College recruiting

By RVaughters

February 24, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this

My nephew is doing a great job on the field and in the classroom, but remember he is still only 15 years old. He has alot of growing to do physically and emotionally. He’s got great parents and a great support system. More of Atlanta’s students and athletes need the help that he has been getting all his life. Before trying to encourage him to accept offer A,B,C,D or E, just let him enjoy life and be a kid. Football is only part of who he is, it’s not everything. Good luck nephew, continued success.

By JacketFan

February 24, 2009 11:25 PM | Link to this

Well said RV. Let the kid be a kid. He’ll make the choices that are best for him when the time comes. I hope its Atlanta, but I wish him the best either way.

By TONY SHUMPERT

February 25, 2009 12:38 AM | Link to this

RV, I, like you, have a super star nephew. My nephew, Iman, plays for GT basketball. It is good to hear that your nephew has a good support system. I can personally tell you that GT has a large support system for their athletes too. I do not know Paul Johnson, but I do know the other Paul, as in Paul Hewitt. I will never forget the day Paul first walked into our home to meet Iman. My jaw seriously hit the ground when Paul walked through that door. I had to keep telling myself that it was not Denzel! He was wearing this suit that must have been tailor-made only for him, because it fit him perfectly as it made him look especially fit that night. I can’t speak for his dad, but when Paul first flashed that warm smile of his as he walked through that door way - I was sold on Ga.Tech. I will never forget that encounter with our Paul for the rest of my life.

Anyway, good luck to you and your family.

By buzztheirazz

February 25, 2009 1:06 AM | Link to this

Congrats on the offer. enjoy your senior year and make the best decision for you, your family and what will prepare you for the rest of your life.

GO JACKETS!!!

By KC Kid

February 25, 2009 6:50 AM | Link to this

Ahh…gee TONY, I get misty just reading your posts. Who gives a rip what Hewitt looks like in his suit!! Warm smile….Denzel? WTF?

Next time you talk to your dream guy….tell him to start winning some fricking basketball games. That’s what he gets paid for!

Congratulations on the offer James. When the time comes, make the decision that’s right for you. If you play football at Tech, at least you’ll be playing for a coach that understands what he’s paid to accomplish.

By Maddog

February 25, 2009 7:34 AM | Link to this

I wish this kid well, but I do struggle to accept this move towards offering scholarships to high school sophomores. In February of my sophomore year I was still 15 years old. WAY too early to put this kind of pressure on a young teenager. Not just condemning Tech - I don’t like it when UGA does it as well.

By Agreed

February 25, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this

I completely agree with Maddog (yeah, i actually said that). Sophomore??? Not at all condemning the kid, just the recruiting system. I wish him all the luck in the world with his next 2 years of highschool, and hope he comes to GT….But 15? Jeez.

By blowhard

February 25, 2009 8:33 AM | Link to this

Braggarts.I bet you guys hardly knew the kids(s) until they became a superstar. Now you want to head up the entourage,recruiting process,be his agent. Silly, the both of you to come on here bragging about a superstar high school kid. Just plain silly.

By the Sting

February 25, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this

Maddog…agree with you completely. This business of recruiting is getting way out of hand. These recruiting services are helping to push the envelope on this so much. CPJ is probably doing this just to get in line with all the others that have offered him. I think the SEC better get a handle on what is going down between their coaches or things could get even uglier in that conference (schools blowing the whistle on each other, etc.) If I recall, that’s what brought down the old SWC. When teams start signing 38 players, it’s time for some rule changes, as well.

By GA Buckeye

February 25, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this

Good advice from everybody. Thanks for the comments…It’s up to the parents to insulate these kids from the recruiting process getting out of control. It is incredibly flattering that these top notch schools show an active interest in your student athlete. We’ll do our best to make this a fun ride for James and let him still be a kid for the next 3 years.

By Reality

February 25, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this

I wonder if this trend of schools offering scholarships earlier and earlier has anything to do with kids backing out on commitments?

I think that all schools should wait until the end of the junior year and also that once a kid makes a commitment, they cannot change their mind.

By The Big Bug

February 25, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this

I agree. Recruit the kid early but what is the point of making an offer to a 15-year old? It seems to cheapen the value. By the time he’s ready to sign the offer will have faded and lost it’s luster, IMHO. Garner seems to have the timing about right.

By BIG bee

February 25, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this

NAW Reality, making early offers does not have anything to do with backing out of commitments, “cause it just gives them more time to think and then back out.

By Minnesota Jacket

February 25, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this

Jeez…I don’t even know how to comment to some of the absolue CRAP that comes on these blogs…RealityYech I am going to comment because of the stupidity and say that UGA does the exact same thing but… forgetting that I still think it is stupid to put offers on the table for sophmores…maybe throw out interest obviously for what ya see…but so much can change in 2 years for ANY PLAYER…

By Texas_tornado

February 25, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

MN Jacket,

Can you provide us with some links of any 15 year olds UGA has offered, or better yet, Coach Richt? Just curious….

By Tucker alumni

February 25, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this

Dear Aunty Vaughters: Give us all a break. NO ONE is trying to tell your nephew to choose school A, B, C or D. James is a great kid and very level headed. Great parents. But it’s when other adults like you get involved, acting like he is more important that he really is, that’s when things get messed up.

By WillieD

February 25, 2009 7:17 PM | Link to this

RealityYech- I love it when you dawgies get off on your recruiting scores. I guess thats about all youve got left to be proud of. If all those five star kids could get you a championship, then you`d have something to howl about. But with no National title in, how long has it been? TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS? And no conference title since Urban Renewal moved south. Oh yeah, almost forgot. No STATE title either. And you lost the three guys who were gonna win it all for you (Stafford, Knowshow, and Massaqua), so what do you have to look forward to? Oh yeah, RECRUITING. And now we Techies stole your thunder offering the best sophmore in the state - right under your nose.

Go read your recruiting books, since you havent any titles to read about. And think about going back to square one. Who will yall beat next season? Vandy, KY? Not much more. Certainly not OSU(W), not Auburn, not LSU, not FL, not UT, AND ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOT TECH.

By wreckmaniac

February 25, 2009 8:29 PM | Link to this

REALITY YECK: You win again. Another great recruiting year for UGA with no championships. Lord, please let this continue forever.

By Tokyo jacket

February 25, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this

I have mixed opinions on recruiting a 15-year old. When I was 15, I was worried about girls and staying out of trouble, not what I’d do for the rest of my life. But, as long as it’s legal, it’s the only way to compete with Pete Carroll and Mack Brown for anyone.

I wish we didn’t have to do it, but I also wish we didn’t have to pay coaches $2M per year. I’m sure as heck glad we pay CPJ $2M per year. I think kids should be off limits until New Year’s day of their junior year, when their junior season is over.

Good comment about the SWC. I wonder if that’s on the horizon?

By ReallityYech

February 25, 2009 10:12 PM | Link to this

I hope this kid comes up to Athens to help us win our side of the comferance. We can sure yuse him. go you harry dogsssss!!!!

By gtforever

February 26, 2009 8:20 AM | Link to this

Good Grief…. The kid is 15, I totally agree with his uncle. Let this kid be a kid. I understand the need for these schools to be a head of the curve, but jeez, somebody needs to draw the line. The NCAA in all its hypocrisy allowed this rule, so I guess the individual schools or head coaches need to bring us back into reality. I ma very disappointed to see GT perpetuate this ABSURDITY of recruiting 15 year olds…

By BobinBuford

February 26, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this

This is just a continuation of what goes on in CBB these days - except coaches there are scouting 8th graders. Isn’t that when Sebastian Telfair first came on the scene?

RY: When your top ten recruiting classes at UGAg start winning NC’s, then you can start boasting about your great football team. This year your dreams will be done when you lose your first game to Oklahoma State!

By Hey RealityYech

February 26, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

What happened to your posts little fella? ;)

By RVaughters

February 27, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this

TUCKER ALUMNI… I’m his uncle, and I know it’s people like you that will be the first one to give him advice. I’m merely stating that he is a 15-year old, so leave him alone. I know he is level headed, but with any child, the more attention “they” get, the more important “they” think they are. Society has a way of perpetuating it because we are an entertainment driven culture. Just like any athlete that is getting more attention than they deserve, I give my nephew props for being a 4.0 student, I could give a care less if he ever played football. Academics, and being a highly intelligent young man that is making a positive impact on his peers by having a healthy balance of sports and life is what I am proud of. Hopefully my nephew might follow the example of Myron Rolle @ FSU and become a Rhodes Scholar. Or he can just be like his Mom and Dad, both excellent role models, highly intelligent and accomplished people. Or he might be like me his uncle, a High School Teacher. None of us know what path James will choose or where he will pursue his education. But one day I would like to see a National Sighing Day for all the students that pursue Intellectual Accomplishments like most athletes pursue sports. I don’t need to advice James, but I will keep him rooted in family, and the things that are truly important.

By Bill Sanford

February 27, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this

Did this young man play some youth football at Mountain Park Athletic Association by any chance?

By GA Buckeye

February 27, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this

yep! 3 years at Mtn Park, 2000 to 2002.

By Willie Mayson

February 28, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this

He is a great kid. He also played with the Tucker Lions but those dumb coaches didnt have a clue as to what to do with him. They played Thomas Brown at Guard and Asher Allen at Center. Yet, they stick their chest out and claim they helped them all. Dont ever take your kids to Tucker Lions. My son is at North Henry and really getting prepared for High School.

By Americus Jacket

March 4, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this

I actually think it’s a GREAT message to give a sophmore an early offer when he has a 4.0 average. Maybe his teammates will notice this and understand there is a connection between academics, athletics, and scholarship offers.