Saturday, April 26, 2008

Hoops recruit ‘loved’ KU visit

By Gary Bedore

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Tyshawn Taylor sought the opinion of a fellow Easterner on his Wednesday-Friday official campus visit to Kansas University.

"I spoke to Russell a lot. Russell is from the city, too, so we have a lot in common," Taylor, a 6-foot-3 point senior point guard from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., said of Robinson, KU's outgoing senior guard from the Bronx, N.Y.

"I asked him how he adjusted to going to school so far away. He said he adjusted well," added Taylor, Rivals.com's No. 77-rated player, in a phone interview after returning to Jersey on Friday night.

Taylor averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 assists for undefeated state champion St. Anthony. He recently was released from his letter of intent to Marquette after coach Tom Crean bolted for Indiana.

Taylor, who already has visited Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Marquette and KU, said he will meet with St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley on Monday then decide whether he wants to make a final visit to Florida.

"Tell everybody they have a great shot (at landing Taylor), and thanks for being so kind to me. I loved it," Taylor said of his trip to Lawrence.

If Taylor ultimately picks KU - and judging from the enthusiasm in his voice the Jayhawks figure to be his leaders - he likely would room with Quintrell Thomas, a 6-8 senior power forward from St. Patrick High in Elizabeth, N.J.

"Yes, I know Quintrell. He's a very good player," Taylor said. "My high school team went against his for the state championship. We won, but they got us the last two years."

St. Anthony beat St. Patrick, 64-52, in the state semis. Taylor had 10 points and Thomas four points (with seven boards) in that game.

Comments

CP (anonymous) says...

I think this kid would be better served going to Virginia Tech. Seth Greenberg is a great coach. When you get the opportunity to play for a guy like that, you better jump at the chance to sign the letter of intent.

April 26, 2008 at 4:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

carterpatterson (anonymous) says...

Better Served? VT over KU?

He may get more playing time at VT but if his ultimate goal is to get to the league, why not play somewhere that will put him on national TV for nearly every game he plays.

I love watching Seth coach, but if you have a chance to play for Bill at KU, that beats Seth everytime.

April 26, 2008 at 5:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

CP - shut your filthy mouth. Idiot.

April 26, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

blackhawkjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Okay, I admit it, the excitement just doesn't seem to be there for a guy who averages 10-5 in high school? Tell me I'm missing something. How does a guy like this get ranked in the top-100?

April 26, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

63Jayhawk (anonymous) says...

I like the players Bill Self recruits. I'm glad he and his staff are the ones making the selections. Seems like they know their basketball pretty well!

April 26, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

westtexjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Bill knows what he is doing when he recruits. So many intangibles, but the main constant is that their teams are winners. Championship winners. But...rather than getting another guard, don't we need a good big man?

April 26, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

crooner (anonymous) says...

10-5 isn't the number I like, blackjackjayhawk. It's that 27, followed by the zero.

Self loves winners, and I do too.

April 26, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaydub (anonymous) says...

Blackhawkjayhawk,
He plays for the best high school in the nation. His team probably has 7+ Div1 players and a couple of guys ranked in the top 100 including a top ten guy that we are recruiting in the class of 09. It sounds like he is a pass first type of guy that can play some defense. He looks very athletic in his highlight videos. Bill knows a little something about evaluating talent.

April 26, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawklifer (anonymous) says...

At this point, how can Self's recruiting come into question? I don't even have to support that argument, but two words will work pretty well: Deron Williams.

April 26, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fozdog (anonymous) says...

whats not to like about this kid he would not be better suited at vtech not a basketball school. duh. he would be a nice fit bill doesnt recruit players that will not be good for the program and the program good for them. if thats the case ask micah how he likes gonzaga now dont see him tearing it up up there. the proof will be in the draft when we see how many hawks get into the league that will be a huge selling ticket down the road.

April 26, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jwel2nd (anonymous) says...

CP surely stands for "Carolina Pansie." CP, go to a site where you appreciated.

April 26, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Yeah, obviously "CP" is not from around here.

April 26, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

CP is retarded.

Blackhawkjayhawk, like Jaydub said, he probably plays on a team that's very deep and very balanced (like KU) and therefore averages only 10 points a game. Look at our team for example, our leading scorer averages 13 points a game, and he's going to the NBA.

I think it's also good that he averages 5 assists a game. Self knows what hes' doing, I definitely wouldn't question his recruiting, especially now.

April 26, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rcaltrider (anonymous) says...

This kid plays defense and does not look to be the star. He is a great athlete with speed and hops. He is also 6' 3" which would add some needed size to the backcourt. If he played on your normal public high school team he could probably average 20 and 10 but he doesn't, he plays on the top private HS team in the country who only accepts the best of the best. So I wouldn't be concerned with his #s. He'll be a 3 or 4 year kid like Mario or Russell, probably a mix of both but with better size. His outside shot needs some work though.

As for the VT thing, that's just retarded. You'd better jump at a chance to play for a coach like Greenburg over Self?! Seriously, that may take the cake for the dumbest post on this site ever!

April 26, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kupark (anonymous) says...

Deron Williams? Why, was he also 10-5 (or similar) guy coming out of high school?

I think this is Bill Self's methodology: One class he recruits tough guys, winners whether they can score or not (most of them). So, in this class nobody is known for big scoring outside of Releford.

Then, the following class or two he recurits 5-star/mc-D AA type guys who can score, have high potential but are winners also.

This provides him a balance of toughness, team-first guys, and plenty of scoring ability.

At least, this is what I think. Look for the next class to be made up of high-scoring, 5-star type players.

April 26, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mcrozb (anonymous) says...

Yeah, his numbers aren't that impressive, but what is impressive is that Bill wants him, that's enough said, period.

April 26, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Agreed, how many national championships has Greenburg coached his teams to lately?

Self has taken 3 different programs to elite eights and (as I was saying before the championship this year) he probably could have taken any of the other 3 places he's coached to much higher levels if he had stuck around.

Oral Roberts was terrible when he got there and he left just as they were coming up.

Tulsa went from absolute nobodies to an elite eight team. Give him a couple of years and he probably would have taken those absolute nobodies to the final four.

Illinois wasn't a terrible program, but they were no final four program when he got there. He left one year too early to be a part of that.

Finally, he found a home at Kansas where his toughness-minded coaching style met up with the tradition to recruit great players. At a place like that it only him a few years to win a championship.

I know Self's players don't seem to get the accolades that the one and done players get at other schools, but the proof in the pudding is in the eating. I think some of these guys may not get drafted early, but will end up having long and successful careers in the NBA because they are willing to be team players, play defense, and not hurt their teams. I'd rather see our guys have solid careers like Raef, Ostertag, Thomas, and others have had, than to see them get picked early and be a disappointment. Self is just starting to send his own recruits to the league over the last couple of years. It will take time to see what these guys can do at the next level.

I'd love to see Taylor in a Jayhawk jersey. We need another gritty, athletic defender to fill the shoes of RR. I have a feeling that he will surprise everybody by being the key piece that helps us win the close games.

April 26, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Tulsa3 (anonymous) says...

I have to agree with the general sentiment that anyone Self has his eye on is good enough for me, although I have to point out some fallacies in the post above. Tulsa was already a good program when Self took over. Both Nolan Richardson and Tubbie Smith had already coached there and the team had been to the tournament 4 times in the 90s (including two sweet 16s) before he got there for the 97-98 season. Even after he left he Tulsa had two tourney appearances and an NIT crown the next three years.
Back to KU, the Towers are indeed a ghetto and the plan they announced seems like a short-term fix rather than a real solution... The things we find to argue about once the seasons over...

April 26, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Roadkill_Rob (anonymous) says...

If he's good enough for Coach Self, he's good enough for me.

It sounds like he can play some mean defense and that's what won it for us this year.

April 26, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

melrank (anonymous) says...

rcaltrider - I don't know, I've seen some pretty dumb ones :)

April 26, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ESUjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Tulsa3,
u say that Tulsa went to the sweet 16 before HCBS got there... He took them to an Elite 8 so wouldnt that be an upgrade??? also two years after HCBS left they went to the dance... those kids would have been Self recruits also... Remember the unbelievable Illini team that lost to UNC in the ship??? They were all Self recruits as well... And as far as Taylor goes, doesnt it say something if he is also getting looks from Crean, Billy Donovan, Greenberg, Hewitt (if he even still coaches at GT), as well as HCBS??? I think this kid is legit

April 26, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

frompekka2sasha (anonymous) says...

kupark- What about the Morris twins? I think they are going to be scorers who will be taught how to play defense. The rest of this class is the solid defensive-minded type that we will be watching beat down "soft" teams come tourney time.

April 26, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jbrownjib (anonymous) says...

CP, Didn't KU beat VT in their major sport Football? I didn't know they played BB. KU has tradition and Bill has a ring. I'd choose KU!

April 26, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkitup (anonymous) says...

Aren't they recruiting another guy from that school for next year as well? Perhaps that has a little something to do with it. Kind of like Aaron Miles and Michael Lee...buddies from the same school. It would make me more likely to choose a school if one of my buddies was already there. Just a thought.

April 26, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

why self wants taylor...

i'm amazed some persons doubt that Self should give Taylor a ride if one opens.

Self needs at least six guys on the team to fill the 1, 2 and 3 spots every year. Ideally, these guys have to be able to play great defense and be happy scoring 7-12ppg maximum whether starting, or coming off the bench for minutes. These kinds of guys are mostly NOT in the top 10 at their positions, certainly not top 5.

Self has clearly convinced himself that 3-4 year perimeter guys who are defensive animals (but lacking the total NBA package) are what he has to keep well stocked in on the perimeter to always be one, or two Top 10 players at a position away from going deep in the Madness.

Its hard to argue with his logic...if he can keep finding these sorts of 3-4 year guys.

These kinds of lock-down defenders, operating on team defensive schemes of attack and disrupt can clearly keep the great one and done stars under their averages, and they absolutely hamstring the average D1 players.

With these kinds of players well stocked, all Self has to do is keep shopping for 2 top Top 10-20 players, or even his first true one and done guy. He wanted Derrick Rose bad and almost got him. He'll get one eventually.

April 26, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Self also knows he loses one guy every other year to problems fitting into his team concept, or adapting to his defensive demands, or getting injured, or just lacking the want to. Therefore, he's got to grab a guy like Taylor, if he can.

Self also knows Reed and Teahan are very likely never going to be able to play the kind of defense Self needs.

He's also got to grab Taylor just for numbers, if Chalmers leaves. Frankly, even if Chalmers stays, he'll probably ask someone to give up their ride. Brady?

And Self is positioning for Taylor's teammate, Cheek, next year, so he doesn't have let everything ride on Xavier "I want to go everywhere" Henry, or Lance Stephenson saying yes.

To those who say he should get a big instead, I'm sure Coach Self would agree with you, but he can't find one apparently. When you can't land the likes of Ater Majok this late, and a player like Morgan would rather stay at the black hole of LSU, than switch, even after an NC, then you've got to figure Coach Self is just too little too late in the big man recruiting wars this year.

Hey, I've always said he's a much better coach than he is a recruiter. He is a good recruiter, not a great one. Except for Rush, he hasn't landed anyone who could step in and start from the first game and be counted on as a cornerstone. Guys like Howland at UCLA, or Coach K at Duke, or Roy at UNC land someone like that EVERY year.

Self has done fabulous things with good talent.

I'd much rather have a terrific COACH like Self than a terrific recruiter like the others mentioned above.

Self has proven he can win 80 percent of his games plus a ring with good talent.

The guys mentioned above have only been able to do the same with lots of talent rolling in every year.

Heck, with the kind of talent Coach K had for awhile, he should have won several more rings than he did.

We just have to hope that over time, some top talent decides they want to play for the best Coach.

It didn't happen for Wooden until he was at UCLA for ten years.

I expect the same will be the case for Self...if he stays that long.

April 26, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

creightonjayhawk (anonymous) says...

question? with all these recruits for the '08 class, how many scholarships do we figure to have available for '09. Seems to be more top talent available for us in that class. Any thoughts?

April 26, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jmorgan54 (anonymous) says...

The only thing that bothers me about this (I love Bill Self ... who doesn't) is why Coach keeps going to the east to recruit when the Midwest also has some great kids. On the other hand Coach Self is recruiting from all over the U.S. ... Mario from Alaska, Sasha from Florida, Russell from NYC ... (I think I have that right), but the kids like Raef and Wayne Simien and Brandon from this area are able to have their families here, and can be more grounded. It's tough for a kid to be that far away from home. Russell really struggled his first year. Just a comment ...not a criticism ... The recruiting has been superb, and when combined with the coaching, there's not much better that could be done.

April 26, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dhbball (anonymous) says...

JM - He recruited Conor Teahan from KC and incoming frosh Travis Reliford from KC. This is pretty much heart of midwest. Rodrick for Cali. Self spreads the love around. Self is everywhere you want to be :)

April 26, 2008 at 11:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

milehighhawker (anonymous) says...

I believe DJ is from OK. He tried to get james anderson who chose OK ST but he was from Ark I believe. Self spreads it throughout the country unlike Roy who only recruited Cali it seemed like.

April 27, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cooonrod (anonymous) says...

someone said we need more size.... we have 7 footer with Cole ,
6-10 and 6-9 Morris brothers,
6-8 Quintrell
(remember Darnell and Shady 6-8 and 6-9 and they played Strong!)
6-5 , 6-5 and 6-3 also signed.

UNC Tyler was only 6-8
UNC and UCLA guards much smaller than our guards and media acted as if they were best 2 guards in nation.. HA
Memphis "the Beast" Dorsey 6-9

KU top 8 class right now and could sign another....

KU in Great Bill Self hands

April 28, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )