Uchebo & Haughton

[TreesHero]

The expected is getting closer to being official:

"Do not expect Pittsburgh big man Tyrone Haughton and Joe Uchebo to be with program next season, sources told ESPN. Both juniors."

- Jeff Goodman, ESPN

https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/577907679596830720




This post was edited on 3/20 3:06 AM by TreesHero

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Yes. No surprise as you say. Haughton likely transfers to play at a lower level. Uchebo graduates and has his degree and may go off to play elsewhere or maybe just hangs up those basketball shoes and gets on with life.

 

[Pitt79]

I'll always be curious about this Haughton guy? Was he that bad, REALY THAT BAD, that Lecak and Ko deserved time, no matter how limited and he couldn't even get 10 seconds at the end of a blow out? I won't even mention APN, because he actually became one of their better defenders even though limited in other areas.

 

[NTOP]

I think Jamie had a deal with Tyrone...

Once he got him on campus and evaluated his ability, he offered him a redshirt, so he could be with the team, practice, etc., then transfer to a lower level school, freeing a scholie w/o out just kicking him to the curb. They were hoping Joe's knee would hold up, but that never happened. Essentially, he was a practice player on scholarship.
This was the legacy Slice left us.

If Nix is a flop....that'll be on Jamie, who's seen him personally. Wilson looks like a solid, 4-year guy, ditto Heron. I'd like to snare Tervell Beck, too. Time will tell.

Recruiting usually involves a long history with kids, esp. developmental bigs. Hopefully, Smoke can land some more guys...Manigault sounds promising.

 

[Harve74]

Haughton's ability was bad enough that it was quickly apparent he could not help at this level.

I really have no idea what Slice thought he saw in Tyrone. He was a much worse gamble than Malcolm Gilbert or Uchebo. At least Gilbert was 7 feet tall and Uchebo had talent, just not two legs. Maybe if he had arrived on campus in June instead of late August, he could have benefited from college coaching and been able to contribute a little bit. However, he didn't take care of his academics and had to finish a course in Summer school to graduate from the juco.

It is my understanding they told him that early and made a plan that rather than just release him they would redshirt him, which gives him a chance to hook on with a lower division school for two seasons. To be eligible for a redshirt, he cannot play in even a single game.

Pitt has virtually always worked to help their released players find a "soft landing" rather than simply discard them. It's good business because we rarely have disgruntled ex-players (and their coaches) out there bad-mouthing our future recruiting. And, it's the right thing to do.

In this case, Haughton got to practice a year and improve his skills and Pitt players got to practice against a shot-blocker. Pitt gets the scholarship back and no bad publicity. Maybe by mid-season, when Uchebo's knee was bad enough he couldn't play in many games, Haughton might have been able to contribute a little bit but playing him even a minute would have cost him a year's eligibility and made it more unlikely he could get a nice slot at a D-2 or D-3 school.

 

[Atch]

Re: I think Jamie had a deal with Tyrone...

Was he (Haughton) Slice's parting shot at Pitt? Did he screw Pitt as bad as Miller?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Re: I think Jamie had a deal with Tyrone...

No way. We needed a body. The cupboard was bare. We had to take a shot on someone. Slice took a chance.

I wonder if Lombardi will take Tyrone, or if he goes back to play closer to home. Either way, I wish him well. Being a part of this program, even for one year, makes you a better man when you leave.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[NTOP]

Nahhh....I think he was just trying too hard to get recruits on board.

If this was his only mistake, it wasn't deliberate. Heron was his recruit, also. If he ends up here, he'll be very valuable.

Willard made a mistake hiring Miller.....I can't believe the crap pulled in Evans' last few years wasn't obvious. Nobody liked Evans, but trashing your alma mater was really inexcusable. It continued after Miller left, too.

 

[thebadby2]

Re: I think Jamie had a deal with Tyrone...

Interesting about Haughton--I never knew any of that, but it all makes perfect sense. Class move by JD as well.

One comment on your Heron reference--from what I've seen, he has superstar scorer type talent--I expect him to be a lot more than just a solid 4 year player. He may be the kind of guy who's 2 and done--and frankly I hope he is that good. He reminds me a bit of Lance Stephenson or, going back a few years, DeShawn Stevenson. Here's hoping that's the kind of talent we get out of him.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Either way, it is Jamie's call. Jamie was renowned because he was the guy who found Ontario Lett late in the recruiting season. We know he can evaluate under the radar big man talent.

 

[NTOP]

I think Heron is a much more physical player than recent recruits

have been. The brief clips I've seen show a "man" with a strong body and lots of skills. Sorta like Wanamaker with muscles. Game ready right away. Think Paul Harris with a shot???

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Hopefully lightning will strike twice. I seem to remember early on reading that Dixon really liked Nix's skill set even tho he was quite large. And Nix probably still has a little ways to go but it's clear he's worked pretty hard to get himself in much better shape.

And hopefully he will because as an aside - from being at the games yesterday it's clear Anya's size is holding him back some. He lumbers and loafs. The last possession before they called timeout he barely made it down the floor.

 

[thebadby2]

Re: I think Heron is a much more physical player than recent recruits

Paul Harris is a good call--big and strong, but explosive and athletic--like Harris or the two Stephensons. Brad was the epitome of the "solid" 4 year Pitt player, but he was a marginal athlete and didn't have the scorer DNA--he did have the winner DNA in spades. Heron is way more of an athlete and scorer than BW. Hopefully his attitude and effort are something like BW's as well. If so, we may finally get to see what it';s like when you combine good , solid overall team play with a guy who can score in a variety of ways against any defense.

 

[Harve74]

A couple points on this thread

1)I agree that Haughton wasn't an intentional shot at Pitt. It was a gamble. At that point, it looked certain that Uchebo was headed for a medical release and the only real center we had was Randall. It was a bad gamble and over-hyping a kid with very limited talent was a bad decision but Slice has always been prone to over-statement.

I'll go as far as to suggest that if Uchebo had not blossomed at the ProAm during the Summer and in the Bahamas trip, we wouldn't have redshirted Haughton, and Uchebo would have been released.

2) From the numbers Heron has been putting up and his videos, it looks like his outside shot is progressing very well. A caveat: highlight videos rarely show air-balls or turnovers.

I've seen him play several games at Jamfest. He warmed up literally brushing shoulders with me beside the bleachers there last Spring. At that time he was 6-3, not the 6-5 he was being listed. Hopefully he has continued to grow physically and his game has grown like the videos show.

Mustapha can be a game changer. He has a very good handle, can get to the rim and dunk over bigger players. He's an explosive leaper. At that time his long range jumper was erratic. He had a 26 point game and an 11 point game. Paul Harris was my comparison at that time, with one big difference:

Mustapha plays defense and hustles. He will and DID dive on loose balls- frequently! That is rarely seen from 5-stars in an AAU game.

I REALLY hope he stays committed and plays here. Since few guards are one-and-done, he would probably be here two years. He can be a bigger, faster, better Brad Wanamaker, and more, with a lot of the offense running through him.

I can still dream about the team we MIGHT have had, with Heron and Rowan on the wings and Diallo and Swanigan in the paint.

At this point, I'd love ANY of them. One would be good. Two better. Three would really change Pitt basketball. Unfortunately, even one is probably unlikely.

Oh, well.

 

[thebadby2]

Re: A couple points on this thread

Harve--is there some reason to think Heron will bail on us?

If so, that's really discouraging.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Re: A couple points on this thread

I think the reason is that he is so good and "Dixon can't recruit" everyone's afraid he will bail. Up to this point he's been rock solid in his commitment. There is NOTHING to suggest otherwise. A writer for his local paper even said Heron is rock solid with Pitt.

 

[thebadby2]

Re: A couple points on this thread

I don't think Harve's posts are ever based on those types of preconceptions and biases. If this were one of many other posters on this board, I would discount his statement. Out of Harve, it is worrisome.

 

[Atch]

Re: Nahhh....I think he was just trying too hard to get recruits on board.

Originally posted by NTOP:
If this was his only mistake, it wasn't deliberate. Heron was his recruit, also. If he ends up here, he'll be very valuable.

Willard made a mistake hiring Miller.....I can't believe the crap pulled in Evans' last few years wasn't obvious. Nobody liked Evans, but trashing your alma mater was really inexcusable. It continued after Miller left, too.

If that wasn't his parting shot, then it must have been what he said in the Lexington paper. If Jamie hires the guy again, then he gets what he asks for.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Re: A couple points on this thread

I guess I don't see Harve's post the same way you do. Hell...I REALLY hope he stays committed too. I interpreted Harve's comment to say a lot can happen between now and when he signs. He's a kid (friggin auto correct) that could change his mind. Someone could throw him an offer he can't refuse. Nothing is for sure until he signs the LOI. I assume even the most optimistic on this board really hope he remains committed.

This post was edited on 3/21 10:18 PM by King Of All Message Boards

 

[Tical_The Wallabee Champ]

Re: I think Jamie had a deal with Tyrone...

Originally posted by Atch:
Was he (Haughton) Slice's parting shot at Pitt? Did he screw Pitt as bad as Miller?

What miller screwed Pitt?

 

[Veronasbubba]

Why was hiring Miller a

mistake and when did he bad mouth Pitt? Perhaps i misunderstood your post

 

[Harve74]

Re: A couple points on this thread

More points on this thread:

1) There have been rumors of Heron going somewhere else since about 5 minutes after Slice left. He has consistently said he is committed here. I have heard but not seen that he said he would not actually sign until April. I REALLY hope he stays committed and signs. But as a Pitt fan, I have l earned not to take early commitments for granted.

2) ALL of the Millers screwed and badmouthed Pitt to various degrees. The story has been told here many times. Sean was an assistant under Williard. Archie was a HS Sr. PG who committed to Pitt, too late to sign the early LOI. Pitt promised to not recruit any other PG's. Pitt honored its promise.

Sean was the lead recruiter and had a close relationship with a Top 50, 7-ft Canadian C, Jamal Magliore and we were among his final schools. Less than a week before LOI day, Sean quit and took a lateral job at NC St. Archie decommitted and signed instead with NC St.

So we lost a 7-ft big who went on to play in the NBA AND our PG commit a few days before signing day.

Later John Miller served as coach for the JOTS AAU program, which actively worked against Pitt basketball. Both brothers had some involvement with them, too. The JOTS staff convinced top prospects Herb Pope and Terrele Pryor to decommit from Pitt. NO player who played under John Miller ever signed with Pitt after Sean, although Pitt recruited several. Eventually Yuri and Blair finally did, but John Miller was no longer coaching.

Maybe we wouldn't have signed Magliore, but Archie would have been the starting PG here for 4 years. The untimely dual defection crippled and helped kill Ralph Williard's tenure here. The Millers had a mixed relationship with Paul Evans, which was later cited by some as justification for the rancor against Pitt. . John was never satisfied with Evans' tough-love style, but paradoxically he was reportedly also disappointed that Evans didn't hire him when an assistant's job opened up. JOTS was THE local AAU organization and every good prospect in the area went through them. Losing connection to the few national prospects this area generated really hurt us for almost 10 years.

Pitt buried the hatchet with Sean by inviting him to one of the team reunions. Many of our fans from that era are not so forgiving.

Some of us think "Miller" should be an obscenity worthy of at least a "time out" on here.

This post was edited on 3/22 8:03 AM by Harve74

 

[McCool]

Re: A couple points on this thread

they should keep all of the millers as far away from Pitt as possible.

 

[Piranha]

Re: A couple points on this thread

1) Magliore ended up at Kentucky, so he was more than likely not going to come here.
2) NC St. was a far better position than Pitt at the time. They were paying a lot more $, and more committed to winning at that time. They were moving into a brand, new arena. Sean was also closer to Sendek. Another Pittsburgh guy. I suppose you could say he could have left a week later, but how do u think the recruits that verballed would have reacted and how do you think this would have impacted his recruiting in the future?
3) John Miller did not like Evans. I do not think Sean and Archie had it out for Pitt. They were just doing what was in their best interests at the time. Most people will ould have done the same thing. Archie was simply a 17-18 year old kid following his big brother.

This post was edited on 3/22 10:01 AM by Piranha

 

[Tical_The Wallabee Champ]

Re: A couple points on this thread

Thanks Harve. Those times go back to my earlier years before I paid attention to the inner workings. So much simpler to be a kid and just cheer.