Koufos Officially History
As reported by Dottingthei via the Canton Repository, Kosta Koufos has announced he’s dropping out, hiring an agent and leaving Ohio State.
Of course, this of no surprise to most of us but I’m wondering how everyone feels about the fact his decision is likely another kick in the balls to the APR score?
Do you blame Koufos, Matta for going after one-and-done’s, the NCAA for this rule screwing schools or quarters or something else?
I don’t have a problem with Thad recruiting NBA-talent players who may only be around for one year. This is much preferred to the Jim O’Brien method. But these guys who drop out mid-quarter are starting to impact the program via the APR score. I don’t know what the answer is but, Koufos and Oden before him and whoever is next should extend the courtesy to their school to either make a quick decision before classes start or go to class and finish the quarter. This situation is bullshit.
You can’t blame the coaches for going out and recruiting the best possible players. Their jobs depend on it. If they don’t win, they’re gone.
I partially blame Doofos (but not Oden) because he clearly isn’t ready for the NBA AND is screwing OSU at the same time. Thad showed him a commitment by offering a schollie. The least these players can do is fulfill their end of the agreement by finishing the quarter. Oden was a little different in that he was/is a once in a generation player that every NBA team had #1. Doofos will be lucky to get drafted in the top 20.
The NCAA needs to re-evaluate this whole APR thing. I think it is a good idea, but needs to be tweaked. I usually stand behind players leaving early for the Pro’s, and here is why. What is the point of college? Why do we go? To prepare us for our future jobs. These elite athletes are going to OSU to get prepared for their future jobs (NFL, NBA etc). It takes some players 1 year to get prepared (Oden, Conley), others it takes a few years. Bottom line is that you go to college to prepare yourself for the job market. Not everyone has the ability to sit at a desk and type all day (like me!)
Koufos’ mommy didn’t like they way Thad handled him. Wonder if she’ll move to Greece to watch his “pro” career.
I blame David Stern.
I’d like to see a 2 year rule, kind of like the 3 year rule for football.
This APR stuff is a joke. I could understand it if all colleges held their classes at the same time, but when you have semesters or quarters or different start and ending times, you can’t put a blanket rule over all schools.
I agree with Scott, I can’t blame Koufos for leaving and dropping out is obviously to work on his game and improve his draft stock. While another year of school would have potentially made him a lottery pick, going late in the first round is not going to hurt one bit. He could go to a playoff caliber team and improve his game for the first year or two and get paid for it, not a bad choice.
Plus, Koufos can now collect on the obvious ProActiv sponsorship coming his way.
It’s hard not to root for a buckeye, but I can’t help hoping that he gets his ass handed to him, wherever he ends up playing. Can’t blame Oden for working to be the #1 pick, but this guy is leaving school and screwing the University to be a mid to late 1st round pick.
In other news, the younger Boren committed today. Link won’t go, so here is the story.
Zach Boren Is A Buckeye
Boren is a Buckeye. By Bill Greene/Adam Jardy
Staff Writer
Posted Apr 30, 2008
Although he did not appear to be close to making a final decision, Zach Boren got in touch with an Ohio State coach this morning and decided to end the suspense and become a Buckeye.
A family of “Michigan Men” is being converted one by one.
BuckeyeSports.com has learned that early in the morning of April 30, Pickerington (Ohio) Central linebacker/fullback Zach Boren decided to end the recruitment process and become a Buckeye, issuing a verbal commitment to Ohio State.
“I committed this morning!!” he said via text message.
The 6-1, 255-pound Boren will join his older brother, Justin, in Columbus next season. Justin Boren was a starter for Michigan during the 2007 season but withdrew from the school and decided to come to OSU instead. Mike Boren, father of both Zach and Justin, is a former Wolverine as well.
Boren informed OSU linebackers coach Luke Fickell of his plans Wednesday morning and will call head coach Jim Tressel when he gets out of school.
The Buckeyes offered Boren on April 2, one week after Justin had announced his withdrawal from Michigan. The former Wolverine committed to OSU on April 23 — one week before his younger brother did the same.
Zach Boren becomes the 14th member of OSU’s class of 2009. He is the sixth athlete to offer his verbal commitment since the team’s spring game April 19 and the second in three days.
The Buckeyes now have four linebackers in their class. Boren joins Jordan Whiting, Storm Klein and Dorian Bell.
BuckeyeSports.com will have more on the situation as it develops.
Sorry for your difficulties G.O.T. Here is the link if people want.
http://ohiostate.scout.com/2/751361.html
What really sucks about this rule is that OSU won’t get credit if Koufos re-enrolls later on. Oden is taking classes this summer, but the blemish OSU received for his initial dropout won’t be reversed. I think the whole rule should be tossed, but at least let schools get credit when the kids do the right thing.
I think the jury is still out whether this affects the APR. Kathy Koufos doesn’t think it will and says they were mindful of the timing:
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=410059&r=0&Category=17&subCategoryID=30
if he can’t handle playing in the post in college, how is he going to handle being a 4 man in the NBA?
That would be great news, Keith…
My understanding is that Koufos won’t impact the APR. I spoke to a friend in the athletic department and got a convoluted answer as to why that is the case, but apparently, the coaches are under the impression that they’ll be fine.
Good news, but how is this different from Oden?
Koufos the Doofus was way over-rated and did not play well against the best competition this year. Let’s face it, the NIT teams we beat were not of any great caliber either. Koufos is making a HUGE mistake and he will be a major BUST in the NBA.
I hate the one and done…. we should go back to the previous way it was done….
What an idiot. Congratulations Kosta, you are now the next Darko Milicic. I can’t believe this kid thinks he is ready for the pros. He can’t push around the 6′8″ forwards at Northwestern, but he’s ready to stand in the paint with Dwight Howard. Right. Enjoy the NBADL, and let’s hope you have a good investment plan, that first bag of coin is going to have to last a long time.
Well, he can go play in Europe, remember, so the NBA isn’t his only option, nor is the NBA necessarily the best-paying option. I think he’ll be a better player in Europe than he will be here. I bet he goes overseas, if he isn’t drafted high enough.
Zach Boren, too, hmm? I don’t know that he’s that good a player, but I did take the chance to go over to the moron who works down the hall and ask him if his m*ch*g*n team was planning to field a squad at all this year. The Vest is reeling them in fast and quick.
C’mon, Hall….
I blame the rule that a player has to be one year removed from high school first. It’s a stupid rule. Kids like Koufos obviously have no interest in being at a University like OSU.
Secondly I blame the individual. Last year Conley and the other guy(I honestly can’t remember his name right now. Haha.) managed to finish spring quarter and still get drafted in the 1st round. Finishing geology, underwater basket weaving, and ballroom dancing isn’t that hard, guys.
Stop screwing over the University after they give you free training, coaching, EXPOSURE, etc. etc. etc.
Corey:
“Plus, Koufos can now collect on the obvious ProActiv sponsorship coming his way.”
I just fell out of my chair laughing.
Im glad he’s gone he would have taken mins from dallas and anyone else that doesn’t suck. If you were a nba gm would you draft him? I wouldn’t take him 1st or 2nd round. We are blessed to have Mullens coming in but need to get to work on the next 7ft because he is a for sure 1 pick next year.
Right now most of the people commenting (not all) are sounding just like the Michigan fans that wanted Pryor and then started saying he would be a bust as soon as he committed to tOSU.
The fact is, losing Koufos WILL hurt this team significantly. He did not live up to his expectations…..however; he was still the best player on the team this year. Should he have stayed to improve his game…probably….but he’ll still be a 1st round pick making millions next year.
I wish him luck and hope that he proves us all wrong by doing well in the NBA.
Also, although I’m not sure how the APR works, I do know that students can still drop courses this week without any special circumstances…..is it possible that Oden had waited a week to long?
Check out this 09 Mock Draft….notice that Todd McShay states that he is incluing juniors as they would be draft eligible. I can’t find Beanie Wells anywhere on that list…..does Todd McShay really think tha Beanie would not be a 1st round pick if he left early?
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3372132&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft08%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dmcshay_todd%26id%3d3372132
McShay = Assclown
Agreed.