courtside

Talent at Boys To Men: 10 Division I prospects April 14, 2006 BY TAYLOR BELL While he was coaching for eight years at Julian, Loren Jackson always was excited when colleges recruited his best players -- Lance Williams, Watari Marsh, Demario Eddins, Brandon Ewing, Watra Banks, T.J. Gray, Jason McKinnon, Lorenzo Eckford, Ousmane Barro and Sean Dockery. But his experience at Julian was never like this, not the way it is after his first season at Boys To Men Academy, a South Side prep school that boasts at least 10 Division I prospects. "The word is out that we have a nationally known program and people want to schedule us,'' Jackson said. "We accomplished a lot in one year. A lot of players got better, athletically and academically.'' Jackson left Julian and founded Boys To Men last year. One reason was he felt too many inner-city youngsters weren't being prepared academically for college and were losing scholarship opportunities. His first team finished 33-9 and won the National Christian Invitational Tournament in Erie, Pa. Next season, Boys To Men will play teams in Florida, California, Georgia and Mississippi. It also will participate in a new conference, the Midwest Prep Conference, with teams from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. It also will compete in national tournaments in Boone, N.C., and Dayton, Ohio, and host some events at a new site. Here is a rundown on Boys To Men's prospects: Thijin Moses: The 6-7 senior from Canada is being recruited by DePaul, Bradley, Cincinnati, Toledo, Fairfield and Wisconsin-Green Bay. If he were in high school, he would rank among the top 100 players in the nation, according to recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. Xavier Crawford: The 7-foot senior from Durham, N.C., is committed to Bradley. "He has tremendous upside. His best basketball is in front of him,'' Jackson said. Manuel Cass: The 6-7 senior from Carbondale likely will attend The Winchendon School in Massachusetts next fall. But Cass, who led Carbondale to second place in the 2005 Class AA tournament, then dropped out of school because of personal issues, said he will honor his earlier commitment to DePaul. Jackson said that despite a published quote to the contrary, Cass is not reclassifying because of poor academics. "He's doing very well,'' Jackson said. "Manny is 17 years old and wants to work on his perimeter skills and improving his grades.'' Darion Anderson: The 6-2 senior guard from Carver is committed to Northern Illinois. Mac Koshwal: The 6-9 junior from Canada, who ranks among the top 25 prospects in the nation, has attracted interest from Illinois, DePaul, Marquette, Michigan and Miami (Fla.). He averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds last season. Gibbons predicts he will be one of the most widely recruited players in the country after the spring and summer evaluation period. Craig Brackins: The 6-10 junior forward from California, who has three-point shooting range, is being recruited by DePaul, Washington, California, Washington State and Iowa State. Michael Glover: The 6-6, 210-pound junior from Bronx, N.Y., lists DePaul, St. John's, Providence and Rutgers on his shopping list. Michael Tuitt: The 6-4 junior guard from Bronx, N.Y., is being recruited by Manhattan, Hofstra, Fairfield and Mid-American Conference schools. Marcus Relphorde: The 6-6 reclassified junior from Homewood-Flossmoor, who attended Millersburg (Ky.) Military Academy last year, has attracted interest from DePaul, California, Washington and Big East schools. Jeremiah Kelly: The 6-foot sophomore point guard from Julian has been offered a scholarship by Northern Iowa and also is being recruited by Virginia Tech and Xavier.

Some samples....Chicago's is $95 million, Colorado $130 million, L.A. $150 million....Utah proposing $60 million....Columbus hs probably the cheapest one. Dallas $80 million. It depends on what else the complex will contain etc..and how big. Most of the stadiums are in the 20-25k seat range, with dozens of youth fields and otehr thing going on.....concerts etc... St. Louis would be looking at one more in its medium city expense range south of 100m I would imagine.

The MLS team would temprorarily play somewhere else, but in order for St. Louis or anybody ele to get a team, they would need to have plans for a new stadium. People are way too focused on where they would play for 1-2 seasons which in long haul matters less. Skip,....soccer specific stadiums vary. Columbus was about the range you say, but it is bare bones....important for being first one, but not what future ones will be. Now people are building the soccer stadiums with dozens of youth fields and other multipurpose stuff around it....Dallas was $80 million. L.A.....which has many many other things too, tennis stadium and other sports etc...was well into the 100's....nobody else will hit that range. I would think 75m....would be more like it. If St. Louis gets a team they building a new soccer specific stadium, or they won't be getting a new team. Checketss is in process of getting one done in Utah. Kroneke's in going up in Denever, Hunt partially funded Dallas' complex. etc...the days of hadning out teams to cities who do not have plans for near future soccer stadiums are over. St. Louis wouldn't be in the final two if all of these topics hadn't been discussed a long time ago.

Theoretically....if you are not a good team or strong program, you recruit the best players possible regardless of position. When you establish more than that you start recruiting more for need, and even then if a great opportunity comes along you adjust. As for offering players...ignoring the above players....very few programs can only offer a small amount of players for spots on their teams....SLU and other similar schools and even much stronger programs, have to offer many more people than they would like....as the program builds, you can lower than # a little bit....but it also depends on whom you are offering....it is a tough business ....recruiting...how many people you offer and whom.....the amount is usually much much mroe people than spots available. I am not commenting on any of the above posts...and specifics...

See my post in the other thread. While I often don't agree with some of the negativity here, they can say what they like. I do know that there needs to be a lot of improvements with production, ...and also the games need to be more of an event and not just a game of soccer if you want to draw more fans and students. That is not needed for me, but it would be naive to think otherwise. I personally believe there is a lot to do. If you need ideas or supports you can always pm me. I certaily hope you have a strong relationship with some of those people or are building one....etc....and listen to some of the better ideas being thrown out there. etc...

Nick Walls is a great example....of expectations. He was very ordinary his first 3 seasons at SLU and had a terrific senior season. I highly doubt Patterson comes anywhere near Walls' speed unless he had a dramatic transformation. I saw Walls play home and road games, a lot...and he really parlayed his senior season into MLS project stuff with Chicago Fire and elsewhere. His biggest asset was his speed. There aren't very many recruits who come in as Frosh and dominate. It just doesn't happen often. Ibisevic etc...are exceptions. There is an adjustment period where good recruits get playing time and expereince and imporve the following season. None of the back line players mentioned have enough speed for my defensive tastes...Benne's best season was his Frosh year so far. Guffey needs to be dramatically improved as does Gasparovic etc...for SLU to be anything more than ordinary in back. I look for people like Ream to immediately get time in back over some veteran players.....Aranda will get time early etc....when you don't lose much and miss NCAA's....newcomers will get chances to get time....the hope is that they can adjust early...and that some of the returning players step up their game....Grazier, Hemzagic etc....for SLU to make a run at NCAA berth. I am not expecting Holmes to make a big impact at all in year one. ...if he gets off of the bench...SLU needs highly creative people around him for him to succeed. Because finishers are needed, he will get every opportunity early. I'll just take a return visit to NCAA this season.....then perhaps down the road worry about actually winning a game or two in it. I think it is good for Disbennett to get pushed in goal for time. This year's recruiting class is very solid for SLU. And yes they go after the best possible players each year. The pressure is on DD, and he knows it. ...comes down to getting results early again...as usual...have to get early season reults at IU and SCU tourneys....and winning league and conf tourney...no slips ups...the A-10 is not a respected soccer league...gotta win it...outright and conf title and mix in some early season results if SLU wants any post-season games at home.

If you stop by Scout or any of the Marquette boards, apparently this writer is "the devil."....a hack that is wrong 100% of the time and hates Marquette and Crean etc....so I am not sure how much stock I would put in this writer. Not sure. ....if it came from somewhere else I would be more comfortable with the information. One kid even posted on their forum a direct exchange with this writer and it was pretty scary. Who knows?

Yes my bad about the Dukies...but prior to that SLU was playing more ACC teams ...Wake Forest, Clemson, UVA etc...

thx. The SEC doesn't field men's soccer teams and neither does the Big 12. ...only women. SLU plays IU and SMU every year in a home and home series....so when SLU plays in one of their tourneys or one of those team's plays in a SLU tourney, SLU avoids playing IU or SMU in tourney play to get an extra game against an extra opponent. This is second year in a row no ACC teams on schedule if that is the case. UConn is Donigan's alma mater, and a great soocer school, as is Sanata Clara.

I would make sure your group has strong relations with LEvick and staff as priority one. Build relationships with Danny Donigan and Mike sorber as well. Contact some people at IU, Uconn etc...Sam's Army and see why there soccer cheering sections are successful. Have a designated area at games for your group and have good signage. Have merchandise for sale at games and SLU bookstore. Have a website readily available where people can go to get more info...and have this website available at games and all over campus, as to who and what your group is.... Aggressively seek better production of games themselves from Levick and company..... sound....there should be non-stop pre-game, during game, half-time, post game of combo of band playing, and music piped in for fans and players. Cross marketing with other SLU sports teams, hoops of course but not just hoops. Reward fans for attending more games. Not just big ones. I would make your BIG level ideas or presence at a big game or two...i.e. IU etc...where they wil be huge crowds and much more visibilty for you and your group to maximize exposure and repeat business. The Athletic Dept needs better and more promotions.....your group would be well served to work with student govt and other organziations at school for visibility, for signage...to attract fans. Attempt to attract multiple types of fans....the frat dudes, the bookworms...etc....most games are Fri night and Sun afternoon....merely a pit stop on the frat drinking train...or nice way to get out for a couple hours from 7:30pm-9:30pm on a Fri night or Sun afternoon. Sell the quality of the level of play. Sell the tradition, distant past, but also recent past where more younger folks can relate as well. Both.....lots of former national championships...and lots of current ex Billikens playing professionally. Get the hoops fans to come to games......a natural. ASK ASK ASK for more more more from Levick and staff, and everyone else.... Don't exclude anyone who wants to be involved. Pre-game/post-game events...concerts, tailgating etc....the game itself has to be a two hour can't miss event regardless of opponent. Work with those people above constantly. And don't be afraid to input ideas and ask for more with them. Those would be a few to start.

I said on the other board I would try to find out more about St. Louis efforts for MLS expansion team. This is from a good source but they stressed to me that it is not 100% guaranteed info, so take it for what it is worth....but I am hearing Hunt Sports Group, as in Lamar Hunt who owns 3 MLS teams, and the KC Chiefs. Hunt is huge soccer booster as many know for decades. He put KC Wizards up for sale in 2004 and they still sit up for sale. St. Louis would be getting expansion team, not the Wizards. Hunt also owns Columbus Crew and Dallas Burn, and Hunt's group....sports and capital group provided much of the fiunding for the gorgeous new soccer stadium in Dallas...part of reasons he was allotted the team. I have no other specific info other than to say I have heard that Hunt's group has some sort of involvement ...minor or major...don't know. Is Hunt Sports Group, which is part of Hunt Capital....etc...merely an adviser or active participant, I don't know. Will Checketts be involved? etc...don't know. I do know that MLS commissioner Garber announced recently that in next 60 days an expansion team for 2008 will be announced and it will either be in Cleveland or St. Louis. So combo of Stan Kroenke, Lamar Hunt, Dave Checketts, all owners of MLS teams and new stadiums for soccer....would get a lot done for STL. ....also...on SLU's website yet another soccer recuit article from the kid from Texas.

Macon isn't ready yet.

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Stsoccer, I just typed out a list of stuff and accidentally erased it when posting....I will post something shortly/soon for ya with thoughts.

Also up on the school website....is another recruiting article link here. Note: The Pateadores has long been a top national club soccer team....interestingly enough, former STL high school and college star Kevin Grimes,(Rosary, SMU) the fine 7 year head coach at Cal is a former head coach for The Pateadores club team when he formerly played professionally in that area. http://slubillikens.cstv.com/sports/m-socc.../040606aaa.html

Just a terrible stroy from this morning/last night http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=2400335

Be patient...less than two weeks to go.

For giggles only. ...not wasting any time are they. ESPN also has its pre-season top 25....X and GW were in "others to watch" area. Lunardi has 2 A-10 teams in his first installment...the above two teams. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

If you are asking me if I attended SLU,...have degree form SLU etc...answer is yes....(and other places advanced degress)....I have been fortunate in life to have lived many many places after attending SLU and having had grown up in St. Louis. My personal and professional life....college and pro sports included have taken me to many places and people. I am not better or worse than anyone else on here..and prefer to just be like anyone else on here. Apparently because I don't rip on Marquette I am a big fan according to your logic. or that I don't hold some sort of conference or jesuit grudge or something. SLU and Marquette are both great schools with similar academics etc....Boston College and Georgetown are also great schools too, and I would be happy to discuss them if only more people would bring them up. In fact for overall experience they would rate higher to me than the first two mentioned...doesn't mean there aren't a lot of great people at SLU and Marquette, and that those great people wouldn't do well at those other places etc.... Do I root for SLU any less or think SLU any less no. Do I think SLU has a lot of wonderful things, sure, and also areas of improvement....and depending on the goal, or comparison, some areas more than others. I usually try not to cheerlead on this board. I don't find it my purpose or role here. I don't think any less of the people who do it however. Sometimes I get caught up on it but try not too...now at games etc...that is a different story. This is a message board. You isolate Marquette because they get mentioned more than the other examples of above...and naturally so. I think it is more of me not having a problem with them, and you having one with them....so maybe you should take it up with B-Law, or perhaps some administrative folks at Marquette. I know a few, just as I do at SLU and a LOT of other places. Have a better day.

As I have said before I post what I know....and say when I don't. I do not know if Stemler will attend SLU. I asked Roy his experiences on the topic due to what he has posted. And also....asked others in the industry that I know. My understanding is that SLU and Marquette are only a couple of people in the mix. I am aware that Ball State's point guard is transferring to Marquette and that presumably leaves Marquette with one scholarship left for next year. My guess would be that it goes to a "big" for them and not Stemler, but that is merely an eductaed guess, that by no means may end up happening. It really wouldn't surprise me either way. Al recruits are important to teams. Obviously for whatever reasons, Crean didn't want to pass up on Acker who came up unexpectedly. ....their direction will either be a power forward, or shooter.....will Crean take which one commits first? does he have preference of one need over another...is Stemler a top choice or fall back...only Tom Crean knows that right now. I do know some people in this business at the collegiate level and pro level based on my own life expereince. so, when I have any info I post it, and that is how I post. So the above is what I know on this particluar subject...which isn't as much as maybe some other ones that might be brought up, or more than another. etc... Depends on what it is....... If I obtain any further information before anyone else...which I don't anticipate but could hapen, I'll post it....just as I would be interested in the same from soneone else. There are enough trolls, rose-colored glassses folks, haters....negative people out there....on this board. I'll discuss any topic or team objectively as it pertains to this board or SLU. If you don't like it, you can always ignore posts, or threads etc....

Not exactly sure where you are coming from....maybe you are having a bad day....maybe you are new to the board....that is fine. No offense to B-Law, but I am not him. I am objective when it comes to SLU or any other team. This isn't a "rooting" board for me. I do that at games and in front of tv. Occasionally my rooting for SLU does come out in posts. But I try to keep everything objective. For example, I also grew up going to games at Mizzou and rooting for Mizzou as well....but you'd be hard pressed to find many folks on this board who affiliate me with the Tigers or hate because of that. Because I am objective with SLU or anyone else. I do try to also lend a profile and support to SLU soccer and other things SLU because I think it can only add value and publicity for those folks when obviously as it should be most of the topics are on SLU hoops. I come to this board to learn information(it actaually happens once in a while)....get a feel for a very small portion of SLU hoops community, for entertainment, and to provide an info I can due to who and what I know based on life expereinces in professional and collegiate athletics. ...and specifically at SLU. If you have a personal problem with me that I don't know about, I'd be happy to take it to another forum, pm, e-mail, or wherever to not waste the time of others on this board. We get enough trolls.

>If your story is correct, Brad has been given a 2nd chance >here and needs to take advantage of it. I don't >particularly care why a player chooses SLU (depsite the >constant condescending will get from the B-Laws and >Courtsides of the world) I just care that he'd be wearing >blue and white. Get it done. LOL...You have got to be kidding me. Do you even read this board? Unsolicited flame with zero knowledge, becoming sadly all too common here. Objectivity and accountability come with interest, support(since Luther Burden kid) and encouragement. etc....

And I will repeat, SLU is far from the only school with this problem. It is a long line.

I am sure a few hundred schools are saying the same thing. EVERY college team fights for "Bigs" .....tough to find.

Today's NY Times has a piece on Ryan Hollins. If I can find the link I will post it.