Zach Price - headcase?

[Xman95]

Here's an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

AKRON, Ohio - A bit of news, a bit of recruiting movement, but no dunks.

On the news side James Price, the 6-11 center ranked No. 66 in the nation by Scouthoops.com and No. 72 by Rivals.com, said Tuesday he is packing his bags, leaving St. Edward High for the city of horses and cardinals, Louisville, where he orally committed prior to his junior season.

"I'm moving there," he said following a hard 90-minute session of drills at the LeBron James Skills Academy at Akron's Rhodes Arena. "I'll be moving by the end of this month."

Price said he does not know what high school he will be attending, but is excited about the change.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Price, who averaged 11.2 points and seven rebounds. "I don't feel I was able to develop much at St. Edward. I don't feel, if I stayed there, I would be getting any better. When I get into the AAU circuit, or I get into these camps, I'm able to feel free. I don't feel hindered by anything.

"The word's gotten around [in Louisville]. It's crazy to see how much love is down there."

Said St. Edward coach Eric Flannery, "We haven't seen Price all summer. Talking to his family [last week], they told me they wanted to move closer to prepare him for Louisville. We have moved on without him since the summer.

"Obviously we have our history with big guys and we've developed quite a few. The last 15 years we've sent 8-9 big guys to Division I [colleges]. That's their own personal issue."


MOR might be able to comment on this being that he follows that program a little. Seems to me like this is a kid who wants to blame others for what he hasn't done or can't do. Some of the questions I have seen raised about his game are things he could have improved on his own and didn't need coaches to do. And to say St. Ed's can't help him get better is absurd. That's a very good program and it produces big time talent. Just ask Delvon Roe, Jawad Williams, etc. (OK, Steve Logan is the exception!!)

It appears Louisville could have a headcase on its hands with this kid.

[GoMuskies]

I'm not sure why switching high schools makes him a headcase. He's going to play at J-Town in Louisville, and they are probably the favorites to win the state title now. Jeff Morrow is a solid coach down there.

[Xman95]

I'm not sure why switching high schools makes him a headcase. He's going to play at J-Town in Louisville, and they are probably the favorites to win the state title now. Jeff Morrow is a solid coach down there.

At the time of the article, Price didn't even know what school he was going to. But, just look at this portion:

"I'm looking forward to it," said Price, who averaged 11.2 points and seven rebounds. "I don't feel I was able to develop much at St. Edward. I don't feel, if I stayed there, I would be getting any better. When I get into the AAU circuit, or I get into these camps, I'm able to feel free. I don't feel hindered by anything."

Look, I'm an Ignatius guy so it's not like I enjoy throwing around praise for St. Ed's. But that program is legit and develops players. If Price isn't developing, it's his own fault. He seems to be claiming something to the contrary.

I also got the feeling from Flannery's reaction that he wasn't exactly fond of Price (or maybe those around him):

"We haven't seen Price all summer. Talking to his family [last week], they told me they wanted to move closer to prepare him for Louisville. We have moved on without him since the summer.

"Obviously we have our history with big guys and we've developed quite a few. The last 15 years we've sent 8-9 big guys to Division I [colleges]. That's their own personal issue."

I just get the feeling that Price and his camp are blaming others for his lack of improvement when, in fact, it's probably the result of Zach not doing what he needs to do.

[GoMuskies]

I don't know. Sometimes coaches and players just don't get along. That doesn't necessarily make the player a headcase.

[Pete Delkus]

"When I get into the AAU circuit, or I get into these camps, I'm able to feel free. I don't feel hindered by anything."

translation: I don't have to worry about playing defense or playing in a 'team' system. I can get my touches in the post and take the rest of the game off.

I would be floored if this joker pans out for Pitno.

[Masterofreality]

James (Zach) Price is another prime example of a spoiled, enabled kid that thinks that the world revolves around him. It is also a prime example of how horriffic and ridiculous the AAU system is.

The quote from the article in the Plain Dealer was so telling:

"I don't feel I was able to develop much at St. Edward. I don't feel, if I stayed there, I would be getting any better. When I get into the AAU circuit, or I get into these camps, I'm able to feel free. I don't feel hindered by anything."

Of course he felt "free" and "not hindered by anything" in the camps and AAU. He didn't have to worry himself with piddly things like "sharing the ball", or "team basketball", or "running structured plays where other players can get involved", or "setting a solid screen", or "being in position to box out" or "rebounding" or maybe even "playing position defense." Hell, what self respecting "superstar in waiting" basketball player would want to be bothered with that crap? Yep, just concern yourself with running up and down the floor, dunking the ball, maybe catch a rebound it it happens to come your way, but usually just cherry pick and hog the ball for yourself.

Naw, Eric Flannery doesn't help anyone "get better." Oh, just Sam Clancy who went to USC and was drafted by the 76ers before he had a devastating knee injury. Just Jawad Willliams who went to North Carolina and won a National Championship and now on the Cavs. Just Steve Lepore who got a scholly to Northwestern. Just Delvon Roe who is now at Michigan State and Tom Pritchard who is now at Indiana and being ruined by Tom Crean. Just my nephew Conor who got a Division 2 scholly. Finally, just the entire USA Basketball under 16 team that Eric has been named to coach again. Nope Eric Flannery is such an awful coach that almost every college basketball coach respects the hell out of him and USA Basketball continually asks him to be involved. By the way, Eric, not the St. Ignatius coach at the time Becker, convinced Marist to give my another of my nephews Ryan a scholly. All Ryan did was score over 1,000 points in his career.

I know Eric Flanney and his brother Jim personally. There are no better high school coaches around- and no one is more committed to improvement of their players. There are also no better people, nor anyone more honest, than the Flannery brothers

James (Zach) Price is self-centered jerk and he has become that way in the last year. At one time I wanted him to really consider Xavier. Now, I'm very glad that he is not. Pitino will have his hands nice and full with this prima donna. They deserve each other.

[UnCaged]

James (Zach) Price is another prime example of a spoiled, enabled kid that thinks that the world revolves around him. It is also a prime example of how horriffic and ridiculous the AAU system is.

The quote from the article in the Plain Dealer was so telling:

"I don't feel I was able to develop much at St. Edward. I don't feel, if I stayed there, I would be getting any better. When I get into the AAU circuit, or I get into these camps, I'm able to feel free. I don't feel hindered by anything."

Of course he felt "free" and "not hindered by anything" in the camps and AAU. He didn't have to worry himself with piddly things like "sharing the ball", or "team basketball", or "running structured plays where other players can get involved", or "setting a solid screen", or "being in position to box out" or "rebounding" or maybe even "playing position defense." Hell, what self respecting "superstar in waiting" basketball player would want to be bothered with that crap? Yep, just concern yourself with running up and down the floor, dunking the ball, maybe catch a rebound it it happens to come your way, but usually just cherry pick and hog the ball for yourself.

Naw, Eric Flannery doesn't help anyone "get better." Oh, just Sam Clancy who went to USC and was drafted by the 76ers before he had a devastating knee injury. Just Jawad Willliams who went to North Carolina and won a National Championship and now on the Cavs. Just Steve Lepore who got a scholly to Northwestern. Just Delvon Roe who is now at Michigan State and Tom Pritchard who is now at Indiana and being ruined by Tom Crean. Just my nephew Conor who got a Division 2 scholly. Finally, just the entire USA Basketball under 16 team that Eric has been named to coach again. Nope Eric Flannery is such an awful coach that almost every college basketball coach respects the hell out of him and USA Basketball continually asks him to be involved. By the way, Eric, not the St. Ignatius coach at the time Becker, convinced Marist to give my another of my nephews Ryan a scholly. All Ryan did was score over 1,000 points in his career.

I know Eric Flanney and his brother Jim personally. There are no better high school coaches around- and no one is more committed to improvement of their players. There are also no better people, nor anyone more honest, than the Flannery brothers

James (Zach) Price is self-centered jerk and he has become that way in the last year. At one time I wanted him to really consider Xavier. Now, I'm very glad that he is not. Pitino will have his hands nice and full with this prima donna. They deserve each other.

MOR, are you going to keep sitting on the fence or give us your take on the situation?

Kidding, kidding. From all I have been able to read on this guy, he's a complete prima donna and I'm eager to see him "evolve" his game down in Louisiville in HS and at the college level. My money is on him needing a trip to New Mexico or El Paso, much the same way Caracter did after he came in with his "sh!t don't stink" attitude.