Paul Scruggs going to prep school
- Thread starter *Shockerrr*
- Start date
I have posted similar comments about Scruggs before. I grew up on the Southside and have seen him play a few times. I know a few people close to the Southport program. Scruggs has some academic problems. He isn't real coachable at times. Not surprised he is leaving and we don't need him at Purdue.
It is likely the academic problems/concerns that prompted the move, more so than anything else...and it is likely that he was advised by one (or more) of the programs closely involved with his recruitment to make the move so as to make sure that he would be eligible a year from now.
Say what you wish about the kid otherwise, but he is tremendously talented and will be a valuable addition to whatever school happens to get him. He not only can flat out play, but he can flat out dominate a game.
It is a real stretch to suggest that Purdue does not need him...a case could be made potentially that he might not be a good fit, but not much of a case could be made that any school, never mind Purdue, does not need him or would not benefit if they were to get him.
More interesting to me is that it is another case where a potential Mr. Basketball winner, and certain Indiana All-Star...both honors that not only used to matter, but were things that young men grew up dreaming of achieving...deemed those honors to not be important.
I can understand why the mr basketball and all stars are not important to him if he needs to go to prep school/basketball factory to be sure he's eligible. Getting into a big time program to showcase potential NBA skill is likely far more important to him. It's the kids below the top 50 who still seem to care.
It used to mean something to be an Indiana All-Star, and used to really mean something to be earn the Mr. Basketball honor...and his move has nothing at all to do with getting him into a big-time program to showcase his skills, as that was happening regardless. In Scruggs' case, he had already started classes at Southport...he had never even been to the "school" that he has transferred to, and he is not even at a genuine school...hard to see how that is going to translate to helping with his potential academic eligibility issues.
With Kentucky not being remotely competitive in the series, and that side of the rivalry not being able to hold up their end of the bargain, the game(s) and series (and, by association, the All-Star honor) have lost their appeal and luster...which is disappointing...but the best players not caring about winning what had long been a very prestigious honor is more disappointing certainly.
I agree and I really think they should just scrap the annual games vs. Kentucky. When was the last time the Kentucky Boys All-Stars beat the Indiana Boys All-Stars? Was it 1986 when Kentucky had Rex Chapman? If so, that's 30 years of domination since then. I'd like to see a continuation of the Indiana All-Stars playing home-and-homes in the summer but if they played a Senior All-Star team from Ohio, Illinois, or Michigan, they would all be much more competitive than the Kentucky HS All-Stars.
I think the above is a clear example of why no one can "guess/predict/use logic to determine" what a potential recruit is going to do. How did Scruggs reach this decision to move? Who suggested this school in CA that he didn't even visit? Why this school over the more well-known basketball factories, of which there are MANY? Why at this time, after he had started school here?
I'm not suggesting it's not a good decision. I simply use it as an example that it's a decision that is hard for outsiders to have a clue as to why .... exactly as it is hard for outsiders to understand why a recruit chooses one school over others.
There have been attempts to get a series going with other states but they haven't caught on. At one point back in the 90's there was a 4 team event between teams from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio but it only lasted a year or two. However, I'd like to see a regular series with another state team besides or instead of Kentucky.
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We mostly agree. What I failed to make clear is that he may be using the basketball factory prep school as an easy way to make good grades and graduate as a school of that type certainly will do anything to keep them eligible and help them have good enough grades to be college eligible. Southport may not be as supportive if you get my meaning. No he does not need to prove more on the court.
As for the general loss of importance you must keep in mind that people don't care about the IHSAA POST SEASON any more either. No where close to what it once was. Probably the same disease affecting all three formerly great events or honors.
You mean to say that a coach can't make a kid go to a school he doesn't want to go to??????
With your clarification, I think your point is a valid one with respect to his achieving good grades...but he will still need a qualifying test score as well. It is not as if he were facing the prospect of being ineligible at Southport for that matter...his concerns are being eligible a year from now so as to play as a freshman, and then move on to the NBA.
Good point on the latter...and it does indeed play into how the other honors are viewed, as does the greater importance of, and focus on, AAU basketball.
IMO That disease is class basketball.Ruined Indiana's tourney..
AAU is another big hit I hadn't thought of, good catch. Things change over time. I don't see the importance coming back but you never know.
That may be. It could also have faded anyway although likely more slowly. That we will never know.
I love this quote!
”Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
so true for many that tend to advance overly simplistic solutions.
Thanks, here are a couple more:I love this quote!
”Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
so true for many that tend to advance overly simplistic solutions.
“Truth gains more by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think.” ~John Stuart Mill
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." ~Carl Sagan
"In science, it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion."
-- Carl Sagan, 1987 CSICOP keynote address
