Well, Rivals has it’s initial basketball Rivals 150 list for the 2008 recruiting class. Keep in mind, that these rankings will change (see also, Blair, DeJuan). The power forwards and centers dominate the list as this seems to be a strong class for that. Present verbals Nasir Robinson and Travon Woodall are at #86 and #121 respectively. Robinson is considered the 15th best small forward in the country. Woodall is the 21st best point guard according to their rankings.
Considering Pitt’s needs were not pressing at the power forward and center position for this recruiting class, it’s not surprising that, they won’t be highly ranked right now.
One of Pitt’s main targets for the 3d scholarship, Eloy Vargas, is a power forward and ranked 46th. PF Samardo Samuels (St. Benedicts where Dan Hurley coaches), who Pitt may still have a shot at (despite competition from UConn, Florida, Louisville and UNC) is the #6 prospect overall.
This article from Gary Parrish at CBS Sportsline was somewhat amusing about the fans and message boarders obsession about the next great recruiting class and players.
Fans are similar to the rest of us, really.
They enjoy talking about the future more than the present.
Just like we enjoy talking about the future more than the present.
The only difference is fans spend their time talking about recruiting and the next wave of prospects, and we spend our time talking about our next car, our next house, our next job, our next anything. Either way, it’s the same principle at work, lesson being it’s better to dream than live, better to imagine than enjoy.
…
“Recruiting gives fans an opportunity to brag and say ‘Look what our program is able to do,'” said Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel. “Fans are able to brag and get on message boards and pick on other fans. It’s very, very odd. It really is. But I’d rather have a top 10 team than a top 10 recruiting class.”
Yeah. I’ll give him that about looking to the future. He loses major points, though, for falling back on what has become the latest sportswriter convention: quoting from message boards as anecdotal evidence to make his point. That point, when it comes to using fan message boards is to “prove” fan expectations/beliefs/views or simply the fans are insane. It’s there, someone posted it, the point is made by their own words.
Such a lazy act. When a sportswriter does it, it’s like he’s announcing that he’s either mailing it in or just needs to fill out column space.
I guess one reason (besides the $$$) that the D-IA schools cling to the archaic bowl system is that it gives more schools and their fans the chance to end on a positive note … but are you really going to be THAT hyped if you squeak out a 3 point win in the Motor Square Garden Bowl? (Yes, before y’all yelp, after the last 2 years I would also jump at the chance to get hyped over such a dubious achievement)
