Spotlight Question, No. 2
Here's a question about a dilemma for USC and other schools.
Q: Why do such a disproportionate number of players from Long Beach Poly turn out to have off the field problems at USC? Off the top or my head, the following Long Beach Poly players have had off the field issues the past few years: Winston Justice, Manual Wright, Vincent Joseph, Hershel Dennis. Why do the coaches keep recruiting from there since their players seem to be more trouble than they are worth?
A: This is one of the great dilemmas of recruiting. The school produces so many talented players, it cannot be ignored. Every college recruits Poly because of this. Maybe that's part of the problem, with too much attention too soon and unrealistic expectations.
Now it is true that off-field incidents and academic problems seem to be par for the course with Poly players. Things certainly would be more uneventful at USC if it were not for Poly players. But another troubling trend is that many of the players underachieved in college, or maybe they received too much hype in high school. Off the top of my head, the one Poly player who lived up to his hype over the past 10 years or so was tight end Marcedes Lewis. Many of the USC players enjoyed successful careers that ultimately fell short of the high expectations created beforehand. Every case is different. Winston Justice could have been an exception, but he was suspended for a season then left early for the NFL before really taking advantage of his talent. Manuel Wright also had unlimited potential but stopped attending classes and turned pro too early. Darnell Bing was described as a top-five NFL pick with unlimited ability by some colleges coming out of high school but did not come close to those projections.
It's definitely a rollercoaster but don't expect to see USC or any other school reduce its recruiting efforts at Poly.
Why would the Poly players that attend UCLA not have off the field problems as though that attend $c? Is it true that they get to do what ever they want until they are caught? Just Curious.
"as though that attend SC?" Take grammar lessons, first of all.
2nd of all, ever consider that a sample size of 1 in recent times (Lewis) does not allow you to make such a statement? Ever stop to consider that fucla isn't a good enough program to attract talent from a powerhouse like Poly?
before anyone gets all high and mighty don't forget about junior lemau'u at ucla.
Well, Oregon WR Derrick Jones made news this weekend because he was arrested for the second time in four months and may be kicked off the team for good, the Oregonian is reporting. According to the paper, police said they found a friend of Jones in possession of marijuana at Jones' home.
Having played there myself, I can't see the school ever being overlooked on account of some of the retards that haven't panned out as of late. Poly has sent more players to the NFL than any other high school in the country. I think Willie McGinest worked out alright at SC and has done alright for himself in the NFL as well.
Because Poly has sent more kids to the NFL than any other high school in America, their kids tend to get rated higher than they deserve. Then when they don't reach their hype, fans are disappointed.
As to off-field or academic issues, these schools need to screen who they consider to be college material when they offer scholarships. Schools shouldn't take chances on certain borderline student-athletes and then blame the kid when their risky offer doesn't end in success.
UCLA has had only one Poly kid not make it from the many that they have recruited over the years - names like Mercedes Lewis, Marquis Anderson, Kevin Brown, Rodney Van, Dennis Link, and Terrence Austin. And those names are just the ones I can think of without doing research.
If USC is having problems with Poly kids, then they should be more selective.
In all fairness to Poly, it was the Class of '02, (four of the "Super Five"), that caused all the controversy at USC. They had too much hype, too soon. They made some poor decisions. Lewis,('02) handled it at UCLA, Lemau'u,('03) didn't. Jones signed with USC, but did not qualify. Rowe had academic problems, and is gone = one player, out of the last five reruiting classes (from Poly), that was accepted, but did not work out for the Trojans. UCLA has had several outstanding players from Poly over the past several years. USC/Poly: Morley Drury and Mark Carrier, (AA).
I'm not sure it's fair to hold a schools history against a current student.
Should Jurrell Casey's skill, intelligence and ethics be judged by Winston Justice's history?
Also, as far as living up to hype. Of all the four and five-star high school kids in the country each year, what percentage become superstars?
These athletes are coddled in HS. . . told how great they are . . . given everything . . . no discipline. By the way, Sam Anno to Jax would not be a stretch, as he and Del Rio were fairly close friends in college.
These athletes are coddled in HS. . . told how great they are . . . given everything . . . no discipline. By the way, Sam Anno to Jax would not be a stretch, as he and Del Rio were fairly close friends in college.
These athletes are coddled in HS. . . told how great they are . . . given everything . . . no discipline. By the way, Sam Anno to Jax would not be a stretch, as he and Del Rio were fairly close friends in college.