MBB: Landmark Conference

[fanuofs]

A 21 year old 'freshman'... who is one of the best on the team ... who just 'happened' to be in the gym at the right time... really?  I'm not sure how I feel... yes, he should be given a chance, and opportunity at a better life - but I'm not sure that should be mid season, and he should have a full credit load.  And, it was his GRADES that held him back... grades. How can he excel at Cabrini if he couldn't excel in highschool?  It just seems fishy.

[NEPAFAN]

If a D1 school takes a pass on you due to grades it certianly makes you think....

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

A 21 year old 'freshman'... who is one of the best on the team ... who just 'happened' to be in the gym at the right time... really?  I'm not sure how I feel... yes, he should be given a chance, and opportunity at a better life - but I'm not sure that should be mid season, and he should have a full credit load.  And, it was his GRADES that held him back... grades. How can he excel at Cabrini if he couldn't excel in highschool?  It just seems fishy.

A few years of adult life change a lot.  Cabrini's got some connections to talent (as evidenced by a pro player hosting a pick-up game there).  I've seen a lot of kids who struggle in high school get their act together once they realize what they're giving up my missing out on education.

He evidently only needed one semester at a CC to get his grades up to admission standards.

Cory Lemons was an older freshman as well, I believe.  Time will tell how it works out for him, but just assuming a bad student at 17 or 18 is automatically a bad student at 21 doesn't make sense.

I've seen plenty of kids with good grades in HS screw up freshman year of college before reality sinks in and they get serious about school.

[cold_case]

A 21 year old 'freshman'... who is one of the best on the team ... who just 'happened' to be in the gym at the right time... really?  I'm not sure how I feel... yes, he should be given a chance, and opportunity at a better life - but I'm not sure that should be mid season, and he should have a full credit load.  And, it was his GRADES that held him back... grades. How can he excel at Cabrini if he couldn't excel in highschool?  It just seems fishy.

A few years of adult life change a lot.  Cabrini's got some connections to talent (as evidenced by a pro player hosting a pick-up game there).  I've seen a lot of kids who struggle in high school get their act together once they realize what they're giving up my missing out on education.

He evidently only needed one semester at a CC to get his grades up to admission standards.

Cory Lemons was an older freshman as well, I believe.  Time will tell how it works out for him, but just assuming a bad student at 17 or 18 is automatically a bad student at 21 doesn't make sense.

I've seen plenty of kids with good grades in HS screw up freshman year of college before reality sinks in and they get serious about school.

Hoopster, I think you're missing the point. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

A 21 year old 'freshman'... who is one of the best on the team ... who just 'happened' to be in the gym at the right time... really?  I'm not sure how I feel... yes, he should be given a chance, and opportunity at a better life - but I'm not sure that should be mid season, and he should have a full credit load.  And, it was his GRADES that held him back... grades. How can he excel at Cabrini if he couldn't excel in highschool?  It just seems fishy.

A few years of adult life change a lot.  Cabrini's got some connections to talent (as evidenced by a pro player hosting a pick-up game there).  I've seen a lot of kids who struggle in high school get their act together once they realize what they're giving up my missing out on education.

He evidently only needed one semester at a CC to get his grades up to admission standards.

Cory Lemons was an older freshman as well, I believe.  Time will tell how it works out for him, but just assuming a bad student at 17 or 18 is automatically a bad student at 21 doesn't make sense.

I've seen plenty of kids with good grades in HS screw up freshman year of college before reality sinks in and they get serious about school.

Hoopster, I think you're missing the point.

Maybe I am.  Sorry.  I've worked with a lot of kids who have a similar description and I've seen a lot of assumption made.  I may be oversensitive.  I apologize if that's the case.

What I understood from the story is that he spent a semester already at a JC.  I'm not sure if he's been at Cabrini all year and just not playing (it's pretty common to choose second semester if you have just one semester to use that year).

[cold_case]

I can't answer that. All I know is if he had poor grades in high school and D-I schools backed off, why would Cabrini take him? Unless they are simply putting athletics ahead of academics, which most, not all, D-III venues do to try and make a name for themselves on the playing field and bring pride, joy and attention to the school name.
Any college with academic morals would not even look the kid's way. Sadly, I have rarely seen that happen.

[fanuofs]

I have nothing against the kid if he wants to improve himself.  I hope he does.  I hope he graduates and gets an amazing job and support his child and her mother.  It just seems very strange for him to come in mid season with his background.  Wonder if he'll stay at the little d3 next year or if d1 or d1 will pick him up. 

[Pat Coleman]

Well, that would be tampering to offer him a scholarship and he'd have to sit out a year, but it's not entirely unheard of.

I'm with the folks here that want to see kids given a chance. If your particular school is too high and mighty to do it, that's fine, but not everyone is Swarthmore. And Scranton isn't Swarthmore, either.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I went to a d3 school that I'm proud to say gives almost anyone a chance academically if admissions thinks they're worth the risk.

I'm not sure about Cabrini's academic standards, but if they took a semester of good grades at the CC as a sign he's improved his study habits, its a defensible risk.

Again, we really don't know what the back story is - I do think Lemons' story is similar and he's worked out pretty well.

[augie]

Pat please specify kids!!!!!Is it 35 year olds or is it kids out of high school please specify.You can go to college and be 28,35 or 37 that is not fair to these kids coming out of high school.Just like you guys praise that kid at Lincoln he was an adult at 28 not a kid so justify when you are saying a kid and a man please.I would really want to know how old Corey lemons is or Knowles?

[Pat Coleman]

We ran a story just a couple days ago on Walton-Moss if you would like to read it.

http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/headlines

I have no problem with a kid taking a couple years off and coming back to school. Would you be doing your superior dance if he'd spent a couple of years in the military instead? A *lot* of students do that.

[fanuofs]

I've lurked on this board for years, and have seen the back and forth on how some of you do not like Scranton.... why the dig on Scranton Pat?  Really... was that necessary?  Scranton is not Swathmore?  No need...  Give the kid a chance, but I'm for not letting him play his first year.   If academics and getting a college education are really that important than that is what should be done.  Plus if he is academically challenged, then he will need more time to finish anyway!

[NEPAFAN]

And someone already reference the story on the kid on the front page of D3hoops, that is how the whole discussion got started.

[onetinsoldier]

to say that scranton is not swarthmore is like saying that a salad is not a hot fudge sundae.  The academic mission of scranton is completely different than that of Swarthmore. 

I also think the way the article was written had a lot to do with some of the negative comments on this board.  Is the story "young man couldnt get into D1, settles for D3," of is it "young man matures, earns way into Cabrini and fulfills basketball dreams?"  The way the article was written, you would have to believe the former. It harps on his grades, and at no point do we get that ah-ha moment of realization where he truly matures as a person.  All we get are quotes about how great a basketball player he is. 

[cold_case]

to say that scranton is not swarthmore is like saying that a salad is not a hot fudge sundae.  The academic mission of scranton is completely different than that of Swarthmore. 

I also think the way the article was written had a lot to do with some of the negative comments on this board.  Is the story "young man couldnt get into D1, settles for D3," of is it "young man matures, earns way into Cabrini and fulfills basketball dreams?" 

Earned? I'm sorry but I have a problem with that.
I can say more but I can't. However, I will add if this school took the low road to basketball success like many in this division, shame on them.