Kruger's Recruiting

[D Rock]

We all know that Coach K is good with x's and o's. Has your opinion changed regarding his recruiting with our recent commits?

 

[garyeb2]

We all know that Coach K is good with x's and o's. Has your opinion changed regarding his recruiting with our recent commits?

I don't know about the recent commits. I haven't seen them play. But, Woodard, Buddy, and Spangler look like pretty good recruits to me. Hornbeak has already proven that he is a solid contributor at the Big 12 level. M'Baye did his part on a use full team last season. I'm convinced that we haven't seen the best of players like Cousins, Bennett, and Booker. I'm of the opinion that Kruger is an expert at evaluating talent and has done a good job of bringing in players from season one.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I like the players he has brought in. He knows the kind of players that he needs for his system.

Even Booker who has a rep as a shooter is more athletic than I expected.

Kruger left Self final four talent when he left Illinois.

 

[MNsooner]

The proof is in the pudding. It seems to me that in only his second year Kruger has a team made up of guys he recruited (Cam & Neal being the exceptions) that can compete with major conference competition and push for an NCAA tournament.

 

[WaymanFan]

I liken Lon Kruger to a better coaching version of Al Skinner. The latter would always finish near the bottom of recruiting rankings, but his 2/3-star players would find their way to the NBA. He was a great evaluator of talent. Coach Kruger also fits that category. I have a great feeling this 2014 recruiting class will get us back into the top 25 on an annual basis, much like Coach Sampson did following his third recruiting class.

Coach Kruger will never been known as someone who will land McDonald's All-Americans. However, let's get something straight. His recruiting budget at OU is far bigger than anywhere he has previously coached. That should allow him to sign the Bufords and Lattins of the world on a regular basis.

 

[bgrch1350]

Grooms, Avila, Hamilton, Elliot, Bennett, and Arent. Time for Kruger to stay away from the Juco kids.

 

[pnkranger]

Bennett and Grooms will be the only two from that group to pan out. You might have a point.

 

[BigTime]

Grooms, Avila, Hamilton, Elliot, Bennett, and Arent. Time for Kruger to stay away from the Juco kids.

What's wrong with Grooms and Bennett?

That said, I generally agree. Get high school kids and D1 transfers.

 

[bocabull]

What can you say? His system has always been predicated on guard play and his first real class was Hield, Cousins & Hornbeak. He follows that up with Woodard & Booker. They all compliment one another.

Then we're thin as paper inside and his 3rd class he has 3 high school big guys who appear to be right in the mold rankings wise of Hield, Hornbeak & Cousins. He could not have filled our needs any better other than landing even higher rated guys.

He's quickly recruited players that fit into a program that appears to be head for cruise control. WT called this over a year ago. Some of us wanted to see it come together before believing. It's come together.

 

[BigTime]

The 4 star guys like Buford (60-something in ESPN) and Lattin are going to be like burger boys to Kruger. They will likely stay 4 years.

Sprinkle in transfers and the occasional local star that decides to stay home ala Blake and we can be fine.

 

[atlantasooner]

Bigtime,
completely agree. OU is not going to get college ready Bigs like Randle. But if Kruger can continue to sign the bigs in the next grouping who need time in college to develop physically then OU will be fine.
I'll be honest Lattin and Buford over previous verbal Hammond is a big time no contest.
McNeace is more of a stretch, but no more than Epke Udoh was out of HS.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

... I'll be honest Lattin and Buford over previous verbal Hammond is a big time no contest. McNeace is more of a stretch, but no more than Epke Udoh was out of HS.

Good point. Sometimes things work out for the best.

 

[DenverSooner]

I don't know about the recent commits. I haven't seen them play. But, Woodard, Buddy, and Spangler look like pretty good recruits to me. Hornbeak has already proven that he is a solid contributor at the Big 12 level. M'Baye did his part on a use full team last season. I'm convinced that we haven't seen the best of players like Cousins, Bennett, and Booker. I'm of the opinion that Kruger is an expert at evaluating talent and has done a good job of bringing in players from season one.

Grooms also did a very good job given the trimming and situation. I don't see how you complain about his recruiting

 

[garyeb2]

Grooms also did a very good job given the trimming and situation. I don't see how you complain about his recruiting

I wasn't complaining about Grooms. But, the reality is that Grooms was a Capel recruit. When Kruger got here in the spring he was told Capel had been working a JC point guard that might be worth following up on. Kruger did a good job of holding Grooms together and bringing him in. He was a definite upgrade over Blair.

 

[DenverSooner]

I wasn't complaining about Grooms. But, the reality is that Grooms was a Capel recruit. When Kruger got here in the spring he was told Capel had been working a JC point guard that might be worth following up on. Kruger did a good job of holding Grooms together and bringing him in. He was a definite upgrade over Blair.

I agrree but Kruger backed off on some of the other Capel recruits and signed Grooms. I think it was a good decision. When I said his recruiting I meant Kruger. I think it has been solid

 

[NickZepp]

I don't care about ratings. But the freshman guard class from last year alone that all ended up contributing and showing promise was enough for me. And it looks like they've all pretty much improved some. Getting Spangler is also a big time get. He looks like he can do it all as a big guy. Woodard had a solid game also even with the bad start. His players are playing well that's really all that matters. We aren't seeing his guys leave early like we did almost from day one under Capel.

 

[WaymanFan]

We aren't seeing his guys leave early like we did almost from day one under Capel.

We can be happy that Coach Kruger's recruiting radar is pointing north. However, let's not get started on coaches losing players because it happens to all of them. We just lost somebody this week. We lost Calvin Newell a couple of years back and that likely cost us a winning record. We've had guys sign LOI but not make it on campus, etc, etc. Again, lots of reasons to appreciate Coach Kruger, but we need to keep it real.

 

[NickZepp]

I agree losing players still happens sometimes, it's apart of Basketball. But go through Capel's classes and the rate of attrition was the main reason we got so bad. The best players never stayed more than 2 years or even one year for some. The remaining Sampson recruits were the 2nd biggest reason we had a team that made the Tourney run. Take those guys out and how many of Capel's players stayed more than 1 year or two years?

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Bottom Line: The OU basketball program is clearly better now than it was prior to the arrival of Lon Kruger.

> Coach Kruger runs a clean program.
> The overall roster talent level is improving.
> Players are showing improvement.
> The team is fun to watch.
> Recruiting appears to be solid.
> The team looks like it is well coached.
> There is reason to believe the future is bright.

Regarding the original question about recruiting, I am pleased with the incoming 2014 class. It seems to me that the addition of high school post players and an athletic wing is exactly what is needed (at this time) to improve the roster going forward.

Regarding the question: "Has your opinion changed regarding his recruiting with our recent commits?"

How can one really answer this, given that recruiting information is so nebulous. The older I get, the less "excited" I get about any individual recruit, until I see them on the basketball court with my own eyes.

For example, based on some "expert opinions" or "recruiting gurus" last year, one could surmise that Frank Booker was a "stiff" with limited athleticism. Now that I have seen Booker with my own eyes, he is a better recruit that I expected. The kid can play.

I am happy with Coach Kruger and the direction of the OU basketball program.

 

[Postman77]

I don't care about ratings. But the freshman guard class from last year alone that all ended up contributing and showing promise was enough for me. And it looks like they've all pretty much improved some. Getting Spangler is also a big time get. He looks like he can do it all as a big guy. Woodard had a solid game also even with the bad start. His players are playing well that's really all that matters. We aren't seeing his guys leave early like we did almost from day one under Capel.

Not sure how you categorize Woodard as having a "bad start!" Freshman guard, playing opposite two very talented guards, has 7 helpers, plays poised and clutch in final 4 minutes beyond his years? What more can you want? He had a tough shooting night, but I liked all of his attempts.