RE: Why not recruit Whaley.

[Mick Bergman]

All I can remember is that when Whaley came to campus last year, he told
the Enquirer that he was going to stay for one year and be out... I
guess he was right :)

-----Original Message-----
From: Reber, Steven Edwin (Steve) [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 10:28 AM
To: 'address@hidden'
Subject: [UC Basketball] Why not recruit Whaley. 


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