Post by Eddie Goodson on Nov 30, 2006 6:53:34 GMT -6
Link
Excellent reading.
Topper proves talent is more than a ranking
Rick Bozich
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — I have news that will make recruiting gurus mumble. Western Kentucky has a freshman basketball player who looks determined to make their ranking systems look as relevant as Nintendo 64.
His name is Jeremy Evans. I watched him dance over, around and through Alabama Birmingham in Diddle Arena for 18 points and six rebounds Tuesday.
This was only his seventh college game, but Western coach Darrin Horn is already running inbounds plays for Evans. Why? Horn understands the kid can knife his narrow 6-foot-9 body through defenders and dunk lobbed passes.
Get this: None of the moves Evans made in Western's 69-54 victory was as spectacular as the one-handed tip he pounded home in the Hilltoppers' win at Georgia. Evans is averaging nearly eight points, five rebounds and a block -- in less than 20 minutes per game.
Small town, not small time
Here is the news that makes the recruiting gurus leave the room:
Like many of Horn's players, Evans never heard a word from schools in the leagues that place four or five teams in the NCAA Tournament. The national recruiting gurus couldn't identify Evans if you gave them his picture and initials.
Prospects like Evans are reminders of why teams such as Western, Wichita State and Bradley keep thinking George Mason won't be the last mid-major to turn the NCAA Tournament bracket upside-down.
"You remember what George Mason did last year and it keeps you motivated," said Courtney Lee, the best player on this 6-1 WKU team.
I checked Evans' profile on the rivals.com Web site. The highest ranking a player can receive is five stars.
Evans received zero stars. My friend Clark Francis, publisher of The Hoop Scoop, ranked the Top 1,000 players in the Class of 2006.
Evans must have been No. 1,001. He's not listed in the Top 1,000.
"That's because he played in Crossett, Arkansas," Western assistant coach Jeff Strohm said. "Jeremy says there are 7,000 people in his hometown. He must have added a zero to the total.
"The first time I flew into Crossett to see him, people told me it was the first plane that landed there since 1975."
Bada-bing. Easy on the Crossett jokes. It's the hometown of former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer.
Big 12's loss, WKU's gain
It's football and timber country in southeastern Arkansas. Until Western called last March, Evans was bound for Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas-Little Rock or Stephen F. Austin, he said.
Arkansas didn't call?
"No, sir," Evans said. "There are only 400 kids in my school."
Strohm got a tip from a coaching friend in the Big 12. At less than 190 pounds, Evans was considered too light for that league. But when Strohm and Horn receive tips from trustworthy sources, they're on the road. Never mind the recruiting lists.
Strohm made his unforgettable visit to Crossett first. Horn arrived the next week. Western brought Evans to campus, where he played pickup ball with the Hilltoppers.
When the games ended, Lee hustled to Horn's office. "We've got to have this guy, Coach," Lee said. "He's exactly what we need. He's great around the basket and can run the floor."
The scholarship was offered. So long, Stephen F. Austin.
"I could tell people in Kentucky love basketball as much as I do," Evans said. "And they had good players."
Players with similar recruiting stories fill Horn's solid 11-player rotation. Two NBA scouts have told me Lee is the best college player in Kentucky. In high school, he wasn't ranked among the top five players in Indianapolis. Indiana and Purdue ignored him.
"There are players out there," Horn said. "You just have to keep looking."
Even if it takes you to Crossett, Arkansas.
Excellent reading.
Topper proves talent is more than a ranking
Rick Bozich
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — I have news that will make recruiting gurus mumble. Western Kentucky has a freshman basketball player who looks determined to make their ranking systems look as relevant as Nintendo 64.
His name is Jeremy Evans. I watched him dance over, around and through Alabama Birmingham in Diddle Arena for 18 points and six rebounds Tuesday.
This was only his seventh college game, but Western coach Darrin Horn is already running inbounds plays for Evans. Why? Horn understands the kid can knife his narrow 6-foot-9 body through defenders and dunk lobbed passes.
Get this: None of the moves Evans made in Western's 69-54 victory was as spectacular as the one-handed tip he pounded home in the Hilltoppers' win at Georgia. Evans is averaging nearly eight points, five rebounds and a block -- in less than 20 minutes per game.
Small town, not small time
Here is the news that makes the recruiting gurus leave the room:
Like many of Horn's players, Evans never heard a word from schools in the leagues that place four or five teams in the NCAA Tournament. The national recruiting gurus couldn't identify Evans if you gave them his picture and initials.
Prospects like Evans are reminders of why teams such as Western, Wichita State and Bradley keep thinking George Mason won't be the last mid-major to turn the NCAA Tournament bracket upside-down.
"You remember what George Mason did last year and it keeps you motivated," said Courtney Lee, the best player on this 6-1 WKU team.
I checked Evans' profile on the rivals.com Web site. The highest ranking a player can receive is five stars.
Evans received zero stars. My friend Clark Francis, publisher of The Hoop Scoop, ranked the Top 1,000 players in the Class of 2006.
Evans must have been No. 1,001. He's not listed in the Top 1,000.
"That's because he played in Crossett, Arkansas," Western assistant coach Jeff Strohm said. "Jeremy says there are 7,000 people in his hometown. He must have added a zero to the total.
"The first time I flew into Crossett to see him, people told me it was the first plane that landed there since 1975."
Bada-bing. Easy on the Crossett jokes. It's the hometown of former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer.
Big 12's loss, WKU's gain
It's football and timber country in southeastern Arkansas. Until Western called last March, Evans was bound for Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas-Little Rock or Stephen F. Austin, he said.
Arkansas didn't call?
"No, sir," Evans said. "There are only 400 kids in my school."
Strohm got a tip from a coaching friend in the Big 12. At less than 190 pounds, Evans was considered too light for that league. But when Strohm and Horn receive tips from trustworthy sources, they're on the road. Never mind the recruiting lists.
Strohm made his unforgettable visit to Crossett first. Horn arrived the next week. Western brought Evans to campus, where he played pickup ball with the Hilltoppers.
When the games ended, Lee hustled to Horn's office. "We've got to have this guy, Coach," Lee said. "He's exactly what we need. He's great around the basket and can run the floor."
The scholarship was offered. So long, Stephen F. Austin.
"I could tell people in Kentucky love basketball as much as I do," Evans said. "And they had good players."
Players with similar recruiting stories fill Horn's solid 11-player rotation. Two NBA scouts have told me Lee is the best college player in Kentucky. In high school, he wasn't ranked among the top five players in Indianapolis. Indiana and Purdue ignored him.
"There are players out there," Horn said. "You just have to keep looking."
Even if it takes you to Crossett, Arkansas.
