Daily Skinny (Aug. 15)-Renardo Sidney, C-USA, National Recruits

[coolhandgopher]

Not a lot to report with the Gophers or Big Ten, so we’ll go national, starting with the ongoing saga of Renardo Sidney’s attempts at eligibility. The case appears to be heading towards a courtroom. At this point, I’d be surprised to see Sidney on the court this season:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/spo...ney-college-basketball-mississippi-state.html

Andy Katz continues to bring it on a daily basis, this time looking beyond Memphis in Conference USA. The overall talent seems to be rising in this league, which should be good for all involved:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4472199&name=katz_andy

Quite a few national recruits found homes over the weekend. While I’d love to see Minnesota on that list, I’m glad to see teams such as Missouri, Virginia, and Arizona State snag top recruits, stirring up some fresh blood in the power conferences. Phil Pressey (Paul’s son) for Mizzou seems to be a particularly great union:
http://nationalhoopsreport.blogspot.com/2009/09/12-12-wrapping-up-weekend.html

http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/17153685

Finally, I’m not looking to wade into the “Ken Novak recruits players to Hopkins” controversy, but I will say that if indeed that is Novak’s M.O., he’s a rank amateur next to the sharks in L.A.:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-sondheimer15-2009sep15,0,141588,full.column

 

[feich101]

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/17091616

 

[Holy Man]

Transfers

The article on the LA transfers is disheartening, but not surprising. As communities break down, there is less loyalty to the neighborhood or school community, and less reason, I suppose, for kids to stay with the kids they grew up with. It seems as though it is just a matter of time before we go to the Euro model of youth sports where it is all done in clubs, and has nothing to do with schools. It would be cleaner from an educational standpoint, but harm the one thing that often brings a community together.

My own position is mixed. I knew a guy a couple years younger than me in high school, the son of a hardworking single mom, who transferred to my school, a modestly priced private one, because it was higher profile than his previous school. His appearance in the state tournament got him a scholarship at an elite college that his mom would have never been able to afford. At least in this case, the mom wasn't grabbing for anything. The kid was not going to be a pro, but she wanted him to have the best shot at an outstanding education she could give him. The transfer helped him obtain his educational goals. No one likes sharks, and people trying to manipulate teams, but a case can be made for a family making a conscious decision to transfer based on the best educational interests of the kid in the long run.

 

[JohnnyGopher]

I'm not going to get into the Hopkins isssue because that always leads to quite the conflict, but it made me think of my buddy from high school. The sport is hockey and he played at Osseo and was frustrated and wanted to play in the state tournament so he transfered his senior year to Elk River, an annual top team in the state. Of course as fate would have it, Oseeo beat Elk River in the sections and went to state and he had to sit in the stands and watch all his buddies and lifelong teammates take the ice at the Civic Center. It's sad because to this day it is something that still bothers him. Some cases of transfers are good, legit moves, other times it can really backfire

 

[Mikie S]

I'm not going to get into the Hopkins isssue because that always leads to quite the conflict, but it made me think of my buddy from high school. The sport is hockey and he played at Osseo and was frustrated and wanted to play in the state tournament so he transfered his senior year to Elk River, an annual top team in the state. Of course as fate would have it, Oseeo beat Elk River in the sections and went to state and he had to sit in the stands and watch all his buddies and lifelong teammates take the ice at the Civic Center. It's sad because to this day it is something that still bothers him. Some cases of transfers are good, legit moves, other times it can really backfire

Maybe it's just fate ... or perhaps Osseo was better without him or Elk River was worse because of him. I don't have any sympathy for a guy that turns his back on his own buddies to play for the "better team".