WKU making a "hard push" for Tremont Waters

[nyhuskies13]

Without even thinking about UConn, it's incredibly disheartening to read that 2014 article

Sad to see the family completely change from appreciating the quality, life changing education offered by an institution like Yale

Fact is, short term cash and prestige rule right now. Place like LSU, who came out of nowhere in this recruitment, may offer benefits that help the family over the next 2years, but that'll never amount to power/network/prestige of an Ivy League education

If he's good enough, an NBA team will take him out of Yale. The league is motivated by talent, not college ccompetition. If he's not good enough, 3yrs at LSU does him no good.

Sad to see a family that doesn't understand that value and that opportunity because they've never had it before

 

[TRest]

Yep, I didn't know anything about the kid and couldn't care less where he ends up if we don't get him, but after reading that article a month ago, the family looks like asshats if they end up at LSU or Western Kentucky.

 

[Chief00]

You can get to the NBA from anywhere, but...

If you say you've been working on this kid on the court and in the classroom since he was five and he ends up at Louisiana State University, you screwed something up.

Even if you have something against UConn, just go back to Georgetown at this point. There is no metric by which LSU is better than Georgetown here. Somebody doesn't know what they're doing.

Agreed.

 

[Rumrunner]

Regarding Yale, it is awfully difficult to get a "likely" letter for a prospective Yale student who took 6 years to graduate high school...

 

[CL82]

My hope is this thread dies rather quickly so we can talk more about pizza

Just go ahead. It's not stopping anyone in other threads.

 

[8893]

"Team Waters" Posts A Winning Record | New Haven Independent

Waters said he recently met with Yale’s basketball coach, an emotional moment when he realized that his efforts to put his son on a path to success were paying off. Yale represents not just athletic success, but access to a network of power and privilege that could open a wealth of new opportunities for Tremont.

“The reason we got involved with sports was to develop character,” Waters said. He and his wife Vanessa Waters (pictured below) weren’t looking only to raise an NBA star, but a successful man. That means getting into college and, if possible, getting a scholarship. “A free degree, that’s been our goal.”

 

[djct1999]

Its simple. It is approaching June, you were sitting on hope that certain offers would come in that never materialized, you misplayed your hand, and contrary to what some posters on here are claiming, you ran out of options. This is a panic move that won't end well. Again, I am certain that the Tremont camp is as shocked as anyone that LSU somehow became the landing spot. This recruitment was a complete disaster from start to finish and it centers arounds Pops disconnect from reality. On paper, Tremont would have been a nice add. In reality, it never would have worked. Can't blame the staff on this one.

 

[8893]

No, I've named schools. You can find it in several of my posts. In fact, if he goes to LSU, he'll go over offers from places like Maryland, which desperately needs him for lack of enough guards.

If what you say is true, in what universe is LSU a better choice than UMD?

 

[Vancat]

Quite frankly, as a casual fan, I am super impressed with name-droppers.

 

[pj]

It's really disturbing that the top players in Connecticut the last few years, with whom the program had long-time connections (e.g. Taliek with Hami), both shunned UConn for inferior alternatives (Hami a semester at Putnam Science followed by a semester of not playing at Kentucky, Tremont for apparently LSU). I hope KO has recognized why he hasn't been able to sell kids on UConn, and fixed the problem.

 

[djct1999]

It's really disturbing that the top players in Connecticut the last few years, with whom the program had long-time connections (e.g. Taliek with Hami), both shunned UConn for inferior alternatives (Hami a semester at Putnam Science followed by a semester of not playing at Kentucky, Tremont for apparently LSU). I hope KO has recognized why he hasn't been able to sell kids on UConn, and fixed the problem.

And how has it worked out for the players? Sometimes it's impossible to compensate for unrealistic expectations and/or demands. One kid never got the early first round guarantee and is forced to expose himself to high level competition and the other had a final list that included Creighton, WKU, and LSU. The staff has issues but these misses aren't part of the core.

 

[KingAG]

It's really disturbing that the top players in Connecticut the last few years, with whom the program had long-time connections (e.g. Taliek with Hami), both shunned UConn for inferior alternatives (Hami a semester at Putnam Science followed by a semester of not playing at Kentucky, Tremont for apparently LSU). I hope KO has recognized why he hasn't been able to sell kids on UConn, and fixed the problem.

UK is not an inferior option

 

[UConnDan97]

It's really disturbing that the top players in Connecticut the last few years, with whom the program had long-time connections (e.g. Taliek with Hami), both shunned UConn for inferior alternatives (Hami a semester at Putnam Science followed by a semester of not playing at Kentucky, Tremont for apparently LSU). I hope KO has recognized why he hasn't been able to sell kids on UConn, and fixed the problem.

Or...

... it could be that they just don't want to be at State U and that there isn't much Ollie can do about it. I know that such an idea is sacrilegious around here, but perhaps it's possible that no sales job would change that. We see it all the time, in every sport. Why does a kid from LA choose to play football in Texas and a kid from Texas choose to go to Alabama and a kid from Alabama go to USC? Maybe because they want to.

Having said all that, it's hard to know what this kid wants. I suspect we'll know in the next few weeks...

 

[TRest]

Or...

... it could be that they just don't want to be at State U and that there isn't much Ollie can do about it. I know that such an idea is sacrilegious around here, but perhaps it's possible that no sales job would change that. We see it all the time, in every sport. Why does a kid from LA choose to play football in Texas and a kid from Texas choose to go to Alabama and a kid from Alabama go to USC? Maybe because they want to.

Having said all that, it's hard to know what this kid wants. I suspect we'll know in the next few weeks...

To take him at his word after he decommitted from Georgetown, he's looking a stable coaching situation. Which we may no longer have.

 

[CTBasketball]

Do not use the "KO can't recruit top CT kids" excuse.

Hami, Waters, and Herron all have had alternative motives other than playing college basketball. In these kids situations money and the quickest path to the league clouds their judgement while selecting a good education. Their views do not align with UConn or KO's, so it's nonsense to keep bringing it up.

 

[imno1]

From what I gather if TW doesn't come here it's because of both a crowed backcourt and coaching stability. His camp feels that if KO doesn't produce next season he may be gone. Now LSU may not be the bb power he was hoping for but it has new exciting coach. Maybe Waters sees an opportunity that many of us don't. Being from New Haven and a "casual" UConn fan I would love to see Tremont here but wherever he goes I hope he has a great career.

 

[Austin316]

We need 3-4 year guards... I don't like that 1 and done garbage unless it's a natty team. TW can learn from the best here.

 

[gtcam]

Do not use the "KO can't recruit top CT kids" excuse.

Hami, Waters, and Herron all have had alternative motives other than playing college basketball. In these kids situations money and the quickest path to the league clouds their judgement while selecting a good education. Their views do not align with UConn or KO's, so it's nonsense to keep bringing it up.

I agree CT BUT some people just can't help but play the blame game on KO for everything

 

[pj]

I know that each of these kids had their idiosyncratic desires which drew them away from UConn, but in the end I think their behavior was self-destructive and didn't succeed in achieving those desires.

Please don't give me "UK is not an inferior option" when the choice is between sitting on the bench at UK and playing at UConn. If you're a player, then UK is an inferior option in that scenario. If TW's camp thinks KO is on the hot seat (which I don't believe) then KO needs to come up with a credible pitch to address that, potentially including getting AD Dave Benedict to speak to TW's dad. Re djct's point, that it hasn't worked out well for the players -- this is exactly my point, they chose inferior options. A good salesman shows a target how he can get what he wants. KO had to show Hami how UConn could get him drafted in 2017 while Kentucky couldn't, or Tremont how he could learn from KO's 13 year NBA career to make the NBA himself.

 

[boog204]

From what I gather if TW doesn't come here it's because of both a crowed backcourt and coaching stability. His camp feels that if KO doesn't produce next season he may be gone.

To me it is that simple. I'm not sure why people continue to ignore the fact that we already have two point guards on our roster that are better than TW right now. A third, in Vital, is coming off a very promising freshmen season and will see minutes. If you want to be the man (rightly or wrong in TWs case), why would you come here to be 2nd or 3rd fiddle to Jalen or Alterique?

On the second point, even the most optimistic KO supporter has to admit that if we are a .500 team again this season, KO may not survive.

This narrative that we are UConn and every CT kid would be honored to play for us is pretty dated, imo...

 

[KingAG]

I know that each of these kids had their peculiarities, and I think their behavior was self-destructive. But please don't give me "UK is not an inferior option" when the choice is between sitting on the bench at UK and playing at UConn. If you're a player, then UK is an inferior option in that scenario. If TW's camp thinks KO is on the hot seat (which I don't believe) then KO needs to come up with a credible pitch to address that, potentially including getting AD Dave Benedict to speak to TW's dad. Re djct's point, that it hasn't worked out well for the players -- this is exactly my point, they chose inferior options. A good salesman shows a target how he can get what he wants. KO had to show Hami how UConn could get him drafted in 2017 while Kentucky couldn't, or Tremont how he could learn from KO's tortuous path to a 13 year NBA career to make the NBA himself.

Not when he almost got drafted just sitting on the bench. Your severely underestimating how much exposure he got just by practicing. The fact that he would have been drafted first rd proves he made the right decision. Now he'll play next yr on a stacked team where his flaws will be hidden. Just attending UK is sadly better for your pro prospects than UConn these days. I bleed blue but it is what it is. Cal has created an NBA factory where practices are freaking combines. It may be hard to admit but that opportunity does not exist in Storrs

 

[pj]

I agree CT BUT some people just can't help but play the blame game on KO for everything

That's not me. I do think KO needs to learn how to sell himself and UConn better.

 

[boog204]

Please don't give me "UK is not an inferior option" when the choice is between sitting on the bench at UK and playing at UConn. If you're a player, then UK is an inferior option in that scenario.

I honestly think not playing at Kentucky was the better option than playing for us this year. I really do. By not playing for them, he is able to practice and get better without getting exposed as someone coming into the lineup mid-season with rust and a lack of knowledge of whatever system we claim to run. Couple that with how bad we were and being part of the season long draft combine at UK is a better option in my opinion.

 

[GetTheFacts]

Sounds like he's going to land at LSU. Can't say I'm surprised.

 

[gtcam]

I know that each of these kids had their idiosyncratic desires which drew them away from UConn, but in the end I think their behavior was self-destructive and didn't succeed in achieving those desires.

Please don't give me "UK is not an inferior option" when the choice is between sitting on the bench at UK and playing at UConn. If you're a player, then UK is an inferior option in that scenario. If TW's camp thinks KO is on the hot seat (which I don't believe) then KO needs to come up with a credible pitch to address that, potentially including getting AD Dave Benedict to speak to TW's dad. Re djct's point, that it hasn't worked out well for the players -- this is exactly my point, they chose inferior options. A good salesman shows a target how he can get what he wants. KO had to show Hami how UConn could get him drafted in 2017 while Kentucky couldn't, or Tremont how he could learn from KO's 13 year NBA career to make the NBA himself.

Agree with nearly all of this except the fact that a UK role player has an advantage over a UConn role player in getting drafted.
Not sure UConn has any advantage over UK draft wise - maybe nearly any other school, but The Squid has that market segment cornered right now. The only advantage is playing time but UK has had a few 20 minute per game guys get great looks from NBA teams

 

[pj]

Not when he almost got drafted just sitting on the bench. Your severely underestimating how much exposure he got just by practicing. The fact that he woukd havr been drafted late first proves he made the right decision. Now he'll play next yr on a stacked team where his flaws will be hidden. Just attending UK is sadly bettet for your pro prospects than UConn thesr days. I bleed blue bit it is what it is. Cal has created an NBA factory where practices are freaking combineses. It may be hard to admit but that opportunity does not exist in Storrs

He wouldn't have been drafted in the first, that is why he dropped out of the draft. If he had played at UConn he would have relieved concerns and made it into the first round. It's just not true that attending UK is better for every player's pro prospects, and if it is then UConn needs to improve its player development. The ability to practice against UK's NBA talent is not itself critical to development; and with NCAA practice time limitations, and the nature of practice, practices can't make up for the opportunity to play in games against players who are really trying to beat you.

 

[gtcam]

I honestly think not playing at Kentucky was the better option than playing for us this year. I really do. By not playing for them, he is able to practice and get better without getting exposed as someone coming into the lineup mid-season with rust and a lack of knowledge of whatever system we claim to run. Couple that with how bad we were and being part of the season long draft combine at UK is a better option in my opinion.

Maybe IF he played for UConn, maybe "how bad we were" wouldn't have been that bad?

 

[KingAG]

That's not me. I do think KO needs to learn how to sell himself and UConn better.

He sold UConn pretty well to Hami. Ppl forget we beat out every major program for him besides UK. Arizona wanted him as well. There is no possible way KO can sell hami that UConn can get him to the league in one yr better than UK with a straight face. KO hasnt done it yet while cal has at least 3 first rd picks every yr

 

[pj]

He sold UConn pretty well to Hami. Ppl forget we beat out every major program for him besides UK. Arizona wanted him as well. There is no possible way KO can sell hami that UConn can get him to the league in one yr better than UK with a straight face. KO hasnt done it yet while cal has at least 3 first rd picks every yr

Now you're coming up with better arguments ... but not ones that a good salesman could not overcome. Calipari gets 3 first round picks every year because he is a great salesman. Hami's situation was the case of an Eskimo deciding whether to buy ice from Calipari or firewood from KO. He chose the ice and it was a mistake on his part, but also a poor selling job on KO's part.

 

[gtcam]

That's not me. I do think KO needs to learn how to sell himself and UConn better.

Not pointing a finger your way
I can't say if he needs to sell it better - sometimes kids get their own mind made up and are influenced in a way that at times, common sense takes a back seat.