Saying it now GENO Mo Les 1st Year recruits

[srw]

Lets just deal with this in advance.

Last three BU coaches:

Mo
Took Suchy, Patrick McCallop, Rick Harris

Lasted 1,2,3 years between the 3

Les
Jabbar Battle
2 year Juco, wasn't exactly a good player

Geno
Wells (Les recruit)
Shayok (Geno recruit to most people)
Crawford (Geno)
Hodges (Geno)
Stewart (Les)

So my point is very simple. The first year recruiting is a total crapshoot, and players leaving is not a big deal.

[Da Coach]

I agree that first year recruits are not often representative of what is to come.

But, what makes a huge difference is whether a newly hired coach was already a head coach elsewhere. He would have at least some knowledge of available recruits that he has a relationship with, and he would have recruiting connections he can use to fill open scholarships at the last moment. That put a new coach like Jim Les at a severe disadvantage since he had not been involved in college coaching at any level, and had no connections. But JL turned out to be a good recruiter, IMO.

Other factors that can make big differences is how early in March the new coach gets hired- Geno got an earlier start than either Mo or Les, since the coaching search process took longer for those two. What assistants they hire can also make a difference. Jim Les hired assistants without much college recruiting connections, while Mo and Geno hired guys with significant recruiting connections. Geno also hired one of Jim Les' recruiting guys (Willie), which may have helped land Shayok, and still possibly others to come.

[srw]

I think you make good points, especially on the time of hire.

I think there is a flip side on the head coaching experience though...Its possible they already signed guys to their prior school and so they can't undo it.

Point being is....

Lets judge Geno on his record after a period of time.

that will be the determinant, at least in my opinion.

[tornado]

I have asked this before and hope someone can offer an answer --

-Is Willie our official or unofficial recruiter for Chicago - if so what names are we hearing?

-Who would be considered our "lead recruiter" -- we hear that term all the time and it seems EVER program has a guy who is their lead recruiter - a guy who is convincing, strong, persuasive, and "can get in the door"...
Creighton fans claim Merfeld is their "lead recruiter", Shocker fans say Greg Heiar (out of Chipola) is their "lead recruiter", Paris Parham has been repeatedly named as Jank's "lead recruiter", Chris Collins likewise has been termed Coach K's "lead recruiter", Illini fans are unanimous that Jerrance Howard is theirs and that's what ESPN calls Jerrance.....
but I cannot find anywhere that someone in particular is cited to be Bradley's "lead recruiter" - do we have one?

[Hello Newman]

I don't know if it has ever officially been named.

I would say Willie Scott and Jaden Uken are the two MAIN recruiters.

Hopefully immediate playing time will be our lead recruiter this spring

[bradleybraves1]

Question for tornado...

I know you bring up Bradley's lead recruiter for a reason. Do you believe it is important for a successful college team to have a KNOWN lead recruiter? All of the teams that you mention could be classified as relatively successful and somewhat established programs. Do you think they had a LEAD recruiter from the start, or was it after they were more established?

You and I both know who Bradley's lead Chicago-area recruiter is tornado. In time, after we start winning and landing quality kids, the rest of the college basketball world will be able to identify Bradley's Top Dog as well.

[it's boogie time]

Mo
Took Suchy, Patrick McCallop, Rick Harris

Lasted 1,2,3 years between the 3

It's been a couple of decades, but I thought Rick Harris was in the recruiting class with Billy Wright, Deon Jackson and Dwayne Funches.

I'm guessing the Geno Ford era will be defined by the recruits he gets to sign this fall.

[srw]

It's been a couple of decades, but I thought Rick Harris was in the recruiting class with Billy Wright, Deon Jackson and Dwayne Funches.

I'm guessing the Geno Ford era will be defined by the recruits he gets to sign this fall.

I don't have a book to check it, but I could be wrong....

I put Harris as the 2 year guy, because I thought he stayed a year longer than McCallop

[Samd2]

I would hope our lead recruiter is Willie, from what I have seen and know, he is by farm the most likely to relate and share some true life experience.