Interesting convo I had with a prominant Chicago HS basketball coach

Submitted by WindyCityBlue on

So, I had the opportunity to speak with a Chicago HS basketball luminary in a casual situation earlier today.  I won't drop his name at this point, but he coached some of Chicago's best talent over the past 30 years at a couple well known Chicago high schools.  He apparently just retired this year.  I asked some very pointed questions about basketball topics, specifically regarding college recruiting, and he (thankfully) did not hold back on giving me some very candid and real answers.  Thought I would share with the board:

1. College bball recruiting is extremely dirty (duh!)

2. While he thinks the NCAA does their best to monitor this, he seems to believe that college coaches are much smarter and can "stay ahead" of the NCAA.  He says there are very sophisticated ways to pay players and their families without suspicion.

3. Coach K - dirty as hell (I was kinda surprised by this)

4. Coach Cal - dirty as hell (duh!)

5. Coach Pitino - dirty as hell (duh!)

5. Izzo - sends his assitants to do his dirty work.  He says he was offered money from Dwayne Stephens on several recent occasions for particular recruits (although I don't know if he actually accepted the money).  He thinks that Izzo is not as bad as others though.  Izzo has a lot of respect in Chicago and is not normally known for playing dirty.  However, his people told him that Izzo's recent recruting success is no doubt from some "below the belt" tactics.

6. The Jabari Parker recruitment was surprising clean on a relative scale.

7. As for Michigan/JB - clean, very clean, but too clean.  Most promimant Chicago HS coaches stay away from Michigan because Michigan won't be part of the "recruiting machine" in Chicago.  They think JB is a good coach but teaches "white boy" basketball.  He basically says Michigan/JB has no respect in Chicago anymore.

I mentioned I was a Michigan fan and talked some more about our program.  He has tons of respect for us becasue he had lots of interaction with Michigan many years ago.  Back in the 90s, Michigan was THE school for Chicago's best talent.  He says we were not a clean program then, but he says that no one was and Michigan was no different than any other major program.  He seems to think we have little to no chance with big time recruits in any major city without getting a little dirty. 

He had some funny things to say about Amaker, but I'll save for later.

Anyway, thought I would share with the board.  What are your thoughts?  Would you be OK with getting a little dirty to get better recruits?  Are you OK with being a super clean program now that can't consistent compete on the big stage?

 

 

snarling wolverine

December 27th, 2015 at 10:46 PM ^

Given that last year's team had little chance of defending its Big Ten crown title due to injuries,  I have to disagree.  

If we just plain had a terrible season that'd be one thing.   But we lost LeVert and Walton to season-ending injuries, which makes it pretty tough to evaluate last season.  Prior to that, we racked up three banner seasons in a row.

 

 

youn2948

December 28th, 2015 at 10:20 AM ^

As I believe Spike only played due to Walton being injured.  Otherwise he could have packed it in, gotten through surgery and rehab and been back this year.

I do think Spike played through season, or career ending injury last year, he's a baller.

 

Hopefully our team falls off the IR this year and all start hitting full speed, that spike loss though.

 

Back to topic, DUH!  Nice hearing the perception and a reiteration on how dirty bball is though.

WindyCityBlue

December 27th, 2015 at 11:18 PM ^

There is nothing wrong with wearing those things.  Nothing at all.  But using that to somehow represent how well our football program is doing today is asinine.  It's like saying right after our horrific lose to MSU (or OSU for that matter), "don't care, was wearing my '97 championship hat, so all is good"

ppToilet

December 28th, 2015 at 6:58 AM ^

that's an elf, not a troll, right? But I suppose that "ELF ALERT" doesn't carry the same gravitas.

Oh, and WindyCityBlue, I made a comment about "prominant" about 6 pages south.

Gofor2

December 27th, 2015 at 10:20 PM ^

your saying that UM is squeaky clean and everybody else is dirty to very dirty. I suppose the OP still is thinking UM is going to make the college football playoff also. As much as Michigan likes to look at its tradition and history maybe you should remember that UM basketball was one of the most corrupt programs in NCAA history. I doubt much has changed.

schreibee

December 27th, 2015 at 11:15 PM ^

Yeah, like he cares about "was," "used to be," or any other qualifier.

He's a bucknut slappy, and if there's anything they hate it's hearing we're clean.

The rub is they don't care about it themselves, but can't help feeling it cheapens their accomplishments when we're running a clean program. Leave him to it...

EDIT: Oh man, my clever reply was on app to a comment wiped from the annals of the blog. It was to Gofor2 for them who knows...

BornSinner

December 28th, 2015 at 12:23 AM ^

Beilein does coach white boy basketball. Most people know exactly what the dude means without crying about it. We are Duke "light" back when Coach K used to be the epitome of white boy basketball... That era apparently ended with Singler and Reddick tho. 

Coaching white boy basketball isn't an excuse tho. Coach K still won championships back then prior to recruiting one and dones 24/7. 

It's also kind of similar to what Jalen Rose said about Duke in the Fab Five Doc. 

And yeah having a coach be on the ethics committee is fucking stupid when it comes to recruiting imo. It's like playing with one arm tied behind your back. Even then I cannot blame Beilein for being clean... I blame the one and done bullshit the NBA enforces that is slowly killing college basketball. 

It should go back to what it used to be. 

 

westwardwolverine

December 28th, 2015 at 9:32 AM ^

I'm just curious as to your background as you seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder when it comes to white people. Are you black descended from slaves or Native American? I can understand that angle, even if I disagree with it. But I seem to recall you saying you were not from either of those backgrounds. To make you feel comfortable, I'll start: 5th generation American, descended from Irish, German, English and Dutch stock. How about you? 

BornSinner

December 28th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^

I don't have to justify myself to you, nor your apparent ignorance of how white people/pro-white policies can be racist to people not black or Native American (or the history of people outside of the Americas for that matter) 

That doesn't mean I have a chip on my shoulder. It means I call out people who pretend like everything is normal until they find something that offends their fragile sensibilities like a funny term like "white boy basketball." 

westwardwolverine

December 28th, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^

Ah, so you aren't Native American or black. So someone in your family made an active choice to move here? Where from? You'll note that most Michigan fans are in the United States. I assume you live here and not "outside the Americas"? 

I think I can hazard a guess that you are one of those whiny, privileged minority types who has every advantage in the world but likes to use your skin color to tie yourself to the plight of actually oppressed groups (such as the above). 

You also rail against PC culture, but then resort to PC insults like saying "go back to stormfront" when you are called out about your obvious hypocrisy and apparent racism. 

I have to admit, I find you a fascinating individual. 

BornSinner

December 28th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^

Again I don't have to prove shit to you. 

What you think I'm some rich immigrant who just waltzed over here on a lottery visa? 

I'm like the millions of other immigrants who were afforded a great opportunity by my parents who worked their ass off in spite of inherent disadvantages of traveling to an unfamiliar country and living a blue collar life. 

Believe it or not, you idiot, I might face racism in that I look like a stereotypical Muslim even if I may be financially well off these days compared to most other oppressed minority groups. I know it scares your bum ass and infuriates you that I don't shut up about it. 

I don't have to be a part of an oppressed group to support and understand their plight. 

Again, take your ass to Stormfront. You mad bro?

Today I learned that because I may be financially okay, that racism cannot affect me. Is that your advice for the German Jews too? 

In reply to by BornSinner

SAMgO

December 28th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^

Okay, regardless of the validity or invalidty of your point, you certainly aren't coming off as the intelligent one using phrases such as 'your bum ass', 'take your ass to Stormfront', and 'You mad bro'.

In reply to by BornSinner

westwardwolverine

December 28th, 2015 at 10:28 AM ^

So I was 100% right. 

I figured. 

Have a good day! Enjoy the fruits of your parents labors! Be happy you are one of the most privileged people on planet earth with zero real problems :)!

BornSinner

December 28th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^

Today I learned that racism is only a first world problem according to westwardwolverine. 

Today I also learned that working a blue collar life and making it through college to surpass your parents' financial means is also being privileged. 

Here's another historical tip, the oppressed and un-privileged don't get anywhere without people in higher positions in society helping their cause. 

Man it must be bliss to have that complexion as protection eh?