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Kansas recruit Landen Lucas watches the action during the second half on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.
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Portland, Ore., basketball big man Landen Lucas — who attended Kansas University’s Elite Camp last spring — had the Jayhawks high on his original list of schools.
“A lot of people don’t know they were in my top seven. This isn’t something new. KU was an option for more than this last week,” said Lucas, who, following the Oct. 31 commitment of Kaleb Tarczewski to Arizona, became pivot priority No. 1 for the Jayhawks.
Flattered at the interest — and eager to not let an opportunity go by — Lucas visited KU on Friday and Saturday, and after returning home Sunday, orally committed to play hoops at KU.
The son of former Oregon standout Richard Lucas, who also visited Washington, Cal, Stanford and Tennessee, will sign his national letter Tuesday at his high school, a day before the conclusion of the early signing period.
“It actually was hard,” Lucas said of choosing a school that had him on the back burner for a while, “but Kansas was the only school I would have picked that late. They jumped in. They jumped in strong. I really feel that even though they came in late, for some weird reason I feel I’ve known them for a long time.”
Lucas, who is not in Rivals.com’s current list of top 150 players, started his high school career at Sunset High in Portland, moved to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., last year and is now back in Portland at Westview High.
Lucas, whose mom, Shelley, is a teacher, has a near-perfect grade-point average and is not expected to have any eligibility issues.
“It was everything,” Lucas said of his choosing KU. “The opportunity to develop there under coach Manning (Danny, big man coach) and coach (Bill) Self in that system was really appealing to me. They want me as an anchor for the team, and that’s what I’m going to do for them. I’m definitely excited to get out there and hopefully help them out.”
Lucas said he had a great time on his KU visit, which included a seat behind the bench at Friday’s KU-Towson game.
“I went in there seeing if I could fit in,” he said. “Coach Self made it clear what they needed help with and how I could fit in the KU system. What appealed to him (Self) was the inside/out part of my game. I can guard a five. I can play a four, though. That offense is appealing to me. My dad likes the fact the big men make a lot of decisions in the offense.”
Also ... “KU has a great history. They develop big men, and that’s important,” Lucas said.
Lucas — who averaged 6.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks his junior year at Findlay — said Sunday turned out to be one of the happiest days of his young life.
“Everyone knows it is one of the biggest decisions you can make,” he said of choosing a college. “It’s a decision that makes me want to go in the gym and work hard for next year. I want something to motivate me. That’s exactly what I’m getting from this commitment. I wish I could get on campus and start working out right now, but obviously I have to wait until the end of this year.”
Westview coach Pat Coons is looking forward to working with the Lucas this season.
“Landen’s got a good body on him,” Coons said. “He’s a good, strong kid that is only going to get a lot stronger. He carries his frame in a large way, so he’s got the type of body that he’s going to keep putting on muscle and he’s going to keep putting on bulk, which is going to make him a heck of a post-up kid. One of his assets is that he can step away and shoot. He’s got a really nice touch for a big kid, but he’s not going to run outside and shoot all of the time. At the same time, he’s a kid, with his body that can rebound. He’s a natural shot blocker and rebounder.”
He’s not yet ranked, thus may not excite the masses as did No. 20 Tarczewski. Yet it’s possible he’ll make KU fans someday forget about not landing the Arizona player.
“I will make sure you guys do (forget),” the easy-going Lucas said with a laugh.
KU’s Class of 2012 consists of Lucas, Perry Ellis and Zach Peters. KU will have one scholarship left to award if Thomas Robinson, as expected, turns pro after the season. KU would have two to give if Justin Wesley returned to walk-on status. He is on scholarship this year after transferring from Lamar as a walk-on. The Jayhawks are awaiting word from Andrew White, 6-6, 210 from Miller School in Chester, Va. He has visited KU, West Virginia, Louisville and Texas with Georgetown trying to get involved late.
Peters, 6-9 from Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, will sign his KU letter at a banquet tonight.
ESPN says ...
Here’s ESPN.com’s scouting report on Landen Lucas: “He has a solid frame with ideal length and he is becoming much stronger as well. His body has really matured over the past year and as a result he is becoming much more physical. He has excellent fundamentals (footwork) in the paint area and he understands the nuances of scoring in the paint area. He utilizes the pump fake very well and he always appears to be on balance while operating in the paint area.
“With this added bulk, he has lost some of his bounce and he is generally regarded as a rim-level player. In addition, while posting up, he is almost too patient as he has a tendency to react slowly to what the defense is giving him. With is lack of high-level lift, he needs to attack quicker and utilize his well-schooled fundamentals (pump fakes and pivot moves) to score more effectively. In addition, he needs to keep the ball higher while operating in the post so the guards can’t get to him.
“Lucas is considered one of the better power forward/center-types on the west coast. Due to his physical nature and advanced skill set he should be a viable recruit for the high-major level. He doesn’t have great bounce, but he does have good hands, excellent foot work and a high basketball IQ to compete at that level.”
Behind the Lens: Game Over April 19, 2012
Jeff Withey says he considered leaving early April 9, 2012
Final thoughts following KU's run to national championship game April 3, 2012
Elijah Johnson and Tyshawn Taylor post-game interviews April 3, 2012
Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson: Linked through their KU careers April 2, 2012
Comments
carterpatterson (anonymous) says…
Welcome to the Jayhawk Nation!
ahpersecoachingexperience (anonymous) replies…
Now, please gawd, let this kid be eligible.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
It sounds like that won't be a problem.
kackley (anonymous) replies…
ah gawd please let ahpersecoachingexperience lose his ability to type.
JayDocMD (anonymous) replies…
It may actually be a problem, since he went to three different schools including a prep school. Multiple schools / Prep schools seems to be the unifying theme for all the other kids who have had problems qualifying.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
I bet part of the deal with him going to Findlay related to his mother making sure the move (and his curriculum at Findlay) wouldn't tarnish his eligibility.
GPA is only part of the eligibility issue.
Biek (anonymous) replies…
I'm extremely excited to have this kid. He has a terrific frame for Danny and Hudy to start with. I expect big things from this kid his 3rd and 4th year. I have a feeling we will be looking back and glad KT made the decision to goto Arizona opening up the door for LL Cool Landen.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) says…
Sorry, couldn't be less excited. Getting underwhelming low-ranked players is how long droughts of mediocrity begin...and before you scorn me for saying so, save it. You know I'm right. Regardless, I wish the young man well.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) replies…
Wish the young man well by being a jerk. Riiight.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Sorry, not going to sugar coat it. I'm not excited. I know the staff went "all in" for KT, but I would hoping for a better "Plan B". I can certainly wish him well even if I'm not excited it's at KU.
dnvrhawk (anonymous) replies…
booooooooooooooooo!!!
MinnesotaJay (anonymous) replies…
Give the guy a break, for goodness sake. If he's not excited, he's not excited. I've seen a helluva lot worse comments in here. Besides, he did wish the kid well.
I'm excited, but then again, I'm excitable. Maybe he'll be a big-time producer in his freshman year. Then again, maybe we'll have to wait until his senior year to get another championship. Whatever.
yates33333 (anonymous) replies…
I agree. We all hope he can become another Danny Manning.
Can you teach "bounce" and how to play above the rim. Hopefully, the ESPN evaluation is wrong. BTW, how tall is he?
JayhawkJohn (anonymous) replies…
One word HUDY!
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
No you can not teach "bounce" fast twitch muscle fiber is genetic.
chiefs386 (anonymous) replies…
That is a false statement. Based on what you said, you can NOT get faster or quicker if yoiu work out the right way...which is bull.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
I didn't say you cant maximize your genetic make up, but simply you can not change it.
Everyone becomes a better athlete in college, the job of scouts is to indetify to prospects who have the genetic make up to improve the most.
A player with "bounce" is going to improve more than a player with out it, even if they both improve.
CalHawk (anonymous) replies…
Not only that, but not every good college basketball player has to be a "fast-twitch" NBA prospect in order to be very successful at the college level. A smart player with good technique can do quite well at this level. His name escapes me right now, but back in the 90-91 season, we went to the Final Four powered by a forward who wasn't a "fast twitch" guy, but really understood the pump fake to get hi man up and out of position, Richard Scott? I think that was his name. I trust our staff can do great things with a player who is big, strong and smart.
Drr05 (anonymous) replies…
quit crying, you sound like a loser, give the kid a chance too show himself before judging. Bill Self could care less what a dumb punk like you think anyways, thats why he is the coach and your just you ( loser ).
JHawk241 (anonymous) replies…
Could Self know something we don't know about the NBA labor negotiations? I had heard rumors they were going to potentially go the baseball route and allow players to declare out of HS, but if they went to college make them stay 3 years. Perhaps a lot of these guys we are missing on are going to go pro this year anyway? Its a random thought, but otherwise welcome to the family Landen.
lonestar_jayhawk (anonymous) replies…
NBA Owners are asking for minimum age of 20 or two years in college before they can be drafted. Union is asking for minimum to be 18; they want to go back to high school kids going right to the NBA. Smart money is on no change to the rule and to stay with 19 and the One-and-Done.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
If they were going to the NBA after this year anyway, and Self thought that was a problem, why would he recruit them in the first place?
escaped_labrat (anonymous) replies…
Thanks for the input TXBBall55.....hmmmm....wait a second, are you a Longhorn.
BoulderHawk (anonymous) replies…
I have seen video on this guy. He has good back to the basket skills which requires good footwork. Unusual for a big man out of high school. He is also a good defender. He will get even better under Manning. Glad your not advising HCBS and staff.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
I don't need to "advise" HCBS. They're already chasing much better players (like Parker) and Lucas knew he had to act fast. The comments down below that Landen is more favorable than TC is beyond hysterical. At least I'm honest enough to admit when I’m still upset HCBS lost his #1 target big man this year.
sportjunky (anonymous) replies…
Remember, when Thomas Robinson was recruited, he wasn't as ballyhooed either. Now he's an All-American kind of player. The KU coaches see something. It would be one thing if we had been sliding down the Big 12 for the last few years, but, instead, we have been on top, and consistently so. I like Frank Martin, but he hit the top and has been sliding down. Nothing in Coach Self's resume suggests that this or will happen. I'll trust the coaches to know talent when they see it.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Uhhh, sorry to burst your bubble, but he was a 4-Star, #31 player (#10 forward) in the nation with a number of good offers.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/kansas/basket...
sportjunky (anonymous) replies…
I'll say it again, I'm fairly certain (but admit that I could be wrong) that he wasn't so highly rated until about the time that KU signed him. A "recent" article on this site told this story-- Self went to see another recruit and saw T-Rob and didn't know why he wasn't more highly recruited (I say "recent" because I'm getting old and that means some in the last year or so). I'm too lazy to look up the article to back up my claim. :-)
I'm not attacking you, just pointing out that I don't recall T-Rob being the top of everyone's recruiting list either, at least not until KU landed him. Again, I admit that I may be wrong. I'll trust our coaches to develop this kid into an awesome player.
I get your point-- he's not the top pick. Fine, but I'll take him with the track record of our coaches and their track record of developing talent like this.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
No need to back up your claim, I believe you. His offer list wasn't all that great.
Let's hope KU can work wonders for for Lucas. What worries me about Lucas is that for every T Rob, you seem to have three players like Jeff Graves, Niang, Padgett, Kaun, Giles, and Q. Thomas. Kaun was solid, but not T Rob by any means.
treed14ku (anonymous) replies…
Umm, were you aware that Padgett was the #7 recruit in the country in his class, Kaun was #34 and Giles was #62. This doesn't help your case that rankings are clear measures of how good a player will be. This actually goes to show that Kaleb T could be the next Padgett for all we know. Argument over, you lose.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Sorry, you're off. He's comparing T Rob (#31) to Lucas (unranked), and saying T Rob is a huge success. I was arguing that for every T Rob, there are many more that have failed (ranked highly and not so highly). It's not something I want to be right about, but...
BTW, KT was never even mentioned.
MichAveJHawk (anonymous) replies…
I'll make a comparision. How about Darnell Jackson. I think he went about 6'9", 240. Wasn't highly rated or recruited. Turned out to be a helluva player. Helped us win a Nat'l Championship. Manning will work his magic with this kid.
bewareofthephog (anonymous) replies…
Jeff Graves was a beast. He was a very talented basketball player.
ajhk (anonymous) replies…
+1
Very underrated and super talented though he did look "sleepy" hehe
T-Rob was not that underrated though he did feel slighted for not being on the McD's AA game.
TheSychophant (anonymous) replies…
You make good point. When a above average, but not highly ranked player signs with an elite program such as Kansas, they tend to move up considerably in the prep rankings. I think that was the case with Robinson.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Actually T Rob was a 5 star recruit untill the inevitable downgrade you receive once you sign with kansas. he was #24 when he commited
kuwells (anonymous) replies…
Dude, you said "ballyhooed". Are you Gary Bedore?
sportjunky (anonymous) replies…
Uh, nope. Gary's awesome, but I am in no way associated wioth LJW or KU Athletics or anything of the sort... I don't even live within a couple hundred miles of Lawrence, or even in an adjacent state.
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
You're joking right sportjunky? TRob was widely recruited as most players are who are in the top 50.
TRob was rivals #31..pretty hard for him to fly under the radar.
meremy (anonymous) replies…
I have a different take on this. Bill Self enjoys having a full stable of front court horses. I think the situation this season has reinforced this. You're now seeing the first of multiple 2012-13 frosh bigs. I'm excited about that.
ralster (anonymous) replies…
TXBBall,
Yeah, people like you said the same type of things about Sasha Kaun (project) and Darnell Jackson (project). If you are so good at predicting a kids future ceiling, why arent you making $$$ in Vega$ predicting other things too? We are talking about Danny Manning+Bill Self's developmental track record, which is frankly stellar. We have had Quintrell Thomas transfer, and Matt Kleinmann who was largely a practice player. Plus, this kid with a 3.71gpa is clearly smart enough to see whatever big picture that Kaleb Tarczewski missed. Give us the smart ones. There's a lot of smart basketball to learn in Selfball.
---------------------------------
Shouldnt you be gettin' ready to watch Rick Barnes lay another egg with your roster full of unguided talent????? Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Ok, for the 4th or 5th time, I live in Texas but I'm a KU fan.
Both Kaun and Jackson were 4-Star players (Kaun at #34 and Jackson at #54). Lucas is hundreds of players lower at an unranked position. I would do cartwheels for the #54 center/PF at this point.
Please get your facts in order before you spew hate. I don’t have anything against Lucas, I’m just shocked KU is reaching into the unranked level for guys. Let’s hope he pans out.
JayhawkJohn (anonymous) replies…
Don't let them get to you. In some of the idiots minds, if you aren't in Kansas you can't be a real KU fan.
I don't agree with you but I respect your right to state your opinion. Like I said in a previous post, let HUDY have him for a while. He will be a changed manchild.
sportjunky (anonymous) replies…
Look, folks, I'm not necessarily jumping to his defense, but I do get his point. He's not saying this is a bad recruit, just not the top recruit. He's correct, and the article even says that we had stopped recruiting him for a while because we went after the kid who committed to AZ. I disagree that this is how a team starts a downward progression to mediocrity-- there's nothing to support that statement because we have taken kids like this and made them into excellent players, and we consistently win. Nevertheless, TXBBall is correct that this kid was not our first choice.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Sasha Kaun (#34)
D Jack (#54)
Lucas (N/R)
As sesame street so eloquently taught us:
"one of these things is not like the other"
ralster (anonymous) replies…
Ahh, the proven clueless bennybob: Go ahead and tell us 3 more times the "ranking" of DJax & Kaun, and I will say "project", "project", "project"...get it?
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Projects, got it
know what the take away is?
guys ranked 30-50 are the four year guys everyone likes so much, the difference between them and someone not ranked like LL is the guys ranked 30-50 stay 4 years and then end up in the NBA, guys like LL just stay 4 years.
id rather have a team full of seniors with NBA talent than just a team full of seniors.
and why do you have a cumpulsive need to hurl insults and use profanity against anyone who disagrees with you? it really makes you look weak with your argurment.
lee3022 (anonymous) replies…
Hmm . . perhaps your comments are in good faith. Perhaps you are new to Kansas and do not know who coaches the team. Perhaps you have forgotten the pre-season All American at Kansas was a low-ranked recruit (well 31 is not top ranked). As were Marcus and Markieff Morris (both lottery picks). Perhaps you only want to start a debate on the merits of top-ranked one-and-done players vs. the three or four year big men who have consistently come in low and gone out higher to high. It is here if you want it.
It does not make sense to pine about the rankings when they are so wrong year after year. It does not make sense to rag on a coach who has 6 of the top 25 offered and considering Kansas even if they all but one choose a plethora of other schools. 1 for 6 is far better than Kentucky did this year (according to Rivals.com.) I am excited that coach Self has signed another player because, you see, I believe in a coach who wins 95% of his AFH games and 85% overall of his games. Long droughts of mediocrity? You are speaking to the wrong blog. These folks know a bit about basketball and Kansas.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
I don't even know where to start and I'm about to call it a day. Kentucky is killing KU right now in recruiting, to argue otherwise would be funny. Whether it translates into championships, who knows.
Over the last decade, KU has had 2-3 3-Star players on the active roster at any one time. Next year, they'll have twice that amount. I'm concerned, that's all.
BrownJuan (anonymous) replies…
"Kentucky is killing KU right now in recruiting, to argue otherwise would be funny. Whether it translates into championships, who knows."
Exactly. Two words: (1) Recruiting; (2) Results. Wringing your hands over what MIGHT happen in the future? Coach Self gets results in the here-and-now, what we call reality. Recruiting is largely what is called fantasy. Whether it translates into championships, who knows? Hey, you gotta point......
Welcome to KU Hoops, Mr. Lucas. Glad to have you onboard.
KStoCAHippie (anonymous) replies…
I don't know man... truth be told, I'm sort of happy with the brighter, not-so-highly ranked guys that we've been getting. It eliminates a lot of the one and dones and Self does a great job of turning them into excellent players. Henry and Selby were highly ranked and look what they did for us (nothing much, all hype, no title).
I know people'll get mad at me for saying so, but the Morris twins (although amazing natural talents) weren't exactly the brightest kids to wander out on our court... and in the end, I think that showed (and costed us). A lot of people are kind of counting this season out it seems, but I personally am really looking forward to it. We have a lot of guys with talent and several really BRIGHT guys with talent -- to me that kicks it up a level.
We'll see what everything really looks like after the KU/UK matchup... it'll be the true test of rather bright, TEAM players (albeit young) versus a bunch of one and dones and "names". If we keep it neck and neck, we're proving something about the rating system, if we win it... well, then that's something completely different.
As long as we hit our free throws, I'm smiling.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
I don't disagree the general direction of your comments. I just would prefer the team to target the guys ranked 15-75. You hopefully avoid most of the extreme head cases associated with some top 10 players without all of the mystery of extreme project players.
Kleave (anonymous) replies…
I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one TXBBall55.
This recruit is just fine for Bill Self's program, and I do not believe this type of thing results in mediocrity, and here's why...
Self is a basketball coach, not a hotshot recruiter NBA machinist like Calipari.
Calipari is setting a trend by opening up his revolving door program at UK and that's what's "hot" right now.
He pulls strings, and pays people off, and brings in all these hot shot, play-for-themselves recruits who don't play team ball and develop very little during their one year in college. College, for these Top 10 recruits these days, is just a one year purgatory on their way to the pros.
They all get together on the team that can line their pockets the most on their way to the League and maybe they gel and win a championship, maybe they don't, but either way, they look damn good doing it and all the NBA recruits get hot and bothered watching their games.
Self has tried to play this game for the last few years. You know what we got? One decent game out of Josh Selby, and two ineligible recruits. You know why they're ineligible? Because Kansas is a (relatively) clean program, and we don't know how to give the NCAA the slip like Calipari does. IE, Derek Rose never actually finished high school.
Bill Self coaches players for multiple years and develops them. That's his thing. He doesn't run a circus of ballyhooed self-centered kids who play strictly for themselves...at least that's not what he's built for...and we've seen what happens when he tries to do that.
Still relatively successful seasons, but not the real well built team type fundamental basketball that Bill Self actually coaches.
You develop this kid under Manning for a couple years, and he turns into the next big time NCAA post player. He actually takes the time to mature as a player instead of taking a pit stop on his way to the big money.
Is this definitely what's going to happen? I don't know. Nobody does. Would I rather have a 5 star recruit? Sure, if he's not some @sshat hotdog who thinks he's LeBron. But you really couldn't be less excited about this kid? I could be less excited about a whole lot of things than I could be about this kid.
So, yes, I am scorning you, because I honestly believe you are wrong. But seriously, not an insult or slam towards you, just facilitating healthy debate.
RockCaCO3 (anonymous) replies…
Good post. You hit the nail on the head: Self's a coach, Calipari is a recruiter. Self is all about the team, not OAD superstars.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Your comments are fair, and I have no problem with them at all. This is actually the type of response I was hoping for when I left my initial comments. I honestly didn't expect the widespread childish name-calling. I at no point was disrespectful towards Mr. Lucas.
As far as your actual response, we'll just have to agree to disagree. HCBS isn't pursuing these guys as option #1, 2, or even 3. In 2011, for example, we all know Brad Beal, Quincy Miller, DeAndre Daniels, Josiah Turner, Jabari Brown, and Trevor Lacey were all highly ranked recruits that Coach Self was hot after. Getting the army of 3-Star players wasn't HCBS's "plan". He has been a top recruiter, but has really struggled as of late.
I didn't come on to the board and say anything about the 2011 class at the time they were signed because I knew he struck out badly and needed bodies. Given the big guy "depth" next year (as many of have discussed), I would have preferred the staff to continue to recruit some of the better bigs since they have months until the 2nd signing date. Then again, perhaps HCBS figured Lucas is the best available, so why wait.
Regardless, at no point in over 10-15+ years has KU been as supported by as many role/project/3-Star players as it will be in 2012. I'm just very concerned. End of rant.
Kleave (anonymous) replies…
Well that's what I'm saying. I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your reasoning, just the grim outlook.
HCBS should be getting the top ten recruits, but current culture has harbored an expectation.
These kids are pumped up from the time they're 14 to think that college is a necessary evil on the way to the NBA and they can go to whoever can line their pockets the best (Calipari).
These top ten recruits shouldn't be OADs because even if they have that talent, they still need a lot of training.
I'm just trying to put it out there that I believe Self and his staff have the ability to turn these 3 star kids into big time playmakers over multiple years of playing at KU.
The OADs would be incredible if they stayed multiple years working with a staff like Kansas', but that's just not going to happen and it doesn't work in Bill's system.
So I guess I would agree with you that Self is probably saying that these are the best he's going to get to fit his system, so why wait...
End of rant :)
Kberth2011 (anonymous) replies…
He's not talking about top 10 recruits. He's talking about Thomas Robinson and Morris twins recruits that we are used to having and have made us the winningest team over the last 5 years by 15 games.
Today my uncle (syracuse fan) asked me what was going on with our recruiting. I couldn't give him an answer because it's down. Down so low that I can't really tell him why we are doing this.
I fully trust Bill Self and Co but it's somewhat frustrating that we can't even land at least a Quintrell Thomas.
jayhawkpam (anonymous) replies…
+100
jmwait (anonymous) replies…
rankings mean a lot. see josh selby. not too excited about this guy, but where rivals ranks him has no impact whatsoever.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Someone close to me once said:
"If you are going to dig yourself into a big hole, make sure and bring a shovel big enough to dig yourself out."
Unfortunately.... I had to learn this lesson the hard way.
SaltyJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
You clearly don't understand the way Coach Self works, and have not paid much attention to the past several years of KU basketball... Lets look at the two highest ranked players that Coach Self has landed, Xavier Henry and Josh Selby. Look how much that did for our team... not much. Now look how much Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar contributed to our program... a lot!! It's more effective to pick up 4 year players that can put in two great seasons, that reloading with a bunch of freshman who bolt after one year. This guy is an athletic big man. Do you remember when the Morris twins arrived at KU? They were terrible. Danny Manning will take this kid and turn him into a 4 year star.
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
What about Chalmers? Or Sherron, Russel Rob, Kuan, Darrel Arthur and Darnell Jackson who at #54, was the lowest ranked player..
Even Rodrick Stewart was a 5 Star recruit and Cole Aldrich was #30.
I think it is you who hasn't paid attention.
doolindalton (anonymous) replies…
Do you really trust Rivals (or any other service for that matter) ratings as a guide for determining who you get excited about as a prospect? Surely after you witnessed the likes of Josh Selby and Xavier Henry attempt to play college basketball for KU, the realization has struck you that the 1-150 attempt to grade high schoolers is basically a form of entertainment and not a reliable analysis regarding how the player actually turns out.
bville_hawk (anonymous) replies…
Well, you gotta admit that any guy who is 6'10", 240# and averages 6&6 (or whatever his exact numbers are) in high school doesn't deserve much of a ranking. Just saying...
sallyp (anonymous) replies…
where are you from TXBBall55? Must be Mizzo. only a Missouri person would be so crappy. Wishing him well after your comments isn't going to undo what you said. It is so refreshing to get a top player to sign early and be excited about KU basketball. he won't regret it and we will be so fortunate to have him.
ja3hawk (anonymous) replies…
Right... because highly rated recruits work so well ALL of the time: See Josh Selby.
Not that Selby wasn't good, I just think too much weight is given to the top 100 players. Development is more important: See Darnell Jackson.
Hawk90 (anonymous) replies…
08 title starting 5
Kaun
Jackson
Rush
Chalmers
Robinson
Back ups
Arthur
Collins
Aldrich.
All of those players where no lower then 4 starrs. With 4 being 5 stars and 5 of them on some site.
LAJayhawk (anonymous) says…
Rock Chalk. Welcome aboard.
Glad to see you don't have a weak ego and are affected by petty things like a late recruitment. You went with the school you wanted the most. Looking forward to watching you play, Landen.
Welcome to the family.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…
Landen Lucas is a good "get". I don't look at the sout or rivals rankings alone. Sometimes you have to look at the other school recruiting a guy. The twins and TRob weren't McDonald's AAs or considered Top-10 and they are all three going to be making money in the NBA (should they ever solve the lockout) for a long, long time. Danny Manning will make this kid great too.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
All three were top 25/30 recruits. Sorry, not proving your case.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) replies…
Depending on what service you are looking at. I'm not worried about it. 6'10" 240 doesn't grow on trees. He has the tools to be a really good forward for KU. Plus, I'm not trying to argue with you. Look at his offer list from Rivals. Obviously those programs seemed to like Lucas fine.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Agree 100%, offers mean more than what Rivals says. My point is there are better players with even better offer lists still available. I didn't say one negative thing about him other than I'm not excited. That isn't a crime...
sportjunky (anonymous) replies…
Nope, T-Rob was off of most people's radar and not one of the top 30 (or even 60) recruits. There was an article on this site a few months ago that talked about this. As I recall (and I admit this may be wrong), until right after he signed with KU, he had barely cracked the top 100. His stock didn't rise until after KU signed him. Now he's an All American candidate. I said it above and I'll say it again. These coaches know talent and I'll trust them to get it and develop it.
NebraskaJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
The twins were way down on the radar...like in the 90s I think before Self recruited them. With the coaching staff & strength/conditioning program we have, this guy could be pretty good.
dylans (anonymous) replies…
TRob Rivals #31, E. Johnson #24, Markieff #49, Marcus #29, Taylor #77, Releford #70 Withey #36
NebraskaJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
That was the final rating, not when he started recruiting them. They Morris's were in the 90s.
AaronHawk19 (anonymous) replies…
We already landed a top 25 recruit in Perry Ellis, Withey will be a top 40 recruit as a senior, and Traylor is raw, but practicing for a year against T Rob should help. I don't mind having a Zach Peters and Landon Lucas filling out the roster. You need four year players who learn the system and it seems that Danny turns almost any top 40 player into a draft pick within three. I also believe west coast players are traditionally ranked lower because of less exposure and the "soft" label on the west coast. This kid had offers from 6 PAC 12 schools, Georgetown, NC State, and Tennessee, it is not as if he is a complete scrub. I firmly believe for 2013 we do need a couple 5 star bigs, but I also don't think that is out of the question considering we are on about 16 of the top 20 players lists.
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
txbball has his facts 100% correct.
LAJayhawk (anonymous) says…
According to Rivals, he also received offers from Arizona, Georgetown, NC State, Oregon, and USC aside from those listed above. Texas, apparently, also had interest, but did not offer (according to Rivals).
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketba...
LAJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
P.S. A look at Rivals will tell you he is an "Outstanding" rebounder (their word) and has a 3.71 GPA.
Definitely looking forward to a big, strong body with high intelligence. You know Self and Manning will do wonders with that.
ahpersecoachingexperience (anonymous) says…
nicknames?
jhawkrulz (anonymous) replies…
If he makes the highlights a lot, we can call him "Lucas"films or films for short.
If he powers down dunks than we can say the following:
Or the "Force" as in Luke use the "Force".
Landen "ladders" Lucas, if he climbs up to his ability.
Landen "Lucky" Lucas
But I'm really not good that this game, but I'm sure you will get some good ones on here.
LAJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
"Something Something Something Darkside"
MinnesotaJay (anonymous) replies…
When he steals the ball, it'll be a 'Landen Strip!' Perfect for an Al McGuire-type 'Aircraft Carrier.'
Welcome aboard, Mr. Lucas.
ralster (anonymous) replies…
Luke Jayhawker
Jayhawk1116 (anonymous) replies…
L Train
Scatterhawk (anonymous) replies…
Highway to Heaven.
odc213 (anonymous) says…
Congrats to KU and congrats to Lucas.
To Lucas's family and friends, as you
might read this, our comment section
here is full of trolls (non-KU fans) and
the like.... we look forward to your
arrival... and TXb-ballers55 is obviously
well... a troll. Best Wishes from KU
Nation.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Not a troll at all, just not excited. There are quite a few better "bigs" on the board. I'm not going to be like "wooo hoo" we signed the 46th best center in basketball after being within inches of #1.
odc213 (anonymous) replies…
Great professional b-ball players are born that way. Great college players are developed.... Great college players are made.
LAJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
Doesn't mean we can't land another big -- one you might be more excited about. Your logic is flawed. You have no idea what "plan B," or whatever, is.
If you're not excited, fine, but you don't have to keep droning on about it. It definitely makes you look like a troll.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Fair enough. I was just hoping that Tony Parker was coming into the mix. That would have been big. If not Parker, at least Chris Washburn.
With White (and others) still on the board, I can't see another big.
kueric (anonymous) replies…
Tony Parker I'll give you. Although Chris Washburn is the type I'm not sure I'd want over Lucas.
I say that not because of rankings (N/A vs. 111) but because I like the names Arizona, Georgetown, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas and Washington a LOT more than I do Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M (and while I know some kids want to stay close to home when programs from around the country are in consideration as opposed to just local ones I think it shows that a lot of coaches (with a lot of different styles) like what they see in young Mr. Lucas.
Also I know he's not ranked as high but as mentioned, I think 3 in the front court along the lines of Graves, Kaun, TRob, DJackson, etc. would keep up top10 and in the running for NCs depending on guard play, chemistry, etc.
odc213 (anonymous) replies…
Matt Damon
southwindjay (anonymous) replies…
Apparently you have not been much of a student of Bill Self. Bill has made a living with these types of recruits in being able to make them in to a lot more than their ranking. Oh yes, and winning championships with them. But maybe you know better.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
What history? Are you insane? Other than Reed and Morningstar, he's had nothing in the last 7 years that wasn't top talent. Certainly no "diamonds in the rough". Let's start in 2004:
2004
4-Stars: Giles, Jackson, and Kaun
5-Stars: Robinson
2005
4-Stars: Downs (gone)
5-Stars: Chalmers, Rush, and Wright
2006
3-Stars: Morningstar
4-Stars: None
5-Stars: Arthur and Collins
2007
3-Stars: Reed
4-Stars: Aldrich
5-Stars: None
2008
4-Stars: Little, Morris brothers, Releford, Taylor
5-Stars: None
2009
4-Stars: T Rob
5-Stars: Henry and Johnson
2010
3-Stars: Woolridge (gone)
5-Stars: Selby
southwindjay (anonymous) replies…
Again, you prove our point. Now go find a hobby you know something about. Oh, and yes a different team you obviously know more than anyone else including the coaches.
When you compile better stats then let us know.
Love these bone heads.
Alabamastreet (anonymous) replies…
You are a troll. You've been called out. You also post like a girl.
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
So if someone doesn't agree with you they're a troll?
TXBBall55 tried using facts to back his position..
But if you cant refute the facts then attack the the person...
I guess I must also be a troll, even though I follow KU basketball year round.
Last years class was #1 Selby and #120 Royce Woolridge.
Neither did much.
I wish nothing for the best for Landon Lucas.
But cannot help from wondering how good Willie Cauley might have become after learning from D. Manning.
babyjay1 (anonymous) says…
Welcome Landen and please ignore the trolls that probably aren't real KU fans... Happy to have you and welcome to the greatest university in the country and the best place, by far, to play college ball!!
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
I grew up in Lawrence and have multiple degrees from KU. More than 95% of you wannabe KU fans can say. I wasn't disrespectful at all, just said I'm not excited. Get a grip.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) replies…
Fine, don't be excited. No one actually asked you if you were excited. You decided to come on and complain about it. BTW, I grea up in Lawrence and am a KU graduate too. That doesn't mean I think I'm more qualified to be a KU fan than other KU fans.
baldjedi (anonymous) replies…
Second generation Jayhawk, have my undergrad and masters from KU so we don't care. Marcus was the 10th best PF while Markieff was 17th. Landen Lucas is the 27th best Center.
Derrick Williams was the 32nd best PF and ended up All-American and 2nd pick in the draft. I am so glad Self doesn't listen to you because it isn't always about numbers, but what the coaches know they can do with the kid.
babyjay1 (anonymous) replies…
Sorry... I also have "more than one degree" from KU... If that's what is important to you! However, unlike you, I have quite a bit of faith in HCBS and his recruiting abilities. And, I feel that as a fan base, we should welcome new recruits, not sound like are unworthy.
sniper60 (anonymous) replies…
So you have said that enough already......if you dont like the other comments then dont respond............you are the one who keeps inciting the responses to yourself..........get a grip.
NebraskaJayhawk (anonymous) replies…
rofl Now that is a funny comment. It makes no difference whether or not you attended the university, Txbball55. Heck, you don't even pay your taxes in the state of Kansas like the other 95% of us.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Fair enough. As someone who has been a die-hard Jayhawk fan for 35 years, grew up in Lawrence, and went to KU, I don't appreciate being called a troll by t-shirt fans.
I don't think having a degree from KU necessarily equates to being a fan, nor does not having a degree mean you aren't.
Jaylark (anonymous) says…
Shows how little TXBBall55 really knows about BBall. Better remove those 5 letters from your posting name.
Tharpe was a plan B when higher guards went elsewhere. He looks great.
KU went after this kid at one point and then came back after the East Coast 7 footer went to Arizona.
I am quite certain that Landen Lucas is a find.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Uh, wow. For one, it's too early to say Tharpe is some huge success (though, things are looking good). Second, Tharpe was top 100. That's all I'm saying in this case. There are much better (top 100-150) bigs available and KU is after them. That's why he committed so quickly.
lee3022 (anonymous) replies…
The ranking services are very weak out of the top 25. This is partially because they focus so much on the 'stars'. It is also because there are many players that do not do AAU in the summer. Another reason is that the ranking services are not really very skilled in seeing the potential of a player. They are not college head coaches. The also do not get the background of players as college coaches can.
I am confident that if Landon was the player they went after when Kaleb chose Arizona he was the player that best fit the program. The sense of integrity I get from coach not recruiting Landon while Kaleb was strongly considering KU is far better than Kentucky who must have made 20 or more offers for this class.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…
"Sorry, couldn't be less excited. Getting underwhelming low-ranked players is how long droughts of mediocrity begin..." TXwhateverdumbdonkey
Seven straight titles. What in the hell are you talking about? We just signed a five star player. This kid should be a great complimentary player to our studs. I understand that you are a consistent troll, but at least come up with some reasonable complaint.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
You do know the difference between the past and future, right? Coach Self is struggling right now with recruiting and KU is about to lose its one known blue chip player (T Rob) after this year. This recruiting class is very important.
TwistedFish31 (anonymous) replies…
Jealousy lives in Texas...
lee3022 (anonymous) replies…
According to your earlier post any player in the 100-150 range is great. That would include most of the next class. Ben will be a rookie next year and he is definitely blue chip. Perry will be a freshman next year and he is definitely blue chip. Do we really want more Josh's? Perhaps but not many.
The worry lines you show must also believe the coach is not competent. How is he struggling? The player he just signed made front page news at Rivals.com so perhaps he is not as unknown as you contend. Certainly the team could use Shabazz. But one thing all the ranking services say is this is a mediocre class. It is exactly the sort of class to get role players.
Hawk90 (anonymous) replies…
First off, he never said a 100-150 range is great. Just said its better then unranked ( which is right) name one KU great in the past 10 years who was great and unranked?
KU62 (anonymous) replies…
There is a great deal of difference between having reasons (size, brains, footwork) to back up judgement and taking the word of ranking services who shuffle their lists every week and twice if somebody actually signs.
The only reason KU looks thin this year is the NCAA crapola about taking Acadamies/Agents/AAU coaches down a peg and deciding "partial qualification" might do that.
swunruhawk (anonymous) says…
Did anyone notice that DeAndre Daniels had a whopping 2 pts and couldn't hit a free throw in his regular season debut for UConn. I think Coach Self is doing just fine. RCJH
jhawkrulz (anonymous) replies…
I like that...I would agree it is early, but BS has always been known as someone who takes raw talent and transforms them to a successful player. And gets them to the next level...It will be interesting, and I have seen a lot of them not choose KU and end up never making the next step. Whereas BS has taken players that had no prayer making the NBA, but having successful careers either making it to the NBA or doing way better than anticipated overseas. Russell Robinson is a classic example, but look at Morningstar and Reed from last year, in addition, and Keith Langford. I wouldn't be surprised if Little from last year ends up in a good situation.
I agree with your thoughts!
AverageCitizen (anonymous) says…
I'm very excited to have a recruit that really wants to be a Jayhawk, is a good student, makes up his mind decisively and doesn't need as big presser to stroke his ego! Welcome aboard, Lucas!
Jabberhawky (anonymous) replies…
Average citizen, above average comment.
Couldn't agree w/you more.
jhawkrulz (anonymous) says…
I have always said the center position is the biggest transition from H.S. to D1 basketball. The reason is simple, most of them might play a near 7footer once or twice in their HS careers. A lot of times they don't get the fundamentals trained in them. That is why I love when Raw talent comes to KU. Danny can train the best of them the true fundamentals at that position. Danny even being the best, remained at KU for the full 4 years to develop those fundamentals and ended up being the #1 pick overall. I'm not saying that is the case, but some have said someone like TRob might end up near the top this year. Even as such, people that know they need to develop like Lucas has said, is music to my ears. I love to hear 6'10" 240 lbs (same weight and heigth as TRob) having the desire to workout with BS and DM and developing into a great player at KU.
Congrats and we are glad you chose us. Personally, I'm even happier about this win then the 7'0" 210 lb Tarc, who needs about 50 lbs to be successful.
Welcome to the best college basketball program in the world!!
kennethterry92 (anonymous) says…
Welcome to the Jayhawk nation Landon
jhawkrulz (anonymous) replies…
You mean Landen...let's get his name right!!
drgnslayr (anonymous) says…
Welcome, Landen!
trojanhawk (anonymous) says…
At least hoops and soccer can provide some happiness this year.
texashawk10 (anonymous) replies…
Soccer team lost 2-0 today.
oklajayhawk (anonymous) says…
This is very good news! We are in great shape, compared to the past couple of years at this point. If we can some how get a commitment from White this week we should be set. Then who knows, maybe Self will work his magic in the Spring again and snag Shabazz, just like he did with Henry and Selby. This class, with Ben and Jamari, should keep the championship streak going!
Alohahawk (anonymous) says…
Aloha and welcome aboard, Mr. Lucas.
Size matters because that's something that can't be taught. I'd say with the two towering timbers (Peters, and now, Lucas) KU should have a strong foundation to work around for the next couple of years. Add an inch or two to each (somehow shoes seem to make everyone that much taller), and KU should hold their own down low against about anyone. Put the two together with Ellis, stir in training by Manning and conditioning by Hudy. No problem. Let the feast began.
DDDHawk (anonymous) says…
Landen- Welcome to KU! You are welcomed with open arms by the fans, and will be glad you decided to become a Jayhawk. And we love that you are a good student as well. Good luck finishing your senior year!
lonestar_jayhawk (anonymous) says…
I am very excited about this recruit. I think he will play Kansas High/Low game better than Tarc. He is more athletic than Washburn. Think about the rotation next year....
4/5's - Zack Peters, Traylor, Withey, Lucas, Wesley (Ellis could play 4 too)
3 - Ellis, KY, Releford, Merv, McLemore
1/2's EJ, Tharpe (Releford and McLenore could play 2)
Might be nice to add one more combo guard: Nino Jackson? Andrew White? Shabazz?
Great Recruiting Year! Where is all the 'fans' that were announcing the sky was falling when we didn't land KT?
baldjedi (anonymous) replies…
I personally think a combo guard is the other thing we need to make this class. We are deep at 4/5 types and the 3. I wouldn't mind another Center since Withey will be a senior next year. Since we have McLemore and Traylor coming in so to speak as freshman next year we have a lot to work with in a year.
st20602 (anonymous) replies…
I don't think we'll need another center considering we're going after Julius Randle in 2013, who happens to be a good friend of Zach Peters. I think Nino Jackson would be the one to get the last scholarship after it's all said and done.
truehawk93 (anonymous) replies…
KT is water under the bridge.
Self has said that Ellis will play the 3 if possible.
I think Self has backed off of Jackson. He moved to Las Vegas from Ardmore, OK to increase his visibility, skill level and increase options. He voiced very early that he was a Jayhawk lean but appears he wants some love from other programs too.
I like White and Shabaaz at this point. I think with Lucas 6-10 and either White or Shabaaz, it would be a pretty strategic (not elite) class. I hope we can land both White and Shabaaz.
mikendal (KUFanSince1975) says…
Welcome to Kansas, young fella! It's amazing how Danny Manning, in particular, is the X factor when recruiting big men. I shouldn't be surprised--duh!
kansasalumn (anonymous) says…
I think this is a good pickup Next year we will have a good Front court with Peters, Eliis, Landen, Taylor as a redshirt Frosh, young, wesley and wither
I think we would need to get a new point or combo next
lonestar_jayhawk (anonymous) replies…
Andrew White or Nino Jackson would do fine.
rob4lb (anonymous) says…
In some ways, I think it is good to get players who will stick around for more than a year or two. The Shelby and Henry experiments were inconclusive. I'm KU was appreciably better because they were on the roster.
What impresses me about Bill Self is the improvement in his players in years 2, 3 and 4. I think of how Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kahn performed in the NC year. I think of the improvement of the Morris twins and Cole Aldrich. That has to be a selling point for some of the recruits.
I am hoping to see improvement this year in Releford and Johnson and mature leadership from Taylor.
DRsmith (anonymous) replies…
Actually the Selby recruitment was very conclusive. It proved HCBS can take a lotto pick and turn him in to a borderline 2nd rounder in one short year.
sniper60 (anonymous) replies…
Acedemics (late start), he was hurt also................kid never did fit in........only person who thought he was a lottery pick was himself! Self isnt going to change his system for a one and done..............no matter how good the kid thinks he is.
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
I've noticed that post players fair much better than guards do at KU..
TrizzHawk (anonymous) says…
welcome to the best place to play college bball in the nation landen !
jaybate (anonymous) says…
Well, Landon Lucas is either 6'7", 6'8", or 6'10".
This means he ought to be able to play 3, 4 and 5. :-)
globaljaybird (Phil) replies…
" I grew up in Lawrence and have multiple degrees from KU. More than 95% of you wannabe KU fans can say. I wasn't disrespectful at all, just said I'm not excited. Get a grip."
Not disrespectful one little bit. Wannabes?
Let's let the genius figure it out. He wants to be recognized anyway. Not getting enough (attention?) at home.
Some people gotta talk JB, so just let him ramble. They always contradict themselves anyway.
Jackalope7 (anonymous) replies…
Rivals and ESPN have him at 6'8". I'd go with that. Gets on my nerves that I have to go to ESPN or Rivals to fine out Landen's true measurements. But, it is what it is.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
+1
benjman25 (anonymous) says…
to TXBBall55 and others who feel like HCBS has lost his recruiting touch, just remember that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
one of the things that coach self's squads at KU have prided themselves on is their team first mentality ("foe"). lucas has already demonstrated that he buys into this philosophy by choosing KU despite our late entry into his recruitment. a national championship and seven big xii titles in a row (and counting) leads me to believe that we're much better off with a lower-ranked "team" guy than a higher-ranked prima donna.
brooksmd (anonymous) replies…
You're right. But there are some who look past the 7 straight Big 12 titles and complain we've only won one NC. Some people will never be happy.
jaybate (anonymous) says…
In order of commitment then...
Zach Peters 6'9" 240
Jamari Traylor 6'8" 240
Perry Ellis 6'8" 220
Landon Lucas 6'10" 240
Good lord, what if TRob decides he needs to stay another year to work on his jump hook?
Add experienced returnees...
Jeff Withey 7' 235 (forecast weight next year)
Justin Wesley 6'9" 230 (forecast weight next year)
Kevin Young 6'8" 200 (forecast weight next year)
No doubt about it. Bill Self has completely lost his ability to recruit and KU will be shorthanded next season. :-)
Not!
Self doesn't rebuild, or reload.
He rearms!!!!!!
People that look at this bunch and worry about a lack of stars just do not seem to be getting the strategy.
Self has 7 bigs, even though Perry and Kevin may committee at the three with Travis.
That's 35 fouls to give inside!!!!!
Anyone for some XTReme Muscle?
What the hell!
That's 35 cheap shots inside against Duke and MSU.
Next year's them may be:
Bring Me the Head of Ratso Izzo, er, Alfredo Garcia.
Or maybe call next years bigs The Wild Bunch.
Or maybe Self ought to park his rug and start dressing like Yul Brenner as Chris and call next years bigs The Magnificient Seven.
Or how about the Seven Deadly Dunks?
jayhawker_97 (anonymous) replies…
good points, lots of bigs.
our opponents will have to find ways to shoot behind the arc most of the time?
good luck with that.
it's time to deliver the menhirs!!
welcome to Jayhawk Nation, Mr. Lucas!
rock chalk!
Jayhawk1116 (anonymous) replies…
"The Forest"
derringer29 (anonymous) replies…
jaybate you have finally made a point that was worth reading, thank you guess it was worth the wait, great points!
derringer29 (anonymous) replies…
jaybate you have finally made a point that was worth reading, thank you guess it was worth the wait, great points!
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
Cut it out.
I can't take this kind of praise.
It goes to my head. :-)
Seriously, glad we found some common ground.
Common ground is like an ice berg.
There is always a lot more there than visible.
I will keep working to find more.
Rock Chalk!
globaljaybird (Phil) replies…
Godd stuff JB, you nailed it again!
AsadZ (anonymous) replies…
Bate, Magnificent. I cant wait for Xtreme Muscle Ball.
jaybate (anonymous) says…
Seven big men is more than Self has ever had.
SEVEN!
Insane!
What's he planning on doing?
Going big at the 3, 2 and 1!!!!!!!!
I love it.
Take what they give ya, Bill!!!!!!
DCLawHawk (anonymous) replies…
Kind of reminds me of that Illinois team that Self used to knock KU out of the NCAA tourney circa 2001.
derringer29 (anonymous) replies…
finally jaybate a view point that made some sense, your not bad to read when its not all sarcasim, great post hope more are like this one!
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Adding Andrew White would be a big step in that direction!
6'6" with long arms!
johnsont1 (anonymous) says…
TXball: what motivates you to make comments about people you've never seen play?
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Fair question. First, I'll admit I'm still butthurt about not getting TC. I really thought KU had him. As far as the player, I was just starting to get excited about some of the other higher ranked players that KU is after (ex: Tony Parker). KU has just been missing badly on recruits (Harrison Barnes, Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, Brad Beal, Quincy Miller, DeAndre Daniels, Josiah Turner, Jabari Brown, Trevor Lacey, etc.) and KU has just picked up with less than stellar pieces. Several of which have transferred or failed to qualify. I now live in Dallas and I'm tired of UT and Baylor a-holes rubbing it in my face.
rockchalkforlife (anonymous) replies…
I feel for ya about the UT and Baylor fans being jerks. But hell, they bring 5-star players all the time and can't do anything with them. That would be a great comeback! And just let them know that KU has 5 national championships, compared to 0 between Baylor and UT!
I'm happy to see players that want to come to KU. Peters was once a 4-star player, now down to 3, just like Lucas. I think HCBS recruits those players because not only do they want to be at KU, but he and his coaching staff can coach them up the way he wants.
HCBS will continue to recruit 5-star players (Ellis), so I'm not too worried about that. Overall, I'm happy and excited for Lucas to come because he has high ceiling and can be a beast under Hudy. Rock Chalk!
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Dallas is a good town, but the UT and Baylor (and now A&M) garbage is almost too much to handle.
I still think Peters is a "strategic" target with collateral upside, but I do think he'll be a good 'Hawk.
Neither Lucas nor his family need my support, but perhaps he'll grow on me.
rockchalkforlife (anonymous) replies…
I think Lucas will be a surprise player for KU. Maybe not his freshman year, but maybe sophomore or junior year.
KU will get more 5-star players in the future. Understand too that there weren't too many centers listed on rivals website. Doesn't say I didn't want Lucas, but this year's crop wasn't producing as many centers as usual.
Who knows? Maybe we'll get another 5-star player this year. We still have a chance. But I think I see where HCBS is going with his latest recruiting. He's backing off OAD players for awhile and he's wanting to get a great nucleus, or a strong foundation to bring future 5-star players in. Then again, I may be wrong. But I'm excited to see what the future Jayhawks will do!
kubball99 (anonymous) replies…
I think you're certainly entitlted to your opinion about Landen, but that was my question all along. What makes you "not excited" about Landen? Because he's not highly ranked? That's certainly fair, but just because he doesn't have four or five stars next to his name, doesn't mean he isn't a good player. From the sounds of it, Self and the Company had always had Landen on their list, but Kaleb was their top priority. Since they missed on KT, Landen was a good pickup for them. I am not jumping up and down with excitment either, but a smart kid, who wants to play basketball at KU, and has the size and fundamentals is a good pickup and a player who should thrive in Self's system.
As far as your UT and Baylor friends giving you a hard time, wins and losses on the court is what counts, not on the recruiting trail. KU has had both of their numbers the last several years, so until that changes, I wouldn't sweat losing recruits to either school. As many have said before, Banres and Drew are two coaches who find a way to do less with some of the best talent in the country year in and year out.
johnsont1 (anonymous) replies…
Obviously we want players that are rated high, but don't underestimate what a good coach can do with coachable players. Just look at this year's team, these guys are hustling their butts off so don't be surprised if it's a top 5 team again...
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Sorry, TC = KT. I went to two schools and TC is a recruit lost elsewhere. I'm sure most of you knew what I meant...
Jackalope7 (anonymous) says…
From what I can tell about this Landen's game, he's got pretty good footwork and is efficent with his movement. He active and seems to be a very good rebounder. Offensively, he's ok. The biggest con I can tell is he's not that explosive...but most of the footage I found was from 2010, which would make him a sophomore. And I don't see very many explosive sophomores. Nonetheless, we should be happy to have him. Welcome my friend!!!
BKRJMG (anonymous) says…
@TXball, I really thought most of your comments were stupid but then you really surprised when you mentioned our 2010 class was a dud, except for Selby. Sir, I suggest you pull you head out of Rick Barnes rear bc Selby was terrible. This showing you recruiting rankings don't mean all that much. I'm sorry you such a basketball "snob" you won't take recruits like this that will allow our coaches to mold them. If you do like top 20 recruits so much, I suggest you become a Kentucky fan and watch Calipari and all those sleazy players.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
I was referring to recruiting "wins". HCBS referred to Selby as his "home run"...
I meant, other than Selby (and again, using HCBS's words as Selby as a "home run"), it was a dud. Do you have a counter to say otherwise?
The later part of your comment is fair. I hope KU lands all top 60-70 players. If that makes me a snob, so be it. I'll find a way to live with myself.
BKRJMG (anonymous) replies…
I'm a reasonable person and I can see what you are saying but Bill Self has never given me reason to lose faith in his coaching. He actually continues to surprise me what he can do with these so called "mediocre" recruits. I have been in your shoes were I felt we could of done better with recruiting but then Self pulls a rabbit out of the hat and we win another Big12 championship. I think he has a good balance of being a good coach and recruiter, which most coaches don't have both qualities. Keep the faith TXball!
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
I'll try, but I honestly feel 2010 and 2011 is new territory for KU fans. Up above I listed the recruits from 2004 - 2009 and it's full of 4- and 5-Star recruits. At no point has HCBS had to work with so many 3-Star parts as he'll have to do over the next couple of years. I mean look at it:
2004: Jackson (4*), Kaun (4*), Robinson (5*), Giles (4*)
2005: Chalmers (5*), Rush (5*), Wright (5*)
2006: Arthur (5*), Collins (5*), Morningstar (3*)
2007: Aldrich (4*), Reed (3*)
2008: Little (4*), Morris x 2(4*), Releford (4*), Taylor (4*)
2009: Henry (5*), Johnson (5*), T Rob (4*)
2010: Selby (5*), Woolridge (3*)
2011: 3 3-Stars, and 2 4-Stars
2012: 1 5-Star and 2 3-Stars (maybe 3)
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
TXBall: Again, I don't read too much into rankings, but I'm glad you brought this list up.
IMO, I think it's easy to sell "New" and "Fresh" to a recruit. I think it's easy to sell your brand and style of basketball when you're a new head coach or early in your tenure. As a coach, you want that help to build a foundation and create a legacy. You want to win a National Championship. That is all easy stuff to sell to a recruit and I don't care where you coach. From 2004-2009 shows exactly that. What do you think Sean Miller is currently doing in his 4th season at Zona? His recruiting profile will look similar to above once we look back.
The hard part is trying to sustain success. I don't think people realize how hard of a job it is. It's easy to clean house once an old coach has left or been fired and get your players in there. But once you have a house full of crowded players.........it's a job in itself to manage and play a numbers game with the players you have in your stockade. We've all seen peaks and valley's with the greatest coaches in the college game today (Calhoun, Coach K, Roy, Boeheim, Donovan, Pitino).
One last thing, you mentioned below when you responded to my post that there should be a happy medium compliment of players. Well, I said it and you agreed with me. With that said, from 2010 to 2012 KU will have signed 3 (4 or 5 star kids, probably 1 or 2 more) and has signed 5 3 star kids. I don't know about you, but even if KU doesn't sign Nino, White, Shabazz, and or Parker...........I would still say that's a pretty good compliment and happy medium stable of players.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Good post. Thanks for sharing.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
I don't think the 2010 class was a dud at all. KU got an "Early" commit almost 1.5 in advance from Royce and then Self signed Selby. Whether or not we agree with ranking of Selby and whether or not we agree or disagree about his performance in the Crimson and Blue, we got him for the 1 year we all fully expected him to honor.
What's a little mindboggling is the transfer of Royce! Just think if he would have stuck it out for 3 more months. He most likely would be getting significant playing time. Considering KU's roster at that time I don't think KU's 2010 class was a dud at all.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
We'll just have to agree to disagree on 2010. Jury will be out for some time on the 2011 class...
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
I respect your opinions kushaw..but what did we get. Selby and Royce who are no longer here.
And I'm willing to bet Royce was told that he might do better elsewhere.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) says…
So, here's the deal! I don't know whole lot about Lucas, but he seems to be very fundamentally sound. I'm not sure if he is 6'8 or 6'10 because various media outlets are different in that regards. With that said, I think Lucas is a good get. He's not a great get, but he's going to be a player that is really going to help the program over 3 and 4 years.
Here is what I think. A week or so ago we talked pretty in depth about the underground world of AAU, runners, coaches, agents, parents, siblings, shoe companies, etc etc. I still firmly believe that Coach Self is going to go after the best of the best when it comes to recruits, but I don't think he's going to lose sleep over it either.
What I mean is that I really believe Xavier and Selby took a toll on Self. I also believe some recent recruiting wars (Beal, Tarc, Turner) have done the same. I've talked about all this and given my opinion as such. I think we are witnessing a shift in Self's strategy and philosophy when it comes to recruiting.
Yeah, I am sure there are posters out there that aren't real excited about Lucas choosing KU and would rather hold out for Tony Parker. I actually may be one of those posters, but look at the kids that Self is bringing in next year and the following year: 1) Ellis (2 or 3 year player), Peters (4 year player), McLemore (3 or 4 year player), Taylor (4 year player), Tharpe (4 year player), Lucas (3 or 4 year player), and Connor Frankamp (4 year player).
For those of you that wanted those 3 and 4 year players........you're getting your wish. For those that want the OAD players..........it's come and gone in the Bill Self era and maybe forever if the NBA can pass this new rule.
My only point with this post is that we all know Self favors experience over youth (Most circumstances and situations) so why not recruit as such and try and build a foundation based on "Experience" at the college level. I don't know, it may not be a bad idea. I'm not a fan of the OAD guys, but if you can find a happy medium with some top ranked guys and some 3 and 4 star guys that will be here for 3 and 4 years then I think that is the goal. We shall see, but I would like to see one more great pickup in recruiting this year (Parker or White).
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Thank you for your post. While you didn't necessarily agree with my position, you seem to at least understand (esp re: Parker). Your point about a happy medium is spot on in my mind. IMO, KU is just too tilted towards the 3 and 4 year guys right now.
tahawk81 (anonymous) replies…
I agree with what you are saying. Im a little surprised you are getting bashed on this board by simply stating you wish we had more top level recruits. Look what happened to Tubby Smith at Kentucky when he stopped recruiting the top tier talent. I know Self and Manning are better coaches than what Smith had at Kentucky but its still a valid point. We will not thrive with a bunch of mid level recruits. Self will need to have some "big hits" in the next 2 classes to replace the talent we are going to lose. No doubt, you need good role players that will be in the program 3-4 years. But you also need a good mix of "great talent" to compliment those pieces.
truehawk93 (anonymous) replies…
I heard an interview recently with Lucas just last night and he quoted himself at "6-10." He was flying and his plane ticket had him in a middle seat. He didn't think they understood that he was "6-10 and needed an aisle seat." LOL
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
LOL! That's funny! With that said, I've heard anywhere from 6'8 to 6'10 and......................I don't believe Lucas. We always give ourselves at least an inch when self evaluating.
truehawk93 (anonymous) replies…
I'm gonna be conservative and say a mere 6-9 and maybe like freakin' Cole, 6-10 with those big Adidas shoes.
Also, speaking of shoes and your corruption theory, Lucas also invited us into his room where he had a ton of Nike shoes, a ton. I'm not lying. This kid's room was full of boxes stacked with Nike shoes. I thought oh crap, he's a Nike lover. I knew KU was Adidas and thought this can't come down to a stupid shoe.
I did think of Goodwin who said, "Baylor's colors were 'ugly'" and committed to uk. LOL
We will not get Parker. He has dook, Gtown and Ohio St high on his list. We are medium.
KU is high on White's list. We are one of three high options. I think it's Gtown, UT and KU as his top three high options.
Shaw- What's your take on Shabaaz? KU has as good a chance as any. He even said that KU's recent visit really improved their position in recruiting. Some has him at KU others say uk. I haven't hear of his official visit, but his dad said an official visit is imminent. He is one of those recruits that is waiting for the nba lockout to end. He seems to be interested in the option of jumping. But he also said he was thinking of college first.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
I really hope KU can land White! Then if Nino can get his grades up and KU can find another schollie then maybe KU lands both in Nino and White. That would be sweet, but not getting my hopes up.
As for Shabazz, I don't even think about Shabazz quite honestly. He's so good that he would jump to the NBA if he could.
From my understanding he has a Top 5 list, but IMO and from what I've read it's down to UCLA and Kentucky. I know Kyle Anderson and Bazz are good friends and at this moment, even if Bazz waits till spring (All signs point in that direction) I think he's going to UCLA.
I also think Kentucky is too log jammed at the moment for Bazz to consider (Wiltjer, Gilchrist, Jones, and Goodwin coming in next year). That's actually kind of funny if you think about it...........I don't think Bazz would play behind anybody currently in college basketball, but he very well could if Jones and Gilchrist were there.
I use to think that Townsend really had a great chance to lure Shabazz because of his connection with his Dad, but If I were to bet or put money on his future location, I would say UCLA.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
I agree, bazz isn't somebody we should worry about. i'd stay away from him entirely
however looking at how the roster is shaping out next year, we might need a durant/beasly/wall type OAD to stay competitive.
If he turns out to be another selby? game over.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
I disagree with Durant/Beasly/Wall type OAD to stay competitive.
Look, KU will most likely be losing two starters in T-Rob and Taylor. It will be very difficult to replace a player like T-Rob, but I don't a lot of us understand how fundamentally sound Perry Ellis is at this stage of his career.
I am very confidnt that Tharpe can step in and shoulder the departure responsbility of TT. Releford, Withey, and EJ will all be back next season so as long as everybody else Peters, Lucas, Traylor, Wesley, and Young can all help replace T-Rob in a committee manner than I don't think it's as bad as one might think.
You know, I am always optimistic because when I see a guy like Jeremy Lamb who was in the lower part of the Top 100 succeed and succeed so well at UConn, it makes me think that guys like McLemore and potentially Andrew White can do the same when given the opportunity.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Shaw,
This was not the "big signing" we expected to quell fans unease, if anything this is making things worse.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
LMAO! Hey, if White or Nino or both end up in a Jayhawk uniform..........I would say that is a "Big Signing" and rounds out a prety darn good recruiting class.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
I agree,
But you got to know all hell is going to break loose if we miss on White. and if he decides to wait untill the spring to sign our chances get significantly worse.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
I would completely agree with that! I said this the other day that if White waits till Spring that that isn't in the best interest of KU going forward.
However, because Tony Parker has waited till spring I originially thought that would allow KU to catch back up in the recruiting game, but with the signing of Lucas...........I'm not sure where that leaves KU. I actually have no idea! I mean, Tony Parker is the kind of player that isn't going to be afraid of anybody on the KU roster, however, KU does have a swarm of "Big's" on the roster at the moment.
Not exactly the path I had envisioned for the start of this 2012 and 2013 classes, but we'll roll with the punches! If KU does get White then really the only hiccup has been Tarc and that happens.
It's definitely going to be interesting over the next two days because White has until Wednesday to decide! I hope I am shocked and surprised that he chooses KU from now until Wednesday, but I think he waits for some crazy reason.
I don't know how you attend the Legends game with Paul Pierce and Mario Chalmers and not pick KU, but then again I'm not 17 and 18 years old anymore.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Well, Self has stated that he sees ellis playing the 3.
I didn't beleive it at first considering the help the front court is going to need next year. but if Ellis does play the 3 that lessens the playing time competition for Parker.
but then you have to balance Ellis, Releford, and Mclemore at the 3, thats another headache.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
Very true! It's just a matter whether or not that will truly happen and if Self actually believes Ellis will play the "Rush Spot"! I don't know, but it creates an interesting topic.
If that truly is the case than that could move Relly to the shooting guard spot and put EJ and or Tharpe at the True Point. With that said, If Ellis is going to play the 3 than that leaves Tony Parker's potential to step in right away and play his natural power forward position form the start.
Maybe that's what Self is trying to sell at the moment. If that is truly the case then White or Nino is only needed and you technically have this for next season
1) Tharpe/EJ or EJ/Tharpe
2) Releford/EJ/McLemore/White?
3) Ellis/Releford/McLemore/Young/ White?
4) Parker/Ellis/Lucas/Wesley/Traylor/Young
5)Withey/Parker/Lucas/Wesley/Traylor
I'll be honest, having EJ, Tharpe, McLemore, and Releford at the guard spots with all those big guys is something I would like to see!
If Self is seriously considering Ellis at the 3 then maybe his priority is Parker afterall! I don't know, all this thinking makes my brain hurt.
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
By the way Bennybob, I apologize for ever calling you Bennyboob in over the course of last season! LMAO! I am enjoying the dialogue.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
HAHA,
no worries, i'm sorry for all the mean stuff i said about you as well :)
sniper60 (anonymous) replies…
Experienced Cleveland State team just ambushed a #7 Vanderbilt team! It happens all the time...............
jayhawkpam (anonymous) replies…
awesome post, many great points
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
"What I mean is that I really believe Xavier and Selby took a toll on Self. I also believe some recent recruiting wars (Beal, Tarc, Turner) have done the same. I've talked about all this and given my opinion as such. I think we are witnessing a shift in Self's strategy and philosophy when it comes to recruiting. "
Interesting post, kushaw. I've seen the disappointment on CS lately with some of these recruits. I really noticed the shift start with Barnes. I think this was the big blow that reached home. Barnes really pulled the rug out on KU!
Add to this the entire transition of the twins. Those guys didn't look like future NBA ballers when they arrived... Add to this the improvement of our training facilities. Look at our players when they return from summer. Most have put on muscle. We really can build post players and I think CS is seeing it more himself.
College basketball changes quickly. These are not the same days as in 2008. Since then, Calipari has taken a bunch of kids and thrown them into the NBA. Star attitudes have changed. Their goals are different from the schools they play for. Schools want to win... stars want to star (even more than win). It is hard to blend them. You have to find special guys, like Perry, who are the rare stars with their heads on straight. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch.
My biggest plus with Landen is not his proven play... what gets me excited is his excitement... his body potential... he's a bright young man... he has no baggage... he brings in a big smile and the ability to be glue with the team and the fans. I discovered these things and I didn't even read his personality ranking on rivals! Now all he has to do is stay focused and work hard... and his day will come.
truehawk93 (anonymous) says…
Landen- As you can tell we are all excited about your decision. Even the negative posters mean nothing against you. You can understand what a roller coaster ride KU has taken with several players. They are just a little put off by their decision, not yours.
You are a great player and Jayhawk nation is excited about seeing you in the crimson and blue. I really like your statement.
“Everything about them ... the opportunity to develop there under coach Manning (Danny, big man coach) and coach (Bill) Self in that system was really appealing to me.”
You are a smart kid and will benefit greatly by what the Towson coach stated as the "basketball mecca of the nation" in Lawrence. You are truly in good hands with the players and coaching staff. Your class is an exciting one that we all await with great expectations. Enjoy your last year of HS and good luck.
Welcome and Rock Chalk
KU_LON (anonymous) says…
One player that no one has compared LL to is 6-9 240 # 32 Darnell Jackson
marchphog88 (anonymous) says…
Welcome Landen, with open arms.
Hopefully you can recognize which posters get overly-cerebral when it comes to the recruiting services and which ones are excited to welcome new member to the family and are happy to defer to "Papa" Self when it comes to identifying talent and bringing it to Kansas.
And hopefully, you can take the words of those who doubt you as motivation to prove just how off-base Rivals and the other recruiting "gurus" really were.
Rock CHALK!
KUlove06 (anonymous) says…
Lucas is actually 5'10" . He uses those shoe/sole inserts advertised on tv and walks with a big bounce.
rockchalkforlife (anonymous) says…
I'm excited to see Lucas play for KU. I think he can be an impact player in the near future. I'm also excited for Ellis and Peters to be Jayhawks as well! If HCBS can get one more good recruit, possibly a guard, then the class will be complete.
I also see where HCBS is coming from when it comes to his latest recruiting. I agree with most of the posts on here in that he is wanting to build a strong foundation for future 5-star players to come in. I think he's done with the OAD for now. He'll still recruit them, and who knows, maybe a few of them will come to KU in the near future.
I also believe HCBS sees the landscape where there are quite a few colleges and universities willing to bring in OAD players just for the sake of showcasing them off, winning a few games here and there, and prepping them for the NBA instead of NCAA championships and graduation. That's why I believe that schools like Kentucky, Baylor, Memphis, Arizona, UConn, etc will bring inconsistency in the near future because there is so much turnover with players at their schools. All it takes is one off year for those programs to fall apart.
HCBS will get more 5-star players in the near future, like he did with Ellis this year. I'm just excited for this year and many more years of KU basketball!
truehawk93 (anonymous) says…
If you don't know Lucas, enjoy this vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbm3gO...
jhwkswn (anonymous) replies…
Awesome. Definitely excited after seeing that. Seems like a great kid. haha... this made me laugh.
"It's weird when I look at my foot. I don't realize how big it is till I look at my shoe."
ralster (anonymous) says…
Nickname for Landen Lucas: "LLcoolJay"
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
I like it!
truehawk93 (anonymous) replies…
got my vote
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
we have a winner
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
I think its a great nick, too, but we have to be careful with making allusions that are not young enough for the players to love, too. :-)
Don't want to go to Alfred Landon Lucas, if ya grip my shift here.
I hadn't thought about James Todd Smith for awhile, so I wikied him and I realized I had watched him without realizing it as Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS. I'm not a regular addict of the show, because I think its subliminally prepping us for marital law...you know, soldiers running around in plain clothes among us and administering justice in a constitution-free way. Also, I worry it makes young people think joining the Navy is a license to wear pig tails and funk clothes, rather than what it is: serious business with serious weapons and an occasional sail into harms way. At the same time, I like Mark Harmon and the show is a fresh take on cops and robbers, and well, the Navy looked after my Dad for 4 years during WWII while he was ashore in jungles. They kept his troop ships from being sunk. They got him on and off the islands in one piece. And Navy Corpsman were, in his opinion, the only true heroes he ever saw. So: with the caveat that the Pentagon has bought heavily into the idea that they view everything as a theater of warfare, including, and especially mass media, I get a kick out of NCIS, kind of the way I got a kick out of old Hawaii Five-O, which is to say: they informed viewer must enjoy the show with the knowledge that it is inextricably woven into a military propaganda effort and will probably one day be a staple in reruns on the military network that may eventually be all that is on. :-)
So back to The Cool: everything's up to date in Kansas City with alluding to LLCoolJay. The kids will probably have heard of his brand. And he's apparently staying geriatric ally "relevant" Bob Dylan style with the Cool Man's Exit 13...bad luck and all.
But if I'm one of the current playuhs, I'm thinking I'm encoding Landon Lucas a little deeper.
Say, as, "Special Agent", or just "NCIS," pronounced en-sis.
You neo-dig? :-)
There is something I like about calling a big stud like Landon "Special Agent," or even just "NCIS."
I mean, you know what's going to happen when Self and DManing weaponize him into a major post force.
He's going to become "The Special Agent in Charge of Hurt."
Yo, Special Agent, do your job.
Hey, NCIS, use necessary force.
Neo-capice?
khuff80 (anonymous) says…
So next year now looks like this:
Tharpe
E.Johnson / Garrett (able to step up & be a backup?)
McLemore / K. Young
Ellis / Wesley / Traylor
Withey / Lucas / Peters
Seems like we're actually desperately needing G help now. Nino, next recruit to "get"? I doubt that we get him but next year's team could really use a Muhammad....at least with his skills...not sure about his attitude hearing some of his quotes about showcasing his talents in the right system, etc. Almost makes me want to stay away. At the least the team still needs a PG & a SG or a PG and a SG/SF type.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
"Forgetting Travis, Remembering Travis, a Likely Final Four Roster for Next Season, and the Big Eighteen Super Corridor Conference Depends on the Rockefellers et al"
~You forgot Travis Releford, who is going by then to have mastered super glue with impact, the role he is in training to master this season--the same way Tyshawn was in training last season to master PG for this season.
Self is always doing both.
Coaching for now and for later.
Recruiting for now and for later.
Playing for now and for later.
This is one of the things about Self I was slow to catch on to.
He's like a woman in this regard: everything is both.
~I am pretty confident that Perry Ellis will play the 3, if he can hit the trey at 40%. How much 3 he plays will depend on what Self has in mind for Travis, and whether Travis super novas this season, or just plays well.
If Trav just plays well, then I think next year we see Trav start at the 3 and be spelled by Perry about 10 minute each half--a split shift.
If Trav plays great this season, and by great I mean lock down on ball D, super help D, 14-15 ppg with high efficiency, 40% trey, super low TOs, 5 assists/game, and does a great job during stretches when Self decides to let him be the wing point originator of offense, then Trav becomes a 30 minute man next year and maybe gets promoted to first option, while Perry play 5-10 minutes of 3, and 10-20 mpg at 4.
There is no doubt that Self want to go big at the 3 with Perry; that much he has made clear.
But I would bet that Self's approach to all these bigs wanting to play 3 distills to this: if you can hit 40% from trey and guard 6'4" athletics in practice, then do it in a game, you are my 3, whether you want to be, or not; then he gives them the chance in practice and it comes out in the wash quickly.
Barrel-chested Brandon Rush could do it, so he got to be a big 3 instead of a small 4 from the get-go.
Self gets to do this so long as he always keeps two dead eyes around that can grill iron for 30-50 straight treys in practice and drain open looks in games at 40%.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
Its hard for bigs to argue with swishes they can't match. Bigs by nature like to be the whole enchilada. They like control and domination. If they find that little guys are shooting circles around them from 28' and chuckling about it, they quickly withdraw to the blocks and decide law enforcement of painted real estate is a good job they feel comfortable in doing.
But everything points to Perry being an every night match up advantage at the 3 to me and that is one of the greatest advantages one can have in Self Ball.
The only question is what to do about Travis, who is going to be an exceptional 3 by next season.
Travis Releford's natural position is 2. If Self were ever to put him at the 2, Travis would be the most physically dominant 2 in Self's KU tenure by a long margin. While he tends to dominate at the 3, at the 2 he just would be an insane match-up advantage. And he's got that long neck, so he really doesn't play quite as tall as he measures, though his athleticism makes him play taller.
If Perry Ellis were a ready to play 3 out of the box type, I would like to see Self move Trav to the 2, use Kevin Young and Perry at the 3 (so we stay huge there all game long) and see Elijah go back to the point, even though everyone here has developed a crush on Naadir before his defensive feet have arrived.
A rotation of Elijah and Nadiir at the point, and of Travis and BenMac at the 2, would be almost unbeatable by anyone in the country next year. Remember, BenMac is a future draft choice.
Follow with Perry and Kevin at the 3 and Travis filling for both when Self goes small.
Then Justin and Jamari at the 4 with Perry filling when Self goes small at the 3.
Then Withey and Landon at the 5.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
That my fellow board rats, with every one bulked up another ten pounds next season, is Final Four team with Final depth and experience out of the box with top notch impact players in Elijah, Travis, Perry, BenMac, and Withey.
(Note: Withey's improvement this season is sufficient in my mind to pencil him in by next season as a dominant big. Not an All American footer, but 30 minutes of swat and alteration and guarding the post, with a soft touch and put backs, coupled with middling physical strength.)
Add in Naadir having D1 grade defensive feet by next year and so giving us an exceptional play maker and distributor filling for either EJ, or Travis, when ball control is paramount, and Self has the perimeter wired.
Add a situational gunner in Conner Frankamp, who everyone says is one of those unusual shorter players that comes a long every once in awhile.
And finally, add in that Self has more scholies to give and is almost certain to drag in another very good big guard, small forward type.
~And finally add in that negative recruiting about conference instability is about to become positive recruiting about the Big 12 becoming the first real East/Midwest time zone super conference with the adds of WVU, Louisville, maybe even UK, Pitt, Syracuse, Maryland, Rutgers and what ever it takes to get to two nine team divisions of a Big 18 and Self has hung on through the storms of Scalpinggate, Lewgate, Conference Instabilitygate, and is coming out the other side stronger than ever before.
Frankly, its flipping scary what could be in store for KU basketball, and KU football, if people will just jointly keep a steady hand on the tiller.
The Big 18 will force espn/cbs/Gaming Industrial Complex to hype KU equally with UNC, Duke, and any other eastern time zone schools, because KU will be playing in the eastern time zone against eastern time zone schools versus the Big18's eastern division schools fully a third of the conference's regular season games.
The only significantly risky uncertainty to all of this is that there could be some unanticipated (by most but me so far) blow back on scheduling non con games.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
The effect of the Big 18 will be to reduce the total number of non conference big time programs available for non conference scheduling. The eastern teams I mentioned above as adds to the Big 18 will cease to be opportunities for non conference scheduling.
It does not seem a huge loss at first gloss.
But KU has scheduled home and homes with most of these teams once every 5-10 years or so.
So: the down side for KU could be that eastern time Big Ten, ACC and SEC programs will prefer to schedule eastern time zone Big 18 teams for TV revenue and gate reasons, in which case, KUs opportunity set of possible non conference opponents could be sharply and disadvantageously curtailed.
But it could work the other way.
As espn/cbs/Gaming Industrial Complex begins to hype KU to the same, or very similar extent that it already hypes most eastern teams, well, then many of these eastern time zone program schools in the Big Ten, ACC and SEC that tend not to want to schedule us these days, may begin to see the dollar signs in scheduling a comparably hyped KU team, and so begin to want to schedule more home and homes with KU.
I'm smart enough to see the issue, but not smart enough to forecast accurately whether KU non conference scheduling will benefit, or suffer.
Frankly, the best college basketball coach, at the best college basketball school, may be on the verge of being in the best college basketball conference in America within a year or two at the most, maybe even this off season.
It depends on how soon the Rockefellers, Mellons and the Texas/Oklahoma/Kansas oil and gas oligopolists can agree that a Big 18 Super Corridor Conference stretching from the Texas border, up to Kansas, across to Kentucky, and up the south bank of the Ohio River Valley, thence to Jersey, is necessary to lock into the political economy.
It depends on whether Missouri's departing for the SEC blocks the Super Corridor extension, or whether the quid pro quo of MU leaving for the SEC was in part a deal on punching the Super Corridor across Missouri and into Kentucky.
Whatever, the right man (Bill Self), with precisely the right instrument (Self Ball) could be in precisely the right place (Allen Field House) at precisely the right moment (the creation of the Big 18 Super Corridor Conference) to change the course of basketball history and win one heck of a lot of rings, no matter how much certain AAU bottom feeders might conceivably try to black list him.
Ad astra per aspera.
Go Bill go!!!!!!!!!
kuwells (anonymous) says…
Maybe the reason that we are missing on recruit\s are some of the dumb assed comments posted by our supposed fans...
Personally, I am happy that we signed a kid that:
1. wants to be a Jayhawk,
2. has a great GPA,
3. is from Oregon after several in the past few years have gone other places.
4. didn't do one of those stupid press conferences, and
5. hopefully doesn't these comments!
memhawk (anonymous) says…
Portland to Lawrence. We've developed a pretty good pipeline with this route. Aaron Miles and Michael Lee were a couple of class-act guys. I'll bet Lucas will not change the trend.
lee3022 (anonymous) says…
Well Landen, since you are from the nicest city in the country it makes sense that you come to the greatest place to study and play basketball in the country (opinion of Larry Brown.)
The recruiting process must take a large toll on you (it sure would me) and I am glad for you that it is over. I am even more glad you chose Kansas. I have rarely heard a student regret coming here and then it is only because they cannot get playing time. I believe the playing time is available and I wish for you only the success that the Morris twins, Thomas Robinson, and others have had as All-Americans. I am also impressed with your GPA because this university is a great place to get an education.
REHawk (anonymous) says…
Welcome to the crimson and blue, Landen, and thanks for your quick decisivenes.
Most serious Kansas hoops fans have become soured on the waiting game played by so many topnotch recruits who shop their talents or treat the recruiting process like some kind of Hollywood game show. You have found the perfect venue for training and coaching which will lead toward optimum performance...if you maintain the willpower and focus to become a vital part of championship team play.
Have a great senior season; work on rebounding and defense and running the floor. If Thomas Robinson should depart for the NBA in June, there will be immediate playing time for newcomers to help fill the huge gap created by his leaving.
Oh...practice lotsa freethrows daily before your matriculation. Coach Self will be inclined to reward a cool hand at the freethrow line.
Cool Hand Luke!
Alohahawk (anonymous) replies…
Are you recommending a nickname of "Cool Hand Lucas"? Would definitely be nice if that were to relate to his freethrow shooting.
REHawk (anonymous) says…
Yep, as jb has enumerated and named, we now have 7 big men committed for next season.
I would imagine that now Bill Self is focused on bringing in another guard.
ralster (anonymous) says…
For the TXBB.17cal shooting in vain on this site, consider 5 things:
1) Regarding your nonsense about a 'dud'2010 class: Did you take the time to see what Selby did to earn his ranking? Did you see the JordanClassic game when we knew he was coming to KU? It was all good at that point, right? Then your analytical brain craps out by calling him a "dud" when he was a victim of not 1, but 3 situations: hurt his hand in the summer, NCAA sits him for several games, then right when he started avg'ing 14ppg he gets hurt again. Did you see him hustling and diving into tables for us, unlike Xavier? So I'll take any "judgement" of Selby as meaningless rubbish, considering these very real factors. He could have sat like Kyrie Irving, but chose not to. He also chose Bill Self's heady program--what does that say about a kid? My point: any class with a #1 ranked player is not a 'dud'. Simple logic for any "ku grad", eh? What happened to Selby once here was simple fate. Not Self's fault!
2) And where did your logic escape to regarding questioning people's ku fanhood on this site, especially when you yourself post you "are not excited" about some kid who hasnt played a game for us yet??? Where does that logic come from. You dont know what he can/cannot do under the big lights of AFH any more than the rest of us, but your deliberate and willful attempt to douse any enthusiasm about LL's signing is the biggest window into your own fandom, KU degrees or not! Glass houses, mister! By your own stupid line of posting, you disprove your own "ku fanhood" quite convincingly!
3) And I dont give a g-ddamn if you have a KU degree (like I do)--I sat near some ku students in row 9 centercourt at LateNight, who frankly didnt deserve to be in AFH with the comments they were making about the girls team and the mens team. You are either a fan, or you are not! To have no "hope" about a kid doing well, especially considering Danny+WildBill's ability to develop players, is simply shameful.
4)Your posts prove you are not a "knowledgeable" ku basketball, and definitely not among the "ku faithful". Stupid troll. Go root for UNC & Roy or Calipari/Kentucky if you love your top-ranked playas so much. We like Self's nicely blended teams of upperclassmen + talented, ranked athletes.
5)Fool also forgot that by NCAA happenstance, BMac (#29) got added to Ellis (#24) along with 6'8 240# Traylor and 6'9 240# Peters--now add 6'10 LL and it is a great collection...just needs a combo guard...Go call some other program or coach a dud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Want me to tell you where to put your worthless degrees??
texashawk10 (anonymous) replies…
B-Mac is the combo guard, just missing a point guard (Nino, get your ass to class and get your grades up unless you want to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime).
globaljaybird (Phil) replies…
+1 Hammer time!
nashhawk (anonymous) says…
For God's sake people, if Self wants him, that's enough for me. And I'll take his 83% winning record at KU as well. Dude may not be ranked now but let's wait and see how he does
memhawk (anonymous) says…
Uh oh! I just spent some time looking at Landen's path through high school up to this point. Seems he has been at two schools in Portland and spent time enrolled at the Findlay Prep school in the Vegas area. The Findlay program, by the way, is very interesting, as I learned. It isn't part of any Nevada school system and is primarily a basketball factory.
Surely, if I could find this out in ten minutes, the KU ADept has taken this into consideration. In light of recent situations, this must not be worrysome in the realm of being eligible to play at KU. If they are not worried, I won't be. Just getting paranoid in this strange recruiting era.
memhawk (anonymous) says…
Oh yeah, a couple of other items about Lucas:
His dad played four years at Oregon.
Landen speaks Japanese.
DRsmith (anonymous) says…
Who? KSU recruiting has made its way to KU. Serious talent void over the next few years. The only good think about this is at least HCBS didn't have to wait til the after the late signing period to real in a 3 star guy.
DRsmith (anonymous) says…
Kudos to TXBBall for trying to shed some light on the poor recruiting. There is nothing wrong with speaking the truth. KU's recruiting is not on par with what is should be. KU shouldn't be as low in the rankings as it is. Some might even say it is down right laughable. This makes 2 years in a row now. You can stand to lay an egg here and there but can't afford to make it a trend. Be a fan but at least be realistic.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) replies…
Thank you. The bar is higher at Kansas and I'm not going to apologize for expecting more. He seems like a great young man and I'm sure KU's coaches will help develop his talent. Someone made a good post about how recruiting has been really hard on HCBS. I believe that and I'm not trying to kick anyone (let alone Mr. Lucas). I've just seen this board get very excited over "Plan F" players that KU picked up after going through "Plans A - E". I do have faith recruiting will pick up in 2013. We'll see.
Brak (anonymous) replies…
You sound more and more pathetic with every post and the fact that you are going overboard trying to defend your statement is pretty sad. You are just coming off as a Rivals 4 Star jock sniffer that can't see the forest through the pubes. The fact that you put so much stock in a recruiting service says all I need to know what your basketball knowledge, give it a rest.
lonestar (anonymous) replies…
If you were not such a sycophant cheerleader rather than a logical, rational fan you might get a clue about what TX55 is saying. That you dont have a clue speaks volumes about your basketball knowledge.
marchphog88 (anonymous) replies…
People who would say that KU's recent recruiting is "down right laughable" aren't very intelligent.
You may be disappointed with the results (if you're into such basketball skills as numbers next to a name on a spreadsheet), but there is no objective way to declare recent recruiting "laughable" with any validity whatsoever.
I've said it before and I'll say it again--NO ONE stays on top forever. Every school, even big-time blue blood programs like KU, go through recruiting lulls and valleys. College basketball prospects are mentally still kids. Kids are fickle. They don't always know what's best for them, and then even some of the kids who do have to contend with parents and "advisors" who don't know what's best for them. You can't name a program that hasn't had a couple/few years over the last decade and a half where their recruiting haul wasn't as impressive as befitting the name of the program.
To me, the important thing isn't where ESPN arbitrarily puts KU in it's annual recruiting rankings, or the average ranking or star numbers of our commits. It's about something else. In the words of mediocre football coach but great soundbite producer, Herm Edwards:
You play to win the game.
Notice, he didn't say "you play to assemble the most 'talent'".
And Brak (below) is right about something--TXBBall's defense of his original comment (which was pretty disrespectful, in spite of his assertion to the contrary) gets more over the top with each subsequent comment. Now Landen Lucas is "Plan F"? Okay. Anything to make your point sound better by painting the recruiting pictures as even MORE dire.
Perhaps, DRsmith, you can answer a question I posed to TXBBall that was ignored:
If you aren't happy about this guy (or other recent recruiting 'gets'), then kindly explain to me--without using their rivals ranking or star numbers--what those players are missing. It would go a long way to show that you actually have a shred of credibility on the matter and aren't just playing amateur chicken little, using what Rivals has told you is the truth about these players.
The problem is, I seriously doubt that either of you has a clue. It's a bit annoying to hear people be so negative when they aren't really doing so using their own knowledge or powers of observation, instead substituting the "expertise" of companies like Rivals.
memhawk (anonymous) says…
Recruiting has so many facets.
What a coach or staff can do is limited. The microscope that exists now has muddied the waters of how the process used to work. Also, muddying the waters is the AAU participation and other pre-college camps, tournaments, etc. The world is a smaller yet more sophisticated place for both coaches and players. True, there are no agents involved. But, advisors come in all sizes and shapes. Parents play a role and, depending how savvy they are, the recruiting process becomes more about the larger picture of who is going where and how connected a coach or staff is with the folks at the next level. The strategy of potential playing time and who are the other probable players at a certain position who will compete for that PT is an aspect to consider. Affiliation with a team that has a high graduation rate among athletes is not high on the list of considerations, unfortunately. Also not high on this same list is the historical number of seasons it takes for the average incoming player to improve his stats and to mature personally into a "seasoned" college player who has made a four year comittment. Few, if any high school players in 2011 who expect more than one college program to compete for his association, expects to give speeches on Senior Night.
It's not all about a coaches ability and effectivenss to "lure" a player to his school anymore. Top recruiting classes are relative. They're sort of like pre-season rankings. I would make a comparison between recruting and dating. But, it might be lost on some of our recent contributors. Dating has probably been an area that they have had trouble with as well, conceptually.
kuwells (anonymous) replies…
Memhawks dating tips?!? There is a post I'd like to see!
memhawk (anonymous) replies…
Like recruiting, it starts on a couch and ends with a bed.
recruiting:
Recruits/coaches sit on the couch together getting to know each other. If it all works out, it ends with with a bed in an athletic residence hall.
dating:
The two dates start out on a couch together getting to know each other. If it all works out.....well you know the story!
kuwells (anonymous) replies…
How about:
recruiting:
Recruits/coaches sit on the couch together getting to know each other. If it all works out, it ends with with a bed in an athletic residence hall.
dating:
Boyfriend/girlfriend sit on the couch together getting to know each other. If it all works out, it ends with with a bed in an athletic event.
HighEliteMajor (anonymous) says…
TXBBall55: Understand that you have just been "Braedened" or "Traylored". That is, the initial euphoria over any signing overwhelms logic .. referring to your initial post. See, when we sign a player that is low ranked, or unranked, it doesn't matter. Rankings don't matter even though we were "all in" in the pursuit of the five star guy (Tarc) and Self clearly preferred him. And it doeesn't matter that Self, by being "all in" on Tarc, was "honest" with players higher ranked than Lucas and thus weren't in the game with them. Look, been there done that. You express logic in identify what others refer to as projects .. Jackson and Kaun .. by pointing out their much higher rankings. Some seem to think they, particularly Jackson, was a 3 star or unranked guy. Doesn't matter. When a guy signs, we're supposed to put on a skirt, wave the pom-poms, and act as if this guy is the guy we really wanted. Rankings matter when we sign high ranked players (Ellis). Rankings don't matter when we settle for our next choice, even if he would have been the 7th or 8th choice if we had offered other options, or the "best available" when we are scrambling .. see Traylor/Anderson.
Consider it a lesson learned.
But as we all know .. and I point this out to dissuade the "strawman" responses .. rankings are a guide, they are not perfect, and there are diamonds in the rough. Rankings involve probabilities, and the higher the ranking, history shows the higher the probability. Of course, Self's continued pursuit of high ranked players tends to support the idea that rankings have validity.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
The problem with the ranking system for high school basketball is that these young players change so quickly.
So many high school players are late bloomers, while others are early bloomers. The early bloomers steal the attention but the momentum in improvement is with the late bloomers.
Most of these players grow in spurts and that adds another dimension. Some of those spurts come late.
Obviously, some of the early bloomers do go on to be greats... I'm just saying we should be happy landing some late bloomers who look like great projects for our developmental coaching staff. Landen fits in so well as a Hawk. Many people are already seeing the benefit of Landen over Tarc... and I'm positive more will catch on soon!
Andrew White is another late bloomer. He's coming on strong!
Basketball recruiting is like Kansas weather... if you don't like how it is going now, wait 5 minutes!
DRsmith (anonymous) replies…
Amen
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Listen to hem txbball, he speaks the truth!
trust me, ive been in your shoes many of time the last few years.
lonestar (anonymous) replies…
+1 Bravo! Thank you Jesus, Santa and the Easter bunny. Your post is spot on. Not that those in the peanut gallery will appreciate your sentiments.
ralster (anonymous) replies…
LL has coachable size. He fills a space. Yes you can infer Tarc may have come in and contributed more than LL will, just based on ranking...(cuz thats all you got). Or, a high-ranked recruit comes in and doesnt assimilate Selfball quick enough to meaningfully produce (like what happened to 5star EJ).
-------------------
Stop f--king crying over spilt milk. The Kaleb train is gone. Maybe he just didnt like one/many aspects at KU, however unfathomable that may be to some in the fanbase. Who cares at this moment about some kid committed to another program?
-------------------
And HEM misses the point about Jackson and Kaun. Of course they were projects, irrespective of their "high" ranking! Did anybody on this board see the frosh/soph Kaun & frosh/soph DJax and think they would be NBA draft picks? NO! Wait for it...: this developmental need d-e-s-p-i-t-e their ranking/star rating.
-------------------
I am assuming LL may need developmental time also thus staying for multiple years. Nobody is suggesting he is equal to Tarc, but the whole point is that it doesnt matter as his development+contributions will simply follow the non-OAD track. Knowing that, why would I cry sour grapes about some 18yr old that didnt choose us??????
drgnslayr (anonymous) says…
Andrew White is the last piece needed for this team. A big guard with athleticism. We need some size around the perimeter. This guy is coming on strong recently and is attracting attention from everyone.
Another great thing about Andrew, he has a little brother who is quite a player and due out in 2015...
TheSychophant (anonymous) says…
I think this is a great signing. Its tough to win a national championship without one of two five star players, but you still need the lesser ranked players to fill out a roster. Intelligent, non-ranked but athletic players have a high ceiling. They usually stay for four years, graduate, work hard, and are very coachable. They also tend to become great team leaders.
I think Mr. Lucas will surprise the naysayers among us. He'll be a great Jayhawk. Look for him to be an important and productive starter in his Junior and Senior years. Welcome aboard, Landen.
ralster (anonymous) replies…
Exactly the well-reasoned, realistic expectations we should have about LL.
HawkKlaw (anonymous) says…
“KU has a great history. They develop big men, and that’s important,” Lucas said.
A lot of people that post on this site complain that Bill Self has some sort of bad track record with big guys. I'm not sure how they came to that conclusion, but with quotes like this it is easy to see the perception that HCBS and his staff have. Whatever the reason is that Tarc chose AZ over KS, it wasn't because he thought Bill Self would do a bad job.
Everyone complains that we didn't get Tarc. That is disappointing, but one player is not going to make or break Kansas. Our recruiting class (+ the two guys that will be eligible after this season) is shaping up nicely for next season, IMO.
bennybob (anonymous) says…
To all of those arguing that Self knows better than the recruit sites:
True, the sites arent perfect and i beleive somewhere in the recent wave of low/unraked recruits Self has signed recently he found a diamond in the rough. But can you honestly beleive the recruiting sites were wrong about ALL of these kids? they're entire business model is dependent on them being as accurate as possible!
I beleive Self is a great coach and admit he has a better eye for talent than myself. But it is redicuous to beleive that in the span of 2 years he somehow found 4-5 "sleepers" that every other recruiting expert missed. 1? i can beleive 2? maybe 5? no chance in hell!
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
We have definitely helped several recruits position higher because we gave them attention. Even with the higher recruits.
Kansas fans get so freaked out when we miss these big recruits that have Kansas on their list. Many of those players we never gave much attention to. Not to say they aren't great players, but our staff is only so big and you have to focus your efforts. So even the big recruits take advantage of the "Kansas bump" by listing KU on their lists.
With the unknown recruit, they definitely get a bump from Kansas looking at them.
I wouldn't go so far as to say CS is responsible for discovering 4-5 sleepers everyone else missed out on. Other coaches find these players, too. He's just going after the late bloomers.
In the case of Landen... Landen made the move to be noticed by attending Findlay.
I laughed when I recently read the rants of a basketball cube from the east coast who called Vegas... "the new outlet mall for basketball recruiting." And while I found his comment hilarious, I realized how threatened the east coast is about Vegas coming on as a big recruiting center (which it is).
While Vegas doesn't have the jeweled landmarks, like St. Anthony's in Jersey, it has a huge base of players in the Vegas area; it has a perfect location to be the hub for the western-to-midwest part of America; it has the media capabilities; it has the attention of the nation; it has "Vegas."
One more reason why "landing Landen" was important. It gives us another foot in that market. We (like most teams) tend to recruit from many of the same areas each year.
EJ came from Vegas, too.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Personally, I liked it better when we were recruitng from chicago. Julian Wright and Sherron collins worked out pretty well for us.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Locations for talent are kind of streaky. Look at Wichita. I recall back in the "good ol' days" and all the exceptional talent that came out of Wichita.... Valentine, Carr, Ross, Dreiling... Then there were many years when Wichita didn't pump out the big talent.
Now the emphasis is back on Wichita. Perry is awesome! Conner is great, too. And there are others coming along in a few years that will be absolute monster recruits! Landing Perry was a huge score for the future of KU basketball!
Vegas is a different situation. They are investing in "basketball infrastructure" with hopes of building HS basketball into big bucks for Vegas.
I'm a big fan of Chicago recruiting, too!
texashawk10 (anonymous) replies…
Jamari Traylor is from Chicago as well, but I guess you're too lazy to actually go look that up.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Thanks. Did we used to date? You sound way too familiar! ; )
beware0fph0g (anonymous) says…
According to a post on scout (so take with a grain of salt):
"Landen Lucas is the #1 player in the State of Oregon and considered by many to be one of the best Centers in the country. Played all 4 years on Varsity. Broke Kevin Loves Rebounding and Blocks Record in his soph year state championship rounds. Made all-state team after the Tournament. Jr year played in Vegas at the #1 High-school Findlay Prep where he became a starter for the last months of the season, helping lead them into the ESPN Rise National HS invitational. Has Returned home his senior year to play at local Westview"
If even an iota of that is factual, you have to be a bit excited to see him joining our squad.
iamakufan (anonymous) says…
Landen Lucas is an excellent fit for Kansas and Kansas is an excellent fit for Landen Lucas. He brings not only serious basketball skills but also serious scholastic aptitude and a serious work ethic and desire. This is what Kansas Basketball is all about! Welcome, Landen Lucas!
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
+1!
FreddyD (Fred Davis) says…
The ignorance from KU fans never ceases to amaze me. I'm over the "he's not ranked high enough" and Self is "getting killed in recruiting" by the likes of Calipari and everyone else...
Give it a rest. How many wins has Self had vacated? How many Final Fours has Self had vacated? Zero. I've said this before and I'll say it again - recruiting is cyclical. Every high-major coach and program has a tough go of it from time to time, and I guess we're calling it a tough go because KU signed the best player to come out of Kansas in the last 15-20 years, a freakish athlete in Peters, and one of the best big men on the West Coast, yet Self is struggling as a recruiter because this year he had eligibility issues - yet two of them will be back next season.
Stop comparing Self to Calipari. There's a reason that guy gets every recruit he wants and one of these days it's going come back and bite him - again. Somehow he's been able to stay out of serious trouble, but there's no way that guy gets the best recruits every year without doing something shady. Maybe I'm wrong. But where there's smoke, there's fire, and he's had two fires already at his two previous stops, so what makes anyone think that just because he's at Kentucky suddenly he doesn't need to keep doing his grimey work? Please. And don't give me the "he's at Kentucky and doesn't need to do dirt" excuse. Calipari's a shady dude, simple as that, and much in the way football has imploded in recent years, there will be some basketball fallout before too long and I'd be stunned if UK wasn't included. Time will tell.
As for Kansas, this program has been and always will be fine under Bill Self. I don't care if he recruits five guys from the California Penal League, if Self thinks they can play and coach 'em up, then I'm down. And let's look no further than Justin Wesley - a kid who couldn't get off the bench at a mid-major - Lamar - who I currently cover - (under a former coach, not Pat Knight who is currently there) and after a year at Kansas with their coaching and workout regimen, will be one of the first two guys off the bench more than likely this season and is a legit talent for KU. Long Live the Bill.
TXBBall55 (anonymous) says…
This is my last post on this subject (yes, please feel free to cheer). I’m not a Lucas “hater”, I just think it’s too early to extend an offer to a player with such noted “raw skills”. There are still many good (and some might say better) “bigs” uncommitted, and even more unsigned. HCBS is after several “bigs” right now and Lucas just wisely committed first as he knows a spot may not be available at KU if he waits any longer. Personally, I’m still reeling from the KT slap and will be for at least another week or two, so please accept my apology for my bitterness. Due to many recent misses on the recruiting trail, I’m just very worried that KU is trending towards an imbalance of “role” players. Many of you have said “trust HCBS” or “he knows better than any fan”. I would agree with those comments if the 3-Star role players KU is landing weren’t the 5th or 6th option. Never in Coach Self’s time has he had to field a team with so many 5th or 6th options, so to say everything will be fine is ludicrous. We don’t know how this will mesh together going forward as it’s unchartered territory.
With all of that said, I should have voiced my concern on a different thread. I do apologize to Mr. Lucas for my less than supportive comments, but I’m not going to be happy about the extreme uncertainly KU is facing. There have been many good – and respectful – comments by many of you. It certainly provides a lot to think about.
RCJH!!!
baldjedi (anonymous) replies…
I appreciate this post of yours because it was a bit more objective and somewhat reasonable. Anyway, I agree that we should be getting 5 and 4 star players, but then again we have had many circumstances in which players were much lower, but succeeded greatly for us.
Coach Self and his staff know what they are doing better than us. If they believe in a guy like Lucas then I will give them the benefit of the doubt. We did get a major player like Ellis so we are still getting big names. Let's see how this class finishes out and then we can truly get an idea if recruiting is still up to standard or if we are starting to drop off. Besides, Self has 7 straight conference titles and a championship so I am confident he knows what he is doing.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
Look, guys, signing Landen Lucas ices the roles next year.
Birds in the hand are worth 5 stars in the bush.
This kid is exactly what Self and Manning needed for the blocks.
You lock up sure needs and then go fishing for whoppers later.
Self has turned this whole situation around in the blink of an eye.
Lute Olsen proved that with three draft choices on the perimeter, all you need is four defensive bigs and 20 fouls. Now Self has 7 and 35 fouls to give.
Next year's permitter is going to have three draft choices: EJ, Travis, and BenMac, or maybe Perry Ellis.
That's all you need, if you have 4 or more bigs that can guard and rebound.
Boom!
Self took what they gave him.
Don't rebuild.
Don't reload.
Re-arm!
Final Four here we come.
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Jay,
if this were true it would be a complete 180 from Selfs recruiting philosophy the entire time he's been here.
Self loves the Hi-Lo, a system dependent on having talented bigs over talent guards. Getting great post players is always his main objective.
even this year, priorities 1A and 1B were two post players in ellis and Tarc.
Last year he "settled" and Traylor and Anderson after he didnt get Wiltjer, Nash, Pelle, and Chol (all bigs).
If Self was really just looking for "bodies" to throw in the post itd have been a complete waste to put all the recruiting hours into the highly ranked bigs when he could have gotten the commitments from the guys he did alot earlier with less effort, leaving more time for him to target the top guards.
jhawkORrain (anonymous) says…
Give Bill Self and staff a break for Gawd's sake. If Lucas is smart, stays around 4 years and learns the system, he'll be worth more than another Henry or Selby ever was.
UKALLDay (anonymous) says…
This is a quote from Austin Nichols a top player in the 2013 class:
Nichols, a 6-foot-8 lengthy post player, was very excited to see Calipari come through his school last week.
"I was shocked when I first saw him coming through Briarcrest," Nichols said in disbelief. "Having Coach Cal come in was a dream come true pretty much."
Players don't say that about Coach Self......love it or leave.
BigBlueNation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
This post made me laugh! Thank you for the humor and getting me through my afternoon.
UKALLDay (anonymous) replies…
For some the truth hurts and for others when you know something is true you try your best to laugh it off......I know where you fall.
KuKain (anonymous) replies…
Some kids only care about the $$. Somehow I doubt the kid said "I've always dreamed of playing at Kentucky.". We'll take the kids who take pride in playing for the university, like Landon Lucas, and not for some sleazeball coach who just promises big $$ in the NBA.
UKALLDay (anonymous) replies…
Clueless....speak with any UK recruit and they will tell you Coach Cal won't even promise you playing time...so please bring some facts with you fluff.
KuKain (anonymous) replies…
Facts:
Bill Self: 1 national championship
Calimari: 0 + vacated seasons
Notice how when they say Calimair's name national title is not mentioned in the same sentence.
You are dismissed.
UKALLDay (anonymous) replies…
UK most wins all time and more titles than KU.
So there will be no dismissal.
KuKain (anonymous) replies…
Wins should be easy to pile up when you play in such a weak/pathetic conference for basketball. As for the NC's enjoy the ones you got cause Coach slimeball sure as hell ain't gonna get you another.
UKALLDay (anonymous) replies…
SEC is ranked ahead of the Big 12 or 10 is it 9 well who knows...and you can only play who is on the court. As for a title....we will win one before KU oops maybe I am wrong....you guys do have Landen Lucas.
ForeverLoyal2KU (anonymous) replies…
The only reason you have most of those victories and some titles is because of Adolph Rupp... yes, that would be the guy that grew up in Halstead, KANSAS and played for Phog Allen at KANSAS.... and Phog Allen played for and became the coach after James Naismith... yep, that's right... he invented the game
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
"Some Things Players Might Think When They See John Calipari Come Through Their Schools"
~Hey, is this Career Day for car salesmen?
~Why import oil? Why not just let Cal ooze into the nearest pipeline?
~My science teachers says mousse makes great biodiesel.
~Guess I don't have to learn to read after all. Coach Cal wants me.
~SATs? i don't need no stinking SATs!
~If the NCAA won't clear me, maybe I can be a graduate assistant at UK.
~I can hardly wait to hear him talk about their point shaving tradition before his time!
~How could he not really have known the alums at Memphis were orchestrating the cheating on the SATs for him before he made a motion play?
~One great thing about going to UK: you just go there for a year, ball and move on. No questions asked.
~I hope he gives me a scholarship. He doesn't ask you to improve any part of your game. Its like some AAU teams. You just ball and party.
~I wonder if they even practice?
~Oh, man, Coach Cal is here. I won't have to want a degree for this in-home!
~Work on defense? (big grin)
(Note: All fiction. No malice. Cal got his start at KU. It will be a great game. And if we lose, because we are rebuilding? Well, we can't beat them all the time.)
UKALLDay (anonymous) replies…
I would say what players say about Coach Self when he comes to their school but.....I am not sure he shows up. Well at least I hope not with the recruits you are bringing in or not bringing in. Hey at least Coach Cal trying. And I love the excuse you have ready for the pending loss....classic KU.
lonestar_jayhawk (anonymous) replies…
You forgot about the Math Word Problem. If a FedEX package can hold $6750 in $10's and $20's, how many FedEX package does UK need to send to a recruite promised $175,500 for signing his LOI?
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
UKonvictAllDay,
No good deed goes unpunished among those that mate with animals and close relatives, right?
Here I was trying to be gracious to you with that closer and instead between seductions of your aunties and your family blood hound, you bite the hand that has all the facts.
Self wins 84% of his games at KU. Better than Cal over the same period.
Self wins at this record pace without a single guy playing ineligibly, much less playing multi-ringer ball as Cal did at Memphis.
Self wins 15 more games than any other coach the last five years including Cal.
Cal's W&L is actually pitifully bad. He had to forfeit most of a season, you ignoramus.
In fact the only thing Cal leads the nation in right now is forfeits after jumping. How do you say: UMass and Memphis.
Self wins a ring. Cal can't.
Self beats Cal for a ring. Cal chokes.
Self never has a recruiting scandal after he changes jobs. Cal always does.
I love beating the still juice out of toothless latrine snipe like University of Konvictucky inbreds, er, thoroughbreds.
In an abnormal psych class one time, I vaguely recall reading a case in Kentucky in which a daddy made a boy lay it out on the butcher block before he took a strop to it?
Was that you?
I knew it got perverted down their in border state country, because we used to have to tolerate border state degenerates in Missouri.
But now they have gone to the SEC to find close relatives in Kentucky and Tennessee to mate with.
You better watch out!
Big 12 people don't mate with relatives, even distant ones, or family pets as is reputedly SOP in border states. Missourians had to mate with their immediate families and family pets for nearly a century that we had to beat them like a stick in basketball.
When they get to the SEC, they are going to want to mate with you and your pets big time.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
I can just hear those Antlers looking at UK folks. "Duh, shoot Josiah, all uh them there UK people is first cousins and triple brothers and sisters. If we is related to any one of them, then we is related to all uh them! Jump which ever one ya want and make it squeal like stuck pig!"
And this sort of talk that we have heard from border state gutter trash in Missouri is almost certain to be considered poetic foreplay and irresistible flirtation in Konvictucky, right?
Looooook out fer yer sisters, er, yer wives, er, Wife-sisters. Here cum them Antlers for yee!
I've got an idea. Why don't Missouri, UK and Tennessee stage a Border States Invitational Incest Tournament each year, where the team with the most illegal seductions of relatives gets spotted 15 points every game.
No, wait, that won't work, because no one can count up to fifteen down yonder in Butcher Holler, er Lexington, without a hillbilly abacus. You know, a strand of barbed wire strung with Uncle Virgil's pig oysters, right?
You are a pathetic excuse for a lurker, but I like you because you are easy to make fun of.
Have you heard Konvictucky's new bumper sticker?
Lie, Cheat, Point Shave for Glory!
Yeeeee hawwww UKonvictAllDay!
Keep coming back for more in Abolitionville!
We're always ready to put an end to perverts and slave holders.
Our eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord!
We are coming to the Big Apple to wield his terrible swift sword.
And we're going to liberate your wife-sisters while we're at it.
Yeeeeee hawwwwwww!
(Note: Now of course, this was all meant in jest. We know KU is UK's daddy.)
AsadZ (anonymous) replies…
Bate, That was so classic that I still can't stop laughing.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
It was kinda fun to write. Thx.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
"Players don't say that about Coach Self......love it or leave."
We'll leave the superficial players and comments to you and UK.
We'll take the more-substantive players and comments, like what is said above:
"“It was everything,” Lucas said of his choosing KU. “The opportunity to develop there under coach Manning (Danny, big man coach) and coach (Bill) Self in that system was really appealing to me."
Coach Cal runs a clearinghouse for the NBA. In reality, college sports probably needs a few coaches/teams that offer this service. Congrats on "clearing" so many 5-star recruits. Too bad it hasn't yet matured into a strategy that has won you a national title or even the top winning percentage in the nation. We happen to have checked boxes in both of those categories.
Do us a favor tomorrow and give us a good spanking! We could use the chip on our shoulder. I'm doubtful you can do it, but maybe you can collect the attention of your all-star cast long enough to play a basketball game. As of now, it seems more like they want to party all night...
Comparing Cal to Self... you can go to any basketball comments section in the country (besides UKs) and you will read the "love" fans have for Cal, and the respect they give Self. I wouldn't trade Self for a billion Cals.
What we have you can't buy with all the new Cadillacs Detroit can pump out!
hawkinator (anonymous) replies…
heyyyy missed your promised appearance after the Perry announcement!
Love it when people like you come on here to embarrass their alma-mater (if you even have a degree)
Do yourself and your university a favor and keep it classy, I know its hard for you.
marchphog88 (anonymous) replies…
I guess we'll have to settle for the national champion coach who has out-coached Calipari almost every time he's met him head-to-head. Darn.
Related note: I must admit that I'm truly saddened by the way Calipari's presence has changed the culture at Kentucky.
Once, Kentucky fans rooted for championships and dominance. Now, they root for recruiting classes and NBA drafts.
Once, Kentucky fans would have gagged at the idea of a coach saying (about the NBA draft) that it was the biggest day in UK basketball history. I'm pretty sure if Tubby Smith had ever said anything like that, he would have been fired long before he was run out of town.
Once, Kentucky fans would have protested at the hiring of a guy who--cheater or not--has two vacated Final Fours on his resume.
I would say that being "down" for an extended period of time will really force a fanbase to cling to even the smallest victories, but Kentucky wasn't even really down for that long. They just don't have anything. Else.
Hawk90 (anonymous) says…
To all you hating on TXBball Let me ask you this
You say sites like rivals doesn't matter
Go look at the stars of the NBA and see where they were ranked
Go look at the stats that state the higher ranked you are, the better shot at a national title.
If this was football you would have a point because most football players don't really get into their football bodies until at least 20, while most B-ball guys are really close by 14. Basketball is way easier to scout.
Also please for the life of me name a great ku player in the past 10 years who wasn't even ranked?
For all we know this kid could be a late bloomer and shoot up the rankings. But he has a point about recruiting. It has been scary the past 3 years. Besides Selby, we haven't gotten much. B mac is suspended so he doesn't count if he can't play. We have a great coach, and we have seen teams with less talent make runs. Seems like they beat us on their way. Maybe self is on something. But rankings do matter, the past 10 champs also had some pretty stinking good recruits. and not just a 1 or 2, usually 4 or 5.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Butler has never landed a 5-star recruit in the history of their school and only one 4-star recruit (questionable at that). I am a big Butler fan... second only to my school, Kansas.
You shouldn't compare pro ball to college ball... it is a different game on a different planet.
Here is a link you might find interesting. And while it does support your statement that pros come from being highly-ranked recruits, it also shows just how elite pro ball is with almost 70% of top 100 recruits ending up never playing a single second of pro ball!
http://www.basketball-reference.com/b...
What bothers many people on here with TXBball is the immediate jump into negativity. This is a fan site... constructive criticism belongs here jumping on a new recruit pledge is just negative. A sharp contrast for what this site is for most people.
Hawk90 (anonymous) replies…
Butler has never won a title, while they have made it to the game which is good. but butler was the first team to do what they have done. Its not common. I compare Pro Ball to College because thats how we measure how good a player is. If you put all the UNC greats against the other greats of schools, they would say UNC would win because of Jordan. Jordan however was a very good college player but not great. Because of his greatness as a bull, they say that. I think i mentioned how with great coaching, you can do alot. How you don't need always to be a school with great recruits to win it all. But history shows it helps. I think the negativity is warranted. Its not like we have had 1 bad year, its been 3. It happens, and I see next year being our out of the slump year (2013 not 2012.)
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
I'm never going to be insulting to someone who picks KU. I find it utterly distasteful and extremely immature.
If I think we sign someone who doesn't have potential, I'll keep silent at that moment and I'll find ways to point towards the recruiting efforts and not take it out on a guy who wants to be a Jayhawk.
I was raised with a certain level of human decency.
HighEliteMajor (anonymous) replies…
drgnslayer .. Look at the last 15 years of final four teams. You can find an exception to every rule. Pointing out Butler defeats your argument. Butler did not win the title. And how many "Butlers" have there been?
I get your point on negativity (and always respect your observations). But the discussion on recruiting is not "just negative." Heck, I welcome the kid. I understand Self made sure he had this kid in the bag so he didn't get to the spring in same spot as last season .. the top 4/5s that we were actually in on were none at this point anyway, and it is a risk to wait and see if someone decommits, or something. But the discussion is constructive. I don't see anyone of substance attacking the kid. Just debating whether this is the sort of recruit KU should settle for. That's it.
Now on to UK.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Read Konkeydong's post below. There is more to the Landen story than meets the eye. I'm sorry if I take Coach Self's word (and Duke's) over people in here that strictly look for a recruit ranking and base their beliefs on that number.
If I went off rankings alone I'd turn the tv and visits to AFH off because Kentucky is going to win it all simply by having the highest-rank players. The Butler example shows how non-ranked players can play, and teams like Kentucky show you what having all top recruits can do.
I understand your point-of-view, and we will have at least 4 well-ranked players next year.... Perry, BMac, Travis and EJ. If Landen had played AAU ball this year, he would have been on that list. We may still have another name to add to this list soon....
Ultimately, what matters most is how players play together. The ranking system does not address that. I see Landen as one of the best picks we've made in that area in a long time! I know I wouldn't trade him for Selby or X (and I think very highly of both of these guys).
Keep up the good work, HEM! You always create great reads!
rockchalk1990 (anonymous) says…
Why is everybody beating up TXBBall55? I don't happen to agree with him, but all he did was question how excited he is about an incoming recruit. The sense I'm getting is that we shouldn't question the character or abilities of a kid that is coming to our beloved university. Have you guys ever entered the board for a story about football recruiting? Geez, give the dude a break! At least he didn't come on here calling everybody names like half the posters do. Either way, good luck Lucas, welcome to the greatest university on the face of the planet, bar none!!! RCJH!!!
lahothan (anonymous) says…
Love how they went out of the way to assure us there won't be any problems with his eligibility.
oljhwk (anonymous) says…
Hihawk, that is a bit harsh, IMHO. You have to look at what HCBS has done with the players he has brought in. I feel as though he gets the most out of the players that buy into his program. With the two recuits from this year sitting out and the quaility of recuits coming in next year we will be competitive next year. This year's team has impressed me a lot. I didn't think we would be competitive at all but they all have heart and want to win and that goes a long way towards a successful season. There weren't a lot of 5 star rucruits in the 2008 national championship team and last year's UConn team wasn't on the radar untill late in the season. You can't judge a team by how many five star recruits it has on it.
drgnslayr (anonymous) says…
One nickname vote for "Cool Hand Lucas"... a spin-off of my all-time fav film.
MDHawk (anonymous) replies…
+1
coolbjayhawk (anonymous) says…
This kid was according to rick dashel in the oregonian high school sports article until a month ago was ranked in the top 100 players. Sometimes rankings or lack of dont tell the whole story. Everyone knows talent is not limited to 150 kids. The kid has mugh positive. Welcome to the land where the chalk is always rockin i crown thee Sir Landen Hawk.
master16 (anonymous) says…
Landen Lucas is great get. No, he's not in the top 150 or a heavily recruited player... but he is a solid player who wants to be a Jayhawk and will have the nation's best coaching staff behind him. As long as he puts in the effort, sky is the limit for him. Good enough for me.
coolbjayhawk (anonymous) replies…
read the article i in the oregonian it said until a month ago he was in the top 150.
OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…
ukallday...is that you, Ashley Judd???
You cute little vixen...now that your movie career is in the dumpster, you'll have more time to troll on other sites using various posting ID's and avatars.
What Kansas really needs is a recruit built like your sister, Wynona.. Now there would be a Dominator in the middle!!
kushaw (Chris Shaw) replies…
That was clever!
Calijhawk (anonymous) says…
I am thinking HCBS is disillusioned with the one-and-done guys. If one decides to come, fine, but I think he would rather have the underrated kid with a chip on his shoulder that is willing to come in, take coaching, and stay 3-4 years. I think Lucas is one of those guys we will end up falling in love with.
konkeyDong (anonymous) says…
TXBBall55 and all the other gripers:
Here's what you need to know about Landen Lucas. He played 2 years of highschool ball, then was offered a scholarship by the extremely prestigious Findlay Prep academy. That's the same place that produced Myck Kabongo, Branden Ashely, Anthony Bennet, and Winston Shepherd recently, as well as Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson, Avery Bradley, and DeAndre Liggins. He worked his way into the starting rotation there, and was a top 100 ranked 4 star player. He was contacted for recruitment by Duke at one point because unlike any of their bigs, he actually has a back-to-the-basket game. Later, he decided he wanted to go play back home instead of living in Las Vegas, and promptly dropped off the rankings list.
Landen isn't some joe-schmo from nowhere. He was offered by several high major D1 schools. If he were still playing for an AAU team and ranked #75 in his class, no one but a moron would complain. Not only are recruiting sites not gospel, they aren't even a reliable guide line. They are based almost solely on AAU performance, and perhaps to a less extent things like state championships, and have pretty much nothing to do with analyzing the overall talent of individual players. At best, they're a decent metric of who'll get drafted to the NBA, but even then, they don't have all the answers. Landen is a good player that dropped out of AAU and lost his ranking, not a last ditch prayer, and he's a kid that can be built into an excellent player in 2 - 3 years. Not so long ago, that was everything anyone wanted in a recruit. Nowadays, if a kid isn't NBA quality right out of highschool, he has no business having a college career, or so that's what I here from all the whiners on here.
In 1988, we won a championship with several players less talented than Landen Lucas. I'm not saying he's a godsend, but he's got good footwork and a good post game. He needs to shed some weight and add some speed, but he's still a quality D1 prospect and we should be glad we got him. If you're worried about getting better players, better players aren't going to sign until later, and we'll have one scholarship more to offer come April because news flash, this is TRobs last year. If we want to add a Tony Parker, Andrew White, or even a Shabazz Muhammad at that time, we'll have the opportunity and that's generally been when Self does his best work.
blackhawkjayhawk (anonymous) replies…
What many posters are missing is that Self watched this kid at his own camp. He knows him inside and out. There's a reason Self offered the kid in the early period. I say trust Self.
HighEliteMajor (anonymous) replies…
Of course, what you ignore, is that Self knows hundreds of kids from camps.
And what you miss is that coach Self missed on Tarc and did not pursue other higher ranked players (due to his "all in" approach with Tarc) and has thus focused on the "best available" in his mind.
And what you miss is that coach Self has pinned down Lucas now, so he isn't left holding the bag later if a higher rated guy didn't pan out. Learning a lesson from last recruiting season.
Jabberhawky (anonymous) replies…
Well done.
HighEliteMajor (anonymous) replies…
KonkeyDong: You simply are wrong on the ratings. Nothing will convince you. Rivals is a very reliable guideline. Look at Self's recruiting targets in the past three years ... not the ones we got, but the targets. Odd how they are the top rated guys. Strange how that works.
Citing the school .. Findlay seems useless, saying essentially he must be good because he went there. Use our team as an example to disprove that silly analogy.
Note that Landen averaged 6 points last season.
Note that he left Findlay.
Citing 1988 is again, useless. 25 years ago they were wearing short shorts. Why don't you analyze the last 15 years of final four teams for not the exceptions .. Butler, George Mason .. but the rules .. Duke, NC, Kansas, Syracuse, UConn., Florida.
No doubt, a kid like Lucas can be a cog.
Why should we be glad we got Lucas, as you suggest? This is the type of guy we should get with our eyes closed. Noting the difference between Kansas and, say, a Missouri.
I bet you were giddy over Braeden Anderson and Jamari Traylor, too.
konkeyDong (anonymous) replies…
For starters, you're completely ignorant of how Rivals, Scout, and ESPN work because again, these guys only follow AAU teams and are little more than hype machines for those players. Two, yeah, good players do tend to wind up at the top of those rankings, but so do guys that don't amount to much in their careers. Also, those rankings fluctuate throughout the year. Guys who were in the bottom 50 go off in an AAU tournament and all of the sudden they're the next Kevin Durant. Guys who play well in high school but don't make a big splash in AAU are totally ignored. Rankings are just the best guesses of sports writers based on what little exposure they have to players and we all know how reliably they pick winners. Like how everyone was lining up UCONN and Butler in the finals of the NCAA tournament last year.
Tell me this HEM, would getting Tarc have got us a title automatically? Is Perry Ellis simply sh!t cause he's only a top 25 guy? And telling me to ignore the teams that got their without the superstars is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard. The exceptions are the teams that prove that those rankings don't amount to crap. Are you satisfied that we lost to VCU last year cause at least our team had more NBA players on it than theirs? If that's you're standard, then go root for Kentucky. They won't disappoint. They'll send at least 3 guys to the NBA every year while Cal is there.
I wish we had got Tarc because he was a good player with NBA potential. But so what. He won't do us any good if he's in the NBA in two years. Lucas doesn't have that. I don't believe I said that this kid is more than a cog, but you need cogs to make a machine run. Great teams have a foundation of solid players and they build on that with the stars they have. He can come in, do his work day in and day out and he'll be a good part of a good team. He's not Merv Lindsay, who we just picked up because we needed another body. He's been ranked. He's demonstrated talent. He doesn't have to be the leading scorer on his team to contribute. And if you don't have the imagination to see what a kid who managed to work his way to a starting position at one of the premier AAU clubs in the nation has to offer, then why do you even bother with this game?
We've got more talent than most of the teams ranked at this point and we're losing two good guys this year, and we'll be adding two good guys next year with Ellis coming in and BMac coming off suspension and you're complaining because somehow you think we're not bringing in enough talent? In a down year, a rebuilding year, we're starting off ranked #13 and favored to win the conference and you're crying? Simply put you, txbball and all the other cry babies are thin-skinned, worthless fair-weather fans. Go find another team.
jhawk7782 (Mike) replies…
+1 HEM!
FEARTHEPHOGKJ (anonymous) says…
he does look kinda slow motion when he gets the ball,good frame tho...i hope danny can fix that and make him into beast.
HighEliteMajor (anonymous) says…
Ask yourself one question .. quietly .. when no one is around. Go to the power forwards/centers ranked in the top 70. Take off your crimson and blue colored glasses. Take coach Self's picture down from the wall. Ponder the meaning of life. Be honest with yourself.
Would you choose Lucas over any of them?
The answer is and should be the final word on this thread.
Now, bring on Kentucky.
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
"Take off your crimson and blue colored glasses."
I tried that. Fell down my stairs. Guess I lost my 3D perspective....
Next test? ; )
bennybob (anonymous) replies…
Becareful when asking people to remove themselves from there bias on this site,
I've tried, it gets ugly
lighthawk (anonymous) says…
rate our recruting efforts.
Last time we didn't win the conf. titile I had hair.
Back when Joe Pa in Happy Valley was coaching some other guys' recruits back here on the Kaw we didn't win the Big 8 every year, so our expectations weren't so high. Some of us are delighted with not only our conf. title banners but also with how we play, tough D and as a team.
Old guy.
Kentuck will be a good test and ought to provide plenty for us to work on.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
"Last time we didn't win the conf. titile I had hair"
Greatest one liner in KU basketball posting history!
PHOF!
JHAWKNPHX (anonymous) says…
Welcome to the family Lucas. RCJH!!!
baldjedi (anonymous) says…
The way I look at it is we have a big man that we needed. Before everyone starts burning the house down let's see how things play out. We could get a bunch of big time players to finish up our class and finish up strong.
BringtheRuckus (anonymous) says…
Good word, baldjedi. Time will tell on this Lucas. Concerning all the discussion on recruiting, I'm curious to see how tomorrow night goes. It seems like a clash of strategies: Self's talented upperclassmen vs. Calapari's bumper crop of rivals 5-star underclassmen. It might not have been the right forum for voicing them, but Texbball55's concerns seem pretty fair to me. I'd be shocked if Self/Dooley/Townsend haven't been very frustrated in the last two years about so many near misses on our top targets. Its not the number of stars that makes me think those players were good, but that Self went all in on them and ended up missing. That being said, I wouldn't want any other coach in the country --- especially not Calipari. The dude's a NCAA sanctions bomb just waiting to explode grease, forfeits, and lost scholarships all over the bluegrass state.
Alohahawk (anonymous) says…
Just reviewed the posts on this string and realized I didn't have to read quite a few of them further than their poster name. Everytime I reached a post by some ignoramus/troll with the Nom de Plume starting with UKALL..., I knew I didn't need to read that post any further. That, plus I couldn't stand the smell reeking from it, even over the internet! The individual even acknowledges that he/she can't stand themselves by their chosen title, "UKALL". Sounds like 'Yuk all", to me. Maybe they thought up the name because they couldn't stand what they are surrounded by. Or perhaps they've often heard themselves called "Yokel", but are to dumb to know how to spell it. Are you reading this, UKALL...? You mispelled your name, it's "Y O K E L". Oh, well. Poor guy/girl. Must be the environment in which they live, or the people with whom they hang around.
But really, I just wish my fellow Jayhawk posters would stop responding to this idiot. If you completly ignore someone, sooner or later they go away feeling despondent because they were unable to elicit some sort of recognition that they exist.
Now, watch everyone. If he/she responds to this post, see if I ignore it, or if I respond. Since I won't respond they'll be wasting their time and energy, which they could be using to better themselves in some other fashion then to troll on an opposing board. Hear me YOKEL? Go feed your dodo to someone who will read it, like your Kenstinky brethren.
stevephoenix (anonymous) says…
I guess it is a consolation prize by picking Landan Lucas over the great recruit of Tarczewski who made Bill Self and all the Jaywalker nation fools by picking great powerhouse Arizona then the small school of Kansas. Well good luck Jaywalkers for your low recruiting class like usually.
ralster (anonymous) replies…
Hi, Overblowna dude! I hope you guys win a National Championship soon with all your "great recruits". I really do, because it would actually add some credibility to all this "fluff" I hear from Aridzona fans. Ooops, dont "fan" too hard, as all your sand castles will blow away!
drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…
Is it true you can order hot asphalt tarballs as a pizza topping in zona?
lonestar_jayhawk (anonymous) says…
Counting basketball scholarship for 2012-13. Help me. Do we have one left for next year? Or do we have one left for next year IF TRob leaves for the NBA? Who are the walk-on players?
LaJHawk666 (anonymous) replies…
I'm pretty sure we have one more scholarship left when/if T-Rob leaves, plus a second schollie if Wesley goes back to walk-on status (which I hope he does even after a stellar year this year).
Next year on scholarship: EJ, Tharp, Releford, McLemore, Lindsay, Young, Ellis, Peters, Traylor, Withey, Lucas. That equals eleven. 13 are allowed until Kentuk--I mean--a team gets caught cheating.
Hope we get White (even more than Shabazz, really). Nino, get your academics in order or work at a shoe store for the rest of your life.
RCJH
Swarty (anonymous) says…
Umm I live in Feenix too and my buddy is a huge UofA homer so he told me I had to go to a UofA game to see how we rock it in AZ in basketball. Ah-ight then, so I went with him to Tucsuck and got our 3rd row seats and got to sample the delicious menu of popcorn or popcorn. Take your pick and watch with great enthusiasm as Jimmer dropped 49 on your beloved kitties that was so bad that the actual wildcat fans we're chanting for him to shoot more with 2 minutes left to go... great experience :s) Laughed all the way home on the I-10. Look I don't want to be mean Wildcat faithful (Seattle Pacific) but you can keep Kaleb and your tasty popcorn and bear down kittens... RCJH for life stuck in Zona :s)
jayhawker_97 (anonymous) says…
b