Could Coach K's pain be Bill Herrion's gain? That's one way to view the
changing landscape of college basketball.
Where Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski developed an ulcer over conference
expansion, the East Carolina coach could use his league's makeover as a
salve. The growing trend of early NBA departures that almost drove K to LA
could provide Herrion a refuge.
No, I'm not suggesting East Carolina is ready to purchase a mansion along
Tobacco Road. But at this stage in its hardwood history, ECU is in its best
position ever for a move to a nicer neighborhood.
"I think we have to be realistic with this whole thing," Herrion once
said. "I don't think we're ready right now to go head to head with a Duke or
a North Carolina on a kid.
"But to be honest with you, we've got to get the kids that N.C State is
getting, that Wake Forest is getting, that Clemson is getting. That's the
kid that we've got to get."
Now he's starting to get them.
By almost every measure, Herrion's latest class is his best. He inked
size and skill, bangers and shooters. There's even a healthy balance of
youth and experience.
With the college climate changing more frequently than a frightened
chameleon, there's no reason to believe that trend won't continue.
Early NBA defections have been a reality since the mid-80s, and the
numbers have increased steadily each season. North Carolina was the first
program severely impacted, but it didn't take long for most of the nation's
traditional powers to suffer as well.
The reality now is that the Coach K's and Rick Pitino's of the globe also
must digest the fact that members of their recruiting classes will skip
school and head straight to the pros. If you're a top prospect, it makes the
most business sense to collect a paycheck and hone your skills while
learning the pro game and lifestyle.
The risk of injury and the NBA's pay structure are to blame for that, not
to mention the league's new fad of drafting based on potential. Don't expect
it to change, either.
Though recent history has shown that the success of Kobe Bryant and
Lebron James is the exception to the rule, the number of blue chippers who
skip college is likely to grow. Add to them the number of underclassmen who
leave early and you have a sizable dent in the college talent pool.
But that is unlikely to spark a shift in recruiting philosophy.
The pressure on upper tier programs to win big will keep coaches in the
living rooms of top prospects. It has become more of a gamble these days,
but it's one they have to make.
Meanwhile, programs like East Carolina will continue to pursue prospects
who either fly under the radar or are considered fringe talent by major
college standards. Once a strategy developed out of necessity, now it is
beginning to show some advantages.
By not targeting the top prep stars, programs have better odds of keeping
players for four years. That enables schools to build depth and experience,
which often equates to disciplined, fundamentally sound teams.
In a nutshell, that is the formula behind the ascension of Gonzaga,
Xavier, and Saint Joseph's. With the NCAA pondering
new legislation that will grant players five years
of eligibility, more programs could join that group.
About the only thing potentially working against an East Carolina is the
recent abolishment of the controversial 5/8 rule.
That gives high profile programs the runway to pad recruiting classes with a
couple of insurance prospects.
At the same time, though, there are only so many jerseys to go around.
Until the NBA institutes a draft policy that parallels the NFL or Major
League Baseball, non-traditional programs like ECU could continue to gain
more ground.
Pirates football coach John Thompson took a step towards improving
in-state recruiting last week
by hiring former Williamston coach Harold Robinson.
An ECU alum, Robinson takes over as the recruiting coordinator for the
Pirates.
The move by Thompson resembles personnel initiatives that have paid
dividends for both North Carolina and Duke.
A few years ago, the Tar Heels hired former Northern Durham head coach
Ken Browning, a move that greatly improved their in-state recruiting. More
recently, Duke coach Ted Roof lured Charlotte Independence coach Tommy
Knotts to Durham, and highly touted quarterback Joe Cox will follow.
The hiring of Robinson could have an even greater impact on ECU.
Aside from assistants Jerry McManus and Lonnie Galloway, the Pirates
staff has had limited recruiting ties inside NC. With Robinson's strong
connections to coaches throughout this state, he should be able to open more
doors for Pirates recruiters.
Some may remember Robinson for the strong stance he took against East
Carolina playing football on Friday night in 2002. Williamston was one of
several high schools that banned Pirates coaches from its campus after
then-AD Mike Hamrick broke a promise to the high schools and scheduled a
Friday night game without first informing ECU or prep officials.
Relations have improved greatly since then, largely as a result of the
open lines of communication between NCHSAA executive director Charlie Adams
and ECU interim AD Nick Floyd. In fact, the two have been working together
on a project that will bring two Eastern Regional championship games in
football to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this fall, as well as regional title games
in baseball next spring.
"Charlie Adams and I have developed an outstanding relationship over the
last year," Floyd said recently. "It's something that no question is
mutually beneficial.
"We're on excellent terms, and that is the reason we're looking to bring
these other events to campus. The relationship between East Carolina
University and the North Carolina High School Athletics Association is
absolutely outstanding."
The hiring of Robinson can be viewed as another sign of improved
relations between ECU and the state's high schools.
