2014 Recruiting

DoubleDipper wrote:Welcome to PilotNation, Mr. Todd.....sorry, you probably consider your dad to be Mr. Todd....so, welcome Jason's dad, or as you are likely be referred to here: KT!

Hmm. I'm reading the post again, and I think it could very well be Mrs. Todd!

It’s really way too early to rank the best 2014 recruiting classes in the WCC, but Josh Horton at West Coast Convo has decided to do it anyway with his “2014 WCC Recruiting Rankings: 1st Edition.” http://westcoastconvo.com/2013/09/30/2014-wcc-recruiting-rankings-1st-edition/

And why not?  It gives fans something to talk about.

Here’s the order he’s listed.  (I’ve added the scholarships committed followed by the number that could be committed.  BYU was already over the limit by two and then committed four more to make a total of 19 scholarship players.  UP is known to have committed 2 scholarships out of the 4 it has available).

1. BYU (4/-2)
2. GU (2/4)
3. SCU (3/3)
4. USF (3/2)
5. USD (1/3)
6. UP (2/4)
7. UOP (2/7)
8. LMU (2/4)
9. PU (1/3)
10. SMC (1/6)

I agree that BYU and GU have brought in the best recruits, by far, of any of the WCC schools.

It’s always tough to figure out the scholarship availability at BYU because most of the players leave for a couple of years to mature while on their LDS missions.

USF has overcommitted by 1 scholarship, but we all know someone is always leaving the Hilltop for one reason or another.

If my math is correct, 21 scholarships have been committed in the WCC and there are still 20 open scholarships available.  SMC and UOP still have 5 each, so there should be a BIG swing in the rankings when it’s all complete.

DoubleDipper wrote:I agree that BYU and GU have brought in the best recruits, by far, of any of the WCC schools.

Yeah. Beyond that it's just throwing darts at a board. Wild speculation, if you will.

DoubleDipper wrote:And we know Chatman will go big time (he’s taking his first official visit to watch the Notre Dame at Michigan football game under the lights in early September).

Kameron Chatman to Michigan is confirmed. Well done as always, Dipper.

Face it, in the 6 or 7 years John Beilein has been at Michigan he’s installed HIS system and has been able to recruit players that fit that system…..Kameron Chatman will fit perfectly.

I believed it would either be Michigan or Arizona, but Chatman chose a better opportunity to display his talents and go to Final Four over good weather and playing closer to home.  He’ll be in the NBA one day.

Ha-ha, I just read that Josh Gershon, repected basketball scout and recruiting analyst for FOX Sports said that he was, “Totally Shocked” by Chatman’s commitment to Michigan.

Seriously?  I thought people paid Gershon for his recruiting insights and expertise………

A player’s character may be an issue when that player goes to a series of high schools. Rarely is there a simple and reassuring explanation for multiple transfers. And, clearly too much adulation can be heaped on a recruit because he has talent, ignoring appropriate concerns . . .Michigan is nice. Pilot connections or not one could question the duration of his stay at his college of first choice and also wonder what baggage vagabond ways may bring.

DeanMurdoch wrote:I don't disagree with you about needing a C and a SF. But I do find it curious that the Pilots appear to have multiple offers in the works at every position BUT center.

It's clearly a position of need moving forward though. Makes you wonder what's in the works that we don't know about.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the staff is likely to keep a spot for a JC transfer or D-1 transfer, and/or a commit from outside the US.....but I know from discussions the Pilots are looking for a center!

Did you see this tweet from this morning, DD?

@CoachReveno wrote:Going see a JC post we are excited about and I hear a lot of people were glad I missed dept. staff meeting this am. #asktoomanyquestions

DeanMurdoch wrote:Did you see this tweet from this morning, DD?

@CoachReveno wrote:Going see a JC post we are excited about and I hear a lot of people were glad I missed dept. staff meeting this am. #asktoomanyquestions

Ha-ha, no, I'm not in the twittersphere very often....but I did have a chance to visit UP yesterday.

The problem is.....it's just very difficult to find a JC player with a quality game that also has the quality academic background to qualify at UP.

As it takes awhile to develop a BIG, UP would really like to find a JC player who can play 3 years.....I hope that's possible.

DeanMurdoch wrote:

DeanMurdoch wrote:Offer showed up on Verbal Commits this morning to 2014 C Jon Galloway! 6-10, 225 out of Salesian in Richmond, CA. 3 stars on Scout, 2 from ESPN.

Galloway visited Montana this weekend. Official visits also coming to UC Irvine and Cal Poly. Anyone know anything about this guy or the chances of getting him up here for a visit?

As far as can be determined, Jon is in no hurry to sign, and may wait until April....which in some ways could benefit UP, if there are any scholarships available.

He's made only one official visit (Montana), and has made at least four unofficial trips.  He's said he wants to wait to take his allotment of official visits "later," which could mean after the first of the year.....we'll see.

Not a surprise….6’ 9” power forward Joe Furstinger is off the board, having committed to New Mexico.  He’d been leaning that way and was being pursued pretty hard.

Interesting that contributors to the Lobo Lair, UNM’s version of PN, has also been tweeting the young man during his recruitment……not legal according to the NCAA, but apparently the possible penalties are very light.

Hmm, are we too squeaky clean here at PN?

Why would that be against NCAA rules? Posting on a message board doesn't automatically make you a booster, does it?

DeanMurdoch wrote:Why would that be against NCAA rules? Posting on a message board doesn't automatically make you a booster, does it?

Actually yeah, if you strictly interpret the rule. You are a booster if you:

“(a) Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program;”

Excerpt From: NCAA. “2012-13 Division I Manual.”

It is a tough sell in my mind that a fan forum doesn't promote the athletics program.

And it is too late to back out. Once a booster, always a booster.


Gotta go. I'm spending the day on the BYU forum and contacting their recruits.

Yea, not only that, but when a recruit comes in for an official visit, the host player is NOT allowed to give the recruit any items from his own personal stash of Pilots swag…..not even an old pitted-out shirt.  

Do you suppose the book store can give them a student discount, legally?

Here's a perfect example of illegal recruitment sent by by the UC Irvine fan board two days ago....and it's to UP recruit Jon Galloway:

UCI Eaters Fans‏@UCIrvineFans
Become an Eater @Jon_RNIC #EatersAllin @Coach_Book

.....and the tweet includes UCI Asst. Coach Book and this:

I don't know what's funnier. The crappy PhotoShop job or the fact that the @UCIrvineFans account has only 40 followers!

Serious offense. They will no doubt be punished with a loss of bagels for two games.

Tragic for a team that refers to itself as the Eaters.

PF Evan Fitzner to Saint Mary's...ugh, that's a real good pickup for the Gaels.

DeanMurdoch wrote:PF Evan Fitzner to Saint Mary's...ugh, that's a real good pickup for the Gaels.

Yup, that pickup alone should move the Gaels from #10 to #3 in WCC recruiting so far this year.....and they've still got 4 open scholarships......

I don't think UP was on Fitzner's radar, but I bet he'll be a thorn in the Pilots side for years to come.

DoubleDipper wrote:

DeanMurdoch wrote:

DeanMurdoch wrote:Offer showed up on Verbal Commits this morning to 2014 C Jon Galloway! 6-10, 225 out of Salesian in Richmond, CA. 3 stars on Scout, 2 from ESPN.

Galloway visited Montana this weekend. Official visits also coming to UC Irvine and Cal Poly. Anyone know anything about this guy or the chances of getting him up here for a visit?

As far as can be determined, Jon is in no hurry to sign, and may wait until April....which in some ways could benefit UP, if there are any scholarships available.

He's made only one official visit (Montana), and has made at least four unofficial trips.  He's said he wants to wait to take his allotment of official visits "later," which could mean after the first of the year.....we'll see.

Per VerbalCommits, a different 6'10" center from the class of 2014, Bryden Boehning, just committed to Montana. That might make it less likely that Galloway will head to Missoula.

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Per VerbalCommits, a different 6'10" center from the class of 2014, Bryden Boehning, just committed to Montana. That might make it less likely that Galloway will head to Missoula.

Good catch, NPN...yea, it certainly can't hurt UP's chances.

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Per VerbalCommits, a different 6'10" center from the class of 2014, Bryden Boehning, just committed to Montana. That might make it less likely that Galloway will head to Missoula.

Hey, Boehning's from Glendive...now we're talking my neck of the woods!

Galloway intrigues me...a big post in a year where there's not too many posts. I wonder where UP is on his radar...as importantly, I wonder where he is on UP's radar.

Near as I can tell, he's rated as the third-best center in Cali this year behind only Welsh (Pac-12 bound) and Idrissa Diallo (also Pac-12 bound). With van der Mars & Barker entering their senior seasons in 2014-15, no one else on the depth chart, and the head coach a big man specialist himself...you'd think UP would be a good fit for a guy like this. But what do I know!

Spoke with a friend in the Bay Area this morning who follows the high school basketball scene there and occasionally writes sports articles.....she says that Galloway was leaning towards Montana and was really "bummed" UM got the commit from Boehning.....and she "thinks the offer from UM may now be off the table," and that Galloway is having to rethink everything and found it “crazy how things changed so fast.”  (Welcome to big-time recruiting, I guess).

From his known activity regarding visits one would have to assume Jon's leaning towards a Cali school.....but my friend also said all his offers are from Cali schools….the UP offer being the only exception (as far as she knew).

So, with offers from some really good colleges in his home state, it would seem UP may have to consider other options.  I'd much rather see a kid come to UP because he REALLY WANTS TO, rather than end up with another student-athlete like Dorian.....

I know the UP staff knows more than we do......thankfully!

Solid update, DD. Thanks.

Also related from Reveno on twitter - "Great day recruiting in Florida. It was long way to come but saw a workout and player that were worth it."