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I know it's only 5 games into a long season, and 5 games into two careers, but I think this is something worth noting and worth discussing. What would this season, and our future look like having JUCO seniors Tyrone Cole-Scott and Rashad Austin versus having freshmen Darian Norris and Taylor Brown?
Tyrone Cole-Scott was JUCO combo guard, slated to be a significant contributor last season, replacing the invaluable Will Franklin. Rashad Austin came here with a lot of hype from his JUCO in Colorado, was supposed to help re-establish our presence inside. Cole-Scott showed amazing athleticism, but even more amazing was his inability to finish around the basket, and how awful his shot was. Rashad Austin showed up late, took forever to get into shape, had a bad attitude when he didn't play, and didn't do much when he did play. Both left BU for various reasons after last season, leaving us with two open scholarships.
Were these significant losses? At the time most people weren't sure. We had just lost two JUCO players who had been nothing short of busts in their one year on the Hilltop. However, we were also losing two experienced players well after most recruiting for the following season had taken place. Had both stayed and worked hard, they likely would have been in the rotation, but having seen them for an entire season, I am not sure how they'd have fit or if they'd been content being role players.
Our very late replacements ended up being 6'0" combo guard out of Las Vegas, who signed in April, and a 6'7" swing forward who didn't committ until August and didn't arrive on campus until school started. Did BU end up ahead in this whole charade?
Well, this could be perhaps the easiet question asked on here in years, and one I think we all can agree on. BU is light years ahead as a program with Darian Norris and Taylor Brown than they would have been with Tyrone Cole-Scott and Rashad Austin. First and foremost, both freshmen are simply much better basketball players than the people they replaced. I joked with some friends of mine that 'Site unseen, I guarantee that Darian Norris is better than Tyrone Cole-Scott'. Darian - Thanks for not making a liar out of me. The kid has a great jump shot, plays with maturity, and knows his role. Taylor Brown has already shown more promise than Rashad Austin ever did on both ends of the floor. He's long, he's skilled, and he's got passion. I can't say I ever saw any kind of passion out of Rashad Austin.
But the real reason that Norris and Brown put BU in such a better position program-wise is because they are 4 year guys. Even if Cole-Scott and Austin had worked out and been contributors, they are still only giving us 2 years of service and then it's back to the drawing board. Not only are Norris and Brown already better than the guys they replaced, they also will contribute to the program for 3 more years! To me, that's part of what made 3 games in Florida so gratifying. We literally saw our young Braves growing up right before our eyes. Maniscalco, Egolf, Norris, and Brown all have, at a minimum, nearly 3 years left to help this program. Anthony Thompson and Eddren McCain still have nearly 4 years left. We're bringing in two more 4 year players next fall. It's been a while since we had this many core players this young. Personally, it makes me more patient with them and the team, knowing that these kids are here for the long haul and will grow and get better. They're already growing and making leaps and bounds...imagine what they'll be doing in 2-3 years!
But I digress - What I think the comparison truly illustrates is the value of recruiting 4 year guys versus 2 year guys. Instead of having only a few kids around for the long haul, BU now has a great nucleus of freshmen and sophomores that can grow together and be successful. Yes, we've done pretty good with JUCO's, but I think it's obvious that the 4 year guy is the way to go. It's been proven time and again that it's the way to build sustained success, and I'm very excited with what the future may hold with this group of 4 year kids we're bringing in.
Tyrone Cole-Scott was JUCO combo guard, slated to be a significant contributor last season, replacing the invaluable Will Franklin. Rashad Austin came here with a lot of hype from his JUCO in Colorado, was supposed to help re-establish our presence inside. Cole-Scott showed amazing athleticism, but even more amazing was his inability to finish around the basket, and how awful his shot was. Rashad Austin showed up late, took forever to get into shape, had a bad attitude when he didn't play, and didn't do much when he did play. Both left BU for various reasons after last season, leaving us with two open scholarships.
Were these significant losses? At the time most people weren't sure. We had just lost two JUCO players who had been nothing short of busts in their one year on the Hilltop. However, we were also losing two experienced players well after most recruiting for the following season had taken place. Had both stayed and worked hard, they likely would have been in the rotation, but having seen them for an entire season, I am not sure how they'd have fit or if they'd been content being role players.
Our very late replacements ended up being 6'0" combo guard out of Las Vegas, who signed in April, and a 6'7" swing forward who didn't committ until August and didn't arrive on campus until school started. Did BU end up ahead in this whole charade?
Well, this could be perhaps the easiet question asked on here in years, and one I think we all can agree on. BU is light years ahead as a program with Darian Norris and Taylor Brown than they would have been with Tyrone Cole-Scott and Rashad Austin. First and foremost, both freshmen are simply much better basketball players than the people they replaced. I joked with some friends of mine that 'Site unseen, I guarantee that Darian Norris is better than Tyrone Cole-Scott'. Darian - Thanks for not making a liar out of me. The kid has a great jump shot, plays with maturity, and knows his role. Taylor Brown has already shown more promise than Rashad Austin ever did on both ends of the floor. He's long, he's skilled, and he's got passion. I can't say I ever saw any kind of passion out of Rashad Austin.
But the real reason that Norris and Brown put BU in such a better position program-wise is because they are 4 year guys. Even if Cole-Scott and Austin had worked out and been contributors, they are still only giving us 2 years of service and then it's back to the drawing board. Not only are Norris and Brown already better than the guys they replaced, they also will contribute to the program for 3 more years! To me, that's part of what made 3 games in Florida so gratifying. We literally saw our young Braves growing up right before our eyes. Maniscalco, Egolf, Norris, and Brown all have, at a minimum, nearly 3 years left to help this program. Anthony Thompson and Eddren McCain still have nearly 4 years left. We're bringing in two more 4 year players next fall. It's been a while since we had this many core players this young. Personally, it makes me more patient with them and the team, knowing that these kids are here for the long haul and will grow and get better. They're already growing and making leaps and bounds...imagine what they'll be doing in 2-3 years!
But I digress - What I think the comparison truly illustrates is the value of recruiting 4 year guys versus 2 year guys. Instead of having only a few kids around for the long haul, BU now has a great nucleus of freshmen and sophomores that can grow together and be successful. Yes, we've done pretty good with JUCO's, but I think it's obvious that the 4 year guy is the way to go. It's been proven time and again that it's the way to build sustained success, and I'm very excited with what the future may hold with this group of 4 year kids we're bringing in.
BU in Great Recruiting Position 
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