on development ahead of buying into a used car salesman in Lexington, or a dried up rat face in Durham. We are missing the boat every single day when we refuse to acknowledge the reality of what is in front of us. The potential is off the charts.
"Who wants to come to the middle of nowhere for a year? That's why the Jayhawk Towers are being built. To help negate the geographical weakness that KU will always have by giving recruits that "bling" factor. Tradition doesn't sell, branding does. Clearly Duke's brand will always be better than ours no matter how many years we end up better than them. If we want to beat players from other's backyards, we will have to step up the bling game and give them a reason to leave the den."
I'm sure that is part of it. But it hasn't worked this year. We didn't land Bragg because of the luxury digs (BTW, open this fall!) and we've been missing on everyone else.
Look at our program objectively (I know, hard to do) and other programs objectively. What is the difference between us and Duke or UK? We have a HOF coach, we've put a bunch of guys in the league, we've even developed many of them. We've now had some elite OADs going 1 and 3 in the draft. We have luxury digs now. We play in the VERY BEST VENUE in the country. We are located in the sticks, but so is Duke in Durham and Kentucky in Lexington. Actually... we are closest to a major metropolis oozing with culture and nightlife. And none of these schools match our history. Not even close. For criminal activity and racial prejudice, both Duke and UK top us historically and in the present day. Here is a taste: Duke University Students Call For Better Climate For Blacks ↗
So what is different about Kansas? Why can't we grab more elites?
I believe the three key factors are:
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Poor media exposure.
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Poor AAU and HS networking.
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ShoeCo impact.
None of these factors will change unless Kansas makes a concerted effort to improve our status and position in these areas. Kansas always has an uphill battle recruiting because recruits have been pre-sold and directed towards schools like Duke and UK long before Kansas arrives on the scene.
The real problem we have is Self's desire to juxtaposition beside Duke and UK but not address these issues. So we come up short, then we go on a desperate scavenger hunt for players in the 11th hour when it doesn't work. Schools like Duke and UK can easily score top talent even in the 11th hour. It is harder for us. So... instead of us ending up with quality 4 and lower 5-star talent, we end up reaching out desperately at the end for players much lower just to fill a void.
How about Brewster Academy? We've been picking through their cans for years now. Isn't there a possible reclassification out there?
KC Metro ball?
Okay Dumpster Diving Team... let's get to work!
Someone out there is in Wichita... the first dumpster we need to dive into is Sunrise Christian Academy. Any long body noodles remaining there for our lunch? Maybe someone we can pile into summer school to graduate early and reclassify? Duke did it, why can't we?
"Could Self deliver a Kevin Young? Better yet, a Georgios Papagiannis?"
Good question. I just hope he doesn't panic and go out and grab post players that don't really have anything more to offer than what we have now. Adding MORE isn't what we need. We need BETTER! I don't mean to slam the guys we have coming back, but so far they are not delivering championship quality basketball and we are talking about KANSAS!
Last week I watched a documentary about how much food we all waste (as a society) called "Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story." Pretty shocking... and the amount of our resources that go right out with the trash. Made us think in our household. I grow a massive garden every year and built a large composting area. My home sits on a fairly large city lot... about the size of 1 1/2 typical lots. I grow enough produce to feed my family for a year, but I also give out lots of produce to other family every summer. Veggies and fruit. About everything possible in Kansas. Berry patch, figs, pole bean fencing... everything. About to finally finish our backyard and will add in fruit trees around the perimeter. And a chicken coop.
So while Duke and UK clear the roads of all possible dump trucks (terminology from @jaybate-1.0 ) , Kansas prepares to do what Kansas does best.... dumpster diving.
And though it is a less glamorous recruiting process, we've managed to eat pretty well off of package-damaged ramen noodles and canned beans before. Chef Self will have to scour the country for dumpsters with the most flies to come up with a meal fit for a king. Lobster may not be an option any longer, but at least he can make dishes that will keep longer than a few hours.
We all need to put on our waders and help locate lunch. Some pompous university is about to slip up and leave the cream out too long or take an expiration date too seriously and will create an opportunity for Chef Self to swoop in and snag our next meal. Self already has a bunch of Hamburger Helper (returning players) to help flavor up a big slab of meat needed for the post. Mmmmm.... I can taste it now! The next "Tartare Tarik!"
Gosh... it is hard to stomach this recruiting business. We've made it so the recruiting process is about all that counts instead of the development side.
We should be getting guys with the right size and shape for their position... good athletes... hungry to learn... morally upstanding... and the outcome of our recruiting should be visible in a couple to three years later. There should be a stair-step process involved to keep the elder players on the court, using their experience while the young ones watch on and learn. I miss that brand of basketball.
I've fallen in with the crowd and I watch all this garbage with anticipation... realizing our entire season boils down to a 17 yr old making his decision on where to go.
Someone please tell me this is all just a bad dream and we will all wake up tomorrow with a load of athletic players with size and an eagerness to learn!
I think I'll go watch the Kardashians now so I can prepare myself for the next over-dramatized recruiting announcement....
I don't know why I get so wrapped up in this. I think it is because I always feel KU is a long shot for these players. I'm not a happy Jayhawk when we miss on 3 and 4-star guys that have awesome upside and either we didn't push hard enough or we are clearly recruiting over them even before they sign. I'm always looking forward to the next Thomas Robinson to come our way. The OADs are interesting, but they create an insatiable appetite for MORE! You can never sign enough of them because you only get to keep them for a few months. Fans don't really get to know them so we paint an illusion of who they are. And we also create an insatiable appetite for them to show us MORE than they do... after all, we only have them for a few thousand minutes!
Seriously? Everything I read says St.Johns and Iowa State both WANT and NEED Diallo more than us.
I see them prying and prying Diallo's hands away from that KU LOI pen.
Didn't Forest Gump say that?
Shucks... I thought Brandon would want to test his game out this summer against Internationals... like Serbia.
Yikes... another guy where we probably put a bunch of recruiting resources on and produced a big zero for Kansas.
Yes, Bill Russell not only belongs in a conversation about the greatest centers ever to play the game, but also in a conversation about the greatest humans ever to walk the planet. He faced many tough challenges in his life, along with many great victories; in my books, defining the word "winner!"
I'm enjoying your take on all of this.
I see the comparison of Kareem and Wilt as about a literal "Yin and Yang" situation as they come... especially when in context of comparing two male parts.
Kareem is the Yin... the more passive "female" role. Willing to absorb the aggression of the Yang in order to persevere and conquer through patience and filling in all the space surrounding the aggression.
Wilt is the Yang... the more dominant "male" role. Always pushing aggression and utilizing brute strength. He conquered the moment.
Yin and Yang is the perfect metaphor for these two because both of their greatness could not be realized and described without the other. We couldn't define Wilt's strength as the dominant force over all the great centers without comparing his strength to the weaker Kareem. And we couldn't define Kareem's patience and shielded tool (skyhook) as greatness over premiere centers without showing how he could hang tough with Wilt on the floor.
I seriously don't see how one can be defined without the other.
Bill Russell offers up something totally different. He can't exactly be compared apples-to-apples, or oranges-to-oranges, but that does not mean the taste of a pear is any less sweet! By today's standards, Russell is a power forward, not a true center. But he sure could fool a lot of people, including every player on the floor when he was on it!
And I didn't even hesitate... what a schmuck I am!