John Wilkins

[DUBrave5]

None of us here know enough about John's case to make this determination. It is possible for John to have avoided his NCAA "clock" starting last January when he enrolled. It's called "gray-shirting", and football recruits do it frequently (to bulk up and get stronger to play at the college level, or to improve their academics). Coach Cornelius of Yuba explained it on the board a couple years ago, and he sometimes employs it with recruits at Yuba College.
They enroll, are not on the official roster, they take a limited number of credit-hours to remain part-time students, and they take no scholarship money their first semester (or it can be up to a full year). That way their "clock" doesn't start until they actually begin playing or receiving a scholarship at the start of the next season, or when they become full-time students (12 hours per semester).
John's coach said he would retain 4 years of college eligibility, and it's possible he could be correct.

Here is a football definition, but it can apply to basketball, as well.-
http://www.dawgsports.com/story/2008/1/15/155239/437
http://recruiting-101.com/what-is-a-...larship-offer/

If that is the case, how could he graduate in a year and a half from a Junior College? I just think back on how many credits I had to take each semester to stay on pace and it makes me wonder if he could finish his associate's degree in 1.5 years while staying a part time student.

[Da Coach]

I don't know.
Coach Carroll said he'd have 4 years of eligibility. I would think his coach would know more about this?

[mexicobufan]

If John shows up we would have one scholarship left for next year, right? I hope its a Juco big.............

[BradleyJD]

BU really really needs this kid to show up here and then play like everyone believes he can.

[Dallas Brave]

While he is an unknown ... I predict he will get lots of playing time if he comes to BU.

[tornado]

I think there is some misunderstanding on the greyshirting rule..

the greyshirting applies to the fall semester when an athlete IS NOT RECRUITED AND IS NOT GIVEN A SCHOLARSHIP, AND does NOT fully enroll, and either takes just a few classes (fewer then 12 hours that's designated by NCAA as full time student and starts the "clock" ticking) then once that athlete enrolls midyear - he becomes a full time student then the clock starts ticking.
The benefit, if that by enrolling in January, your eligiblity goes through January five full seasons later - which is a GOOD thing for football, since it allows you to be eligibile for football in your final season.
In effect, it allows you to redshirt TWO seasons...the one you didn't enroll out of high school, then another one, since you still have five years..

BUT - greyshirting isn't as going to help a guy who wants to play basketball in this situation...and here's why...

Wilkins certainly enrolled last January at Southeast for at least 12 hours, right...plus I am certain he'll be considered a recruited athlete and was given a schoarship...
so the clock starts ticking...and he isn't covered in any way under the issue of greyshirting...
GREYSHIRTING does NOT apply to any student who is a full time student (nor recruited, nor givena scholarship)...
so once Wilkins enrolled as a full time student, his clock started ticking and runs out in Jan. of 2014...
so there does not appear to be any easy way for Wilkins to utilize the greyshirt rule..

BUT -- there is a way for Wilkins to get FOUR FULL YEARS of eligibility!!

If he graduates from juco this spring, then if he takes one semester off as a mission allowance (like Harris is doing), then re-enters Bradley in January of 2011, then he would play the entire 2nd half of 2010-2011 (remember he's gonna miss 5 games),
but then he will also still have 3 more years of eligibility and his clock won't run out until the end of the 2013-2014 season.

It isn't a likely scenario, but it is allowed.....

[SFP]

Sounds more promising for Wilkins ending up at BU. I guess the question is whether he'll be TB's backup or WE's backup. We couldn't possibly play them all at the same time, we would be too big.

I'm still hoping we get a JUCO 5 so WE can play the 4! Then we can have TB play the 3 AW the 2 and JW the 1. I heard he can handle the ball pretty well.

[real fan]

I really believe John wants to play for BU as nothing has changed here since he made a commitment and he will get immediate playing time plus the new facility will be done so for him and BU it is a win win situation.

[mexicobufan]

I asked this question and did not get an answer. If John shows up we will have one scholarship left for next year, right? Also does anyone know what his younger (and taller) brother is doing?

[Braves4Life]

I asked this question and did not get an answer. If John shows up we will have one scholarship left for next year, right? Also does anyone know what his younger (and taller) brother is doing?

I believe this may be why we have not signed anyone else..... It's all or nothing with Wilkins.

[thefish7]

I believe this may be why we have not signed anyone else..... It's all or nothing with Wilkins.

His brother a 2010-11 or 2011-12 recruit?

[SFP]

Let's get the older one in here first and then worry about the younger brother.

[DeltaBrave03]

I believe this may be why we have not signed anyone else..... It's all or nothing with Wilkins.

If we still have one left with JW why not go after someone. Off the top of my head I know we'll have I believe 3 open from seniors next year. So if we save one that's 4 and if JW for some reason doesn't show that's 5 barring the seemingly inevitable transfer of a current player. I think JL has shown that he does a good job keeping his recruits under the radar as seen with TB and JE so I wouldn't be too worried about not having heard much on the recruiting front. If there's one thing I think we mostly agree on it's JL's recruiting now what he does with them when they're here is up for debate.

[Da Coach]

I believe this may be why we have not signed anyone else..... It's all or nothing with Wilkins.

I think it's highly unlikely BU doesn't use all their scholarships.