If SJU Can Pull This Off

[Piratefan]

He is going to SJU

[Bill Marsh]

He is going to SJU

Is that official? I hope so.

Has there been an announcement?

[SJHooper]

Please tell me you heard that from a top source

[SJHooper]

He is going to SJU

Come on man, you can't just say something that definitive in the heat of one of the biggest recruiting coups in SJ history with no source or elaboration! Killing me.

[Bill Marsh]

Not only that, but his coach said he has gotten indications that Briscoe wants to stay home. If he wants to stay home, SJ is going to win this thing. We've been recruiting him the longest and hardest, and his father absolutely loves us. UK cannot offer the playing time. He's just another face in the crowd at UK. Lavin has been known as a closer with Obekpa and Jordan most recently and guess what? We get the last visit before he decides. He is coming to the tipoff with other top recruits like Diallo who lives 45 minutes from campus and will find a lot in common with Obekpa who went to the same HS and is also from Nigeria.

It's a great sign and I'm excited now, but something is just telling me to relax and not think too much into it. Lavin has been in a recruiting funk as of late which is very troubling and this kid also seemed to love UConn, UK, and Mizzou. He's like the attractive girl who flirts with everyone and every man thinks she wants him more. If there is any way Lavin can bag Briscoe and Diallo in a package deal that means we would have TWO top 10 players nationally. And no doubt it would open the floodgates for more great commits. It would also be a major coup for the conference.

Fingers crossed, but trying to hold off on dreaming, because I don't want the disappointment. I still think it's anyone's game at this point. He seemed in awe of UK, loved Mizzou even trying a jersey on, and could not stop talking about UConn. Now he's flirting with us again. Let's just wait to see his decision.

I hope you're right. I'd love to see the Big East come up with a few more big recruits - especially in the bright lights of NYC.

However, his desire to stay close to home could also position UConn as the compromise choice. Close enough for his family to get to see him regularly but with a proven big time program and big time coach with NBA connections. UConn is only a few hours up the road, half the distance from The City that Syracuse is and SU has had no trouble making recruits feel at home.

[SJHooper]

Not only that, but his coach said he has gotten indications that Briscoe wants to stay home. If he wants to stay home, SJ is going to win this thing. We've been recruiting him the longest and hardest, and his father absolutely loves us. UK cannot offer the playing time. He's just another face in the crowd at UK. Lavin has been known as a closer with Obekpa and Jordan most recently and guess what? We get the last visit before he decides. He is coming to the tipoff with other top recruits like Diallo who lives 45 minutes from campus and will find a lot in common with Obekpa who went to the same HS and is also from Nigeria.

It's a great sign and I'm excited now, but something is just telling me to relax and not think too much into it. Lavin has been in a recruiting funk as of late which is very troubling and this kid also seemed to love UConn, UK, and Mizzou. He's like the attractive girl who flirts with everyone and every man thinks she wants him more. If there is any way Lavin can bag Briscoe and Diallo in a package deal that means we would have TWO top 10 players nationally. And no doubt it would open the floodgates for more great commits. It would also be a major coup for the conference.

Fingers crossed, but trying to hold off on dreaming, because I don't want the disappointment. I still think it's anyone's game at this point. He seemed in awe of UK, loved Mizzou even trying a jersey on, and could not stop talking about UConn. Now he's flirting with us again. Let's just wait to see his decision.

I hope you're right. I'd love to see the Big East come up with a few more big recruits - especially in the bright lights of NYC.

However, his desire to stay close to home could also position UConn as the compromise choice. Close enough for his family to get to see him regularly but with a proven big time program and big time coach with NBA connections. UConn is only a few hours up the road, half the distance from The City that Syracuse is and SU has had no trouble making recruits feel at home.

I wouldn't say 3 hours (assuming there isn't much traffic) is "close" to home. It's not close but it's not far. It's still a bit of a hike. I drove about that distance in college and it was definitely not a short ride. With traffic it can be a nightmare. UConn also has lots of other guards. He wouldn't be the only show in town. He'd be splitting playing time. So he doesn't have free reign there. At SJ he really would be THE man and he seems to like that. UConn also plays in the AAC against the likes of Tulane, UCF, Tulsa, ECU, etc. The Big East would give him a name brand school every game in conference (except DePaul maybe). I have a hard time believing people will want to watch him on UConn playing Tulane, ECU, Tulsa vs. him on SJ playing Creighton, Seton Hall, or Butler. On the UConn board they all think he's coming here too. They know they have lots of guards already and know he would have to split time. Even if he got most of the minutes he'd still have to share some.

[Bill Marsh]

Not only that, but his coach said he has gotten indications that Briscoe wants to stay home. If he wants to stay home, SJ is going to win this thing. We've been recruiting him the longest and hardest, and his father absolutely loves us. UK cannot offer the playing time. He's just another face in the crowd at UK. Lavin has been known as a closer with Obekpa and Jordan most recently and guess what? We get the last visit before he decides. He is coming to the tipoff with other top recruits like Diallo who lives 45 minutes from campus and will find a lot in common with Obekpa who went to the same HS and is also from Nigeria.

It's a great sign and I'm excited now, but something is just telling me to relax and not think too much into it. Lavin has been in a recruiting funk as of late which is very troubling and this kid also seemed to love UConn, UK, and Mizzou. He's like the attractive girl who flirts with everyone and every man thinks she wants him more. If there is any way Lavin can bag Briscoe and Diallo in a package deal that means we would have TWO top 10 players nationally. And no doubt it would open the floodgates for more great commits. It would also be a major coup for the conference.

Fingers crossed, but trying to hold off on dreaming, because I don't want the disappointment. I still think it's anyone's game at this point. He seemed in awe of UK, loved Mizzou even trying a jersey on, and could not stop talking about UConn. Now he's flirting with us again. Let's just wait to see his decision.

I hope you're right. I'd love to see the Big East come up with a few more big recruits - especially in the bright lights of NYC.

However, his desire to stay close to home could also position UConn as the compromise choice. Close enough for his family to get to see him regularly but with a proven big time program and big time coach with NBA connections. UConn is only a few hours up the road, half the distance from The City that Syracuse is and SU has had no trouble making recruits feel at home.

I wouldn't say 3 hours (assuming there isn't much traffic) is "close" to home. It's not close but it's not far. It's still a bit of a hike. I drove about that distance in college and it was definitely not a short ride. With traffic it can be a nightmare. UConn also has lots of other guards. He wouldn't be the only show in town. He'd be splitting playing time. So he doesn't have free reign there. At SJ he really would be THE man and he seems to like that. UConn also plays in the AAC against the likes of Tulane, UCF, Tulsa, ECU, etc. The Big East would give him a name brand school every game in conference (except DePaul maybe). I have a hard time believing people will want to watch him on UConn playing Tulane, ECU, Tulsa vs. him on SJ playing Creighton, Seton Hall, or Butler. On the UConn board they all think he's coming here too. They know they have lots of guards already and know he would have to split time. Even if he got most of the minutes he'd still have to share some.

Uh . . .

I didn't say UConn was "close to home."

Obviously there are other factors besides "close to home" that are factoring into his decision or Kentucky wouldn't even be on the list. If having other talented guards on the roster were a deal breaker for him, again Kentucky wouldn't be on his list.

[SJHooper]

And many students want to stay home for college but if Harvard calls they may consider it. Kentucky is the Harvard of basketball in college hoops. Who wouldn't at least give them a look and meet Calipari? I think it's obvious that he is a benchwarmer if he goes there and he knows it. Even if he got playing time it wouldn't be much. There are people who turn down Ivy's to attend SUNY Stony Brook. Sometimes it just makes more sense financially and location wise. So it wouldn't be surprising if he turned down UK. Too far, little chance of real impact, and will be behind other guards like Ulis. You could make the case that he can go 1 and done anywhere if he thinks he's that good. SJ can offer him the PT to get there and prove himself. It doesn't matter what school you go to once you make the draft. You just have to get there. So it really doesn't matter draft wise if he goes to SJ or UK. UK can't offer a bunch of other things like home and PT. If you are behind a guy it's much harder to get drafted with much less proven and less exposure.

[Bill Marsh]

And many students want to stay home for college but if Harvard calls they may consider it. Kentucky is the Harvard of basketball in college hoops. Who wouldn't at least give them a look and meet Calipari? I think it's obvious that he is a benchwarmer if he goes there and he knows it. Even if he got playing time it wouldn't be much. There are people who turn down Ivy's to attend SUNY Stony Brook. Sometimes it just makes more sense financially and location wise. So it wouldn't be surprising if he turned down UK. Too far, little chance of real impact, and will be behind other guards like Ulis. You could make the case that he can go 1 and done anywhere if he thinks he's that good. SJ can offer him the PT to get there and prove himself. It doesn't matter what school you go to once you make the draft. You just have to get there. So it really doesn't matter draft wise if he goes to SJ or UK. UK can't offer a bunch of other things like home and PT. If you are behind a guy it's much harder to get drafted with much less proven and less exposure.

Funny . . . I think UConn is the Harvard of college basketball. If UConn is interested, why waste your time with Kentucky?

[Bill Marsh]

And many students want to stay home for college but if Harvard calls they may consider it. Kentucky is the Harvard of basketball in college hoops. Who wouldn't at least give them a look and meet Calipari? I think it's obvious that he is a benchwarmer if he goes there and he knows it. Even if he got playing time it wouldn't be much. There are people who turn down Ivy's to attend SUNY Stony Brook. Sometimes it just makes more sense financially and location wise. So it wouldn't be surprising if he turned down UK. Too far, little chance of real impact, and will be behind other guards like Ulis. You could make the case that he can go 1 and done anywhere if he thinks he's that good. SJ can offer him the PT to get there and prove himself. It doesn't matter what school you go to once you make the draft. You just have to get there. So it really doesn't matter draft wise if he goes to SJ or UK. UK can't offer a bunch of other things like home and PT. If you are behind a guy it's much harder to get drafted with much less proven and less exposure.

Let me get this straight. Briscoe is at least a top 15 prospect, top ten on Rivals. Agree?

But you're claiming that at kentucky he has "little chance of a real impact, will be behind other guards like Ulis. . . harder to get drafted with much less proven and less exposure." Please help me make some sense out of this.

1. How does a top 15, possibly top ten recruit have little chance of a real impact even at Kentucky?
2. Why would a 6-3 shooting guard like Briscoe be sitting behind a 5-8 PG like Ulis?
3. Schools like North Carolina and Kentucky have had players go high in the draft who have been coming into games off their bench. Why would it be harder to get drafted from a school like that?