I’ve taken this opportunity to reflect on Providence missing out on local 4 star Abdou Toure. I tackle the recruitment and outcome from a few different perspectives:
- While I am a staunch advocate of “build through high school recruiting and develop”, it’s bad practice to get into bidding wars with high school players. Have your number for a high school recruit and stick to it. Save the bidding war situations only for proven college transfers or surefire one-and done’s. That’s the most astute way to use NIL.
- I’ve been following recruiting for too long and was cringing earlier this week reading social media. Premature celebrations, which I get is due to the excitement, but these high level recruitments can change in a millisecond. Recruiting is a tough business.
- Aligned with #2, a player’s recruitment is never a done deal, even after a player commits somewhere. Arkansas is simply the leader in the clubhouse right now, especially in this NIL world.
- Being a finalist amongst Hurley and Calipari is a testament to English’s recruiting abilities. I hope this motivates the staff even more to take big swings at the plate. English is the best lead recruiter we’ve had at Providence in 20+ years. For every Jamier Jones and Oswin Erhunmwunse, there will be an Abdou Toure. That’s the nature of big boy recruiting.
- Even though PC lost this initial recruitment, building this relationship with Toure is a long term win. The transfer portal is a real thing, and you never want to burn bridges on a relationship even if a player enrolls elsewhere out of high school. See Daquan Davis.
- I know his name is like uttering Voldemort in Friartown, but the recruitment and college trajectory of Abdou Toure may easily mimic that of Bryce Hopkins. St. John’s fans are salivating at the thought of Toure being a Johnny in 2030.
- This is a miss in recruiting, yes, but it doesn’t change the fact that Providence is stacked at the wing position for the foreseeable future. This would hurt much more if we came in second place to a borderline five star Center, for instance. If Toure became a Friar, this would have been a luxury addition.
This was a tough loss, no question, but there’s never a must have recruit these days in the transfer portal world. Onto the next.
Go Friars.
BOC- As always I appreciate the insight. I wanted this kid too. Super athletic and the thought of him and Jamier together was something I was looking forward to seeing. I agree on your bidding war logic. Proven college talent is where you unload the bag unless you have your Cooper Flagg opportunity. That said, to grab a CT #1 and have the Ryan Gomes effect would’ve warmed my basketball soul. You and Crier must’ve envisioned that potential. The other thing about Toure is that he has a younger brother who I’ve heard has talent as well. The focus turns to the season, but my fingers are still crossed 🤞 for Caleb Holt. Big swings!
Sean