- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
LSU basketball recruiting woes in New Orleans
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:10 pm
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:10 pm
LSU has done a horrendous job of recruiting the City of New Orleans in basketball, going back to Dale Brown and the 1970s. The statistics are shocking, even to someone who has followed it closely and experienced it recruiting loss after painful recruiting loss. From Melvin Simon to Kerry Kittles to Greg Monroe, the list spans decades.
Little known fact: since Jordy Hultberg played at LSU from 1976-1980, LSU has signed two high school players from the City of New Orleans: Randy Livingston (Newman, 1992) and Tim Bush (Shaw, 2003). Duane Spencer (Cohen) transferred from Georgetown.
Extending outside of the city doesn't really help the case either, as that only adds 4 players:
Theron Cojoe (Destrehan, 1982)
Torris Bright (Slidell 1999)
Eddie Ludwig (Metarie Country Day 2009)
Matt Derenbecker (Metarie Country Day 2010)
Regardless of whether Trent Johnson remains the coach, or someone new comes in: For LSU basketball to rise to a high level, New Orleans must be locked down. What or who will it take to accomplish this?
7
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:11 pm to Bubba Hotep
Can Frank Wilson coach basketball?
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:20 pm to OBUDan
Just thinking of all the guys from the New Orleans area within the past 15 years that haven't gone to LSU is mind-numbing. That area, along with the rest of the state, has produced a lot of quality Division 1 talent over the past 15 years.
This post was edited on 2/9/12 at 3:26 pm
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:21 pm to Bubba Hotep
I just don't think NOLA is the hoops hotbed now you think it is. Every now and then we get a big time star but any 5star is going to go to a school where an established program is already in place (and on ESPN a lot), because they are one and done.
I agree that LSU needs to get a presence here again, and that means regularly playing some games in the NO Arena, maybe one or two a year, so these kids can be exposed to LSU basketball. We probably won't get the 5stars, but we should get the next tier of player.
And it wouldn't hurt if we somehow got Shaq involved with the program in some way, at least locally. There's just not much buzz about the team, even though they've improved since last season.
Lastly, this is football country. No one pays attention to basketball until LSU and the Saints are over, then it's Mardi Gras time. It's a hard fact, but true. Don't really know what the answer is, other than head up to Indiana and get whoever the Big 10 schools don't want.
I agree that LSU needs to get a presence here again, and that means regularly playing some games in the NO Arena, maybe one or two a year, so these kids can be exposed to LSU basketball. We probably won't get the 5stars, but we should get the next tier of player.
And it wouldn't hurt if we somehow got Shaq involved with the program in some way, at least locally. There's just not much buzz about the team, even though they've improved since last season.
Lastly, this is football country. No one pays attention to basketball until LSU and the Saints are over, then it's Mardi Gras time. It's a hard fact, but true. Don't really know what the answer is, other than head up to Indiana and get whoever the Big 10 schools don't want.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:25 pm to MetTiger
How could Shaq be involved? 
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:28 pm to MetTiger
quote:
Lastly, this is football country. No one pays attention to basketball until LSU and the Saints are over, then it's Mardi Gras time. It's a hard fact, but true.
You think kids who play basketball don't pay attention to basketball during football season? We're not trying to appeal to your average suburb fan we're talking about high school kids.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:29 pm to MetTiger
quote:
I just don't think NOLA is the hoops hotbed now you think it is.
its been pretty hot the last 20 years.
They don't even have to recruit the highest caliber players. There are plenty of players that can play that are never seen simply because they do not put in the time. You think Brady & Co ever watched a Grace King game to see Danny Granger play, or watch Bo McCaleb play? Talk about 2 huge misses that no one wanted because no one saw them play. Ignored by their home state school when you know they are in the area to watch other kids
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:32 pm to Lester Earl
quote:
its been pretty hot the last 20 years.
They don't even have to recruit the highest caliber players. There are plenty of players that can play that are never seen simply because they do not put in the time. You think Brady & Co ever watched a Grace King game to see Danny Granger play, or watch Bo McCaleb play? Talk about 2 huge misses that no one wanted because no one saw them play. Ignored by their home state school when you know they are in the area to watch other kids
Lest we forget Shan Foster and Brady's complete botching of his recruitment. The list, honestly, could go on and on...
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:36 pm to OBUDan
quote:
Can Frank Wilson coach basketball?
Trent needs to at leaset get someone on his staff (similar to Wilson) who can relate to kids in this area.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:42 pm to Joe Joe Joe
I'm not saying that LSU doesn't have fault in all this. I'm just talking now and in the future.
I don't see the talent this year as in previous years. But there's always an upcoming star.
As far as Shaq, I'd bet most kids in the city have no clue he even went to LSU way back when. Ideally, one or two home games in the Arena, Shaq has a small event in conjunction with the games, bring the younger kids to the game, just re-introduce the city to LSU basketball. Have the local AAU coaches rub shoulders with the big guy.
We just need to build a solid relationship with these kids, and it won't hurt for football either... maybe hire a local AAU or HS coach as one of TJ's assistants. Or Frank Wilson LOL...
I don't see the talent this year as in previous years. But there's always an upcoming star.
As far as Shaq, I'd bet most kids in the city have no clue he even went to LSU way back when. Ideally, one or two home games in the Arena, Shaq has a small event in conjunction with the games, bring the younger kids to the game, just re-introduce the city to LSU basketball. Have the local AAU coaches rub shoulders with the big guy.
We just need to build a solid relationship with these kids, and it won't hurt for football either... maybe hire a local AAU or HS coach as one of TJ's assistants. Or Frank Wilson LOL...
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:50 pm to MetTiger
quote:
As far as Shaq, I'd bet most kids in the city have no clue he even went to LSU way back when.
You'd lose a lot of money on that bet. Shaq namedrops LSU every chance he gets on Inside the NBA, had Dale Brown at his retirement announcement, has a fricking statue outside the arena. I doubt you'd find one kid who didn't know he went to LSU.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:55 pm to saintsfan22
Sad because Louisiana has enough talent to make 3 good teams.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:55 pm to saintsfan22
Saintsfan, I hope you're right about Shaq. If true, we're not getting a lot of mileage from those namedrops for whatever reason.
But Shaq or not, LSU needs to get more involved down here with the kids aged 12-14, to sell them on the program.
I just wish they'd put that statue between Tiger Stadium and the PMAC. It's comparatively out of the way.
But Shaq or not, LSU needs to get more involved down here with the kids aged 12-14, to sell them on the program.
I just wish they'd put that statue between Tiger Stadium and the PMAC. It's comparatively out of the way.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 3:59 pm to MetTiger
Funny you guys brought up Shaq, We were saying how great it would be if Shaq asked Gathers and Victor to help him out.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 4:47 pm to Bubba Hotep
Honest question. Besides Greg Monroe and Gathers, what five star stud type basketball players have come out of New Orleans in the last 5-8 years?
If I was TJ, I wouldn't overlook Frank Wilson to help recruit some New Orleans basketball players. (Maybe just to put in a good work or show him around the schools while he's down there.)Wilson was the Director of Athletics for the New Orleans Public School System so I'm sure he knows some basketball coaches and people like that as well as recruiting football players that basketball as well.
I really don't know why TJ didn't just hire Gathers' AAU coach for an administratvie position or something.
If I was TJ, I wouldn't overlook Frank Wilson to help recruit some New Orleans basketball players. (Maybe just to put in a good work or show him around the schools while he's down there.)Wilson was the Director of Athletics for the New Orleans Public School System so I'm sure he knows some basketball coaches and people like that as well as recruiting football players that basketball as well.
I really don't know why TJ didn't just hire Gathers' AAU coach for an administratvie position or something.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 4:56 pm to Suntiger
DJ.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 4:56 pm to Suntiger
To rebuild our program, we can't rely on superstar one and done players, but those who will play 3 years or so, and start winning consistently. Once this happens, then we can attract the big guns to help us in March Madness, even if it's for a year.
Posted on 2/9/12 at 5:35 pm to Suntiger
lacedarius dunn was pretty damn good
shan foster someone mentioned, was SEC POY i believe
shan foster someone mentioned, was SEC POY i believe
Posted on 2/9/12 at 5:35 pm to Bubba Hotep
Who is this Bo McCalebb you are talking about? Do you mean the Macedonian national team star? Why would a Macedonian go to LSU? 
ETA: Damnit, the board doesn't recognize Cyrillic spellings
But seriously, NO has had some good under the radar guys like McCalebb, Granger, and Foster, as well as some higher profile guys like DJ Augustin, Duhon, and Monroe. Obviously those guys can't be blamed on Trent, but you have to hope that Craig Victor will be a high priority target after LSU lost Felix and Gathers this year.
ETA: Damnit, the board doesn't recognize Cyrillic spellings
But seriously, NO has had some good under the radar guys like McCalebb, Granger, and Foster, as well as some higher profile guys like DJ Augustin, Duhon, and Monroe. Obviously those guys can't be blamed on Trent, but you have to hope that Craig Victor will be a high priority target after LSU lost Felix and Gathers this year.
This post was edited on 2/9/12 at 5:42 pm
Posted on 2/9/12 at 5:37 pm to Lester Earl
Even a decent role player from NOLA like Charles Carmouche would have been an upgrade over our backup guards.
Page 1 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News