Why not recruit Whaley.

[Reber, Steven Edwin (Steve)]

I remember last year when someone asked Huggs "Why recruit Whaley?" his response was "6'10", good ball skills, good passer, why WOULDN'T you recruit him???" 

I think we have several good answers now, 
If he does pan out, he would have been a 1 year contributor, and he goes to the NBA.
or you have a Reuben Patterson who is a constant headache for 1 year, then figures it out and is a major contributor for the second half of his senior year.  
Either way you get 1 year contribution but a very scary presence to other recruits.  The program got nothing but headaches out of Whaley, and his "upside" probably scared away several recruits who wouldn't want to sit behind him if he could have worked out.  When he does screw up, like he had several times before in his life (on the brink of playing top-level D1 ball, you beat up people with a table leg????? People recognize the 6'10" guy.) UC is high and dry without a legit center.  

Attitude, the Steve Logan factor, should be more of a consideration.  Nothing against second chances, but too many 2nd, 3rd, 4th chances are given where the person isn't "hungry" for redemption.  When I lived in Tampa, there was a kid (Richie Parker???) who was going to Long Island U. for basketball, after having raped a girl and the other prisoners threw him a going away party with lots of pot, so he failed the drug test and was not  paroled, lost his scholarship etc...
Bet on the kids with not as much talent, but who are willing to work hard and learn, develop.  

I think Huggs is one of the best coaches around, but if he admits to himself that he is not perfect, he can become even better.

Steve in Columbus