VASJ product transferring from Kansas. He may be a great get. He is pretty versatile.

No thanks. Bragg was suspended twice this year at Kansas. First, he was charged with misdemeanor battery, the charge was later dismissed. Second, he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and entered a diversion program.

I am all for second chances, but he already had a second chance. Saul seems to be big on character. Bragg might be a better fit at a school and with a coach where character is not as important.

JG possibly taking a chance on someone with a checkered past. Huh. Where have I heard that before?

This is how you recruit a kid like Bragg.
1. You ask him his goals and who he looks up to as a player?
2. You describe the possibilities that you can help him attain and what you will expect from him as a player.
Example. If he says Lebron, ask him why? What does he do to be better than Lebron. Does he believe he can play with Lebron. You watch a video of Lebron with him and assess his basketball IQ and show him yours.
What can we do for him? Jaaron transferred from Houston and is declaring for the draft. Bring up Armon Bassett as well, he transferred from Indiana and got an NBA tryout despite all of his off the court problems, you explain how the off the court problems hindered his professional career, you explain that Ohio is a great place to leave the streets behind, like Gary Trent did(for all of you so called character judges). You explain to him that you believe that he can play professional ball and explain how you will prepare him like you prepared Jaaron. You talk about Tone's success and explain that he is coming in with more ability than Tone. You ask him will he work hard for it like Tone did? You watch an NBA game with him and explain what type of things you will work on with him. You tell him that you want him to have a mentor and maintain a good relationship with his family. These are the crutches that you rely on not substances. You explain that you have made mistakes, you ask him can he bounce back like Big Sean says, he will probably laugh, but he will know that you can relate. You explain that he is different, anything that he does will hurt himself and the team. You explain that you want to be able to brag to tv announcers and coaches about how much of a leader he has become. Also, talk about our cuyahoga county footprint. Tell him that Clark Kellogg A VASJ legend supports OUr program. Tell him how we beat ohio State in a scrimmage this year. You tell him that he does not have to go to Ohio State, you can come here and beat Ohio State. You tell him about a player that you admire like Kawhi Leonard, you talk about how he mostly played the four at San Diego State and talk about how he still has his post up game along with his midrange and long game, explain how important the fundamentals are. You tell him how he can beat MAC wing players in the post and make them give him open jump shots. You tell him that there are shiny places and so called majors, but there is no better place than Ohio to develop his game. You explain that you demand that he gets a quality education and studies his X's and O's just incase he wants to go into coaching. You be relentless. Also tell him that we will take a Europe trip to play pro teams.

How highly recruited was Bassett? This kid waa a top 15 recruit. If he ends up in Akron, that's a game changer. Still, I can't see it happening.

Your skills at finding recruiting info continue to amaze. I was aware he was a starter at IU. The post also answers my question. He wasn't nearly as highly recruited as Carlton Bragg was out of HS. Bragg is a consensus top-15 to top-25 recruit. Bassett wasn't quite there.

I have to think he will end up at a Power 5 program.

Yep, Groce has taken a number of these gambles both here and at ILL. Some worked out(barely) at Ohio. But the dividends were huge. Some barely sniffed the court before they were sent on their way. JK, MH

At Illinois his gambles with players, recruiting swings for the fence, and some horrific luck with injuries, is why he's back in the MAC for a few years.

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. I'd say the difference is that there is a level of acceptance of situations that Ohio, Illinois, and Akron can tolerate, and they're all different. Rank them how you like.

Good find bt. We were playing in the NOrth Semi state getting texts from Southport that he had put up all but one of the teams' 25 pts in the first half vs Greg and Mike.

That buckeye Planet thread is interesting looking back at what we actually knew at the time and now reflecting on what transpired.

Groce was flying around and working really hard to get Bragg years back. I thought he had him until the Blue Blood came calling. It would not surprise me one bit to see him in a Zippy uni....especially if he thinks there is a ghost's chance in Hell LeBron will see him. I agree with UL, tO$U or similar and hope that is the case as they are places where they can handle his ego and work to make him a better human and better player. I would think in a mid situation the locker room would be a shambles unless he came out of Lawrence humbled, humiliated and contrite.....

 

Kansas transfer Carlton Bragg tells me his top five are Xavier, Arizona State, Illinois, Cincinnati and NC State. Will set visits soon.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 19, 2017

AZ State.

Carlton has continued to be a real sweetheart. Earlier this year was suspended for 3 games at New Mexico (his THIRD school) following a sexual assault allegation. He barely had time to lace up his sneakers after that suspension when he picked up a DWI citation. He is now under indefinite "removal from the team" and some observers doubt he'll be back.

A former Top 25 recruit. Que up Bob Dylan singing "I Threw It All Away."

How is that related to Bragg? Am I missing something?