Specifically, the recruitment of Division 1 basketball players. Like many, I think this is a good hire. This is a critical period of time as Boals and his staff need to recruit hard for the 2019-20 season for high school seniors and grad transfers. I think that means landing at least 4 new players.

I think first priority is locking down McDay. I will give Saul credit in getting Lunden McDay to commit. I think his strength as a point guard and leader is evidenced by getting his team to the state championship weekend. Maintaining his commitment would be a good start to Boals' tenure.

Boals next move is talking to Ben Wight and his family to let them know that he will not be a Bobcat. While Saul did well with getting McDay, Wight is another example of a recruit that did not warrant a Division 1 offer. Ashland University is slightly shorter drive from Worthington compared to Athens so his family will still have a chance to watch him play college basketball. For the better of the program, it just won't be at OU.

Since a new coach is now in place, I think Boals needs to continue to recruit Ben Roderick. If Roderick does not end up at Ohio State, then Boals needs to go head to head with Xavier for him. Even if we do not get his commitment, it will at least we can begin to repair our reputation with the stronger recruits in the region.

Outside of those initial moves, Boals needs to push for the remaining unsigned high profile high school players. He then needs to look at grad transfers and JUCO transfers that positively impact the team and not just filling a scholarship. Boals knows the region and has an established history with his initial jobs in the MAC and later at Ohio State.

I feel very optimistic about the direction of the program. It will take a season or two to get us out of the basement of the MAC but I think Boals can get the program back to a high level that we saw earlier this decade.

Really good take. Tough one with Wight situation. Whatever Boals decides there I trust him. Now is not the time to be Mr. Nice Guy. If he feels he's a player and won't transfer to Ohleone Community College in a year...fine. If not, then you have to do what you have to do.

What we really need is a good big to fill Doug’s spot. If not we will get killed in the paint.

You don't think the "real work" is the Ozone?? Recruiting is just part of the job.

I ain't judging recruiting until 2021 when he has over a year to build back rapports. Where Boals has a chance (and where I ironically ripped him at OSU for it) is his connections with AAU's and power programs in-state. One of his last years consisted of landing David Bell out of Garfield Heights and AJ Harris out of Dunbar for OSU. Thought those were dud recruits initially (they were) but the fact he has tie-in's with Pullen at Dunbar and Sonny Johnson up in NE Ohio are going to be huge factors in 2021. We'll see what that looks like moving forward, but 2021 is the first class I'll judge on solely because it takes time to establish rapports with kids along with their handlers (whether it's coaches, parents, etc., and no was not going for an FBI reference here).

That said, landing Roderick would be a big signal for our recruiting if we can get him. As I mentioned on his recruiting page, not an OSU recruit last year prior to his injury but is someone that would thrive at the MAC level and is the type of kid that is a steal at this level. Remains to be seen if he comes but I'm not putting my eggs in that basket, especially since I follow OSU's recruiting sites with dialed-in individuals and they know they aren't gonna let that one slip for free.

Buck.cat, that was hilarious. We don’t have to renew his scholarship after next year and Wight could back out, but he would accept the scholarship if we named Daffy Duck as our next coach, we are his only D1 offer. If he really broke his collarbone and requested a release, he would maybe land a D 3 grant, let’s hope that he heals and improves dramatically. Boals will not renew his scholliy if he does not belong because he wants to win and he needs to bring in people that will help us win.

I believe boals can get things done. he was the glue that held the team together when he played here. in that he may have been more of an asset than Gary Trent. first priority should be to check the espn 100 list to see what players have not signed and committed yet. then he needs to get after some of those guys. also important that he attend the 1st mcdonalds all maerican he can and get his presense and our school known. doing thiese things cwill show he has the teeth needed to elevate this program to the next level. next is a super tough non conference schedule filled with teams like duke Virginia Gonzaga Michigan state and Kentucky to name a few. he can then seek advice from those well established coaches on how to utilize his players and get them in better physical condition.

How exactly was it "hilarious"?

Not really, there is no way I would ever say this approach you propose is acceptable. Also I have no direct relationship with the family whatsoever.

This thread is awesome.

"This can't happen. It won't happen. IT SHAN'T HAPPEN! The honor code of division I college athletics would never let it happen!"

"Dude, it just happened."

NLI signing day is April 17

I posted this on the recruiting site as well....

If you think the roster SP inherited was a tough first year, what do you call potentially inheriting Murrell, Cowart, Preston, Springs, McMurray and Vander Plas. I'd assume that if the season began tomorrow, that's your starting 5 less the one signed freshman? What record would you give this squad?

Speaking of the real work of recruiting needing to start, start fast and being vital---huge task it appears!

Do you actually think Boals - a guy who coached at tOSU for 7 years - is going to have a couple of those guys be anything above scout team? The way some of the current roster was slouching around when Boals spoke to them on day one in that video? He should have cut a couple of them and taken their schollies on the spot.