Commits/Recruiting

[Shaddix]

It's been clear for a long time that we have no better than an outside chance at Vonleh; they'll hold a slot open as long as feasible because getting him would be a major event in the history of the program. As for Terrell and Abu, I think it will be harder for BC to recruit them as a package than to recruit one or the other individually (although I'd be deliriously happy to get them both). In any case, it's not yet time to hit the panic button for 2014; the elite 2014 players will probably commit no earlier than next spring. The most important thing is to get quality players (not necessarily superstars like Vonleh) with the few scholarships we have for 2013 and 2014; if we got Dingba for 2013 and Joseph and Cimino for 2014, I would consider it a great success for Donahue. The team's performance in 2013-14 and recruiting for 2013 and 2014 are going to settle whether he stays around.

You are thinking wayyyy to much into this class wayyyy too soon. These kids are about a year from choosing a college. BC has all of next season to prove

I"m not sure about how much we're disagreeing. Perhaps I should have written "next spring at the earliest." It's more likely that commitments will be made during the summer and early fall, with perhaps a few running into the spring of 2014. As for next season, I entirely agree that next season's record will have a very large effect on commitments, since it's the most reliable demonstration of the staff's coaching ability. As for whether I'm looking too hard too soon at 2014, people can look at the offers piling up for these kids and make up their own minds; the competition is already well under way.

Ah ok, we are more on the same page than I thought. Recruiting high major talent is difficult, I wouldn't expect BC to bow out of any of these guys for the next few months at least.... they can't afford to lose the time. Full court press has to be put on Vonleh until Kentucky offers and just hope that the team does well next year.

[MattTheEagle]

Don't put too much stock in the schools 2014 players are naming nor the order. In fact, the list of schools recruits from 2014 are naming is rarely consistent month-to-month. A lot of players are just listing schools because it makes those recruiting weirdos happy. Sometimes it is even induced by the interviewer, like "what do you think about UCLA..." "...oh yeah, they are recruiting me too and I really like them."

Anyways, Vonleh likes BC, he has visited us multiple times and the same schools are after him now as they were a month ago. Whether he picks us is a long-shot, but we have been and still are recruiting him hard.

Donahue and company have worked extremely hard in the recruiting trail and I am hoping it finally pays off with one or more big commits in 2014. My concern, and not to point fingers, is that often times for the top players out of HS the big programs engage in pretty shady recruiting tactics.

[RedBaron67]

Certainly the BC staff has worked as hard as anyone this summer. Now they have to work just as hard putting an improved team on the court this winter, because this will be crucial for closing the deal on the 2014 class. I don't worry much about them being beaten by obvious corruption; the NCAA works pretty hard on surveillance of programs, and the shoe companies (if the rumors are true) only get involved with a very few surefire NBA prospects. What's worrisome is the gray area where the NCAA can't get involved. The top programs have big budgets, big arenas, and big fan bases, and they stretch the rule book to leverage these advantages as much as they can in recruiting without stepping over the line and getting the NCAA involved; since the NCAA isn't a totalitarian police state, they can only do so much to level the playing field. Actually, I think the NCAA is probably doing a better job now than in the past; I take it as a sign of this that the most recent major college sports scandals (i.e., Syracuse and Penn State) have been about, not illicit goodies for the players, but rather sexual predation by staff members, an area which the NCAA can't police or even get involved in until after the matter blows up in public. The advantages that the big-time programs have (especially the big state universities that can tap into tax revenues because the legislators want to keep their fans happy) really annoy me, but I recognize there are limits to how much this can be controlled.

[Shaddix]

NCAA banned UCF from postseason play this year so Keith Clanton and Marcus Jordan can transfer out of UCF for the upcoming season without penalty. I don't think BC would be in the mix for either, but it would be fun

[bcmurph]

BC Offered 2015 6'7 Forward Evan Boudreaux..

http://chicagohoops.hoops247.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2147:evan-boudreaux-adds-boston-college-offer&catid=34:recruiting

Little write up on him here...http://ilprepbullseye.com/Boudreaux_Player_Watch.html

[RedBaron67]

BC Offered 2015 6'7 Forward Evan Boudreaux..

http://chicagohoops.hoops247.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2147:evan-boudreaux-adds-boston-college-offer&catid=34:recruiting

Little write up on him here...http://ilprepbullseye.com/Boudreaux_Player_Watch.html

Boudreaux's YouTube videos are really eye-opening; he lives and plays in an upscale Chicago suburb and only turned 15 this year, but his game is remarkably complete; in particular, he's a really tough inside player scoring and rebounding. (He credits this to his mother, who started teaching him to crash the boards when he was 2; she was a Parade All-American and 3-time Ivy League Player of the Year at Dartmouth.) Offering him early was wise, because this kid is going to attract a lot of interest; only Northwestern and BC have offered so far, but De Paul, Illinois, Iowa, Notre Dame, UCLA, Virginia, and Wisconsin are looking at him, and the list is going to grow. Boudreaux would be a wonderful get, but the competition for him is going to be ferocious.

[vegasEagle]

BC Offered 2015 6'7 Forward Evan Boudreaux..

http://chicagohoops.hoops247.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2147:evan-boudreaux-adds-boston-college-offer&catid=34:recruiting

Little write up on him here...http://ilprepbullseye.com/Boudreaux_Player_Watch.html

Boudreaux's YouTube videos are really eye-opening; he lives and plays in an upscale Chicago suburb and only turned 15 this year, but his game is remarkably complete; in particular, he's a really tough inside player scoring and rebounding. (He credits this to his mother, who started teaching him to crash the boards when he was 2; she was a Parade All-American and 3-time Ivy League Player of the Year at Dartmouth.) Offering him early was wise, because this kid is going to attract a lot of interest; only Northwestern and BC have offered so far, but De Paul, Illinois, Iowa, Notre Dame, UCLA, Virginia, and Wisconsin are looking at him, and the list is going to grow. Boudreaux would be a wonderful get, but the competition for him is going to be ferocious.

AAU coach is Dickey Simpkins from Providence College in the early 90's.... I'm sure they'll be on this kid real soon

[BCEaglesFan]

BC Offered 2015 6'7 Forward Evan Boudreaux..

http://chicagohoops.hoops247.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2147:evan-boudreaux-adds-boston-college-offer&catid=34:recruiting

Little write up on him here...http://ilprepbullseye.com/Boudreaux_Player_Watch.html

Boudreaux's YouTube videos are really eye-opening; he lives and plays in an upscale Chicago suburb and only turned 15 this year, but his game is remarkably complete; in particular, he's a really tough inside player scoring and rebounding. (He credits this to his mother, who started teaching him to crash the boards when he was 2; she was a Parade All-American and 3-time Ivy League Player of the Year at Dartmouth.) Offering him early was wise, because this kid is going to attract a lot of interest; only Northwestern and BC have offered so far, but De Paul, Illinois, Iowa, Notre Dame, UCLA, Virginia, and Wisconsin are looking at him, and the list is going to grow. Boudreaux would be a wonderful get, but the competition for him is going to be ferocious.

AAU coach is Dickey Simpkins from Providence College in the early 90's.... I'm sure they'll be on this kid real soon

Cooley is on every top recruit these days.

Btw, welcome to EO.

[vegasEagle]

Been reading this site for a few years mostly for recruiting updates...
Thought i'd join since i went down to Rancho HS here in vegas last week to check out the adidas super 64 tournament and the Mass Rivals team
I dont know if anyone on this site has ever seen vonleh play in person but i will tell you this...
HE was the best player in the gym and there were a whole lot of high level recruits in this tournament.
Joseph was good and i hope the don is getting in on this Jalen Adams kid. Not to mention the rest of the talent on the mass rivals team.
I like the fact that the don is starting to recruit local talent but there is a big void from skinners lack of recruiting the area.
We may not get vonleh but all its gonna take is one of these big time local kids to commit and more should follow.

[BCEaglesFan]

Been reading this site for a few years mostly for recruiting updates...
Thought i'd join since i went down to Rancho HS here in vegas last week to check out the adidas super 64 tournament and the Mass Rivals team
I dont know if anyone on this site has ever seen vonleh play in person but i will tell you this...
HE was the best player in the gym and there were a whole lot of high level recruits in this tournament.
Joseph was good and i hope the don is getting in on this Jalen Adams kid. Not to mention the rest of the talent on the mass rivals team.
I like the fact that the don is starting to recruit local talent but there is a big void from skinners lack of recruiting the area.
We may not get vonleh but all its gonna take is one of these big time local kids to commit and more should follow.

Don is on Jalen Adams, he's watched him a lot the past few weeks.

[claver2010]

Welcome aboard.

[eagle9903]

This thread is a little beyond my interest level as far as recruiting goes, in that like HJS above I think (Vonleh and maybe Joseph aside) the talk of the 2014 and 2015 kids is just way too speculative. Specifically, I've seen the show too many times where BC is heavily involved early while the competition is reasonable only to have the Kansas, UNCs and Dukes of the world offer two years from now and it all be for naught. The only reason for my preceding disclaimer is it is the reason for my question, who are the most likely 2013 signees?

Is it just Dingba and BJ Johnson that are decent chances, or others?

[twballgame9]

If BC lands Dingba, I am fine with banking the other schollie. That said, I generally agree that you don't bank schollies (a) hoping that you will land a kid(s) that have drawn the interest of Kansas, Duke, UNC and UK the following season; and (b) assuming there will be no transfers or other losses. Erik Murphy and Gabe Moton should be recent enough examples of both points.

[BCEaglesFan]

Jake O'Brien update

@ JonRothstein BU's Jake O'Brien is likely to transfer to either Temple, BC, or Virginia. Decision could come as early as this weekend

Still think it is a long shot though.

[BCEaglesFan]

BC offered Sean O'Mara

[Shaddix]

Jake O'Brien update

@ JonRothstein BU's Jake O'Brien is likely to transfer to either Temple, BC, or Virginia. Decision could come as early as this weekend

Still think it is a long shot though.

Gotta think Temple has the lead. Crazy that Providence is out though. Anyone else notice that Cooley's plan is going as planned with Ledo has qualifying issues, Baker out, Sidliki out, Dunn hurt for the year, Coleman transfers. Not to mention they picked up Carson Desroisers who absolutely sucks

[MattTheEagle]

Jake O'Brien update

@ JonRothstein BU's Jake O'Brien is likely to transfer to either Temple, BC, or Virginia. Decision could come as early as this weekend

Still think it is a long shot though.

Gotta think Temple has the lead. Crazy that Providence is out though. Anyone else notice that Cooley's plan is going as planned with Ledo has qualifying issues, Baker out, Sidliki out, Dunn hurt for the year, Coleman transfers. Not to mention they picked up Carson Desroisers who absolutely sucks

Yeah, truthfully I think we'll be better than Providence. I have high hopes for Clifford and Anderson. I also think we have some decent role players and hoping our incoming freshmen make some noise as well.

Re O'Brien, he would be a great pickup, but I too think Temple may be in the lead.

[bcmurph]

Jake O'Brien update

@ JonRothstein BU's Jake O'Brien is likely to transfer to either Temple, BC, or Virginia. Decision could come as early as this weekend

Still think it is a long shot though.

I'm thinking O'brien would be the first BC HIgh guy to play for BC since Terry Driscoll....anyone got anything else?

[claver2010]

THE Carson Derosiers? A favorite!

[Shaddix]

BJ Johnson visiting Villanova today... I don't believe the has even visited BC yet and we were the first high major to offer... not a good sign. It is worth mentioning that he's from PA anyways

[eagle9903]

BJ Johnson visiting Villanova today... I don't believe the has even visited BC yet and we were the first high major to offer... not a good sign. It is worth mentioning that he's from PA anyways

for what it's worth, he has no Villanova offer according to Rivals neither does ESPN, but Scout does.

[Shaddix]

BJ Johnson visiting Villanova today... I don't believe the has even visited BC yet and we were the first high major to offer... not a good sign. It is worth mentioning that he's from PA anyways

for what it's worth, he has no Villanova offer according to Rivals neither does ESPN, but Scout does.

I know he got a Villanova offer either last week or the one before that

[eagle9903]

BJ Johnson visiting Villanova today... I don't believe the has even visited BC yet and we were the first high major to offer... not a good sign. It is worth mentioning that he's from PA anyways

for what it's worth, he has no Villanova offer according to Rivals neither does ESPN, but Scout does.

I know he got a Villanova offer either last week or the one before that

gotcha, thanks.

[twballgame9]

THE Carson Derosiers? A favorite!

Yeah, but I really wrong in my predictions.

[joeyfenn]

@FS150_JP
2014 Village Christian 6'4 G Bryan Alberts has received offers from Boston College, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

Donahue checking out California again

Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Wisconsin have also offered

[RedBaron67]

@FS150_JP
2014 Village Christian 6'4 G Bryan Alberts has received offers from Boston College, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

Donahue checking out California again

Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Wisconsin have also offered

Alberts (who lives in Northridge, CA) also has offers from Northwestern and Stanford, and will undoubtedly collect more, because 6'5" PGs whose schools (two different private schools in his freshman and sophomore years, both of which he started for) win CIF divisional championships do not grow on trees. (One source reports that he's returning to his original school for his junior year.) He has stated in an interview, "I like the east coast. I really like the intensity people have for basketball out there." (Note to Donahue: arrange for a screaming mob of BB fans if this kid visits.) On the AAU circuit, Alberts runs with BTI Pump 'n Run (Jackson and Caudill's old team, if I'm not mistaken). He's a good student, and is reported to possess the inevitable high BB IQ. Schools reported to be interested without offering (yet) include Kansas and (unfortunately) Wake Forest. (Somehow, he's managed to hide from Iowa State so far.) Alberts looks like a wonderful prospect, but seems destined to inspire a recruiting mob scene -- maybe he'll distract a few schools from noticing Kaleb Joseph (but I wouldn't bet on it).

[BCEaglesFan]

James Ziemba visiting BC. I can't find anything on him except he is also visiting Harvard

Anyone know anything about him?

It is for baseball.

[joeyfenn]

James Ziemba visiting BC. I can't find anything on him except he is also visiting Harvard

Anyone know anything about him?

It is for baseball.

Yeah i ended up figuring that out after a little while, sorry. I guess Duke is looking at him too, he is supposedly really good

[Brablc]

Recent article on ESPN about Abu:

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecr ... st?id=3105

Abdul-Malik Abu (Boston/Kimball Union) played like a man on a mission during the last two weeks of the July evaluation period, stringing together huge performances at the Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest, Live in the A.C. and Hoop Group Buzzer Beater Classic.

Abu was an absolute monster in the paint, attacking offensive rebounds as if they were passes to him, throwing down vicious dunks at every opportunity and sprinting the floor like a deer. Most impressive was first the consistency with which he was able to do it over an extended period of time, but secondly that he was able to do it while observing the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, which required him to go without both food and water for the vast majority of his day.

Beginning on July 20, Abu was only permitted to eat or drink during the period of time beginning at sunset and lasting until about 3:45 a.m. ET, meaning most days he went well over 16 consecutive hours with no food or water, while still playing two or three basketball games.

It wasn’t just the lack of food and water that proved a challenge, but also a disrupted sleeping schedule as he would have to wake up in the middle of the night, complete his meal before the designated time, and then try to go back to sleep.

“The difference usually kicked in the second game of the day,” Abu said. “The first game I always felt a step behind but by that second game I really felt like I was letting my teammates down.”

The reality was he was doing anything but that, as he led Expressions Elite to two finals appearances and one semifinal appearance during their final three tournaments of the month.

“I try not to use it as an excuse but when I can eat or drink it’s a whole other story,” Abu said following his team’s run to the finals at Live in the A.C. “I try to play with a hard motor but that’s hard without any fuel in you.”

Abu came into the month with offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa State, UMass, Michigan State, Providence, Rhode Island and Rutgers, according to his Expressions Elite coach Tyron Boswell, and has picked up additional offers from Seton Hall, Temple, West Virginia, St. Bonaventure, Maryland and, as recently as this weekend, Connecticut and Miami. Additionally, Boswell said the likes of Kansas, Syracuse, NC State, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and Auburn are all now expressing interest.

While his recruiting list is starting to sound like a who’s who of high-major college programs east of the Mississippi, there was one local school that made a statement with its relentless pursuit of the 2014 big man this summer.

“Providence had a coach at every single game I played this summer,” Abu said. “Lots of times it was Coach [Ed] Cooley himself and you don’t see a lot of head coaches doing that. I really appreciate that.”

Providence’s pursuit of Abu this summer was, in many ways, reminiscent of how it locked on to Ricardo Ledo and Kris Dunn last summer. That strategy obviously paid huge dividends a year ago, but whether or not it can repeat itself remains to be seen.

Another Cooley mention...

[BCEaglesFan]

Recent article on ESPN about Abu:

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecr ... st?id=3105

Abdul-Malik Abu (Boston/Kimball Union) played like a man on a mission during the last two weeks of the July evaluation period, stringing together huge performances at the Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest, Live in the A.C. and Hoop Group Buzzer Beater Classic.

Abu was an absolute monster in the paint, attacking offensive rebounds as if they were passes to him, throwing down vicious dunks at every opportunity and sprinting the floor like a deer. Most impressive was first the consistency with which he was able to do it over an extended period of time, but secondly that he was able to do it while observing the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, which required him to go without both food and water for the vast majority of his day.

Beginning on July 20, Abu was only permitted to eat or drink during the period of time beginning at sunset and lasting until about 3:45 a.m. ET, meaning most days he went well over 16 consecutive hours with no food or water, while still playing two or three basketball games.

It wasn’t just the lack of food and water that proved a challenge, but also a disrupted sleeping schedule as he would have to wake up in the middle of the night, complete his meal before the designated time, and then try to go back to sleep.

“The difference usually kicked in the second game of the day,” Abu said. “The first game I always felt a step behind but by that second game I really felt like I was letting my teammates down.”

The reality was he was doing anything but that, as he led Expressions Elite to two finals appearances and one semifinal appearance during their final three tournaments of the month.

“I try not to use it as an excuse but when I can eat or drink it’s a whole other story,” Abu said following his team’s run to the finals at Live in the A.C. “I try to play with a hard motor but that’s hard without any fuel in you.”

Abu came into the month with offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa State, UMass, Michigan State, Providence, Rhode Island and Rutgers, according to his Expressions Elite coach Tyron Boswell, and has picked up additional offers from Seton Hall, Temple, West Virginia, St. Bonaventure, Maryland and, as recently as this weekend, Connecticut and Miami. Additionally, Boswell said the likes of Kansas, Syracuse, NC State, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and Auburn are all now expressing interest.

While his recruiting list is starting to sound like a who’s who of high-major college programs east of the Mississippi, there was one local school that made a statement with its relentless pursuit of the 2014 big man this summer.

“Providence had a coach at every single game I played this summer,” Abu said. “Lots of times it was Coach [Ed] Cooley himself and you don’t see a lot of head coaches doing that. I really appreciate that.”

Providence’s pursuit of Abu this summer was, in many ways, reminiscent of how it locked on to Ricardo Ledo and Kris Dunn last summer. That strategy obviously paid huge dividends a year ago, but whether or not it can repeat itself remains to be seen.

Another Cooley mention...

Hoff says Abu is not very interested BC, and 2 sources told him that they think they got on him too late.