Emerging 7-0 Center Considering SMU

[papawasamustang]

I think he has the same opportunity to contribute early here @ SMU.
If he is everything we hear he is he should anchor down the middle for a very young team full of Freshman & Sophmores with a tremendous future.

My opinion is he is leaning toward WSU. He seems to have made many visits there, many more than other schools.

Hopefully for the Mustangs the big fella will come here. It was disappointing to see Otule go to Marquette. A late bloomer without a lot of talent.

[RoyalShock]

I wonder what Garrett was thinking during and after Kentucky's game last night? It's hard to say how a game like that can affect a recruit, if it has any effect at all.

FWIW, a local Wichita sports guy said on the radio today that his sources indicate Stutz is leaning heavily toward WSU. One way or the other, we'll know within a week.

I hope you guys don't mind me dropping these tidbits from our neck of the woods. I'd also be curious to know what you guys (and gals) are hearing from your end, if there's anything that hasn't already been posted here.

[mrydel]

None of us know anything. We just think we do sometimes. Please keep us informed.

[Stallion]

I'm wondering how we can offer a scholarship when we don't really have one to give. This ain't much of a problem in FB because of natural attrition-but in BB it gets a little bit more dicey because of small numbers. What is the story? Is someone projected to graduate early? Not many that could fit that category. Bamba and Spencer are the only non-graduating upperclassmen. Surely, the 7 newcomers project to all be back. The Seniors are graduating. Hmm.

[Terry Webster]

I wonder if one of the recruits, while committed to SMU, is heading to prep school. He wouldn't sign, so he wouldn't count this year. Since Coach is recruiting from prep schools, it would make some sense.

[MustangFan]

I wonder if one of the recruits, while committed to SMU, is heading to prep school.

Bingo. That's the rumor, anyway.

[RoyalShock]

I don't know what SMU's recruiting situation is, but isn't it a little odd for a recruit to already be talking prep school in the fall?

I've seen that happen after a player's senior season where he performs much better than anticipated and goes the prep-school route to get out of his LOI (we had a siutation last year that would have ended up like this had our coach not left for aTm). Or, they are much worse and the coach released them from their LOI and goes to prep school to improve their stock.

[RoyalShock]

Stutz committed to WSU today.

http://kansas.com/sports/updates/story/222675.html

[mrydel]

We did not want him anyway!!

[SoCal_Pony]

It never ceases to amaze me how we lose out to the Wichita's and Tulsa's of the world...

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Wichita.

Culture
The City of Wichita is home to Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, which boasts 24 themed gardens including the popular Butterfly Garden and the award-winning Sally Stone Sensory Garden. Sedgwick County Extension Arboretum is also located in the city.

The first complete recording made by jazz musician Charlie "Bird" Parker occurred in 1940 at the Trocadero Ballroom in Wichita. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Wichita had a significant Beat movement. The Wichita Jazz Festival remains a significant annual event on the national jazz calendar.

Wichita is also home to the Wichita River Festival, held each May in the Downtown and Old Town areas of the city. It is one of the longest continuous running festivals in the state of Kansas and features over 70 events, including musical entertainment, sporting events, traveling exhibits, cultural and historical activities, plays, interactive children's events, a flea market, river events, a parade, block party, food court, fireworks and souvenirs for the roughly 370,000+ patrons who attend each year.

Blackbear Bosin's The Keeper of the Plains at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers by the Wichita Mid-America All Indian Center. Other major attractions of the city include the Sedgwick County Zoo, home to more than 2,500 animals of nearly 500 different species; the Old Cowtown Museum; McConnell Air Force Base; Exploration Place, a science and discovery center for all ages; the Old Town historical and entertainment district; the Mid-America All-Indian Center and Museum; and the Wichita Art Museum.

Sports teams
Wichita Wranglers, baseball (moving to Springdale, Arkansas and will be renamed the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 2008)
Wichita Wings (defunct), indoor soccer
Wichita Thunder, ice hockey
Wichita Wild, Arena Football (no longer in existence)
Wichita Barbarians, Rugby

[The XtC]

[quote="Stallion"]I'm wondering how we can offer a scholarship when we don't really have one to give. This ain't much of a problem in FB because of natural attrition-but in BB it gets a little bit more dicey because of small numbers. What is the story? Is someone projected to graduate early? Not many that could fit that category. Bamba and Spencer are the only non-graduating upperclassmen. Surely, the 7 newcomers project to all be back. The Seniors are graduating. Hmm.[/quote]

It means one of five possibilities, or perhaps a combination of them. Either:

A.) Someone currently on the team will get the boot.
B.) One or more of the current recruits is a soft commitment, and Doherty is hedging his bets in case that player(s) backs out of his commitment.
C.) One or more of the current commitments has an academic issue, and may not qualify.
D.) Someone currently on the team has an issue, perhaps they expressed a desire to transfer/leave school, or they have an academic issue.
E.) or Doherty is playing a dangerous game and is already recruiting over the current committed players. Meaning he would renege on a scholarship offer to one of the current commits, if he finds someone better. A strategy that Billy Tubbs used frequently during his TCU tenure, but ultimately destroyed his ability to recruit at high schools in our area.

If I were a betting man my money would be on A, because even if one of B-D is a reality, you might still have to come back around to A if you keep all your commitments and everyone gets into school, etc.

No one is graduating early. Bamba is the only junior.

[RoyalShock]

[b]It never ceases to amaze me how we lose out to the Wichita's and Tulsa's of the world...

No offense, but I think you overestimate the significance the city setting has in a recruit's decision. There are numerous posts in this thread that conveyed the opinion (serious or not) that the weather and women would be enough to sway Stutz.

From everything I've read, being just down the road from home and the game atmosphere (10000+ at a sold-out arena vs. 2000-3000 in a 9000 seat arena) tipped the scales. Although, you guys deserve more support in the stands than that.

If you care, here is an updated article on his commitment: http://www.kansas.com/250/story/222833.html

BTW, I think a home-and-home between WSU and SMU would be great!

[papawasamustang]

This is very disappointing.
He would have been an excellent addition.

Also, I have to believe that the committment from Clarke is soft.
He never has shown up on any of the recruiting services as a committment to SMU.

Regarding prep schools, one of the top players in the area, Quincy Acy has said he is going to a prep school next year. He is currently @ Mesquite Horn.

[Charleston Pony]

Greg Marshall is going to win a lot of recruiting battles while he is at WSU. He was able to build Winthrop into a consistent NCAA Tourney team and a well known "giant killer". And...whether we care to admit it or not, WSU has a lot more support for their program than SMU...and that matters more than people think.

Doherty and Orsini have both expressed concerns about SMU's lack of support. It may be our biggest challenge, and so many thought that Sasser, Davis & Elsey were going to change that - or maybe it was BHop who was going to change our fortunes

SMU seems to be attracting too many students who either don't care about sports or who grew up UT fans, but weren't admitted there. It would appear that has been the case for nearly 20 years now and the cumulative effect is showing.

Don't look now, but the 1500 is eroding.

[Ponymon]

Greg Marshall is going to win a lot of recruiting battles while he is at WSU. He was able to build Winthrop into a consistent NCAA Tourney team and a well known "giant killer". And...whether we care to admit it or not, WSU has a lot more support for their program than SMU...and that matters more than people think.

Doherty and Orsini have both expressed concerns about SMU's lack of support. It may be our biggest challenge, and so many thought that Sasser, Davis & Elsey were going to change that - or maybe it was BHop who was going to change our fortunes

SMU seems to be attracting too many students who either don't care about sports or who grew up UT fans, but weren't admitted there. It would appear that has been the case for nearly 20 years now and the cumulative effect is showing.

Don't look now, but the 1500 is eroding.

They need to do something to get the students more involved. They might, for instance, have a competition for the frats and sororities where a party with a big time band is held at the end of the year for the organization that has the best cumulative attendance for the year. I don't know if this would work or not, but it or something similar could be worth a try.