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RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Gordon Gottschalk — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:01:56 GMT

I don't know how Phelps recruits are going to turn out, but I sure like the size of the young men. If David Smith is truly a 6'3" point guard I think that is awesome. Lamont Evans.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

usmcdog — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:55:56 GMT

Drakey (12/29/2008)

I have no way of knowing if Phelps can accurately evaluate talent in general, but have you seen seen any indication that he has the ability to evaluate point guards?

Bullseye!

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Drakey — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:50:41 GMT

I have no way of knowing if Phelps can accurately evaluate talent in general, but have you seen seen any indication that he has the ability to evaluate point guards?

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

dog67 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:54:39 GMT

Of course there are a ton of D-1 players who are not coming to Drake. How many of the right ones did we go after? Of course David might turn out O.K. Of course some of the top tier players don't turn out as expected (just look at Notre Dame football). My point is, we have to set our sights on the top boys, regardless. You don't not (sorry for the double negative) go after them because they may not turn out to be great college players, as well as high school. Listen, I have been watching Chicago area ball since the late 50's, from the great George Wilson, M.C. Thompson and Cazzie Russell to the amazing Jon Scheyer and the incredible Derrick Rose to today's Brandon Paul, Drew Crawford, etc. I know the teams, I know the conferences, I know what a top tier Chicago area player is made of. David is not a top tier player. That is all I am saying. When De Paul's program was floundering in the early 70s, after all their past glory, a group of alum and former players, including all American, Howie Carl (I'm not sure if George Mikan was also involved), approached coach Ray Meyer and the administration and persuaded them to rekindle the program and start going after some big name talent, once again. Within a few short years, the likes of Mark Aguirre, Terry Cummings, etc., were walking around Lincoln Park. There is no reason that a school like Drake cannot be a major force every year in the MVC, regardless of the academic requirements. AIM HIGH!!!! Don't you remember what I said when everyone was debating the merits of increasing the ticket prices? WINNING AND ONLY WINNING is the answer. I believe most of us agreed that Phelps is an excellent recruiter (the Xs and Os is another subject). AIM HIGH!!!! AIM FOR THE BEST!!!!!!!! NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!! Right, McBulldog???

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

DUBulldog — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:32:42 GMT

dog67 (12/28/2008)

Here's the point. When Drake got the commitment from Hawley, I emphatically pointed out that this was the kind of player that we needed. At last we got a first team all- stater. This is the kind of player that we needed to continue going after. No more all-conference players, no more second team all region, etc. You want to keep going to post season? Well, then what you need are top tier guys, not second tier guys. Simons and Hawley are what you need. When David Smith committed, I pointed out that the only way I would have been excited was if he did what JY did in high school coming from a small private school, which was average 30 per game. David, I am sure is a great kid, but he is not a top tier guy. I sensed that everyone was unjustifiably excited about this signing. Bottom line, boys and girls, is (especially for you Des Moines folk), you have to keep the pressure on. You have to let them know that just because the Dukes and UCLAs are going after a player, doesn't mean we shouldn't be going after them, also. It's the only way to success.

I'm pretty sure the staff is trying to get the best players they can. I'll trust their judgment. I've seen plenty of can't miss All-Americans who were average at best. I've seen guys who didn't even start in high school end up being NBA stars. I think it's unfair to assume that Smith won't be a good player because he's not putting up the kind of stats you want to see. As small as his school is, there have been 2-3 legit D-1 players on his team the last few years. He's the point guard, he's not going to score 30 a game. He's ranked at about the same level in Chicago that Josh Parker was....I'm willing to give him a chance.

I don't see a point in talking about guys who aren't coming to Drake....there's about 1000 guys out there who will be playing D-1 ball next year that aren't coming to Drake.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

dog67 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:36:51 GMT

Finally!! I didn't think anyone would ever ask. I knew I could count on you, Drakey.
Here's the point. When Drake got the commitment from Hawley, I emphatically pointed out that this was the kind of player that we needed. At last we got a first team all- stater. This is the kind of player that we needed to continue going after. No more all-conference players, no more second team all region, etc. You want to keep going to post season? Well, then what you need are top tier guys, not second tier guys. Simons and Hawley are what you need. When David Smith committed, I pointed out that the only way I would have been excited was if he did what JY did in high school coming from a small private school, which was average 30 per game. David, I am sure is a great kid, but he is not a top tier guy. I sensed that everyone was unjustifiably excited about this signing. Bottom line, boys and girls, is (especially for you Des Moines folk), you have to keep the pressure on. You have to let them know that just because the Dukes and UCLAs are going after a player, doesn't mean we shouldn't be going after them, also. It's the only way to success. Look at how we are struggling against Evansville right now. Win or lose, this should be obvious to all.

Oh, by the way, Crawford scored 23 last night in leading his team to the tournament championship.

Alex Dragicevich. Go get him!!!!!!!!!

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Drakey — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:14:08 GMT

And why do we care about these guys?

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

dog67 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:02:03 GMT

Drew Crawford....Scored 30 in semi-final game. 13 for 19 from field.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

dog67 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:27:02 GMT

Drew Crawford...........averaging 22 ppg in the first two games of his holiday tournament. Semi final game tomorrow (Friday).

David Smith's holiday tournament called off because of weather. They were supposed to go out east. He scores 17/18 in one game and then 8/10 in another. He has a few tough games coming up against some good teams in January. One is against Lake Forest High School with former Drake prospect, Matt Vogrich, who is scoring alot and playing well thus far this season, and another against Zion-Benton High School, who has been ranked as high as third in state this year. Both LF and ZB are from the same conference. I hope David does well in these games, because it will be his toughest competition this year.Ihave mentioned from the very first post regarding David, his school plays a very weak schedulefor the most part and he should be scoring more points. Even though his team has a 7 footer (maybe 2), he should be the team leader. I'm still a bit iffy about his abilities. I believe his team also plays Marshall High School, which is a consistently good city team. This should also be a good test for him, also.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mecha_Bulldog — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:47:18 GMT

http://blog.mlive.com/highschoolbasketball/2008/09/sept_30_valentines_day.html

Valentine has committed to Oakland.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:05:50 GMT

Can't read the whole story ...

http://www.prepspotlight.com/home/usersubmission/valentine-to-undergo-surgery-schools-still-interested#_lw7c1ipUukBOB-PBAF-lw

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

dog67 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:48:15 GMT

It was NU's only open schlorship. His other offers, according to the Chicago papers werefrom " Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Rice and Loyola, among others." His coach said he wanted to go to NU since his Freshman year. It sounds like Drake was never in the running. Too bad; a 31 ACT and a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale, at a very good academic school (Naperville Central).
NEXT!!!!!!

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:19:22 GMT

It's down to one guy named Drew. Crawford commited to Northwestern.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mc Bulldog — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:28:00 GMT

Jiminey Christmas .. Valentine's HS football team can't have anymore bad news.

"With 35.2 seconds left in the second quarter, Big Reds assistant coach Bruce Thelen suffered an apparent heart attack while standing on the sidelines. Thelen was given shock treatment by emergency medical technicians and was revived to consciousness by CPR.

About 20 minutes later, after the referees decided to abruptly end the first half, Thelen was lifted into an ambulance and taken to Sparrow Medical Center.

"They said coach Thelen is doing a lot better. He's coherent and is responsive right now," head coach Dan Boggan said."

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/SPORTS02/808290351/1021/SPORTS02

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mecha_Bulldog — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:14:01 GMT

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/SPORTS02/809030365

Drew Valentine injured his knee, and is done for the hs football season. It's at least a partial ACL tear. That story also says Drake is one of his favorite basketball offers.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

DUBulldog — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:33:31 GMT

Ex IL Dawg (8/24/2008)

Parents are stuck on academics not basketball.

Well, Drake could certainly be a good fit for him then. Just as an FYI, his father is a former NBA referee.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Ex IL Dawg — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:14:59 GMT

I watched Drew play in High School, didn't see him this summer. Solid player, great for Drake, word is Northwestern can have him if they want him. Parents are stuck on academics not basketball.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mecha_Bulldog — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:40:20 GMT

http://blogs.suntimes.com/illinois/2008/08/bullseyes_end_of_summer_awards.html

Another mention of Drew Crawford. This site calls him the area's most unheralded player:

This award is always one of our toughest choices but in the end we kept coming back to how Crawford always seems to get it done in crunch time. He always seems to make a big play when his team needs it the most, whether it be knocking down a big shot, making the crucial pass, coming up with a key steal or taking a charge. Simply put, Crawford is a well-rounded player who doesn't do anything in spectacular fashion, but does a lot of things well. Combine that with the fact that he is an elite student and a first-class young man both on and off the court, and it is easy to see why he is a highly coveted recruit. Northwestern, Loyola-Chicago, Drake, Rice, Bradley, DePaul, Oklahoma State and a number of Ivy League schools are all among the schools in the picture.

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Gordon Gottschalk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:21:58 GMT

And here is some readable stuff on Drew Crawford:

"A strong showing at the Nike Peach Jam Tournament has Class of 2009 Naperville Central star Drew Crawford of the Illinois Warriors seeing his recruiting stock take off. Crawford, a 6-5 shooting guard, brings size, athleticism and versatility to the table. Crawford is coming off of a strong junior season at Naperville Central which saw him display a knack for knocking down big shots for the team.

Crawford came up big for the Warriors throughout the Peach Jam Tournament including a 22-point, 9-rebound effort in a quarterfinals loss to California Supreme.

Crawford now has a fast-growing list of programs in hot pursuit of his services including Drake, Rice, Wagner and Loyola. Look for that list of schools continue to expand after his strong showing on the floor for the Warriors."

RE: Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Gordon Gottschalk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:13:47 GMT

For those of you who do not have the password to McB's scout.com account, here's some info on Drew Valentine you might actually be able to read:

Drew Valentine, 6'5", Lansing, MI: "Valentine is yet another excellent two-sport athlete that brings versatility to the hoop court. As a quarterback, Valentine threw for 12 TDs and over 1,400 yards, with schools like Iowa, Florida State and Michigan State taking a look. But on the hardwood, he already has several offers as he's averaging 17 points and nearly 10 boards this year. He can score from midrange, slash to the basket, and he's always using his superior basketball IQ to outthink his opponents. Valentine needs to add strength, but he's got toughness like his dad Carlton, who played at DeMatha High and then Michigan State in the 1980's."

Two guys named Drew ...09 prospects

Mc Bulldog — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:07 GMT

According to Scouthoops, Drake is interested in these two young men.

Drew Valentine - http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=3418021

and ...

Drew Crawford - http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=3573656