Coach Smoke is hunting the big game on the recruiting trail in his old stomping ground of Michigan. If we can pull in two of the three 5 star guards we're recruiting: Trey McKenney, Darius Acuff Jr or Darius Adams, the 2025 recruiting class could be a top 10 class.
5 Star Guard Darius Acuff Jr. to visit RU
- Thread starter SoCal_Knight
- Start date
Coach Smoke is hunting the big game on the recruiting trail in his old stomping ground of Michigan. If we can pull in two of the three 5 star guards we're recruiting: Trey McKenney, Darius Acuff Jr or Darius Adams, the 2025 recruiting class could be a top 10 class.
When in our past, were we in the hunt for so many 4 or 5 star players? “ If only Pike could recruit, we could win”
When they sign I will be even happier than just getting officials (which was a pipe dream such a short time ago).
Even signatures don’t mean anything anymore.
I'm convinced that all of these elite players know each other, especially if they're from the same area. Darius Acuff and Trey McKenney and current RU commit, Dylan Grant, all played on the same AAU club team - The Family. Which is the AAU club team that Coach Smoke founded.
If smoke can close the deal with Acuff or McKenney he will be one of the greatest RU hires of all time.
These kids play on multiple teams. I think Dylan played on 4-5 different teams in the past 6 months or so he could have played with Bradley Beal elite as these kids are from Michigan/Illinois area.
It goes beyond just the same area.
NBA guys talk about this all the time.
All the elite guys around the country know each other starting in HS it seems.
A year or two above and below their class.
As said above, playing in different elite teams and leagues.
Many elite players do all know each other, at least by sight and reputation. That is in every sport. The worlds of elite players are small communities. You play with one set of kids on school team, a second set on a local club team and possibly a third set on a national club team. These kids recruit each other at games, camps and tournaments to jump teams.
Look at recruiting before and after NIL
This is exactly what is happening. They all talk and want to be part of this story. Enjoy the ride amazing to watch!
The irony that generally non-NBA fans criticize and bash players for "teaming up with their friends" and forming super teams is quite amusing.
"Players are too nice to each other. Back in my day, you wanted to play against and beat the best players. Magic and Bird would have never teamed up."
But then when it comes to their own teams it quickly turns into "Great! We got an elite commitment! Now go recruit your friends and create a super team to win a championship!"
Why would you expect that mindset for players to change in the NBA?
"Players are too nice to each other. Back in my day, you wanted to play against and beat the best players. Magic and Bird would have never teamed up."
But then when it comes to their own teams it quickly turns into "Great! We got an elite commitment! Now go recruit your friends and create a super team to win a championship!"
Why would you expect that mindset for players to change in the NBA?
Doesn’t the NBA still have a draft in place, at least for players entering the league for the first time?
And team spending caps for player contracts?
And team spending caps for player contracts?
They may recruit each other . But at the end of the day they’re going to the best spot to be a lotto pick in a year and make some NIL money.
Your statement is an absolute and therefore incorrect. Harper/Acuff and/or many other top recruits may, or may not fit that mold. My bet is that neither you or I actually know.
At the end of the day, each kid is different and motivated by different things. Some/many will go where they can get biggest NIL deal possible. Others will prioritize a place that they feel will best prepare them to make the jump to pro ball. Still others are motivated by winning and will go to a school where they believe they can make big tournament runs.
As a for instance, I know for a fact that a major college basketball recruit went to a specific school, because during his official visit, he was hosted by cheerleaders. All the other schools had players host him. I assume the difference was he got laid more during the visit at the school he signed with.
So these kids trying to recruit each other for club teams, elite high schools and colleges is actually effective, because some will jump.
The question was, when were we in the hunt for SO MANY elite players. I believe what we are seeing now is simply unprecedented in that regard at RU.
The arena is packed and extremely loud for almost every game. I would think that works to our recruiting advantage. Especially when fans chant the recruits names.
Does being on a national game even matter to recruits? Who knows? But kids these days don't watch TV anyway - its all about what shows up on social media.
Well…
If you had to rank the 75-76 team as high school recruits
Phill sellers …high 5 star , top 5 narional
Mike dabney …probably a top 30-40 kid and a high 4 star kid
Hollis Coleman’s …4 star top 80-100 type
Abdel anderson -top 120-140 type…borderline 4 star kid
James Bailey and Eddie jordan would have been “Pike specials “….under the radar kids
Right now …we have a chance to blow that out of the water with
Gavin
Dylan
Bailey
Sommerville
Dortch
Grant
Plus the class of 2025
Lest there had still been any doubt, RU basketball clearly has NIL money to spend. These guys wouldn't be wasting their time coming here otherwise.
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