DeMarcus Cousins

[CrimsonSEC]

Some people have said that he can't be coached. He has too big of an ego, openly disagrees with his coach (Think: Carmelo Anthony refusing to come out of a game). Just look at the interview with him on ian rappaport's blog on al.com, you can just tell that he isn't a very sincere guy by the way he talks about UAB (a school that offered him a free education and a chance to play basketball, and one that he was "committed" to for months)

Also, there was a HUGE story about him punching an assistant coach as a Sophomore at Erwin. When I first heard that he considers Alabama as an option, I got excited. But the more I think about it, the more that I think he would be a definite cancer to the team. However, it would only be ONE year, before he went to the NBA. He is 100% lock to enter into the NBA draft after next season.

Thanks for the history(Sincerely). Now let's look at CAGs history. Grew up in Miami, played at Dayton, he's black, (relevant in this case) spent a decade as an assistant at a major program.

We're paying Coach Grant well to make these kinds of decisions, why not give him a break and not second-guess him in his first year. Let him decide...

Exactly! He's qualified to make the decision on this kid. We have a coach now who understands where these inner city kids are coming from as well as how to coach them up to the national level.........UA basketball is headed in the right direction IMO.

 

[BAMA1979]

What do the names DJ Hall, Terrell Owens, Pac-Man Jones, Ron Artest, Allen Iverson, Michael & Marcus Vick etc. have in common? All were/are superb athletic talents who eventually became cancers to their respective teams.

Sometimes there are intangibles that can't be measured simply in grades, arrest records, and recruiting rankings. If CAG thinks this kid is worth the risk, then I have no choice but to trust his judgement. However, there just seems too much uncertainty surrounding the recruitment of Cousins.

They have nothing in common with Cousins.

 

[1LoudTideFan]

like earle said. if grant wants him and gets him to come, so be it.

grant has a track record of picking good kids. some kids just need the right environment, and if xcmg did anything right, his kids got their school work taken care of. so at least he will have older players that might instill the same in him once on campus.

if he comes great, if he doesnt no big deal. he is a talent on the court, no question about that.

 

[vaersagod]

We're paying Coach Grant well to make these kinds of decisions, why not give him a break and not second-guess him in his first year. Let him decide...

You know, CMG recruited pretty high character guys who were fairly talented. I am sure by doing that, he knew that his off the court issues would be much less. However, it doesn't mean that you don't sometimes take a chance on a huge talent because he may or may not be the type of personality you would want Maybe you make a difference in his life while he is there. CNS talks about this all the time. Just let CAG make these calls.

 

[Tide & Titans]

Wasn't Derrick Thomas a troubled kid when we recruited him? Give this kid a break. Most of you are probably just hyping up his character issues for an excuse when he doesn't pick us.

Also, comparing DJ Hall to Pacman Jones is completely outrageous.

 

[Ldlane]

Maybe CAG can do something as part of "character education" if that is the case. I agree with Tide-HSV completely.

 

[GreatDanish]

You know, CMG recruited pretty high character guys who were fairly talented. I am sure by doing that, he knew that his off the court issues would be much less. However, it doesn't mean that you don't sometimes take a chance on a huge talent because he may or may not be the type of personality you would want Maybe you make a difference in his life while he is there. CNS talks about this all the time. Just let CAG make these calls.

I think this is a good point. It is one thing for us to take a kid with a troubled past. It is quite another thing to make a habit of signing kids regardless of their past.
If you put one "troubled" kid in a group of 13 otherwise seemingly good citizens, they are more likely to impact him than vice versa (though not impossible by any means). However, when you have 6 of the 13 who have served time, that is another issue...
Not to dig too deep into this one. I agree... Let Coach Grant make the calls.

 

[CrimsonDragon]

I saw some of the McDAAG tonight and watched Cousins closely. Obviously, this gives me very little to go on, so take it for what it's worth. He appeared to be supportive of teamates. He also seemed genuinely upset about missing a late free throw that would have helped his team (as opposed to being nonchalant). Again, TIFWIW.

On another note, having not seen him play before, I was a little surprised that he didn't seem to be a very explosive athlete. In fairness, I don't think J Green is particularly explosive either, but he developed into a very good player down the stretch this year.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

I saw some of the McDAAG tonight and watched Cousins closely. Obviously, this gives me very little to go on, so take it for what it's worth. He appeared to be supportive of teamates. He also seemed genuinely upset about missing a late free throw that would have helped his team (as opposed to being nonchalant). Again, TIFWIW.

On another note, having not seen him play before, I was a little surprised that he didn't seem to be a very explosive athlete. In fairness, I don't think J Green is particularly explosive either, but he developed into a very good player down the stretch this year.

Years ago, the story has it, after destroying Bobby Lee Hurt in an all-star game, an extraordinarily talented basketball player with a mouth bigger than his butt picked up the phone not long before signing day. Charles Barkley, a longtime commitment to Auburn, called the school where he really wanted to play. He made his case, then pleaded for a chance.

C.M. Newton listened, wished Barkley well, but said no.

 

[Ldlane]

After listening to an interview on WJOX this morning I think we have a real chance. Cousins said that the recruitment is no open with Calipari leaving Memphis, including Alabama specifically when asked about CAG. He chuckled about the prospect of UAB.

WJOX also talked about UK having limited scholarships and really no room on their roster right now.

 

[Tidetwin]

After listening to an interview on WJOX this morning I think we have a real chance. Cousins said that the recruitment is no open with Calipari leaving Memphis, including Alabama specifically when asked about CAG. He chuckled about the prospect of UAB.

WJOX also talked about UK having limited scholarships and really no room on their roster right now.

LD, I also wondered about the early talk of Memphis's high caliber, eyes- on -the-next- level players transferring to Lexington in order to play for Calipari. Those guys are in a hurry to get to the NBA and I doubt that they would sacrifice a year.

 

[Hoot30]

Years ago, the story has it, after destroying Bobby Lee Hurt in an all-star game, an extraordinarily talented basketball player with a mouth bigger than his butt picked up the phone not long before signing day. Charles Barkley, a longtime commitment to Auburn, called the school where he really wanted to play. He made his case, then pleaded for a chance.

C.M. Newton listened, wished Barkley well, but said no.

See, I always thought that it was Wimp's assistant Benny Dees that convinced Wimp to pass on recruiting Barkley. CM left after the '79 - '80 season and Wimp took over for the '80 - '81 season, Barkley's and Hurt's senior year of high school. Barkley's frosh year at the barn was '81 - '82.

 

[#8fanrolltide]

he can play but i watched some of his interviews it's just something about his attitude he's better off playing for calipari. grant want let him have is way

 

[TideAlum]

LD, I also wondered about the early talk of Memphis's high caliber, eyes- on -the-next- level players transferring to Lexington in order to play for Calipari. Those guys are in a hurry to get to the NBA and I doubt that they would sacrifice a year.

Cousins has not signed a LOI. He only verbally committed to Memphis. Therefore, he can go wherever he wants to go.

Xavier Henry's LOI and Nolan Dennis's LOI reportedly contain clauses that state they can go elsewhere if Calipari leaves...therefore they don't have to sit out a year.

Prior to the departure of Calipari, John Hall stated that he was leaning towards Memphis. Again, no LOI.

All 4 of these guys could go to UK and play next season.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

See, I always thought that it was Wimp's assistant Benny Dees that convinced Wimp to pass on recruiting Barkley. CM left after the '79 - '80 season and Wimp took over for the '80 - '81 season, Barkley's and Hurt's senior year of high school. Barkley's frosh year at the barn was '81 - '82.

Hoot, you're absolutely right on the actual dates of the Barkley/Bobby Lee era.

Which leads to another story . . . this one about another big character guy, Norman Ankrum (sp?), the kid we signed out of Birmingham as supposedly our best pure center prospect since Leon.

As I recall, he didn't make it through December. Story I've always heard is that he decided to pursue a higher education elsewhere after Reggie King lint-mopped the locker room with him after a game, and the coaches needed a surprisingly long amount of time to break it up.

 

[TiderinArkansas]

I don't know anything about the guy, and its never excusable to punch a coach but he should be given a chance, we all do stupid things when were 15 or 16, maybe not punch a coach stupid but if Coach Grant thinks he can control him then he should go after him.

As far as not wanting him because he's a one and done, disagree totally, its the way of the world now, you build a team around four years guy but you can't pass up a special talent here and there.

 

[Hoot30]

Hoot, you're absolutely right on the actualy dates of the Barkley/Bobby Lee era.

Which leads to another story . . . this one about another big character guy, Norman Ankrum (sp?), the big kid we signed out of Birmingham as supposedly our best pure center since Leon.

He didn't last through December. Story I've always heard is that he decided to pursue a higher education elsewhere after Reggie King lint-mopped the locker room with him after a game, and the coaches took a little more time than might be expected to break it up.

That's an interesting story. Thanks.

 

[RiverCityTider]

I don't know anything about the guy, and its never excusable to punch a coach but he should be given a chance, we all do stupid things when were 15 or 16, maybe not punch a coach stupid but if Coach Grant thinks he can control him then he should go after him.

As far as not wanting him because he's a one and done, disagree totally, its the way of the world now, you build a team around four years guy but you can't pass up a special talent here and there.

Well, I think maybe Coach Grant could whip his ..., so bring it on.

 

[gamersfuel]

there is question as to whether he will even qualify.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I can't think about Hurt without thinking about what went down at one of his paternity suits. He was on the stand, under cross, and the plaintiff's attorney was trying to pin him to the wall about the details of the night when the alleged conception occurred. When Bobby Lee was asked how many times the act was consummated, he hesitated, and, with a sheepish grin, said "Seventeen." (Keeping count is not gentlemanly...)