Howland the Prophet

by guttylittlebruins on May 10, 2007 9:45 AM PDT

Remember a few days ago when I said Malcolm lee was the #20 player in the country? and that Jerime Anderson was the #42 player in the country?

Well, it wasn't always that way. When they first committed, (a long time ago) one of them was barely in the top 50. Howland, somehow, had a feeling about them and here they are # 20 and #42 with stock soaring.

Whoops, look like scout just updated their rankings.
Lee? #13, #2 5 star point guard in the country. Anderson? #3 point guard, high ranked four star, #23 player in the country. How high ranked of a four star you ask?

#22 is a 5 star.

Whoda thunk????

Howland. For all those complaints about how he can't recruit the big guys, it obviously doesn't matter if he can show them the glory of ben ball before anyone else even gives them a ring.

Oh yeah, he recruited Kevin Love and Drew Gordon. I hear they are pretty big gets, literally and figuratively.

N likes to say, "I will never get tired of saying 'Thank God for Ben Howland.'"

Well, Thank God for Ben Howland.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I absolutely love Howland

what really iritates me is the unfounded criticisms regarding his style of play. People don't realize at Northern Arizona he played up tempo.

Howland plays to win. His style is to maximize his teams chances to win. Now that he has more athletic and deeper teams, you are going to see the same tough defense, but with more of an up tempo offense. I can't wait!!!!!!!

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on May 10, 2007 10:40 AM PDT reply actions

One of the biggest upgrades

that mostly gets overlooked when we analyze our recruiting is how deep our bench is going to be. Recruits no longer need to worry about being a starter at UCLA, because I envision a system where our "second 5" gets a very significant amount of playing time. Not only will we have the personnel to do this, but it will keep our starters fresh when they're in the game, and prevent our bench from losing confidence.

by Tydides on May 10, 2007 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Did you ever consider that

some of these rankings systems bases their player rankings on which school they attend? Lee and Anderson might have moved up because those who do the rankings respect Howland and UCLA's talent scouting abilities.

by stephons on May 10, 2007 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

it didn't happen with stanback

by guttylittlebruins on May 10, 2007 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Not likely

Gordon was #10 overall, fell to #20 in the last rankings, and dropped again to #23 after committing to UCLA.

by SuperBruinMan on May 10, 2007 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Never Skeptical Again

I remember over the winter looking at the rankings of both point guards and power forwards. Luke Babbitt was way ahead of Drew Gordon in the PF rankings. Today Babbitt, who is foolishly attending The Ohio State Community College, is ranked #11 and Drew Gordon is #7. Even Larry Drew, formerly the #2 ranked PG, who I thought was crucial to the future of the program has been outpaced by fellow So. Cal. point guards Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee. When Howland offered the scholarships to Lee and Anderson instead of going with all energy towards Larry Drew, I was confused. But clearly he knows what he is doing. Thank God the Bruins have him.

Riggs

by dpriggs on May 10, 2007 12:58 PM PDT reply actions

Looks like the old days

When JW was coaching and the rankings would come out, the joke would be that UCLA was #1 and their bench would be #2 if they were allowed t0 vote that way.

Way to go BH.

by artybruin on May 10, 2007 1:36 PM PDT reply actions

Jrue Holiday cut his list...

down to 2 schools, according to Scout.com. UCLA and UW. Here's hoping that that recruiting battle goes the same way Gordon's did. Howland is truly amazing.

by 4pt8Secs on May 10, 2007 1:38 PM PDT reply actions

I shutter to think

what the reactions are on Tar Heel message boards across the country. They were so confident they'd get him.

by SuperBruinMan on May 10, 2007 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Jerime Anderson is no longer a four star.

Scout.com upgraded him to five stars.

by Bruin Roar on May 10, 2007 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

Nevermind

My mistake. Anderson is still rated four stars.

by Bruin Roar on May 10, 2007 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions

He's #26

They probably hadn't quite decided yesterday a few of the close decisions. Maybe they had Anderson in a "tie" for 25th (which is the cutoff).

by SuperBruinMan on May 10, 2007 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Great post

and great thread. Keep it coming guys.

by Nestor on May 10, 2007 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

Anderson was a 5 star

for about a day yesterday on Scout

by jonjon602 on May 10, 2007 7:18 PM PDT reply actions

50 years from now

Anderson can tell his grandchildren, "I was a 5 star High School Basketball player according to Scout.com before we won those four national championships at UCLA."

by SuperBruinMan on May 10, 2007 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions