If I ramble here, blame it on the Stoli and OJ.
Many of you will remember Cuonzo somehow getting 5 star Jaylen Brown to leave Atlanta to attend Cal-Berkeley. Stunned many. One and done, 3rd overall pick, currently starts for the Celtics. I’d like to see him spend more time here working this area because this area is bursting at the seams with BB talent and I think he can do that again.
I’m lucky/unlucky enough to coach on a staff in a Atlanta 7A region that has produced some unreal talent the last three years. Pebblebrook: Jared Harper-Auburn, Collin Sexton-Alabama , Derrick Ogbeide-UGA; Westlake: Chuma Okeke-Auburn; Norcross: Rayshaun Hammonds-UGA, Lance Thomas-Louisville; Wheeler: Jaylen Brown-Cal, Jordan Tucker-Duke, Jordan Usher-USC. Wheeler has an unreal 5 star 7 footer this year, EJ Montgomery. One region, three years.
There are several more ATL region and GA athletes on Auburn and UA, so many great programs and regions.
It’s been a treat to compete against these guys, but the unlucky part is they have been kicking our ass regularly.
The point: Auburn and UA we know are football schools, and have struggled to build winning programs. They turned it around by first of all hiring good recruiting coaches, but also by hitting the Atlanta area HARD. When is the last time you saw Auburn and UA ranked Top 25 in the same season and it’s not football? Tonight take a look at how many guys on this Auburn team are from ATL/GA.
People know there is talent here, and they are hitting it hard. But Cuonzo has a track record here. People don’t forget success like that. It’s SEC country. The local school UGA does not inspire basketball players, never heard one parent, coach, or player EVER mention it as a basketball destination. I was shocked Hammonds went there. Mizzou is actually (once was?) a basketball school. 1hr 30 min flight, but yes the drive is a bit stiff.
I’d like this to be Coach Martin’s “Detroit”. A region outside your locality where you pull big time AND under recruited players to add to your solid local classes.
Let’s say Coach can dominate STL, COMO, recruiting, and continue to do well in KC. Dominate east side recruiting and establish a presence in Chicago. If he can pull from this ATL area, as well as others less focused on, which he has shown he can do, MIZZOU hoops can get to unprecedented territory.
If you lasted this long does this make any sense? I’m thinking big picture for this program folks, like IMAX big picture.
If this is nonsense please blame the Stoli and not your boy.
Many of you will remember Cuonzo somehow getting 5 star Jaylen Brown to leave Atlanta to attend Cal-Berkeley. Stunned many. One and done, 3rd overall pick, currently starts for the Celtics. I’d like to see him spend more time here working this area because this area is bursting at the seams with BB talent and I think he can do that again.
I’m lucky/unlucky enough to coach on a staff in a Atlanta 7A region that has produced some unreal talent the last three years. Pebblebrook: Jared Harper-Auburn, Collin Sexton-Alabama , Derrick Ogbeide-UGA; Westlake: Chuma Okeke-Auburn; Norcross: Rayshaun Hammonds-UGA, Lance Thomas-Louisville; Wheeler: Jaylen Brown-Cal, Jordan Tucker-Duke, Jordan Usher-USC. Wheeler has an unreal 5 star 7 footer this year, EJ Montgomery. One region, three years.
There are several more ATL region and GA athletes on Auburn and UA, so many great programs and regions.
It’s been a treat to compete against these guys, but the unlucky part is they have been kicking our ass regularly.
The point: Auburn and UA we know are football schools, and have struggled to build winning programs. They turned it around by first of all hiring good recruiting coaches, but also by hitting the Atlanta area HARD. When is the last time you saw Auburn and UA ranked Top 25 in the same season and it’s not football? Tonight take a look at how many guys on this Auburn team are from ATL/GA.
People know there is talent here, and they are hitting it hard. But Cuonzo has a track record here. People don’t forget success like that. It’s SEC country. The local school UGA does not inspire basketball players, never heard one parent, coach, or player EVER mention it as a basketball destination. I was shocked Hammonds went there. Mizzou is actually (once was?) a basketball school. 1hr 30 min flight, but yes the drive is a bit stiff.
I’d like this to be Coach Martin’s “Detroit”. A region outside your locality where you pull big time AND under recruited players to add to your solid local classes.
Let’s say Coach can dominate STL, COMO, recruiting, and continue to do well in KC. Dominate east side recruiting and establish a presence in Chicago. If he can pull from this ATL area, as well as others less focused on, which he has shown he can do, MIZZOU hoops can get to unprecedented territory.
If you lasted this long does this make any sense? I’m thinking big picture for this program folks, like IMAX big picture.
If this is nonsense please blame the Stoli and not your boy.