Recruitment and the role of the assistant coaches...

[Huskerpapa]

I am placing this topic here rather than in the recruitment section because this is not necessarily about Illikainen, but more so about the affect assistants have on the going and coming of recruits.  I knew that Johnson was the main recruiter for Alex, but this article tends to draw that relationship out a bit.  What can you do...but my initial reaction was pretty much these words...crap, we have no chance with this kid now.

 

 

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/259889?referrer_id=331171

 

 

 

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now?

 

Alex Illikainen: Just the seven schools (Minnesota, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Creighton, NDSU, Oregon and Nebraska) that have offered me, I have been talking to a lot. I have also been talking to Indiana, Kansas, recently Cal and a couple of other schools.

 

Gopher Hole: Obviously, Minnesota has a new coaching staff since the last time I have talked to you. What has been the impressions of the new staff?    

 

Alex Illikainen: I know (new Gopher assistant) Ben Johnson from Nebraska. I have a good relationship with him and I went down to see them both, Pitino and Johnson and had a good meeting. It sounds like it is going to be a great fit for them.

 

Gopher Hole: Does having Ben Johnson help them because obviously you knew him from Nebraska? You probably did not know Coach Pitino before he got hired here. Do you think that helps Minnesota because they have a coach on their staff that you knew before?     

 

Alex Illikainen: Yes. He is from DeLSalle. He played here. Everyone knows him and I think that will help get a lot of kids. That is a good thing to have.

[Nebrasketballer]

Yeah, he's gone...

[cipsucks]

I wouldn't read too much into this interview.  I don't see anything that says he's enamored with Minnesota.  He's being interviewed by Gopher Hole.  What do you expect him to say?  "I would never spend 4 or 5 years of my life in a state where the voters elected Jesse Ventura as Governor and sent Al Franken to Washington D.C."

 

I have no idea where the kid goes.  "Franken"ly I don't care.  I don't get into the recruiting b.s.   Nothing wrong with it for those who do,  just not my cup of tea.

 

cwg is spot on about assistant coaches and the role they play getting kids to a school.  Relationships play a huge role.  But, there are many other factors involved.  Who knows what makes teenagers decide where to play ball.  Everyone is different.

[Bugeaters1]

I wouldn't read too much into this interview.  I don't see anything that says he's enamored with Minnesota.  He's being interviewed by Gopher Hole.  What do you expect him to say?  "I would never spend 4 or 5 years of my life in a state where the voters elected Jesse Ventura as Governor and sent Al Franken to Washington D.C."

 

I have no idea where the kid goes.  "Franken"ly I don't care.  I don't get into the recruiting b.s.   Nothing wrong with it for those who do,  just not my cup of tea.

 

cwg is spot on about assistant coaches and the role they play getting kids to a school.  Relationships play a huge role.  But, there are many other factors involved.  Who knows what makes teenagers decide where to play ball.  Everyone is different.

Whats wrong with the Body.

[cipsucks]

 

Whats wrong with the Body.

 

For starters, he thinks Dick Cheney blew up the Twin Towers.

 

And, worse than that, he has no honor.

http://www.startribune.com/local/209539341.html