Chris Thomas (Commit Other)

[bobbiemcgee]

"I don't see anything changing with regard to our ability to get on there (sp) level. Not in my lifetime." - UDPrider

[jcubspoe]

Rivals hasn't updated their rankings since last November. My guess is that when they do, Semaj will move up big-time.

I might be wrong on this, but I don't think I am: Rivals is not going to move Semaj up at all because Rivals doesn't rerank 5th year players. Semaj wasn't considered a HIGH SCHOOL player last year. It's a prep school. Oak Hill is still considered a high school. Scout is the only service I know of that reranks players and STILL includes kids that should be already in college, technically. Thus the big discrepancy between the Scout and Rivals ranking for Semaj. Semaj didn't make that jump in Scout's rankings until he was at Brewster....he wasn't a 5 star when he was in high school.

[More Cowbell]

I might be wrong on this, but I don't think I am: Rivals is not going to move Semaj up at all because Rivals doesn't rerank 5th year players. Semaj wasn't considered a HIGH SCHOOL player last year. It's a prep school. Oak Hill is still considered a high school. Scout is the only service I know of that reranks players and STILL includes kids that should be already in college, technically. Thus the big discrepancy between the Scout and Rivals ranking for Semaj. Semaj didn't make that jump in Scout's rankings until he was at Brewster....he wasn't a 5 star when he was in high school.

Are you sure about that, I thought that was just espn.

[xudash]

"I don't see anything changing with regard to our ability to get on there (sp) level. Not in my lifetime." - UDPrider

Those poor bastards.

Their heads must have exploded when this news broke the wire.

Whether he actually gets here or not, the idea that we can recruit at this level and UD can't has to be hard for the douchiest among them to swallow.

[Cheesehead]

It really sucks to be a UD fan.

I LOVE it!

[LA Muskie]

Don't tell me to stop. I am just stating what the talent evaluators and scouts have already commented on this kid. This is the type of one and done talent that usually ends up at Kentucky, but we finally landed one here at Xavier. Now there is still a lot of time to go before he puts on a Xavier uniform so I am cautiously optimistic, but the kid could go directly from JUCO to the NBA. His talent is undeniable.

If he truly can go from JUCO to the NBA then we'll never see him in a Xavier uniform. Especially if you believe he'd be a 1-and-done anyway.

[Chermy23]

Even if for some reason Thomas does not make it to XU, at least the fact that someone of his talent level has pleged and given the UD Fanbase a collective conniption is just freaking great.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Even if for some reason Thomas does not make it to XU, at least the fact that someone of his talent level has pleged and given the UD Fanbase a collective conniption is just freaking great.

I was thinking of the same thing.

[xudash]

To be fair, some of the Priders are snapping back at their own for their lame comments about Thomas and Xavier's seeming willingness to soil its reputation by recruiting such "questionable" kids.

Those of them who can think clearly cite our graduation rate and streak for seniors, and otherwise point out that Xavier puts effort and resources into helping these young men properly navigate their student-athlete duties.

Then you have assholes like the following:

Check out this commentary on C. Thomas. http://hoopdreamsmag.com/?p=2641

It calls to mind the recent discussions on this list about X taking chances on high-risk (high-reward) players where UD has not. Those high-risk kids have become significantly evident the past few years with their team's on- and off-court behavior, especially under the (lack of) control of Chris Mack. This recruit appears to be the epitome of that high-wire act by X. Another incident like the one with UC this season will really put a tarnish on their image.

I wonder where the University stands on these recruiting decisions by Mack? A lack of "institutional control"? or is it a matter of "whatever it takes to maintain (or elevate) a top 25 program"?

If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.


P.S. Judging by the list on this website, with Xavier having 4 of their top 28 listed recruits, this site must be run by an X grad.

[XULucho27]

It's rationalization -- a neurotic defense mechanism -- plain and simple. It's like the DSM was written about ud fans:

"when the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by concealing the true motivations for his or her own thoughts, actions, or feelings through the elaboration of reassuring or self serving but incorrect explanations."

I knew my Psych degree wasn't completely useless.