Osiris Eldridge

[tornado]

verbals to ISU

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/eldridgecommits.html

[BradleyBrave]

Re: Osiris Eldridge

verbals to ISU
http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles...gecommits.html

Wow. I was really hoping to land him at BU. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us to match the 2 big gets for ISU over the past 2 days. I really wanted Eldridge.

[Otis]

The issues which favored ISU must have included playing time. At ISU Eldridge, and Hill too, would stand a much better opportunity to play right away. I agree, I would really have liked to see Eldridge at Bradley. However, there are still some very good players available with skills similar to these 2 kids. I am sure JL will land a couple great recruits.

[Bravesguy]

The issues which favored ISU must have included playing time. At ISU Eldridge, and Hill too, would stand a much better opportunity to play right away. I agree, I would really have liked to see Eldridge at Bradley. However, there are still some very good players available with skills similar to these 2 kids. I am sure JL will land a couple great recruits.

A recent article from Sept. 9, notes that Eldridge has not gotten a qualifying score from ACT

http://suntimes.com/output/prep/cst-spt-cage09.html

Eldridge averaged 20ppg in his junior year, but BU is still after T. J. Marion, who also hits for nearly 20ppg, has similar athleticism as Eldridge, plays for a bigger school a tough conference, and whose coach and program have a history of producing fine D-I prospects (Shaun Pruitt, Justin Cerasoli). Chicgao Phillips has virtually no history of producing D-I players let alone top notch ones. The present Aurora West coach has 4 Final Four IHSA trophies, the present Phillips coach has no history of much at all. Phillips had a fine history under Herb Brown, but that was long ago, and they haven't gotten out of their regional in years.
Add to that, T. J. Marion also has some PG skills.

[BU fan]

Yes, T.J. Marion plays point guard, and Bradley is still very much in the picture with him. Bradley is also recruiting a couple other point guards.

Illinois' class of 2006 has an unprecedented number of uncommitted PGs that will likely play Div I like Jerome Randle (probably going to Tulsa or Cal), Jeramie Simmons, Jordan Dalton, Darrien McKinstry, Haywood Brown, Chris Singletary, Patrick Beverly, Cordelro Yelder, Kierre Miller, Kevin Bulger, Jonathan Peoples, Brian Randle (Hales Franciscan), Jamal Roper, and Spencer Stewart. I can't remember a class with as many talented guards.

[BradleyBrave]

The issues which favored ISU must have included playing time. At ISU Eldridge, and Hill too, would stand a much better opportunity to play right away. I agree, I would really have liked to see Eldridge at Bradley. However, there are still some very good players available with skills similar to these 2 kids. I am sure JL will land a couple great recruits.

A recent article from Sept. 9, notes that Eldridge has not gotten a qualifying score from ACT

http://suntimes.com/output/prep/cst-spt-cage09.html

Eldridge averaged 20ppg in his junior year, but BU is still after T. J. Marion, who also hits for nearly 20ppg, has similar athleticism as Eldridge, plays for a bigger school a tough conference, and whose coach and program have a history of producing fine D-I prospects (Shaun Pruitt, Justin Cerasoli). Chicgao Phillips has virtually no history of producing D-I players let alone top notch ones. The present Aurora West coach has 4 Final Four IHSA trophies, the present Phillips coach has no history of much at all. Phillips had a fine history under Herb Brown, but that was long ago, and they haven't gotten out of their regional in years.
Add to that, T. J. Marion also has some PG skills.

The Sun-Times today also notes that Eldridge is a top-150 player nationally. I really would have liked him on the Hilltop.

[user1]

The Sun-Times today also notes that Eldridge is a top-150 player nationally. I really would have liked him on the Hilltop.

The Sun Times says Eldridge is considered a "top-10 player in the state, top-150 in the nation" but they don't make note of the fact that those considerations are not unanimous among the different rating services.

But as has been pointed out here, only one of numerous rating services has Eldridge at #10 in IL, and all the other have him considerably lower.

As for Top 150 nationally, Rivals has him at #143 nationally but scout/onsiders has him at #240, and most other services have him way lower than 150.

The ratings are only part of all this, he still has to qualify, show up, and play, which far to few ISU recruits have successfully done of late.

[tornado]

As a bit of a followup on Osiris Eldridge, you might recall we've had quite a few discussions involving Osiris, with some touting him as perhaps the top incoming recruit at ISU in years.
Some claimed he is the most talented incoming player ISU has, and some have said quite solidly that Osiris IS going to be a starter from day one, and that the starting 2-guard spot is his to lose.
(just do a search for all the posts on Osiris and see for yourself)

Well, here are some things I heard from an acquaintant who was at the ISU Hoopfest and actually watched Osiris.
Plus these statements seem consistent with others that have been posted on the Redbird board.
First, that he sure can dunk, but he did not look like a very good shooter.
If he doesn't have a dunk, then he might have trouble scoring.

And doesn't look like he is assured of a starting slot. Brandon Holtz and Roberto Fortes shot better, and Dom Johnson has the added plus of being a good ballhandler and good passer.
So I would appreciate some follow up comments from any other ISU fan.

[bu fan 9]

He sure sounds like D Williams to me.

[MickeyT]

Eldridge is just a freshman, and like nearly all freshman, he will struggle to adapt to the different speed, and athleticism that the college game is played at. What he could do in high school won't be enough for him to score at this level, but I am sure he will adjust, and improve. He should get a lot of playing time and I predict he will be on the All Newcomer team. I wouldn't be surprised if he is picked as preseason FOY.