ISU loses recruit to Albany

[Da Coach]

6'10" class of 2008 Addison Driscoll star Jake Lindfors visited Illinois State this weekend, and upon returning home, he committed to University of Albany.

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

Tough loss for the MVC to lose out to Albany.

Here is a thread from the ISU fan site--

http://redbirdfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7588

Rivals profile--

http://www.chicagosports.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=66416&sport=2

Rivals premium article--

http://www.chicagosports.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=717924

some clips--
Class of 2008 Driscoll Catholic star Jake Lindfors today gave his verbal commitment to suit up for Coach Will Brown's Albany Great Danes. Lindfors enjoyed a successful junior season at Driscoll Catholic in which he averaged 18 points, 10 rebound, and 3 blocks. Lindfors competed this summer with Coach Mike Weinstein 17U Rising Star's Gold team and improved his recruiting stock along with his game. Lindfors had an impressive showing in Orlando in which he garnered the eyes of many college coach's. Lindfors at 6'9" can play both inside and outside will continue to see his game rise as his best days are in front of him.

Lindfors this weekend took a visit to Illinois State, who recently made a late push. Lindfors had three scholarship offers in WIU, ISU, and Albany.

MidstateHoops Profile--

http://www.midstatehoops.com/players/profiles/2008/jake_lindfors.html

Scout profile--

http://hsillinois.scout.com/a.z?s=220&p=8&c=1&nid=3224276

[tornado]

Yes, a very tough loss, as you figure if you are the last ones to host him on a visit, you can make the best and lasting impression. Maybe the fact that the football team got beat bothered Lindfors?

[BuBraves55]

who wouldn't want to be a GREAT DANE!

[BU30]

I believe that he is the son of ex BU center Ron Lindfors. My middle school team played in Elk Grove and Ron was officiating.

[houstontxbrave]

This is generalizing a bit but if he is the son of Ron Lindfors, who when he played at BU was a stiff, and his offers were other then ISU, Western and Albany honestly I wouldnt consider it a huge loss. He probably went where he could actually play and not sit around for 4 years

[REALBird]

Ilprepsbullseye has updated their site and contrary to what was first reported, Lindfors DID NOT visit Illinois State over the weekend. Still would have been nice to add some depth at the post, but not exactly a total loss. As many on our board have indicated, may be a case where after 1 year the kid ends up looking for somewhere closer to home to play.

[tornado]

We have had a lot of discussion on the boards about players who commit and go to schools that are, in effect, aiming too high, and they never get much chance to play.
(examples DeAaron Williams, Brandon Lee, Matt Hagen, etc.)

But here with Lindfors, we have a kid who is being realistic and he is selecting a fairly low ranked school so that he can maybe expect a lot of playing time.
I can't really fault the kid at all, and I think he may know something we don't, and he's actually making the very best decision for himself.

Albany has been the sole representative of the America East Conference two years on a row and much of their expected strength this season will be seniors, so Lindfors could well have a great chance to play right away.
But. historically, that conference is ranked in the 15-29 spot among the 31 conferences in strength, and SOS is very weak.

[Daniel Poneman]

I was very involved with Jakes recruiting, and he is no stiff! (though he is Ron's son).
Jake is a highly skilled power forward and will make an instant impact at Albany. Jake actually had northwestern recruiting him very hard down the stretch, and they were considering offering, but he loved Albany so much that he felt he would rather go there then even Northwestern!

[houstontxbrave]

I was very involved with Jakes recruiting, and he is no stiff! (though he is Ron's son).
Jake is a highly skilled power forward and will make an instant impact at Albany. Jake actually had northwestern recruiting him very hard down the stretch, and they were considering offering, but he loved Albany so much that he felt he would rather go there then even Northwestern!

I have never seen him play but if he is 6 10 and is as versatile as I see he is on here, then why are the only schools seriously recruiting him Northwestern, and offering Western and Albany? 6 10 players with skill dont come along everyday. He might not be a stiff but Ill bet he isnt as impactful a player as you are saying. Sorry but guys with what you say are his skills and size go to Wisconsin, Iowa, Valley schools they dont go to Albany and get offers from Western.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I was very involved with Jakes recruiting, and he is no stiff! (though he is Ron's son).
Jake is a highly skilled power forward and will make an instant impact at Albany. Jake actually had northwestern recruiting him very hard down the stretch, and they were considering offering, but he loved Albany so much that he felt he would rather go there then even Northwestern!

Did I miss something? When did Northwestern become a basketball juggernaut? We are supposed to be impressed because Northwestern "considered offering" him a scholarship?

[Daniel Poneman]

Northwestern may not be a tourney team, but they are a Big Ten school and frequently beat out Valley schools for recruits (though they sometimes lost recruiting battles to valley schools aswell).

Jake only played one year competitively on the AAU circuit an went from a top 50 player to a top 25 player in one summer. If he had played 14u 15u and 16u like his teammates and opponents he may have been a big ten type player.

Remember: Wisconsin Milwaukee, and Illinois State offered him too!

[DoubleJayAlum]

Northwestern may not be a tourney team, but they are a Big Ten school and frequently beat out Valley schools for recruits (though they sometimes lost recruiting battles to valley schools aswell).

Jake only played one year competitively on the AAU circuit an went from a top 50 player to a top 25 player in one summer. If he had played 14u 15u and 16u like his teammates and opponents he may have been a big ten type player.

Remember: Wisconsin Milwaukee, and Illinois State offered him too!

So, since a team is in the Big X, they are head and shoulders above MVC schools even though their hoops program sucks? Didn't this kind of BCS bias get you blasted on SalukiTalk?

[houstontxbrave]

Northwestern may not be a tourney team, but they are a Big Ten school and frequently beat out Valley schools for recruits (though they sometimes lost recruiting battles to valley schools aswell).

Jake only played one year competitively on the AAU circuit an went from a top 50 player to a top 25 player in one summer. If he had played 14u 15u and 16u like his teammates and opponents he may have been a big ten type player.

Remember: Wisconsin Milwaukee, and Illinois State offered him too!

There is, no "may not be a tourney team", they have never been a tourney team. You are a very knowledgeable follower of high school recruiting, can you please sight me a few examples of Northwestern beating out Valley schools for recruits and for farness lets keep it within the past 4 years?

[tornado]

Now Creighton loses a recruit to Iowa State

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/SPORTS020604/70928029/1003/SPORTS

[Daniel Poneman]

"can you please sight me a few examples of Northwestern beating out Valley schools for recruits and for farness lets keep it within the past 4 years? "

Gladly

07:
BRADLEY was in the final 5 for Nick Fruendt
06:
BRADLEY and Illinois St offered Michael Juice Thompson
05:
Bradley and ill st were reacuiting jeremy Nash
04:
Peoria's very own Brandon Lee was considering Southern Illinois
03:
vince Scott was being recruited hard by Drake


Also, i never said that Big 10 schools were head and shoulders above MVC schools, i just said that they generally out-recruit them because of larger budgets among other reasons.