Isn't Thornton a 3 star recruit? Duke recruited him and signed him.
Much like we will be doing with Irving, Duke would have fit Wall's playing style (up-tempo offense)...Duke fits their playing style to the players they have, not the other way around.
Please don't make accusations of Wall not being a "team player" when, in all likelihood, you haven't seen enough of the kid play to evaluate that part of his game. Wall is a great player, and while things worked out without him, we certainly would have welcomed him with open arms.
Isn't Thornton a 3 star recruit? Duke recruited him and signed him.
Having seen Tokoto, Jefferson, Goodman, Muhammed and Murphy, i would say that Muhammed is by far the best player of the 5 and in my opinion i think Murphy would have to be # 2 on the list. From what i've seen of Tokoto, he is not assertive and his outside shot needs work, he is a great athlete but Muhammed is very close in that area and he (Shabazz) is not afraid to work hard inside. It looked to me that Tokoto was just trying to pass the ball and at no point did he try to take over the game. Murphy's skill set is very close to Dunleavy and Singler. He has great shooting mechanics and plays a lot like Kyle. I really like Goodman but he seemed to do all his work inside, he is a very tough guy and fights for everything, his outside shot needs a little work. Jefferson is very skilled but extremely thin, John Henson thin. All of these comparisons can and will change over the next 3 years, so we need to take my observations with a grain of salt. I would say if Duke were able to land Muhammed and Murphy, the coaching staff would be very happy indeed. In closing remember that Tokoto, Jefferson and Goodman are playing in the 16 & under group, while Muhammed & Murphy are playing in the 17 & over group.
The question is of who is priority, Justin Anderson, a hands-down 5-Star recruit with a huge interest in Duke, or Alex Murphy, a 3-Star. Like I said, I dont know much about Murphy but I would have to say that the former would be of more importance.
I never said we shouldnt recruit him...
Fully understood, but how do think Coach K would have reacted to pulling Wall out of the game and saying something to him and Wall rolling his eyes. He did this on multiple occasions during the year. Does that fit the Duke style?
I think he and Coach K would have been at odds all season long. I think that is why Duke gave up on him.
Irving appears to be very aware of the "team" concept. He is quoted as saying he might not have had a good night but assisting his team mates helped win the game. Not sure there are any quotes of Wall saying that.
Please note the observations of posters like Verga and airowe who are actually watching some of these players in action.
The ratings of Rivals, Scouts, etc. are a very limited way to get information about potential recruits, particularly players in the class of 2011 and 2012. Things change very quickly. The judgment and preferences of the Duke staff may vary considerably from current star-ratings.
Edit to add: this very much applies to the post below by O-knarf. Don't get so hung up on ratings from recruiting services. I'll go with Coach K and his staff over the Rivals or Scouts evaluations.
Last edited by roywhite; 05-30-2010 at 12:02 AM.
Here is what I got from Draft Express when I looked on that site:
While obviously it’s way too early to be talking about a player who just finished his freshman year of high school, it was tough not taking notice of the talent that Justin Anderson displays. Not only does the lefty bring great physical tools to the table, highlighted by a great frame, wingspan and athleticism, but he also looks to be a very smart, tough, active player with a pretty nice stroke. He competed non-stop, defended extremely well and also did a great job crashing the glass. Already ranked by ESPN as one of the top five players in the 2012 high school class, Anderson has quite a future ahead of him if he continues to work hard and doesn’t let the hype go to his head.
This is from the site you just sited. Sound like someone I just described... Someone with incredible upside but someone who is developing and working on some things, which prospect at this point is not? Also, where in here does it say he needs to improve his basketball skills? Seem like a guy who is raw and just needs to keep on working his skills like every other prospect in this class. This does not sound like a guy who has "lacking basketball skills".
Alex Murphy is not one of the best SF in the 2012 class, nowhere close. He is not ranked on Scout, not ranked on Rivals, and is graded a 93 on the ESPN. He is a good player yes, but not in the same league as Tokoto, Jefferson, Andersen, or Shabazz Muhammad .
Take a look what Scout INC has the top 3 SF'S as of right now:
Shabazz Muhammad: 97
Justin Andersen: 96
J.P Tokoto: 96
Here is what Scouts INC says about prospects in the 94-97 range:
Here is where Alex Murphy is currently ranked:94-97: High-major prospect
Player has the potential to significantly contribute as a freshman for most national programs. He could be a three- or four-year starter and have an opportunity for all-league honors.
90-93: High-major minus prospect
Player has the potential to significantly contribute to a national program as a freshman. He could be a four-year contributor with an opportunity to start over the course of his career.
So my point is that Murphy maybe a good player, but he doesn't have the same potential as Andersen, Muhammad and Tokoto.
Seems to me that Duke and Coach K recruited John Wall pretty hard; they weren't in on him early, but certainly made a push last spring. It was the subject of great interest (and controversy) on this board.
I can't say I'm sorry that John Wall went elsewhere, because Duke had a great season without him. However, Wall was a terrific player at Kentucky, a first team All-America who scored, but also involved his teammates.
There's probably a better example than John Wall of highly ranked players that Duke doesn't pursue.
Just because Wall behaved that way with Calipari does not mean that in a different environment, he would behave the same way. If Lebron, Carmelo, etal don't roll their eyes at K, I suspect that John Wall would not have either. Not that there have not been people who have not seen "eye to eye" with Coach K (Greg Newton, etc.)
I agree with this, but I pointed out this fact because people are trying to bring up NBA Scout grades when the kid is a Sophmore in High School. I had to use those grades to help me back this up. I have seen some of Murphy, and I think he could be a good starter on this team and sorta has a Singler type of game and has a great outside shot, but he isn't what Andersen is right now.
Yes, but didn't he get into some trouble with entering a vacant house. I remember reading about how the Duke had gone warm on Wall about a week before he had an issue with entering a vacant house. I think the coaching staff has much more insight into recruits than anyone on this board.
You are using outdated, incomplete, or possibly inaccurate sources to give a firm opinion on something that you don't personally know much about.
I have read posts and scouting reports from some long-time contributors here like Verga and airowe. I pay attention to them because I know they do their homework, and see many of these guys in person.
I don't value your opinion.
It is also possible that surrounded by our Coaches and uppper classman leadership Wall would have follwed the example set for him. If you allow the inmates to run the asylum they will. I Think our guys generally understand that they are not bigger than the team or the program and buy into the team concept. I'm not sure Cal commands the same respect or that he even expects it.
Also I wasn't aware that Duke gave up on Wall.
How is this outdated? I used the site that Airowe asked me to go too!!
I have seen Murphy because he plays in a school in Southborough, MA, and I live in Maine. I have just shown you a very well thought out point and you are saying it is out of date and inaccurate. How is this? And how do you know I don't know about these guys?
I'm pretty sure we can all agree with that.
And for those who haven't seen much of this kid Murphys game, like myself, heres a video of him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCVmcls-mfc
You have quoted Scout and Rivals evaluations of players that are finishing their sophomore year or perhaps junior year in high school. We are just starting the summer period where the top players go against each other in tournaments. Ratings change very quickly.
You might have told me a couple years ago that this Kyrie Irving kid wasn't rated very highly after his sophomore year, and that we should go after somebody else.
I have read your posts here, and I don't think you add anything to the discussion about potential recruits. You read some Rivals, Scouts, ESPN pieces and believe them to be the final word.
Good night.
If its any consolation, I believe Airowe told you to refer to draftexpress' recent TWITTER updates about Anderson which are:
These updates are as recent as today whereas the scouting report you had was from August of last year.. Justin Anderson (2012) didn't play great, but I absolutely love him as a prospect. Plays his I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this. off, defends, rebounds, is smart, unselfish
Justin Anderson cnt'd: A top-10 recruit that regularly dives on floor for loose balls. Unheard of. Not skilled. Average shooter/ballhandler.
Justin Anderson cnt'd- Young, so still has time to work on his skill-level (for now is poor). Looks like a hard worker, good guy. Smart.
I have said this many times on here... All players AT THIS TIME need to develop... When someone says something about NBA scout grades, I had to come back with that, not that I am judging them right now on there scout rating... I am just putting it out to this point right now.
How do you know what I would have said about Kyrie Irving? I would have said he would be a good kid to go after because I know people who played against him in AAU, same thing with Murphy and the other prospects 2010-On. So I have some very good things to offer here..