Darrick Wood - SG - Palm Beach CC - Alexandria, VA - DEPAUL

Would Darrick red shirting be a result of academics, because if it wasn't it would make more sense if it was Felix redshirting

Wood couldn't redshirt if he wasn't cleared by the NCAA.  I doubt he redshirts anyway.  While he is absurdly frail for the college game at this point, he'd probably be our second best scoring threat by the end of the season, in my opinion.  I think Balamou is the better redshirt option, but it really all comes down to how fast the coaches plan on playing.  We might need that extra guard if it's 40 minutes of hell. 

Quote from: Redstormy80 on May 03, 2012, 11:21:45 PM

Would Darrick red shirting be a result of academics, because if it wasn't it would make more sense if it was Felix redshirting

Wood couldn't redshirt if he wasn't cleared by the NCAA.  I doubt he redshirts anyway.  While he is absurdly frail for the college game at this point, he'd probably be our second best scoring threat by the end of the season, in my opinion.  I think Balamou is the better redshirt option, but it really all comes down to how fast the coaches plan on playing.  We might need that extra guard if it's 40 minutes of hell.

I guess I was wrong but I thought there was a way guys could enroll at college and work on becoming eligible to play. Too many rules to follow. To me it it makes much more sense to redshirt Felix instead. I agree that Wood could contribute as a scorer immediately.

Quote from: Redstormy80 on May 03, 2012, 11:21:45 PM

Would Darrick red shirting be a result of academics, because if it wasn't it would make more sense if it was Felix redshirting

Wood couldn't redshirt if he wasn't cleared by the NCAA.  I doubt he redshirts anyway.  While he is absurdly frail for the college game at this point, he'd probably be our second best scoring threat by the end of the season, in my opinion.  I think Balamou is the better redshirt option, but it really all comes down to how fast the coaches plan on playing.  We might need that extra guard if it's 40 minutes of hell.

Sometimes a kid is redshirted for academics - even if he is "qualified" by NCAA standards.  There is a huge difference in the academic reality of college over high school, as we all remember.  That first year can seem like climbing a mountain - a lot of kids get discouraged and don't make it - and that's WITHOUT the demands of high D-1 basketball thrown on top of it.

As I said, even if qualified and in school, sometimes it's worthwhile waiting a year for a kid, in order to KEEP him for 4 years.   That, by the way, was the logic by which freshman were ineligible for varsity sports for 50 years.  It's also one reason sophs are usualy MUCH better players than frosh. 

Not saying that's the case with any of our kids.  Times have changed - kids are more sophisticated.  WIth AAU ball, seems most kids have already experienced the travel and distractions players didn't used to encounter till college.   But others  - kids who struggle with high school academics, kids who can be overwhelmbed by the social dynamic of college, certain types of personalities....let's just say I'm a big proponent of employing the practice in those situations.  But it's sad (to me) how seldom the practice IS employed - how very few coaches actually put the best interests of the kid ahead of the short team needs of the team.  I guess it's tough for even a coach who maybe needs a little scoring off the bench THIS season, to even recognize the greater long term value of that sme player being available as a MAJOR contributor for the 2017 season instead...a lot of staffs aren't even sure THEY'LL still be here in 2017!

Marillac was on the money here.  This kid will make an impact if qualified. Need more than Harrison to create while shot clock ticks down in the half court.  Don't see why anyone would doubt a tourney birth if things break right.  Amir and Pointer will be set loose with our new found depth.  Will be beautiful to watch. 

With the way Lavin can recruit and only13 schollies in 4 yrs no need to redshirt anyone. move everyone along. Maybe under Norm redshirting would have been a good idea because we had a hard time getting high quality players and having guys with more experience, age, and maturity may have been of help.

No news on Darrick the last 2 weeks ?

Based on the official School announcement, he did not sign his LOI with the rest.

After last years problems, I wonder if staff is taking a new path
& only accepting signed LOI's in Spring period only if already qualified ?

No news on Darrick the last 2 weeks ?

Based on the official School announcement, he did not sign his LOI with the rest.

After last years problems, I wonder if staff is taking a new path
& only accepting signed LOI's in Spring period only if already qualified ?

Not sure if they can accept LOI's without qualifying SAT score which is what Darrick is apparently missing.  I dont think it's much of a worry for us.   Darrick is a good player, but the position is not of ultimate need for us.  Love to see Darrick qualify but if he doesn't make the grade, it won't kill us with the guys we have in place.

Quote from: stevep502 on May 21, 2012, 10:35:18 AM

No news on Darrick the last 2 weeks ?

Based on the official School announcement, he did not sign his LOI with the rest.

After last years problems, I wonder if staff is taking a new path
& only accepting signed LOI's in Spring period only if already qualified ?

Not sure if they can accept LOI's without qualifying SAT score which is what Darrick is apparently missing.  I dont think it's much of a worry for us.   Darrick is a good player, but the position is not of ultimate need for us.  Love to see Darrick qualify but if he doesn't make the grade, it won't kill us with the guys we have in place.

Receiving an NLI and being qualified have nothing to do with each other.  Both Pelle and JaKarr signed last year and neither qualified.  At this point it is moot since the signing period ended anyway.

But bottom line is an NLI means nothing at this point.  If he qualifies he will be in a Johnny uniform, if not he'll do another year.  The NLI is immaterial at this point.

I thought that Wood  is a 5th  year senior already &  he cannot do a 6th year because of recent NCAA rules changes regarding prep schools?

I thought that Wood  is a 5th  year senior already &  he cannot do a 6th year because of recent NCAA rules changes regarding prep schools?

Pretty certain this was Darrick's senior year.
Also the recent rule changes I thought were a couple years off.

Quote from: Aquirre on May 23, 2012, 09:01:19 AM

I thought that Wood  is a 5th  year senior already &  he cannot do a 6th year because of recent NCAA rules changes regarding prep schools?

Pretty certain this was Darrick's senior year.
Also the recent rule changes I thought were a couple years off.

Think I heard the same thing regarding this being his fifth year but I can't be positive

Quote from: Moose on May 23, 2012, 09:02:50 AM

Quote from: Aquirre on May 23, 2012, 09:01:19 AM

I thought that Wood  is a 5th  year senior already &  he cannot do a 6th year because of recent NCAA rules changes regarding prep schools?

Pretty certain this was Darrick's senior year.
Also the recent rule changes I thought were a couple years off.

Think I heard the same thing regarding this being his fifth year but I can't be positive

Articles and videos from 2010 are calling him class of 2012.  While that by no means is full proof evidence its the most public thing we can take from it.

Quote from: Moose on May 23, 2012, 09:02:50 AM

Quote from: Aquirre on May 23, 2012, 09:01:19 AM

I thought that Wood  is a 5th  year senior already &  he cannot do a 6th year because of recent NCAA rules changes regarding prep schools?

Pretty certain this was Darrick's senior year.
Also the recent rule changes I thought were a couple years off.

Think I heard the same thing regarding this being his fifth year but I can't be positive

This was Wood's senior year.  Bridgton is all all postgrad school, but they do take some traditional seniors and even juniors if it can work. 

If a kid qualifies now, after the late signing period (Wood/Chandler/ Obekpa ?),
and signs the "Grant in aid" (?)  in June instead of the NLI, does the
school generally issue a press release, or just for those kids signing NLI's ?

If a kid qualifies now, after the late signing period (Wood/Chandler/ Obekpa ?),
and signs the "Grant in aid" (?)  in June instead of the NLI, does the
school generally issue a press release, or just for those kids signing NLI's ?

Yea they can/will if someone signs

Since we have just heard the discouraging news about Chandler, anyone hear about Wood's status?

Since we have just heard the discouraging news about Chandler, anyone hear about Wood's status?

I wouldn't be optimistic for next year.  But that's just a gut feeling.  Him and his family love STJ and will be here its just a matter of when.

What discouraging news about Chandler?  Nothing has been updated under his own thread.

What discouraging news about Chandler?  Nothing has been updated under his own thread.

It's under the Obekpa thread.  According to Dave and Moose (and others I'm probably forgetting), Chandler has a lot of work to do to become eligible this year, and we shouldn't get our hopes high that Chandler will get it done.

I hear what people are saying about Wood being a contributor next year.  Maybe I'm wrong (never seen him live), but seems that he is more of a "luxury" at this point than a necessity.  We'll have 3 guards who can make plays, plus Marco, Amir and Dom.  That gives us 6 guys for three spots (5 until mid/late December), plus Jakar if we go with a big front court.  Getting another big guy in the middle who can board and D is the final piece to balancing out the roster IMO.