Don't forget, the league isn't what it used to be. This could be a good signing
really? can't tell if you're kidding.
Unfortunately, Not kidding. What top recruit would want to come here and play against the likes of DePaul, Butler etc. when you could go higher? We must rely on guys like this now and transfers that didn't work out at better programs. Such is the way of mid Major life
I think it's more about the coach than the conference. If you have to sell your program on who you'll be playing, before how you can develop their game, you're in trouble. That's what Norm did. I know Lavin needs a ton of work, but if by some chance, as unlikely as it is, Sampson gets drafted, and makes the league, he's in the same position as many of the ACC and Big Ten schools in terms of helping kids move on to becoming a pro.
Lavin doesn't have top kids coming in next season, or really ANY kids, because he didn't recruit after losing McCullough to SU. This is a mess that he made. At the very least, he should have known that Sanchez and Gift needed to be replaced.
That said, there's no one left, and Lavin is now forced to either find another job, which clearly isn;t likely right now, or piece together a front court somehow. If this kid was a stud he'd be on our radar, because top programs would be on him as well. I have serious doubt about any of the leftovers we add at this point.
The only way I see Lavin saving next season is if Cal leaves for the league, and it starts a chain of new college coaches. Then maybe he could land a kid that asks for a release. That, is just as much of a lottery ticket as asking Keith Thomas to come in and average 10 points and 12 boards, like I'm sure several self-medicating STJ fans will do.
I wonder, next season, position by position, are we even more talented than Iona? I don't think so.