Robert Lee BASKETBALL CAMP starts TODAY

[Kal]

You are correct in the guys who are sitting out. It is my understanding that Milsap and Dison may play this year as their situation is still being reviewed by the clearinghouse. Bloom is not ineligible. By NCAA rules, transfers have to sit out one year and that is the situation he is in. Daigle, Forrest, and Gary are definitely out for the year and must do well in school to be eligible next year. We also signed one guy in the early signing period for next year who is highly rated. His name is Gradigno and he is from LaGrange High in the Lake Charles area.

CajunsMike

2 of our recruits haven't met the ACT requirements to be eligible, i think it's an 18 that they need

[cajunfan79]

thats great still recruiting kids that can't make the grades, I thought that left with jesse

[Kal]

Well, Jesse had contacts all over the nation. Lee doesn't. Lee was a highly touted local high school coach that became an assistant. He's still establishing contacts. Until then, he has to take the best talent that he can get his hands on. Unfortunately this mean many recruits that aren't eligible right away. That's not to say that they won't get on track. But many of these kids are used to LHSAA eligibilty which is far less than NCAA standards. One solution is to push tougher standards for LHSAA that will give these kids a head start in college admissions and eligibility. The other solution is to just wait. Lee will eventually start getting some of the talent with better academic performances from out of state. It's just going to take time. You have to remember that a large portion of the blame for this whole mess lies on the LHSAA, the Louisiana dept. of education, the high schools, teachers, h.s. coaches, and most importantly the parents. The parents have to make their children focus on academics more. Too many parents believe that their child can jump straight from h.s. to the NBA and make millions. Reality is that there aren't too many LeBron James' in the world. We as the public have to start demanding higher standards of education from our state, our schools, and our children. Louisiana kids aren't dumb, they just aren't pushed hard enough.

[rhineaux]

thats great still recruiting kids that can't make the grades, I thought that left with jesse

I know it sounds like I'm being and apologist here, but, ACT scores can be fixed. Lots of folks don't do well on those sorts of tests. I had a buddy in high school who was extremely smart (he still is) but always made better grades than me. When we took the ACT, I smoked him...he was several points behind me. Same thing happened when we took the GRE to get into Grad. School. I scored better than him again.

but, if the GPA is pretty low as well, then I can see what you mean. I think one of the bigger problems might not be who we are recruiting, but the recruits that are out there. We could have a team of honor students, surely, but they would really suck. You have to find a balance of good players with good character and the potential to be better. if they have an ounce of potential, then once they get to college, they can be covered like a hawk by tutors and good influences and taught proper study habits and such, much more than in high school.

[UL-Lreality]

Im still trying to find out whats going to be swept under the rug BR? Maybe there was a reason the "honorable" Skip Bertman had one hell of a time finding a baseball coach.

Z.

Another one that cannot handle the truth and has to bring LSU into the discussion. What's the matter? I struck a nerve with you too? So just because I ask legitimate questions you get all defensive and start crying like a baby and bring LSU up. Get over yourself and your envy and hatred of LSU. It will get you nowhere in life slick! I'm talking about the "cajuns" here and nobody else. Your snide backhanded remarks are only funny to the people that believe them. I don't and if you don't like what I post DON'T READ IT. Apparently you are the one that cares more about what's going on in "BR" then in lafayette.

[Tripple Threat]

Well, Jesse had contacts all over the nation. Lee doesn't. Lee was a highly touted local high school coach that became an assistant. He's still establishing contacts. Until then, he has to take the best talent that he can get his hands on. Unfortunately this mean many recruits that aren't eligible right away. That's not to say that they won't get on track. But many of these kids are used to LHSAA eligibilty which is far less than NCAA standards. One solution is to push tougher standards for LHSAA that will give these kids a head start in college admissions and eligibility. The other solution is to just wait. Lee will eventually start getting some of the talent with better academic performances from out of state. It's just going to take time. You have to remember that a large portion of the blame for this whole mess lies on the LHSAA, the Louisiana dept. of education, the high schools, teachers, h.s. coaches, and most importantly the parents. The parents have to make their children focus on academics more. Too many parents believe that their child can jump straight from h.s. to the NBA and make millions. Reality is that there aren't too many LeBron James' in the world. We as the public have to start demanding higher standards of education from our state, our schools, and our children. Louisiana kids aren't dumb, they just aren't pushed hard enough.

I thought Coach Lee was prominently involved in recruiting when Jesse was Head Coach. He should have the same contacts now that Jesse and the other assistants had back then.

[RustyR]

Another one that cannot handle the truth and has to bring LSU into the discussion. What's the matter? I struck a nerve with you too? So just because I ask legitimate questions you get all defensive and start crying like a baby and bring LSU up. Get over yourself and your envy and hatred of LSU. It will get you nowhere in life slick! I'm talking about the "cajuns" here and nobody else. Your snide backhanded remarks are only funny to the people that believe them. I don't and if you don't like what I post DON'T READ IT. Apparently you are the one that cares more about what's going on in "BR" then in lafayette.

Fine then why do you get so defensive when someone talks about LSU's problems. You see when you come on this board and call people genius and stuff of that nature in a smart ___ way I think your going to pis_ everyone off. And if you dont like what loyal UL fans like Z reply to you then dont post on a UL board.

[MattD717]

This is my first post as I am new to the site. I just wanted to comment on the current state of the basketball program. I for one at the begining of the year was not very optmistic about the future of this program. After a very disaponting year last year and this years team looking young and not very good I thought we were heading down a long and downward sprial. I thought the "sky was falling" after watching this team play against quatica early in the season. However I have had a complete change of heart after witnessing what this team has done over the past few weeks. The heart and tennacity they play with night in and night out is like I've never seen from a Cajun team. We've got some very good young talent that keeps getting better every game. Guys who I thought were not very good at the start of the season are coming around. One in particular is Tyren Johnson who with a little more confidence and experince looks like he will be a hell of a player. There will be a few bumps in the road but the future looks very very bright. After hearing the Coach Lee show tonight and the passion and vision he has for this program I have no doubt the future is very bright. I have been watching Cajun basketball since I was a kid in the Fletcher days and I have never been this eager to watch a team. Coach Lee has a plan for this program, which I don't beleive his predecesor did. Recruting freshman is the way to build a program for long term success. With this class and next years signings we are in for a bright future which hopefully will include a deep tournament run in the near future. Bringing freshman in, along with a couple of good JC transfers every so often to fill in gaps is the way to long term success. There is no doubt the Cajuns will finish at least in the middle of the pack in the belt and make some noise come tournament time in the dome. This city needs to rally around and support this team. If this is as bad as it gets and is a "down" year, I can't wait for the good years to start.

[RCAJUN90]

This is my first post as I am new to the site. I just wanted to comment on the current state of the basketball program. I for one at the begining of the year was not very optmistic about the future of this program. After a very disaponting year last year and this years team looking young and not very good I thought we were heading down a long and downward sprial. I thought the "sky was falling" after watching this team play against quatica early in the season. However I have had a complete change of heart after witnessing what this team has done over the past few weeks. The heart and tennacity they play with night in and night out is like I've never seen from a Cajun team. We've got some very good young talent that keeps getting better every game. Guys who I thought were not very good at the start of the season are coming around. One in particular is Tyren Johnson who with a little more confidence and experince looks like he will be a hell of a player. There will be a few bumps in the road but the future looks very very bright. After hearing the Coach Lee show tonight and the passion and vision he has for this program I have no doubt the future is very bright. I have been watching Cajun basketball since I was a kid in the Fletcher days and I have never been this eager to watch a team. Coach Lee has a plan for this program, which I don't beleive his predecesor did. Recruting freshman is the way to build a program for long term success. With this class and next years signings we are in for a bright future which hopefully will include a deep tournament run in the near future. Bringing freshman in, along with a couple of good JC transfers every so often to fill in gaps is the way to long term success. There is no doubt the Cajuns will finish at least in the middle of the pack in the belt and make some noise come tournament time in the dome. This city needs to rally around and support this team. If this is as bad as it gets and is a "down" year, I can't wait for the good years to start.

Great post and welcome! I like the heart I've seen with this team. Against the Vols many teams would have packed it in but they fought back to get within two. This team will only get better and better.

[Ewhite]

If this is as bad as it gets and is a "down" year, I can't wait for the good years to start.

Well said, I have to agree with you. I have never felt better about a team than I do about this one and I have been around some great ones.

[Choppie29]

Guys who I thought were not very good at the start of the season are coming around. One in particular is Tyren Johnson who with a little more confidence and experince looks like he will be a hell of a player.


Coach Lee has a plan for this program, which I don't beleive his predecesor did.


This city needs to rally around and support this team. If this is as bad as it gets and is a "down" year, I can't wait for the good years to start.

Great first post. I couldn't agree with you any more about the above statements. Welcome to Ragin Pagin.

[AstroCajun]

The heart and tennacity they play with night in and night out is like I've never seen from a Cajun team.

That is the most pleasant surprise that we got from this team.

They just don't quit.

Our problem as fans was that we didn't know what we had. We are starting to learn. Like you, I like what I see.