I don't have to tell you how important the draft is to an NBA franchise. On the magnitude of, "make or break."
Break: Trailblazers. In 1984, they passed on Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie, and in 2007 passed on Kevin Durant for Greg Oden.
Break: Timberwolves: In 2009 they needed a point guard, and had two high draft choices to get him. But at five, they picked Ricky Rubio; at six, Johnny Flynn. Oops! The seventh pick turned out to be Steph Curry.
Make: The Warriors. Of some players fueling their present run, Green was drafted at 35th, Looney at 30th, and Jordan Poole at 28th.
So what? So this: Recruiting is to college basketball what drafting is to pro basketball.
And therein lies the story for our Griz.
DeCuire's first recruit was Michael Oguine. How did that work out? Great! Next--though he had to sit out a redshirt year--Ahmaad Rorie. Also great! Oh, and the next year they brought in Syeed Pridgett. All told, three of the best basketball players in the history of Montana basketball.
But the ensuing years? Not so great. Yes, Timmy Falls was good. Then we recruited Eddie Egun, Kyle Ownes, DCH, Robbie Beasely and Johnny Braggs. Yes, some talent among them all, but certainly not at the level of Oguine-Rorie-Pridgett, and sadly, now all out of the program.
Not to mention our misses among the bigs.
Have we remedied the situation with the off-season changes this year?
Frankly, I'm excited about the potential of the newcomers. Of course, I was excited about the potential of Egan (the legendary story of his recruitment), DCH (freshman of the year in the Big Sky), Beasley (still think the kid is ultra-good), Owens and Braggs.
But as the Blazers and Timberwolves will tell you, you just never know, and neither do we.
Break: Trailblazers. In 1984, they passed on Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie, and in 2007 passed on Kevin Durant for Greg Oden.
Break: Timberwolves: In 2009 they needed a point guard, and had two high draft choices to get him. But at five, they picked Ricky Rubio; at six, Johnny Flynn. Oops! The seventh pick turned out to be Steph Curry.
Make: The Warriors. Of some players fueling their present run, Green was drafted at 35th, Looney at 30th, and Jordan Poole at 28th.
So what? So this: Recruiting is to college basketball what drafting is to pro basketball.
And therein lies the story for our Griz.
DeCuire's first recruit was Michael Oguine. How did that work out? Great! Next--though he had to sit out a redshirt year--Ahmaad Rorie. Also great! Oh, and the next year they brought in Syeed Pridgett. All told, three of the best basketball players in the history of Montana basketball.
But the ensuing years? Not so great. Yes, Timmy Falls was good. Then we recruited Eddie Egun, Kyle Ownes, DCH, Robbie Beasely and Johnny Braggs. Yes, some talent among them all, but certainly not at the level of Oguine-Rorie-Pridgett, and sadly, now all out of the program.
Not to mention our misses among the bigs.
Have we remedied the situation with the off-season changes this year?
Frankly, I'm excited about the potential of the newcomers. Of course, I was excited about the potential of Egan (the legendary story of his recruitment), DCH (freshman of the year in the Big Sky), Beasley (still think the kid is ultra-good), Owens and Braggs.
But as the Blazers and Timberwolves will tell you, you just never know, and neither do we.