I know Ohio does fairly well on the recruiting trail - but it's a little disturbing to see them completely ignore local talent (which they have done so for years in all sports.)

Guard Anthony 'Humpty' Hitchens played right here in southeastern Ohio at Chillicothe. He played countless tournament games at the Convo during his high school career and led the Cavs to a DII state championship. But somehow ended up in Akron and was named to the all freshmen team in 2009.

Jake kretzer from Waverly - same situation. The kid was a stud in high school and absolutely lit up teams at the Convocation Center during district tournament action while playing for the Tigers. A 6'7 forward with all the size and skills you look for in a D1 recruit. Where did he end up? You guessed it - Akron. And he loves playing against the Bobcats - anyone who doesn't notice the chip on his shoulder when he plays Ohio is plain blind.

Now, we have a kid over at Athens - a 6'4 silky smooth sophomore who has all the tools to be a D1 player. He already had 1 workout over the summer with a Big Ten team, and when Athens played Akron SVSM earlier in the year - guess who was there waiting to talk to him after the game? Coach Keith Dambrot and the Zips assistants! Where are the Ohio recruiters? Why would they not be at Athens High School putting the 'full court press' on this kid? McAfee Gymnasium is about 6 miles from the Convo - you would think Jim Christian or some Ohio assistants would attend some games?

I think if Dambrot scoops up yet ANOTHER southeastern Ohio kid - I may just become a Zips fan.

In hindsight, I am glad Humpty Hitchens was never a part of our program.

Groce wanted Kretzer and Kretzer wanted to play here, but we did not have a scholarship for him. We had already signed Caris Levert. Kretzer's a nice player, but when you look at what Levert is doing at Michigan, who would you rather have on your team?

Why would Ohio want Humpty Hitchens when Ohio was recruiting DJ? I'm also glad he didn't play in Athens.

That's odd. I have been to every single Athens home game the last two years and have not seen 1 single OU coach or assistant there.

When I was at Akron for the Athens/SVSM game - I looked up and seen Jeff Bowles sitting with Dambrot and some other college coaches and assistants. I made a comment to my buddy about him being there - and a SV fan overheard our conversation and said "yea, Bowles is here all the time. OSU is doing anything and everything to make sure V.J. King signs with the Buckeyes."

I don't think there is a rule forbidding college assistants from 'attending' games, paying as a general fan to just watch a kid play. But his mere presence means something and makes a difference.

I have been watching OU athletics since the 1980's. I highly doubt any door will be hitting me from behind. My post was a sarcastic one. If I can live through the Cleve Bryant era, surely I can handle a few mistakes on the recruiting trail.

The kid at Athens fits that criteria. Surely if Big Ten coaches are having him attend camps and going through workouts - and other MAC schools are recruiting him heavily - then he is good enough to play at OU!

Good point, borna. At Stanford the university admissions people have more than a small say in which athletes are awarded schollies.

I never said conspiracy - I said 'mistakes'.

And there is a list of data/players to prove it. I only mentioned a few. In 2004 southeast Ohio had a terrific baseball player named Jared Humphreys, who desperately wanted to go to OU. He was from Jackson and his parents, who are friends of mine, wanted him to stay close so they could watch him play. Carbone wouldn't even give him the time of day! Said he could walk on if he wanted. Well, it didn't take long for coach Stricklin to drive back down to Athens and sign him on the spot. He later would become a 2-year starting center fielder for the Golden Flashes and had a terrific college career. He even came back to Athens and was a starting outfielder for the Southern Ohio Copperheads.

All these players, and there are more, were not searching for a 'bigger' school like someone mentioned earlier. They ended up at different MAC schools after being snubbed by OU.

The kid from Athens Ibi Watson is very athletic,great shooter and has gotten a lot of attention via the camp circuit.

I know this is a basketball forum - and let's face it, southeast Ohio is not a 'hot bed' for talented hoops players. My point about Watson (the young man from Athens) coincides with the past 30 years in all sports. There has been plenty over the years in football, basketball and baseball that have been overlooked and ended up going elsewhere.

I would like for ONCE, a local kid to suit up for the 'Cats!

(players who I thought/wished would have wore the green and white)

1. Mike Bishop (Nelsonville-York)
2. Scott Stricklin (Athens)
3. Jeff Hendershot (Wellston, teammate of Stricklin's at Kent)
4. Justin Gail (Nelsonville-York)
5. Grant Gregory (Athens)
6. Jared Humphreys (Jackson)
7. Jake Kretzer (Waverly)
8. Anothony Hitchens (Chillicothe)
9. D.J. Cunningham (Waterford) - starting center for UNC-Ashville)
10. Cam Thoroughman (Portsmouth Notre Dame - played for Huggy Bear at WVU)

Great point, I always forget about the Zanesville kids.

I'll play along:

Chase Fieler