Kruger confirms Jarion Henry going Juco next year

[OUHoops]

Per Guerin Emig on twitter:

Lon Kruger confirms Jerion Henry will be at JUCO next year. Explains need for second signee in late recruiting period.

https://twitter.com/#!/GuerinEmig

 

[ouboomer]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

think all signs were pointing in that direction the past couple of days, hopefully he does well in JUCO and gets to OU one day....

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

Now we know. I'm sure the OU staff has known for sometime. Sure hope they find a couple of recruits who can contribute right away. We don't just need bodies, we need players who can score, rebound and defend.

My confidence level that any of those things will come from this year's group is at an all-time low right now. Oh, I how would like to be proven wrong!

 

[skyvue]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

My confidence level that any of those things will come from this year's group is at an all-time low right now. Oh, I how would like to be proven wrong!

I hear you. I'm so sick of underachievers, bad apples, and guys who don't take care of business off the court that I'm all for pulling Henry's scholly. I'm tired of these guys who can't make it to Norman. It's just not that hard, and if it actually is that hard for Henry -- if he's genuinely trying, but failing in the classroom -- he doesn't belong at OU.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think OU desperately needs two Juco players that can contribute. If the high school kid from the east coast signs, I won't complain but OU really needs a couple of Juco kids. I would love to get a shooter and the big guy from Arizona (or another big guy). The year after next is going to be tough and OU needs kids that know how to practice and play in games.

 

[Sawyer]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

I hear you. I'm so sick of underachievers, bad apples, and guys who don't take care of business off the court that I'm all for pulling Henry's scholly. I'm tired of these guys who can't make it to Norman. It's just not that hard, and if it actually is that hard for Henry -- if he's genuinely trying, but failing in the classroom -- he doesn't belong at OU.

Let's be honest... TONS of guys on D1 scholarships probably don't belong.

If he's sincere about wanting to play at OU and does the work from here on out to make that happen, I don't see how pulling the scholarship benefits anyone.

 

[61sooner]

Just another "Smoke Patterson" I'm afraid. Will never see the court at OU.

 

[skyvue]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

If he's sincere about wanting to play at OU and does the work from here on out to make that happen, I don't see how pulling the scholarship benefits anyone.

I'm sick to death of waiting on guys. He knew he wanted to play D-1 ball, so he should have busted his ass to get his academics in line. And if he's incapable of that, fair enough -- that's no knock on him. But if so, I don't want him at OU. No hard feelings, but let's move on. He's said to be something of a project on the court, too (I don't know, I've not seen him play), so what, we're going to wait a year for him to make it to Norman and then patiently wait another year for him to get coached up?

It's astonishing what a long line of half-wits, bad apples, and one-dimensional players we been stuck with for three years. I don't want to add to their ranks.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

if he's incapable of that, fair enough -- that's no knock on him.

It kind of is. In my opinion going to college is not that difficult. Granted my perspective is a bit skewed because academics are easy for me whereas dunking a basketball is impossible for me but I believe virtually any kid that wants to go to college can make it happen

 

[Sawyer]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

I'm sick to death of waiting on guys. He knew he wanted to play D-1 ball, so he should have busted his ass to get his academics in line. And if he's incapable of that, fair enough -- that's no knock on him. But if so, I don't want him at OU. No hard feelings, but let's move on. He's said to be something of a project on the court, too (I don't know, I've not seen him play), so what, we're going to wait a year for him to make it to Norman and then patiently wait another year for him to get coached up?

It's astonishing what a long line of half-wits, bad apples, and one-dimensional players we been stuck with for three years. I don't want to add to their ranks.

It's not always a player's fault if he doesn't qualify. Some receive bad advice.

Others make mistakes as 14-15 year old kids that hamstring them later. Yes, technically his fault, but does making a mistake as a 14 year old make him a bad person unworthy of a second chance? I don't think so.

I'm sure Kruger's been aware of his academic situation this whole time. Wasn't he originally a 2011 kid who had to reclassify? They had to have known the risk was there.

OU's benefitted from several junior college players before, and you'll have plenty in the future. They're not all bad people.

 

[skyvue]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

It kind of is. In my opinion going to college is not that difficult. Granted my perspective is a bit skewed because academics are easy for me whereas dunking a basketball is impossible for me but I believe virtually any kid that wants to go to college can make it happen

Well, there are people who just aren't that smart, in classroom terms, but plenty of people make their way just fine in the world who didn't make good grades.

I was mostly trying not to be too harsh on the kid. He might just be a not terribly gifted student, and if so, he doesn't need me ragging on him about it. There are A students and D students (and everything in between), and that's just the way of the world. If a guy's doing his best and still failing in the classroom, he doesn't need some fifty-something clown (me) hammering away at his computer and calling him on the carpet. He's doing his best; it's all he can do.

But if he's got what it takes, academically, and is just dropping the ball as regards his studies, I have little sympathy for him and no interest in having him come to Norman.

 

[skyvue]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

It's not always a player's fault if he doesn't qualify. Some receive bad advice.

Others make mistakes as 14-15 year old kids that hamstring them later. Yes, technically his fault, but does making a mistake as a 14 year old make him a bad person unworthy of a second chance? I don't think so.

I'm sure Kruger's been aware of his academic situation this whole time. Wasn't he originally a 2011 kid who had to reclassify? They had to have known the risk was there.

OU's benefitted from several junior college players before, and you'll have plenty in the future. They're not all bad people.

He was supposed to be at UNM this season, but he had to go the prep school route. Then he was to be at OU this fall, but now he's going to juco.

Sorry, but those sounds like current problems, not ones that date back to his freshman year in high school. And I suspect that Coach Kruger's surprised by, and not a bit pleased about, these developments. I can't believe he thought, "Hmm. The guy's game needs works, and he's likely not to make it to Norman till 2013, three years after his senior year in high school. Sign him up!"

The guy's going to be 21 before he sets foots in Norman. I don't want to wait that long.

I don't wish him ill -- I'm just sick of us playing babysitter to these guys. I want to see our program represented by young men who are solid citizens, solid students and solid, well rounded players, even if they're not all-world talents. Let's just start there. That would be a huge improvement over the past few years.

 

[Sawyer]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

It kind of is. In my opinion going to college is not that difficult. Granted my perspective is a bit skewed because academics are easy for me whereas dunking a basketball is impossible for me but I believe virtually any kid that wants to go to college can make it happen

I used to be a high school teacher. I know a kid who always tried hard. Her parents were very involved. She wanted to go to college and did what she thought she needed to to do get there.

Then she took the ACT. She got a 12.

She ended up going to a junior college. It takes more than good intentions to make a four-year school a reality.

 

[Sawyer]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

He was supposed to be at UNM this season, but he had to go the prep school route. Then he was to be at OU this fall, but now he's going to juco.

Sorry, but those sounds like current problems, not ones that date back to his freshman year in high school. And I suspect that Coach Kruger's surprised by, and not a bit pleased about, these developments. I can't believe he thought, "Hmm. The guy's game needs works, and he's likely not to make it to Norman till 2013, three years after his senior year in high school. Sign him up!"

The guy's going to be 21 before he sets foots in Norman. I don't want to wait that long.

I don't wish him ill -- I'm just sick of us playing babysitter to these guys. I want to see our program represented by young men who are solid citizens, solid students and solid, well rounded players, even if they're not all-world talents. Let's just start there. That would be a huge improvement over the past few years.

Education is cumulative. If he basically took his freshman year off academically, that could very well prevent him from qualifying later on.

His choice to attend a prep school this year suggests it was an ACT issue and not relating to his core credits (I don't believe a kid can improve his core GPA at a prep school once he's graduated from high school). Someone struggling with the ACT could be dealing with problems that began years before. Someone with early setbacks can't just undo years of being behind academically with a couple ACT prep courses.

He clearly should've just gone the juco route straight out of high school. He got bad advice on the prep decision, and was probably getting bad advice the entire time.

 

[tycat947]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

He was supposed to be at UNM this season, but he had to go the prep school route. Then he was to be at OU this fall, but now he's going to juco.

Sorry, but those sounds like current problems, not ones that date back to his freshman year in high school. And I suspect that Coach Kruger's surprised by, and not a bit pleased about, these developments. I can't believe he thought, "Hmm. The guy's game needs works, and he's likely not to make it to Norman till 2013, three years after his senior year in high school. Sign him up!"

The guy's going to be 21 before he sets foots in Norman. I don't want to wait that long.

I don't wish him ill -- I'm just sick of us playing babysitter to these guys. I want to see our program represented by young men who are solid citizens, solid students and solid, well rounded players, even if they're not all-world talents. Let's just start there. That would be a huge improvement over the past few years.

Great post! I had doubts after not being able to qualify at UNM and then coming here and now not qualifying. He's also not playing basketball so that's going to potentially create problems after not playing for so long. This is a situation where there's a substantial risk that Henry doesn't meet his, Lon's or fans expectations on the basketball court. So, probably better that he's headed to JC and Lon can further evaluate Jarion and if he doesn't meet expectations on the court and/or in the classroom he won't be part of our program IMO.

I wish the best for Jarion and hope all gets straightened out and he becomes a star at OU and is a success academically. But if I were betting this happens, the odds wouldn't be good.

I totally agree that we need the well-rounded student athlete, even though they may not be as talented athletically. I have confidence, with Lon's experience as a coach, that this will work out the way it should.

 

[skyvue]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

Education is cumulative. If he basically took his freshman year off academically, that could very well prevent him from qualifying later on.

His choice to attend a prep school this year suggests it was an ACT issue and not relating to his core credits (I don't believe a kid can improve his core GPA at a prep school once he's graduated from high school). Someone struggling with the ACT could be dealing with problems that began years before. Someone with early setbacks can't just undo years of being behind academically with a couple ACT prep courses.

He clearly should've just gone the juco route straight out of high school. He got bad advice on the prep decision, and was probably getting bad advice the entire time.

All good and fair points, but we're not in a position to be throwing guys this a lifeline. Not right now. Let us get back over .500, then above 20 wins, and back in the Dance, and then we can think about occasionally taking a chance on a guy like Henry.

But not right now, not with the lousy stretch we're mired in. The program can't afford it, and I can't take it.

 

[Sawyer]

Re: Kruger confirms Henry to Juco next year

Don't you have quite a few scholarships opening up by the time he'll be done with junior college?

If Kruger went after him expecting him to be in Norman next year and didn't make any contingency plans in case he failed to qualify, IMO that's on Kruger. The red flags were already there.

 

[campbest]

After hanging out with Skeeter at a Norman watering hole a few years back, not too surprised his son is having trouble getting his academics in order. Hope Jarion is able to turn things around.

 

[vbdad]

He needed another core class for the NCAA. He took a class at one of these pseudo schools and the NCAA decided it didn't count as a core class. Therefore he had to go to JUCO. The plan is for him to graduate in December after taking a full load this spring, summer and fall. Very ambitious plan and hopefully he will pull it off.

He has been attending all of OU's home games this spring. He is tall and lanky.