Originally Posted by
ChillinDuke
The notion that these players are "ancient news" doesn't agree with me. When I was in 2nd grade, I used to dream of being a professional basketball player (I'm now 25, an accountant, and 5'6" ... close, but no cigar). I collected basketball cards of people named Julius Erving, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Moses Malone, to name a few. They were not "ancient history" in my book. I was very familiar with them, fascinated by them even.
My point is, I have to imagine these kids eat, sleep, and breath basketball to be this good and this demanded by top-tier programs. I don't think they are nearly as blind to the histories of these storied programs as posters here insinuate. I could, of course, be wrong, but I would be shocked. Elton Brand is playing in the NBA finishing a long and successful (and lucrative) career. I doubt that a high school basketball player of Tony Parker's caliber doesn't know Elton Brand, doesn't know he went to Duke, and hasn't been thoroughly steeped in the link between the two [Coach K].
This goes for any former college star, be it 10 years out, 15 years out, 20+ years out of college. If you said Dick Groat, Alaa Abdelnaby, or even Danny Ferry then I'd agree to some extent. But I'd be absolutely shocked if these kids are unfamiliar (or can't draw comparisons) with someone like Elton Brand, Josh McRoberts, Shelden Williams, or Carlos Boozer.
A few youtube searches and they are thoroughly familiar with these and almost any other player. It's not that hard. And I'd be amazed if it's uncommon. If TP, for example, is taking this long to decide on a school, do you think he's not researching these sorts of things?
- Chillin