Justin Bocot Commits to SIU

[tornado]

http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/621860.html

"Justin Bocot took his name out of the running for numerous college opportunities when he fell for one program this weekend.

Southern Illinois dipped into the 2007 talent pool and found itself a high-scoring wing guard. Justin Bocot, a 6-foot-3 standout from Bloomington (Ill.) High, committed to the Salukis Sunday night."

"...he visited SIU this past weekend and has cancelled a trip to Iowa.

At the end of the day, Bocot passed on bigger interests and pledged to the program that showed the most consistent commitment to recruiting him."

"Bocot, who indicated he???‚¬?„?s doing well in core classes and is on target to qualify, may redshirt his first season regardless. ???‚¬?“I think I???‚¬?„?m going to sit out my first year and get bigger and stronger. I won???‚¬?„?t lose any eligibility.???‚¬?? "


(there is word he may not be a qualifier, anyway)

[chitownBUB]

This is interesting. SIU may just have gotten a fine player, or they may have tied up a scholarship for acouple years without ever seeing him play, as he is rumored to be far from getting a passing test score.

Either way, many high school coaches don't like for their players to be so caught up in recruiting and campus trips right in the middle of the most crucial time of the year for high school teams.
Given that Bloomington has always had the talent to make it to state, and yet they never get out of their own regional, you'd think the Bloomington coach would plead with Bocot to stay focused on his present team and help them at least win one regional. Over the past few years haven't they had Dodie Dunson, Brandon Dunson, Bocot, D'Mitri Riggs, & Brandon Holtz. That's at least SIX D-I players, and they had them all at the same time, and weren't good enough to make it to state.

[Da Coach]

SIU does not have any available scholarships for next year. Rumor is that one of their current scholarship players will be leaving after the season and his scholarship will go to Bocot.

Here is their scholarship grid, and they are one over the limit for 2007-2008.

http://www.salukitalk.net/st/recruiting/BBallGrid.cfm?uid=875

[tornado]

They are going to clean house....
with kids like Chris Cornelius who had tied up a scholarship for 2 years there and hasn't set foot on the court, and Jordan Armstrong, Tyrone Green, & Jamaal Foster, three other little used players, look for at least one or more to leave and play elsewhere.

[Average Joe]

Is Lowery going to be there to coach them?

[collegehoopjunkie]

He hasn't signed a LOI, and don't the kids from Bloomington have a big time history of changing their minds?

[chitownBUB]

chicagohoops.com has Bocot rated as #12 in Illinois two spots behind Sam Maniscalco.

windycityhshoops has him rated as 5-Star (which they define as "High Major"), but they also have him listed as 6-4, which most certainly he is not, so it makes me wonder if they even know or have seen the kid.

I am intersted in how do others feel he rates among Illinois Class of 2007.

[tornado]

Here are some prior threads that discussed Bocot's ranking.

Here he is rated well below Maniscalco by Rivals and scout last year.

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2765

some rankings have him ahead of Maniscalco, although since Bocot is a SG and Maniscalco is a PG it's hard to compare the two.

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4485

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2823

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=22861#22861

There have been mentions of other issues and in a post from last summer I made mantion of Bocot, and so did some other posters.

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3446

[Big Mike]

http://midstatehoops.blogspot.com/2007/02/bocot-increases-mid-major-beef.html

[collegehoopjunkie]

Bocot is 85% offense and 15% defense.
He will end up on the bench at SIU since he isn't going to play the defense
that CLo demands of his players.

In fact, I have never seen any source that has actually seen Justin Bocot, and who mentions defense in any context other than to point out how badly he plays it or how much he needs to improve it.

[dogsrus]

Bocot is 85% offense and 15% defense.
He will end up on the bench at SIU since he isn't going to play the defense
that CLo demands of his players.

In fact, I have never seen any source that has actually seen Justin Bocot, and who mentions defense in any context other than to point out how badly he plays it or how much he needs to improve it.

Digger Phelps says thats OK....they play too much defense in the Valley. They NEED players to score more becuase thats better ball.