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Paolo Banchero Offered

WACougFan

Redshirt
Oct 3, 2018
95
16
8
2021 top 5 power forward from Seattle. Long shot but good to see the recruiting energy of this staff.
 
Watched Banchero (along with Williams) in the state championship game and was impressed. He's a big talent. Rivals has him with offers from Kansas, SC, Oklahoma, and of course dub. Long shot like you say but good the staff is throwing our hat in the mix.

We have a lot of offers out and many are 2*s but the players seem to look the part. Shooters or athletes with some length or size and even in the highlight packages (which you can't extrapolate too much) they seem to play hard and on both ends.
 
There seems to be a lot more energy in this recruiting staff. I expect we might get some early commits this cycle.
 
Yup let the staff offer the top ten prospects in the Nation Then his fans can say that he is "recruiting at a level never seen before.
 
There is value in extending a few targeted top tier players. It sends a message to the basketball community as well as us fans that WSU is at least trying to upgrade the program. The staff is putting together a reputation that they are williing to compete for some of these talents. If they land even 1 or 2 of them over time, it could lead to even more success. Smith is not putting all his eggs in that top tier basket....he's also identifying and offering players who are probably more realistically signable to an LOI. Nonetheless, I like the hustle of the current staff...they are working hard to pull Cougar basketball out of the abyss. IMO, the former coach was a somewhat lazy recruiter during his time in Pullman. His win-loss record speaks for itself. We may not beat out the blueblood programs for some of these players Smith is after, but I like that we are willing to try.

Glad Cougar
 
All good he is recruiting almostly totally2 star players to fill out the roster .Kudos to him for the sucess. But his top players are all Kent recruits The starting lineup will feature 4 Kent recruits at least. Yes recruiting at level never seen before.So to praise the hustle and success is a joke.
 
You're right, they should have kept Ernie. You and 346 other people would have loved to see him possibly eclipse last season's lofty win total.

PS - half the Ernie recruits that are playing this year would have transferred off the sinking ship. At least with Smith there is hope. There was none with EK and they all knew it.
 
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Who would have thought back in 2012, that although Mike Leach had a full recruiting class his first year, that the majority of starters that season were recruited by Wulff? Sure, Wulff had four priors years recruits on the team and Leach had one. But, it just blows the mind.
 
Kent lived off Bone’s recruits for 3 years! Hawk, Ike, Q, Dexter ect...
Even with having Kent's recruits having a lot of minutes this season, the team will still be mediocre at best. So, it is not as if that is a ringing endorsement. I like all the players. I even liked Kent and especially, his assistant coaches. But, no matter now much revisionist history one person wants to write, it was time for the basketball team to go a different direction.
 
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Kent under achieved for the talent he had both of the last 2 seasons. He didnt get fired for bad recruiting, he got fired for being the worst team in the conference with Franks, Elleby, Cannon.
 
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Kent under achieved for the talent he had both of the last 2 seasons. He didnt get fired for bad recruiting, he got fired for being the worst team in the conference with Franks, Elleby, Cannon.
True enough, although his recruiting was never any good at all. In five long years I never saw as many offers out both in the current year as well as the next two. And one commit for 2021 already. This all before much of a track record.

Clearly Coach is hiring guys who are tuned into the prep scene, the JC scene, as well as the overseas recruits.

Kent also got fired for loosing the best PG that he ever recruited.
 
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Kent under achieved for the talent he had both of the last 2 seasons. He didnt get fired for bad recruiting, he got fired for being the worst team in the conference with Franks, Elleby, Cannon.

Less than 500 people in the stands for at least half the home games this past season is why EK was fired.
 
Smith has already gotten more 4 stars on campus (and enrolled) than Kent did in his entire tenure. Spare us all the talk of lousy 2 stars.

'Member when ElC was high on Deion James when Kent was recruiting him. I 'member.

All good he is recruiting almostly totally2 star players to fill out the roster .Kudos to him for the sucess. But his top players are all Kent recruits The starting lineup will feature 4 Kent recruits at least. Yes recruiting at level never seen before.So to praise the hustle and success is a joke.
 
Kent never got tapped in to the foreign market, except for Kunc. Looks like Smith will be much more active internationally.
 
You're right, they should have kept Ernie. You and 346 other people would have loved to see him possibly eclipse last season's lofty win total.

PS - half the Ernie recruits that are playing this year would have transferred off the sinking ship. At least with Smith there is hope. There was none with EK and they all knew it.

Ernie was this close to going 6-6 and getting us to a bowl ... .
 
All good he is recruiting almostly totally2 star players to fill out the roster .Kudos to him for the sucess. But his top players are all Kent recruits The starting lineup will feature 4 Kent recruits at least. Yes recruiting at level never seen before.So to praise the hustle and success is a joke.

1. Your either lying or are wrong that Smith's recruits are CRAP 2 stars with no good offers.

2. Somewhere between some to most to almost all of Smith's recruits are EITHER HIGHEST ENDED 2 stars, with at least 1 ok, semi good offer, with high upside, potential(Not crap 2 stars, no offers, no potential), to highest ended 3 stars, with ok offers, high potential, to lowest ended 4 stars, with ok offers, high potential.

3. I have double checked, seen the recruit rankings on LOTS of Smith's recruits, and most of them are highest ended ever 2 stars, to 3 stars, with ok offers.

4. You continue to either lyingly downplay Smith's recruits, or you errantly downplay Smith's recruits.

As far as recruiting so called Kent's so called Kent's Recruits:

1. Lots of Kent's recruits didnt give Kent the time of day, while being interested in Smith.

2. Kent made such a mess, that lots of Kent's recruits uncommitted, were in process of leaving WSU.

3. Smith SUCCESSFULLY RERECRUITED lots of Kent's Recruits.

4. To give Kent some credit, Kent AT THE END WHEN IT WAS TOO LATE, was FINALLY getting some good recruits.

5. Smith being the good, smart coach that he is SUCCESSFULLY RERECRUITED Kent's good recruits.

As far as Smith going after top 4,5 star recruits:

Smith should be offering 1 to 3 to 5, 4,5 star recruits a year.

This does the following:

1. If Smith offers 25 to 50 to 75, 4,5 star recruits, over a period of 2,3,4 years, he would probably likely get 2,3,4. 4,5 star recruits commited, signed to WSU, over a 2,3,4 year period.

2. It shows that Smith either is, or trying to upgrade.

3. Which will, would lead to a couple, few, some 3,4,5 star recruits being willing to commit, sign, help Smith, help WSU build program, because Smith trying to upgrade program by going after 3,4,5 star recruits.

Also just because Smith is offering 4,5 star recruits, doesnt mean that he Smith does not have 2,3,4 star plan B, Plan C back ups.

Also Smith is offering, getting 2,3,4. Star recruits with ok offers, with potential, Upside, athleticism, talents, skills, that can, will, would, etc, get developed into good players

Examples:

3 star Lacy, 3 star Franks, 3 star Elleby(Not saying Smith recruited those players. Saying these type of players are the kind of 3 star players Smith is recruiting.)

3 stars, Lacy, Franks, Elleby, each had a ok offer, high upside, high potential, that can, was developed.

Smith's recruits are similar.

Somebody is going to need to post a list, link of Smith's recruits, showing, proving that they are mostly to almost all 3 stars, depending on which recruiting service used, and that each have at least 1 ok offer, high potential, upside, JUST TO SHUT YOUR DOWNPLAYING, NEGACOUGNESS UP.

(Either that or El C needs to show a list, link proving they are crap 2 stars(Not going to happen), or shut up about it(Not going to happen)

Even then you would probably ignore that, and keep on downplaying, being a NEGACOUG.
 
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You're right, they should have kept Ernie. You and 346 other people would have loved to see him possibly eclipse last season's lofty win total.

PS - half the Ernie recruits that are playing this year would have transferred off the sinking ship. At least with Smith there is hope. There was none with EK and they all knew it.

This
 
Smith has already gotten more 4 stars on campus (and enrolled) than Kent did in his entire tenure. Spare us all the talk of lousy 2 stars.

'Member when ElC was high on Deion James when Kent was recruiting him. I 'member.

While I agree with this, I am not aware of any 4 stars that Smith Recruited, that committed, signed, is on campus.

Unless it maybe Cannon, that Smith Rerecruited.

Or Noah Williams, a 3 star, might have been a 4 star, according to other recruiting services.

Rodman, James, Marko, are 3 stars

Rodman 2 star on some recruit services, 3 star on other recruit services.

Bonton is a 3 star.

Rapp is a 2 star

So only Noah Williams, Cannon, maybe 4 stars.

But other then that, totally, wholeheartedly agree with you here about this.
 
Mik

Noah Williams was rated 4 stars by both verbal commits and ESPN. Cannon was a good retention, but was never a 4 star guy.
 
The thing is, stars dont measure upside. Schools like WSU will always need to bring in a lot of 2 stars, but not all 2 stars are the same . Its about finding the 2 stars with upside. The blue blood schools aren't interested in upside, but coaches who have a good eye for potential are exactly what you need in Pullman. Always higher risk but you van grab the brass ring like Dick did eith that great class.

I have no idea about the frosh Smith is getting, but the number of stars has little to do with it if the upside is there.
 
The 2-stars we are offering look like they have the upside we were seeing with the Bennett classes and some of the other offers support that. If they can mix in some 3s and a 4 every once in awhile we can definitely compete.
 
Mik

Noah Williams was rated 4 stars by both verbal commits and ESPN. Cannon was a good retention, but was never a 4 star guy.

What I figured.

I thought I had heard it rumored somewhere that Noah Williams was a 4 star, according to other recruiting services, but when I checked both Brand X, Rivals, they both said was a 3 star, and I forgot, didnt think of checking ESPN.

I didnt say Cannon was a 4 star, just that Noah, Cannon would be my best guess as to which was a 4 star, according to what you said that Smith had recruited a 4 star.

People either dont know, forget that there are more recruiting services:

Rivals, Brand X: (The ones most know of), ESPN, 247 Sports(some know of), Verbal Commits, NCAA Recruiting, Bleecher Report, are the 6 main credible ones.

So because of that could have a recruit that according to Rivals, Brand X, 247, ESPN is either a 2,3 star, and according to Verbal Commits, NCAA Recruiting, Bleecher Report, is either a 3,4 star.

Its obvious that EL C either:

A. Only looks at the lowest rating, (2 stars), and does not look at, believe, accept higher 3 star, 4 star ratings.

Or

B. Only looks at 1, 2 of the recruiting services, an or only either Brand X, Rivals.

Or

C. Errantly gets it wrong, wrongly says its 2 stars.

Or

D. Flat out lies.

Or all of the above combined.

In any case EL C is FLAT OUT WRONG that Smith Recruits are supposedly 2 star crap recruits, when they are all 3 stars, 1 4 star, according to the 5,6 recruiting services, except for RAPP who is a 2 star recruit, and Rodman who is both a 2 star and 3 star recruit, some recruiting services say he a 2 star, some say he a 3 star.
 
That is what ot looks like to me too. Also, other than James we dont really have to throw any of the new guys in to major minutes right away.
 
The thing is, stars dont measure upside. Schools like WSU will always need to bring in a lot of 2 stars, but not all 2 stars are the same . Its about finding the 2 stars with upside. The blue blood schools aren't interested in upside, but coaches who have a good eye for potential are exactly what you need in Pullman. Always higher risk but you van grab the brass ring like Dick did eith that great class.

I have no idea about the frosh Smith is getting, but the number of stars has little to do with it if the upside is there.

I would slightly correct, disagree with what your saying while agreeing with the general principle of what your saying.

Upside or not WSU does NOT need a LOT of 2 stars.

WSU coaches should be getting a LOT of 3 stars with upside, in basketball(In football there is more room for 2 stars, but in basketball, since rosters are only 11 to 14 players, instead of 40 to 80, it should be bigger pool of available 3 stars, and should be able to get 3 stars, instead of 2 stars)

Every year, or every other year, WSU should be getting 1.5, 1,2 2 stars with Upside, Potential, 2, or 3 or 4, 3 stars every year with Upside, potential, 1, 4 star every other year or every 2 years, a 4 star. 1, 5 star every 6 to 11 years.

The 2 stars should be more UNCOMMON, RARE then 3 stars, and 4 stars should be uncommon, rarer then 2 stars, and 5 stars should be the rarest.

Look at what Smith has done with a late start, and inheriting Kents Mess:

1, 4 star, 1, 2, 2 stars, 2,3,4, 3 stars.

That is or should be typical most years.
 
Stars are just some non coaches opinion. Like I said, there are 2 stars and there are 2 stars. We can get by with any star rated kids if they grow into 4 stars by their junior year. Doesnt mean we dont go after the higher rated kids.
 
Stars are just some non coaches opinion. Like I said, there are 2 stars and there are 2 stars. We can get by with any star rated kids if they grow into 4 stars by their junior year. Doesnt mean we dont go after the higher rated kids.

A 1 star, or 2 star rated, ranked kid, usually does NOT grow into a 4 star, etc, kid.

If you have a Leach, Dick, Tony Bennet, Smith, etc, coach, 1 out of 3, 1 star kids can, would become, develop into a 3, 4, 5 star kid.

And 2 out of 4, 2 star kids, develop into 3,4,5 star kids.

Thats fine in football where have room for misses like that.

But in basketball if you recruit a lot of 1, 2 stars, and or 1,2 stars make up about 4 out of 5,6 of each years recruits, and then if 50% of your 1,2 stars dont develop into 3,4,5 stars, then your not going to be able to compete with blue bloods, in either high end Mid Major/Power 5 conferences in Div 1 Basketball, unlike in football.

Also even Dick Bennets class of Low, Weaver, Cowgil, Henry, Rochestie, Harmeling, Baynes, wasnt even, didnt have a lot of 2 stars.

Low was a 3 star, Rochestie was a 3 star, Baynes was a 3 star, Weaver was a 2 star according to some recruiting services, and a 3 star according to other recruiting services, Cowgil was both a 2 star, 3 star like Weaver. Henry was a 2 star, Harmeling was a 2 star.

So there was 4, 3 stars, 3, 2 stars. And that was in, right after, following Graham's, WSU's worst ever years, when one would expect all 1,2 stars, etc.

Like I said. WSU should be getting at least 3 stars. 3 star recruits is the old 2 star recruits in, of WSU's past.

In the 60's, 70's, 80's, even 90's, when had bad coaches like a Graham, WSU used to get mostly 1,2 stars, in basketball.

That was the norm, except when WSU had a good coach.

Now that has changed from 1,2 stars, to 2,3 stars.

A WSU coach should be able to get at least about, around 50% to 63%, lots of recruits be 3 stars

Dick Bennet did that after, following the Graham Years.

Dick, Tony Bennet has done that, Smith has FAR exceeded that so far. Bone averaged 3 stars. Even Kent either averaged 3 stars, or almost averaged 3 stars.

So because of that WSU coaches should at least get Majority, lots of 3 stars at minimum. That is, should be the new norm.

Your stuck in the 2 star past Ava, when, where WSU got majority, lots of 2 stars.

Look IF IF WSU, WSU coaches, Smith, etc, can ONLY get lots of 2 stars, then so be it, and the right coaches like Bennet, will, would make that work.

But that said WSU should be getting better then 2 stars, will probably continue to get better then 2 stars, will probably continue getting 3 stars, should chase after.3+ stars.

And all that is why WSU will average about 1,2,3, 3 stars, per year, 1,2, 2 stars per year, every other year, 1, 4 star every other year, every 2,3 years, 1, 5 star evey 6 to 13 years.

And so far, Smith has achieved, exceeded that so far, with a late start, inheriting Kent's Mess, and will, will probably, should, etc, continue doing at least that, getting at least 3 stars, and NOT lots of 2 stars.

Anybody who thinks WSU either will, would, should get LOTS OF 1,2 STARS, is NOT being realistic, is stuck in the poor ole little ole WSU past of Poor Ole little Ole WSU cant, wont recruit anything better then LOTS OF 1,2 STARS.

And that Poor Ole little Ole WSU has to recruit, get 1,2 stars, develop them into 3,4,5 stars, because thats the ONLY way WSU can, could, maybe even compete, let alone win against blue blood colleges, conferences.

Thats the past. That has changed.

Now WSU needs to get, can easily get lots of 3 stars, NOT 1,2 stars, and easily have the lots of 3 stars gotten, PAN OUT, develop.

Thats how WSU will, woukd, can compete.

Its ok for WSU to get 1,2, a couple, 1,2, 1,2 stars in addition to the LOTS of 3 stars.

Its ok for WSU to chase after, get a 4 star in addition to LOTS of 3 stars.

But its going to be 3 stars that will end up being the majority of WSU's recruits, and the FOUNDATION of WSU's, Smith's success.
 
Probably am stuck in the past. Probably been inflation in the star ratings, just like everything else. Not sure I ever saw ratings on Cowgill, Harmeling,Weaver. I know Low was higher rated just because of who recruited him. The former were all very lightly recruited. To me that is the bottom line. Few of our best players over the past 25 years had other Pac 10 (12) offers.
 
Cowgil, Harmeling, Weaver, Henry, and Akognon were all 2-star recruits. Low was a 3-star as I remember.
 
Cowgil, Harmeling, Weaver, Henry, and Akognon were all 2-star recruits. Low was a 3-star as I remember.

Cowgil, Weaver, Akognon were BOTH 2 stars, and 3 star recruits according to different, various, recruiting services

Rivals, and or Brand X, had them as 2 stars, but a ONE, COUPLE, FEW, SOME, other recruiting services had them as 3 stars.

Only Henry, Harmeling, out of that group, were 2 stars by ALL recruiting services.

Also, in any case, Cowgil, Akognon, Weaver, Henry, Harmeling, didnt have hardly any, an or maybe even no other offers
 
Probably am stuck in the past. Probably been inflation in the star ratings, just like everything else. Not sure I ever saw ratings on Cowgill, Harmeling,Weaver. I know Low was higher rated just because of who recruited him. The former were all very lightly recruited. To me that is the bottom line. Few of our best players over the past 25 years had other Pac 10 (12) offers.

PAC offers, is not the end all, be all of recruiting.

Klay had NBA bloodlines, was a 4 star by Rivals, Brand X, ESPN, 247, etc.

And had a offer from Michigan, a semi blue blood basketball college that WSU beat out.

Really is a mystery why Klay didnt get Pac offers when he should have, since he was a 4 star, with NBA bloodlines, with a Michigan offer.

I can only guess that it was not a lack of anything, and that the Pac, probably didnt do their homework, Klay fell thru Pac, cracks.

This is why shouldnt put too much stock into lack of Pac offers.

A better question is:

Do, Are WSU recruits, whether 2,3,4 star recruits, getting offers from?:

Gonzaga, BYU, WCC, Mountain West, conference USA, Memphis, Wichita St, Creighton, Louisville, Atlantic 10, Xavier, New Mexico St, Tulsa, Western Kentucky, Fresno St, Long Beach St, UNLV, Marquette, other P5 conference colleges, like Michigan, etc, good Mid Major Programs, conferences?

If WSU recruits, whether 2,3,4 stars. are getting offers from those sources, but no Pac offers, then it doesnt matter if they have no Pac offers, they are, would still be good recruits, despite no Pac offers.
 
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I seem to remember that Klay signed with WSU in the fall of his senior year and then absolutely blew up on the court to become a 4-star recruit. Had he waited to sign until the spring, there would've been a lot of top schools interested.

Glad Cougar
 
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Probably am stuck in the past. Probably been inflation in the star ratings, just like everything else. Not sure I ever saw ratings on Cowgill, Harmeling,Weaver. I know Low was higher rated just because of who recruited him. The former were all very lightly recruited. To me that is the bottom line. Few of our best players over the past 25 years had other Pac 10 (12) offers.

Didn't Low have an offer from Gonzaga? :D
 
He might have gotten a late offer. GU top prospect went to UCLA. They got in on Low late as a plan B, and might have offered
 
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