BEAST currently has 5 of the top 25 2014 recruiting classes

[walijones]

I love the fact that most of the BE schools are enjoying very good recruiting years. A team stocked with Top 100 type players that will stick around for four years will eventually lead to multiple deep runs in the tourney. Very nice. BUT......The original Big East became a national phenomenon by signing superstars....Ewing, Mullins, Pearl Washington, etc. This type player will attract another, and then another.

Most of our schools are in or around big cities with multiple professional teams, and it takes a superstar player to get the Sixer or Flyer or Eagle fan in Philadelphia to come out to see Villanova play at the Wells Fargo arena. It takes a superstar player for the Philly papers to make Nova the lead story. It will take a superstar player for west coast viewers to tune into Fox Sports to watch Big East Basketball (thank God for Doug McDermott).

So Bill Marsh has a very good point. The league is well positioned to be a conference to be reckoned with, but my goal would be for us to be more than that. To be the best will require landing Top 25 kids.

[TheHall]

I love the fact that most of the BE schools are enjoying very good recruiting years. A team stocked with Top 100 type players that will stick around for four years will eventually lead to multiple deep runs in the tourney. Very nice. BUT......The original Big East became a national phenomenon by signing superstars....Ewing, Mullins, Pearl Washington, etc. This type player will attract another, and then another...

Not even close, there was no one & done back then. If there was all the guys you mentioned would've never had a chance to make the BE into what it was....BE has NEVER been a big top 25 or McD AA recruiting league (there's only 2 in the league right now & 1 is a transfer...Josh Smith), we've always excelled in the 30-150 range.

[TheHall]

...The original Big East became a national phenomenon by signing superstars....Ewing, Mullins, Pearl Washington, etc.

But I do agree here...what a phenomenon the league was!

Georgetown was a Michael Jordan jump shot and a Freddie Brown turnover away from winning the title in 1982. The Hoyas did win it all in 1984. Providence made the Final Four in 1987. Syracuse was a Keith Smart jumper short of a title in 1987. Same for Seton Hall in 1989- take away the foul call and subsequent two free throws by Rumeal Robinson and the Pirates may have been cutting down the nets in 1989. If the ball had bounced the Big East's way, the conference would have won the NCAA titles in 1982, 1984,1985, 1987 and 1989. Yes, the conference was that dominant.

http://www.vuhoops.com/2013/10/10/4826256/big-east-2-0-back-to-the-future-by-chris-nichols

[aughnanure]

Ahmed Hill commits to Marquette.

4 Star Top 70 recruit. At one point he was ranked in the 30s, now #51 on ESPN, #62 on 247, #69 on Rivals.

https://twitter.com/PaintTouches/status ... 7203865600

[billyjack]

Relevant to recruiting... Jerome Seagears, the Rutgers guard who transferred to Auburn, said he felt like he was on Mars while at Auburn this past summer... so he's returning back home... this is a part of recruiting where the Big East has a huge advantage, which we should always remember... what's preferable to a prospect who wants the bright lights...?
Lubbock or Omaha..?
Morgantown or Cincinnati...?
Champaign or Chicago...?
Auburn or Indianapolis...?
Roanoke or Philadelphia...?
Stillwater or Washington DC...?
Greensboro or New York...?
In time, except for the bluebloods of KU and UK, etc, recruits will tend to go to the major metro areas that we have.

[billyjack]

Ahmed Hill commits to Marquette.

4 Star Top 70 recruit. At one point he was ranked in the 30s, now #51 on ESPN, #62 on 247, #69 on Rivals.

https://twitter.com/PaintTouches/status ... 7203865600

Excellent...!!!

[Bill Marsh]

I love the fact that most of the BE schools are enjoying very good recruiting years. A team stocked with Top 100 type players that will stick around for four years will eventually lead to multiple deep runs in the tourney. Very nice. BUT......The original Big East became a national phenomenon by signing superstars....Ewing, Mullins, Pearl Washington, etc. This type player will attract another, and then another...

Not even close, there was no one & done back then. If there was all the guys you mentioned would've never had a chance to make the BE into what it was....BE has NEVER been a big top 25 or McD AA recruiting league (there's only 2 in the league right now & 1 is a transfer...Josh Smith), we've always excelled in the 30-150 range.

When you say the BE has never been a top 25/McD AA league, what members are you talking about? Here are some recent McDonald's AAs who were recruited by BE schools:

2013 - Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)
2012 - Kris Dunn (Providence), DaJuan Coleman (Syracuse)
2011 - Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse), Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse), Khem Birch (Pitt), Wayne Blackshear (Louisville), Chane Behanan (Louisville)
2010 - Jayvaughan Pinkston (Villanova), Fab Melo (Syracuse)
2009 - Maalik Wayns (Villanova), Dominic Cheeks (Villanova), Alex Oriakhii (UConn), Dante Taylor (Pitt), Peyton Siva (Louisville), Lance Stephenson (Cincinnati)
2008 - Greg Monroe (Georgetown), Mike Rosario (Rutgers), Kemba Walker (UConn), Samardo Samuels (Louisville)
2007 - Chris Wright (Georgetown), Austin Freeman (Georgetown), Corey Stokes (Villanova), Jonny Flynn (Syracuse), Donte Green (Syracuse)
2006 - Scottie Reynolds (Villanova), Vernon Macklin (Georgetown), Earl Clark (Louisville)
2005 - Eric Devendorf (Syracuse), Luke Zeller (Notre Dame), Amir Johnson (Louisville)
2004 - Rudy Gay (UConn)

[Bill Marsh]

Relevant to recruiting... Jerome Seagears, the Rutgers guard who transferred to Auburn, said he felt like he was on Mars while at Auburn this past summer... so he's returning back home... this is a part of recruiting where the Big East has a huge advantage, which we should always remember... what's preferable to a prospect who wants the bright lights...?
Lubbock or Omaha..?
Morgantown or Cincinnati...?
Champaign or Chicago...?
Auburn or Indianapolis...?
Roanoke or Philadelphia...?
Stillwater or Washington DC...?
Greensboro or New York...?
In time, except for the bluebloods of KU and UK, etc, recruits will tend to go to the major metro areas that we have.

Great point!

And I suspect it's not just the bright lights. It's where they feel comfortable, where they fit culturally, where things are familiar. Like every kid picking a college, "Are there people like me here?" That kind of familiarity is a big advantage for BE schools.

[Bulldog_Muskie]

Relevant to recruiting... Jerome Seagears, the Rutgers guard who transferred to Auburn, said he felt like he was on Mars while at Auburn this past summer... so he's returning back home... this is a part of recruiting where the Big East has a huge advantage, which we should always remember... what's preferable to a prospect who wants the bright lights...?
Lubbock or Omaha..?
Morgantown or Cincinnati...?
Champaign or Chicago...?
Auburn or Indianapolis...?
Roanoke or Philadelphia...?
Stillwater or Washington DC...?
Greensboro or New York...?
In time, except for the bluebloods of KU and UK, etc, recruits will tend to go to the major metro areas that we have.

I think you're overselling the importance of this. Its a plus but I don't see it being a determining factor for many players. Strength of the program is more important IMO.
I would assume Mr. Seagears would've been perfectly happy at auburn if they were any good.

[nickthedribbler]

Ahmed Hill commits to Marquette.

4 Star Top 70 recruit. At one point he was ranked in the 30s, now #51 on ESPN, #62 on 247, #69 on Rivals.

https://twitter.com/PaintTouches/status ... 7203865600

Great get by Marquette. Another solid top 100 kid.