Ayo Dosunmu update

[Corey Evans]

Update on Ayo Dosunmu who gives his thoughts on the top schools on his list and gives a quick nugget on his feelings for Northwestern.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/schools-push-for-versatile-guard-dosunmu

 

[Deeringfish]

Update on Ayo Dosunmu who gives his thoughts on the top schools on his list and gives a quick nugget on his feelings for Northwestern.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/schools-push-for-versatile-guard-dosunmu

I think we still have a chance with him. Not just lip service.

 

[rwhitney014]

I find it interesting that he names specific coaches at NU and Xavier but mentions that he has aspirations to build a relationship with the coaches at Illinois. I realize it's a new staff down state, but a guy who's supposedly such a key recruit for them should probably be one of your first calls, no?

 

[flight 33]

I find it interesting that he names specific coaches at NU and Xavier but mentions that he has aspirations to build a relationship with the coaches at Illinois. I realize it's a new staff down state, but a guy who's supposedly such a key recruit for them should probably be one of your first calls, no?

Illinois is in great shape here....

 

[willycat]

Illinois is in great shape here....

Isn't that what we heard about their recruitment with Moore?

 

[flight 33]

Isn't that what we heard about their recruitment with Moore?

No you didn't. Illinois had Mark Smith wrapped up.....hence Moore to Kansas.

 

[scru]

No you didn't. Illinois had Mark Smith wrapped up.....hence Moore to Kansas.

Will be an interesting showdown for Ayo. I like that CC has a good start with a few other very talented PGs for 2018. Something about recruiting the Mac Irvin Fire kids to me feels like swimming through the swamplands of basketball recruiting. It stinks, its dirty, and full of leaches.

 

[combes]

I find it interesting that he names specific coaches at NU and Xavier but mentions that he has aspirations to build a relationship with the coaches at Illinois. I realize it's a new staff down state, but a guy who's supposedly such a key recruit for them should probably be one of your first calls, no?

Ayo has been in regular touch with Underwood and assistant coach Chin Coleman is a close family friend with a longtime relationship with Ayo.

It will be interesting. Nothing is ever sure in CPL recruiting, but Illinois will be hard to beat in this one. However schools like Duke and Kentucky can come in late and make it interesting.

I think NU has a better shot at the Simeon kid.

 

[combes]

Isn't that what we heard about their recruitment with Moore?

No. Illinois knew they had Mark Smith. Moore did not want to compete at the point with Smith, Lucas and Frazier. Also, Moore and Ayo were not going to the same school.

 

[catcrazy]

Chris Collins needs to work and get Ayo to NU. Work the angle of he has trained the best and knows what it is to coach the pros not some fly by night coach who has to hire some handler of the AAU circuit to try and get a recruit. I guess that is part of the seedy world of recruiting. Hopefully Ayo sees through that.

 

[willycat]

Chris Collins needs to work and get Ayo to NU. Work the angle of he has trained the best and knows what it is to coach the pros not some fly by night coach who has to hire some handler of the AAU circuit to try and get a recruit. I guess that is part of the seedy world of recruiting. Hopefully Ayo sees through that.

If Underwood handles his program to match his first two hires. I'm thinking NCAA sanctions will follow shortly.

 

[mickbula]

I would recruit Cormac over Ayo. Cormac seems like a better fit and seems to have more interest in us. Just my opinion- although I'd be ecstatic to get either of them.

 

[chitownUofI05]

If Underwood handles his program to match his first two hires. I'm thinking NCAA sanctions will follow shortly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishful_thinking

 

[Medill90]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishful_thinking

Probably best to use a real dictionary on the NU board:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dic...campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld

 

[chitownUofI05]

Probably best to use a real dictionary on the NU board:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishful thinking?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld

Right, just a commoner, sorry!

 

[scru]

I would recruit Cormac over Ayo. Cormac seems like a better fit and seems to have more interest in us. Just my opinion- although I'd be ecstatic to get either of them.

Or both? I'm unclear whether CMac projects as a Lead Guard or Wing in CC's system. My assessment based on tape is Wing, but wtf do I know. I'm just an overly exuberant Cats fan that hasn't played competitive basketball since 9th grade.

 

[flight 33]

If Underwood handles his program to match his first two hires. I'm thinking NCAA sanctions will follow shortly.

John Groce 2 Chris Collins 0

 

[EvanstonCat]

John Groce 2 Chris Collins 0

Are you serious? Yes, you have scoreboard this year, but Groce was fired, UofI didn't go to the dance, and Collins has NU on an upward momentum. Let's not pretend for a moment that you would rather have Underwood (or Groce) over Collins or that the state of the storied Illini program today is healthier than NU's. Perhaps, Underwood will get you to the promised land and one day will get them to the pinnacle, but let's not pretend that UofI wouldn't love to be in NU's position from a program standpoint at this particular point in time.

If not, then you're a blind homer.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

John Groce 2 Chris Collins 0

How did IL do in the NCAA tournament this year?

 

[willycat]

John Groce 2 Chris Collins 0

Don't know what that has to do with the sleazy assistants Underwood has recently hired, who have been known to bend the rules. Also your new HC skipped out on Okie State after one year and previously promising to stay at his "dream job" until they bury him. Ah, what honesty and character. You can have him.

 

[scru]

Are you serious? Yes, you have scoreboard this year, but Groce was fired, UofI didn't go to the dance, and Collins has NU on an upward momentum. Let's not pretend for a moment that you would rather have Underwood (or Groce) over Collins or that the state of the storied Illini program today is healthier than NU's. Perhaps, Underwood will get you to the promised land and one day will get them to the pinnacle, but let's not pretend that UofI wouldn't love to be in NU's position from a program standpoint at this particular point in time.

If not, then you're a blind homer.

I think CC is the perfect fit for NU, not sure he'd be right for a big state school that doesn't have the same focus on academics or development of young men into future contributors to society as NU's Three Amigos are all about... and championships. Think of the kind of young men that are choosing to come to NU, braving the academic challenges, underwhelming social scene, cold winters, and no "basket weaving" programs to hide in. They know they're going to have to work when they sign on the line for NU. That's a special breed, and molding and motivating them into a great basketball team takes a certain kind of leader: CC.

Underwood is a different type altogether. He's the "red-faced" prototype of coach. With how UoI sees itself and the type of recruits they expect to get, it's about getting Primadonna, entitled millennials with five star rankings that love the "hat dance", drama, look-at-me, woo me to learn what it means to become a teammate, a hard worker, setting aside ego and doing what it takes to make the team better. And hopefully staying out of off-court troubles.

CC and Underwood will be working with very different raw materials as they strive to achieve the same goal in terms of basketball success: championships. It's going to be very fun to see how both programs develop and which model ultimately finds more success.

All that said, I still hope UoI sucks. Rivalry baby!

 

[hdhntr1]

No. Illinois knew they had Mark Smith. Moore did not want to compete at the point with Smith, Lucas and Frazier. Also, Moore and Ayo were not going to the same school.

Does that open up Ayo for NU since Underwood told Smith that he was going to be their PG?

 

[Booty Maximus]

I think CC is the perfect fit for NU, not sure he'd be right for a big state school that doesn't have the same focus on academics or development of young men into future contributors to society as NU's Three Amigos are all about... and championships. Think of the kind of young men that are choosing to come to NU, braving the academic challenges, underwhelming social scene, cold winters, and no "basket weaving" programs to hide in. They know they're going to have to work when they sign on the line for NU. That's a special breed, and molding and motivating them into a great basketball team takes a certain kind of leader: CC.

Like Johnnie Vassar?

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Like Johnnie Vassar?

I don't speak for Johnnie Vassar, but I do know that Johnnie LOVES Northwestern and fought to stay at NU. He just had a disagreement with the coaching staff over whether or not he was transferring. It was a disagreement that eventually led him to take on the NCAA over its transfer rules.

This is a lot more about a disagreement between generally agreeable people over policies than an indictment against NU.

 

[cat inkansas]

I don't speak for Johnnie Vassar, but I do know that Johnnie LOVES Northwestern and fought to stay at NU. He just had a disagreement with the coaching staff over whether or not he was transferring. It was a disagreement that eventually led him to take on the NCAA over its transfer rules.

This is a lot more about a disagreement between generally agreeable people over policies than an indictment against NU.

Is he still a student at NU?

 

[rwhitney014]

Is he still a student at NU?

Yes. On track to graduate.

 

[cat inkansas]

Yes. On track to graduate.

Good for him.

 

[xxjfgxx]

Is he still a student at NU?

Johnny Vassar bilked NU out of a scholarship and hurt the program. He did not live up to his end of the deal. Play ball, get into school and don't pay tuition! No ball - no deal. NU and CC were incredibly generous, and honorable, not to boot him.

 

[willycat]

Johnny Vassar bilked NU out of a scholarship and hurt the program. He did not live up to his end of the deal. Play ball, get into school and don't pay tuition! No ball - no deal. NU and CC were incredibly generous, and honorable, not to boot him.

Agree and his selfishness hurt guys he shared a locker room with for a year, plus.

 

[NUCat320]

Agree and his selfishness hurt guys he shared a locker room with for a year, plus.

Counterpoint: Infatuated with the young man's athleticism three years after every program had moved on, Northwestern offered Johnnie Vassar a four-year athletic scholarship. When it turned out that the rest of the world was right, and Northwestern was wrong, Northwestern attempted to "renegotiate" an agreement that it had no standing to renegotiate.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Counterpoint: Infatuated with the young man's athleticism three years after every program had moved on, Northwestern offered Johnnie Vassar a four-year athletic scholarship. When it turned out that the rest of the world was right, and Northwestern was wrong, Northwestern attempted to "renegotiate" an agreement that it had no standing to renegotiate.

That's silly. He got his 4 years at NU paid for. Why should he hold up the roster spot in the process? Selfish.

 

[NUCat320]

That's silly. He got his 4 years at NU paid for. Why should he hold up the roster spot in the process? Selfish.

Northwestern had no standing to renegotiate.

Always keep your deals.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Northwestern had no standing to renegotiate.

Always keep your deals.

They did. He got his 4 years.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

They did. He got his 4 years.

The issue is that the scholarship included additional benefits available to athletes (early class selection, tutoring, etc.) and couldn't be revoked for purely athletic reasons. I'm not terribly fond of what Vassar did, but this is a scenario where the four-year scholarship construct appears to have backfired.

 

[docrugby1]

I disagree with WC. If NU offered him a 4 year athletic scholarship, NU should have honored it. NU should have bitten the bullet and recognized a talent evaluation mistake. Even if Vassar considered transferring , a deal is a deal. Athletic scholarships have a lot of percs that may not be available otherwise

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I disagree with WC. If NU offered him a 4 year athletic scholarship, NU should have honored it. NU should have bitten the bullet and recognized a talent evaluation mistake. Even if Vassar considered transferring , a deal is a deal. Athletic scholarships have a lot of percs that may not be available otherwise

Did Vassar honor his side of the deal? There are two sides to every story. I don't believe we've heard NU's version of events... and there's a good chance we never will.

 

[NJCat]

I disagree with WC. If NU offered him a 4 year athletic scholarship, NU should have honored it. NU should have bitten the bullet and recognized a talent evaluation mistake. Even if Vassar considered transferring , a deal is a deal. Athletic scholarships have a lot of percs that may not be available otherwise

I agre with you. Unless there is something JV did which was contrary to the terms of his scholarship, a deal is a deal.

 

[NUCat320]

The issue is that the scholarship included additional benefits available to athletes (early class selection, tutoring, etc.) and couldn't be revoked for purely athletic reasons. I'm not terribly fond of what Vassar did, but this is a scenario where the four-year scholarship construct appears to have backfired.

It's a great learning opportunity for the coaching staff. NU was convinced it found a diamond in the rough in the late signing period, and wanted to fill out the class.

Sometimes, especially with a guy who was ranked as a freshman and therefore known to most programs, it pays not to think you're the smartest recruiter in the room. JV should have never gotten an offer, something I imagine was clear within a few weeks of practice.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

A more recent Ayo update by Corey, with mentions of other prospects: