Katuka

by **Stallion** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:02 pm

good news on our recruiting efforts on Katuka. No commitment yet and the competition is getting tougher but very high praise for SMU's recruiting effort and SMU may be in the drivers seat right now. Gotta go-more later. See Rivals.

by **Stallion** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:23 pm

OK -here's the report. His Coach calls him one of the Top unsigned players in the country. Kentucky is going to visit him for a second time. Illinois, Rutgers, Vandy, Cal, and George Washington are all trying to get one of his last two visits. Makes you wonder why I was so positive. Anyway his coach says "To be honest, everyone is really going to have get past SMU. They are really recruiting him hard and upped their recruitment more than anyone. They have been unbelievable."

Although I am a big believer in the "Close only Counts in Hand Grenades Theory of Recruiting"- Win lose or draw SMU needs more recruiting reports like that where a Coach's personality seems to be blowing a recruit away.

by **mrydel** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:28 pm

Stallion wrote:OK -here's the report. His Coach calls him one of the Top unsigned players in the country. Kentucky is going to visit him for a second time. Illinois, Rutgers, Vandy, Cal, and George Washington are all trying to get one of his last two visits. Makes you wonder why I was so positive. Anyway his coach says "To be honest, everyone is really going to have get past SMU. They are really recruiting him hard and upped their recruitment more than anyone. They have been unbelievable. Although I am a big believer in the "Close only Counts in Hand Grenades Theory of Recruiting"- Win lose or draw SMU needs more recruiting reports like that where a Coach's personality seems to be blowing a recruit away.

My question is how do you "recruit harder". Shouldn't you be recruiting everyone you want "hard". I do not understand how you step it up. Kind of makes you understand why we do not get others if we are not always recruitng hard.

by **Stallion** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:35 pm

its about personal relationships and a Coach's personality standing out from the crowd. This kid has probably been approached by 20 schools. Recruiting "hard" doesn't do much good if you can't impress a kid and get his attention. Apparently, Doherty's personality is standing out. Plus I don't see Doherty competing with NTSU, Louisiana Monroe and Sam Houston St. for half of his recruiting class. I'd like to see what he could do with a strong team and more ammunition.

by **RE Tycoon** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:15 am

Thanks for the info.

Is there already a post about Katuka floating around? I did a search and nothing came up. Thanks in advance to whomever bumps it.

by **mustangnation** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:43 am

Current STUDent wrote:Thanks for the info.

Is there already a post about Katuka floating around? I did a search and nothing came up. Thanks in advance to whomever bumps it.

Here is his info:

http://smu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp? ... _key=47265

It would be a hell of a pickup if we could get him.

by **mrydel** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:44 am

Stallion wrote:its about personal relationships and a Coach's personality standing out from the crowd. This kid has probably been approached by 20 schools. Recruiting "hard" doesn't do much good if you can't impress a kid and get his attention. Apparently, Doherty's personality is standing out. Plus I don't see Doherty competing with NTSU, Louisiana Monroe and Sam Houston St. for half of his recruiting class. I'd like to see what he could do with a strong team and more ammunition.

I agree with you. I just find the statements "recruiting harder" and "Upping their recruitment" as strange since we should be recruiting hard for anyone we want. If we are not interested, spend time and effort on those with whom we are. I am sure the person making the statement actual means as you say that Doherty is making a good impression and at this time winning the battle. I also agree that Doherty does seems to be going after the level of recruits we need to become a top rated team. A couple a kids like this and we can have an entiely different outlook and outcome in the next year or 2.

by **ponydawg** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:12 pm

How does Katuka compare to Dia?

Did rivals boost one of our commits? Can't remember if we have always had 4 three stars and 1 two star...........

by **Mexmustang** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:45 pm

Below you will find a link to Ryan Harp's father on his son's recruitment. You ask how you step up recruiting? listen to this, even during the dead period, Coach Doh went to all twelve of his summer AAU games, even though he couldn't speak to the recruit. Not an assistant, nor a recruiter but the head coach himself. I think that's stepping up recruitment.

by **Mexmustang** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:50 pm

Oh, and I forgot, of course he "stands out in the crowd", Coach Doh is taller than any other coach out there!

by **MustangIcon** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:52 pm

Nyakundi (sp?) was originally listed as a 2 star and has been bumped to a 3 star based on his strong summer play I assume.

Dia and Katuka are both 3 star players while neither is in the Rivals National top 150. Dia had offers from Oklahoma and Louisville. Katuka is being recruited by a slew of schools apparently but included on that list for sure is Kentucky, Illinois, Auburn and Cal if I remember correctly. Katuka might be a little longer and thinner than Dia also. Thats all the information I can really give you (just as anyone else on the board could have) since I have never seen either of these guys play.

If we land Katuka, what an amazing class it would be for Doherty to land 5 3 stars and 1 2 star. This includes a lot of size with bigs that are 6'10, 6'8, 6'8; a wing player thats 6'7; a lights out shooting guard at 6'4; and your typical 5'10-6ft pg. The class is already great and Katuka would just push it to a whole nother level in my opinion.

by **PonyPower** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:58 pm

MustangIcon wrote:.... Katuka might be a little longer and thinner than Dia also....

That's true. I saw them side-by-side when they visited, and you're exactly right.

by **mrydel** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:06 pm

Mexmustang wrote:Below you will find a link to Ryan Harp's father on his son's recruitment. You ask how you step up recruiting? listen to this, even during the dead period, Coach Doh went to all twelve of his summer AAU games, even though he couldn't speak to the recruit. Not an assistant, nor a recruiter but the head coach himself. I think that's stepping up recruitment.

Again I say that is the right thing to do. I just think we should be doing the same with every recruit we want. If not Doherty, we should have an assistant at a players game if allowed and time allows. I am not arguing against stepped up recruiting I am arguing against anything but stepped up recruiting. Which of course would then negate the term "stepped up recruiting".

by **ponydawg** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:22 pm

When do recruits have to make up their mind?

by **smupony** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:28 pm

Gimmie a break guys! These coaches recruit for a living. One report says that we stepped up recruiting and everyone gets their panties in a wad.

Doherty went to all of Ryan Harps games and we have arguably one of the best recruiting classes SMU has seen in years (maybe a decade).

They are doing the right thing. If they want a player, they are doing everything in their power to get him.

I think Doherty has proven that he can recruit better than any other men's basketball coach we have had for a long time.

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