Recruiting the Area

[Valpo Zip]

I have been thinking a lot lately about recruiting and what can we do to improve the level of talent and athleticism in our future classes. After 4 years of 20+ wins, the word should be out there that the zips are for real and our coaches should be able to sell Akron as a top midmajor and not only a promissing team anymore.I am not trying to to start another RPI thread here, but let us assume that the RPI is an indication of teams' status and let's assume that that a certain local recruit will only consider going to a top 100 team. Do you know how many top 100 RPI schools is there in the state of Ohio?Drum Roll.... 9 (Akron, Can't, Ohio, Miami, Xavier, Dayton, Clev. State, wright state, and OSU)9 top 100 teams in the state excluding Cincinnati which is 106 !!!!That's not the whole story, look at how the top 100 teams are located by state:OH 9CA 8TX 7IN 6NC 6TN 5NY 4PA 4Other states 3 teams or less.Holly crap. A local kid who wan't to stay relatively close to home has a choice of 19 schools in Oh, Pa, and Indiana. That's a lot of competition to KD and his crew. What can we do to stand out? any ideas?

[ZachTheZip]

What can we do to stand out? any ideas?

Winning the MAC would be a start.

[skip-zip]

Some good thoughts. The problem is, the few top guys, THE ONES THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO GET, are always gravitated towards the top teams. So, you are always going to be competing for the 2nd tier.

[GoZips]

Some good thoughts. The problem is, the few top guys, THE ONES THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO GET, are always gravitated towards the top teams. So, you are always going to be competing for the 2nd tier.

Which is why we need to continue to promote the University of Akron. Ten years ago I took a lot of heat for being an "anti" Suckeye. Today many of you have joinedthe fray. Life is a lot better for a non-Sucker these days in Ohio. The Akron Zips is your team. Promote that at every opportunity. It filters down and the youngkids pick up on it. Akron's recruiting opportunities improve the more the high school kids realize there is another game in town.Not every kid wants to play for Mr. Rodgers or old crabby. Our coaches are young and full of fire. The kids relate to that. Akron has had Mr. Basketball playersin the past. We will garner them in the future. Its a tough climb from the two star to the three star level. I see a lot of progress. When JD took over his programhe signed one or two the first couple of years. These days the Zips expect at least six.The same is happening in men's basketball. Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens and Alex Sullivan are bonafided three star players. Fortunately for the Zips, Andrew Parrishis a two star with a lot of up side. Had he been a three star player he would never be in a Zips uniform. KD found a diamond in the rough there.There is a George Gipp and a "Pistol Pete" Maravich in the Zips future. Give it time. Remember, John Heisman was a Zip.

[Valpo Zip]

What do you all think about recruiting "non-local" kids. It seems that our roster is heavily based on OH/PA kids. Only Cedrick (Ill) and Conyers (MD) are from outside this area. The hippies, for example, have only one ohioan on their roster and have players from TX, FL, NJ, IN, MI and even Brazil.Same with Ohio who have players from TX, CA, and even europe.Is it that we do not recruit outside the area? or is that KD being a local guy wants to do it with the local kids? or maybe he's trying but we're still not very attractive at the national level?Have we ever had an international athlete? do we recruit internationals at all?

[ZachTheZip]

KD is a local guy, and local kids are what turned this team into what it is today. Dru and Romeo started it, Wood continues to raise the bar, and our recruits next year will keep doing the same. Plus, it sure saves money in the recruiting budget that we can focus on actual recruiting instead of travel expenses.

[rln]

Dambrot mines Ohio HS basketball talent more aggressively and successfully than any of the 12 DI coaches in Ohio. Akron currently leads all Ohio-based Division I basketball teams with 14 players from Ohio (with three players from Akron). Ohio State (Big Ten) - 7Cleveland State (Horizon) - 8Wright State (Horizon) - 6Youngstown State (Horizon) - 5Dayton (Atlantic Ten) - 6Xavier (Atlantic 10) - 8BGSU (MAC) - 5Can't State (MAC) - 1Ohio (MAC) - 5Toledo (MAC) - 4Miami (MAC) - 9

[Quickzips]

What do you all think about recruiting "non-local" kids. It seems that our roster is heavily based on OH/PA kids. Only Cedrick (Ill) and Conyers (MD) are from outside this area. The hippies, for example, have only one ohioan on their roster and have players from TX, FL, NJ, IN, MI and even Brazil.Same with Ohio who have players from TX, CA, and even europe.Is it that we do not recruit outside the area? or is that KD being a local guy wants to do it with the local kids? or maybe he's trying but we're still not very attractive at the national level?Have we ever had an international athlete? do we recruit internationals at all?

I don't think Can't and OU are the teams we want to model our recruiting efforts against. Those teams play a very high risk high reward game of recruiting JUCO's and players with questionable pasts and attitudes. If they can consistently get those guys in, keep them eligible and get them integrated into the system you can be successful for long periods of time (Can't). If they struggle to get guys to campus, can't keep them eligible or focused on the game of basketball and can't integrate them into their program they end up being a decent individual team that can't play together and frustrates their fans (Ohio).I'll take KD's method of recruiting over that kind of approach any day. You look at what he's done this year with what appears to be a load of talented kids who are good both on and off the court and the very real chance we have of recruiting a kid like Zeke Marshall for next years class and I think you're starting to see it pay off.

[Zips fan]

What do you all think about recruiting "non-local" kids. It seems that our roster is heavily based on OH/PA kids. Only Cedrick (Ill) and Conyers (MD) are from outside this area. The hippies, for example, have only one ohioan on their roster and have players from TX, FL, NJ, IN, MI and even Brazil.Same with Ohio who have players from TX, CA, and even europe.Is it that we do not recruit outside the area? or is that KD being a local guy wants to do it with the local kids? or maybe he's trying but we're still not very attractive at the national level?Have we ever had an international athlete? do we recruit internationals at all?

I think that KD is able to get the DI athletes over the other MAC schools. This is why Ohio and Can't have to look outside the region. I don't think many coaches are going to look outside their footprint unless they have to extend themselves.

[Blue & Gold]

What do you all think about recruiting "non-local" kids. It seems that our roster is heavily based on OH/PA kids. Only Cedrick (Ill) and Conyers (MD) are from outside this area. The hippies, for example, have only one ohioan on their roster and have players from TX, FL, NJ, IN, MI and even Brazil.Same with Ohio who have players from TX, CA, and even europe.Is it that we do not recruit outside the area? or is that KD being a local guy wants to do it with the local kids? or maybe he's trying but we're still not very attractive at the national level?Have we ever had an international athlete? do we recruit internationals at all?

I think that KD is able to get the DI athletes over the other MAC schools. This is why Ohio and Can't have to look outside the region. I don't think many coaches are going to look outside their footprint unless they have to extend themselves.

I agree. I just really pick up a tangible vibe that athletes would rather attend Akron than Can't. I understand not being interested in Can't for football. But I don't understand it for basketball. I don't think Can't has ever gotten a recruit Akron's really wanted. Why do you think that is? With Can't's 10-year history of success you'd think kids would be lining up to go there, wouldn't you? But Jim Christian (who seems like a good guy that I'd enjoy playing for) generally just goes the way of transfers. KD, meanwhile - even though we Zips have never won anything at all and haven't gone to the NCAA tourney in as long as I can remember (let alone any high schoolers) - gets commitments from the outstanding Ohio & PA high school talent. Hey, I'm not complaining at all!!! Just a little perplexed. I think KD just must be a hell of a recruiter. Additionally, the talent he goes after are quality guys off the court as well, so the team really has a great chemistry and seem to have a lot of fun together, so the team itself is probably very attractive to the type of person KD's after.

[GoZips88]

What do you all think about recruiting "non-local" kids. It seems that our roster is heavily based on OH/PA kids. Only Cedrick (Ill) and Conyers (MD) are from outside this area. The hippies, for example, have only one ohioan on their roster and have players from TX, FL, NJ, IN, MI and even Brazil.Same with Ohio who have players from TX, CA, and even europe.Is it that we do not recruit outside the area? or is that KD being a local guy wants to do it with the local kids? or maybe he's trying but we're still not very attractive at the national level?Have we ever had an international athlete? do we recruit internationals at all?

I don't think Can't and OU are the teams we want to model our recruiting efforts against. Those teams play a very high risk high reward game of recruiting JUCO's and players with questionable pasts and attitudes. If they can consistently get those guys in, keep them eligible and get them integrated into the system you can be successful for long periods of time (Can't). If they struggle to get guys to campus, can't keep them eligible or focused on the game of basketball and can't integrate them into their program they end up being a decent individual team that can't play together and frustrates their fans (Ohio).I'll take KD's method of recruiting over that kind of approach any day. You look at what he's done this year with what appears to be a load of talented kids who are good both on and off the court and the very real chance we have of recruiting a kid like Zeke Marshall for next years class and I think you're starting to see it pay off.

I saw Zeke and his family with Jeff Boals before the game in the lobby. Sounds like a number of other recruits attended the game as well. Any of you have any updated info on our chances of landing Zeke or any of the others who attended yesterday's game? Wonder what Zeke and the rest thought when LeBron showed up and sat on the floor just to their right.Nice to see Romeo and Matt Futch at the game.

[GoZips]

I saw Zeke and his family with Jeff Boals before the game in the lobby. Sounds like a number of other recruits attended the game as well. Any of you have any updated info on our chances of landing Zeke or any of the others who attended yesterday's game? Wonder what Zeke and the rest thought when LeBron showed up and sat on the floor just to their right.Nice to see Romeo and Matt Futch at the game.

I sat katy corner to Zeke Marshall and the two Zips signees that I recognized. I was with in ear shot of LeBron, whom I know. My observation being that Zeke wastreated to a steady stream of dignitarys through out the game. Zeke got to meet coach Faust, LeBron and Romeo as well as Alex Sullivan and Nik Cvetinovic.The best part from what I could tell was the Zeke was involved in watching the game and absorbing the attention. Standing next to Nik I would say that Zeke whilea good four inches taller does not out weight Nik. Nik is a true wide body.For my money, I think the chances of signing Zeke went up, maybe doubled, by being at last night's game. Would love to know his thoughts about playing against Cant.Remember, at this time we have only one scholarship available. Zeke is just a junior in high school. I have switched from wanting Reggie Keely to wanting Zeke.Gawd, I hate Cant.

[Zip Watcher]

The hippies, for example, have only one ohioan on their roster and have players from TX, FL, NJ, IN, MI and even Brazil.Same with Ohio who have players from TX, CA, and even europe.

That's because KD is grabbing many of the top guys in Ohio that are headed mid-major: The McKnights, Linhart, Humpty, Sullivan .. etc. Can't State now has to go out of state to find them.Also, there's not many impact JUCO players in Ohio .. so that's another reason Jimmy C has out of state talent.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I was with in ear shot of LeBron, whom I know.

I know him too. Kinda tall...wears a Yankees cap...most famous basketball player on earth? That's the guy.

[Dr Z]

I hope Zeke was talking to LeBron (who I know too) and didn't notice how many TERRIBLE passes there were trying to get the ball in the paint. Do we coach that? If we do, I give them an F, if not, D.I wish Wood got as many nice passes as Bruce used to, he could actually do something with them.My gosh is Nick out of position at the point. Please Santa Zippy, bring me a REAL point guard for xmas.

[Zip Watcher]

Please Santa Zippy, bring me a REAL point guard for xmas.

You want to wait until Christmas? I'm thinking Halloween. I'm pinning my hopes on the Great Pumpkin.

[FromdaBurgh]

I saw Zeke and his family with Jeff Boals before the game in the lobby. Sounds like a number of other recruits attended the game as well. Any of you have any updated info on our chances of landing Zeke or any of the others who attended yesterday's game? Wonder what Zeke and the rest thought when LeBron showed up and sat on the floor just to their right.Nice to see Romeo and Matt Futch at the game.

I sat katy corner to Zeke Marshall and the two Zips signees that I recognized. I was with in ear shot of LeBron, whom I know. My observation being that Zeke wastreated to a steady stream of dignitarys through out the game. Zeke got to meet coach Faust, LeBron and Romeo as well as Alex Sullivan and Nik Cvetinovic.The best part from what I could tell was the Zeke was involved in watching the game and absorbing the attention. Standing next to Nik I would say that Zeke whilea good four inches taller does not out weight Nik. Nik is a true wide body.For my money, I think the chances of signing Zeke went up, maybe doubled, by being at last night's game. Would love to know his thoughts about playing against Cant.Remember, at this time we have only one scholarship available. Zeke is just a junior in high school. I have switched from wanting Reggie Keely to wanting Zeke.Gawd, I hate Cant.

Actually, Zeke didn't meet LeBron or Romeo. We had met Coach Faust during one of Zeke's "unofficial" visits to the campus so we already knew him. However, it was nice to meet the 2 income recruits, especially the kid from Romania, I just loved him. I have NEVER, EVER seen someone sooooo EXCITED about coming to a school. He almost couldn't contain himself when he was talking about it. When we saw Mr. James, I - Zeke's mom- freaked out...I was like "OMG..there goes LeBron, look Zeke there goes LeBron" and MY WONDERFUL, LAID-BACK ALL SO COOL SON...politely told me: "Mom, he's just a basketball player---relax" Uuuggghhh :blink: He was soooo cool about it. I wish we could have met him. I wanted to get a pic with him and Zeke, but he left early...too bad...he missed a great comeback by the Zips!!! Hopefully we will get a chance to meet him this summer when Zeke comes to play in the King James Jamfest next month.