Guys who almost played for Richmond bball that did not

[UR Fan 2]

Thought I would start a thread on guys we almost got but for reasons unknown were turned away.

Lets start w JJ Avila. Averaged 16.7 PPG and 7.4 RPG per game for Colorado St. This was a good recruited transfer "get" for Mooney and would have likely led to 2 additional NCAA at large berths in the last 5 years. He was an absolute animal on the boards while dominating the Mountain West.

 

[UR Fan 2]

AD Vassallo was a curious case as well. Wainwright recruit who wanted to play at Richmond badly. There is even a longing tribute to Richmond on his Wikipedia page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ángel_Daniel_Vassallo

 

[UR Fan 2]

Feel free to add to the list. I have no agenda other than to point out we sometimes forget about guys who would have made a big difference in our men's basketball program who were unable to come to Richmond for reasons that are generally unknown.

 

[Eight Legger]

I think Michael Jordan was all set to come here, but then, you know, admission stuff, etc.

 

[SpiderK]

Just wondering, but how much do you think UVA dropped their standards to take Ralph Sampson? I love Ralph, but he couldn't speak English coming out of Harrisonburg in 1979. Still pisses me off we gave up on Godwin.

 

[spider23]

We are not playing on a level playing field vs the A10 in this regard. Call me a whiner, crybaby, whatever you want. Breaking my crutch out. Excuse maker. @#$%%%! I am fine with it. I can take it. I really do wonder how much this impacts us. The obvious case scenarios are the JJ Avilla's, the Marquis Godwins, the Devontae Grahams's etc etc.

However, what I wonder is how much this has influenced the coaches when going after recruits? Do we say, let's just get player XYZ on board, we know we can admit him, rather than get hung out to dry after taking a verbal from a guy that cannot get in? It has to have an impact.

I understand we don't want to take a guy with character issues, but most of the guys we have turned away for academics or seemingly so, have not been a problem elsewhere and have stayed eligible. Ok, Ok, Vassalo got pinched for stealing some Dr. Pepper. This was why I was actually a proponent for staying in the CAA, at that time I was closer to the program and my interaction with players led me to believe we would not be able to compete and admit and graduate the players we would need to compete at this level. JB did turn my opinion around prettty quickly. But I do think in general, we are at a steep disadvantage in the pool of players we are going after.

 

[spider23]

. Still pisses me off we gave up on Godwin.

Me too. Always one player away.

 

[72Spider]

Was personally heartbroken when Bebe Bocachica left our program.

 

[UR Fan 2]

Just wondering, but how much do you think UVA dropped their standards to take Ralph Sampson? I love Ralph, but he couldn't speak English coming out of Harrisonburg in 1979. Still pisses me off we gave up on Godwin.

Having grown up in Harisonburg I almost hit Ralph driving my car one night. He was riding a bike late and I only saw him at the last second. Our parents lived 1/2 a mile apart. He was a legend in those parts. I had heard he was not the best student but man could he hoop it up.

 

[97spiderfan]

We are more than 1 player away right now, but agree the ones that admissions screwed us over on are maddening.

 

[spider23]

We are more than 1 player away right now, but agree the ones that admissions screwed us over on are maddening.

Agree, I think in about two of the past 5 years we may have needed one guy to push us over. I do think if you had Solly eligible this year, we are much more competitive. Of course basing this on the expectations in my mind for Solly. Not sure he makes us a top tier A10 team competing for a bid, but you never know.

 

[MrTbone]

We are more than 1 player away right now, but agree the ones that admissions screwed us over on are maddening.

Can we please stop with the "admissions screwing us over" dialogue. For f's sake, these recruits know what the standards are when they get recruited, if they don't make the standard, that's not on admissions, it's on the kid or on the coaches/athletic staff to get the kid admitted. From what I know, admissions works very hard to get the kids in that the coaches ask for special treatment on.