Louisville Commit Quentin Snider Named Top Ten Point Guard In 2014 Class

We wouldn’t have the spots, so yes, most of them won’t arrive. But if your point is we have COMMITED players that have signed with other schools at the last minute, I’d disagree. To my knowledge, Rodney Purvis is the only player we’ve lost like that (to another school, not counting the NBA from early years) in a while, and he re-opened his recruitment after coaching changes, including his lead recruiter. The more fair statement is that Coach Pitino hasn’t always landed his 1st choice at positions several times in the past few years, but has certainly been involved with the top recruits in the country and has signed many of them to Louisville in the past several years. For reference,

2008: Samuels (#1 PF), Swopshire (#18 SF), Kuric (#28 SG), Jennings (4-star, unranked b/c was originally in 2006 class)
2009: Siva (#7 PG), Buckles (#18 PF), Van Treese (#37 PF), Marra (#43 SG)
2010: Dieng (#11 C), Coleman (#7 SF), Russ Smith (NR), Justice (NR, walk-on)
2011: Blackshear (#4 SG), Behanan (#6 PF), Price (#8 C), Ware (#24 SG), Nunez (#27 SF)
2012: Rozier (#20 PG)

Of all the players listed, only Coleman didn’t make it in 2010. Pitino has only given a scholarship to one unranked player in the last 5 years and I’m glad he gave Russ the nod. Of scholarship players (and I’m ranking Russ as the #50 SG to have a number), Pitino’s average position ranking of all recruits is 19.3. That means that he signs one of the best 20 kids in the country for their position on average every year. Keep in mind that this includes all recruits, including who Pitino knew would only be role players. (If you take out SVT, Marra and Russ, the average ranking is 13.8 for all positions.) I think its a pretty good average to average out at getting the top 15/20 player at a position for all recruits on scholarship. If you disagree, what average number should we be getting for EVERY player recruited?

Remember that by and large, these prospects put Louisville on their list because the staff have expressed an interest by watching them play and they reciprocate that interest by listing us. I’d also wager that quite a few guys list Louisville early on to hope to spark some interest back in the other direction. The key here in 2014 is that we’ve only offered 2 guys and one committed on that offer. That a good indication to me. Will his commitment waiver, probably; most kids do at all schools, especially if they move up in the rankings and get more attention. Will Snider’s? I doubt it. He’s a local kid that wants to play for the local university. And he’s good…really good. Like #9 PG in the country good right now.