Stover to announce soon maybe today

[Russ Smith]

Told the LA Times he's very close to announcing. The weird thing is for weeks the story has been UA or UCLA but he told the Times he's down to those 2 and Creighton. Apparently there's a family connection there but still seems like an odd situation LA kid with 2 Pac 10 schools and then Creighton?

I still think he's going to UA.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

His parents want UCLA, he wants UA is the rumor although that could be Arizona fan justification for losing him.

 

[Russ Smith]

His parents want UCLA, he wants UA is the rumor although that could be Arizona fan justification for losing him.

Brian Dohn in the Daily News say his sources say he'll announce for UCLA later today. but if you read the comment from the dad you can take that either way he could be talking about UCLA, or could be talking about UA saying he needs to talk to Howland(to notify him he picked UA).

http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/2008/10/stover-decision.html

By Brian Dohn on October 3, 2008 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | ShareThis
Just talked to Anthony Stover's dad, and he said an announcement would be made this morning regarding where his son, a center at Windward High of Los Angeles, would play hoops and that I would get a phone call right after the decision is announced.
My sources are saying they expect Stover to chose UCLA, and I brought this up to Mr. Stover.
"Yeah, we're close,'' he said. "Before we make an announcement, we need to talk to (UCLA coach) Ben (Howland)."



I'm still saying UA.

The why part does sound like spin because the UA site reporting that is saying his "handlers" want him at UCLA, his handlers are his parents he's one of the rare kids these days that reportedly doesn't have an AAU coach or street agent involved.

I have to be honest based on what I've seen of him I think he'll be the #3 center in 2009 if he picks UCLA, I don't think he'll be as good as Morgan and Gordon.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Can't blame a kid for going to UCLA over 'Zona right now.

 

[Russ Smith]

http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/2008/10/stover-to.html

Dohn says he committed to UCLA. Also has a clip of him.

he's the big kid in black hard to see the number. I still say he's mechanical but you can't teach height so it will be nice to have 3 legit C's in 09.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Essentially Howland is doing to the Pac-10 in basketball what Carroll at USC has done to the conference in football in convincing players to come sit the bench on a powerhouse rather than go play at a good program.
Nobody in the Pac-10 projects to be anything more than decent anytime soon other than UCLA and it's players like Stover deciding to ride the pine instead of going to schools like UA or ASU where he's desperately needed that is the biggest cause.

How the AD's and coaches react will be interesting.

 

[Russ Smith]

Essentially Howland is doing to the Pac-10 in basketball what Carroll at USC has done to the conference in football in convincing players to come sit the bench on a powerhouse rather than go play at a good program.
Nobody in the Pac-10 projects to be anything more than decent anytime soon other than UCLA and it's players like Stover deciding to ride the pine instead of going to schools like UA or ASU where he's desperately needed that is the biggest cause.

How the AD's and coaches react will be interesting.

if he can get Josh Smith in 2010 then it would be comparable to Carroll having like 15 great RB's at once.

I don't see any of Morgan, Gordon or Stover being good enough to leave before 2010, Morgan is possible but the reports you hear say he's not good enough he'll be a 3 year guy. If that's true you're trying to convince th e#1 C in the 2010 class, Josh Smith, to come to a school that has 2 juniors and 1 soph at the position. Smith may be better than any of them but it would be a real scoop if they can outrecruit Duke, UNC, UW(home school) for a kid that would know he'd have that much competition.

I am surprised with Stover though because he's not Josh Smith, it's very likely he'll be behind both Morgan and Gordon as long as they're at UCLA.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Really this is unbelivable. UCLA has lapped our program at this point.

Fortunatley they still haven't gotten a ring since the O'Bannon's. It will be up to the Red and Blue to keep pressing and hopefully we can keep our head above water the next few years and have a star coach transition in.

It's sad but I am just unsure Lute (or really anyone for that matter) can keep up with Howland and his program at this point. The next hire will be crucial to the long term survival of our program.

 

[Lefty]

Really this is unbelivable. UCLA has lapped our program at this point.

Fortunatley they still haven't gotten a ring since the O'Bannon's. It will be up to the Red and Blue to keep pressing and hopefully we can keep our head above water the next few years and have a star coach transition in.

It's sad but I am just unsure Lute (or really anyone for that matter) can keep up with Howland and his program at this point. The next hire will be crucial to the long term survival of our program.

How some forget that Gaddy chose the Cats over the Bruins last week. Like Russ has mentioned so many times before, Stover is a project who has talent. I was surprised he chose UCLA because he would have a better chance at playing time with the UofA, especially next year.

The Cats are looking at a European player thru Dunlop's contacts.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Not a Greg Smith situation, but its too bad these kids cant hold the power to at least account for 75% of thier decision of where to attend college.

Stover is nothing more than a 4 year back up at UCLA, which isnt bad, because UCLA has a ton of at least decent post men. Then you have UA, while not what we once were, it is sad that an upper tier Pac-10 team cant give away its starting PF position in 2009.

The staff has done a good job recruiting for 09, but I still cant believe how desperately we need big men every year and can only land a good one every 4 years or so. If it wasnt for Jordan Hill turning developing from a prospect to a player UA would be a disaster.

 

[overseascardfan]

If we can get Brandt and Brown we'll be alright. Brandt is more offensively polished than Stover and Brown will give us a PF that we need in this class.

Stover is probably content with riding the bench, he'll get a top notch education and will play close to home (when he actually plays). Hopefully this puts UCLA out of it with Josh Smith, the only problem is that Duke and UNC are now in the mix.