OT: why is that kid from Philly Roman Catholic going to Cincy?

[Sean Miller Fan]

Daniel Skillings

Weren't we recruiting him? Cincy hasn't exactly been great recently. Seems odd for a Philly kid to go to Cincinnati. But this is another example of how proximity to recruits means almost nothing in basketball and for Pitt that should be a good thing. College recruits will play for Kabul U if they like the coach.

 

[gary2]

Wes Miller

 

[Drew1208]

Cincy is better than going here.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Cincy is better than going here.

But how does a kid from inner city Philly go to a midwest also-ran? I am told that it is so important to have a fertile recruiting ground in your backyard.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

A few top level kids are gonna go where they can get the most money. The rest go where they feel most comfortable and like the most. This really isn’t that complicated.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

A few top level kids are gonna go where they can get the most money. The rest go where they feel most comfortable and like the most. This really isn’t that complicated.

So you would agree that geography matters very little?

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

So you would agree that geography matters very little?

I think it involves people. And people are different. Some are simple minded and some are complex. Geography may matter to some. It probably means nothing to others. Academics are gonna matter more to some than others. Campus life. Weather. Suburban or urban. And on and on.

 

[Drew1208]

But how does a kid from inner city Philly go to a midwest also-ran? I am told that it is so important to have a fertile recruiting ground in your backyard.

Every situation is unique.
Especially city kids.
Sometimes top priority is escape from the city they live in.

 

[TheLogicalTake]

But how does a kid from inner city Philly go to a midwest also-ran? I am told that it is so important to have a fertile recruiting ground in your backyard.

Wes Miller is a rising star and Cincy is hardly an “also ran”. Brannen was a bad fit but they definitely have a brand that gives them the ability to recruit outside of their base.

2/3 of the programs in America dip into NY/NJ/Philly/DMV corridor because there’s just so much talent there.

 

[73CAV]

First, I imagine Wes Miller is selling the notion that he is restoring Cincinnati's prominence. He's probably using the line, "We're building somthing special. Come be a part of this!" It has an appeal to some recruits. Secondly, geography is largely meaningless in today's recruiting world. Consider the origins of Virginia's players: 3 from North Carolina, 1 from California, 1 from Louisiana (via Wisconsin), 1 from Indiana, 1 from Australia, 1 from Argentina, 1 from New Zealand, and 1 from Poland (via Croatia). There are a few walk-ons from Virginia. Next year, the team will add players from West Virginia, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and New York. Successful recruiting involves identifying prospects who are interested in buying what you're selling. It doesn't matter from where they come! And, while this is just my opinion, the NYC metro area is becoming a bit less of a source for elite talent. Too many who grew up there are now attending the prep schools focused on basketball such as Monteverde and Oak Hill. Horizons have changed for the players in those schools.

 

[Voice of Danno]

Without knowing anything about the Cincy coaching staff there could be a connection to his family, hs coach or AAU program. Isn't that how we got Adams?