Chris are u prejudiced toward in-state white basketball players ? Just messing with u, but Barnes recruits, at UT, now, in a whole different category of players that this kid can't compare to . BTW, I think Pember has way more game than this kid
I was actually ok with the Pember signing at the time as a flier you take in a class that included JJJ. He wasn’t the kind of kid you wanted as the headliner of your class, by any means.
This kid is much higher rated and has the better (alleged) offer list, but I just don’t see a need to duplicate our project player profile when we have such greater needs (an impact post player, an elite shooter, a defensive rim protector, an elite ball-handling guard). I’d put all those needs ahead of a project stretch forward with average ability, be he black or white, from Tennessee or Tanzania...makes no difference.
And while I think we see a lot of our targets come from deeper ponds, now, Barnes is still going to try and identify role players that he believes have high upsides and will be 3-4 year players. Not all of them are going to be 5*s and high 4*s. I think that is a lesson he learned in his last few years at Texas. Recruiting studs in the 1-and-done era, exclusively, isn’t a recipe for team chemistry, continuity, or an opportunity to coach up players. You have to have a blend of studs and role players. Upperclassmen leadership is still important. Look no further than UK and Duke, right now.
