Ricardo Gathers - PF - Riverside Academy - Reserve, LA - BAYLOR

It seems obvious he doesn't wanna be here, his loss

It sucks to lose this kid.  We desperately need size up front.  More than ever we need Pelle here in 12'.  I hope we can keep Jakarr in the fold as well.  Makes Obekpa a big priority as well.  Annoying to lose him at a bad time.  He really effed us.

http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/tulane/577103-recruiting-ricardo-gathers-de-commits-st-johns-dabney-may-not-sign-tulane.html

Riverside Academy star forward Ricardo Gathers is not Big Apple-bound after all.

Ed Daniels of sportsNOLA and WGNO-TV has learned that the top senior recruit has withdrawn his commitment to St. John's and will wait until the spring to sign.

Wednesday marks the start of college basketball's early signing period for high school seniors.

This development may open the door for LSU to reel in Gathers, a prospect highly-coveted by Tigers head coach Trent Johnson. Gathers also strongly considered Texas and Arizona before his original commitment back in July.

Trent is on the Hot seat at LSU wouldn't surprise me if he got desperate and has something to do with this. And of course Uconn doing something dirty would surprise no one.

It sucks to lose this kid.  We desperately need size up front.  More than ever we need Pelle here in 12'.  I hope we can keep Jakarr in the fold as well.  Makes Obekpa a big priority as well.  Annoying to lose him at a bad time.  He really effed us.

It really does sucks, MCN.  This kid will probably be the strongest player in any conference wherever he chooses to play.  Not to mention, I feel he's a walking double-double the minute he steps onto a collegiate court.  This makes Pelle and a kid like Obekpa a huge priority. 

I think something fishy is going on, only because of the fact he was at Midnight Madness less than a month ago.  As, much as I love Gathers' game....  I'm not so sure that I'd continue to recruit him.  We may not want to partake in the $take$.

(this is only speculation obviously)

seems very fishy

very VERY fi$hy

Trent is on the Hot seat at LSU wouldn't surprise me if he got desperate and has something to do with this. And of course Uconn doing something dirty would surprise no one.

Lavin's health and the future of the BE conference seem to be the main issues and a lot of people in this kid's ear with this stuff.

Coach Lavin needs to take his time to get healthy.  But we need him on TV and on the road recruiting ASAP.

1)  This certainly sucks


2)  It's all sorts of fishy.   He was at midnight madness 3 weeks ago.  Last week he tweets that he can't wait to play for us, and now this??


Between the downfall of the Big East as we know it, the guys who the staff sent to summer classes and were still ineligible, and now these losses on the recruiting trail.......... it really is putting a damper on what was shaping up to be "a new era".  You wan't to be excited for the guys on the court (and I am)  but it depresses the excitement when all these other pieces we thought we had are falling apart.

Lavin's health and the future of the BE conference seem to be the main issues

I believe this could be playing somewhat of a role.  Minor, though.  Just my opinion.

a lot of people in this kid's ear with this stuff.

Bingo!  IMO, this is playing a huge role!

Coach Lavin needs to take his time to get healthy.  But we need him on TV and on the road recruiting ASAP.

Lavin most certainly needs to take his time to get healthy.  I also agree that we need him out recruiting.  Not many can touch him when it comes to recruiting.  We need to regain our (recruiting) momentum.   

Between the downfall of the Big East as we know it, the guys who the staff sent to summer classes and were still ineligible, and now these losses on the recruiting trail.......... it really is putting a damper on what was shaping up to be "a new era".  You wan't to be excited for the guys on the court (and I am)  but it depresses the excitement when all these other pieces we thought we had are falling apart.

I agree, desco.  I'm certainly excited with the current bunch, but it seems "Uncle Mo" walked out the door with the uncertainty of Big East hoops; the "Philly 3"; and, now the decommitment of a top 30-35 player.

I'd feel whole lot better, if Garrett and Pelle ends up here next month.

In the grand scheme, I'm not worried about us.  We took some big lumps in the past few months though.  We have a great base of talent but will need quite a few pieces for 2012 with lots of players off the table.  Lavin is a phenom recruiter and I have no doubt he'll tighten up the recruiting situation by spring signing.  One or two good signings and we're back where we need to be.  Like I said, hope we can keep Jakarr and Pelle on board and land Obekpa.  We'll see what Lavs can do. 

To blame his decommitment on illegal recruiting is unfair. He left thats his choice and were going to move on. We have a core group of guys who want to be here & others who are going to want to be here. If his reasoning is being that the big east future is an unknown or that Lavin is not healthy then he has some people in his circle that are not well informed. His loss at a chance to miss being part of something special

I'd feel whole lot better, if Garrett and Pelle ends up here next month

ABSOLUTELY MJ.  I won't say that would cure everything.  But it make one heck of a Christmas present!


The thing is, when I think about it I try to be realistic, and losing a few guys, with questionable academics, happens to everyone.  And, you can't land every blue-chip prospect you get close to (KA), and yes some recruits will de-commit just before signing day....

But to have all these things happen to us between August and now?   It just doesn't seem to add up.   The odds are pretty good one of these situations should've turned up roses for us, no?   

In the grand scheme, I'm not worried about us.  We took some big lumps in the past few months though.  We have a great base of talent but will need quite a few pieces for 2012 with lots of players off the table.  Lavin is a phenom recruiter and I have no doubt he'll tighten up the recruiting situation by spring signing.  One or two good signings and we're back where we need to be.  Like I said, hope we can keep Jakarr and Pelle on board and land Obekpa.  We'll see what Lavs can do. 

I haven't paid any attention to the 2012 JUCO players, but we may able to find a pretty, solid PF/C type in the JUCO ranks.

I also believe we should be fine in the end.  Just these kinda situations, to go along with the ineligibility of important cogs kinda hurts.

But to have all these things happen to us between August and now?   It just doesn't seem to add up.   The odds are pretty good one of these situations should've turned up roses for us, no?

I'm thinking the same way.  You'd feel percentages would eventually work into our favor.  Hopefully, the current bunch continue to build and grow, so we won't really have to focus on the negative that has been permeating of late.

I expect Amir here in a few weeks which will help our depth situation a lot.  Willbe interesting to see what Lavin can do.  Obekpa could be a huge get for us if we can land him.It sucks but the future is still bright here.

Obekpa and Pelle.   Need at least ONE of them in uniform next fall.   Unless there's another big man the staff is after that we don't know about. 

i think that the decommitment of gathers cant be good for our recruitment of pelle, to me it just seems that hes looking for a reason to not stay with us.  i might be way off and hope im wrong.

i think that the decommitment of gathers cant be good for our recruitment of pelle, to me it just seems that hes looking for a reason to not stay with us.  i might be way off and hope im wrong.

Not related.

It sucks I wish he was coming but this is what you have to deal with when you get early verbals.