Possible sanctions deter OSU recruits
Oct 1, 2005 7:10:37 GMT -5
Post by wsu97 on Oct 1, 2005 7:10:37 GMT -5
Possible sanctions deter OSU recruits
Lighty only hoopster that plans to sign early
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | At least one of Ohio State's incoming basketball recruits intends to put his name on a binding letter-of-intent during the early signing period that begins Nov. 9. But others will take a more cautious approach.
Although the Buckeyes won't know the extent of their NCAA sanctions until a hearing on Dec. 9, David Lighty of Cleveland, rated as the 21st-best senior nationally by Rivals.com, is eager to make his commitment official.
"I'm still going to sign," he said. "The penalties — if they get penalties — are not going to affect my decision on the school because that happened in the past. And if they do get something, it probably will be on this upcoming season."
OSU officials are hoping that a self-imposed ban on the 2005 postseason and forfeiting a pair of scholarships will persuade the NCAA not to issue further penalties for the numerous violations committed during previous coach Jim O'Brien's tenure.
At worst, the Buckeyes expect to be ineligible for one more postseason next year, meaning they wouldn't have any lingering penalties when one of the greatest recruiting classes of all-time arrives in 2006-07.
But 7-footer Greg Oden and point guard Mike Conley Jr. of Indianapolis and Dunbar's Daequan Cook — all AAU teammates and longtime friends — may stand pat until the next signing period in April.
"Me and Greg and Mike decided we all wanted to do it at one time," Cook said. "We haven't sat down and talked about when we're going to sign. But we want to wait it out and make sure there aren't going to be any penalties that will affect us when we get there."
Mike Conley Sr., who coached the trio on the AAU circuit, said his son and Oden are sold on Ohio State and are ready to sign. But they may be overruled.
"If they don't sign in November, it's going to be because of me and the other parents," Conley Sr. said. "Every decision up to this point has been made by them. But with a decision like that, I wouldn't want them to go on emotions."
Although Conley Sr. said his hunch is that the program won't get hammered when it goes before the NCAA, he would advise the players not to be in a rush.
"You can kind of get an idea of what the most vicious penalties could be based on what's happened to other programs in similar situations," he said. "But you never know. That's why, as parents, you have to step in and see what's best and what's on the table. We haven't had a chance to assess that."
Oden, Conley, Cook and Lighty are all rated among the top-26 seniors by Rivals.com, and the Buckeyes picked up another commitment in the 2006 class this week from Othello Hunter, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound sophomore at Hillsborough Community College in Florida.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., native — who had visited Colorado and Texas-El Paso — didn't play basketball until his senior year in high school and didn't even make the starting lineup at Hillsborough until the second half of last season. But he averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3.7 blocks in conference play.
"They thought he was a diamond in the rough," coach Derrick Worrels said. "Just between the summer and now, he's just blown up into a whole 'nother player. He's gotten stronger. He's gotten more confident. He's very skilled as it is. For a kid that's only been playing the game for three years, his basketball IQ is huge. If he grows any more, he'll be unbelievable."
The Buckeyes are pursuing another power forward: Canton McKinley's Raymar Morgan, who is rated as the 49th-best senior by Rivals.
He reportedly is deciding between OSU, Michigan, Michigan State and Connecticut.
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125
www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/osu/daily/1001osubb.html
Lighty only hoopster that plans to sign early
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | At least one of Ohio State's incoming basketball recruits intends to put his name on a binding letter-of-intent during the early signing period that begins Nov. 9. But others will take a more cautious approach.
Although the Buckeyes won't know the extent of their NCAA sanctions until a hearing on Dec. 9, David Lighty of Cleveland, rated as the 21st-best senior nationally by Rivals.com, is eager to make his commitment official.
"I'm still going to sign," he said. "The penalties — if they get penalties — are not going to affect my decision on the school because that happened in the past. And if they do get something, it probably will be on this upcoming season."
OSU officials are hoping that a self-imposed ban on the 2005 postseason and forfeiting a pair of scholarships will persuade the NCAA not to issue further penalties for the numerous violations committed during previous coach Jim O'Brien's tenure.
At worst, the Buckeyes expect to be ineligible for one more postseason next year, meaning they wouldn't have any lingering penalties when one of the greatest recruiting classes of all-time arrives in 2006-07.
But 7-footer Greg Oden and point guard Mike Conley Jr. of Indianapolis and Dunbar's Daequan Cook — all AAU teammates and longtime friends — may stand pat until the next signing period in April.
"Me and Greg and Mike decided we all wanted to do it at one time," Cook said. "We haven't sat down and talked about when we're going to sign. But we want to wait it out and make sure there aren't going to be any penalties that will affect us when we get there."
Mike Conley Sr., who coached the trio on the AAU circuit, said his son and Oden are sold on Ohio State and are ready to sign. But they may be overruled.
"If they don't sign in November, it's going to be because of me and the other parents," Conley Sr. said. "Every decision up to this point has been made by them. But with a decision like that, I wouldn't want them to go on emotions."
Although Conley Sr. said his hunch is that the program won't get hammered when it goes before the NCAA, he would advise the players not to be in a rush.
"You can kind of get an idea of what the most vicious penalties could be based on what's happened to other programs in similar situations," he said. "But you never know. That's why, as parents, you have to step in and see what's best and what's on the table. We haven't had a chance to assess that."
Oden, Conley, Cook and Lighty are all rated among the top-26 seniors by Rivals.com, and the Buckeyes picked up another commitment in the 2006 class this week from Othello Hunter, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound sophomore at Hillsborough Community College in Florida.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., native — who had visited Colorado and Texas-El Paso — didn't play basketball until his senior year in high school and didn't even make the starting lineup at Hillsborough until the second half of last season. But he averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3.7 blocks in conference play.
"They thought he was a diamond in the rough," coach Derrick Worrels said. "Just between the summer and now, he's just blown up into a whole 'nother player. He's gotten stronger. He's gotten more confident. He's very skilled as it is. For a kid that's only been playing the game for three years, his basketball IQ is huge. If he grows any more, he'll be unbelievable."
The Buckeyes are pursuing another power forward: Canton McKinley's Raymar Morgan, who is rated as the 49th-best senior by Rivals.
He reportedly is deciding between OSU, Michigan, Michigan State and Connecticut.
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125
www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/osu/daily/1001osubb.html
