Latavious Williams '09

[RDF]

Look, I realize Hoyas haven't had the type of year we've wanted to see--but let's face it. You can play in Big East or play in Romper Room League known as C-USA. The main difference between Georgetown and Memphis is not being able to know you will be in NCAA's due to the league you play in. Well that and fact your Head Coach doesn't have to recruit--he's got a Pimp who goes out and gets players and Fed Ex pays for them and mansion they all live in.

[harwoodhoya]

Is Elliot Williams from Duke gonna transfer. That would make sencse why he is starting. Also Memphis is a real dirty program and I know from experience. But they are not the only ones. Memphis is a real succesful program playing in a weak league so we should not have a hard time recruiting kids to our league. When is the last time you have seen a marquee Con USA game?

[idhoya]

back when Cincy was in there and played Memphis.

[tpk3]

rumors of elliot williams transferring--we'll see what happens. but ALOT of rumors of transfers happen during the season. who knows? maybe nolan tries to transfer again, wall goes to memphis, and duke loses out on smith/bledsoe. i hear Wall to Memphis is essentially a done deal. evans is gone. memphis would still have one schollie left and they are looking at latavious. but they are also looking at other options. GTOWN/JT3 showing latavious more love. better conference, better competition, and more opportunity to make stronger impact. again, we'll see what happens. the next couple of months will be real interesting.

[hoyaboya]

I hope JT III uses the playing time card as much as possible with this guy. Especially if he thinks Monroe and/or Summers will declare.

For those mocking Memphis' recruiting, you must not have been paying much attention lately. I don't care how they do it, they get the job done. Plenty of 1st rounders have come through that program in the last few years, including last year's #1 and a probably lottery pick this season (Evans). Calipari is very difficult to beat from a recruiting standpoint. That said, I think Cousins to Memphis helps us with Latavious.

[HometownHoya]

Mar 9, 2009 13:10:21 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

I hope JT III uses the playing time card as much as possible with this guy. Especially if he thinks Monroe and/or Summers will declare.

For those mocking Memphis' recruiting, you must not have been paying much attention lately. I don't care how they do it, they get the job done. Plenty of 1st rounders have come through that program in the last few years, including last year's #1 and a probably lottery pick this season (Evans). Calipari is very difficult to beat from a recruiting standpoint. That said, I think Cousins to Memphis helps us with Latavious.

You must mean that WWW is very difficult to beat for recruiting. But you do bring up a good point that Cal has brought turned those players into fairly effective teams (even if they don't get much good competition in league play) and has been able to get his players drafted high. (Although, j/w I know that WWW has connections w/ shoe companies and sponsorships but how about NBA organizations?)

[idhoya]

Why do you think they're hard to beat? Is it the top-notch conference they play in? Is is the beautiful scenery in Memphis? What about all the national championships they have? Oh wait, its the stellar academics that U of Memphis provides. That's it....Man please.

[hoyaboya]

Go ahead and mock Memphis, idhoya. Which program looks healthier right now? The one that finished 13th in its conference and won't be making the Tournament, despite 3 McD's AAs? Or the one that might get another #1 seed and had the top pick in the draft last year?

Yes, Memphis plays in a crappy conference. Yes, the team has very little history to speak of. But if I'm a top 20 recruit looking to get to the League as fast as possible, Memphis is a very attractive option. They play a great style, score a lot of points and Calipari has strong NBA connections. You can put up huge numbers playing for Memphis.

I really don't think Georgetown fans should be looking down their nose at somebody like Memphis right now, especially when it comes to recruiting top talent.

[guru]

I don't care if we're last place in the Big East, I'd rather be that than Memphis - which Cal has turned into a basketball factory. There are some things that are more important than winning basketball games, despite the histrionics often displayed here. And any school that brings in a Calipari or a Huggins is basically selling its integrity to win a few basketball games. Gtown won't do it, and will proudly look down upon any so-called academic institution that does.

[strummer8526]

So are we gonna get this kid?

[tpk3]

Mar 9, 2009 14:10:53 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

So are we gonna get this kid?

tough to say. i would like to get him qualified first. i think JT3 is putting in alot of effort and that is all you can ask. i get the feeling we are showing the kid more love than the other big players so that is another good sign.

the memphis-GTOWN debate is interesting. Memphis is a hot ticket right now. Calipari plays a style that appeals to these kids. Cal tells kids that Duke, Kansas, Louisville, and maybe NC will be on next year's schedule. That's in addition to continuing series with Tennessee and Gonzaga and a preseason tournament with top teams. so kids are being told they will play the best. Also, Memphis has much better facilities than most schools in BCS conferences (NBA arena and state of the art practice facilities), and one of the top coaches in the country, who has also coached in the NBA.

Now, i'm a GTOWN guy so i will make a few counterpoints.

1. yes, the style is appealing but it is not the style in the league. just ask derrick rose who had to make alot of adjustments to organized basketball. so although it is a good style to showcase an individual's talent it may not be the best style to prepare you for the league.

2. Cal did coach in the NBA.....and then he came right back. see point number 1. tough to be a successful NBA coach when you can't buy players.....they all get paid.

3. Facilities/mansions are fantastic.....but they are paid for. have to always think about the consequences of those payments- like RDF said. Also facilities are a little overblown--kids just want to ball with the best.

4. conference USA is a joke when you compare it to Big East. there's something to be said for a tough conference season with huge rivalry games--that's college basketball. memphis/cal has to go looking for opponents-- he has done a good job but it is an unknown. would you rather play tough games at the beginning/end of the season....or would you want to play tough games all year long?

[harwoodhoya]

Mar 9, 2009 13:33:09 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Go ahead and mock Memphis, idhoya. Which program looks healthier right now? The one that finished 13th in its conference and won't be making the Tournament, despite 3 McD's AAs? Or the one that might get another #1 seed and had the top pick in the draft last year?

Yes, Memphis plays in a crappy conference. Yes, the team has very little history to speak of. But if I'm a top 20 recruit looking to get to the League as fast as possible, Memphis is a very attractive option. They play a great style, score a lot of points and Calipari has strong NBA connections. You can put up huge numbers playing for Memphis.

I really don't think Georgetown fans should be looking down their nose at somebody like Memphis right now, especially when it comes to recruiting top talent.

Please dont make fun of a team thats 13th in the Big East and brag on being 1st in Con USA!

[vcjack]

"Which program looks healthier right now?"

Considering that there is a greater than 0% chance that one of the two programs will eventually have their records erased and be placed under sanctions, this is really a no brainer.

[blueandgray]

We'll see what happens when Memphis plays a top tier team in the tourney...my money says they crack under pressure. If last year's memphis team choked the way it did in the final minutes against Kansas... this year's team has no shot.

To add to Graeagle's list of counterpoints... should a kid stick around and graduate, i think a gu degree carries just a little more wight than one from mu.

[IDenj]

if a team that loses in the final minute of a the title game is considered a choking team, what were the hoyas? what were ALL the other teams in the ncaa last year?

if i was a top recruit i would have to consider memphis as a top program. that have a recent track record and that is what matters to some kids. obviously some kids don t take education as seriously as others and that is their perogative. everyone has their own path to choose; choosing the hoya path, to me, makes more sense in the big picture. some don t see it that way.

that said lets get this williams kid. sounds like a good fit.

[royski]

Wouldn't really call that a choke job...it was a freshman who struggles with free throws being asked to ice away a national title game. And if Chalmers doesn't make that gorgeous 3, it's not even a conversation anyway.

All that said, Georgetown is in Washington DC and Memphis is in Memphis. This should be mentioned to Latavious ad nauseum.

[SirSaxa]

Man is this board desperate for some good news!??!!??!?!

OK, I admit I am too.

Latavious! Sounds like a great name.
Join the Hoyas!

[harwoodhoya]

We are having one bad season relax. Memphis is in a better state now butnext year we will see specially if we get everyone back.

[RBHoya]

Mar 9, 2009 21:12:53 GMT -5 SirSaxa said:

Latavious! Sounds like a great name.

A new "Tay", perhaps?

[hoyarooter]

Hopefully an upgrade on the old Tay.