First open practice...

[KBaden145]

...at 2 pm on Monday. I'll be there.


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[BigTime]

...at 2 pm on Monday. I'll be there.


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Nice! Hoping for any and all practice reports from OUHoops.comers

 

[Capel's Mustache]

Will we know anything about Buford tomorrow? If he is in street clothes does that mean anything? Do you guys think because it's the first official day of hoops that Lon will address it/issue a press release?

 

[AltSooner33]

Awesome! Even though the season is still over a month away it feels good to kind of get this thing started and get some real news going. Season can't get here fast enough! Hope we get some good luck with the Thomas and Buford news, but it's not looking that way. I'm really looking forward to the reports from you guys that can make it though, I'd love to make it to these if at all possible.

 

[KBaden145]

Thomas will definitely be there practicing. I don't know the rules as far as Buford's availability in practice if the reports are true (I trust the sources). I would think we'd hear something soon on Buford. Who knows on Thomas but I'm pretty confident he'll be cleared.


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[AdaSooner]

Hale has now confirmed what more than one reliable source on this board reported earlier. Buford will have to redshirt this season because a couple of classes he took at Arlington County Day were not accepted by the NCAA. None of it was Dante's fault, but he will have to suffer the consequences of a screw up at his old high school. The good news, if there is such a thing in a situation like this, is that he will still have four years to play. It is also my understanding that he will be allowed to practice with the team, but it seems to be clear that he will not play this season.

Thus, unless something changes between now and the start of the season, one of the players we were counting on to contribute will not be available. That makes the Thomas appeal even more important, so let's hope for some good news on that ruling.

 

[skyvue]

I'm all for stringent academic standards but how was it this problem wasn't discovered sooner, so that Buford might have made up for it--in summer school, say?

There ought to be some kind of NCAA-approved workaround solution when it's not the student's fault -- perhaps the student takes the classes he's missing in his freshman year at OU.

I know others have voiced the opinion -- and I have, too, in the past -- but the idea of high school students bouncing from school to school and sometimes from state to state (chasing, what, a different coach or better teammates?) stinks. Get your butt enrolled in your neighborhood public school (or your private school of choice, if your family can afford it) and stay there. Work hard on your academics and your game, have a little fun, and prepare yourself for college.

 

[MisterF]

It's clear. NCAA is more concerned with something that is minor and not the kid's fault than dealing with something that is major like AAU and dirt that is going on between NCAA coaches and AAU coaches.

This kid went to college this summer and did great. For the NCAA to pick this battle is craziness.

 

[CoachTalk]

Yeah this is a big blow to a would be starter. Thomas is now a huge piece we need to be able to play.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't see how Thomas is going to be eligible is the other Houston transfer is not eligible. Seems the decision to play this year would be the same for both.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I don't see how Thomas is going to be eligible is the other Houston transfer is not eligible. Seems the decision to play this year would be the same for both.

That would be the logical assumption. However, we are talking about the NCAA so.......

 

[campbest]

I don't see how this is not Buford's fault, he (his family) have just as much blame in this as ACD.

 

[campbest]

I'm all for stringent academic standards but how was it this problem wasn't discovered sooner, so that Buford might have made up for it--in summer school, say?

There ought to be some kind of NCAA-approved workaround solution when it's not the student's fault -- perhaps the student takes the classes he's missing in his freshman year at OU.

I know others have voiced the opinion -- and I have, too, in the past -- but the idea of high school students bouncing from school to school and sometimes from state to state (chasing, what, a different coach or better teammates?) stinks. Get your butt enrolled in your neighborhood public school (or your private school of choice, if your family can afford it) and stay there. Work hard on your academics and your game, have a little fun, and prepare yourself for college.

Believe that everyone has the right to pursue their passion or trade, regardless of the age. If there is a better opportunity at another school for a player, student, whatever...they should go after it. With that said, if they transfer somewhere were academic issues are going to arise, then they need to suffer the consequence.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Believe that everyone has the right to pursue their passion or trade, regardless of the age. If there is a better opportunity at another school for a player, student, whatever...they should go after it. With that said, if they transfer somewhere were academic issues are going to arise, then they need to suffer the consequence.

Schools are supposed to have counselors that insure that the classes that a student fulfill the requirements. If the counselor had done his or her job correctly, this wouldn't have been an issue.

 

[skyvue]

Believe that everyone has the right to pursue their passion or trade, regardless of the age. If there is a better opportunity at another school for a player, student, whatever...they should go after it. With that said, if they transfer somewhere were academic issues are going to arise, then they need to suffer the consequence.

That's fine in theory; in practice, it frequently doesn't work out. And it seems these guys often get bad advice. As much as I love college sports, they've gotten too "big time" for their own good, and high school/AAU sports seem to be following the same path. And nothing good will come of it. There are too many slimeballs looking to make a buck.

Maybe if these prep schools were more strictly regulated, but expecting a 15-year-old kid and his folks to know which schools are academically legit is asking a lot. And why should it be the student who suffers the consequences; why not the school? They seem to get off scot-free. At least they do in your scenario.

 

[j2d2]

I would be absolutely astonished if Thomas were granted a waiver. I'm paranoid when it comes to OU and the national communists against athletes. Additionally, it is easier, simpler and is good CYA strategy to deny, deny , deny.

 

[campbest]

Schools are supposed to have counselors that insure that the classes that a student fulfill the requirements. If the counselor had done his or her job correctly, this wouldn't have been an issue.

You're putting the cart before the horse here...it's not the counselor, it's the school's academic reputation and the family's decision to attend different schools which are the problem.

 

[campbest]

That's fine in theory; in practice, it frequently doesn't work out. And it seems these guys often get bad advice. As much as I love college sports, they've gotten too "big time" for their own good, and high school/AAU sports seem to be following the same path. And nothing good will come of it. There are too many slimeballs looking to make a buck.

Don't disagree on bad advice, it's an issue in the summer circuit.

Maybe if these prep schools were more strictly regulated, but expecting a 15-year-old kid and his folks to know which schools are academically legit is asking a lot.

Please, it's called being a parent and doing some diligence and gathering information. A simple online search provides a good guideline. However, the #1 reason shady prep schools exist is to help athletes find an easy way through coursework...that is the foundation. Whether that's good or bad depends on the individual, but it is a risk, and when it backfires, we shouldn't feel bad for someone when they and their family made the final decision to take the easy way out.

And why should it be the student who suffers the consequences; why not the school? They seem to get off scot-free. At least they do in your scenario.

If kids are not made academically eligible out of HS, the prep school will not be able to continue to bring in "recruits", so yes, they will suffer. Look at Prime Prep in Dallas, it's been a disaster from an eligibility standpoint, now no one wants anything to do with it.

I don't know Buford's exact situation, but assuming it's similar to the 100 others I have seen, maybe it's not. I do not like the NCAA, but to say this whole thing is because their lack of oversight is laughable. Their job isn't to hold everyone's hand to make sure they can complete Algebra I.

 

[skyvue]

Please, it's called being a parent and doing some diligence and gathering information.

And if you're a single parent with two jobs and three other kids?

I didn't say it was up to the NCAA, but someone needs to be overseeing these schools. How many lives need to be impacted negatively before one of these basketball factories get a sufficiently bad rap to scare people off? Quite a few, I'm guessing.

High school, both athletics and academics, shouldn't be this complicated and I'm not sure it should even be legally possible for it to be this complicated. There are far too many places for bad apples to hide, and it's too early in a young person's life to be subjecting them to such exploitation.

 

[DenverSooner]

This sucks. OU had six players with issues in basketball and football and it appears none of them will be allowed to play. OU would be a lot better at football with Mixon, DGB, Shannon and Mayfield. The basketball losses might be even bigger.

the only positive is that if everyone returns on the basketball team, OU will be really good next season.