Recruit on campus

[tornado]

Devon Hodges visiting today --

[Da Coach]

Expect some good news soon.

Dave Reynolds now reporting-

http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/2011/05/05/hodges-to-visit-bradley/

[midstateknowitall]

He is not by any means a difference maker at the Valley Level. He was a kid that was that big and athletic as a freshman and his game really never matured much after that. Everyone else caught up or past him. I don't think its an bad move for Bradley new coaches though.

[Braves4Life]

He is not by any means a difference maker at the Valley Level. He was a kid that was that big and athletic as a freshman and his game really never matured much after that. Everyone else caught up or past him. I don't think its an bad move for Bradley new coaches though.

That's the first I have heard that.

[jeffsu]

That's the first I have heard that.

Same here. I think this kid may need some good coaching, especially compared to what he dealt with in HS, but we have that here.

Best thing is that he'll be a freshman. He'll have four or five years. If he gives us two solid years even, then he is a great late pickup for this staff.

[Braves4Life]

He is not by any means a difference maker at the Valley Level. He was a kid that was that big and athletic as a freshman and his game really never matured much after that. Everyone else caught up or past him. I don't think its an bad move for Bradley new coaches though.

He looks pretty good here to me. Reminds me a little of Matt Salley..... and I'll take that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaxBuml0sZA

And after the :45 mark -- http://bolingbrook.patch.com/article...#video-4198093

[Buesch N Chips]

Is he really 6'8? Hard to tell in the video but he looks shorter than that to me.

[Big Mike]

remember he is still 17 and that video was taken from last summer (July 2010) .....most sites list him at 6'7

[SFP]

He looks pretty good here to me. Reminds me a little of Matt Salley..... and I'll take that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaxBuml0sZA

And after the :45 mark -- http://bolingbrook.patch.com/article...#video-4198093

I agree and I ate a ton of crow about Matt Salley. I became a MS believer as his final year closed.

[Beninator]

He looks pretty good here to me. Reminds me a little of Matt Salley..... and I'll take that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaxBuml0sZA

And after the :45 mark -- http://bolingbrook.patch.com/article...#video-4198093

Agree. But the biggest difference is that Hodges will have 4 years of eligibility here to work on his game.

[KillerB]

I have a little information about Hodges. This comes from someone who is familiar with Hodges as a player and the Illinois basketball scene.

He says Xavier was in the mix for Hodges before signing Farr.

In the past.. this person says as a player there are no problems with him.. but thinks there are issues with "handlers".. not sure if the advisors are still around.

A couple of years ago Hodges fancied himself a face the basket player.. even when he towered over other kids his age.

This person says Hodges was good enough to play in the valley when he was 16.. not sure how he stacks up now. Says it is kind of like looking at Diamond Taylor.. does not appear to be the same player after sitting out for two years.. could be an issue for Hodges.

I asked to compare Hodges' talent level with a current BU player.. says more talented than Lemon (and this is no knock on Lemon because he likes Lemon a lot). Of course Lemon doesn't carry any baggage.

Comparing Hodges with our current collection of bigs.. this person says Hodges will either be the best by far.. or the worst by far.

While I can't give a name.. I would stack up this source against anyone when it comes to evaluating IL high school talent.

So it is high risk - high reward.. and at this time of the recruiting game I personally think this is a chance well worth taking.

[tornado]

Since when does a mid-major have the luxury of only going after the prime recruits that everyone else wants?
Half the Valley's rosters are risks, rebounds, transfers, jucos, and kids who were way under the radar and "diamonds in the rough"
go get 'em Geno..

[lightsout]

Since when does a mid-major have the luxury of only going after the prime recruits that everyone else wants?
Half the Valley's rosters are risks, rebounds, transfers, jucos, and kids who were way under the radar and "diamonds in the rough"
go get 'em Geno..

Very good point T. I think Devon Hodges would be a great addition to the BU Basketball family! Hope to hear some good news about Devon soon.

[Da Coach]

Amazing that people who have never seen the kid play are calling him a project (deleted post), or predicting a redshirt (on another board).

I have spoken to people who have seen him play this week against college competetion, and he held his own quite well. Our coaching staff believes DH can play in the Valley right now. He will contribute immediately, and will likely play ahead of some of our current players. And they have no plans on redshirting him.

[basketball nut]

Isn't every player that goes to college to play any sport a risk? One never knows for certain who will be great and who will be a flop. Many players here at BU, as well as other schools, have come w/ great resume's and been just avg. players while others that we hoped might be able to help us out a little, or we really wondered why they even recruited that player, turns out to be tremendous.
Saying all of that I can say I have no idea about this recruit except what I have read but he sure seems like someone that would give us a big body up front to help out our present players and if it turns out that he starts over our present players that is a plus.