Congrats on Gaddy part 2

[Russ Smith]

Rivals is reporting Gaddy verballed to UA. I told Mao about a week ago lot of rumors he was about to commit to UCLA but I would believe it when I saw it.

The rumor was mom wanted him at UCLA, dad at UA, usually mom wins out so I think that's why UCLA insiders thought he was coming to UCLA.

Congrats talented kid and 2 year player because he's too young to go one and done.

 

[Russ Smith]

Rivals is reporting Gaddy verballed to UA. I told Mao about a week ago lot of rumors he was about to commit to UCLA but I would believe it when I saw it.

The rumor was mom wanted him at UCLA, dad at UA, usually mom wins out so I think that's why UCLA insiders thought he was coming to UCLA.

Congrats talented kid and 2 year player because he's too young to go one and done.

May have jumped the gun here apparently the dad was quoted saying he committed but the mom is denying it.

That's always good to have the parents disagreeing on whether you've committed or not.

Stay tuned but I still say he'll be at UA .

 

[Russ Smith]

Another interesting story, Lute is being investigated for an NCAA violation regarding soliciting donations from fans for an AAU tourney.

University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson is under investigation for possible NCAA violations, according to UA officials.
Athletic Director Jim Livengood said in a statement Monday that a letter from Olson's office and signed by Olson encouraged supporters of the UA men's basketball program to donate to an amateur basketball exhibition tournament.
NCAA rules prohibit institutional representatives from arranging financial assistance for or paying costs of prospective student athletes.
Olson "adamantly denied" knowledge of the letter being sent and later sent a retraction, according to a letter Livengood sent to an associate commissioner of the Pac-10 Conference.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/s...tpage/96765.php

Lute is denying it said he never had anything to do with it but allegedly the letter was on his stationery with his signature.

Weird stuff going on.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Lute just saved his job and made the 'Cats competitive throughout the remainder of his contract. Still can't believe how well we are recruiting with all the crap hanging over the program.

 

[Lefty]

Another interesting story, Lute is being investigated for an NCAA violation regarding soliciting donations from fans for an AAU tourney.

University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson is under investigation for possible NCAA violations, according to UA officials.
Athletic Director Jim Livengood said in a statement Monday that a letter from Olson's office and signed by Olson encouraged supporters of the UA men's basketball program to donate to an amateur basketball exhibition tournament.
NCAA rules prohibit institutional representatives from arranging financial assistance for or paying costs of prospective student athletes.
Olson "adamantly denied" knowledge of the letter being sent and later sent a retraction, according to a letter Livengood sent to an associate commissioner of the Pac-10 Conference.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/s...tpage/96765.php

Lute is denying it said he never had anything to do with it but allegedly the letter was on his stationery with his signature.

Weird stuff going on.

I saw the news this evening and it looks like it is not going to be a big deal. I think the problem is a certain website. I think the UofA needs to distance themselves from sites like that.

As for Gaddy, that was a big pickup. I was hoping Bradley would follow but it does not look like it.

 

[Russ Smith]

Scout is reporting it too with a quote from AAU coach Gary Ward so near as I can tell it's official Gaddy verballed to UA.

Congrats great get seems like a good kid although I'm sure UCLA fans will now talk about how we didn't want him anyways.

Lefty I agree on the story seems trivial just weird since the report is Lute signed it, but he's claiming he wasn't involved.

 

[Lefty]

Scout is reporting it too with a quote from AAU coach Gary Ward so near as I can tell it's official Gaddy verballed to UA.

Congrats great get seems like a good kid although I'm sure UCLA fans will now talk about how we didn't want him anyways.

Lefty I agree on the story seems trivial just weird since the report is Lute signed it, but he's claiming he wasn't involved.

The Gaddy situation reminds me of Bayless. The good thing is Gaddy is here for at least two years, no one and done.

As for the Lute signature, it is minor but you know there will be some who know nothing will make it sound like a major violation. I do believe schools should stay clear of sites like Scout & Rivals. Nothing good can come from them.

Looks like the UofA reported this last April.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/96765.php

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Lute's signature was electronic and not in ink, so it is reasonable for him to deny it or approving the donation. Not sure if Lute made a mistake (which is possible), someone screwed up in the office, or someone just plain dislikes Lute.

Either way, great news with Gaddy coming back on board, but we still have a lot of problems to address in the front court and closing on Anthony Stover would be huge.

 

[Russ Smith]

Lute's signature was electronic and not in ink, so it is reasonable for him to deny it or approving the donation. Not sure if Lute made a mistake (which is possible), someone screwed up in the office, or someone just plain dislikes Lute.

Either way, great news with Gaddy coming back on board, but we still have a lot of problems to address in the front court and closing on Anthony Stover would be huge.

Have you guys seen Stover? I ask because UCLA fans are still pining for that kid and I can't for the life of me understand why he's so highly regarded. I think Stover is a perfect project big man that by his junior year will be able to start and contribute. He's long, blocks shots, but he's extremely mechanical offensively and lacks a natural feel for the game.

A few months ago Greg Hicks of Scout was saying kid is really underrated UCLA should offer him would make a nice backup C. Now schools like UCONN are after him and Stanford is really hard after him(good student). He just transferred highschools to get more exposure.

I'd certainly take him at UCLA as a project but talk about a kid blowing up he's gone from afterthought to national recruit in just a few months because there's so few good bigs out there. I suspect the thing people liked was he was unlikely to leave early but now he's talking about wanting immediately PT so he can get to the NBA quicker.

 

[Russ Smith]

http://huskydigest.com/blog/?p=40

This should amuse some people. Background the guy who writes this site is Jim Basnight who used to work for Rivals as a UW reporter guy. He got fired by Rivals for being an idiot and constantly making claims that weren't true, like Jrue Holiday and Drew Gordon were locks for UW. Everytime he'd be wrong he'd make some wild accusation until Rivals canned him.

now he's running his own site. Last week he claimed to have sources that told him UCLA was buying recruits, specifically he was talking about Abdul Gaddy who he insisted was still likely going to UW(he wasn't even considering them).

So Gaddy picks UA and now Basnight alleges UA is buying recruits.

 

[Renz]

http://huskydigest.com/blog/?p=40

This should amuse some people. Background the guy who writes this site is Jim Basnight who used to work for Rivals as a UW reporter guy. He got fired by Rivals for being an idiot and constantly making claims that weren't true, like Jrue Holiday and Drew Gordon were locks for UW. Everytime he'd be wrong he'd make some wild accusation until Rivals canned him.

now he's running his own site. Last week he claimed to have sources that told him UCLA was buying recruits, specifically he was talking about Abdul Gaddy who he insisted was still likely going to UW(he wasn't even considering them).

So Gaddy picks UA and now Basnight alleges UA is buying recruits.

Basnight is such a tool. His credibility is absolute zero.

 

[ozzfloyd]

Basnight is a real tool. I'm amazed it took Rivals so long to show him the door. He used to make appearances over at goazcats.com to "defend himself". Comedy gold man.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Ah yes, the infamous "unconfirmed reports from anonymous sources" passed on by an obscure internet blogger full of bias.

 

[Russ Smith]

Ah yes, the infamous "unconfirmed reports from anonymous sources" passed on by an obscure internet blogger full of bias.

The funny thing on him is he contends he left Rivals over differences in how he thought they should run their sites. Everyone knows he was fired.

A few weeks ago he wrote a "blog" that implied the guy who owns Findlay Prep in Vegas conspired with UNLV to fake an internet contest so they could give 25K to Chace Stanback's mom so she could pay Chace's way to UNLV this year as a transfer. He again cited anonymous sources.

Then it was UCLA buying players. I emailed the guy suggesting he look up the word libel.

Basically any kid he thinks should go to UW and doesn't was bought and paid for.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Have you guys seen Stover? I ask because UCLA fans are still pining for that kid and I can't for the life of me understand why he's so highly regarded. I think Stover is a perfect project big man that by his junior year will be able to start and contribute. He's long, blocks shots, but he's extremely mechanical offensively and lacks a natural feel for the game.

A few months ago Greg Hicks of Scout was saying kid is really underrated UCLA should offer him would make a nice backup C. Now schools like UCONN are after him and Stanford is really hard after him(good student). He just transferred highschools to get more exposure.

I'd certainly take him at UCLA as a project but talk about a kid blowing up he's gone from afterthought to national recruit in just a few months because there's so few good bigs out there. I suspect the thing people liked was he was unlikely to leave early but now he's talking about wanting immediately PT so he can get to the NBA quicker.

I have seen him play, but not near as much as anyone from scout or rivals. He definitely is offensive challenged, but he is a stud on the opposite side of the court. From what I have seen he plays hard, has at least decent hands, but he excels at defending the post, specifically blocking shots.

 

[Russ Smith]

I have seen him play, but not near as much as anyone from scout or rivals. He definitely is offensive challenged, but he is a stud on the opposite side of the court. From what I have seen he plays hard, has at least decent hands, but he excels at defending the post, specifically blocking shots.

Yes the footage I've seen he blocks shots absolutely. Doesn't seem to rebound very well for his size and he's very mechanical but you can't coach height and he's got talent that needs to come out.

I was quite happy when UCLA was recruiting him as a backup but all of a sudden everyone is making him out to be a guy who will make an immediate impact I'm just not convinced he can.

I think he's going to UA though.

 

[overseascardfan]

Yes the footage I've seen he blocks shots absolutely. Doesn't seem to rebound very well for his size and he's very mechanical but you can't coach height and he's got talent that needs to come out.

I was quite happy when UCLA was recruiting him as a backup but all of a sudden everyone is making him out to be a guy who will make an immediate impact I'm just not convinced he can.

I think he's going to UA though.

I think that he is getting alot of attention because he is one of the last bigs available in the '09 class. If Greg Smith hadn't de-committed then U of A wouldn't have made him a major target. Stover just visited ASU and word is Sendek would like to secure him and Sidney to close out the class with Jared Cunningham and Trent Lockett.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I doubt ASU is still recruiting Sidney. What's the point of recruiting somebody who has zero intention of going to college?

 

[Russ Smith]

I think that he is getting alot of attention because he is one of the last bigs available in the '09 class. If Greg Smith hadn't de-committed then U of A wouldn't have made him a major target. Stover just visited ASU and word is Sendek would like to secure him and Sidney to close out the class with Jared Cunningham and Trent Lockett.

Take it FWIW but Katz and USC fans are claiming they got 2 commits from the big weekend of basketball visits for the USC/Ohio State football game. Nobody knows yet who it is but some USC fans are claiming one of them is Renardo Sidney. Would surprise me I don't think the kid would commit without holding a press conference, but some USC fans are saying insiders think Sidney committed over the weekend.

on Greg Smith, it's actually starting to look like Smith de-committing might not be a bad thing. He's already left the HS in Vallejo and picked another school, a prep school in ironically Phoenix Arizona, Westwind Academy? He claims he's getting straight A's.

If you read the story it says he wanted to return to HS in Fresno, his family wanted him in Vallejo, and he wound up at Westwind in August so straight A's is in a matter of weeks. Story also says both USC and Oregon continue to actively recruit him despite his verbal to Fresno State, for that to happen it means you have a kid who's openly talking to other schools, most kids wouldn't divulge that they're talking to others and most schools wouldn't want it divulged they're recruiting a kid who's verballed somewhere so that tells you that Smith is playing the game with his recruitment.

Don't know anything about Westwind the story calls it a prepschool but it appears Smith has some issues with the school jumping.

 

[Skkorpion]

Lute just saved his job and made the 'Cats competitive throughout the remainder of his contract. Still can't believe how well we are recruiting with all the crap hanging over the program.

Concur. Lute keeps surprising me. Now let's see how the complete package works on the court.

 

[overseascardfan]

Take it FWIW but Katz and USC fans are claiming they got 2 commits from the big weekend of basketball visits for the USC/Ohio State football game. Nobody knows yet who it is but some USC fans are claiming one of them is Renardo Sidney. Would surprise me I don't think the kid would commit without holding a press conference, but some USC fans are saying insiders think Sidney committed over the weekend.

on Greg Smith, it's actually starting to look like Smith de-committing might not be a bad thing. He's already left the HS in Vallejo and picked another school, a prep school in ironically Phoenix Arizona, Westwind Academy? He claims he's getting straight A's.

If you read the story it says he wanted to return to HS in Fresno, his family wanted him in Vallejo, and he wound up at Westwind in August so straight A's is in a matter of weeks. Story also says both USC and Oregon continue to actively recruit him despite his verbal to Fresno State, for that to happen it means you have a kid who's openly talking to other schools, most kids wouldn't divulge that they're talking to others and most schools wouldn't want it divulged they're recruiting a kid who's verballed somewhere so that tells you that Smith is playing the game with his recruitment.

Don't know anything about Westwind the story calls it a prepschool but it appears Smith has some issues with the school jumping.

I actually went to a school right down the street from it. It used to be an elementary school, I drove past it a couple of weeks ago and saw that the school was turned into a HS, I didn't know they could do that.

 

[Russ Smith]

I actually went to a school right down the street from it. It used to be an elementary school, I drove past it a couple of weeks ago and saw that the school was turned into a HS, I didn't know they could do that.

That's a relatively recent trend where they open a prepschool on an existing campus and take almost exclusively athletes. I don't know if that's the case with Windward but I expect it might be based on Smith's comment he was getting straight A's.

Several of these have popped up in recent years one that's getting a lot of attention is Findlay Prep in Las Vegas. It's again on the campus of an elementary school, it's financed by a local car dealership owner last name Findlay who played college basketball at UNLV. Every kid who's played there has gone on to college ball(several to UNLV) and they have been accused of being a diploma mill. That's where Gaddy's HS teammate Avery Bradley transferred to recently and he was very open he said he needed to find a school that could get him NCAA eligible.

He verballed to Texas yesterday.