Kellen Winslow Jr. recruiting saga redux?

[Ultra Peanut]

I hope not.

By Gary Parrish and Jim Masilak
Contact
October 17, 2005

One week before he is to announce his college destination, Thaddeus Young told The Commercial Appeal late Sunday that the University of Memphis remains an option, despite his father proclaiming otherwise

"Right now, it's Memphis, Kentucky, Georgia Tech and Arkansas," Young said. "I've cut it down to four."

Young's clarification came only minutes after his father, Felton Young, told The Commercial Appeal in a separate interview that the Mitchell High star had eliminated Memphis from consideration. Asked why, Felton Young answered, "He would like to go out of town. That's the discussion with me."

So to recap:

Felton Young insisted the UofM is no longer an option. Thaddeus said it is.

The confusion?

According to Thaddeus, it's racially motivated.

"My Dad, he kind of wants me to play for a black coach," Thaddeus said. "But that doesn't really matter to me."

Kentucky, Arkansas and Georgia Tech -- the only three schools Felton Young said his son is still considering -- are all led by black coaches, namely Tubby Smith, Stan Heath and Paul Hewitt. Memphis is coached by John Calipari, who, of course, is white.

"But I don't think that's gonna be a big deal," Thaddeus said. "This is my decision, and whatever I pick (my father) is going to be happy."

If nothing else, Sunday's developments offered further proof that Young's recruitment is going to go down as one of the strangest this city has ever seen. On some level, it's fitting considering the 6-8 wing -- ranked by Rivals.com as the third-best prospect in the nation -- is also one of the greatest talents this city has ever produced.

Since early summer, Young has gone from "wide open" to "down to seven schools" to "down to four," with the latest casualty being North Carolina, thanks to the Tar Heels gaining a commitment Sunday from highly regarded forward Brandan Wright. That apparently means Young will ultimately choose from a group consisting of two SEC schools, one ACC institution and Conference USA's flagship program.

Either way, a final decision is set to be announced next Monday. The press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Mitchell.

"We are ready to get this over with," Felton Young said. "Next Monday, it'll be done."

[Ebolapox]

you mean kwII wanted to play for memphis??

-EB-

[Ultra Peanut]

Originally Posted by EBOLA

you mean kwII wanted to play for memphis??

-EB-

[Ebolapox]

so my brilliant attempt at dry humor got knocked outta the park... brilliant!!!

-EB-...

[Ultra Peanut]

Originally Posted by EBOLA

so my brilliant attempt at dry humor got knocked outta the park... brilliant!!!

-EB-...

You could be the third part of Rausch and I's as-yet-untitled sketch comedy project. We can shoot a pilot for Comedy Central and see what happens.

[Spicy McHaggis]

I knew Mangino being white hurt recruiting!!! Damn you and your heritage fatman!!!

[Ultra Peanut]

This comes from a Memphis forum. The first response to it was, "Bullseye," from a legitimately clued-in individual who has a wealth of connections that come from being an AAU coach (he's coached pretty much all of the top recruits to come out of Memphis at some point or another, is very close to a lot of people, and has had a "crystal ball" that has been 100% right so far) and a big part of the city of Memphis' youth basketball scene:

1. Felton Young took money from a vendor for his son to go to Georgia Tech.
2. TY wants to go to Memphis.
3. His second choice is Arkansas.
4. Felton Young is going to return the money to the shoe company with the connection to Georgia Tech.
5. Felton Young is going to accept more money from a shoe company to go to Arkansas.
6. TY does not know about the shoe money as of yet.
7. Sometime this weekend, Felton has to tell TY about the money and the school - because TY is wanting to announce for Memphis.
8. Dad has put son in an awkard position.
9. Race was not an issue at any time, Felton used the smoke screen to eliminate Memphis because of the money he was taking.
10. Chances are greater that he will not be at Memphis.

Ah, the lovely world of recruiting...

[Ultra Peanut]

From a while back:

Calkins: Why do those least in need get most help?
By Geoff Calkins
Contact
May 15, 2005

For the last two years, Darryl Fletcher has worked as manager for the Mitchell High School basketball team. He does the laundry, fills up water bottles, the usual stuff.

Fletcher is a sweet kid, as sweet as they come. He doesn't have a lot of money. He takes special needs classes. Mitchell coach Jerry Johnson says he's "a step or two behind the other kids."

So people look out for him, starting with the principal at Mitchell, John Ware. Ware asked Johnson to find something for Fletcher to do.

That's how he became manager of the basketball team. Johnson gives him basketball shoes, and warmup outfits, and sometimes money for a haircut.

"Everyone knows and loves him at Mitchell," Johnson said. "You might say we look out for him."

I tell you this story because it is pure and simple and clean. The people who help Darryl Fletcher expect nothing in return.

Call them Team Darryl.

I like Team Darryl.

Team Thaddeus?

I'm less sure.

Thaddeus Young is the best high school player in Memphis, certainly one of the 10 best rising seniors in the land. He's tall (6-8) and gifted (North Carolina coach Roy Williams has practically taken up residence) and the subject of a remarkable series of stories in today's Commercial Appeal.

The stories are about Team Thaddeus, the half a dozen people who are shaping Young's life this summer and beyond.

One thing you'll notice about the stories: There's not much about the kid in there.

There's a story on his father, and a lawyer, and the twins who manage his AAU team. There's a story on the big hitters from adidas who see Young as a human billboard.

But Thaddeus himself?

At 16, he's become almost a bit player in his own tale.

Team Thaddeus. What a concept. Once, that was the kid and his mom.

Lula Hall bore her son on June 21, 1988. She never married the father but raised an urban miracle.

Young isn't just a great basketball player, he's an inspiration. He has a 4.3 grade point average. He's in the National Honor Society.

"As good as he is at basketball," said Johnson, "he's a better human being."

Johnson once asked Hall what she did that was so different, how she succeeded where so many had failed.

"She said she didn't use Similac," he said. "She used regular pasteurized milk."

Whatever, it worked until Young hit ninth grade, until he showed signs of becoming a star. Then Team Thaddeus grew beyond the mom.

"She doesn't know anything about basketball," Johnson said. "She only comes to see her son."

Only comes to see her son.

How wonderfully innocent is that?

The rest come because they see his gifts, see that he's going to hit it big. To help him? Or to help themselves? You decide.

But if someone wanted to make a movie about the seamy world of high school basketball, they could come to Memphis and find all the stock characters they need.

The biological father, suddenly playing a larger role in his son's life.

According to Johnson, the Mitchell coach, Felton Young didn't come to his son's games before the ninth grade. Now the elder Young is not only the kid's biggest supporter, he's also his AAU coach. Felton Young hadn't coached in 15 years. But when adidas agreed to underwrite a new team called Pump'N'Run, he got the coaching bug again. Young insists he isn't paid for the job, but that would be a departure from the norm. It's a perfectly legal way for shoe companies to funnel money to the parents of a star.

The questionable characters from the hometown.

Jerry and Terry Durham are twins who manage the new Pump'N'Run team. Between them, they were arrested 19 times from 1989-2002 on charges ranging from reckless driving to attempted murder to possession of drugs with intent to distribute. They've never been convicted of a felony. That much is true. But why are these two even involved?

The fancy lawyer from New Orleans.

Ken Carter is Felton Young's cousin, and a highly respected lawyer from New Orleans. He is deeply involved in all things Thaddeus. Carter says he has no interest in being Young's agent. He's made plenty of money on his own. But is the power appealing? The glamour, the juice? How could it not be? When Roy Williams left an AAU tournament the other day, he waved to Carter on the way out.

The shoe company representatives, wooing the next star.

David and Dana Pump are the adidas executives who decided to underwrite the Pump'N'Run team. They want Young to wear their shoes and figured this was the best way. Before this summer, Young played for a Nike team that wasn't coached by his father. Now there's a new team, built around the Youngs, one as the star, one as the coach.

Oh, and David and Dana Pump are also twins. Just like the Durhams. Because, really, what's a circus without two pairs?

"They're twins, we're twins," said David Pump. "I'm just trying to help the twins."

So the Pumps are trying to help the Durhams, who are trying to help the father, who is trying to help the son, who must feel overwhelmed at times.

Team Thaddeus is supposed to help protect the kid. But how is a kid supposed to know if the people there to protect him are the ones he should be protected from?

Henry Baskin is the athletic director at Mitchell High School. He's been known to go to Internet message boards and post alarming messages about drug dealers getting too close to Young.

Baskin said Young is now in good hands. He's a firm believer in the sincerity of Felton Young.

So is Johnson, the Mitchell coach, who said he called Thaddeus's father three years ago and asked him to get more involved.

"People bash him," he said, "but he is still the boy's dad."

Johnson concedes that some of Thaddeus's family on his mother's side resent Felton Young's prominent role.

"They do," he said. "But they don't understand that he got involved because I called him to help."

As for the Durham brothers and the Pump brothers, what of them?

"We're just trying to help kids," said Jerry Durham.

Of course they are.

But why this kid? Why the one kid in Memphis who might be least in need of help?

There are second-graders who need help. Infants who need help. Musicians and math students and high school basketball managers who need help.

Of course, Darryl Fletcher isn't going to make anyone rich.

Thaddeus Young just might.

Team Darryl.

I like Team Darryl.

I like the uncomplicated selflessness in a complicated time.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Psicosis

You could be the third part of Rausch and I's as-yet-untitled sketch comedy project. We can shoot a pilot for Comedy Central and see what happens.

only if I get my own trailor and...well, fuck--can't come up with any good demands

alright, some booze would be nice

-EB-

[Chieftain58]

Winslow got what he deserved..... the guy has a serious problem

[Ebolapox]

chieftan, you're an idiot--this thread isn't about KWII... it's about memphis

-EB-...damned n00bs

[Chieftain58]

Originally Posted by EBOLA

chieftan, you're an idiot--this thread isn't about KWII... it's about memphis

-EB-...damned n00bs

Lets see, When did you join and when did I, Your the Idiot! Friggin Noob!

[Kclee]

Originally Posted by Chieftain58

Your the Idiot!

Heh.

[Chieftain58]

KCLEE heya how you been! Gone to any games lately!

http://ultimatekc.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=Talk

[Kclee]

Originally Posted by Chieftain58

KCLEE heya how you been! Gone to any games lately!

http://ultimatekc.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=Talk

Good. I haven't been a TRUE fan yet this year. By the looks of the party, I should have gone to the game last week. But I did just hang a loss on you on the other boards FFL. (you're the K.C. CHEFS, right?) Sorry.