Speaking of carousels, there’s always the basketball recruiting one, and it never stops spinning.
N&O/CO NC State beat writer Ken Tysiac posted a pair interesting quotes from hoops recuiting super-guru Bob Gibbons:
Gibbons said he has a “gut feeling” that Wall will choose N.C. State rather than Memphis or Baylor. But he said even if Lowe doesn’t get either of those marquee players, he will have a solid class.
Gibbons (espn.com, others) also said that State has a shot at Derrick Favors too, but labeled it as “wishful thinking:”
“N.C. State has positioned themselves where this may be just wishful thinking, but they apparently have a shot at John Wall and Derrick Favors,” Gibbons said.
It’s hard to say from an outside vantage point what Favors might do; he came to Raleigh but skipped Memphis and Florida State trips, but on the other hand, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution seems pretty resolute that Favors will pick between Georgia Tech or Georgia.
Where it gets interesting is that Wall once casually remarked that he’d like to play with Favors. If (and it’s a bold, capital letter, italicized IF) one or the other picks NC State first, will the other follow?
One thing is certain: Sidney Lowe is working on bringing the top recruits in the prep game to Raleigh, and that he has already secured a very good class for next year. If he gets one or both Wall or Favors, NC State’s incoming class will take a backseat to no one — not even UNC or Duke.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
We need a little background music from Dire Straits for this…
“That’s the way you do it…”
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
The AJC has frequently said that Favors wants to stay close to home, but Favors has said that being close to home is not a big deal.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Take deep breathes…don’t get overly excited…don’t soil your undergarments…
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Can we categorically say that we have two scholarships for them if all the underclassmen return? I thought we only had one left. Anyway, if we got either of them, I’d be ecstatic. Both, and it’s almost certainly the best BB recruiting class ever for NC State.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
We’re legitimately in the fray, I’m estatic about that fact alone!!!
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Honestly, at this point, Bob Gibbons is sort of a joke in recruiting circles.
I think you could make a strong argument that State actually has a better chance at Favors than Wall.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
“Honestly, at this point, Bob Gibbons is sort of a joke in recruiting circles.”
Who says? You may very well be right, but he’s been at this thing for quite a while. I’ll trust his judgment on the matter over 95% of just about anyone else.
And given that Wall has spent a tremendous amount of time with the folks at State and that Wall’s mother really likes Sidney Lowe, what makes you think we have a better shot with Favors?
(and damn you Alpha for beating me to this by about 30 minutes!)
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
“Who says?”
Those who follow recruiting closely.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
“Who says?”
Those who follow recruiting closely.
That sort of Matt Drudge-ish cryptic non-answer is ridiculous.
Besides, it is no secret that Favors and Walls are interested in NC State.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I don’t know what to think of Gibbons. There was a time when he was the business. My uncle used to send me copies of his “All Star Sports” report – it’s interesting to go through those and look at them.
However, this business has changed – and I have no idea whether he’s any good or not anymore.
I hope he’s right about his gut.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I can certainly understand a kids desire to stay close to home. Family & friends can attend your games. If Favors stays in Georgia nobody in the Wolfpack family would hate the young man. He should go to a program he feels comfortable with the facilities, classroom, and future team mates. We have great hoops history in Raleigh and I for one would be greatful if Favors or Wall contributed to that.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Whatever the decsion(s), hopefully they arrive sooner rather than later.
Given Sidney’s ability to generate interest from quality players, I’d love to seem him have time to land a suitable plan B if it comes to that.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I always take what Bob says about Duke and NCSU very lightly. There’s a sheep under that wolve’s comments. Bob is baby blue to the core. Maybe Bob just putting that out there to throw off other recruits?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
What’s wrong heel? Pissed they weren’t sitting in pansy hole?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Gibbons doesn’t really know anything in this situation IMO. Logic says we have a better shot at Wall than Favors. I would say most likely we get neither.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Speaking of plan B, what do we know about Ruslan Pateev?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
“N.C. State has positioned themselves where this may be just wishful thinking,”
That statement sums up everything NC State Fans have lived for decades. Positioning yourself to be wishfull thinkers, classic!
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
“Speaking of plan B, what do we know about Ruslan Pateev?”
We’re in his final three, according to something I read this morning.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
COME ON JOHN! COMMIT AND BRING FAVORS WITH YOU! THAT WOULD BE BY FAR THE #1 RECRUITING CLASS IN THE COUNTRY.
AND DONT WORRY ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS, THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE 2. BRANDON IS GOING TO GRADUATE AND PLAY IN EUROPE.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
That has nothing to do with it. Bob Gibbons gains nothing at all by doing that.
If you want to be skeptical about what the man says, be skeptical because it’s been a number of years since he was deeply plugged into the recruiting scene. In fact, he admits as much. He hasn’t talked to Wall. He’s just guessing.
Twenty years ago, there were about four people doing what he did. Today? There’s about 4,000. In each time zone.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I honestly don’t see Wall and Favors coming to NCSU. They could go anywhere and play, and I’m not so sure that Sidney can keep that many highly touted players happy. He couldn’t even keep JJ, Ben, Brandon and Courtney all happy…and you want him to try this?
Plus, the offensive sets we ran last year were horrible. We can’t focus on ONE player, we have to play as a team, and we couldn’t do it last year. I’m just as big a Pack fan as anyone, but even IF they come, we have to make them play together…and we haven’t proven that we can.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I checked ESPN Recruiting and apparently Favors has pushed back his decision to the April deadline. Maybe if Wall commits first, Favors will follow.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
“What’s wrong heel? Pissed they weren’t sitting in pansy hole?”
What the hell are you talking about? You think I’m worried about recruiting?
As for the other statement – it wasn’t meant to be cryptic – it was Joe Friday – just the facts. Bob Gibbons is laughed at and ridiculed among recruitniks and recruiting professionals. Partly for professional reasons – he hasn’t adapted to the times (you know, like the internets) and for personal reasons (he’s a crotchety old jackass)
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
“I honestly don’t see Wall and Favors coming to NCSU.”…
And I’m not going reprint the rest of that bullshit comment.
Seriously, apackadeez, if you’re wondering why NC State doesn’t attract more of the nation’s top talent, just go as far as the attitude that your comment conveys.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Gibbons definitely seems to be a bit behind the times — I can’t understand how anyone who isn’t online can claim to be worth much.