Regarding C.J. Cole's scholarship situation.....

[garyeb2]

This conversation makes no sense to me at all. Wasn't CJ Wasington one of those fill in the gap recruits after Capel missed on someone else. Kruger didn't have to recruit Cole.

He could have just let him go on to wherever he was headed. And would have had a year to fill the ship Cole will eventually get. Wasn't it the story that Kruger called him and ask him not to sign with whoever and come to Norman? Wasn't it our staff that dreamed up this scheme to lock him down when they didn't have an available ship?

What makes any of you think that Kruger intentionaly recruited some kid to sit on the end of the bench and wasn't any better than CJ Washington? Especialy when he didn't need to or have to.

By the way this has played out, Why wouldn't people think Cole was a good prospect and more likely to be a solid contributor than not?

 

[CoachTalk]

Kruger had to recruit cole. He is a good prospect for Davidson, not OU. Dont mean to start the Ryan Spangler stuff, but he isnt even close to the player Spangler was his senior year.
Ive seen him play for the last 4 years.

 

[garyeb2]

Kruger had to recruit cole. He is a good prospect for Davidson, not OU. Dont mean to start the Ryan Spangler stuff, but he isnt even close to the player Spangler was his senior year.
Ive seen him play for the last 4 years.

Someone explain to me why Kruger HAD to recruit Cole. He is fullflilling his "obligation" to in-state kids already by recruiting several of them.

No one has imposed any quota on Kruger to recruit small school in state stiffs.

 

[CoachTalk]

Kruger thought he "HAD" to call him from signing with davidson... Did he have to? no, but he would have signed with them... He choose to, bc he wanted him on this team!
There is NO obigation... I dont care if every kids comes the Alaska, Just like Al Davis says... Just win baby win...

 

[OUhoops11]

I don't understand what the problem people have with giving Cole a scholarship. Obviously, he is not getting one for next season. He is a kid who is going to give everything he has every day at practice, embrace the tradition and history of OU basketball as an in-state fan, significantly help the team GPA and APR, no off the court issues, good in the locker room, etc.


You cannot have 13 guys on scholarship who are going to be in the rotation. And Kruger obviously really likes these glue guys. Very few people realize how much Kellen Sampson contributed to the program while a player. I'm not saying this kid is Kellen, but I do believe their effort and pride for OU Basketball did and will contribute significantly in practice and in the classroom. Cole is giving up full scholarships to other solid schools and programs to essentially be a garbage minute player at OU. Further, he is going to spend at least some of his own money to allow Kruger to sign another player next season. Personally, I love that selflessness. That's how teams are built.

 

[WTSooner]

. He is a kid who is going to give everything he has every day at practice, embrace the tradition and history of OU basketball as an in-state fan, significantly help the team GPA and APR, no off the court issues, good in the locker room, etc.


You cannot have 13 guys on scholarship who are going to be in the rotation.

You just nailed it. You get 13 kids that think they should be starting, and we get what we've had the last several years, with people transferring out in mass numbers. That is no way to run a program. There is nothing wrong with filling that 13th scholarship with a good kid that can compete in practice, and will accept his role.

 

[OUhoops11]

You just nailed it. You get 13 kids that think they should be starting, and we get what we've had the last several years, with people transferring out in mass numbers. That is no way to run a program. There is nothing wrong with filling that 13th scholarship with a good kid that can compete in practice, and will accept his role.

Exactly. Every player on the team has a role. Very few actually understand that role and accept it. Everyone wants to be the starter averaging 20 a game, especially in this day in age. And when they aren't, they pout and quit. Cole is accepting his role, and what's more, he's sacrificing his own financial well-being to further the success of OU basketball. I have nothing but great respect for players like him. Heck, give him two scholarships for all I care. Very proud to have you as a Sooner, CJ.

 

[campbest]

My problem was the timing.

 

[AdaSooner]

I don't understand what the problem people have with giving Cole a scholarship. Obviously, he is not getting one for next season. He is a kid who is going to give everything he has every day at practice, embrace the tradition and history of OU basketball as an in-state fan, significantly help the team GPA and APR, no off the court issues, good in the locker room, etc.


You cannot have 13 guys on scholarship who are going to be in the rotation. And Kruger obviously really likes these glue guys. Very few people realize how much Kellen Sampson contributed to the program while a player. I'm not saying this kid is Kellen, but I do believe their effort and pride for OU Basketball did and will contribute significantly in practice and in the classroom. Cole is giving up full scholarships to other solid schools and programs to essentially be a garbage minute player at OU. Further, he is going to spend at least some of his own money to allow Kruger to sign another player next season. Personally, I love that selflessness. That's how teams are built.

Well said, OUhoops11!

Fans tend to overlook the intangibles kids like Cole, Sampson, Franklin and Gerber bring to the team. I have said for some time that in a day when the team GPA matters, it can't possibly hurt to give that 13 scholarship to kids who make good grades and who are also quality young men in their personal life, not to mention their contribution to the team and the program in numerous other ways. If they turn out to be players who can help the team on the court, that's a bonus. It's not like we're giving Cole a valuable scholarship, while ignoring the team's basic needs to make OU competitive.

 

[WTSooner]

My problem was the timing.

He is a 2012 kid. Even though he isn't getting a scholarship in 2012, if we wanted him at OU we had to make a deal with him now. We couldn't offer him later, he'd have signed elsewhere already.

 

[cowboysooner]

If you are grouping Cole with Franklin, Gerber etc, you haven't seen the kid play and are underestimating him. He is being recuited because the coaches think the kid can and will ultimately contribute. And, they may be right. He is not being recruited as filler or for gpa. Kid is averaging, in poor competition albeit, almost 30pt/20rbs. He is big, tough, can jump, and has skill. Is he OU good, well, I don't know. But, then we won't know that about any freshman until they have gotten to OU, processed for a year or two, and they have played a little.

I hope he turns out to be a superstar, although I don't have a prediction one way or the other. If not, and he turns out to just be a loyal trooper, for a career, that's good to.

 

[garyeb2]

if you are grouping cole with franklin, gerber etc, you haven't seen the kid play and are underestimating him. He is being recuited because the coaches think the kid can and will ultimately contribute. And, they may be right. He is not being recruited as filler or for gpa. Kid is averaging, in poor competition albeit, almost 30pt/20rbs. He is big, tough, can jump, and has skill. Is he ou good, well, i don't know. But, then we won't know that about any freshman until they have gotten to ou, processed for a year or two, and they have played a little.

I hope he turns out to be a superstar, although i don't have a prediction one way or the other. If not, and he turns out to just be a loyal trooper, for a career, that's good to.

exactly

 

[WTSooner]

If you are grouping Cole with Franklin, Gerber etc, you haven't seen the kid play and are underestimating him.

I know this wasn't directed at me, but outside of one poster I think, I don't see anybody comparing Cole to those guys. Cole is on scholarship, those guys never were, and if they were, it's just b/c we had extra 'ships going to waste.

As much as I hope Cole turns into a major contributor, I don't see it. I think he was recruited with an upside being something like Honore, Washington, or going back a few more years, Szeindre(sp). Someone that at their best, is probably best used as a 4th big man. No shame in that.

 

[AdaSooner]

If you are grouping Cole with Franklin, Gerber etc, you haven't seen the kid play and are underestimating him. He is being recuited because the coaches think the kid can and will ultimately contribute. And, they may be right. He is not being recruited as filler or for gpa. Kid is averaging, in poor competition albeit, almost 30pt/20rbs. He is big, tough, can jump, and has skill. Is he OU good, well, I don't know. But, then we won't know that about any freshman until they have gotten to OU, processed for a year or two, and they have played a little.

I hope he turns out to be a superstar, although I don't have a prediction one way or the other. If not, and he turns out to just be a loyal trooper, for a career, that's good to.

My mention of Cole, Franklin, Gerber and Sampson was entirely based on their value to the team as students and high character kids any school should be proud to have as part of their program. Read my post again and you'll see that was my intent.

As I said, if he has the ability to contribute on the floor, that's a bonus. I would like nothing better than to see him prove his critics wrong. Either way, I like this pick up. If nothing else, I like him because our coaches do, and that's good enough for me.

 

[Sooner23]

Every year when I turn on the NCAA Tournament, I see kids like Cole on teams like Butler, Davidson, St. Mary's, etc, leading the way in upsets over top seeds.

I look at some of those guys on those teams and wonder how the hell they're doing it while our ranked/recruited athletes are sitting at home. So if a quality program like Davidson liked Cole, then I'm all for giving him a shot.

And also for all the reasons WT posted above.

 

[sdcloud9]

This seems like a Beau Gerber situation.

A recruited walk-on that is a 4.0 student and good high school player. If a scholarship opens at some point, he gets it. He may develop into a good role player, maybe not.

But he will go to class and not be a problem. And he makes a good scout team player.

 

[campbest]

Every year when I turn on the NCAA Tournament, I see kids like Cole on teams like Butler, Davidson, St. Mary's, etc, leading the way in upsets over top seeds.

I look at some of those guys on those teams and wonder how the hell they're doing it while our ranked/recruited athletes are sitting at home. So if a quality program like Davidson liked Cole, then I'm all for giving him a shot.

And also for all the reasons WT posted above.

Cole is not in the same category as Curry, Hayward, Howard, Mack, Samhan, Delladova, Mills, etc.

Don't mind that he gets a schollie, just would rather have some other confirmations first.