Lavin Hard on the Recruiting Trail

Quote from: Moose on March 07, 2012, 08:01:43 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Can you pass whatever your smoking?

Based on the available information, and barring the near impossible task of landing Noel and/or Muhammad, I think Lavin's statement that this recruiting class may be his "best" at SJU, to be true as compared with the current class playing (not just recruited) for 2012, he would need to land, IMO: Jakarr, Obekpa and C. Morris to go along with Branch.

That would be close, I still think he would need another heavy hitter.

We 'had' #3 recruiting class.  We have to remove 2 top 100 players in Pelle and Karr and remove Nuri who was our top Juco and all that jazz.  Just guessing, haven't looked at the rankings from last year but I wouldn't put the class higher than 10.  So he would have to beat Top 10 class.

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

While I can't share what I am smoking, I will say that it makes me dream big!  I will probably go to my grave believing -- really truly believing -- that SJU represents the best opportunity for an incoming recuit who is on track for NBA stardom.  There are lots of schools/programs out there that will help a player develop their game for the next level, but for those players who feel that they are already there, but can't go directly to the NBA because of NBA rules, why wouldn't they want to be in the center of the basketball world and center of the media universe.  There is no other place on the planet for a basketball player not yet in the NBA to get the kind of exposure and attention that they'd get here in NYC.  We are the only game in town.  So players with serious swag -- think NBA-ready talent with D'Harrison's attitude -- are going to thrive here.

At the end of the day, I'm a homer too, so like I said I'll probably go to my grave with these ideas.  When I walk into MSG and see an empty stadium I just wonder when it will happen.  It isn't just about SJU, it is about NYC long overdue.  Which brings me back to Lavin saying his next recruiting class may be his "best".  Since we have no signed recruits, its not like he is talking about a class like the last one with a handful of highly ranked players.  Those kinds of recruits are no longer out there.  What is out there are a couple of absolute stars.  So I will go on smokin and dreaming!

Quote from: Poison on March 07, 2012, 08:01:04 PM

Quote from: fuchsia on March 07, 2012, 02:39:32 PM

Would be nice if in the words of Al MgGuire Lavs brings us the aircraft carrier that backs up the entire fleet.

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

2 reasons: 1- Calipari, Calhoun, Boeheim etc. are paying more.
2- NY scares them. See AJ Burnett. Where he belongs in Pittsburgh.

NY scares them?  Really?     
Let's be honest here, playing for SJU isn't quite the same scrutiny as playing for the Yankees.   If it were.. Norm would've been fired after 1 season. 

I don't agree. SJ isn't treated like an amateur basketball team. If they played in the Midwest they'd be supported regardless. In NY, it's win, or you can drop dead. For us, it's been the latter.

Remember the media storm built for Felipe Lopez? Think that happens if he goes to Kansas?

Quote from: DFF6 on March 07, 2012, 08:11:06 PM

Quote from: Moose on March 07, 2012, 08:01:43 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Can you pass whatever your smoking?

Based on the available information, and barring the near impossible task of landing Noel and/or Muhammad, I think Lavin's statement that this recruiting class may be his "best" at SJU, to be true as compared with the current class playing (not just recruited) for 2012, he would need to land, IMO: Jakarr, Obekpa and C. Morris to go along with Branch.

That would be close, I still think he would need another heavy hitter.

We 'had' #3 recruiting class.  We have to remove 2 top 100 players in Pelle and Karr and remove Nuri who was our top Juco and all that jazz.  Just guessing, haven't looked at the rankings from last year but I wouldn't put the class higher than 10.  So he would have to beat Top 10 class.

Anyone know of JUCO players that Lavin could be targeting?  Also, are the recruiting rules the same for the JUCO players as they are for high school players, meaning that Lav is limited by the amount of contact he can have with his targeted JUCO recruit to the same extent as a high school recruit?

  Coach is at it again!


Steve Lavin ‏ @STJCoachLavin
Back on the recruiting trails. Tony Chiles in the South and I got NJ covered tonight. Closing in on a stellar class Johnnies fans will luv!

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

  Coach is at it again!


Steve Lavin ‏ @STJCoachLavin
Back on the recruiting trails. Tony Chiles in the South and I got NJ covered tonight. Closing in on a stellar class Johnnies fans will luv!

New Jersey? Who could he be watching

Quote from: action jackson on March 07, 2012, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

Cal has never proven to me that he is a great coach. Always has had the best talent, no surprise his teams are always top 5.

Quote from: Moose on March 09, 2012, 09:07:53 PM

Quote from: action jackson on March 07, 2012, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

Cal has never proven to me that he is a great coach. Always has had the best talent, no surprise his teams are always top 5.

And Kentucky has reached the final 4 only once since 1998.

Quote from: Moose on March 09, 2012, 09:07:53 PM

Quote from: action jackson on March 07, 2012, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

Cal has never proven to me that he is a great coach. Always has had the best talent, no surprise his teams are always top 5.

I used to agree.  But last year he showed me something; and I think this year is his best coaching job. 

Think about it,  they may have more talent, but he has a group of mostly freshmen, and 2 sophomores playing the best basketball in the country.   The kids like Davis, Gilchrist, Teague etc are probably more talented than our guys but they have the same problems adjusting to college ball - learning to play defense, play off the ball, set picks etc etc

All those little things our staff had to teach our guys - he had to do the same.    The fact that he has them playing this good, and he took last year's freshmen team to the final four, tells me he does a pretty darn good job of teaching, regardless of how talented the incoming kids are.

Now how he signs the kids in the first place?   Well that's a different story.    But I do think he has some teaching skills, because he gets his freshmen up to speed in a hurry.

Quote from: Redstormy80 on March 10, 2012, 12:32:00 AM

Quote from: Moose on March 09, 2012, 09:07:53 PM

Quote from: action jackson on March 07, 2012, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

Cal has never proven to me that he is a great coach. Always has had the best talent, no surprise his teams are always top 5.

I used to agree.  But last year he showed me something; and I think this year is his best coaching job. 

Think about it,  they may have more talent, but he has a group of mostly freshmen, and 2 sophomores playing the best basketball in the country.   The kids like Davis, Gilchrist, Teague etc are probably more talented than our guys but they have the same problems adjusting to college ball - learning to play defense, play off the ball, set picks etc etc

All those little things our staff had to teach our guys - he had to do the same.    The fact that he has them playing this good, and he took last year's freshmen team to the final four, tells me he does a pretty darn good job of teaching, regardless of how talented the incoming kids are.

Now how he signs the kids in the first place?   Well that's a different story.    But I do think he has some teaching skills, because he gets his freshmen up to speed in a hurry.

Not saying he cant coach, just think he's overrated. Wouldn't want him coaching my NBA team

Just saw this on twitter:

Arizona, USC Trojans, Marquette, St. John's, Oregon, Baylor, and Oklahoma offer to Keon Pledger


Combo Guard
San Bernardino, CA - San Bernardino Valley College
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 |CLASS OF 2012

Keon Pledger is a 6-3, 180-pound Combo Guard from San Bernardino, CA. Pledger won league MVP his freshaman season at SBVC averaging 18 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals per game. He is currently redshirting and will have two to play two at the next level.

Quote from: action jackson on March 07, 2012, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

My Cal to the NBA theory may have legs after all.  I thought it would be the Knicks, and then the Terps could lock up the twins, but Cal to South Beach would be just fine.  And Lavs scooping up some other potential UK recruits would be sweet.  Let's see this play out on the way out there realm....

Quote from: Moose on March 09, 2012, 09:07:53 PM

Quote from: action jackson on March 07, 2012, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: paultzman on March 07, 2012, 08:00:19 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on March 07, 2012, 07:56:26 PM

Lavin has had some amazing recruiting classes in the past as we all know.  So if he is saying this next one may be his "best" it means he plans to drop a bomb on the recruiting world.  Another poster mentioned Noel and Muhammad.  Why shouldn't they want to spend a year playing together at MSG, the center of the basketball universe?

Kentucky may have a slight edge in that scenar

What about if coach cal took his act to Brooklyn?

Saw something today that if the Heat don't win it all LeBron wants Cal.

My Cal to the NBA theory may have legs after all.  I thought it would be the Knicks, and then the Terps could lock up the twins, but Cal to South Beach would be just fine.  And Lavs scooping up some other potential UK recruits would be sweet.  Let's see this play out on the way out there realm....

But that might not happen until June.  I can't see how things will shake out that late.

  Coach is at it again!


Steve Lavin ‏ @STJCoachLavin
Back on the recruiting trails. Tony Chiles in the South and I got NJ covered tonight. Closing in on a stellar class Johnnies fans will luv!

He really is raising expectations with statments like this.

I gotta admit, i dont see a recruiting class this year that is likely to be "stellar" but he obviously feels very confident about some of these recruits. If this class is average he will have set himself up for serious fan dissapointment.

Even with an average class no one should be disappointed because his job is to bring in the best for our teams needs.  I think as fans we get caught up in where kids are ranked out of high school but in actuality it means nothing if they can't produce when they get here.  At the end of this recruiting class even if he has only under the radar kids and they help us get to a level of winning league titles, conf tourneys and NCAA tourney games that's all that matters to me.  I am not saying I don't want 5 star and 4 star kids all over the court but like I said I want to win and win big and if it is 3 star kids who do that I will be happy no matter who comes in this class.  If there are any complaints after this class is signed it shouldn't come at all till we see this kids play after a few yrs of college.  Especially if we are winning big

No doubt coach puts it out there. Takes some stones. Whoever we get, I'm sure we'll do well.

Even with an average class no one should be disappointed because his job is to bring in the best for our teams needs.  I think as fans we get caught up in where kids are ranked out of high school but in actuality it means nothing if they can't produce when they get here.  At the end of this recruiting class even if he has only under the radar kids and they help us get to a level of winning league titles, conf tourneys and NCAA tourney games that's all that matters to me.  I am not saying I don't want 5 star and 4 star kids all over the court but like I said I want to win and win big and if it is 3 star kids
who do that I will be happy no matter who comes in this class.  If there are any complaints after this class is signed it shouldn't come at all till we see this kids play after a few yrs of college.  Especially if we are winning big

I would not be disappointed with Lavin if he didn't land all of the guys that would make up a top 10 class. I don't think that is fair. I think the blame lies in the character of players like Gathers. That said, rankings are not always the best way to tell who the best players are. We saw that in the BE this year with Henton and Collins. Sleepers are just fine with me.

All hands on deck!!
“@STJCoachLavin: Tony Chiles back in NYC from
his recruiting travel in South. Mike Dunlap out West. Will be relentless as we close 2012 class! Legit gems!”