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Ohio Basketball Recruiting Topic
Topic: 2019 6'8" PF Ben Wight (Thomas Worthington h.s. OH) Ohio Decommit
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Ted Thompson
7/31/2019 9:03 AM

A bit more about what went down with Ohio from Wight's HS coach.

Thomas graduate Ben Wight finds right fit with William & Mary

“Ben had made his decision to go to Ohio University as a junior, but Jeff Boals came in and brought in a new staff and they let Ben know that he wasn’t in their future plans,” Thomas coach Sean Luzader said.

“That was difficult. They would have had to honor Ben’s (scholarship) commitment for the first year, but when you’re told you’re not in the plans, why go through a season like that? They wanted to bring in their own recruits and staff.

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OU_Country
7/31/2019 11:32 AM
Thanks for sharing that Ted. Solidifies a few things for us - one, that he was told that he wasn't in the plans, and two, that he had more interest in his basketball skills than some believed. The shot across the bow about a 'better education' is an interesting one. Given that the Colonial is reasonably comparable to the MAC, it'll be interesting to see how his career develops.
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Buck.Cat
7/31/2019 2:01 PM
I'm trying to remember which smart guy on this board said that Boals "will not, could not, or should not" tell Wight that he is not in the team's plans. I'm sure it will come to me.

As far as the academics comment, this should reaffirm that Wight needed to take a hike. The team avoided a disaster.
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OU_Country
7/31/2019 2:21 PM
Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
I'm trying to remember which smart guy on this board said that Boals "will not, could not, or should not" tell Wight that he is not in the team's plans. I'm sure it will come to me.

As far as the academics comment, this should reaffirm that Wight needed to take a hike. The team avoided a disaster.
In what way did the team avoid disaster?
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Cleveburg Bri
7/31/2019 2:24 PM
"As far as the academics comment, this should reaffirm that Wight needed to take a hike. The team avoided a disaster."

You do understand that William and Mary is a much higher ranked school academically than Ohio, right? Like, not even close.
Last Edited: 7/31/2019 2:25:13 PM by Cleveburg Bri
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Buck.Cat
7/31/2019 5:33 PM
OU_Country wrote:expand_more
In what way did the team avoid disaster?
[/QUOTE]Another dead scholarship on the bench.

[QUOTE=Cleveburg Bri] "As far as the academics comment, this should reaffirm that Wight needed to take a hike. The team avoided a disaster."

You do understand that William and Mary is a much higher ranked school academically than Ohio, right? Like, not even close.
My comment was more along the lines of him attempting to throw the school under the bus because he got his feelings hurt. Should make for a fun dinner conversation with the OU grad parents.
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Andrew Ruck
7/31/2019 6:07 PM
We've been over this before, but sure we can do it again. You said he should go in and tell them he will not be a Bobcat. In other words, take his 2019-2020 school year scholarship away. I responded that he can't, shouldn't, and won't. This story literally says "They would have had to honor Ben's commitment for the first year." Going in and suggesting he isn't in their future plans is a totally different scenario than the one you proposed and I said wouldn't happen.
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OhioCatFan
7/31/2019 10:03 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
We've been over this before, but sure we can do it again. You said he should go in and tell them he will not be a Bobcat. In other words, take his 2019-2020 school year scholarship away. I responded that he can't, shouldn't, and won't. This story literally says "They would have had to honor Ben's commitment for the first year." Going in and suggesting he isn't in their future plans is a totally different scenario than the one you proposed and I said wouldn't happen.
+1

I believe he was thinking of the way A&M would have handled it. They never play be the rules, if they can figure out a way around them.
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mid70sbobcat
8/1/2019 12:03 AM
Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
As far as the academics comment, this should reaffirm that Wight needed to take a hike. The team avoided a disaster.
Wake up call ... Wm & Mary is higher ranked academically than we are. And this kid can play all. We can see how he did in 4 years.
Last Edited: 8/1/2019 12:05:43 AM by mid70sbobcat
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OU_Country
8/1/2019 9:52 AM
Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
In what way did the team avoid disaster?
Another dead scholarship on the bench.
In this case, I probably don't disagree given that he didn't immediately fit into the coaches plans for what looks to be a guard/wing focused team.
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Buck.Cat
8/1/2019 10:06 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
We've been over this before, but sure we can do it again. You said he should go in and tell them he will not be a Bobcat. In other words, take his 2019-2020 school year scholarship away. I responded that he can't, shouldn't, and won't. This story literally says "They would have had to honor Ben's commitment for the first year." Going in and suggesting he isn't in their future plans is a totally different scenario than the one you proposed and I said wouldn't happen. [/QUOTE]Interpreting people's words is a fun game, Andy. I can interpret from your words that you thought Boals would accept him to be on the team for 4-5 years. Again, you have conflicts in this situation that prevent you from viewing it without bias.

+1

I believe he was thinking of the way A&M would have handled it. They never play be the rules, if they can figure out a way around them.
This is quite a loaded accusation. So you are accusing former OU assistant coach Chris Holtmann of never playing by the rules? Can you provide link(s)?

Wake up call ... Wm & Mary is higher ranked academically than we are. And this kid can play all. We can see how he did in 4 years.
Cool, talk to you in 4 years.

[QUOTE=OU_Country]
In this case, I probably don't disagree given that he didn't immediately fit into the coaches plans for what looks to be a guard/wing focused team.
Boals signed two bigs after the decommit. It's obvious he was not good enough.
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cc-cat
8/1/2019 12:32 PM
William & Mary is a much better academic school that Ohio. not even close. good for him. great choice

He may have thrown Ohio under the bus with the academic comment (though it is a fact). but he did so only after Boals threw him off the bus. I have no issue with the comment or the young man. Hope he enjoys his time at W&M and I wish him well.
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OhioCatFan
8/2/2019 10:57 AM
Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
+1

I believe he was thinking of the way A&M would have handled it. They never play be the rules, if they can figure out a way around them.
This is quite a loaded accusation. So you are accusing former OU assistant coach Chris Holtmann of never playing by the rules? Can you provide link(s)?
Chris seems like a refreshing breath of fresh air up their in Cowtown. I hope the trend continues.
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bobcatsquared
4/23/2022 8:18 PM
mid70sbobcat wrote:expand_more
We can see how he did in 4 years.
Hasn't been four years yet, just two. However, Ben led W&M this past season in scoring (11.6) and rebounding (5.5) while hitting 61.6% from the field.
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The Optimist
4/23/2022 8:25 PM
Prime example of why it's hard to fault kids for seeking new opportunities in the transfer portal.

Schools are not required (and regularly do not honor) past commitments to scholarship offers. If you don't produce as a player you're often shown the door. Not faulting Boals as this is the norm across all of college basketball but it's hypocritical to blame kids for transferring when this is how they're treated in return.
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brucecuth
4/24/2022 9:26 AM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
We can see how he did in 4 years.
Hasn't been four years yet, just two. However, Ben led W&M this past season in scoring (11.6) and rebounding (5.5) while hitting 61.6% from the field.
Good player, but he's on a god-awful team. 5-27 last year.
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Andrew Ruck
4/25/2022 9:13 AM
I kind of forgot about that Buck.Cat guy and how much of a dick he was. So sad he seems to have disappeared.
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bobcatsquared
4/25/2022 10:14 AM
Well, anyone who's a buckeye fan first then a Bobcat fan . . .
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bobcatsquared
3/9/2023 4:11 PM
Has entered the portal. Went for around 11 and 5 for the 2nd consecutive season. Listed at 6-9. Probably 2 years of eligibility left.
Last Edited: 3/9/2023 4:15:09 PM by bobcatsquared
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shabamon
3/9/2023 4:28 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Has entered the portal. Went for around 11 and 5 for the 2nd consecutive season. Listed at 6-9. Probably 2 years of eligibility left.
He redshirted his first year, so yes, presumably two years. He's about as productive as AJ Clayton per minute, just gets his points predominantly from two.

If we have two spots to devote to bigs, maybe. But just one, no thanks. If we took him, we'd have three bigs in the same class too. Not a fan of that.
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FJC31
3/9/2023 7:00 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Has entered the portal. Went for around 11 and 5 for the 2nd consecutive season. Listed at 6-9. Probably 2 years of eligibility left.
He redshirted his first year, so yes, presumably two years. He's about as productive as AJ Clayton per minute, just gets his points predominantly from two.

If we have two spots to devote to bigs, maybe. But just one, no thanks. If we took him, we'd have three bigs in the same class too. Not a fan of that.
This would be an interesting revisit. If he’s more physical in the paint than Clayton, it’s tempting if it’s 1/2 or 1/3 schollies. I looked at his game log, put up 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Pitt.
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GoCats105
3/9/2023 7:04 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Has entered the portal. Went for around 11 and 5 for the 2nd consecutive season. Listed at 6-9. Probably 2 years of eligibility left.
He redshirted his first year, so yes, presumably two years. He's about as productive as AJ Clayton per minute, just gets his points predominantly from two.

If we have two spots to devote to bigs, maybe. But just one, no thanks. If we took him, we'd have three bigs in the same class too. Not a fan of that.
With the way the transfer portal opens and closes, I'm not confident that 25-40% of Ohio's roster will remain intact in any given season. I think you gotta take the best players you can find regardless.
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Cats5
3/9/2023 9:24 PM
If Boals does look at him, I don’t see him coming to OU. Boals already told him he didn’t want him once, I doubt thats sat well with Ben over these past years.
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mid70sbobcat
3/10/2023 11:53 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
We can see how he did in 4 years.
Hasn't been four years yet, just two. However, Ben led W&M this past season in scoring (11.6) and rebounding (5.5) while hitting 61.6% from the field.
Buck.cat posted the see you in 4 years. I was ready to post today to look at his 3 year stats. We could have used him. Boals is good but he's whiffed on guys he brought in and perhaps this guy he booted.
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Andrew Ruck
3/17/2023 10:05 AM
mid70sbobcat wrote:expand_more
We can see how he did in 4 years.
Hasn't been four years yet, just two. However, Ben led W&M this past season in scoring (11.6) and rebounding (5.5) while hitting 61.6% from the field.
Buck.cat posted the see you in 4 years. I was ready to post today to look at his 3 year stats. We could have used him. Boals is good but he's whiffed on guys he brought in and perhaps this guy he booted.
Maybe Buck.Cat will show back up when we make the tourney again and the bandwagon is taking on passengers.
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