Recruiting Rolling; Lowe Adds 2012 Prospect (Updated 2:10pm)

Basketball Recruiting General Sidney Lowe63

In a recent radio show, Sidney Lowe used the plural word “commits” when mentioning players he couldn’t mention publicly. Some people thought it might have been a mistake and that there was only one NC State commitment he couldn’t mention – 2010 recruit Luke Cothron who didn’t sign a National Letter of Intent last week. We are hearing that is not the case and there may be another LOI soon on the way to Raleigh for the 2010 class.

Additionally, Joseph Uchebo, a class of 2012 prospect, has made a verbal pledge to play basketball at NC State.

Uchebo, who is from Nigeria and attended Mount Zion Academy in Durham, N.C., last year, attended NC State’s Red Rally at Reynolds on Oct. 16. The promising big man transferred to Oak Ridge and new coach Stan Kowalewski, the former Greensboro Northern Guilford High coach. Kowalewski informed the Greensboro News-Record that Uchebo would be attending NC State, which the The Wolfpacker has confirmed.

“Joseph met with NC State coach Sidney Lowe and assistant coach Monte Towe on Monday, and they offered a scholarship, and he made the call for them,” Kowalewski said.

The N&O has now filed an update that can be seen here.

Joseph Uchebo, a 7-foot, 240-pound center who’s originally from Nigeria, has made an early commitment to N.C. State.

Uchebo is a sophomore at Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy and played last season at Mount Zion Academy in Durham. Oak Ridge coach Stan Kowalewski said Uchebo run the floor well, has good passing ability and vision, and can score from 18 feet.

“He’s very aggressive going after the basketball coming off the rim,” Kowalewski said, “but he’s not just a back-to-the-basket big man.”

Link to The Wolfpacker.

Please click on over to our message boards for more information and discussion.

Basketball Recruiting General Sidney Lowe

63 Responses to Recruiting Rolling; Lowe Adds 2012 Prospect (Updated 2:10pm)

  1. VaWolf82 11/19/2009 at 9:15 PM #

    Serious question, VaWolf. Do you not see anything good going on with our program?

    “Recruiting” is only a means to an end…chiefly winning. State fans that are giddy about “recruiting” are demonstrating a very short memory. Both Sendek and Amato had plenty of recruiting successes, but limited success on the field/court.

    Pretend for a minute

    This would be a complete waste of time, much like your speculation about the future.

    The point being, I think you’re clouding your judgment

    Nope. I’ll change my mind when I see results on the court that warrant it.

  2. TOB4PREZ 11/19/2009 at 9:37 PM #

    so apparently vawolf does not think a top recruiting class is a good thing for NCSU.
    interesting.
    thanks.

  3. theghost 11/19/2009 at 10:10 PM #

    I’m with you bradleyb – I appreciate legitimate criticisms of Lowe, but the anti-recruiting crowd is going off the deep end. ‘Amato and HS failed, some recruits have academic issues or decommit, therefore recruiting doesn’t work… why is Lowe wasting time recruiting? And high school sophomores? We need players now!’ …not sure I follow. I guess they’re wanting him to hold open tryouts to lock up all that five-star talent that’s already on campus. I’m hoping these people are State fans and not State grads.

    I’ve learned to just ignore some of the more illogical folks on here.

    Good job, Sid, and welcome Uchebo.

  4. JeremyH 11/19/2009 at 11:25 PM #

    this is fine news, but I’d rather see a re-commitment from Leslie. that would at least partially make up for the fact that Lowe’s latest “stud” is at Hargrave instead of in Florida

  5. 61Packer 11/20/2009 at 1:01 AM #

    2012 prospects? Is that about the upcoming disaster movie, or the State of our basketball program when we’ve endured 6 seasons of Lowe? Of course, Sid and staff will be in the process of assembling this mass of incoming talent, and it’ll take a few more years for them to mold this talent into a winning program. Right, Jed?

    Clearly, this staff, led by two former All-America point guards, has been unable to recruit a decent point guard. They’ve also failed to teach their players fundamentals, discipline, or defense while compiling a 15-33 ACC record (against some of the weakest ACC competition in recent memory) and double-digit ACC finishes in their 3 years at NCSU. And what’s even worse, they’ve failed to convince the greater part of the Wolfpack fan base that they have a plan to make NC State basketball relevant again.

    But they do have a plan. Talent, more talent, and even more talent. More Hicksons and less McCauleys. Throw ’em all on the court and sit back and watch ’em go. A great plan, and in fact the ONLY plan, when you’ve proven you’re in over your head at the ACC level.

    And stand firm. To your doubters, just say “It’s going to be my way or that’s it”!

  6. dwm77 11/20/2009 at 1:26 AM #

    “Recruiting” is only a means to an end…chiefly winning.

    What does Amato have to do with Lowe? And WTF does that imply, good recruiting is a bad thing?

    “Nope. I’ll change my mind when I see results on the court that warrant it.”

    Will you really? What could possibly make you happy enough to stop taking digs at the Bball program every chance you get?

  7. dwm77 11/20/2009 at 1:39 AM #

    And what’s even worse, they’ve failed to convince the greater part of the Wolfpack fan base that they have a plan to make NC State basketball relevant again.

    That’s opinion open for debate. Maybe the opinion of the greater part of SFN regulators, which is assuredly not in of itself the greater part of the Wolfpack fanbase. More talent is a bad thing, means we might actually get better and some folks would have nothing to complain about.

  8. theghost 11/20/2009 at 1:58 AM #

    ^^^perfect example. I have no problem with making the case about fundamentals, defense, etc. – perhaps debatable, but reasoned and supported.

    But this is a thread about recruiting. So here, Sid is found guilty of failing to recruit talent, and then lambasted for… recruiting talent. No idea what the correct third alternative is. Only logical conclusion is that Sid is a witch – let’s hold him under water to see if he drowns.

    Also, the message seems to be “enough with all this damned great recruiting that’s been holding the program down.” Am I missing something? Nevermind the fallacy of the logic, when were these busloads of talent pouring into Raleigh year after year that we’ve gotten so tired of all this recruiting? This shouldn’t need to be said, but when a good recruit or two doesn’t fix 20 years of losing, the answer isn’t less recruiting, folks, it’s MORE.

    Also confused about what “plan to make NCS basketball relevant again” doesn’t include increasing the talent level. I guess less standing firm and more giving in to doubters and naysayers? The doubters who, by the way, were saying he should recruit better?

    I understand complaining about losing games. Complaining about winning recruits is nonsensical.

  9. Dr. BadgerPack 11/20/2009 at 7:57 AM #

    “Only logical conclusion is that Sid is a witch – let’s hold him under water to see if he drowns.”

    No, no, no… We must see if he weighs as much as a duck…

  10. Daily Update 11/20/2009 at 9:22 AM #

    Based on pure recruiting rankings, I think Sidney is recruiting at a very high level. This year’s class with 3 top 75 players and two non-top 100 prospects is very similar to Herb’s class of Sherrill(was rated higher, but was overrated), Marcus Melvin, Mike Bell, and Trey Guidry. The very next year Herb brought in the class that led to his must successful years in Hodge, Watkins, Powell, Collins and Evtimov. Watkins was never much of a factor due to injuries and Powell only stayed two years. So the key players during Herb’s best years from these classes were Melvin, Sherrill, Hodge, and Evtimov.

    Ultimately, this group of players led to Herb’s peak years of round of 32, round of 64, round of 32, sweet 16, and round of 32(these players had all left in the last year). At this point in our program’s history, getting back to that level is a major, major step. Vawolf82 describes that as “limited success”, but I would disagree. It wasn’t the type of success we were looking for ultimately, but I also wouldn’t describe it as “limited”.

    IMO, Sidney has the recruits “on paper” to get back to this level. Brick Oettinger recently said, if Sid can add CJL to the 2010 class(he didn’t even know about the other player that appears close to committing), then we will have as much pure talent as most of the top teams in the country. Who knows what Sidney will produce with this collection of talent, but talent gets a you a long, long way in college basketball.

    Talent turned the program around for Herb Sendek. It could do the same for Sidney Lowe.

  11. Wulfpack 11/20/2009 at 9:58 AM #

    It very well could. It’s now time to win some games. If he does that this year, I will be very optimistic with what we have coming in. If he doesn’t, I would expect us to continue to lose. At some point, the tide has to turn ON THE FLOOR. I give him high marks for bringing these guys in. Time to show what you can do with them.

  12. VaWolf82 11/20/2009 at 10:04 AM #

    so apparently vawolf does not think a top recruiting class is a good thing for NCSU.

    I never said that or any of the half-dozen other pieces of nonsense I’m accused of on page 2 of this thread. Recruiting is important…but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Recruiting classes have to blend together and form a team. Then those teams have to perform on the court and actually win something. I’m not willing to jump from step A in the process and conclude that State is headed to the top of the ACC.

  13. VaWolf82 11/20/2009 at 10:05 AM #

    Ultimately, this group of players led to Herb’s peak years… At this point in our program’s history, getting back to that level is a major, major step. Vawolf82 describes that as “limited success”, but I would disagree.

    Then we need to discuss the definition of “limited”.

  14. Daily Update 11/20/2009 at 10:45 AM #

    Vawolf82: Let’s not and say we did? 🙂

    I understand your outlook on the basketball program and I do agree that winning is all that matters. However, there is no way that is going to happen until we get at least one more group of quality players in the program. We are where we are. Barring unforeseen circumstances, that group of quality players will arrive next year. Of course, we have already seen that the unexpected can happen with Zo Brown not qualifying this past year. Still, recruiting matters and no coach wins anything without top players(defined as all-ACC types once they arrive).

    Hopefully some type of progress can be made this year. I don’t know how to define “progress” for this year’s team because I don’t see us winning many games.

    A first step is going 3-0 in this tournament this weekend.

  15. primacyone 11/20/2009 at 10:52 AM #

    Vawolf82,

    Just for clarification so your opinion is not confused – six questions for you.

    What exactly is your opinion of Ryan Harrow?
    What exactly is your opinion of Lo Brown?
    What exactly is your opinion of Joseph Uchebo?
    What exactly is your opinion of Scott Wood?
    What exactly is your opinion of Richard Howell?
    Do you think they have the ability to help move this program forward or are they lacking that ability?

  16. waxhaw 11/20/2009 at 11:47 AM #

    Recruiting is very important.

    It always cracked me up when Amato or Sendek would sign what we considered to be a good player/class and you look down the street and Duke/UNC in basketball and UNC in football signed classes (on paper) better than the one we were crowing about seemingly every year.

    I don’t remember Sendek signing a class as highly touted as the one Lowe has coming in (assuming Cothran signs). Leslie woud be that much better. IT STILL WON’T BE BETTER THAN UNC’S.

    I’m not sure excatly what that says but strictly from a recruiting perspective, things are much better than what we considered good in the past. We used to celebrate top 100 players. These guys are top 30. Top 30 guys do make a difference.

  17. primacyone 11/20/2009 at 11:48 AM #

    ^We’ll VA, you are either preparing a long and detailed response or you are not going to answer the questions.

    My point is that this is a recruiting thread and you are coming off as if you are saying that our recruiting sucks and from where the majority of us sit, the recruiting looks pretty dang good. Heck we could have a class with all five stars next year, and we have a LOI from a point guard who is probably the best point guard RECRUIT we have ever had in the history of our program.

  18. VaWolf82 11/20/2009 at 11:55 AM #

    Have you ever heard of Dinky Proctor (the next Magic Johnson)?

    No matter how you answer that question, that example should demonstrate why I refuse to take recruiting rankings, high school stats, or AAU stats and project future performance of State’s BB team. Right now, all of those kids have the “potential” to improve State BB. So far, none of them have actually have.

  19. VaWolf82 11/20/2009 at 11:56 AM #

    My point is that this is a recruiting thread and you are coming off as if you are saying that our recruiting sucks

    Please provide a quote to support that claim.

  20. waxhaw 11/20/2009 at 11:58 AM #

    Here is a summary from Scout:

    Year 5* 4* 3*
    2002 0 2 2
    2003 0 2 0
    2004 1 2 0
    2005 1 2 0
    2006 0 0 1
    2007 1 1 2
    2008 0 0 2
    2009 0 3 1
    2010 2 1 0 (1 more 5* possible and 4* upgrade possible)

    It’s very possible that will will sign more 5* recruits in 2010 then we have signed combined since 2002. Combine that with all of last years 4*, the yearly attrition under Sendek, the huge gaps in recruiting where we would sign 1 or 2 good classes then put up a stinker and you will have the best paper team we’ve had in years.

    Who knows if that will translate to on the court success……
    Will they make it on campus?
    Will they be a Damien Wilkins-esque flop?
    Will they struggle as many freshmen do?
    Will they have chemistry?
    Can Lowe take advantage of their talent?
    Will they be able to compete with UNC/Duke who’s rosters are loaded with 4-5 classes of ones like our 2010 class?
    Will they stay healthy?

    I have no idea. I know that this recruiting class has the potential to be the best we’ve ever seen at NC State. Hopefully, that will count for something.

  21. waxhaw 11/20/2009 at 12:04 PM #

    Here’s UNC’s over same period:

    2002 3 1 1
    2003 0 1 0
    2004 2 1 0
    2005 1 3 0
    2006 3 3 0
    2007 0 0 0
    2008 2 1 0
    2009 1 4 0
    2010 3 0 0

    In the last 9 years, UNC has signed 5 or 6 classes as good as our class in 2010. They will have players. We need them too. Lowe has the best chance I’ve seen to recruit with the big boys.

  22. Wulfpack 11/20/2009 at 12:09 PM #

    VaWolf has a very strong point. History has shown recruiting is only half the battle. You have to develop team chemistry, and you have to win. Hickson was a beast, but that was one of the worst Wolfpack teams I have ever seen stricly from a “team” standpoint. I’m not saying Sid can’t do it with these guys. What I am suggesting is that he has A LOT to learn as a head coach, and hopefully it happens this year.

  23. theghost 11/20/2009 at 12:48 PM #

    Excellent point, waxhaw. Sure, there are plenty of examples of recruiting flops, so does that say that recruiting is a sham, that it doesn’t help? Some even write “recruiting” in quotes as if it’s some pretend smoke and mirrors buzzword that Lowe came up with.

    Sure, you can give me lists of talented recruits that don’t win championships. You can also give me lists of talented recruits that DID win championships. But there’s no list of championship teams made up of two-star Patriot League talent.

    Just because recruiting alone doesn’t win ballgames doesn’t mean it’s not positive. If some want to remain pessimists until a championship is actually won, that’s fine. But the rest of us don’t need their permission to be happy about recruiting.

  24. primacyone 11/20/2009 at 12:51 PM #

    VaWolf82 Says:
    “”My point is that this is a recruiting thread and you are coming off as if you are saying that our recruiting sucks”

    Please provide a quote to support that claim.”

    That’s why I used the words “coming off” as in: appears, suggest, does not deny, etc. There is no exact quote from you saying “recruiting sucks”, but you have been asked point blank twice how you feel about it and you have no reponse our you blow it off. And that was the reason for my first questions to you as I said “Just for clarification so your opinion is not confused.”

    Your statements may be taken out of context, but they could read not only that you don’t think recruiting matters, but you must think the recruiting efforts by the staff suck.

    So one more time:

    How do you feel the about recruiting results by the staff right now? Not before, not in the future, right now?

    Do you think there are kids on our current roster and kids that are expected to be here next year that could help move this program foward?

  25. legacyman 11/20/2009 at 1:05 PM #

    There are some posters who did not like Sidney Lowe as a choice for our coach, do not like him now and never will as they could have some reasons that they won’t state.

    Many times these dorks make snide comments which reveals their true character and it isn’t a pretty picture. Sidney has exhibited nothing but class since he arrived. He took what the former coach left and didn’t complain, he gathered a few recruiting scraps from what was available and tried to patch together a team and in spite of the odds beat a much superior unc-ch team…not coached by Matt Dogherty but Roy Williams.

    Anyone who can’t see what is now happening with our program and can’t see what is coming in the future to rebuild our program is just totally a waste of breath. Better get on board for the train is starting to build steam and will be leaving the depot pretty soon.

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