An interesting survey done by CBSSports.com published this morning led to an obvious conclusion: Syracuse basketball has a history of being on the losing end of some of the shadiest recruiting battles in the country.
A group of college coaches were polled anonymously and asked about which players created the dirtiest recruitments over the past decade. Syracuse didn’t land any of the names on the list, but were in on a quite a few of them.
Shabazz Muhammad took home the top billing, as the incoming UCLA freshman won the dirtiest battle with 15% of the vote.
Second place?¬†Anthony Davis, the Unibrow, who landed at Kentucky. Remember Syracuse was in on the NBA’s top pick, but rumors abounded about a crazy love triangle that led the Chicago Sun-Times to report Davis’ family asked schools for up to $150,000 for his commitment.
Tobias Harris also landed on list. The New York product announced his decision at the ESPN Zone in Manhattan, with plenty of Orange fans watching. His decision to attend Tennessee was met with a chorus of boos. While it was a tad unbecoming to jeer a high school kid’s choice of school, it shows what an intense recruitment it had become for SU.
Also receiving votes? How about Josh Selby. The Syracuse target made Orange fans drool for months, only to choose Kansas. He had a huge beginning to his Jayhawks career, but baggage always suggested Selby was more trouble than he was worth.
New York City prodigy Lance Stephenson also landed on the list, and SU is usually in on the top Big Apple kids. But the Orange was never one of his finalists, as the controversial guard eventually chose Cincinnati.
When you’re a big fish in a big pond, which is exactly what Syracuse hoops is, you’re going to lose some high-profile battles. We all know the college basketball recruiting game can get grimy. The Orange have done a very good job in the last decade nailing down told talent. But it looks like they’ve been on the losing end of some of the dirtier battles out there, and SU fans probably don’t mind.
Posted: D.A.
62 responses to “CBS Sports: Syracuse Hoops Has a History of Losing Dirty Recruiting Battles”
Couldn’t agree more DA. I or JB wouldn’t want to be anywhere near the best recruit in the land if his asking price is 250k and a new house for his mother is also on demand.
I always thought the movie Blue Chips was a future warning to big time schools.
Yeah towards the end of JBs career I doubt he gets involved with bs and risks his legacy. Win with who wants to be here at the CUSE!
Suprised Nerlen Noel and Julius Hodge werent on that list
Dion for Selby & Harris..Rak for Davis..Steveson? Maybe Jonny that class…we moved on from those four prospects, for guys that are or have had success for SU. Beauty of recruiting, JB put together guys who can buy into the system, and win 25+ games. Davis accomplished the most, kind of a big miss?
Totally agree with OC27 – Noel (more recently) and Hodge were huge targets for JB. Of course, we all know how Hakim Warrick worked out for us over Hodge.
Noel’s recruitment is under a bit of scrutiny, as well.
Dip,previous thread, bermuda triangle!
Well 6 out of 15 of the named in the report signed /w john cal. Anyone shocked?
@Ron,are you up yet?How are ya this morning?I had trouble sleeping last night,I think u can guess the reason!A couple of our friends clashed unnecessarily one of them thinking they were defending us?..You getting my drift?We were only reaffirming one friendship,with a fella whom I think we both respect and due to the excitement Terry brought w/his disagreeable nature a younger friend over reacted in the process of thinking he was defending us and “wallah” more negativity!Im not happy seeing our friends clash for no real reason.Let me no if u “get it” when ur online?Thanks Ron.
Hey Fizz,what are you trying to say in this article? Are you indicating that Syracuse is playing dirty while recruiting a player and part of the deal is that we as fans follow closely on any of the prospects.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Kentucky paid heavenly to get Anthony Davis. NO DOUBT. I recently read an article as to where Shabazz Mohammad is under investigation by the NCAA. We all know that all of the top recruits brings baggage no matter they go. I think Syracuse stays away from the trouble makers that will eventually bring harm to the program.
@Russell Mac Eachern;yes Russell I read the previous posts between Carlton and the bigdipper. Our pleas to be civil to one another sometimes fall on deaf ears. This looks like one of those times.
@Ron,I hope not but I wont desert the kid !!I really like him,can’t blame a guy with good intention’s!!
I hope Dipper does the right thing tho,He’s mature Im confident he will!
I think u misread the article Ron,I son’t think thats what they mean?
Say what u want RU and SU are as clean a program’s as you’ll find!!
I hope they work it out as Carlton turns out too be a straight shooter and nice guy!!I like him,but Dip earned my loyalty!!I hope Carl will take everything into consideration.
Lolllllll….”Why so serious?” Guys, its okay, i dont revisit posts too often, im not looking to have a verbal spat with anyone…sorry thought he was the ” You Know Who” that was messing with you guys. Oops?
@carlton..never went back ta see the next post, didnt care to, probably wont, if you are not the “YKW” my bad! I apologized..
…back ta ball! Noel is being investigated heavily. Thank you for moving on young man….Providence was tied up with that shady asst/booster guy, regardless, DC2 is gonna surprise some people, the bb gods always give SU the right fit. SU already had a top10 frontcourt w/o Noel. How about Southerland avg 20 & 10 in the Kings tourney? CJ Fair at LeBron camp?
Im the samurai from Lonewolf & cub. When i feed my children,,i wear blinders!
Dipper,it was TERRY,thanks for bein a BIG man!!
Either way I admire ur loyalty!!
Dip,as ya get older you’ll see a man is only as good as his ability to interelate with each other in a fair way and back up their words!U know I like the light hearted stuff (fun/banter)but everyone is different,I had a hunch u thought he was
YKH lol have fun nephew,Im relieved!Id a stuck by ya either way!
Gotta say, love the online community you guys have built here. Thanks for dropping by daily and sparring back and forth. It’s really cool.
It’s tough to lose to some of these programs like Kentucky, but frankly, sometimes the headache isn’t worth the trouble. SU hoops has done a superb recruiting job lately.
Thanx from the “Fizz Fam” D.A….
@russ for every step forward, i take two social hops backward! But thanx for the support, u make me unafraid to make any mistakes..Ha!
Hey Ron…sounds like DA pays more attention than we thought! And he enjoys the crazy banter?
@carlton…doh! i just walked into a Orange colored wall. Excuse the yolk on my grill…
* w/o Noel , can UK honestly defend its title? If he’s ineligible, I dont think they win the SEC reg season, or tourney. I like Fla or Ark
Happy to watch over ya Dip as looks like Fizz is watching over ALL LOL…like I said Dip we all make mistakes I make them every day the thing is to grow from them,and ur a fast study Dip!!
Im smiling again lol and I can rest comfortably!!
I’ll leave mens hoops to you Dipper,but I can still hit the 25ft rainbow 3s lol..
You have range? Best of 10 wins lol. Yea i kno it was “YKW” now. In an interview ill say ” im loyal to the point of bufoonery” lol
Football talk: ESPN 8 pm Ari v Ten…like locker, not kolb, go skelton!
*sorry been mixing up Reddish & Kobena all camp…doh!
Fizz Fam: while watching the BE preview show, Luginbill held no punches about SU being a bad team, he has for seasons, SU is predicted 2nd to last in the BE this season, but after seeing these guys, i dont think they’re gonna stink, i say bowl game or bust, Luginbill said no bowl. Are we bowling in ’12-’13?
Duke, NC, Mich. St., Syracuse, Kansas. They all share in winning the right way. I live in the south only because that’s where my job is, otherwise I wouldn’t. I’d live anywhere else. Places like Kentucky and Memphis glow about how great their teams are, knowing perfectly well that it’s through corrupting teenagers and their parents. They wear it like a badge of honor. It’s sickening. I love that I can trust SU’s coaches and presidents to have their priorities straight.
@Dipper,I saw the show too!I think we bowl Dip,6-6 or 7-5,Lug’s sux,don’t no our heart!!They never give us any credit!!
@bgogo,I never knew u lived in the south?What area? KY? Tenn?
Hey Dip,Half the time ur watching over or schooling me lol!!!
Yolk on my grill?LOL I spit my coffee outta my mouth on that one Dip,ur picking up on my Yogi’isms Dip,talk about classic? Cam Newton,Ahm Bradshaw,Ryan Matthews,Antonio Gates,Calvin Johnson,Wes Welker,Jordy Nelson,Ravens D,Akers pk,Greg Olsen,Phil Rivers,my FFB team?Waddya think Dipper?
Im forgetting a RB,but thats basically my team and back-up QB?
hey fellas;having some fun without me involved. HOW DARE YOU? Thanks D.A. for reading our comments, Except for the idiots who uses someone else s name to post garbage to a 15 year old student of good will I think that we have an overall good group of people involved here.
I know by making this next statement to everyone that I’m going to get some flak, but I would like to see some of the sports women who attend sporting events and are knowledgeable of the games start making their thought’s known to us all.
So girls WHERE ARE YOU?
Go Cuse;
@bigdip;Hey Ron…sounds like DA pays more attention than we thought! And he enjoys the crazy banter?
bigdip,not to shabby is it guys? I think Russell and everyone else try to get our thoughts through to everyone in a clean and civil way. You all should be proud by doing things the right way.
Good job to all. Thank’s guys
Buffoonery lol..RU Kenny Britt and Jason McCourty get shout outs any “Cuse” guys in the game?
@Thanks Ron,im quite happy the way things turned out….Dip is a VERY mature guy!!
@bgo- I lived in louisville for 4yrs and 95% of UK’s fan base is obnoxious. They have blue shades on to cal and his antics b/c he wins.
We function as a family and do things the right way…we’re a civilized group!!!No need for tension!
Havent seen a Orange in the game tonight…toldja Locker looks good!
Russ Ffb- Welker, Ravens D, calvin megatron johnson! Quality….2nd “tier” lol- Cam, Gates, Rivers. Not bad.
Im definitely a Larry Fitzgerald fan, just resets, and plays ball. Glad he made one SB! Dog nabbit….
I lost ya on the other thread Carlton!!I thought u signed off?So that area’s fans have that kind of rep,huh?KTY?
Dip,Doug Martin,rookie and one more Rb,
Shady likes to run the ball!
I had Fitzgerald last year,ya cant have em all LOL!!!
Dip,Thanks for ur approval,Im reassured lol..
Ur funny Ron lol,its notba party w/out u!
ood luck w/that Ron,Norma might show up lol
@Russ nope had a nfl fantasy draft. Then watched bb14. UK fans are bad for the most part. Ive been to a game a rupp it was pretty cool. The bad part was the gangstar wannbes that sat behide us. The funny thing though is rupp is in a shopin mall. Most of the places are bars an thats how uk gets around the sec’s ban on beer sales.
Even in the city of Louisville the split is 60-30-10. 60% vill,e 30% UK, 10% IU. IU has alot of fans in the area b/c southern indy is right a cross the bridge. UK played their 1st and 2nd rd games at the yum! center this past yr for the NCAA tourney and rumors flew around that UK fans vandalized the arena and it got to the point the Univ. had to come out and make a statement that UK fans hadnt. Sounds kinda insane but UK fans had smashed out windows and slashed car tires in one of the UofL studnet parking lots during the governor’s cup in football. Sorry SU-G’town and Duke-UNC have nothing on this rivalry…its crazy!(mostly b/c of UK fans)
Carl,man,sounds crazy,I don’t no y but I thought they’d b more civil their?Looking at ville and Ky football on tv (I no ur talkin hoops)they don’t even fill stands?but I guess its true that Ky,Ind r a hoops oasis in football crazy south?Whose bigger in Ky for football “ville” or UK?btw have ya noticed Vandys recruits this yr?Md would b dead w/o locksley!!!!RE sux as a coach,too much ego!!how long b4 they clash?
How many fantasy fb teams ya got?Im in 2!!I won one last yr in 8 team league,3rd in other!gotta defend my crown and trophy case!!Its made gameday more fun!!Im a big jint fan besides “Cuse”!! nothing like watching c’puter lite up like a xmas tree on sundays in fall!I assume u figured out Dips mistake?he thought u were Terry!!