yeah, its great press he won but skills competitions are kind of a joke. Great to do well but its not like it means much in the grand scheme.

I mean watch the video even and its not like they're running this at game speed or anything.

3/27/2012 11:26:41 AM

oh, i watched the skills challenge and realize it's kinda a joke, but it's still acomplishment to beat out all the other best high school players in the country. winning it is better than not winning it.

3/27/2012 11:33:52 AM

^^ Exactly, thank you.

All it was was a layup, some dribbling through barrels, a chest pass, a bounce pass, a 3 ptr., and another layup

Shit was like an obstacle course for middle school kids

3/27/2012 11:35:14 AM

some of you trip me out. i'm glad you're keeping it "ojbective", that's a good thing. but most rational people who watch any basketball don't need to be told that the skills challenge is a joke. especially if you watch the video that was linked.

3/27/2012 11:39:12 AM

What are you guys talking about? That's like the only thing GM's care about when deciding which players to draft.

3/27/2012 11:43:32 AM

Jason Jordan ? @JayJayESPN

Amile Jefferson said he was gonna pick between NC State, Nova & UK then woke up the next day & couldn't do it. "3 days later, Duke called."

3/27/2012 1:54:28 PM

I hear we are pursuing Alex Oriakhi from UConn now as well... due to their post season ban next year and the fact that he is going to be a senior.

The usual suspects are going after him as well, but he has good reason to look at us and if CJL returns would lock us in as a top 10 team next year.

3/27/2012 2:01:01 PM

where did you hear that?

3/27/2012 2:10:33 PM

http://www.ctpost.com/uconn/article/Where-will-Alex-Oriakhi-go-3432491.php

I know we aren't on that list, but from what I'm hearing we are pursuing him as well.

3/27/2012 2:22:45 PM

where did you hear that?

3/27/2012 2:23:19 PM

a friend. I'm not saying he's coming here so take it for what its worth.

3/27/2012 2:25:20 PM

great reporting

3/27/2012 2:34:12 PM

it was a pm from gunzz wasn't it?

3/27/2012 2:39:54 PM

^^^^^ That article is one of the reasons that sports "journalism" is getting their shit pushed in by kids on Twitter (and I HATE Twitter). There is nothing in that article other than speculation.

The author picked a few big name schools (Duke, UK, UNC) and said why they might or should be interested in the big guy. Really? just about every school in the nation would be interested. The reason for this is because those schools have huge national followings and if your school is mentioned in an article you are more likely to read it.

He then mentions any of the local schools that would like to land him (UMass, Hofstra, URI). This again is just another ploy for page views on a CT based paper. Why can't they go out and interview friends, past coaches, other schools coaches, or him. If you can't get that type of info then don't write a freaking story on it.

Instead of insightful and researched articles we get this shameful pandering crap that mines for readers. RIP sports journalism.

(btw I still like SI and a few of the older journalists)

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 2:40 PM. Reason : ^^^^^]

3/27/2012 2:40:26 PM

I really hope we aren't going after Oriakhi.

3/27/2012 2:44:54 PM

why? Is he a headcase or something? He's a proven player and a big body with postseason experience. I dont see why we wouldnt want him

3/27/2012 2:49:03 PM

there was mention of it on pack pride (re: oriakhi)

Quote :

"Jason Jordan ? @JayJayESPN Amile Jefferson said he was gonna pick between NC State, Nova & UK then woke up the next day & couldn't do it. "3 days later, Duke called." "

so was that back in the fall when he seemed like he was going to decide/sign? or is that more recent than the fall signing period?

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 2:50 PM. Reason : d]

3/27/2012 2:49:26 PM

Why would you not want us to go after Oriakhi? If we are going after him...I would love to see him and Howell on the blocks for us next year.

3/27/2012 2:52:39 PM

a simple request: if you're gonna say "i hope we're not going after him", please state why. do you think he sucks? is he a headcase? do you not like his tattoos? did he sleep with your mom?

3/27/2012 2:56:50 PM

Does Oriakhi have to sit out a year?

3/27/2012 3:14:49 PM

no

3/27/2012 3:17:11 PM

^ Because of the ban or did he graduate?

3/27/2012 3:20:06 PM

postseason ban, but he would have to sit out a year if the NCAA reverses the ban on appeal.

3/27/2012 3:26:45 PM

from twitter:

Quote :

" @KevinRDuffy Kentucky and North Carolina among schools to contact Oriakhi since release, source says. Oriakhi will not consider Duke"

obviously no mention of us...thought it was worth posting anyway

3/27/2012 3:45:42 PM

Just read a little more about Oriakhi, didnt know he was a McDonalds and Jordan All american. Seems like someone that can come in and bang some people around. Would definitely help with the bigs rotation.

I'd say bring him in over Young if possible. Either would be a sweet addition but Oriakhi's experience in a more physical conference gives him the nod.

3/27/2012 3:50:26 PM

How long will Duke have Wojo coaching the big men? That is turning away a lot of post players.

3/27/2012 3:54:56 PM

The reason I don't want Oriakhi is because he would be a 1-year rental, when we desperately need bigs in 2013-14, not next year. I suppose it is contingent on us retaining Leslie. But giving Oriakhi a scholarship means we have one less scholarship for Jefferson or Young, guys who actually could full the void left behind when Howell and Leslie leave. Couple that with the fact that Oriakhi's stats are almost identical to Painter's, and he's just not a good fit.

3/27/2012 4:07:07 PM

^fair enough. if he's a senior, and he wouldn't have to sit, it wouldn't make much since just to bring him in for next year (unless we can't get young, jefferson, or anyone else with the last schollie)

3/27/2012 4:11:44 PM

Quote :

"Couple that with the fact that Oriakhi's stats are almost identical to Painter's, and he's just not a good fit."

Oriakhi isn't a star by any means, but he's a MUCH better post player than Painter. He's a true PF, where painter is basically a three with height in the way he plays. AO just never mixed with Andre Drummond last year.

I don't see where he really fits in with where we are. He's basically a less effective Richard Howell.

3/27/2012 5:20:48 PM

Oriakhi is a center, not a power forward.

3/27/2012 5:26:38 PM

he's a democrat, not a republican

3/27/2012 6:42:21 PM

he's a lover, not a fighter

3/27/2012 6:45:49 PM

dammit tim, he's a doctor, not a magician

3/27/2012 6:48:32 PM

Amile talks about his current recruitment standings. He talks a lot about Duke, but also a ton about NC State. In the second half of the video, he talks about how Duke recruited him to not only be a basketball player, but to come in and get an education, life after college, all that bullshit. NC State, however, recruited him to be a basketball player and be able to come in without a position and play in different ways on the floor, which he really liked.

As far as "over analyzing what a 18 year kid is doing", I feel he was much more energized and focused when talking about the way NC State recruited him and seemed bored when talking about Duke's academics

Purvis is his roommate for this camp and has been for a few other camps, and he's looking forward to playing with the 3 NC State commits for the game tomorrow.

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 7:58 PM. Reason : ]

3/27/2012 7:54:56 PM

What I heard was NC State won't make you do maths.

3/27/2012 8:00:47 PM

hard to hear him sometimes, talks about duke a lot though :-/

3/27/2012 8:00:59 PM

yeah but all he has to say about Duke is academics academics academics, like what the hell. I can respect that but its hard to believe academics is so incredibly important to a top rated bball prospect. If so, good for him.

3/27/2012 8:05:37 PM

Wez ranked high at animal skool

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/veterinarian-rankings

tied for 3rd bitches

maybe he likes ponies

and we only a few shots back in engineering

30 Duke University
31 Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst
32 North Carolina State University

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 8:10 PM. Reason : Engineers Unite ]

3/27/2012 8:09:06 PM

Let Go Centennial!!!

3/27/2012 8:32:04 PM

It looks like Pete Thomas made a lateral transfer in the veterinary rankings.

3/27/2012 8:54:02 PM

so if he's gonna come here think he'd commit tomorrow on tv???

either that or duke? that's how i feel

3/27/2012 9:04:51 PM

I made an amile wolfpack sign but i have a feeling they're going to snatch it from me bc im in the first row

3/27/2012 9:24:19 PM

^PICs are not real

3/27/2012 9:34:04 PM

Fucking Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. Hate those bastards.

3/27/2012 9:55:47 PM

Quote :

"RT @GoodmanCBS: Here's who has reached out to Alex Oriakhi: KY, UNC, Duke, NC St, Fla., Temple, Xavier, UCLA, Mizzou, GMU, VT, UVA, UNCC."

3/27/2012 10:36:54 PM

wat

3/27/2012 11:25:01 PM

So like 15 schools have reached out to him. We should try reaching around him. Banjoman?

3/27/2012 11:26:32 PM

I lulzed

3/27/2012 11:28:06 PM

Guess it was good reporting.

3/27/2012 11:43:17 PM

Alex Oriakhi would be sick in the Red & white and he would be eligible to play immediately b'c of uconn's ban next year

[Edited on March 28, 2012 at 8:32 AM. Reason : asdf]

3/28/2012 8:32:30 AM