calumnus;842226648 said:

---

I doubt Calipari said he would "feature his game," probably more like the "compete with the best" pitch his brother claimed, but Lee can decide if he was mislead or lied to. If he was lied to, then I'd think we have a good shot at getting him as a transfer.

---

+1. I'm sure Lee was aware Calipari would continue to recruit the best players he could. What coach wouldn't?

concordtom;842226447 said:

---

I'm over it, but because he went to such a crowded program where it quickly became apparent that he could be recruited over and end up sitting on the bench, whereas he could have stared here for four years, it set up an interesting, intriguing pair of questions which will have us college basketball fans asking repeatedly as it plays out over his college career:

* is it better NBA prep to star and play games, even if you don't have as strong of teammates to practice with/against? Or better to practice daily with the best possible, even if that means you never start/play, and therefore never ultimately make the NBA?

---

I don't think this question is very intriguing because:

• Getting recruited over is always a possibility as you have since noted.
  
• Nobody other than you is asking if it is better to practice daily with the best possible, [U]even if that means you never start/play[/U]. Others have alleged that point has been argued, but I haven't seen any evidence of it.
  

Quote:

---

* is it better to dual track on basketball and education, or go "all in" on basketball? One is the conservative approach, the other high risk high reward.

---

For those that value an education, yes. And for those that value an education, they better be prepared if they choose Cal. Would it be better to attend Cal and flunk out than to get a degree from Kentucky?

Here is the thing. If you consistently "overrecruit" guys suddenly you don't HAVE any guys. They stop coming (and some transfer out).

Lets play fantasy basketball for a moment. Lets say somehow Monty went after and had succeed in signing Justin Jackson. Now do you think for a moment that Mr. Jackson would have singed for a program with Jabari on the roster unless "promised" his minutes? Do you think Mr. Bird and Mr. Bird senior might be PISSED off? Do you think that 99% of AAU coaches would have looked up and said "well that sucks".

Yes, in some rare moments a highly recruited guy gets "recruited over". Sometimes things don't work out and it is mutually better for folks to walk their separate ways. But the era of grabbing great players 10 deep and letting them "earn" their minutes is long gone for 99% of the programs in America. Indeed, I am not sure, when folks like Lee transfer and others bail because of that, Kentucky can sustain it.

socaltownie;842227002 said:

---

Here is the thing. If you consistently "overrecruit" guys suddenly you don't HAVE any guys. They stop coming (and some transfer out).

---

Name that school. Kentucky? Arizona?

If you consistently "underrecruit," you also don't have any guys. But it is certainly an easier path to follow.

Sluggo

sluggo_Cal;842227015 said:

---

Name that school. Kentucky? Arizona?

If you consistently "underrecruit," you also don't have any guys. But it is certainly an easier path to follow.

Sluggo

---

UCLA under Lavin developed that reputation and recruiting fell off toward the end of his debacle.

socaltownie;842227017 said:

---

UCLA under Lavin developed that reputation and recruiting fell off toward the end of his debacle.

---

Now even if you were right, having to go back ten years to find an example shows the strength of the argument. But after spending 30 seconds on wikipedia I found out that Lavin had the #1 recruiting class in the country one year before he left.

So let's agree that this is a problem that does not exist.

Sluggo

Go ask Jabari how he would feel if Monty recruited a highly sought after SG and then tell me it is a problem that doesn't exist. The fact that I went back to Lavin is that other than Kentucky it, for the most part, simply hasn't been done. The one and done Phenom has changed things a BIT but not that much.

PS...when Lavin's brought in that "monster class" he lost a bunch of guys that transfered out....which then translated into the first losing season in 50 years and cost Stevo his job.

socaltownie;842227051 said:

---

Go ask Jabari how he would feel if Monty recruited a highly sought after SG and then tell me it is a problem that doesn't exist. The fact that I went back to Lavin is that other than Kentucky it, for the most part, simply hasn't been done. The one and done Phenom has changed things a BIT but not that much.

---

Given that he starts at SF, I think he would be thrilled. In fact, I have never heard a top player complain about other great players being recruited. It is just a fact of life. The top schools (Duke,UNC,Kansas) have been recruiting as many good players as they could for as long as I can remember. Now players transfer when they are beaten out, but that is okay since the better players remain.

As to Cal, more good players at any position are needed. But better if they are over 6'7''.

Sluggo

My opinion is that young high school stars are susceptible to incautious thinking--thinking that maybe they really are the next superstar. And what superstar does not want to go to the best program out there? Heck this type of thinking is practiced by a lot of adults too. Which explains the success of casinos.......

socaltownie;842227051 said:

---

PS...when Lavin brought in that "monster class" he lost a bunch of guys that transfered out....which then translated into the first losing season in 50 years and cost Stevo his job.

---

I remember this well. Lavin was a terrible x and o coach, yet despite that he kept going to sweet 16's and would keep his job one more year solely because he had recruited great players. His teams' quality of play was so bad that LA was hoping he'd flame out in the tourney, but they'd pull thru. It was very funny. Finally, the whole thing did blow up, as you say, and he was meat.

Anyways, I'm not buying your Lavin argument. He didn't die bc he over recruited and it backfired. He died bc he couldn't coach.

Here are some potentially overlooked words I wanted to highlight.

familyfirst2011;842116556 said:

---

Cal does run a good offense for bigs. I've watched tons of tape. Cal would have been an amazing situation. Don't feel like him choosing UK is a knock on Cal at all. We all fought for Cal. He could [thrive] in Mont's offense. I know this. But I also know he needs to gain 30 lbs before he can [thrive] anywhere lol so there are hurdles in both situation and I think he will handle those hurdles just fine. I went from 190 at 18 to 230lbs my senior year. I completely understand what Marcus has in front of him.

I enjoy the convos with you guys too. And thanks for the back and forth.

It came down to Cal and UK. I'd have to say those are two AMAZING choices. Marcus did not enjoy the recruiting process.

---

Sounds to me like even though BigBro defended LilBro and his decision in all ways, Cal was the family's #1 wish. Too bad for us.
Best of luck!