Shocking statement from Lonnie Walker
- Thread starter baboo
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You mean, "You can't win it all with OAD's, or you can't go undefeated in today's game. Sure he's not done the latter, but he came pretty damn close and shown it can be done.
mebeblue2,
I'm well aware of the usual "I plan to get my degree" baloney that elite prospects shovel out. It's as common as slam dunks. I usually take it with a grain of salt.
In this case, I'm just reporting what I've heard. His statement may be the usual politically correct song-and-dance, but don't think that he's saying one thing in public and another among friends and family. My only point is that he's been saying the same things when the cameras aren't rolling.
Anyway, I would challenge you to find an example of another UK recruit who has said they're not really focused on the NBA. If there are examples, I'll concede that this may just be PC banter. If there are not, then you should at least concede that Walker is taking a different approach to recruiting.
And we're explaining to you that your fascination with his priorities, which you are so hung up on because you believe they indicate a likelihood he chooses Nova, won't ultimately matter.
We can't count the fanbases we've seen over the years hang on to some comment made by a teenager and then try to reconcile that comment they believed in with the decision the kid makes.
If Walker chooses Nova, it's because it's home, his family weighed on his decision, and Wright built a strong relationship with him.
By the way, how much do you really want a kid who chooses a school for reasons other than basketball? If you believe that he's not focused on the NBA and doesn't care about his basketball future, what the hell do you think is going to push him? You think he's going to put in extra shooting and gym work to achieve his middle school dream of being an accountant? It takes a maniacal dedication to be the level of player that it takes to win and go pro.
We can't count the fanbases we've seen over the years hang on to some comment made by a teenager and then try to reconcile that comment they believed in with the decision the kid makes.
If Walker chooses Nova, it's because it's home, his family weighed on his decision, and Wright built a strong relationship with him.
By the way, how much do you really want a kid who chooses a school for reasons other than basketball? If you believe that he's not focused on the NBA and doesn't care about his basketball future, what the hell do you think is going to push him? You think he's going to put in extra shooting and gym work to achieve his middle school dream of being an accountant? It takes a maniacal dedication to be the level of player that it takes to win and go pro.
As a fellow teacher, this is so true. Inconsistency is the only normal. As a whole, logic does not exist in their world.
It's really difficult to sift through all of our NBA caliber recruits to find comments. I can assure you we have had plenty of guys take both approaches. Some say they came to UK purely as a business decision (the quickest route to the NBA) others say they are more focused on school/learning from Coach Cal and that the NBA will be there some day. Surprisingly (or not) each player usually goes to the NBA at the first chance that comes around.
Gonzo,
I'm not hung up on anything. I am following Walker's recruitment because its fun, and I'm trying to sift through the various clues because that's part of what makes the recruiting game fun. For what it's worth, I don't think his view of the NBA has any impact on whether he attends 'Nova specifically. It might affect how serious he is about UK, however.
As far as the kinds of players I like, I just want kids who are dedicated to being the best basketball players they can be. That may mean they have NBA dreams, but it may not. I think players can be maniacal about basketball without being focused so much on their future.
I will add that I'm more of a fan of college basketball than I am of the pro game. Once a player leaves college, I don't follow them much, if at all. For me, there's no advantage to having a kid leave early for the pros because that just means I have less time to enjoy them. That's just me though. I know lots of fans enjoy watching their alumni play in the league. And that's cool too.
You are deluding yourself if you don't think every single player on every D-1 team in the country is focused on the NBA. They all think they will play in the NBA some day. Even the 13th kid on scholarship.
I understand. My point is that to be the best college basketball player you can be, I think there has to be an eye on the next level. No one will ever win a title without kids who want to be pros. Ever.
If Walker isn't concerned with going pro, he doesn't belong here. He'd get swallowed up.