Hamilton Considering Cal, LSU, Virginia
- Thread starter Cy'sMatters
- Start date
Question: What does Ham stand to gain by coming out and bashing the coaching staff?
He's trying to sell himself to other programs right now. If you're a coach, do you want to honestly embrace a player who has thrown his previous coach under the bus?
Note: I don't know Ham's true motives at all, but seeing as how so many in this thread are speculating on both sides of the fence and throwing out hypotheticals, I thought I'd throw out one of my own.
He's trying to sell himself to other programs right now. If you're a coach, do you want to honestly embrace a player who has thrown his previous coach under the bus?
Note: I don't know Ham's true motives at all, but seeing as how so many in this thread are speculating on both sides of the fence and throwing out hypotheticals, I thought I'd throw out one of my own.
I think that people are just looking for someone to blame for this.
In this thread alone the following people have been either attacked or blamed for the situation:
Cyismydog
kg
GMAC
Jamie Pollard
Justin Hamilton
Surprisingly Wayne Morgan has not been blamed yet but I am sure that he will be. Larry hasn't been brought up either.
Seriously people here is what we know. Justin said that he was leaving because he was homesick. Rumors start to fly that he might be staying. People get upset because said rumors would mean good news for the program. A news article comes out stating that He is looking no where near Utah.
What I don't get is why it was ever CIMD's or kg's fault... Also, why is it Jamie Pollards Fault? If you can come up with a logical answer other than "They support GMAC!!!" Then ok, but if you can't why don't we keep this on target and discuss Justin and the basketball program.
In this thread alone the following people have been either attacked or blamed for the situation:
Cyismydog
kg
GMAC
Jamie Pollard
Justin Hamilton
Surprisingly Wayne Morgan has not been blamed yet but I am sure that he will be. Larry hasn't been brought up either.
Seriously people here is what we know. Justin said that he was leaving because he was homesick. Rumors start to fly that he might be staying. People get upset because said rumors would mean good news for the program. A news article comes out stating that He is looking no where near Utah.
What I don't get is why it was ever CIMD's or kg's fault... Also, why is it Jamie Pollards Fault? If you can come up with a logical answer other than "They support GMAC!!!" Then ok, but if you can't why don't we keep this on target and discuss Justin and the basketball program.
Exactly. Even if he's leaving for other reasons, what good does it do for him to air dirty laundry?
Sick of losing? Do something about it. Don't quit your team. If Ham actually plays somewhere closer to home and validates his statement for leaving, then so be it. It's still sh!tty of him. If he goes to Cal, LSU, or Virginia (or even considers them), then he is a pr!ck. He lied about his departure, he quit the team, he quit his teammates.
Boozer has the right attitude when he says he is putting this team on his shoulders next year. If you are going to quit, at least provide an honest reason. We, the fans, DESERVE to know why! I pay money for season tickets. I deserve to know why a player leaves the team early! I deserve to know the product being put on the floor. I deserve to know what I am paying for.
Maybe ISU restricted where he could go. With that in mind, Cal shouldn't stand a chance. ISU typically doesn't allow players who are currently on the schedule.
I heard it from a reliable source that the reason that WM is still around ames is to torpedo the MBB program. He holds secrect meetings with player around campus, probably in the steam tunnels, and convinces them to transfer. That way his coaching stats look better and better.
I doubt that. In order for Hamilton to talk with any school, ISU had to issue a "permission to contact" letter to each school...
Because of that, usually family or friends inquire with potential schools about their interest...
Obviously LSU and VA aren't closer, but Cal would be a huge distance difference.
If he wants to play D1 ball at a high major level he doesn't have a whole lot of options that are close to home. He can't go to Colorado because I doubt we release him to a big 12 opponent. Unless you consider the Mountain West that leaves the Pac 10. So Cal is reasonable.
You also have to consider he has to find a school that:
A) wants him and
B) has a scholarship available for him at this point in recruiting.
LSU and VA are crap for the homesick reasons, but really outside of the Pac 10 he doesn't have a high major conference around that he could play in that is near home. Ham is certainly someone we would want to keep, but he's not good enough to simply call up any High Major school say I'm coming and get accepted. It could be LSU, VA and Cal are the only schools that are High Major that have any interest in him right now.
If he wants to play D1 ball at a high major level he doesn't have a whole lot of options that are close to home. He can't go to Colorado because I doubt we release him to a big 12 opponent. Unless you consider the Mountain West that leaves the Pac 10. So Cal is reasonable.
You also have to consider he has to find a school that:
A) wants him and
B) has a scholarship available for him at this point in recruiting.
LSU and VA are crap for the homesick reasons, but really outside of the Pac 10 he doesn't have a high major conference around that he could play in that is near home. Ham is certainly someone we would want to keep, but he's not good enough to simply call up any High Major school say I'm coming and get accepted. It could be LSU, VA and Cal are the only schools that are High Major that have any interest in him right now.
I think what people fail to realize is that the culture of college basketball has changed fairly dramatically over the last 5-10 years. Kids want to playing time, they want touches, they want a certain number of shots...etc. Ultimately winning is the cure. Many of these situations don't come "to a head" at other schools because they are winning.
The players are different than 10 years ago. They seemingly come with more baggage and a bigger entourage than ever before. Bottom line is that our "message board" culture is based on immediate results. If the kid isn't a star in two years then he going to transfer. If the team isn't winning he is going to transfer. The exception to that rule: Craig Brackins.
The players are different than 10 years ago. They seemingly come with more baggage and a bigger entourage than ever before. Bottom line is that our "message board" culture is based on immediate results. If the kid isn't a star in two years then he going to transfer. If the team isn't winning he is going to transfer. The exception to that rule: Craig Brackins.
I have seen no quotes attibuted to Hamilton directly.
Do you really want him to come out and tell the truth about why he is leaving? Many here cannot handle the truth, or should I say, ISU cannot afford the truth. At least not for another year or two. Get it?
So get on board. 3 seasons of 4 wins in conference isn't a trend or anything.:skeptical:
Our basketball program and athletic department are in the best of hands.
Yeah, actually, because then I'd just be ****** with the coaching staff. Instead, I'm upset with the coaching staff AND now Hamilton because he felt like he had to lie to the fans in his press conference as to why he was leaving. And honestly, he didn't even have to throw the coaching staff under the bus - all he had to do was say it wasn't working out for him at ISU and he's leaving to seek other opportunities. You know - basically what Wesley Johnson did. Would I have been thrilled about him leaving? Hardly. In fact, at this point I'd hardly blame him for leaving under such a reason as he'd only be one of a dozen or so ISU basketball players that left under that reasoning over the last 4 years. That and the coaching staff would be the only bad guys in this because us fans are already reading through the lines on these defections. But at least he then wouldn't be lying to the fans that supported him and it'd be a hell of a lot closer to the truth about him not getting along with the coaching staff.
My theory,
He left because he has problems with coaches. He used the homesick thing to ease the blow on Mac because he gave him a chance at a high level to play and appreciates that, and he's not the kind of guy to tear someone down because they didn't get along. I don't see Ham giving an exit rant, too classy. He expected more interest than he has had from big programs closer to home than he has got. So he used the excuse homesick expecting that he would end up closer to Utah not realizing he might not get offers from close to home. Now he has received offers from Cal, LSU and VA and must pick the best fit for him even if the homesick reason doesn't fit.
He left because he has problems with coaches. He used the homesick thing to ease the blow on Mac because he gave him a chance at a high level to play and appreciates that, and he's not the kind of guy to tear someone down because they didn't get along. I don't see Ham giving an exit rant, too classy. He expected more interest than he has had from big programs closer to home than he has got. So he used the excuse homesick expecting that he would end up closer to Utah not realizing he might not get offers from close to home. Now he has received offers from Cal, LSU and VA and must pick the best fit for him even if the homesick reason doesn't fit.
Exactly. Who is quoted in the article stating that Ham is looking at these schools? His HS coach.
One more point to make - if Hamilton really is sick of losing, is Virginia or LSU the best schools to be considering? I mean, Virginia was not much better than ISU this year (15-16, 5-11) and LSU was certainly worse (11-20, 2-14)...
I don't blame Hamilton at all or how he conducted himelf for hopping in a lifeboat and abandoning this sinking ship.
Really you can keep Cal on that list too... Sure its 'closer', but its still 800miles away, vs about 1100 for ames. Either one is either a flight or a very long, boring, drive away.