Bradley recruiting

[TheHeemyMonster]

Just a thought, but it seems to me all the recruiting stuff that has been posted on this board is about these guys that we are recruiting with all of these guys are being recruited by the BCS schools and Bradley is the only one or one of the only mid majors that is recruiting the kid.

Is this really the best idea? Dont get me wrong I want to best players on BU, but do we really honestly have that good of chance landing these guys and are we wasting are time recruting these kids if they are getting offers by 4 or 5 other BCS schools?

I just dont want to miss out on all of those kids and then get stuck with a guy that hasnt gotten recruited by anyone.

I know we have had some luck in the past getting LW, Franklin, and hopefully now Matt Salley, but I hope the luck doesnt run out

We already missed out on Sikes as well as some other I believe.

Any thoughts on this....am I getting worried about nothing??

[tornado]

I think it's awesome that BU is going after the top talent instead of accepting the lower tier talent that's left over after all the other schools choose the players they want.
Given the talent we've had, I trust our coaching staff is doing the right thing.

[tornado]

Hey, here's one more bit of evidence that Bradley is right there recruiting with the "big boys".

One of the absolutely hottest recruits in the nation is Evan Turner who is playing on the Illinois Wolves. He keeps getting all kinds of accolades at every AAU tourney and is being pursued by just about every top program in the NATION, and he's a FIVE STAR recruit.

Here is what he tells one interviewer just this past weekend:
"Duke and Ohio State, Wake Forest, Indiana and Virginia have turned on the heat since April. They join Illinois, Baylor, DePaul, Bradley, USC, Miami and Florida."

So Bradley is still listed prominently along with the top programs like Ohio State and Duke. I'm not saying the kid will come to BU, and I would agree it is a long shot, but I am very encouraged that Turner lists BU with the schools he's considering.

[thefish7]

Hey, here's one more bit of evidence that Bradley is right there recruiting with the "big boys".

One of the absolutely hottest recruits in the nation is Evan Turner who is playing on the Illinois Wolves. He keeps getting all kinds of accolades at every AAU tourney and is being pursued by just about every top program in the NATION, and he's a FIVE STAR recruit.

Here is what he tells one interviewer just this past weekend:
"Duke and Ohio State, Wake Forest, Indiana and Virginia have turned on the heat since April. They join Illinois, Baylor, DePaul, Bradley, USC, Miami and Florida."

So Bradley is still listed prominently along with the top programs like Ohio State and Duke. I'm not saying the kid will come to BU, and I would agree it is a long shot, but I am very encouraged that Turner lists BU with the schools he's considering.

So, Evan himself mentioned Bradley? That's really awesome. I'm with you guys on trying for the big guys, we may not get them... but this coaching staff has so far shown to have a strength in recruiting, so I'll trust that they're taking a good risk.

[BradleyBrave]

Hey, here's one more bit of evidence that Bradley is right there recruiting with the "big boys".

One of the absolutely hottest recruits in the nation is Evan Turner who is playing on the Illinois Wolves. He keeps getting all kinds of accolades at every AAU tourney and is being pursued by just about every top program in the NATION, and he's a FIVE STAR recruit.

Here is what he tells one interviewer just this past weekend:
"Duke and Ohio State, Wake Forest, Indiana and Virginia have turned on the heat since April. They join Illinois, Baylor, DePaul, Bradley, USC, Miami and Florida."

So Bradley is still listed prominently along with the top programs like Ohio State and Duke. I'm not saying the kid will come to BU, and I would agree it is a long shot, but I am very encouraged that Turner lists BU with the schools he's considering.

I'm all about trying to get the big boys, but I hope we're smart enough not to waste time and resources on guys we have little or no chance in getting. Our time and resources may be better served finding the next Patrick O'Bryant.

[cpacmel]

I think it's awesome that BU is going after the top talent instead of accepting the lower tier talent that's left over after all the other schools choose the players they want.

This is not a rip on him but:

Would you consider Matt Salley a top talent?

[MDCowboy]

I don't think tornado meant that Salley is a top talent, rather he hopes our luck will continue with Salley like it did with Wright and Franklin. Neither Lawrence nor Will was highly recruited or regarded coming out of JUCO land, but they established themselves as solid contributors. Let's hope Salley can do the same.....

[BU Bill]

No, Salley is not in the same caliber of several other Jim Les recruits who received offers from BCS/major schools, but chose to come to Bradley over those BCS offers. I think Salley will be a solid player, though.

Bradley has done well with guys like Marcellus Sommerville, Zach Andrews, and Patrick O'Bryant, all of whom were recruited by bigger schools. We saw how the talent of those guys finally gelled and took Bradley into the Sweet 16.

I like the fact that Les continues to pursue top talent.

[Braves4Life]

My research leads me to believe that Salley is sufficient talent. He is the type of player that any mid-major would love to get and a BCS would love to have as a top sub. I think he will surprise us and be a very adequate player -- alot like Boogie and Zach. Just a notch under Sommerville.

Regarding these top-caliber players, I believe it will all snowball for us soon enough. If Les and staff are constantly being seen by other top recruits and mentioned with the likes of Duke, Illinois, Kansas, etc we will eventually land a top-caliber kid and it will snowball from there. I think we'll land a big-time player within the next year and a half.

In the meantime, we can keep signing mid-major talent and play like the BU of the 80's and last year :wink: :)

[tornado]

I think the evidence has already been presented on this board that Salley is as talented as some of the other big juco players who have signed recently.
Indeed, Mizzou just signed a juco kid, Darryl Butterfield, and they made a big deal out of the talent the kid had. However, Butterfield averaged 8 points, 4.9 rebounds compared to nearly double both those stats for Salley. Plus, Salley led his team to the Elite Eight of the NJCAA tourney, an absolute first for a NYC juco.

But this discussion isn't about Matt Salley, it is how Bradley's name keeps showing up on the short list of schools that many of these top recruits like Evan Turner cite.
Seriously, cpac, when is the last time a FIVE STAR recruit listed any MVC team on his list, and as a corollary to that, when's the last time ISU was named by a FIVE STAR recruit?

I think it speaks for the fact that Jim Les has done a good job of promoting Bradley as a viable option to even the very highest tier of recruits.
I know it doesn't mean all the 5-Star guys are coming to Bradley, but who knows, maybe that's next. If I had proposed 3-4 years ago that Bradley would be mentioned by the likes of Evan Turner, Marvell Waithe, Manual Cass, Thijin Moses, and Marcus Sikes, I am sure the ISU fans would have said, "dream on..." But it's happening, just like a Sweet Sixteen appearance happened. And it was not a complete and total shock to everyone.

[Da Coach]

Here is a recruiting article from ChicagoHoops.com. Marquis Young, a 6'9" center who left Mississippi has transferred to Highland Community College, as has Darrian McKinstry a combo guard from Chicago Hales Franciscan high school.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/highlandcc2.html

The reason this is relevant, is that Bradley recruited McKinstry very hard and is still interested in him. He is a very talented player with Div I capabilities. He did not qualify for Div I, and went the juco route, but could still end up at Bradley in a couple years.

[cpacmel]

But this discussion isn't about Matt Salley, it is how Bradley's name keeps showing up on the short list of schools that many of these top recruits like Evan Turner cite.
Seriously, cpac, when is the last time a FIVE STAR recruit listed any MVC team on his list, and as a corollary to that, when's the last time ISU was named by a FIVE STAR recruit?

Hey boss, I just asked a question about Matt Salley. I just didn't think he was being looked at by BCS schools.

Congrats on Evan Turner. It would be great if he made it to Peoria

Not sure if Calvin Brock was a 5 start player or not.

If I had proposed 3-4 years ago that Bradley would be mentioned by the likes of Evan Turner, Marvell Waithe, Manual Cass, Thijin Moses, and Marcus Sikes, I am sure the ISU fans would have said, "dream on..."

Are you really sure ISU fans are saying "Dream On"?

If you back and read this entire thread, you will only see me asking one simple question:



This is not a rip on him but:

Would you consider Matt Salley a top talent?

[tornado]

Do you think OE will be in the NBA in 3 years?

[REALBird]

Do you think OE will be in the NBA in 3 years?

which has what to do with BU recruiting?

[cpacmel]

Do you think OE will be in the NBA in 3 years?

I would say probably not. But who knows how he develops over the next few seasons.

You seem to dislike OE, would you have looked down upon him had he signed with BU instead of ISU?

[Da Coach]

Just a thought, but it seems to me all the recruiting stuff that has been posted on this board is about these guys that we are recruiting with all of these guys are being recruited by the BCS schools and Bradley is the only one or one of the only mid majors that is recruiting the kid.

Is this really the best idea? Dont get me wrong I want to best players on BU, but do we really honestly have that good of chance landing these guys and are we wasting are time recruting these kids if they are getting offers by 4 or 5 other BCS schools?

Jim Les' recruiting of kids who end up getting higher offers has paid off with the transfer of DeAaron Williams. Even if these kinds of super-talented kids don't sign with Bradley initially, there will be some who transfer, and their familiarity with Bradley and Coach Les will bring an occasional one back like DW.

[tornado]

Do you think OE will be in the NBA in 3 years?

I would say probably not. But who knows how he develops over the next few seasons.

You seem to dislike OE, would you have looked down upon him had he signed with BU instead of ISU?

This is a terribly inaccurate representation of what I think about Eldridge, and I think if you read what I've posted, you'd have to rescind that allegation.
I think he is good and I know Jim Les really wanted him, and I have never expressed anything I believe is negative about him. But I have countered the incredible hype about Osiris with pretty much honest and realistic info in my posts.
If I state he was 2nd or 3rd team All State or that his HS team was pretty weak, those are fairly factual and accurate statements, and not really slams.
BUT- I am bothered by two factors, as I suspect you are bothered as well by the same two factors.
--many fans (and message board posters) have already anointed OE as a starter, as the best player on the Redbirds, and in some sense the savior of the program, all before he arrives on campus. It will be very hard for OE to even closely fulfill these expectations (certainly for a freshman) and so there is a significant likelihood fans could be disappointed and Osiris might feel underappreciated should he have a poor year or an injury.
--Osiris himself has not helped fuel the stratospheric expectations by bragging, posting on message boards, appointing himself as "King O", and now boasting he'll be in the NBA by the time he's finished his sophomore or junior year in college. Like I said earlier, all this reminds me a lot of Ben Coupet.
He also reminds me a lot of DeAaron Williams, who I precisely predicted would NOT be a superstar at Wisconsin, that he was good but aiming too high, and that he'd end up eventually working his way back to BU.

[Braves4Life]

Do you think OE will be in the NBA in 3 years?

I would say probably not. But who knows how he develops over the next few seasons.

You seem to dislike OE, would you have looked down upon him had he signed with BU instead of ISU?

This is a terribly inaccurate representation of what I think about Eldridge, and I think if you read what I've posted, you'd have to rescind that allegation.
I think he is good and I know Jim Les really wanted him, and I have never expressed anything I believe is negative about him. But I have countered the incredible hype about Osiris with pretty much honest and realistic info in my posts.
If I state he was 2nd or 3rd team All State or that his HS team was pretty weak, those are fairly factual and accurate statements, and not really slams.
BUT- I am bothered by two factors, as I suspect you are bothered as well by the same two factors.
--many fans (and message board posters) have already anointed OE as a starter, as the best player on the Redbirds, and in some sense the savior of the program, all before he arrives on campus. It will be very hard for OE to even closely fulfill these expectations (certainly for a freshman) and so there is a significant likelihood fans could be disappointed and Osiris might feel underappreciated should he have a poor year or an injury.
--Osiris himself has not helped fuel the stratospheric expectations by bragging, posting on message boards, appointing himself as "King O", and now boasting he'll be in the NBA by the time he's finished his sophomore or junior year in college. Like I said earlier, all this reminds me a lot of Ben Coupet.
He also reminds me a lot of DeAaron Williams, who I precisely predicted would NOT be a superstar at Wisconsin, that he was good but aiming too high, and that he'd end up eventually working his way back to BU.

Tornado, you're kidding, right?! Did he really call himself King O? I'd love to see this on the message board. Do you have a link?

[tornado]

Well, here are the facts...and DannyCooksey or cpac can correct me if I am wrong...

In a discussion on the chicagohoops.com message boards about Osiris Eldridge, a poster came on who called himself "King O" and claimed to be Osiris himself and answered questions posed of him about his loyalty to ISU.
Others testified that it was indeed Osiris Eldridge, then further discussion about this whole thing began showing up on the Illinois State message boards with even more people confirming that Osiris does indeed post as "King O" and calls himself that very name. Since that time, others on the Redbird board refer to OE as "King O".

He is the proof:

His profile page:
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1896

His posts:
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/viewtopic.php?p=32528&highlight=#32528
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/viewtopic.php?p=32526&highlight=#32526

And a bunch of references to him on the Redbird board, but many of the older posts are not saved.

http://redbirdfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4598
(see 2nd post)

http://redbirdfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4514&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15&sid=77fb5141f749965e1fe085c76ee6ba0f
(see 4th post)

http://redbirdfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4548
(see 5th post by DannyCooksey calling him "King O")

Sadly, when Osiris went after the TRUE KING of the Hill Dunk Title at the IHSA finals, he was beaten by the Class A champ, Adam Eggemeyer from steelville.

[DannyCooksey]

Tornado, you're kidding, right?! Did he really call himself King O? I'd love to see this on the message board. Do you have a link?

A couple posters on RBF have jokingly annointed him "King O". I don't mean to speak for the windy one, but I think that's what he's referring to. Someone else has made the same references on chicagohoops message boards. Someone was looking for a nickname for him and that's what the result was. The kid is the biggest recruit we've landed since Tarise Bryson so the excitement surrounding him is understandable.

FWIW, I haven't ever known for a fact that Osiris has ever posted anywhere. I have never seen anything in print even close to these references either. I highly doubt Eldridge is doing that on his own. Whether or not he is the one doing it??? Who can say for sure??? Of course, I could be wrong.

[tornado]

Danny, look at this link:
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1896

which proves King O registered and posts on the board at chiacgohoops

and these
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/viewtopic.php?p=32528&highlight=#32528
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/viewtopic.php?p=32526&highlight=#32526

which suggest it is him, claims to be him , and is accepted as Osiris by other posters.

A discussion that has since expired on Redbirdfan, and has been deleted was titled "King O" and talked about him posting under that name and confirming thast it is him.

[DannyCooksey]

which proves King O registered and posts on the board at chiacgohoops

c'mon bro. you are much smarter than that. I may be the real Danny Cooksey from "Diff'rent Strokes", just because my signature says I am??/I tell people I'm him so that makes it so???

If I change my name to Michael Jordan, does that mean I am really him???

Are you really a tornado???

Just because someone claims to be someone on a message board it doesn't mean it's true. No one knows with certainty whether that's Eldridge or not except the person who is posting under that name.

[cpacmel]

This is a terribly inaccurate representation of what I think about Eldridge, and I think if you read what I've posted, you'd have to rescind that allegation.


I took this type of thing as a negative:


Obviously OE did not have that ability as the only teams they beat this year were the weaklings and sub-sub.500 guys.


And when I say something like you seem to dislike Eldridge that is the just a general impression I get from you. If you say it isn't so, so be it. :wink:

[cpacmel]

Danny, look at this link:
http://forums.chicagohoops.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1896

which proves King O registered and posts on the board at chiacgohoops


Do you think that O. Eldridge might know that ISU is in Normal?

i'm a RED BIRD for life now, aint no turning back f!@# what ever everybody thinks abot ISU, me and bobby about to resurrect that school, bloomighton here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tornado]

cpac, the kid is from the Chicago Public Schools... :wink:

[Braves4Life]

king O wrote:
i'm a RED BIRD for life now, aint no turning back f!@# what ever everybody thinks abot ISU, me and bobby about to resurrect that school, bloomighton here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! This kid sounds like a winner! Definately ISU material with the grammar, spelling, etc.....................

"If You Can't Go To School Go To State!" :wink: :-P

[BradleyBrave]

king O wrote:
i'm a RED BIRD for life now, aint no turning back f!@# what ever everybody thinks abot ISU, me and bobby about to resurrect that school, bloomighton here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! This kid sounds like a winner! Definately ISU material with the grammar, spelling, etc.....................

"If You Can't Go To School Go To State!" :wink: :-P

I hope he ends up in Bloomington. Wesleyan will have landed a heck of a player. ISU is in Normal. :)

[cpacmel]

cpac, the kid is from the Chicago Public Schools... :wink:

That is true. :oops: However, i would think a kid who had committed to ISU would know the difference between Normal and Bloomington, especially if he intended to be there for the next few seasons. :-o

[tornado]

cpac, I have lived in Central IL for 40 years, and have been to B-N several hundred times, and guess what....
I still have no idea where Bloomington ends and Normal begins, and it seems most people there don't know for sure either, since when I have asked for directions I often get told "I am not sure if it technically in Bloomington or Normal".
I have also been told by people who are from Normal that when they tell others where they are from they often answer for simplicity (and to avoid the monotonous jokes) that they are from Bloomington rather than Normal. Almost all the youth teams that come to Peoria to play in different sports are always the Bloomington "Whatevers" or the Twin City "Team Name" but I have never seen a travelling team named for Normal, so there must be a reason?

[DannyCooksey]

I still have no idea where Bloomington ends and Normal begins, and it seems most people there don't know for sure either

I agree. This has been my experience as well for the most part.

[cpacmel]

cpac, I have lived in Central IL for 40 years, and have been to B-N several hundred times, and guess what....
I still have no idea where Bloomington ends and Normal begins, and it seems most people there don't know for sure either, since when I have asked for directions I often get told "I am not sure if it technically in Bloomington or Normal".
I have also been told by people who are from Normal that when they tell others where they are from they often answer for simplicity (and to avoid the monotonous jokes) that they are from Bloomington rather than Normal. Almost all the youth teams that come to Peoria to play in different sports are always the Bloomington "Whatevers" or the Twin City "Team Name" but I have never seen a travelling team named for Normal, so there must be a reason?

Well I have lived in Chicago for 35 years, and I can tell you that I always knew that Illinois State University was in Normal, just as I knew that the Univeristy of Illinois was in Champaign, not Urbana.

This is what is pretty common up here:
Normal = ISU
Bloomington = IWU

By the way, go to today's pantagraph's article on Vianney leaving, there is someone that posted as Cpacmel, and I can assure you it wasn't me. (and once you read what was written by Cpacmel, you will know it wasn't me).

Who's to say that isn't the case with KING "O" and Eldridge?

[mike radigan]

Well I have lived in Chicago for 35 years, and I can tell you that I always knew that Illinois State University was in Normal, just as I knew that the Univeristy of Illinois was in Champaign, not Urbana.

Not to be picky Mel, but I THINK U of I is in Urbana. I know the majority of the campus is in Champaign, but I THINK that the campus post office is in Urbana which technically makes Urbana the offical address. Maybe some U of I alum can verify this.

[dogsrus]

I recall a man from Normal,Il. marrying a woman from Oblong, Il.

The paper said...."Oblong woman marries Normal man" :-o :lol:

[Da Coach]

U of I was founded as Illinois Industrial University in Urbana in 1867. Now, parts of the campus lie in both cities, but the official mailing address is Urbana.

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?dsid=2222&dekey=University+of+Illinois+at+Urbana-Champaign

[cpacmel]

I stand corrected about U of I. :oops:

Who knows if it was Eldridge or not, posting on some message board.

Next year I will ask him. :D

[Fetz86]

fwtw my friend who went to ISU said Bloomington when i asked him, i dont see what the big deal is, about if its offical address is in B or N, its still basically the same thing, and is just known to most people as B-N, combined.

[chitownBUB]

I recall a man from Normal,Il. marrying a woman from Oblong, Il.

The paper said...."Oblong woman marries Normal man" :-o :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: