Take it to the Ebanks

Well, it took the Huggy Bear one season to secure WVU’s best recruiting class EVER. Keep in mind that when Huggins first arrived back at his alma mater, the recruiting season was all but over, so this year was his first full recruiting season at WVU. Earlier this season, Huggins signed three-star point guard Darryl “Truck” Bryant, and two four-star forwards in Kevin Jones and Roscoe Davis. Arguably, the 2008 roundball class was already among the best ever in WVU history. So, how does Huggins top off the class? Oh, just by adding the top unsigned player in the nation. Five-star forward, repeat five star forward and top ten player Devin Ebanks committed to the Eers over the weekend, solidifying what most people are saying the best recruiting class ever assembled at WVU.

I commented earlier this year that one of Huggins best attributes is developing “tweener” players into NBA first rounders. By “tweener” I am referring to players that are in between positions, both because of ability and size. See Joe Alexander for the most recent example. Ebanks is admittedly more developed than Alexander was, and maybe more than a lot of former Huggins’ players, but Ebanks recognized that Huggins and WVU were probably his best bet to make it to the next level.

Some people are saying that this commitment could sway Joe Alexander to enter the NBA draft this year due to the similar position they play. My opinion is that if anything, Joe looks at the commitment and thinks that if he stays in school, the Eers make it over the hump and to the final four. Plus, Joe would finally get some competition at next year’s midnight madness dunk contest!

However, as I predicted way back in March, JA will probably never suit up for the old gold and blue again. Reportedly, JA is already projected as a mid first rounder (10-15); this is even before team workouts, and let’s face it, Joe will be impressive. He doesn’t need to go out and shoot lights out like Kevin Pittsnogle needed to (and didn’t) a few years back. He just needs to confirm to the scouts the athletic ability that they saw on tape. So again, I think Joe leaves, and quite frankly it may be a bad decision not to leave if he’s a top 15 pick. Just think though what Huggins can do with a five star recruit at a position where he developed an raw athlete into a star player is a matter of months. The WVU roundballers are on the rise and the Huggy Bear is leading the way.

(Posted by Country Roads for Pessimistic Pete via proxy.)

Placing Blame

The last few days, there have been numerous reports of former Huntington High School star basketball player O.J. Mayo receiving gifts from USC boosters in violation of NCAA rules. Most people seem to agree that Mayo attending USC, a traditional football power, should have been a red flag for the NCAA. Much is the same with Michael Beasley attending Kansas State, not known for much of anything. This leads me to what this has to do with WVU sports.

Coach Huggins was involved heavily in the recruiting process of both of these players, along with Huntington native Bill Walker, currently a starting forward for K. State. Some in our State say that if Huggins was at WVU a year earlier, we would have had all three of these players in the old Gold and Blue. After all, Huggins was the sole reason that both Beasley and Walker committed to K. State, and Huggy Bear had a great relationship with Mayo for the last ten years. Before you go dreaming about these three players starting alongside Alexander and Nichols last season, remember we did make it to the Sweet 16 and neither of the above mentioned teams did (ironically USC and K. State faced off in the 1st round with K. State advancing only to lose in the 2nd round).

If Mayo committing to USC should have raised red flags, what about the two K. State commits? I’m not calling for an investigation, quite the opposite; I’m saying that big time recruits are going to commit to all types of programs, traditional powers and unproven ones, and the NCAA can’t place red flags with all of them. If that was the case, every top recruit that Huggins signs at WVU would raise eyebrows.

So, do we blame the kid that has gifts shoved in his face and most likely never had a chance to refuse to take them? No. Do we blame the NCAA for not “sensing” violations when kids commit to non-traditional powers? No. As a matter of fact, I’d argue the opposite. Most traditional powers in both basketball and football are the programs in violations of recruiting. See Ohio State. In my opinion, the blame lies solely with the NBA and its new rule that high school players must play a year of college basketball before opting for the NBA.

Sure it sounds like a good rule; protects young kids from making a dumb decision to go straight from high school to the NBA. It’s good for the NBA in that teams can draft more seasoned players who can play right away and not have to be given two or three years to mature before contributing. It also benefits the NBA’s fan base; fans can follow the college stars throughout their NBA career. The rule sounds great on the surface. Heck, with Huggins’ proven recruiting record, it only improves the Eers’ chances of landing better recruits. However, in the overall picture, it’s like placing all the top basketball players in an auction and seeing what school is willing to pay the most. I don’t mean the top 50 players or even the top 25 players. I mean the elite players, like Mayo and Beasley. The “one and done” players. Players that coaches know will come and go in a flash, but in that one year could bring a National Championship to his program.

High school players are developing their skills at a much greater pace, thanks in large part to the AAU circuit. I will never say that there will be an abundance of NBA ready high school seniors, but there will no doubt be more and more each season. With the NBA forcing these players to pick a school and most likely for just one season, much different things will go into the players’ decision. Flat screen TV’s and bags of cash will prevail over a solid school with a family environment any day of the week. Luckily for the Eers, Huggins has a reputation for developing NBA players at a rapid pace, See Joe Alexander. With this ability, the rule probably only helps WVU, but if you’re looking to place the blame for young athletes taking gifts in exchange for playing basketball at a certain school, I say look no further than the good ‘ole NBA.

Marv Robon, Attorney & Comedian

The transcript of Ed Pastilong's deposition in the RichRod case has been released, and there are some classic excerpts. I didn't have an extra 4 hours to read all 240 pages today, but we will provide highlights where we can. I did notice this juicy part:


ROBON: Hardesty wasn't a lawyer; was he?
PASTILONG: Hardesty is a lawyer.
ROBON: Oh, he is a lawyer?
PASTILONG: Yes, sir.
ROBON: So we got two presidents in a row, that are lawyers.
PASTILONG: Okay.
ROBON: I think I want to move down here, I might get a job.
FLAHERTY: I wouldn't count on it.

And that, my friends, is why WVU hired Tom Flaherty.

Huff Huffs About North-South Game

Sam Huff evidently isn't all too pleased about WVU commit Josh Jenkins and Kennedy Award winner (and WVU invited walk-on) Jordan Roberts declining invitations to play in the annual West Virginia North-South All-Star Game.

"I don't understand," Huff said. "Why wouldn't you play? Are you afraid of getting hurt? Are you afraid you might not match up? If you've got heart, desire and determination, you play. If someone says to you that you might get hurt, tell them to go to hell.''

Huff, who is the VP of Mariott (which just happens to be sponsoring this year's game), certainly has a reason to be upset. He played in the game in 1952 (when it was actually a big deal) and has recently undertaken a campaign to restore the game's prominence among West Virginia high school football players.

But if I were Mr. Huff, I would refrain from calling out West Virginia's best prep player in the last 20 years. Especially when that prep player is 6'5, 300lbs. And seeing as how Jenkins pushed around other elite D-I signees at the Army All-American game (which, by the way, actually means something), I doubt he is afraid of the competition in his home state.

Look, no disrespect to the NFL Hall-of-Famer, but times are different now than when he played. Jenkins has nothing left to prove, and has a D-I and potential NFL career to lose. It turned out that Huff did too, but I doubt he was aware of it at the time. All that mattered to #75 was state pride and the love of the game, and the North-South game was his final chance to show his stuff before he started college. Jenkins probably has a number of "advisors" (like the WVU coaching staff, maybe?) who have a stake in his future and would rather him not injure himself in a glorified scrimmage before about 250 people (read: parents) at UC Stadium in June. That's not being afraid, that's being smart about your future.

The WVU Greatest Highlight - 6 vs. 11 (Gold Region)

For our next match up, we go back to the Gold Region for our first between two different WVU sports. It will be the 6 seeded TD run of Owen 'Runaway Beer Truck" Schmitt in the 08 Fiesta Bowl taking on the 11 seed, Alex Ruoff's free throws that ice the upset of UCLA in Motown in 2007.

Let's go to the tape:

Owen "Runaway Beer Truck" Schmitt (6)


Ruoff's Free Throws to upset UCLA (11)

Because the actual free throws really are not that exciting, here is a highlight clip from the game and an extra clip that we took ourselves of the students rushing the floor.


Students Rush Floor (from my camera)

Some picked, Some snubbed, All Will Get Their Shot.

Three former Mountaineer players' names were called during day two of the NFL Draft. Steve Slaton was drafted in the 3rd round by the Houston Texans, Owen Schmitt was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 5th round, and Ryan Mundy was taken in the 6th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Slaton has a great opportunity in Houston where there is no feature back. Ahman Green is aging and Chris Brown, picked up from the Titans has only one 1,000 yard season. Slaton will probably never be a feature back in the league, but he has a great opportunity in Houston to get touches early.

Owen Schmitt also has a great situation in Seattle due to the retirement of Mack Strong. It will remain to be seen whether or not the Seahawks will give Owen any touches or use him solely as a blocker. We all know that Owen will dedicate himself to whatever Seattle needs, but I would love to see Owen catch a ball in the flats and run over a small DB, maybe Brandon Merriweather; oh wait Quincy took care of him. I truly believe that Schmitt has a chance to be a pro bowl FB; hopefully those NFL face masks are tougher than the NCAA ones!

Ryan Mundy will have to fight for a roster spot. He'll likely have to focus on special teams, but it does help RM that he has experience as both a safety and corner. One thing is for sure, if Mundy can survive the final cuts, he'll have plenty of fans as he is from Pittsburgh.

A slew of other former Eers have signed free agent contracts. Two ex-Mountaineers will join Owen in Seattle - long snapper Tim Linsey, and defensive back Eric Wicks. Two other defensive lineman will also head west in Johnny Dingle to the Kansas City Chiefs and Keilen Dykes to the Arizona Cardinals. Finally, former Eer WR Darius Reynaud signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

*Update* Marc Margo was signed by the St. Louis Rams.

Overall, I think all the former Eers have good chances to make an NFL roster. I'm still surprised that Reynaud and Dingle were not selected in the draft. Before everyone bashes these two players for "leaving early," remember that both were Seniors that could earn an extra year of eligibility if they graduated on time. Word on both of these two is that they would need another semester to finish earn their degree.