I like Boynton and agree with offering (if/when there is an opening) but I just do not think it will happen. Mike is not a local - he is from Brooklyn - so I do not see him leaving a good situation for a worse one, just because he played here.
He is going to lose some guys at OSU - Cunningham might he the #1 draft pick, and Likekile could be gone as well. But after their unexpected success this year, he should be able to attract more prospects and his job security is through the roof.
But I am fine with hiring BJ and bringing in Alex English as a Special Assistant for a couple of years. Do you think that we would have missed on Devontae Shuler (Irmo, BJ's HS) or Tevin Mack (Dreher, Alex's HS) with those guys coaching?
Not sure of all the issues with these in-state recruits. I certainly think that the staff has missed out on doing their due diligence with some of them.
Morant was one example: he was under the radar for most all Div-I programs, and all P5 programs, until late in the process when he exploded in summer league tournaments. It's true that we jumped on his late, as most all major programs did, but we did jump on him and our offer was sincere if late. Murray State recognized his talent a bit earlier than us and they made a strong pitch for him and it seemed to have worked - if Ja really wanted to play for a P5 and really liked USC, he was given the opportunity to come play for us, but he liked what Murray State offered him and they clicked for him, so he chose them.
Now, some could make the argument that if our staff were to do their job, they should AT LEAST recognize the "hidden gems" in our own backyard before out-of-state programs do, and have themselves at the family table while those others are still out on the front porch. No one would be able to argue against that much.
As far as Williamson, it seems like he or his family was paid money to go to Duke, and we aren't Duke and we don't pay money to prospects or their families (post-Evans, and apparently even HE didn't do that much while at USC even though he was expected to by "some"). If that's what it takes to lure some blue-chip talent to USC then I'll be glad they go elsewhere - we don't do so well as others do when NCAA rules are broken, so its just best to steer clear of all that nonsense.
Shuler has his own story: I guess the answer to your question in your final paragraph could be, "would we have missed on Murphy Holloway with those guys coaching?"
Holloway was the SC Mr. Basketball in 2008. But two things stood in the way of him ever donning the Gamecock jersey: one, his grades weren't great, and he wouldn't have gotten past our admissions. Second, his senior year in high school was Dave Odom's final year at USC, and the cloud over his chances of remaining our head coach was quite substantial. Darrin Horn replaced him, and the transition of staffs didn't help USC's cause. Mississippi's own admissions for most athletics were always a good bit below ours, and Holloway chose Ole Miss.
Now, what does Holloway have to do with Shuler? Everything just about. Both are basketball stars out of Irmo, SC. And Shuler grew up idolizing Holloway and following the Rebels MBB program while Holloway played there. Holloway briefly transferred to USC in the middle of his college career to be closer to his newborn baby daughter, but loved Ole Miss. Then things changed regarding that personal matter, and Holloway transferred back to Ole Miss after one redshirt year at USC where he paid his own way.
So, during Shuler's own recruitment, Holloway was a constant presence and "guidance counselor" of Devontae's during the process. He was Ole Miss's own inside agent, and it turned out successful for them in gaining Shuler's commitment.
I have heard and read whispers of "other" local guides in the Columbia and SC regions - whether they are church priests or AAU coaches or other persons of prominent positions, that constantly advise the local stars to seek college opportunities outside of the state. Perhaps there are several of these who are more for certain ACC programs in the state above ours, than they are for our own state. USC certainly does NOT have a strong support base within our own state for prep talent, for BOTH FB or MBB.
Perhaps this dates all the way back to McGuire's days - when he and his staff were focusing on NY talent, the local prep communities were looking elsewhere to send our own assets. But it is a cancer for both FB and MBB that is deeper and more frustrating for the MBB program, considering how much legitimate star MBB talent our state produces every five years. I don't think any of the staffs we've had for decades running the program, have figured out how to improve our standing here. I know our AD administration has never figured it out....
? What does this mean? Winning and respect? Those are two separate issues (and, I might add, are not necessarily even intertwined).
