forums

Pitino: No HS recruiting this year

Applecane

Applecane

Recruit
Premium
Joined
Nov 5, 2011
Messages
1,028
Saw a clip on Sports Center.
He said this past year's haul was enough.
He said he needs the portal to replace three of his top players.
Even with the portal, I never thought we'd get to the point where a team would completely shutdown HS recruiting.
But maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention.
The guy certainly knows what he's doing. St. John's is ranked sixth.
Must be nice to be King of New York.
 

Advertisement
Applecane said:
Saw a clip on Sports Center.
He said this past year's haul was enough.
He said he needs the portal to replace three of his top players.
Even with the portal, I never thought we'd get to the point where a team would completely shutdown HS recruiting.
But maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention.
The guy certainly knows what he's doing. St. John's is ranked sixth.
Must be nice to be King of New York.
Click to expand...

I'm a season ticket holder, and am very much a die hard St. John's fan. I'd be stunned if we don't have a few players that will portal lined up by now.

Truth is we are losing far too much production from guys graduating to expect high schoolers to come in and fill those voids.

This year may be a one off, because Rick is currently recruiting 2026 high schoolers, mainly point guards.
 
Applecane said:
Saw a clip on Sports Center.
He said this past year's haul was enough.
He said he needs the portal to replace three of his top players.
Even with the portal, I never thought we'd get to the point where a team would completely shutdown HS recruiting.
But maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention.
The guy certainly knows what he's doing. St. John's is ranked sixth.
Must be nice to be King of New York.
Click to expand...
There was some football team that did this and didnt sign any HS prospects a year or two ago. I think this is still the exception instead of the rule and basketball is a different animal. You are vying for 5 spots, not 22. You can be 1 and done, not 3 and done. HS kids can take over NCAA bball easier and at a higher % than football.

So basically if you sign a big HS class and they develop how you want them and dont leave in the portal I can foresee it not being uncommon to skip a random year of HS croots to go get proven guys.
 
passitback said:
I'm a season ticket holder, and am very much a die hard St. John's fan. I'd be stunned if we don't have a few players that will portal lined up by now.

Truth is we are losing far too much production from guys graduating to expect high schoolers to come in and fill those voids.

This year may be a one off, because Rick is currently recruiting 2026 high schoolers, mainly point guards.
Click to expand...
I was at the Garden on Saturday vs Seton Hall. It did my heart good to see MSG jam packed. It was almost like a religious revival.
I've read that it's possible Luis and Ejiofor will stay on another year. The Johnnie's have a big money guy behind them these days.
 
Applecane said:
I was at the Garden on Saturday vs Seton Hall. It did my heart good to see MSG jam packed. It was almost like a religious revival.
I've read that it's possible Luis and Ejiofor will stay on another year. The Johnnie's have a big money guy behind them these days.
Click to expand...

Garden was rocking...



Lately Rick hasn't been mentioning Luis as one of the players leaving. I think it is because RJ is leaning towards staying. I also believe Zuby will stay, and anyone else Rick really wants to keep. With Repole bankrolling Rick, money is no issue.


Re: 2025 recruiting
Rick needs to replace Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott, and Deivon Smith. These guys are all seniors, and very mature (physically and mentally). This is a big reason why Rick isn't prioritizing high schoolers.


Re: RJ
I think RJ gets a draft grade and returns back to Queens to continue developing. He needs to work on his defense, three point shooting, free throws, his handle...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3244.jpeg
    IMG_3244.jpeg
    3.3 MB · Views: 0
  • IMG_3252.jpeg
    IMG_3252.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 0
  • IMG_3260.jpeg
    IMG_3260.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 0
Advertisement
Agree with Rick 100%.

Unless you have a team full of 5-star McDonald's All-Americans AND you have an absolute genius of a Coach, I don't see teams primarily lead by 1st or 2nd year HS kids making deep tournament runs.
 
Memnon said:
Agree with Rick 100%.

Unless you have a team full of 5-star McDonald's All-Americans AND you have an absolute genius of a Coach, I don't see teams primarily lead by 1st or 2nd year HS kids making deep tournament runs.
Click to expand...

Even with a roster littered with 5-star McDonald's All Americans, there are no gaurantees:

"As of 2024, the college basketball programs with the most McDonald's All-Americans commits are:

1. University of North Carolina (UNC)

2. University of Kentucky

3. Duke University

4. University of Kansas

5. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)"

Which colleges have the most McDonald's All-Americans of all time?

www.collegevine.com www.collegevine.com

- Each team above will be dancing, but only Duke is dominating the college landscape, and they have the best player in America.

The rest aren't living up to their hype, especially Kansas.

Zag on Kansas:

"They are now tied with last year’s Kansas team and the 2013-14 Kentucky squad for second in terms of most losses by a Preseason No. 1 since the 1961-62 season, per ESPN. Their nine conference losses are their most since 1982-83. The 2022-23 North Carolina team that was the Preseason No. 1 suffered 13 losses."




www.zagsblog.com

Kansas approaching ignominious record for Preseason No. 1 | Zagsblog

By ADAM ZAGORIA Kansas began the season […]
www.zagsblog.com





Random fact of the day: Auburn's starting five is 23.3 years of age on average. The OKC Thunder's is 24.5
 
Advertisement
Back
Top