John Wilkins to visit isu this weekend

[BSSFan#1]

Fan support is rarely a reason for a recruit to select a school. Suitability with the coaching staff, expectation for immediate playing time and recommendations of important influences (i.e. mentors) usually rank extremely higher than love shown by a fan base.

Sherron Collins is one of the few recruits who actually articulated that Kansas' zealot fan base was one of the top reasons he chose Kansas. Of course the important influence by one of Collins' important influences went unstated even though that was probably a high priority with his decision.

[NSBF]

ISU's board might be quiet becuase his is one of he biggest weekends for the Black students on their campus. Had the Snoop Dogg concert last night at Redbird. Springfest on the quad all afternoon. Huge Black Greek stepshow tonight at Braden Auditorium. Lots of parties after that!

I guess they're showing him the campus life over there and the 2:1 ratio of women to men.

[lake Camelot]

I thought I read somewhere that he may have a girlfriend looking to attend school with him. That may affect where he goes. If that's true then the basketball programs may be low on the deciding factor scale. I would feel more confident if it was him and his dad deciding because they already picked Bradley once, so at least there is a chance they could do it again. For her it could be the size of the school, the campus, the city, who knows what would be the deciding factor. It could even come down to which school she qualifies for. I am not sure that is a fact, but it could be another factor if it is true.

[Chico]

John, Bradley was the school you committed to. If it wasn't for the NCAA you would no doubt be a Brave now. Be a man of your word. You'll never get the love like you would on the hilltop.

[d dub]

ISU's board might be quiet becuase his is one of he biggest weekends for the Black students on their campus. Had the Snoop Dogg concert last night at Redbird. Springfest on the quad all afternoon. Huge Black Greek stepshow tonight at Braden Auditorium. Lots of parties after that!

I guess they're showing him the campus life over there and the 2:1 ratio of women to men.

holy poop! that sounds awesome!!!

[amckillip]

ISU's board might be quiet becuase his is one of he biggest weekends for the Black students on their campus. Had the Snoop Dogg concert last night at Redbird. Springfest on the quad all afternoon. Huge Black Greek stepshow tonight at Braden Auditorium. Lots of parties after that!

I guess they're showing him the campus life over there and the 2:1 ratio of women to men.

What does any of that have to do with the ISU board? Who do you think populates there boards? The vast majority of college bball posters are middle-aged male alum... I don't think they're at any of the parties or events you just mentioned.

[mexicobufan]

No but I am sure JW was at the party and had a great time............

[tornado]

Fan support is rarely a reason for a recruit to select a school. ....

I disagree....as many of the kids who have selected Bradley have made it clear that the loud, supportive, and numerous fans at the games they attend was a factor...
and in contrast, there have been many cases where a recruit makes it known that negatives they see in the media and on message boards are a factor.
Lastly - I have been told personally by people who are doing the recruiting, that having a POSITIVE fan base on the internet is a big plus!

[BSSFan#1]

Respectfully noted. But do you really think the fan base is legitimately the reason or just something public relation savvy people have instructed the recruit to say?

Based on my experience with recruits I know personally none have ever used fan base as a consideration.

[tornado]

I think it is a factor in some decisions...not all......
Even Hersey Hawkins' kids have been widely known to have ruled out Bradley early on because of the concerns about "living up to Hersey's legacy", which amount to wanting to avoid facing certain fans' expectations...
Thus how the fans feel clearly plays a part in kids' decisions.......and some have openly stated so...

[NSBF]

What does any of that have to do with the ISU board? Who do you think populates there boards? The vast majority of college bball posters are middle-aged male alum... I don't think they're at any of the parties or events you just mentioned.

Just meant that it's probably hard to see and hear anything when kids are out doing what kids do! I know who populates message boards, and much like myself they are not the Snoop Dogg, StepShow, Springfest (Woodstock like concerts) type of crowd.

Just saying!

[Dallas Brave]

I forget where I read it, but I find it amusig at the smugness of IU when they compare their programs to BU and Ill St.

In the state of Indiana, IU's program is seriously lagging Notre Dame, Purdue, and Butler. The Hoosiers are also behind these programs when you look at their relative success: IUPUI, Ball State, and Indiana State. On the plus side, the Who-zers could probably beat Evansville. Good luck JW if you want to play ball for Indiana and also win some basketball games.

As far as getting to the NBA, here are the number of current NBA players from these schools:
IU - 3
Bradley - 3 (counting D Granger who spent two years at Bradley)
Iowa State - 1
Ill State - 0

If JW is looking for the combination of a program that is poised to do well for the next 2-3 years and a program with a history of getting players to the NBA, Bradley is the school that best combines those two factors.

[BSSFan#1]

I think it is a factor in some decisions...not all......
Even Hersey Hawkins' kids have been widely known to have ruled out Bradley early on because of the concerns about "living up to Hersey's legacy", which amount to wanting to avoid facing certain fans' expectations...
Thus how the fans feel clearly plays a part in kids' decisions.......and some have openly stated so...

Seriously, tornado, you can't use Hawkins' kids with regards to BU as a comparison unless you are equating that to Wilkins not wanting to attend Illinois State. That would be equivalent to one of Jordan's kids not wanting to attend UNC and that is completely logical.

I'm just basing my opinion on the D1 players I knew from playing pick up ball with them at a health club. None attended Bradley and were not midwestern kids so their reasoning for selecting a school could be different.

[tornado]

I have seen and cited many examples of kids making it openly known that what the fans say & do and how the fans treat the players, are big factors..
and there have even been kids and even their parents who have made news by going onto message boards and challenging those who are critical and even making public issues out of how they were treated by fans and then maybe even making their college choices as a result...
..so you can believe as you want, but how the fans treat the players is a major factor, although not the only one.

[Chico]

Seriously, tornado, you can't use Hawkins' kids with regards to BU as a comparison unless you are equating that to Wilkins not wanting to attend Illinois State. That would be equivalent to one of Jordan's kids not wanting to attend UNC and that is completely logical.

I'm just basing my opinion on the D1 players I knew from playing pick up ball with them at a health club. None attended Bradley and were not midwestern kids so their reasoning for selecting a school could be different.

I can understand the Hawk's kids reluctance to come to Bradley. After all, he is the all time scoring leader on the Hilltop, an All-American who lead the country in scoring. But they are great kids and coming here would put a lot of undue pressure on them. Don't think JW would have as much to live up to at ISU.