BU Commit- 2015- Joel Okafor

[LongTimeFan]

What good would it have done to take notes? He, along with others, knew what the problem was and nothing could be done for the rest of the season.

[lightsout]

Interview with Joel where he talks about coming to Bradley, deciding not to go to UWGB, and making the Indiana All-Star game!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs-WEDvB9o8

[Da Coach]

I learned one thing from watching that video - his first name is not pronounced the typical one-syllable way, but as 2 syllables with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable.

[chicav]

I learned one thing from watching that video - his first name is not pronounced the typical one-syllable wayway, but as 2 syllables with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable.

Like Superman's Father.

Indiana all star team is a hot button here. Talent is deep and the coaches have to put together a TEAM....not just an indiscriminate all star list of centers or wings or players .....they got to fill out a team to play KY (and win)...so guys get left off. Many past players who starred in College and became pros were left off. Jeff Teague was one being left off a deep class with Eric GOrdon, Robbie Hummel, Jajuan Johnson, Etwan Moore and others. He finally got added at the last minute. Having guys like Smith Rivera leave the state for Sr year has eased the logjam a bit recently.

No doubt on Joel. He has been at the top of the list from the start. '15 is deep but he is secure at his position at G on the All Star TEAM.

[Da Coach]

I also recall Mike Conley and the 2007 #1 draft pick Greg Oden. I also recall Gordon Hayward, Courtney Lee, Josh McRoberts, Zach Randolph, Glen Robinson, the Zellers, and one or more of the Plumlees among others who have played in those All Star games.
On the other hand, the only recent (last 10-15 years) Kentucky player I can recall making it to the NBA was Shelvin Mack, who played at Butler.
The games have been so one-sided in the last 15 years, and the fan interest has dropped way off (they used to fill 15,000 seat arenas and recently they sell only 1500 tickets) that some think it is time to drop the games.

http://kentsterling.com/2013/06/17/indiana-all-stars-time-to-drop-kentucky-as-an-annual-opponent/

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/kentucky-working-with-indiana-to-revive-all-star-series-in/article_8423ca05-4b28-5231-b451-722eda3efb1e.html

[tornado]

Everyone would agree that Kentucky has not produced the talent that Indiana does...
smaller state, more rural component, lack of decent programs and AAU opportunities...

but Scotty Hopson from Hopkinsville, KY (who went to Tennessee) and one-time Illini recruit Darius Miller from Maysville, KY (played at UK) -
both went on to limited NBA careers - and Chane Behanan & Anthony Hickey are lingering in the D-League

also - former BU recruits Vee Sanford, Elijah Pittman, and Remy Abell have played for Kentucky in their All Star games.

[basketball nut]

Heard today that Flash really likes Okafor

[Vent]

Looks like Okafor may be the point guard we've been looking for. The fact he was all-state in Indiana is a pretty good indicator.

[tornado]

our scholarship grid with possible transfers added

For 2015-16
Freshman Class: (currently they are all committed or signed but not enrolled yet) - Joel Okafor, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, Ronnie Suggs, Antoine Pittman - each has four years left
Sophomore Class: Donte Thomas - has three years left
Junior Class: none
Senior Class: Ka'Darryl Bell, Mike Shaw, Anthony Fields, Warren Jones, Omari Grier - each has only one season remaining
...also Jackson Kane will be a senior walk-on

Three more scholarships currently open

Current targets that are known and being discussed are:
Current junior class: maybe Xzavier Taylor will be returning
2015- Max Bielfeldt (would be a senior), Nate Navigato, Brady Ernst, Dan Palombizio, Jaycee Hillsman
2016- Micah Bradford, Sam Hauser, Tyler, Jackson, Kaj Days, Lou Griffith
2017- Da'Monte Williams, AJ Youngman, Daeshon Francis (poss. transfer from UWGB- would be a soph)
2018- Joey Hauser

[LongTimeFan]

t, I believe three or four of those were Ford recruits. Are you saying that Wardle is pursuing each one?

[tornado]

no, other than the ones that have specifically been linked recently to Wardle, I do not know our level of interest in the others - although maybe all but one or two I believe I have seen & heard evidence we are still pursuing them

[LongTimeFan]

"2016- Youngman, Bradford, Hauser, Jackson, Days, Griffith"

I knew that Bradford, Jackson, and Griffith had offers from Ford. I had not known that Wardle was also interested in them. Those were part of the 11 or 12 offers for 2016 that had been mentioned.

[Old Coach]

AJ Youngman graduates in 2017.

[tornado]

our scholarship grid & the targets that have previusly been mentioned - with possible transfers added

For 2015-16
Freshman Class: Joel Okafor, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, Ronnie Suggs, Antoine Pittman (currently they are all committed or signed but not enrolled yet) - each has four years left
Sophomore Class: Donte Thomas - has three years left
Junior Class: none - although there's talk of Xzavier Taylor staying & he'd be a junior
Senior Class: Ka'Darryl Bell, Mike Shaw, Anthony Fields, Warren Jones, Omari Grier - each has only one season remaining
...also Jackson Kane will be a senior walk-on

Three more scholarships currently open

Current targets that are known and being discussed are:
Current junior class: maybe Xzavier Taylor will be returning
2015- Max Bielfeldt (would be a senior), Nate Navigato, Brady Ernst, Dan Palombizio, Jaycee Hillsman
2016- Micah Bradford, Sam Hauser, Tyler Jackson, Kaj Days, Lou Griffith, Nate Kennell
2017- Da'Monte Williams, AJ Youngman, Daeshon Francis (poss. transfer from UWGB- would be a soph)
2018- Joey Hauser, Tim Finke

[lefty]

Omari listed by espn as transferring??¦??¦.

http://espn.go.com/blog/jeff-goodman/insider/post/_/id/4899/top-10-transfers-and-complete-transfer-list