Mustapha Heron commits to Auburn

[CadaverDawg]

Bummer

[ShotgunDawg]

I feel as though I could live to be 300 years old & I'll never understand basketball recruiting. It differs so much from football & baseball recruiting.

In football, kids take visits & weigh their options. In basketball, it appears as though kids set up visits in order of school preference

[RBritt]

Let's hope this one that Bruce stole has a career similar to Scottie Hopson.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

Bummer

Can't get them all. This is part of the game. It was already stated awhile back that his "handler" didnt want him at State. He went where the most money was...Pearl is as crooked as they come but have to give him props on this one. This came out of nowhere.

[ScottH]

Don't forget this isn't Howland's first rodeo.

[GreenheadDawg]

Money talks

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

Don't forget this isn't Howland's first rodeo.

good point

[smootness]

He committed to the first school he visited, one that was on the map but not considered a threat for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's one who backs out at some point.

He may not, but it's still a possibility.

[dawgwood]

He committed to the first school he visited, one that was on the map but not considered a threat for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's one who backs out at some point.

He may not, but it's still a possibility.
I think so to, if we was the first visit he would be a Bulldog, but I don't think Ben Howland loses any sleep on this one.

[messageboardsuperhero]

Very very odd. Totally unexpected and out of left field... Who knows, we may still get a visit out of him.

If not, Mario Kegler just got that much more important.

[scottycameron]

Mustafa? Not losing any sleep over that.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

He committed to the first school he visited, one that was on the map but not considered a threat for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's one who backs out at some point.

He may not, but it's still a possibility.

He's visited Bama, Pitt, & St. John's before. Obviously Auburn was a bigger threat than anyone knew. They were a top 5 school for him & he took an unofficial visit there so he was a lot more interested than we presumed.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

Mustafa? Not losing any sleep over that.

Wtf does that mean?

[ZedFedder]

Stinks but sometimes in basketball recruiting things go crazy. I trust howland. Plus, you get kegler, wright, carter, and a solid big or two, and you're fine.

[Irondawg]

This is a big loss. We had an official lined up in a couple of weeks and it was thought we were a potential leader. Personally I think this kid is really, really good. I really didn't think auburn would be a factor for him. At least bit until he took his official visits. I thought he was far and away the best wing player we were in on. The others aren't necessarily bad but I thought he had the most upside

[Dawg61]

Under Armour playing the game now? They just signed Steph Curry.

[Thick]

I think we could still be in it. Malik played with him on a national team, and they still talk. Things could change, just a wait and see thing now.

[maroonmania]

I'm personally just ready to play some games so there is something other to focus on besides recruiting. I just can't get into our football recruiting this year in that it seems its like pulling teeth to get any of the truly big fish to pull the trigger for us even after spending roughly half the season last year at #1. Even Johnie Cooks' nephew would only give us a 30 minute commitment before backing out. And now this flaky deal with Heron who pulls the trigger for Auburn before even taking his visit with Howland. Let's just play some freakin' games already.

[BeardoMSU]

Mustafa? Not losing any sleep over that.

Poor wittle Scotty....
http://assets.diylol.com/hfs/1f0/30c/715/resized/jesus-says-meme-generator-jesus-says-you-re-an-idiot-99bca8.jpg

[Ifyouonlyknew]

I think we could still be in it. Malik played with him on a national team, and they still talk. Things could change, just a wait and see thing now.

He's done.

[FlabLoser]

Howland is recruiting balls out. Can't win them all. No shame in losing a big recruit to Bruce Pearl. We've landed some big fish and we're still fishing for more. No worries.

[Thick]

If you say so.

[Irondawg]

This still surprised me. I really thought he was one who was going to take all the officials he set up and decide. I now hope I was severly wrong about his potential.

Guessing Pearl sold him on being "the man" or something else with UA

[maroonmania]

This still surprised me. I really thought he was one who was going to take all the officials he set up and decide. I now hope I was severly wrong about his potential.

Guessing Pearl sold him on being "the man" or something else with UA

If the "handler" was not on board with us then we were NEVER going to get him. We essentially had the same issue with Ray Kasongo.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

If the "handler" was not on board with us then we were NEVER going to get him. We essentially had the same issue with Ray Kasongo.

Heron didn't have a handler. People including myself just underestimated how much Auburn was a factor. He's mentioned them this whole time but nobody realized they were that big of a threat.

[maroonmania]

Heron didn't have a handler. People including myself just underestimated how much Auburn was a factor. He's mentioned them this whole time but nobody realized they were that big of a threat.

OK, I don't know either way but there was a poster on the board that was claiming this was an issue in the Heron recruitment.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

OK, I don't know either way but there was a poster on the board that was claiming this was an issue in the Heron recruitment.

It has been him & his dad the whole time. His dad played pro ball overseas. That's where the St John's leading came from. 1 of their asst coaches played pro ball with his dad.

[Thick]

No, it could be an issue with Kegler. Omar Carter is his handler.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

No, it could be an issue with Kegler. Omar Carter is his handler.

He's also his guardian.

[Irondawg]

Like I said i was just surprised he didn't take all of his visits. The interviews made him appear to have a good grasp on the process and what he was looking for. I wasn't sure it would be us, but I am surprised it was Auburn. I thought we had everything they had to sell + a little more.

I was hoping he and Peters would be a formidable combo.

[C222]

This one hurts. I thought we were in a good spot to land him. He is a stud.

We are still going to have a Top 10 class IMO. Hopefully Eli Wright will pull the trigger soon.

In other news, Bama just landed a 5* as well.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

This one hurts. I thought we were in a good spot to land him. He is a stud.

We are still going to have a Top 10 class IMO. Hopefully Eli Wright will pull the trigger soon.

In other news, Bama just landed a 5* as well.

Dayum?.Avery too?.Your up Howland(unless we count Malik) in that case we started it.

[Johnson85]

Can't get them all. This is part of the game. It was already stated awhile back that his "handler" didnt want him at State. He went where the most money was...Pearl is as crooked as they come but have to give him props on this one. This came out of nowhere.

It sounds funny to me to hear this statement with regard to basketball recruiting. There's money everywhere and it's probably the primary factor in most major recruits, with coaching and sneaker contacts being the deciding factor when the money is comparable.

But especially in this case, I'm guessing if it was just a matter of going to the highest bidder, there wouldn't have been a commitment before taking all of his officials. The guy is going to play for Pearl, who is not exactly a terrible basketball coach. I'm sure there were lots of considerations that went into his decision in addition to money.

[Dawg61]

In other news, Bama just landed a 5* as well.

Going to be battling Bama and Auburn for recruits a lot it looks like.

[Dawg61]

Dayum?.Avery too?.Your up Howland(unless we count Malik) in that case we started it.

Avery got a good transfer too. He better recruit his ass off though because I think he's more on par with Jones at LSU as far as actual coaching goes. Pearl and Howland will school Avery during games.

[smootness]

The traction Howland's gotten on some of these elite guys has been a bit of a surprise to me. I expected to pull in classes full of 4-stars with a 5-star sprinkled in here and there, so I never expected to get multiple 5-stars. So while a bit of a disappointment not to land Heron, it still doesn't reduce any of my enthusiasm.

At this point, we have Peters and I think we are currently the favorites for Kegler and Wright, and that would give us a heck of a haul at the 1-3 positions. Throw in Tyson Carter and 1 or 2 from the Banks/Herard/Lard group, and that is a great class.

[mic]

This one hurts. I thought we were in a good spot to land him. He is a stud.

We are still going to have a Top 10 class IMO. Hopefully Eli Wright will pull the trigger soon.

In other news, Bama just landed a 5* as well.

This kid was form the Dallas area. CAJ probably had contact with this kid, or family, or coach from his days in Dallas..
And regarding Pearl getting the commit form Heron, yes that's a big get for them but both schools let a top 10 national player from the state of Alabama get away to Mich State..

[maroonmania]

The traction Howland's gotten on some of these elite guys has been a bit of a surprise to me. I expected to pull in classes full of 4-stars with a 5-star sprinkled in here and there, so I never expected to get multiple 5-stars. So while a bit of a disappointment not to land Heron, it still doesn't reduce any of my enthusiasm.

At this point, we have Peters and I think we are currently the favorites for Kegler and Wright, and that would give us a heck of a haul at the 1-3 positions. Throw in Tyson Carter and 1 or 2 from the Banks/Herard/Lard group, and that is a great class.

Who expected multiple 5 stars? Except for Heron I thought all of our other targets were 4 star players?

[smootness]

Who expected multiple 5 stars? Except for Heron I thought all of our other targets were 4 star players?

I didn't say anyone did. Heron is exactly the kind of guy I didn't expect to actually land when Howland came on board. The fact that we actually seemed to have a very good shot was a pleasant surprise and the kind of thing that hinted that he may pull in more nationally elite guys than I expected. So while disappointing, this is still shaping up to be a class as good, as or even better, than I initially was expecting.

[maroonmania]

I didn't say anyone did. Heron is exactly the kind of guy I didn't expect to actually land when Howland came on board. The fact that we actually seemed to have a very good shot was a pleasant surprise and the kind of thing that hinted that he may pull in more nationally elite guys than I expected. So while disappointing, this is still shaping up to be a class as good, as or even better, than I initially was expecting.

Given the flakiness of Heron's recruitment its hard to know how close we really were on him but yes, its good we at least got a mention. Seems like if he had really been serious about us he would have gone through with the OV before making a decision.