2008.03.25
Stephen Curry a great story for the nation
Stephen Curry and Davidson are the darlings of the NCAA tournament. Google Curry today and the rest of the nation is catching up to the story of how Virginia Tech wouldn’t offer the son of Dell Curry a basketball scholarship. Curry was too small, Tech and other big schools said at the time. Another perimeter shooter to go with A.D. Vassallo this year certainly would have been enough to make Tech an NCAA team. That’s a one-that-got-away story Tech fans will never forget. But for the rest of us, it sure gives this tournament a storyline we will long remember. — Jeff Gilbert
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As a graduate and long-time fan of Virginia Tech, all I can say is WHY? With the genetics and his history of a desire to play for Tech. Don't we have a player who is under 5'10" who is on the team now as a freshman?
Comment by James Smith — March 25, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Exactly. What should have happened out of respect to Dell Curry, is that Stephen should have been given a scholarship. Then if it doesn't work out for him, he can transfer to a place like Davidson and get playing time. Of course, it's obvious now that he would have won court time in Blacksburg. It's not like they have a shortage of scholarships. There are players riding that bench with scholarships every season.
Comment by Jeff Gilbert — March 25, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
I've noticed Beamer seems to have a policy of offering scholarships to legacies, brothers of current players, and sons of former NFL players. It's good business even if the prospect isn't a high major guy. Greenberg missed the boat on this one but then again, if he keeps on winning, most people won't get to bent out of shape. Does Les Robinson, Dale Soloman or Bimbo Coles have any sons? Maybe UVA will pass on Ralph Sampson Jr. and Seth can make up for the Curry blunder by bringing little Ralph to Blacksburg.
Comment by Ken — March 25, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
Well, everything is certainly very clear in hindsight, no? He's a great player now, why didn't VT get him way back when?
I believe the story goes that he was offered a chance to be a walk-on, as scholarships had already been promised to a couple of guards - Nigel Munson and Tyrone Appleton-Miller. Unforseen circumstances eventually led Munson to transfer after a year and Appleton-Miller to never even enroll (he'll be suiting up for the Kansas Jayhawks next year, apparently). Both players were pretty solid recruits coming out of high school. Curry was much more of a gamble.
Yeah, it'd be great to have a legacy suiting up for the orange and maroon, but that doesn't diminish the great job the VT coaching staff has done over the last several years, especially since joining the ACC.
Personally, I love this VT team. The chemistry seems to be just perfect right now. There's really no way to tell what would have happened if Nigel Munson would've stayed, or if Augustus Gilchrist decided to honor his commitment and enroll at Tech, or if Stephen Curry was even in the mix at VT. The chemistry might not be as good. Curry may never have even been given a chance to flourish at VT like he has at Davidson.
There are a million what-ifs in the whole why-didn't-Curry-go-to-VT scenario. It isn't so black-and-white.
I'm sure if you ask Stephen Curry, he has no regrets right now. He's having the time of his life. I think things have worked out for all parties.
Really looking forward to the remainder of the NIT tournament and the future development of all of the Hokies' freshmen. (Plus, have you heard of the recruits they're bringing in next year?)
-f
Comment by Fred Jasper III — March 26, 2008 @ 1:45 am
Echoing the previous post, Curry was offered a walk-on position with the possibility of getting a scholarship the following year. what is your agenda? slamming tech for dropping the ball on curry? You omitted some pretty important details.
Comment by Jamie — March 26, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
To cheer people up, things do go VT's way sometimes. I doubt that guys like Zabe Dowdell, Jamon Gordon, Deron Washington, AD Vassallo, and Coleman Collins were all that highly recruited out of HS but look what they did for Tech, sweeping UNC's All-Americans last year. And on the football side of things, I think soon-to-be pro Brandon Flowers was just a two-star recruit but he was at least as good as the five-star Macho Harris. In fact, Beamer's whole recruiting strategy has been finding diamonds in the rough along with the occasional super recruits.
Comment by Kind of Stressed — March 26, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Jamie, these quick thoughts have a tight space to fit into in print so I didn't get into all of that background on Stephen. We have reported that aspect about being offered to walk on. No agenda, other than to comment on the fact that most fans think he got away, and those of us who aren't Tech fans are enjoying the run he's making with Davidson. I do agree with some of Fred's analysis as to why Curry wasn't at the top of Greenberg's list. The fact is that Greenberg and lots of other coaches didn't see Curry for what he is. Recruiting is a gamble on every player. Nobody has it completely figured out. Everybody has their diamonds in the rough who excel and their can't-miss prospects who fail or are average at best.
Comment by Jeff Gilbert — March 27, 2008 @ 11:39 am