Rutgers Visits Blake Harris, 17 PG
- Thread starter dpwhite
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He decommitted from Washington after the coaching change. Can't land a kid unless you try but I don't know what the odds are. Glad to see us out there.
Landing a 4 Star 2017 PG with high major offers this late in the game would be a big upset for RU but encouraged that we're in there right now. Blake described himself as a "pass first, defensive oriented PG". 6'3". Seems like the prototype PG that Pikiell likes.
If we ever landed him I wonder if we would still keep Souf. Seton Hall had offered him last year. Us being in his final four must bother them as they really need a point guard with Jones leaving.
This recruiting thing is tough as kid doesn't expect to make decision until late April / early May. How does the staff proceed? Do we wait for this kid or do we pursue other candidates? Suppose we offer another kid and he accepts? A kid who may be a second or third choice. I guess the good news is we have a staff that's willing to go toe to toe with the big boys like Michigan St.
Beating out Izzo to land a 4-star PG this late in the process would be one of the biggest home runs imaginable.
Of course they'll pursue other prospects. They can't afford to put all of their eggs in one basket. If another kid wants in you take him
Somebody get Izzo some lifts for his shoes, ha !
One of these days we have to land a PG like this. Because other players will follow.
One of these days we have to land a PG like this. Because other players will follow.
The good news is we made it to his final four....sometimes you just need a little luck to get a kid like this. I'm sure Pike/Brandon are pushing hard for this kid. Finding a way to land him can only help recruiting going forward.. who wouldn't want to play with a pass first talented PG???
I hope you are right but logic tells me that location and the likelihood of winning and playing in the NCAA Tournament will be the deciding factors with this and every top tier recruit.
Surprisingly, most recruits or players don't consider the NCAA's at all in their recruitment....it's sold as the factor by the schools that ultimately land the player, but more often than not, it's really just a trust level found with the player and the coaches that recruit them and the family/AAU coaches or close family members.
I think RU has just done a bad job in selecting not just the HC in the last 15-20 years or so, but then they've failed at hiring quality assistant coaches as well. Those things are not in play here, we have a more than qualified, winning coach and a more than qualified full and complete staff that have been at "winning" programs.
Schools like Pitt are no longer winning at the levels they used to, because they don't have Slice R and Brandin Knight as assistant coaches that were mixed with a Jamie Dixon as HC. Suddenly they are not landing the same caliber of players as they did 5-10 years ago.....it doesn't mean they've fallen to 10-21, but they aren't winning 25-30 games like years past either.
We would not have gotten a return call in this instance OR been mentioned with as many 2018 kids as we are today, without a qualified and complete staff. That doesn't mean we will land Harris, but there are a LOT of other schools that are not on this kids list right now and RU is on the list (a very short list for a Top 100-150 player).....maybe there are other schools that get added, but if it was as simple as ABC, every program would be doing it....it's not as easy as I keep seeing people say it is, for basketball specifically, to be really good, you need three types of recruits at Harris level for 3-4 straight years, because one out of 3 of those kids just isn't as good as advertised or takes longer to find their game.
We are also working on the other Washington verbal a 6'8" PF/SF 3-4* kid as well, that can potentially be a 2 for 1 with Harris, both for 2017, both are starting caliber players as underclassmen....nobody knows what can happen, but we are in consideration.
I think RU has just done a bad job in selecting not just the HC in the last 15-20 years or so, but then they've failed at hiring quality assistant coaches as well. Those things are not in play here, we have a more than qualified, winning coach and a more than qualified full and complete staff that have been at "winning" programs.
Schools like Pitt are no longer winning at the levels they used to, because they don't have Slice R and Brandin Knight as assistant coaches that were mixed with a Jamie Dixon as HC. Suddenly they are not landing the same caliber of players as they did 5-10 years ago.....it doesn't mean they've fallen to 10-21, but they aren't winning 25-30 games like years past either.
We would not have gotten a return call in this instance OR been mentioned with as many 2018 kids as we are today, without a qualified and complete staff. That doesn't mean we will land Harris, but there are a LOT of other schools that are not on this kids list right now and RU is on the list (a very short list for a Top 100-150 player).....maybe there are other schools that get added, but if it was as simple as ABC, every program would be doing it....it's not as easy as I keep seeing people say it is, for basketball specifically, to be really good, you need three types of recruits at Harris level for 3-4 straight years, because one out of 3 of those kids just isn't as good as advertised or takes longer to find their game.
We are also working on the other Washington verbal a 6'8" PF/SF 3-4* kid as well, that can potentially be a 2 for 1 with Harris, both for 2017, both are starting caliber players as underclassmen....nobody knows what can happen, but we are in consideration.
Him saying in the above article he loves the coach. I think that goes a long way. The other ones he did not mention that. Also notes our conference and atmosphere is great.
Reading into it could be good for us. I hope he doesnt cop out and go to Mizzou for a 1 year pairing with Porter jr. Kid needs a great coach.
Reading into it could be good for us. I hope he doesnt cop out and go to Mizzou for a 1 year pairing with Porter jr. Kid needs a great coach.
Onlt thing that concerns me is he's looking for a winning team. Would be nice if he can see himself winning here though
Assuming it makes it that far, getting the last visit is huge. Just don't want him to commit on the other ones.
Mizzou will bring it with heavy pressure. Not sure I like being his last visit. When did Uconned slip into the picture?
Well see what happens. You would rather be first than last in this position, as he can declare at any point I believe.