Oh oh-John Wilkins update

[Beninator]

If he wanted to be a Brave he would sign, and there would be no more 'pressure'. He could go about suing the NJCAA knowing he had a place to play next year regardless of their ruling.

I agree with your post, but let's say Wilkins gets shot down a third time by the NJCA.....

[Beninator]

I was told of this plan a few days ago, and I heard much more of the story than is published by the PJS.
This does not mean it is any less likely that JW will end up at Bradley.
He just wants to play basketball, and he feels the NJCAA has targeted him and treated him differently than any other student-athlete in juco history.
I believe he has a good case, and the NJCAA does not have a large bankroll (like the NCAA does) to defend such a lawsuit.
He believes signing a LOI now could hurt his claim (or at least complicate it) that the penalty by the NJCAA hurts his chances of playing basketball at D1, or professionally. So he will wait to sign.

I follow your point to a degree. But, the NCAA has already made a ruling about Wilkins at the Division 1 level. AS I stated in a previous thread, if the NCAA changed that ruling, BU and Wilkins should get their lawyers ready

[jeffsu]

He believes signing a LOI now could hurt his claim (or at least complicate it) that the penalty by the NJCAA hurts his chances of playing basketball at D1, or professionally. So he will wait to sign.

When I read the PJS story, I said "case closed, he's not coming" -- but this point actually makes sense, DC. If he already has a DI commitment, then he loses grounds of saying "I need to play so I can play DI ball." With an LOI signed, the NJCAA could tell him to suck it up because they are not hindering his future abilities.

Lets stop the "sky is falling" routine here, folks. NO ONE knows what will happen and there's always something new going on. Lets just wait and see!

[BradleyBrave]

I personally think him playing this year kills our chances of him coming here. But, I have been wrong before and would love to be again!

[AZ BU Fan]

If JW wants to play for BU, he will end up here. Period. No need to fret/speculate about it.

Hope he does as the rewards from the university, fans, and town would be great for him (and vice versa)! He would be icing on the BU cake, not the whole cake!

However, if JW doesn't want to play for BU, lets wish him all the best wherever he decides it is in his best interest to go.

BU has some experience having players who ultimately didn't want to be, or stay, in the BU Program. Better to have players who totally love the place and couldn't think of any other place that would be better for them personally or professionally - and I hope JW is one of these!

[Beninator]

I personally think him playing this year kills our chances of him coming here. But, I have been wrong before and would love to be again!

That is what I have been alluding to Bradleybrave. If JW looses his injunction do WE win?

[BradleyBrave]

That is what I have been alluding to Bradleybrave. If JW looses his injunction do WE win?

Maybe. Or he could just say 'screw it' and go to Europe and play professionally. I think that's looking like a better option by the day.

[Beninator]

Maybe. Or he could just say 'screw it' and go to Europe and play professionally. I think that's looking like a better option by the day.

Agree.

[SFP]

Why is it that there is always some drama with our recruits? I'm just going to let this one play out and not say a word.

[BradleyBrave]

Why is it that there is always some drama with our recruits? I'm just going to let this one play out and not say a word.

Every school has drama with their recruits, and its been going on for decades. We just hear more about it nowadays. I almost wish we didn't.

[Braves4Life]

This is the price you pay for a 4 star recruit. It won't be easy for BU to score that first 4 star recruit but it WILL happen. And when it does "they will come" in droves. I'd rather have this drama and have a chance to land the whale than no drama at all.

[BradleyBrave]

This is the price you pay for a 4 star recruit. It won't be easy for BU to score that first 4 star recruit but it WILL happen. And when it does "they will come" in droves. I'd rather have this drama and have a chance to land the whale than no drama at all.

We don't need 4 star recruits to win the Valley and be a perennial NCAA/Top 25 team. Most of our best players of all-time were unheralded or undiscovered until they got to BU. Jim Les, Hersey Hawkins, Anthony Parker, Patrick O'Bryant immediately come to mind. Heck even Danny Granger was an under-the-radar kid. I think you have to go back to Mitchell Anderson to identify a guy that was one of the top players in the nation coming out of high school. Sure, I'll take a 4 star kid if he wants to come play for us, but sometimes I am not sure they are worth all the drama and coddling when there are kids that are just as talented out there who may not have the hype.

[Beninator]

This is the price you pay for a 4 star recruit. It won't be easy for BU to score that first 4 star recruit but it WILL happen. And when it does "they will come" in droves. I'd rather have this drama and have a chance to land the whale than no drama at all.

We don't need 4 star recruits to win the Valley and be a perennial NCAA/Top 25 team. Most of our best players of all-time were unheralded or undiscovered until they got to BU. Jim Les, Hersey Hawkins, Anthony Parker, Patrick O'Bryant immediately come to mind. Heck even Danny Granger was an under-the-radar kid. I think you have to go back to Mitchell Anderson to identify a guy that was one of the top players in the nation coming out of high school. Sure, I'll take a 4 star kid if he wants to come play for us, but sometimes I am not sure they are worth all the drama and coddling when there are kids that are just as talented out there who may not have the hype.

True... But if we don't go after the 4 star recruits we won't get them... I am all for going after the 4 star recruits and I agree Braves4life.. We will get one... it's is just a matter of when.

[SFP]

It is getting harder and harder to find under the radar kids now days with all the AAU ball and media.

[tornado]

If he wanted to be a Brave he would sign, and there would be no more 'pressure'. He could go about suing the NJCAA knowing he had a place to play next year regardless of their ruling.

the pressure to decommit sure doesn't end when you sign a LOI, in fact it may skyrocket...just ask Justin Dentmon or Anthony Grundy-
I really can't make all the points I would like to make publicly, but I think he's doing the right thing presently...
Let me ask one question...............
--you know that as many as 75 D-I schools inquired about the kid when he played AAU ball, and you know his coach just recently said...
"We're recruited pretty heavily all the time and when schools stop by at practice and see him here, they'll say, 'Who's this guy?"
then why if the kid has many, many other options, does he still say this right up even 'til TODAY...
"When asked if he was still interested in eventually coming to BU, Wilkins said he was.
When asked if he had interest in any other school, he replied, "Not at this point."

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/homepage/x1158533877/Wilkins-wont-sign-early-with-Bradley-likely-to-sue-NJCAA

now-- if that answer still isn't enough, then nothing will be and we might as well just not discuss any further...
so the question is... what would it take before you believe the kid??? If he was going to dump BU and go elsewhere, then I find it astounding that he's had every chance in the world to do so and has NOT...
It's like someone who still believes they have cancer with no evidence to support it, even after a year of testing has proven they do NOT.
You know....some day they might be right, but for now you might as well just stop discussing it with them...