Carter having second thoughts?

[OUHoops]

Interesting quotes from his coach.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2010/apr/14/carter-having-second-thoughts/

Junior college point guard Marquise Carter, who verbally committed to Gonzaga last week, appears to be having second thoughts.

“You know, I just saw him about 30 minutes ago and I told him to get his act together,” Gene Bess, who coached Carter at Three Rivers Community College (Poplar Bluff, Mo.), said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t like that. (Gonzaga) is a top 10 program and I don’t think he can beat that. He’s real evasive, real vague and he’s kind of avoiding the coaches here.”

Wednesday was the first day of the spring signing period.

Carter, who didn’t return a phone message, helped Three Rivers to a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Tournament. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds.

“My thinking is once you give your word that’s it, but I don’t have control over him at this point,” Bess said. “At our banquet the other night he was going to Gonzaga, but I don’t know what’s going on now.”

 

[Seymore Cox]

Interesting quotes from his coach.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2010/apr/14/carter-having-second-thoughts/

We need him. If we could bring in him and Washington, it will go a long way in replacing minutes. Right now we have Cade, Clark, Gallon, Pledger, Fitz, and TJ who I think we can all pencil in for minutes. I would like to see OU have 5 more guys who can get minutes every game.

 

[soonertboy824]

We need him. If we could bring in him and Washington, it will go a long way in replacing minutes. Right now we have Cade, Clark, Gallon, Pledger, Fitz, and TJ who I think we can all pencil in for minutes. I would like to see OU have 5 more guys who can get minutes every game.

yeah gallon we may need an eraser

 

[AdaSooner]

Sounds like his coach wants him to pick the Zags. I'm all for keeping your word, but it's not like he has already signed a LOI or enrolled in school. He's having second thoughts because his heart is telling him he should have listened to his brother and picked the Sooners. What is so surprising about that, coach?

 

[El Jefe]

Sounds like his coach wants him to pick the Zags. I'm all for keeping your word, but it's not like he has already signed a LOI or enrolled in school. He's having second thoughts because his heart is telling him he should have listened to his brother and picked the Sooners. What is so surprising about that, coach?

Definately feels like his coach wants him to play for the 'Zags ... not sure if it's for the "word" reason, our turmoil or something else. But Carter can come in and run the show from Day 1 and continue his brother's legacy ... all in a major conference. Gotta be an attractive options.

 

[Shooterms]

Sounds like his coach wants him to pick the Zags. I'm all for keeping your word, but it's not like he has already signed a LOI or enrolled in school. He's having second thoughts because his heart is telling him he should have listened to his brother and picked the Sooners. What is so surprising about that, coach?

There's no shame in breaking your word, when it was given based upon a deception. I really think he was told that Capel was gone, and that is why he committed to the zags.

 

[Section31]

(Gonzaga) is a top 10 program and...

What!?!? This dude needs to put the pipe down. Gonzaga is a well-respected, good program, but "top 10"...I think not.

 

[cvangild]

There's no shame in breaking your word, when it was given based upon a deception. I really think he was told that Capel was gone, and that is why he committed to the zags.

EXACTLY! Think about it..last week there were newspaper reports that were linking Capel to interviewing with Clemson. The reports that proved that to be inaccurate came out after Carter had already committed to Gonzaga...so I can see why he is having second thoughts.

To me it's simple, he needs to visit OU (especially the way he was talking about them early last week) and then make a decision between the two.

It's clear now that Capel isn't going anywhere and he would start from day one at OU, while in all likely hood come off the bench at Gonzaga...simply because they have an experienced PG coming back.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Sounds to me like his coach is a Mizzou fan. I wonder what he would tell Marquise if he'd verballed to OU and was having second thoughts?

Probably something like, "take your time, you haven't signed anything..."

 

[slipperstillfits]

Hey guys,

I have been following your site and updates on Marquise and just wanted to provide a couple from the Gonzaga side of things just to clear up some notions.

First, Gonzaga didn't recruit Marquise and sell him on the fact that Capel is leaving. The coaching staff has lots of respect Capel (hence the home-and-home series). The sell to Marquise was the fact that he would have a chance to come in and compete to start at PG for a team that will be ranked in the Top 10 next season. There were no guarantees of playing time, but when you are a JC transfer, winning is an even more important factor then if you are coming out of high school. No offense to the OU program, but for the next two years, Gonzaga presents a much better chance for winning. It's also important to note that Marquise is from the West Coast, and playing in the WCC would allow for him to play in front of family and friends.

I hope that clears things up a little, and that you guys understand that his recruitment really doesn't have some of the controversy and stuff that has been suggested.

 

[MercedeSooner]

welcome to the board.

how do you know the coaching staff at Gonzaga didnt speak to Marquise negatively about OU, everything about his recruitment in the last 2 weeks speaks of negative recruiting by someone and he did commit to Gonzaga. No offense.

 

[sybarite]

The coach's words tend to speak for themselves. He apparently wants Carter to choose Gonzaga, and he is reacting emotionally to the indecision that Carter is having. This says nothing about Gonzaga or Carter. But, it does say too much about the coach. He is apparently attempting to exert too much influence over a young man's future in a way that is not appropriate. He needs to back off and support Carter, not Gonzaga.

 

[Sam]

Judging by his name I believe he runs the Gonzaga version of OUHoops or something very similar so I believe he does have his sources. Of course the skeptic in me is I doubt the Gonzaga coaching staff would tell any member of the media that there were negatively recruiting kid because it would just look bad. But Gonzaga does seem to have a non sleazy coaching staff from what little I do know about then.

 

[BanjoCharley]

Hey guys,

I have been following your site and updates on Marquise and just wanted to provide a couple from the Gonzaga side of things just to clear up some notions.

First, Gonzaga didn't recruit Marquise and sell him on the fact that Capel is leaving. The coaching staff has lots of respect Capel (hence the home-and-home series). The sell to Marquise was the fact that he would have a chance to come in and compete to start at PG for a team that will be ranked in the Top 10 next season. There were no guarantees of playing time, but when you are a JC transfer, winning is an even more important factor then if you are coming out of high school. No offense to the OU program, but for the next two years, Gonzaga presents a much better chance for winning. It's also important to note that Marquise is from the West Coast, and playing in the WCC would allow for him to play in front of family and friends.

I hope that clears things up a little, and that you guys understand that his recruitment really doesn't have some of the controversy and stuff that has been suggested.

SSF: You have walked into a pitch black hen house from which sounds of several foxes at work have been coming. Currently this board is loaded for bear not foxes, and many on here are carrying baseball bats. Don't be surprised if you have to duck every so often. This is not the normal state of things and our hen house is usually safe and sound for an outsider who comes to talk basketball.

Your post seems reasonable with a little homerism pitched in, no more than we would normally pitch in. Thanks for your post and come back later and lets talk basketball.

Be sure and not make a sound like a fox.

 

[MercedeSooner]

Carter was clearly an OU lean 2 weeks ago. He was supposed to come in to visit this past weekend with an expected OU commitment. 2 days before this visit, out of nowhere, he commits to Gonzaga. 1 week later, after information that Capel at this point isnt going to be fired nor was interviewing for any other jobs, Carter is now considering OU again.

Someone was either feeding him negative information or there was a lack of communication with Carter that got him scared. Probably a combination of both.

 

[El Jefe]

Carter was clearly an OU lean 2 weeks ago. He was supposed to come in to visit this past weekend with an expected OU commitment. 2 days before this visit, out of nowhere, he commits to Gonzaga. 1 week later, after information that Capel at this point isnt going to be fired nor was interviewing for any other jobs, Carter is now considering OU again.

Someone was either feeding him negative information or there was a lack of communication with Carter that got him scared. Probably a combination of both.

This is how I see it. It could just all be coincidence, but we'll probably never know.

 

[slipperstillfits]

Just a quick update....it appears that Carter sent in his LOI to Gonzaga today, although Gonzaga is yet to release a press statement.

Also, I understand this will probably not be the most popular thing to say, but isn't there a chance that the Gonzaga coaching staff just outrecruited an Oklahoma staff that is clearly in transition? It's a fact that Carter's visit to Spokane went great, much better than he expected, and that it is very appealing to play for the biggest show in town. No matter how great Oklahoma basketball is, the football program will likely be the most important thing on campus. In Spokane, Gonzaga is the biggest show in the city. The basketball players are the superstars in the city...and the Spokane community rallies around the school. Combine that with 12 straight NCAA Tournaments, and a loaded team returning next season, and it's easy to see why Gonzaga is attractive for a JC guard.

 

[Tony]

Also, I understand this will probably not be the most popular thing to say, but isn't there a chance that the Gonzaga coaching staff just outrecruited an Oklahoma staff that is clearly in transition?

Yes. That seems a completely reasonable explanation, actually. Forgive us, we are a surly bunch these days, for reasons I'm sure you can figure out (program dying a death more rapid than my avatar and sig).

 

[Seymore Cox]

Just a quick update....it appears that Carter sent in his LOI to Gonzaga today, although Gonzaga is yet to release a press statement.

Also, I understand this will probably not be the most popular thing to say, but isn't there a chance that the Gonzaga coaching staff just outrecruited an Oklahoma staff that is clearly in transition? It's a fact that Carter's visit to Spokane went great, much better than he expected, and that it is very appealing to play for the biggest show in town. No matter how great Oklahoma basketball is, the football program will likely be the most important thing on campus. In Spokane, Gonzaga is the biggest show in the city. The basketball players are the superstars in the city...and the Spokane community rallies around the school. Combine that with 12 straight NCAA Tournaments, and a loaded team returning next season, and it's easy to see why Gonzaga is attractive for a JC guard.

There's no shame in losing out a recruit to Gonzaga. Infact OU lost out on Dimitri Goodson. OU's season will not depend on Carter in my opinion. However we are in need of a pg in a serious way.

 

[MercedeSooner]

There is no shame in losing any recruit to Gonzaga and if that is strictly what happened with Carter it isnt anything special. It will probably happen again in the future, no we re not Kentucky.

Again the basis for what I stated is because of what is going on around Carter's supposed sudden change of heart towards Gonzaga, then maybe back to OU in a weeks span in conjuntion with all the other nonsense going on around our program. In all honesty I dont see why a coach or staff wouldnt tell a recruit to take a step back and look at another program if they were having problems like ours right now and ask themselves if they want to take the risk of stepping into that type of situation.

I just find it funny that you would think any program wouldnt use what is going on around us to their advantage, Gonzaga or whoever else. I sure as heck know OU would.