This does not appear to be an April Fools joke.
http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/-2471591112513459858/boys-ba...
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This does not appear to be an April Fools joke.
http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/-2471591112513459858/boys-ba...
Comments
Another scholarship for Buzz to doll out...that's three now, right? (Two graduating, Will Johnston back to being a walk-on, TT transferring, Lang decommitting...with Bibbs and Hudson coming in, that makes it three)
Yep, three.
He was the lowest rated member of the current class so if Buzz is able to bring any of his players from Marquette over, all but the last member of that class are rated higher than Lang. We have seen the discussions of Willie Atwood as well and it appears that Buzz has been on a non stop tour recently so hopefully that will bear fruit. I would love to see the flight plan(s) to try to narrow down who he went to see.
In addition, here is some more speculation on the coaching staff makeup for Buzz:
I was really hoping that once the coach was selected at Marquette that Jerry Wainwright would be on this list.
Is there an NCAA limit on basketball coaches like there is in football?
I believe three is the limit on assistant coaches but I am not sure about Player Development Personnel like in football. Director of Basketball Operations is also a standard position in every program that can afford it.
I have had to wonder how the current (old) recruits feel about the new coach going out to talk to much higher profile kids. Have to wonder if Lang was told he might be dropped to a preferred walk on if Buzz can land somebody bigger. That would be db thing to do, but...
The recruits will learn quickly that they are in a competitive environment with Buzz. Buzz doesn't have a basement of the ACC vision - he has an NCAA Elite Eight (and higher) vision. The 'old'recruits are no different than a second string player. Does he wrap himself in bruised ego because the more talented, more driven players start ahead of him? Or does he work to improve?
Buzz is fair. He's also different from the 'old' VT basketball mindset. That is EXACTLY what was needed - someone from outside the cocoon. It is a new day, and for that we should all be thankful.
Also there is this for the Class of 2015:
http://sports.yahoo.com/texashoops/basketball/recruiting/player-Justin-R...
Boo Williams AAU Team
Done without Jerry Wainwright, who some thought was the sole link between Buzz & Boo. Also, people need to remember this - just how quickly Buzz was able to erase the stink between Hokie basketball and Boo. What is it? Two weeks and a Boo guy is excited because he got offered by Buzz?
Jerry Wainwright brings an entirely different set of contacts in Virginia and North Carolina than the AAU circuit. Buzz is more the guy that works the AAU circuit. Buzz and Boo Williams have worked together through connections at Nike over the years, since Nike is Boo's biggest sponsor, including for several of his big annual tournaments.
I believe Lang decided to open his recruiting back up because Buzz asked him to redshirt next year. Would say to me if I was a recruit that I was viewed as not being ready to play even a reserve role yet and would have to then compete with next years recruits as well to see the floor. I could see that turning off a few recruits but have no problem with that approach from the coaching staff.
He was planning to redshirt under JJ too. Except JJ promised him playing time, Buzz probably couldn't do the same.
Correction - Buzz didn't 'need' to promise Lang playing time in order to get him to commit, Johnson more than likely did. The levels of difference between Buzz & Johnson are many, and this is one example. johnson got 'the son of a Duke player' to come to VT. Think about this - he planned to redshirt Lang, despite coaching his team to the cellar of the ACC. Perhaps Johnson never thought the extremely diminished Weaver would actually stop working before late 2015. If that's the case, it's just another indication he was completely overwhelmed as an ACC coach.
Look at Lang's offers, look at the school he selected and the coach he selected. He just wasn't an ACC level recruit. Good luck to the young man, but we'll find someone better, even in a short time frame.