Yes, I do recall. Pearl was certainly the program changer for us as I remember Al McGuire and Pearl's announcement quite vividly. Shortly thereafter, we were on our way to being a national program. However, I was much younger back then and generally didn't pay too much attention to the recruitment hoopla, usually just reading who committed/signed with SU in the Post or Herald. Of course back then there also wasn't any internet, social media, etc.
I appreciate the history lesson in why recruits may pick and choose other programs, although, I've been around the block a time or two myself...
I didn't intend for my previous note to come across as condescending--sorry!
I think the bottom line is: we don't generally chase the type of recruits who are true top of the class headliner types very often. We have in the past, and we've done a pretty good job landing some of those guys [DC, Pearl, Wallace, Owens, etc.]. We've made our bread and butter around highy rated guys who aren't necessarily top 10 caliber recruits, but still highly rated guys who are great system fits [Anthony [at least initially], Autry, Thompson, MCW, Waiters, Ennis, Pace, Joseph, Hart, etc.], blending them with slighly under-recruited guys who are much better than their rating [Grant, Triche, CJ, Rick], and sprinkling in some darkhorse recruits who have the tools to thrive in our system and are MUCH better than what the prognosticators project [Warrick, Moten, Wes, Southerland, Rautins, Douglas].
Every once in awhile, we swing for the fences and go after a stud. But that isn't our wheelhouse. We are more apt to go for a team of 8-10 high quality players and one stud-caliber recruit, then we are to emulate UK, Duke, or UNC and look to stockpile the bench with McD's top 10 caliber recruits.
I know, I know--there will be some who say that this formula is changing, and point to the recent spate of early entrants in recent years. I do think our recruiting has improved of late; the issue [my opinion only] is that while we're getting guys who are good enough to jump to the NBA early, they aren't trancendent talents who can get us to the next level as function of their athletic skill. Anthony was that caliber of player. So was Owens. So was Wallace.
Conversely, McCullough was not. Nor was Ennis [although he was pretty darn good] or Fab, etc. We're getting highly rated guys--some of whom are garnering McD's all american accolades--but they are on the lower end of that scale, and not capable of putting the team on their backs and getting us to the next level the way that the players from the previous paragraph could and did.
We've also had some back luck. This year's team would have been exponentially better [again, my opinion only] if Ennis had returned to quarterback, and Joseph had been his apprecentice intstead of starting. Imagine if Grant hadn't jumped early. Or if McCullough didn't jump early this year, and came back for year 2. We're not getting the value you'd expect from some of these high major recruits we're landing in terms of their impact on the program--and I readily grant that this is frustrating.
That said, prior to last year, we are coming off an amazing five year run. So maybe we're just spoiled.
