Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
This recruiting class hasn't shown a ton, but Haith was working from a tough spot considering the short cycle (which any coach faces - other than guys you were recruiting at your previous job, it is tough to turn much around in your first recruiting class at a new school). Webster-Chan was clearly miscast as a primary ball handler and got his confidence crushed, but I think he might be a decent SEC player. Never a star, but a solid guy by the time he's a junior/senior. He has been playing better in bit duty the past few games.
Jankovic will be all about his defensive evolution. His offensive skills are clearly there and offer a lot of upside as a face-4.
Criswell has turned out to be a very nice JUCO target (which I don't really count as a normal transfer - you recruit JUCOs just as hard as anything else).
Also... Rodney Purvis was very likely Missouri-bound before the Miami stuff surfaced. That would make this class look quite a bit different.
The JW3/Wes Clark-led 2013 class is going to be more typical of what Haith and co. recruit, IMO. And they are chasing a lot of big names for the 2014 class (Cliff Alexander, DeAngelo Russell, Devin Booker, the Black kid from Memphis, Chris Chiozza,etc).
Haith is going to recruit at a good level, IMO, as long as he keeps a strong staff around him. Tim Fuller is a recruiting beast.
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I wouldn't get too used to Tim Fuller. If we have him in 2014, I'll be surprised and happy. If we have him in 2015, I'll be stunned. If Mizzou has any success at all over the next couple of years, I see him getting a HC gig.
Like I said when the show-cause rumors surfaced, I think Mizzou would be better with Fuller as the HC long-term than Haith.
I do love that about the present leadership, though. They're making some serious investments in the staff around Haith and it's paying off.
The 2014 class could be a major turning point class for us. If that thing goes well, Haith's put the program right back on track. At that point, you can say that he's turned the Titanic and has it heading in the right direction.