I am curious about the two new signers.

[pigsknuckle]

from Springdale and I need help from those that follow high school basketball.  Two players are now D1, high level recruits to Arkansas, which is traditionally a top 25 program or better year in and year out.  Over time, it seems to me that a team with a player that is a recruitable athletic to a program like Arkansas would dominate the other high school teams in their state.  Now it seems we have two from Springdale from the same team and if I recall the Springdale team did not win the state championship.  Something does not compute, help me out.  I am not trying to be critical of the players or the team, just curious if there was a major upset or what happened.  It seems odd to me.

[Hogtropolis™]

I know that Har-Ber won the regular season 7A West, but then FS Northside (another member of the 7A West) upset them in the State Championship game.

[chiefsfan]

Forrest city and Marcus Britt didnt win the 6A state title either...Lost to Jonesboro in the championship game, thats basketball

[tolerati]

Well at least they both were in the championship games for their respective leagues. So thats not too bad.

[Smithian]

Northside had a ton of athletes to put against Har-Ber. Har-Ber really didn't have more than Sanchez and Rakestraw while Northside had Paul Henry, Kodi Burns, Matt Jones, and a couple pretty good other players.

[Hawgfan23]

Its very hard for a team to beat another 3 times during the season.  So you know by the 3rd game that the losing team will be prepared. 

[mbgrulz]

i think the theory of having 4 or 5 good players instead of 1 or 2 go to guys won out in this one.
the good news is that rakestraw put up 30 on guys like kodi burns, who if basketball players only played on one side of the ball, he'd be a 5 star defensive prospect.

[The Boar War]

Playing in the state championship seems pretty decent to me.

[jhudson84]

Northside had a ton of athletes to put against Har-Ber. Har-Ber really didn't have more than Sanchez and Rakestraw while Northside had Paul Henry, Kodi Burns, Matt Jones, and a couple pretty good other players.

Its very hard for a team to beat another 3 times during the season.  So you know by the 3rd game that the losing team will be prepared. 

Theres your two answers.

[ColumbianHog]

So, if neither of these teams (springdale har-ber or Forrest City) won the state championship, where do we stand with players on the championship teams?  Do they have as much talent or were they just a better "team"?

[ledhead830]

So, if neither of these teams (springdale har-ber or Forrest City) won the state championship, where do we stand with players on the championship teams?  Do they have as much talent or were they just a better "team"?

Jonesboro had several (and I do mean SEVERAL) good players, but no real stars. The best player is going JUCO (UAFS) because of grades. One is going to ASU, a couple are going to other JUCOs and a junior is committed to ASU.

[jhudson84]

And a sophomore Jonah Calamese will be highly recruited.

[ledhead830]

And a sophomore Jonah Calamese will be highly recruited.

He either needs to bulk up and become more physical or develop a better shot before he becomes a big-time recruit. (the 6-7 frame is nice though)

[coach, my back hurts]

I think this is good post and a legit concern.  One would think that you would want a player that can completely control the outcome of a game in HS.  JoeJohnson did that and Brewer's team was really good.  IMO, the HarBer team should have been better.  Of course the 2 recruits are 3* and not 5* like Johnson and Brewer probably were. 

Overall, i think we got 3 outstanding players.  Good class.  I dont care what they did in HS.  I'm sure Pel doesnt care either.  Whats important is getting these players reading.  Hopefully all 3 will contribute.

Does Sanchez redshirt?  Will be tough to play over 4-5 upperclass big men.  Hill, Hunter, Townes, Thomas.  Washington, but he is a Soph.

[ColumbianHog]

I think this is good post and a legit concern.  One would think that you would want a player that can completely control the outcome of a game in HS.  JoeJohnson did that and Brewer's team was really good.  IMO, the HarBer team should have been better.  Of course the 2 recruits are 3* and not 5* like Johnson and Brewer probably were. 

Overall, i think we got 3 outstanding players.  Good class.  I dont care what they did in HS.  I'm sure Pel doesnt care either.  Whats important is getting these players reading.  Hopefully all 3 will contribute.

Does Sanchez redshirt?  Will be tough to play over 4-5 upperclass big men.  Hill, Hunter, Townes, Thomas.  Washington, but he is a Soph.

If I were coaching I would seriously consider redshirting him.  It makes sense.

[Held Hawgstage]

Who are these two? They are not commitments. It's actually these three:

Mobolaji Ajayi PF   6-9 225 -   Palm Beach, FL
Orane Chin SF  6-7 205 - Miami, FL 3 Stars
Dominique Jones SG  6-4 175 - Lake Wales, FL 3 Stars

Ooops....I'm sorry.....wrong board.

[ColumbianHog]

Who are these two? They are not commitments. It's actually these three:

Mobolaji Ajayi PF   6-9 225 -   Palm Beach, FL
Orane Chin SF  6-7 205 - Miami, FL 3 Stars
Dominique Jones SG  6-4 175 - Lake Wales, FL 3 Stars

Ooops....I'm sorry.....wrong board.

Alright!  More fodder!

Ha ha...I'm guessing these are USF commitments? 

The thing is...those guys weren't on Coach Heath's radar while he was at Arkansas so I'm not sure it's a good comparison.

You move to another school and the whole recruiting base changes.

[Held Hawgstage]

You move to another school and the whole recruiting base changes.

He'll adjust and adapt. He will do great with the in state and out of state recruits. Facilities need to get better but he's in a basketball conference, ESPN, great location, lot's of entertainment, he'll do just fine in the recruiting department.

[ColumbianHog]

You move to another school and the whole recruiting base changes.

He'll adjust and adapt. He will do great with the in state and out of state recruits. Facilities need to get better but he's in a basketball conference, ESPN, great location, lot's of entertainment, he'll do just fine in the recruiting department.

I have no doubt that you're correct. 

I thought you were trying to compare his recruits to our two new signees. 

[jcam61]

You move to another school and the whole recruiting base changes.

He'll adjust and adapt. He will do great with the in state and out of state recruits. Facilities need to get better but he's in a basketball conference, ESPN, great location, lot's of entertainment, he'll do just fine in the recruiting department.

I'm pretty sure noone ever argued with his recruiting.  It was how he used that talent that I always questioned.

[slopinhogs]

i don't think that Heath ever felt he had the right combination on the floor until this year ,and he had a great class lined up but ,but,but ,err ,uh ,you know what i mean. :razorback:

[hogsmaster]

Northside had a ton of athletes to put against Har-Ber. Har-Ber really didn't have more than Sanchez and Rakestraw while Northside had Paul Henry, Kodi Burns, Matt Jones, and a couple pretty good other players.

Matt still eligible at Northside??  LOL

[mbgrulz]

You move to another school and the whole recruiting base changes.

He'll adjust and adapt. He will do great with the in state and out of state recruits. Facilities need to get better but he's in a basketball conference, ESPN, great location, lot's of entertainment, he'll do just fine in the recruiting department.

I'm pretty sure noone ever argued with his recruiting.  It was how he used that talent that I always questioned.

yep. he brought in a pretty good amount of athletes, but nobody will ever say that stan got the most out of what he had. he was mediocre at best as a basketball coach.

[Smithian]

Northside had a ton of athletes to put against Har-Ber. Har-Ber really didn't have more than Sanchez and Rakestraw while Northside had Paul Henry, Kodi Burns, Matt Jones, and a couple pretty good other players.

Matt still eligible at Northside??  LOL

Just incase you're not joking...

There was a pretty good football and BBall player this year also named Matt Jones at NHS.

[wholehog92]

Northside had a ton of athletes to put against Har-Ber. Har-Ber really didn't have more than Sanchez and Rakestraw while Northside had Paul Henry, Kodi Burns, Matt Jones, and a couple pretty good other players.

Matt still eligible at Northside??  LOL

Just incase you're not joking...

There was a pretty good football and BBall player this year also named Matt Jones at NHS.

Well it worked once,l why not try it again right!

[stan the man]

Another example is in football with Kodi Burns at Northside.  He was never vey impressive in the games that I followed and look where he ended up at.  We sometimes never can what  an athlete is capable of until he gets to college under usually better coaching.

[ColumbianHog]

Another example is in football with Kodi Burns at Northside.  He was never vey impressive in the games that I followed and look where he ended up at.  We sometimes never can what  an athlete is capable of until he gets to college under usually better coaching.

We still don't know what Kodi Burns is capable of at the college level.  We may not know until 2008 or later.