Finally good news for UA fans Greg Smith

[Russ Smith]

Reportedly just verballed to UA. 2009 C he's about 6'8" but has really improved has a college ready body, big feet, some think he might still grow an inch or 2. He's from Fresno but the family moved to Vallejo for this year.

UCLA was really working hard to get him before they got J'Mison Morgan and I'm pretty sure they were still actively recruiting Smith now although there were concerns about his academics.

Very good get for UA.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Just another reason I'm not concerned with the future success of the UA program. It's nice to know that despite the coaching changes, player mutiny, underwhelming performances on the court, rise of other schools around the conference, and bizarre commentary by Lute not to mention his age that Arizona can still land top 50 players without much of an issue. It's why Arizona will be able to land an elite coach when Lute finally steps down. Coaches want to coach good players while getting paid - Arizona Basketball provides both.

 

[Lefty]

That is great news. Big pickup. With Hill and Fendi gone after this year, Greg should have no problem starting right away.

 

[Skkorpion]

Nice. Good for UA. This surprises me.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Nice. Good for UA. This surprises me.

I'll eat crow as well. I honestly thought the 2009 class would be a mess after Lute passed on the AAU character in favor of Reggie Geary. Geary was this kid's lead recruiter as well.

 

[overseascardfan]

I noticed they have C Keith Gallon and C Daniel Orton as being offered, do their offers come off the table? I would love to have Orton, but so would the rest of the country. What are our chances, Russ?

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Gallon wont be coming to Tucson.

 

[AZBALLER]

Just another reason I'm not concerned with the future success of the UA program. It's nice to know that despite the coaching changes, player mutiny, underwhelming performances on the court, rise of other schools around the conference, and bizarre commentary by Lute not to mention his age that Arizona can still land top 50 players without much of an issue. It's why Arizona will be able to land an elite coach when Lute finally steps down. Coaches want to coach good players while getting paid - Arizona Basketball provides both.

Both funny and true until you mention au landing an elite coach...If the cats had a real athletic director, then maybe...

 

[Russ Smith]

I noticed they have C Keith Gallon and C Daniel Orton as being offered, do their offers come off the table? I would love to have Orton, but so would the rest of the country. What are our chances, Russ?

Don't know much on either kid. Gallon is from Texas, Orton Oklahoma I think. UCLA is on both lists too I don't think they have a prayer at Gallon. Orton I read has grade issues so he probably won't be on UCLA's radar much longer if that doesn't change.

FYI there's a story today that really talks up how good Smith is, a bit of hyperbole(calls him the new Mailman) but I think it's a terrific get for Arizona.

A lot of UCLA fans are a bit disappointed they were hoping Smith would be the guy after Morgan and before 2010 target Josh Smith from Washington who is UCLA's top big target in that class.

 

[Lefty]

Don't know much on either kid. Gallon is from Texas, Orton Oklahoma I think. UCLA is on both lists too I don't think they have a prayer at Gallon. Orton I read has grade issues so he probably won't be on UCLA's radar much longer if that doesn't change.

FYI there's a story today that really talks up how good Smith is, a bit of hyperbole(calls him the new Mailman) but I think it's a terrific get for Arizona.

A lot of UCLA fans are a bit disappointed they were hoping Smith would be the guy after Morgan and before 2010 target Josh Smith from Washington who is UCLA's top big target in that class.

Recruiting has never been a problem with the Cats. The program almost sells itself, that's why I am not worried on who replaces Lute. There is even a rumor with some credible sources that said Callipari would take the job when Lute leaves.

As for Smith, do you know Russ if he will get in academically? I read he might be a risk. I sure don't want to go through another Jennings scenario.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

As for Smith, do you know Russ if he will get in academically? I read he might be a risk. I sure don't want to go through another Jennings scenario.

Different situations. Jennings' handlers responded to him getting a 600 on his first SAT by shipping him across the country to a school that increased his exposure by traveling throughout the States during half the school year. Smith's guardian is forcing him to transfer to a school whose basketball program went something like 1-26 last year so he can get his grades up and get into college.

Children (we sometimes forget these are kids) really are a product of their environment. Jennings is surrounded by some LA criminal defense attorney and Sonny Vaccaro both of whom are pushing him 5,000 miles away to be the guinea pig for this European experiment. Smith's guardian is making him go to the basketball outhouse of the San Joaquin Valley so he can work on his grades.

 

[Russ Smith]

Different situations. Jennings' handlers responded to him getting a 600 on his first SAT by shipping him across the country to a school that increased his exposure by traveling throughout the States during half the school year. Smith's guardian is forcing him to transfer to a school whose basketball program went something like 1-26 last year so he can get his grades up and get into college.

Children (we sometimes forget these are kids) really are a product of their environment. Jennings is surrounded by some LA criminal defense attorney and Sonny Vaccaro both of whom are pushing him 5,000 miles away to be the guinea pig for this European experiment. Smith's guardian is making him go to the basketball outhouse of the San Joaquin Valley so he can work on his grades.

Smith moved from Fresno to Vallejo for allegedly better competition but I'm with Mao I think it was academic. The story has always been UCLA really liked him but they weren't sure if he'd make it academically. When he moved everyone said good should be a better academic situation.

Vallejo is not exactly top flight competition, for example Demarcus Nelson moved from Vallejo to Sacramento to get better competition when he was in HS, but it's apparently a school with a better academic reputation than the one Smith was at in Fresno. Impossible to judge but I don't think Smith has the same situation Jennings did you have to remember Jennings was attending an inner city school in Compton that doesn't have much of a rep for academics plus he was touring the country playng ball, I don't think it's a surprise his academics weren't very good.

Oak Hill was a much better environment academically the problem is as Mao said when you're stated goal is to improve the kids academcis(right on Oak Hill's website they say that's their mission), you have to then question how you do that by playing road games all season and having the kid travel more than college players do?

I suspect in the end it was a mutual blame thing, Jennings should have worked harder, and Oak Hill should have realized he was in danger a lot earlier.

 

[Skkorpion]

Different situations. Jennings' handlers responded to him getting a 600 on his first SAT

A 600 score on his SAT? Is this fact, Russ? If so, this kid has should not be given an admission to any Arizona public University over any in-state better qualified student who can't afford out-of-state costs elsewhere.

Educators, term used loosely here, often forget that local tax payers pay to provide higher education opportunies to the residents and children of residents of our state.

 

[Lefty]

Looks like Jennings will have to wait another week. I am leaning more to hoping he does not come. I know he is a great player but I don't want to see another Marcus Williams or Chris Rodgers attitude on the team. It is more detrimental than beneficial.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3474579

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Considering the last few disappointing years we have had... we need Jennings next year. The program will be fine with or without him, but without Jennings the expectations fall from a conference title and elite eight birth to a 2nd-3rd place finish and a 6 seed.

 

[Russ Smith]

A 600 score on his SAT? Is this fact, Russ? If so, this kid has should not be given an admission to any Arizona public University over any in-state better qualified student who can't afford out-of-state costs elsewhere.

Educators, term used loosely here, often forget that local tax payers pay to provide higher education opportunies to the residents and children of residents of our state.

Nobody knows because test scores are private. The LA Sentinel said his 2nd SAT test his score went up about 1000 points. I've since seen several UA fans on a Scout board insist that's completely untrue and that Jennings' attorney confirmed it wasn't true. Both sides know they can't really be proven wrong because there's no way Jennings will release the true scores(and only he can) to prove the Sentinel wrong, and there's no way someone can release the score to prove the lawyer wrong. It's clear his scores jumped a lot for it to be flagged and apparently completely disallowed.

I mentioned this awhile back when Mayo's 29 ACT score came out, I have no doubt he got a high score(his was challenged but upheld when he submitted a handwriting sample) but it pointed out again that we really had no idea what his real score was. USC never confirmed the 29 they only confirmed he got a qualifying score, because that's all they can confirm by law. Any kid with a qualifying score can come out and say his score is whatever he wants because it's a violation of his privacy to release his real score.

That's what I sort of expected to happen here, Jennings would sign with Europe and then say I passed but I chose to play overseas. At this point who knows who's telling the truth apparently there are kids still waiting for their SAT scores and they are delayed until July 11 but there's no way for anybody to verify if Jennings is among them so at this point we may as well assume he's telling the truth.

 

[ozzfloyd]

Also, from everything I've read, it seems as though his first test was taken his freshman year. So the 2nd test being elevated would stand to reason after 3 years of education.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Me saying 600 was more hyperbole than anything, I have no clue what he got on any of his SAT's and honestly nobody probably does except those close to him. At this point I doubt Jennings ever ends up in Tucson, but we'll be fine without him.

 

[Lefty]

I read the more they wait, the better chance Jennings ends up at the UofA. I don't know if that is good or bad. I really don't know if they want another headcase but they do want his talent.

 

[Russ Smith]

Also, from everything I've read, it seems as though his first test was taken his freshman year. So the 2nd test being elevated would stand to reason after 3 years of education.

soph year from what I've read.

Ironically his buddy from Compton Derozan is in the same boat he just took his last attempt (Scott Wolf says ACT, Jeff Goodman said SAT I assume Goodman is correct). He too needs a higher score to qualify for SC even though he took online courses at BYU to inflate his GPA(shows you how low his test score must be that an inflated GPA still doesn't qualify him).

He insists he's not considering Europe but then admits if he doesn't qualify he'll probably look into it.

 

[Lefty]

Former Cat Corey Williams said Jennings would make a huge mistake if he decided to play in Europe.

 

[Russ Smith]

Former Cat Corey Williams said Jennings would make a huge mistake if he decided to play in Europe.

I agree I think pretty much everyone thinks Jennings takes the risk of being somewhat "exposed" in Europe. His style of play doesn't mesh so he might not play much or well if he played there and it could harm his draft status a bit. In many ways just working out and sitting the year out might be better although he takes the risk of scouts thinking his game regressed by not playing. My understanding is he could go and play at a prepschool that allows post graduate players(Oak Hill doesn't) but he doesn't want to largely because 2 years at Oak Hill didn't qualify him(apparently) so why spend another year in a similar environment? Most of the ones that allow 5th year students are considered inferior academically to Oak Hill(which has a very good academic rep) so he'd basically just be there to play ball again.

I still hope he qualifies, same with Derozan because I'd like to see them play but I have to admit at this point if both qualify I'm going to assume neither did so completely above board so then you wonder what's the point?

 

[Skkorpion]

Thinking about all those rumored internet scores, if Jennings got an initial 600 SAT score and then improved by 1,000, doesn't that total 1,600?

When I sat for the SAT in 1968, 1,600 was a perfect score. If it still is a perfect score, Jennings would get full-ride scholarships from MIT and Cal Tech.

 

[ozzfloyd]

Thinking about all those rumored internet scores, if Jennings got an initial 600 SAT score and then improved by 1,000, doesn't that total 1,600?

When I sat for the SAT in 1968, 1,600 was a perfect score. If it still is a perfect score, Jennings would get full-ride scholarships from MIT and Cal Tech.

The SAT scores have changed a number of times. I think 2400 is the ceiling these days.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

A 600 score on his SAT? Is this fact, Russ? If so, this kid has should not be given an admission to any Arizona public University over any in-state better qualified student who can't afford out-of-state costs elsewhere.

Really? You think Jennings or whoever else would be the first kid to attend an Arizona school despite being less qualified than hundreds of denied applicants? There's probably dozens of athletes that get in EVERY year to the state schools who will in turn deny more academically qualified kids.

It's a sad reality of college sports, but if you root for any D-I school you just to have to grin and bear it.