Football Commit Still planning on Playing Basketball - Gary Simon, Wins POY

[dahldennsull]

For those of you that follow football recruiting, our DB recruit who signed in February, just got named Florida District player of the year in basketball. He said he wanted to play both sports during his recruitment, and Bob Stoops credited Lon Kruger in helping with his recruitment, so maybe they actually are counting him to come in and offer some guard play?

Now, don't get your hopes up, cause a big worry for football even, is that he will not qualify and has some work to do. Most recent update is that he has done some very good work in the classroom, but it sounded like he had dug quite a hole.

Link : http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/bl...county-girls-and-boys-basketball-teams/13357/

Main Highlights

Player of the Year: G Gary Simon, Sr., Gibbs

Why we picked him: After losing four starters to graduation from last year’s state semifinal team, Simon had to become the leader if the Gladiators wanted to stay atop the county. Simon did his part, averaging 18.4 points, four rebounds and two steals. Thanks to his offensive production, as well as strong defensive play, Gibbs was undefeated against county competition during the regular season. The only thing the Gladiators were unable to do was make another playoff appearance after being upset by Boca Ciega in the district semifinals. Still, Simon was a unanimous selection among coaches as player of the year.

Most impressive accomplishment: Simon led Gibbs to its first Pinellas County Athletic Conference title since 1988. In the championship game against East Lake, Simon had a team-high 18 points, including a 3-pointer early in the second quarter that helped the Gladiators snap out of a seven-minute scoring drought and ignite a comeback.

Did you know? Simon, a two-sport star, wore lucky orange and blue socks for every football and basketball game this season. He said he has two pair and washes them frequently.

What’s next: In February, Simon signed to play football at Oklahoma. He also plans to play basketball with the Sooners. He is working out now and will report to Oklahoma on June 11, three days after graduation.

 

[AdaSooner]

To be honest, I never got my hopes up when he reportedly was told by Coach Stoops that he could play both sports. No football player under Stoops has ever played basketball before. Does anyone really believe that will change?

Sounds like a heck of a player, so maybe he'll start a new trend. It has been done at other schools, just not OU.

 

[Sooner23]

No football player under Stoops has ever played basketball before. Does anyone really believe that will change?

Nope. Stoops bros will "encourage" him to stick with football only.

 

[Ham]

The easiest way to get a player to transfer is to break a promise like that.
Hell, they transfer all the time anyhow...why increase the odds?

Besides that, name a football player under Stoops that had this much basketball game. One thing about a player playing FB and BB (or even baseball), is you have another four months (after football season) where a coach like Lon Kruger has his eye on him. Not only in keeping his nose clean but in staying on top of his school work.

Speaking of baseball...ever heard of Brandon Jones? He played baseball for the Sooners and it inhibited him so much on the FB field, he only spent a half dozen (or so) years in the NFL.

He'll play hoops if he qualifies academically and is good enough. Simple as that.

 

[dahldennsull]

To counter your point Ham, Brandon Jones is about the only player since stoops has been here to play two sports.

And once everyone realized he might be good enough to go pro in football, he quit baseball and focused on football. If they let Gary Simon play bball, but he shows potential, don't expect him all 4 years with the bball squad.

 

[WTSooner]

Are we going to be SO void of talent in the next 2-3 years that we can have a kid come in about a week into January most years, get up to speed, and actually contribute? I doubt it. You hear about stuff like this all the time, but it just doesn't happen. He isn't the first kid that's been told he'd have an opportunity like this.

Not to mention, from a numbers perspective, it may not make sense. If we're carrying a full 13 scholarship players, plus another 3-4 walk-ons, that is a lot of bodies to keep busy during practices. Why add another one that probably doesn't project to play much, if for no other reason, than b/c he'll be playing a different sport for half the season every year?

 

[AdaSooner]

The easiest way to get a player to transfer is to break a promise like that.
Hell, they transfer all the time anyhow...why increase the odds?

Besides that, name a football player under Stoops that had this much basketball game. One thing about a player playing FB and BB (or even baseball), is you have another four months (after football season) where a coach like Lon Kruger has his eye on him. Not only in keeping his nose clean but in staying on top of his school work.

Speaking of baseball...ever heard of Brandon Jones? He played baseball for the Sooners and it inhibited him so much on the FB field, he only spent a half dozen (or so) years in the NFL.

He'll play hoops if he qualifies academically and is good enough. Simple as that.

Adron "Pooh" Tennell and DeMarco Murray are two that come immediately to mind. Tennell was a high-major BB recruit coming out of high school. He averaged better than 28 ppg his senior season. But BB coaches backed off when it was obvious he would focus on football at the next level. I'm reasonably sure that DeMarco Murray was ranked in the top fifty in BB as a high school player.

True, there aren't many. It's also possible that Murray and Tennell weren't as good as this kid. Time will tell if he'll play both sports. But I don't believe his ability to do it will have much to do with the chance he'll get. As Soone23 said, he will be shown the error of his ways when he gets on campus.

 

[campbest]

The easiest way to get a player to transfer is to break a promise like that.
Hell, they transfer all the time anyhow...why increase the odds?

Besides that, name a football player under Stoops that had this much basketball game. One thing about a player playing FB and BB (or even baseball), is you have another four months (after football season) where a coach like Lon Kruger has his eye on him. Not only in keeping his nose clean but in staying on top of his school work.

Speaking of baseball...ever heard of Brandon Jones? He played baseball for the Sooners and it inhibited him so much on the FB field, he only spent a half dozen (or so) years in the NFL.

He'll play hoops if he qualifies academically and is good enough. Simple as that.

No he won't, his name may show up on Soonersports.com, but Simon won't see the LNC floor unless he quits football.

 

[garyeb2]

We have talked about this before. This is the example that I used.

Dean Blevins was dual recruited. And both the football and basketball coaches were at his letter signing. He came to OU on a football ship with the promise he could play both sports.

He did his freshman year and lettered in basketball. Switzer made him choose after the 1st year. He accomplished quite abit in football. But, he was a better basketball player.

 

[BoulderSooner]

The easiest way to get a player to transfer is to break a promise like that.
Hell, they transfer all the time anyhow...why increase the odds?

Besides that, name a football player under Stoops that had this much basketball game. One thing about a player playing FB and BB (or even baseball), is you have another four months (after football season) where a coach like Lon Kruger has his eye on him. Not only in keeping his nose clean but in staying on top of his school work.

Speaking of baseball...ever heard of Brandon Jones? He played baseball for the Sooners and it inhibited him so much on the FB field, he only spent a half dozen (or so) years in the NFL.

He'll play hoops if he qualifies academically and is good enough. Simple as that.

Yes and Brandon jones didn't get to play much football until he quit baseball despite being a freshman baseball starter

 

[NickZepp]

I believe Sam Bradford was on the all-state team in basketball when he was in high school. Not sure how high a basketball prospect he was since he committed to play football real early though.

 

[DenverSooner]

Are we going to be SO void of talent in the next 2-3 years that we can have a kid come in about a week into January most years, get up to speed, and actually contribute? I doubt it. You hear about stuff like this all the time, but it just doesn't happen. He isn't the first kid that's been told he'd have an opportunity like this.

Not to mention, from a numbers perspective, it may not make sense. If we're carrying a full 13 scholarship players, plus another 3-4 walk-ons, that is a lot of bodies to keep busy during practices. Why add another one that probably doesn't project to play much, if for no other reason, than b/c he'll be playing a different sport for half the season every year?

Charlie Ward. If a guy is good enough the basketball team will make it work. I think Peppers at North Carolina did it too. So did a TE at Stanford.

 

[garyeb2]

Are we going to be SO void of talent in the next 2-3 years that we can have a kid come in about a week into January most years, get up to speed, and actually contribute? I doubt it. You hear about stuff like this all the time, but it just doesn't happen. He isn't the first kid that's been told he'd have an opportunity like this.

Not to mention, from a numbers perspective, it may not make sense. If we're carrying a full 13 scholarship players, plus another 3-4 walk-ons, that is a lot of bodies to keep busy during practices. Why add another one that probably doesn't project to play much, if for no other reason, than b/c he'll be playing a different sport for half the season every year?

There is the head coach- 3 full time assistants- 2 graduate assistants- 4 equipment managers (for lack of a better term)- the strength coach- the directer of basketball operations (a former Kruger asst.) the team trainer- and the trainers assistant at practice every day.. The practices are pre-planned and broken into timed segments. All of the players are busy all the time and there is plenty of supervision to keep them busy. You know, kind of like a professionaly run operation.

 

[WTSooner]

There is the head coach- 3 full time assistants- 2 graduate assistants- 4 equipment managers (for lack of a better term)- the strength coach- the directer of basketball operations (a former Kruger asst.) the team trainer- and the trainers assistant at practice every day.. The practices are pre-planned and broken into timed segments. All of the players are busy all the time and there is plenty of supervision to keep them busy. You know, kind of like a professionaly run operation.

Okay?

 

[seniorsooner]

Isn't Simon the one that popped his ACL just days after he signed his LOI?

 

[StatGeek]

no, that was a RB/DB from Texas, can't think of his name right now.

Edit: Daniel Brooks

 

[Ham]

If a guy is good enough the basketball team will make it work.

And vice versa. That was really my only point as well. I don't see the football program ever having been like that under Stoops. I understand some coaches, especially certain types of coaches (read:selfish pricks) like to do that. How many of you actually played dual sports? I did. I got pressure from my football coaches to quit playing baseball. They didn't force me...they just wanted to make it as inconvenient as possible. So yes, Stoops and Co. could make it inconvenient as possible, like burying him on the depth chart.

Stoops mentioned on the radio (with Jim and Al) specifically that Lon Kruger helped recruit him. Was that all for show? Maybe, maybe not. But I am guessing that he'll get the opportunity.

And if you're good enough, they'll play you because that's what it is all about.
My football coaches weren't going to bench me because I spent the spring playing baseball. You know why? Because I was one of the 5 or 6 best players on the entire FB team (my class anyway). Point is...if you're good enough, you'll play. Because that's what coaches want more than anything.

I appreciate the points being made to the contrary. I don't think you guys are crazy or anything of the sort. In fact, you are being pretty sensible. I just think you've got to look at the fact that some guys can actually do it.

Truth is, I don't know how good the guy is at hoops but he can't be all that worse than what we've seen for the last three years.

Also lets remember that WR (name escapes me) that signed as a football player...and ended up quitting football to run track at OU. Did Stoops and Co. try to push him away from track and field because they are 'so' selfish? Or did the kid have ridiculous near-Olympic speed and couldn't be ignored, only to decide that running track was his ambition? In other words, that football signee didn't get squeezed out of his second sport by default. It bugs me I can't remember his name...oh well.

It's all relative to how good the player is at the given sport.

 

[NickZepp]

DeBryan Blanton?

 

[One More Rebound]

Charlie Ward. If a guy is good enough the basketball team will make it work. I think Peppers at North Carolina did it too. So did a TE at Stanford.

Tony Gonzalez did it at Cal too...