The issue was not whether Norm should be given credit for DJ's development. He should, and I (and others, I'm sure), absolutely give him credit for not only bringing Kennedy to the Johnnies, but for the development of his game. The posts were directed at the absurd notion that somehow Lavin and the current staff should not be given due for DJ making an NBA roster. And if you watched the 2010-2011 season -- and most posters on here did on a game-in, game out basis -- there is no disputing the fact that our guys as a whole all benefited tremendously from the staff's tutelage, with some examples being more obvious (Brownlee and Hardy).
Norm gets credit for Kennedy. If you go to the grocery store, buy all of the ingredients and I then cook you a delicious gourmet dinner, you still get some of the credit.
Both get credit. Same as Lavin shares credit with Howland for Ryan Hollins. But to the recruits out there, that gives Norm 1 player to the NBA in 10 seasons as a head coach. And as I said in the initial post, it gives Steve Lavin FOURTEEN in 9 seasons. A point I'm sure recruiting targets are made well aware of. And that's VERY imporant for St. Johns. 14 in 9. Before Steve Lavin, to get 14 players into the NBA it's taken SJU 25 years - back to Walter Berry. And if you use the "9" rather than the 14, the total is ONE in the previous 9 years - Omar Cook.
How remarkable is all this? Well, in the last 9 years, Mike Krzyzewski has sent 13 players to the NBA. Ben Howland has sent 13. Roy Williams has sent 13. Calhoun has sent 12. Tom Izzo has sent FOUR. In all of basketball, in their past 9 years as head coaches, ONLY Calipari has sent more kids to the NBA than Steve Lavin . ONLY Calipari. (he's got 17 - thanks to 8 in the last 2 years).....
So c'mon Mo - you'll make it 15 in 9. With luck, Buckets comes back from Italy and wins a roster spot out of the summer league to make it 16. Hey maybe someone needs a defensive stopper and Paris gets a call up fromt he D-League in 2013 and cranks the total to 17 to tie Cal. Heck, I'll even assign a credit if in some Bizzaro universe Nuri turns pro and makes a roster!
..... EVERY one makes getting the NEXT Sampson or Sanchez just a little bit easier....