Bill Self, Galindo and Another New Recruit for '05

[RDF]

First off, Bill Self has to be going through one of the oddest offseasons known to any coach coming off an Elite 8 Appearance. He loses 3 kids to transfer, only to have one come back to KU. Of the two transfers, one is understandable in Omar Wilkes, but the other was a starter in David Padgett. As many have mentioned Padgett got minutes but not the "touches" he wanted. Well, Self is involved with 3 kids to fill 1/2 spots. As many have mentioned Malik Hairston is deciding today and that could influence Alex Galindo's decision, then again, it might not mean squat.

Galindo is a player that recently scheduled a visit to GU. Why would he do this if he didn't have legitimate interest? When you factor in that many of his AAU teammates are going to be playing in the Big East, maybe he wants a situation where he can play near his friends/family in New Jersey? Afterall, he opened things up after choosing UTEP over Kansas and other bigger names before. Maybe he sees an opportunity at GU to make his own mark instead of coming off the bench to be a role player at KU?? Who knows and I certainly won't believe anything that Clark Francis says until I hear it from more reputable sources. He's the same guy who said he saw the FICTICIOUS "Ivan Renko" play and has said Dajuan Wagner and TJ Ford were better players than Allen Iverson. While Ford is good, he's not Iverson and Wagner who Francis insisted would be better, is more like his father Milt, and former Camden, NJ bust Kevin Walls than AI.

Finally, Hoyas have offered Staten Island, NY Point Guard Kyle McAleran a ship. He's currently visiting NC State and has many teams on his list. He's a tremendous shooter averaging 35 ppg and had 104 3pters on the season. He's also known as a player that "MAKES HIS TEAMMATES BETTER" and we all know that GU can't get enough of these guys to turn things around!

Anxious to see what comes of the Galindo recruitment and he may very well go to Kansas, but I'm holding out hope even if Malik Hairston chooses elsewhere. I'm also loving that we're seeing an update on recruits each day and more names popping up than amount of times Esh did "FIST/DOUBLE FIST" during a game or opposing teams' fast breaks.

[hoyarooter]

If this kid comes, hopefully he won't be another tremendous shooter who acquires "Georgetown disease,", i.e., the sudden inability to put a round ball through a hoop.

Personally, I hope Hairston goes to UCLA and Galindo comes to GU. Best of both worlds!

[doublehoya]

Great info. Thanks RDF. I'd love to get both of these guys.

I'll add my voice to the chior singing the praises of JTIII -- it is clear that he is working his tail off and is very motivated to return the Hoyas to prominence. The wave of optimism that has swept over this board is refreshing!

Now let's sign some of these guys!

[rccoleon]

self only lost 2 players this offseason as one of the players that originally stated he was transfering, decided to return. CJ Giles is a virtual lock to sign with the Jayhawks, as his dad played for KU and CJ was just released from his letter of intent. harriston would be a huge land, as he is a top 10 player.

there is usually turnover after a coaching change. padgett obviously came as a huge shock, and his reasons still baffle me. but self has done what Roy Williams could not do recruiting wise at Kansas. Roy would have one good recruiting class and then the following year have an average one. Self in his first year matched Roys stellar class by signing 3 top 50 players and there is still room for more. Also Roy claimed he could not recruit on the east coast to Kansas. Self signed Russell Robinson from NYC and Kahn who is origionally from Serbia but plays now in florida. so i would not worry about self's recruiting or coaching abilities.

[HoyaNJ5]

rccoleon said:

self only lost 2 players this offseason as one of the players that originally stated he was transfering, decided to return. CE Giles is a virtual lock to sign with the Jayhawks, as his dad played for KU and CE was just released from his letter of intent. harriston would be a huge land, as he is a top 10 player.

there is usually turnover after a coaching change. padgett obviously came as a huge shock, and his reasons still baffle me. but self has done what Roy Williams could not do recruiting wise at Kansas. Roy would have one good recruiting class and then the following year have an average one. Self in his first year matched Roys stellar class by signing 3 top 50 players and there is still room for more. Also Roy claimed he could not recruit on the east coast to Kansas. Self signed Russell Robinson from NYC and Kahn who is origionally from Serbia but plays now in florida. so i would not worry about self's recruiting or coaching abilities.

In all fairness to Roy, it wasn't really Self that got Russell Robinson. As many know, Norm Roberts has amazing NYC connections, and he has been the one who has pulled east coast recruits for Self. The reason Villaneuva was originally going to Illinois was because of Roberts, and the reason Russell Robinson is going to Kansas is also because of Norm Roberts. Let's see how well Self recruits without Norm first.

[rccoleon]

robinson was not the only top 50 point guard recruit that kansas could have landed. self's style is to offer to many players and the first one to accept gets the scholly. the other two PG's that kansas could have had (cant remember their names) ended up at connecticut and north carolina if i believe. self is a great recruiter and danny manning has stepped up and will likely replace roberts as the top assistant.

[jackdog74]

Anybody hear anything on Malik Hairston. He's supposed to announce any moment now. They had a guy on the local Ann Arbor sports talk station who said that his gut told him that Malik was probably going to go to U-M. I would assume that would not help us in our pursuit of Galindo.

[jerseyhoya34]

Galindo is the big news item for this upcoming week. He is currently visiting Kansas who is awaiting the decision of Malik Hairston, a talented player from Michigan who has taken an awfully long time to decide where he wants to play ball. Hairston is a SG, while Galindo seems to be more of a tweener.

However, rumors are circulating that Galindo has not been offered by KU, and the lack of offer may cast a cloud over his visit IMO, opening the door for Hoyas in the coming week. KU again is still after Hairston and is looking to snake Giles who recently received a release from Miami as a result of their firing of Perry Clark.

I hope my "take" on this is correct, as we could use Galindo in the two spot to fill a need that exists due to the graduation of Riley.

[hoyabinx]

Since this is my first year following the recruiting trail I am a bit curious as to how good these recruits are. How do Green, Galindo, and Hibbert compare to recent players like Riley, Sweetney, and Freeman when they were recuited?

How good is this class compared to recent years?

[jerseyhoya34]

No idea, as I am fairly new to this as well. Some have said, however, that if we get Galindo, this class will be our best class since AI.

[nychoya3]

That's something we have to determine after we see these guys on the court. In 1999, the Wes Wilson, Lee Scruggs, Demetrius Hunter class was looking pretty sweet. And that didn't exactly work out so great.

If we get Green on campus, I'd say this looks to be the best class in the last few years. If we get Galindo (which is a longshot), then it will certainly be the most hyped class since 1999, and possibly since AI.

[RaleighHoya]

Why do you call it a longshot? I mean, he is making a decision soon and we are the alst school he is looking at. I am not trying to say it is a done deal, but I would not refer to it as a longshot.

[nychoya3]

Fair enough. But there are 4 schools involved, we're the late comer, and I think you'd have to say, from the outside looking in, that we're the least likely school.

Kansas is Kansas. Rutgers has been on him forever. And Pitt is a now an elite program. It obviously depends on what he's looking for, but not really knowing that, I wouldn't give us a better than 25% chance, and probably a bit worse than that.

[RDF]

nychoya3 said:

Fair enough. But there are 4 schools involved, we're the late comer, and I think you'd have to say, from the outside looking in, that we're the least likely school.

Kansas is Kansas. Rutgers has been on him forever. And Pitt is a now an elite program. It obviously depends on what he's looking for, but not really knowing that, I wouldn't give us a better than 25% chance, and probably a bit worse than that.

Well, Pitt is out of scholarships, so they are out. It's down to Kansas, Rutgers, and GU. While that is still tough competition, I think it's obvious he is more than open because Rutgers was the heavy favorite after his visit there and he's elected to take two more--to Kansas and the GU. Galindo has stated he wants to play and Kansas is pitching "We've got minutes to fill behind Keith Langford and JR Giddens" so I've to to say that if the kid wants playing time--that favors Rutgers and Georgetown. He also was supposed to make a decision after this visit to Kansas and elected to schedule a visit to GU and make decision after that visit. Depending on how the visit goes, it could be huge advantage for GU to be the last school.

More than anything, this is a player who isn't afraid to blaze his own trail--remember he initially selected UTEP over heavy interest from major schools and only asked for a release because the coach Billy Gillespie is now at Texas A&M. So I think GU has as much of a shot as anyone in this race and if he has a good visit I think we can "steal" him.

[RaleighHoya]

Not to mention that there are conflicting reports as to if Kansas has even offered.