Gary's development of players

[Great 2BA FL Gator]

You know what? I'll admit it, I am retarded.. Earlier in the year, I questioned Gary's ability to get the most out of his players. After watching Boom, Gist, Vasquez, Milbourne, and Hayes get better each game, I have to say Gary has done a masterful job, especially after the start to the season. I got a chance to see Osby last year against Illinois. The guy fought hard, but he looked like he didn't have an ounce of basketball skill. Now, He might get looked at by some NBA teams. He is undersized, but he is a great shot blocker, and an improving back to the basket guy. He has truly gotten 50 times better. The same is to be said about Gist. He has blossomed at Maryland, and I think has lottery pick type talent. He's like Chris Wilcox with a jumpshot. This team is a joy to watch, and I can't wait for Wednesday's game!

[Ruzious]

Ah, if Gist were 2 or 3 inches taller, then the comparisons to Wilcox and Boone would have some merit. Unfortunately, there isn't much of a market for 6'8 220 lb PFs... or for 6'6 C's like Osby.

But I concur with your general point. GW had a recruiting class with some bad apples, and all of a sudden - people said he can't develop players. One bad class doesn't make a career.

[EddieO's21]

it's one thing to develop players, which GW is very good at...it's another thing to RECRUIT; which he is terrible. I would honestly like to have a couple blue chippers for once, but hey, I don't think Gary would know what to do with them

[Avsfan]

It's a shame that it took Gist 3 years to get to this point. I remember him during his freshman year, just saying to myself "if this kid ever has all the teachings click, he's gonna be nasty".

It seems as if Gary's teachings just take awhile to sink into the heads of these kids. Not just this group...but the group with Ibekwe, Gilchrist, and such...it took forever, and those few games when they put all those things that Gary had been teaching them together....they looked freaking fantastic.

[AgentOrange]

it's one thing to develop players, which GW is very good at...it's another thing to RECRUIT; which he is terrible. I would honestly like to have a couple blue chippers for once, but hey, I don't think Gary would know what to do with them

As far as recruiting goes, I think it will pick up quite a bit in the next couple years now that Chuck D is in the fold. He is going to be a great recruiter for this team.

[Lucky Jim]

Well, while I agree that Gist is undersized, his skills are developing and his athleticism is outrageous. His wingspan is that of someone taller. And his vert is nearly 40".

Someone will take a flier on him.

Osby, on the other hand, just doesn't have the skills to go NBA. He could do well in Europe. Which is actually something he'd probably love - you know he's thriving on the UMCP love.

[Ruzious]

It's a shame that it took Gist 3 years to get to this point. I remember him during his freshman year, just saying to myself "if this kid ever has all the teachings click, he's gonna be nasty".

It seems as if Gary's teachings just take awhile to sink into the heads of these kids. Not just this group...but the group with Ibekwe, Gilchrist, and such...it took forever, and those few games when they put all those things that Gary had been teaching them together....they looked freaking fantastic.
Actually, Gist's greatest improvement was last year. He had a heckuva season, if you'll remember. It was the Gilchrist recruiting year that had all of the problem children. I think Gary's earned a pass for that group.

[Ruzious]

Well, while I agree that Gist is undersized, his skills are developing and his athleticism is outrageous. His wingspan is that of someone taller. And his vert is nearly 40".

Someone will take a flier on him.

Osby, on the other hand, just doesn't have the skills to go NBA. He could do well in Europe. Which is actually something he'd probably love - you know he's thriving on the UMCP love.
I concur on both of them. While I don't think Gist is going to be in Wilcox's or Boone's class, I think he will make an NBA roster. On the right team, he could be a good contributor.

[Avsfan]

Actually, Gist's greatest improvement was last year. He had a heckuva season, if you'll remember. It was the Gilchrist recruiting year that had all of the problem children. I think Gary's earned a pass for that group.


While his greatest improvement may have been last year...this year he is clearly a MUCH better player in all aspects of his game. His jump may not have been as great this year, but his total package is much more polished.

[tywright]

The reason Gary doesn't get credit for his recruiting is for not getting the top talents, which he should since he coaches an ACC team. MD still does not get the top Bmore and DC recruits (unless you consider Mosely the top Bmore recruit), which is amazing if you think about it. So Gary has to rely on JUCO's and out of region recruits to find that diamond in the rough. How many MD grads have recently gone on to excel in the NBA? Whoever does get drafted eventually become role players.

With that said, Gary usually gets everything out of players. He's a great teacher and motivator and that's why he's stuck around for so long. Not many coaches have 600 wins and a national title on their resume. However he could have a stronger resume if he had signed a few more HS All Americans.

[EddieO's21]

Gary deserves more credit with recruiting.

He has a roster full of gamers, and players that are obviously motivated to improve, and win for the name on the front of the jersey.

Why does he not get credit for that?

Why does he not get credit for recruiting players that came from winning HS programs... like Oak Hill, Montrose, Calvert Hall, Mt St Joe...

Why does he not get credit for building a roster that is going to be capable of a sustained run?

Gary gets deserved credit for coaching players up.. but sometimes it used as a back-handed slap as well... that he does not sign 'top' talent... there is plenty of talent on this roster, and deserves credit for that as well.

Current Roster Starters

Gist - 4 star, Top 100.... came in as a raw athlete, that Gary has coached up, and was clearly willing to work on his game. Has a chance to have his banner hanging from the rafters...

Osby - Played 7mts a game as a freshman with New Mexico... avg 6pts, and 5 boards as a soph in JUCO... came to MD ready to work.. made a difference as Junior, playing at All-Conf level as a Senior... Osby gets credit for the work, Gary should get credit for seeing something in him he could use... wide shoulders, a work-ethic, and desire.

Milbourne - 3 stars, Top 100 recruit.. dominated Georgia, went to Oak Hill senior season... was usually a 6man, but got a fair amount of starts on uber talented team... extremely athletic... has scored in double figures 11 of past 17 games, avg 8pts and 4 boards... 40% from 3, 84% from the line... going to be a 3 year starter...

Vasquez - 4 stars, Top 100 recruit, came from a great program in Montrose... clearly cares about winning, and representing Maryland... soph avg 17pts, 5boards, 7 assts...

Hayes - 4 stars, Top 100 recruit, Potomac was in the State Title chase.... leading the conf in Asst/TO margin...

Current Roster Bench


Tucker - 3 stars, Top 100 recruit.. branched out to Texas to get him.. good ball handler, shows a better shot around the key than advertised... willing to play defense... I see him having a Drew Nicholas type career... extremely valuable glue guy that becomes a star late in his career. Has scored at least 7 pts, 7 times this season.

Bowie - 3 star, Top 150 recruit... building that Montrose pipeline.. played everygame... giving valuable mts off the bench... started two games, scored in double figures both times... very solid perimeter defense...

Dupree - 4 star, Top 100 recruit... great program in Calvert Hall under Amatucci. People want to write him off after a slow adjustment his freshman year... watch the strides he makes next year as the focal point of Gary's flex offense.

Walker - 3 star, Top 150 recruit, another from Montrose... had offers from Boston College, George Mason, Vanderbilt, and VaTech... has only been playing the game about 5 years.. think about that progression... clearly a kid willing to work... 6'9, and like Burney strong athlete that runs the court, likes to rebound and shot-block.. even if he never develops and offensive game.. can still be very valuable addition to the roster with more time in the weight room.

Gregory - 3 star, Top 150 recruit... won a lot of games at MtStJoe in Baltimore's tough BCL... was the Baltimore City/County POY.. had offers from VaTech, and Xavier... is a PF in a SF body... but this is somebody that helps your roster.. as soon as next year he should be a more talented option for the mts Neal is getting now.

Neal - 3 stars, Won a State title as Junior, offers from Georgetown, St. Louis, Princeton, East Carolina.... does he have any athleticism? No... but he does know the game, and at 6'7 230 can come in lean on the opposition... you can bet that he battles everyday in practice, and that always helps a team.

Burney - 3 stars, Top 150.. one time Miami signee..... raw offensive game, but a 6'9 guy that is a strong athlete, runs the court, and likes to rebound and shot-block.

I hope he stays, because I believe he has a bright future.




2008 Class

Mosley - 4 Stars, Top 50 National.. best player in Baltimore at St.Frances.... not a superior athlete, but no slouch either... does everything well...

Gilchrist - 4 Stars, Top 50 National... VaTech transfer, had offers from Virginia, Providence, Depaul....

Maze - 3 stars, Top 15 JUCO... played at Oklahoma avg 5.6pts, and 2.1 asst to 1.4 to's in his freshman year... scoring 24ppg in JUCO...

Bowman - Top 15 JUCO... who knows if this will happen or not, but talented option if it does..


2009 Class

Jin Soo Kim - 3 stars.... figures to be Top 100 National...

This list of recruits is fine, but you must compare to the top programs in the nation if you want to be considered elite. MD is arguably a basketball school, and yet has a tough time recruiting even LOCALLY. I teach at St. Johns Cathoilic Prep (formally Prospect Hall) in Frederick. A former national powerhouse. We still compete in the MIAA "A" conference and compete well with St. Joe, Spalding and others. I am a coach and am very close with our head basketball coach, obviously since were in the same departement.

He regularly tells me how Gary Williams is one of the best in game coaches but an awful recruiter. He deals with him on a personal level obviously in scouting our players and GW really seems to be apathetic at times and it is very hard for him to be "at the top of anyones list." At many times he can be abrasive and he leaves most of the work to his staff, not getting that involved.

A couple of our players have got hand written letters from Roy Williams and Coach K this year, (they are ranked freshman) and not even noticed from GW. Obviously I am not saying that they are UMD type players but they are in Gary's own backyard! I will be a die hard UMD guy till the day I die, and truthfully, I love GW, he is a great strategist, (601 wins shows this) and knows how to develop and get potential out of even the worst (neal and bowers). However, It will always boggle my mind how a national champion can fall to the NIT for two years not long after their win and that they continue a form of mediocrity in recruiting as other programs pass them by.

I know things will change, but that list of recruits pales in comparison to the top programs, and truthfully, will for a while

[grady41]

Md doesnt get many players from Baltimore because of the Bob Wade era, as I am sure most know. Other than Booth, Elliott and Dixon up until this year when Booth got DuPree and Gregory.Hopefully they stick it out, there freshman years are not going as well as they would like, I do see them being good players down the road, hopefully this year. The team needs this.
With Mosbey coming things are looking up. Hands Graham has a son playing in Balt, he might be a player for the Terps. Booth is getting a better handle on the recruiting and Chuck is helping alot. Baltimore will really help the Terps out in the future.

[EddieO's21]

I appreciate the feedback, and find it interesting... but respectfully still disagree.

After the NCAAT, we signed back to back Top 10 classes... fully capitalizing on the title... at the least, we would have continued our string of NCAA appearances if John Gilchrest had not lost his mind, and if Chris McCray had not failed out his senior season... truth be told, both teams still had valid arguements for making the dance...

Even with those failures, those classes still went to the Sweet 16 (in-coming freshman season after the Title), won an ACCT, and 25 games last year...

I think in direct opposition to those classes, Gary has targeted other players... players that are hungrier, come from winning backgrounds, and know the game.

I think Gary has locked down a large share of the local (Baltimore/DC/NOVA) talent, and the roster bears that out...

Gist - from MD
Vasquez - HS in MD
Hayes - from VA
Dupree - from MD
Gregory - from MD
Bowie - from MD
Walker - HS in MD
Neal - from VA

2008
Mosley - from MD
Gilchrist - from VA
Maze - from MD


Yes, I know about Anthony, Gay, Boone, Summers, Swann, Echefu,Dorsey, Freeman, Greene, Sims..... and thats a wide aray of talent, that I would have loved to have had at Maryland.

Did Gary miss on some? Yes, he did...

Were some of those players ever going to be eligible at MD? No, they were not...

Were some of those players determined to leave the area regardless? I think so...

In reality, who cares about stars or rankings...?

Obtaining quality players has never been a problem for Gary Williams...

(I do understand that Drisell, and Booth are heading large parts of it right now)

With the current roster we are talking about 10 Top 150 players... 6 Top 100players... you are fooling yourself if you believe most teams (even Top 10) have vastly more talent.


PS - I remember when you had TMO and were a dominant program.


Those were the days huh...this tuesday if you want to see a fun game is the first time Stu Vetter and Montrose will be coming back to St. Johns, it will be intense and I'm sure very heated. I have to be the student section administrator so I know it will be a tough one ha.

Like you say, rankings are one thing, performance is another. GW has always been able to get the most out of his players so realistically, they should be on par right.

I would just like to see GW get a superstar and beat out a Duke, KY, UNC, Fla for a blue chipper. I am sure it has happened, but I know it could happen more often. I never started to question GW's recruiting ability until I spoke at length about it with our Bball coach.

I guess what makes me come back over and over is how you can get someone like Blake, Dixon, and Francis and turn them into superstars. That is why GW will always be the man ha

[Ruzious]

While his greatest improvement may have been last year...this year he is clearly a MUCH better player in all aspects of his game. His jump may not have been as great this year, but his total package is much more polished.
I think he's improved the amount that you would expect any junior to improve in his senior year. Obviously he's getting more opportunities, because they lost a bunch of scoring options from last year's team.

[Flosman]

To put my two cents in on GW. I think he needs players that are going to stick around for a while. Perferably 4 years but atleast 3. This puts you out of the running for some of the elite prospects IMO. The team he has now is developing very nicely IMO. I do not see any potential early departers in the group and I think they are setup to have a pretty good 4 year run. I think the way he has brought along Milbourne is just perfect. Milbourne is going to be an all ACC performer before he leaves IMO. I think GW has gotten Milbourne Hayes and Grievis to buy into the system and it is going to pay huge dividends. I think Milbourne staying all year in CP and working on what the coach wanted him to speaks volumes about the kind of kid he is. I was very impressed with the way Grievis reacted last night the few times he got a little out of control. He was signaling to the coach that he knew he screwed up and then pointed to his own head, letting the coach know he had to keep being smart in order to have success. I enjoyed Gary's coy smile when Grievis did that. The meltdown of Gilchrist and McCray hurt the program and I think Wilcox leaving early really set the team back also. BTW if Wilcox would have stuck around and developed a mid range shot like Gist has he would actually be a very good NBA player IMO.

I guess my opinion on GW is he would really have to be embarrassingly bad for an extended time before I would give him to much flack. He is a great coach IMO. I think many who jump on him forget the level of success he has had in comparison to what he took over.

[The Rick]

Ah, if Gist were 2 or 3 inches taller, then the comparisons to Wilcox and Boone would have some merit. Unfortunately, there isn't much of a market for 6'8 220 lb PFs... or for 6'6 C's like Osby.

But I concur with your general point. GW had a recruiting class with some bad apples, and all of a sudden - people said he can't develop players. One bad class doesn't make a career.

I went to HS with Boone and was and still am good friends with him. I am very familiar with his game, and I honestly think that Gist is a little more refined and could very easily be an early round draft pick. I think NBA scouts will recognize Gist as a special talent for his size and will definitely take a chance on him.

[Ruzious]

I went to HS with Boone and was and still am good friends with him. I am very familiar with his game, and I honestly think that Gist is a little more refined and could very easily be an early round draft pick. I think NBA scouts will recognize Gist as a special talent for his size and will definitely take a chance on him.
There are only 2 rounds, so I'd hope he'd be an early round pick. ;) I'd guess Gist will be a high 2nd round pick. I agree that he has a little better skills than Boone, but Boone is close to 6'11 245, and size really matters in the NBA. He's got excellent size for a PF/C. Gist is undersized for PF and really isn't a SF, so his tweener size gives him a big disadvantage.

Btw, Boone seems like a good guy. He got a LOT of criticism his last year at UConn for not appearing to be enthusiastic - and people said he lacked heart - as he had a somewhat disappointing season. I think he got a bad rap and has a great future.

[inmn]

It is hard to believe that this is the same team that struggled to score 20 points in a half earlier this year. Other than Osby I'm not sure that any of the players are over their potential but Gary has taught them to play as a team. Things like Vasquez running point early on are starting to pay off now-a young team learning each other's tendencies. GW has taken advantage of their strengths-strong half court defense due to perimeter size and physical inside play as opposed to trying to fit his preferred style of play-pressing.
That being said they are still a young team and may struggle down the stretch as most young teams do. Even yesterday only one bench player scored-too many minutes on the starters will be tough as they progress.

In terms of recruiting rankings this is likely GW's least talented team with only two top 75 players (Gist and Dupree-riski consensus). All 4 coming in next year will be ranked higher-both Bowman and Maze would be top 75. I will disagree with CR that the offense will run through Dupree next year-I think it will be Gilchrist. BTW Kentucky did offer Gilchrist as did Georgetown but I believe Georgetown backed off when they got the kid from La. Bowman was also heavily recuited by Kentucky. The point that GW prefers lower ranked recruits or 4 year guys or even character guys in hogwash as evidenced by last years offer to Pope and Green and this year's class. You don't need a team of top 50 players but you do need a special player or two if you want to make an elite 8 run.

Md continues to make recruiting inroads by offering Roscoe Smith (top 50 So)already. For those that think Md's greatest rival is Duke I will submit it is really Georgetown who they are competing against every day for talent like Smith, Josh Selby and others.

[Sports Guy]

Juan Dixon and Joe Smith taught Gary that you don't need to be a great HS talent to become a great college player...I think Gary saw this and is after thay type of player.

Nothing is wrong with that but it does mean he isn't likely to get many top top guys and because of that, fans won't like it.

I disagree that he capitalized on the title and if he did, he didn't coach the team well enough.

[Great 2BA FL Gator]

He did get screwed with the gilchrist and McCray situations. The two years we went to the NIT, we had our team leaders off the team halfway through the year (Gilchrist & McCray in 2005, 2006). I think that would hurt anyone.

[Fairfax Bird]

Juan Dixon and Joe Smith taught Gary that you don't need to be a great HS talent to become a great college player...I think Gary saw this and is after thay type of player.

Nothing is wrong with that but it does mean he isn't likely to get many top top guys and because of that, fans won't like it.

I disagree that he capitalized on the title and if he did, he didn't coach the team well enough.

I think he has always liked the guys that stick around. Get a group of 3-4 in the same year and watch them mature together. Got him a national championship. However, it also means there will be down years. We aren't constantly re-loading with those Mickey D's kids. BTW, Paulus is a punk.;)

[The Rick]

There are only 2 rounds, so I'd hope he'd be an early round pick. ;) I'd guess Gist will be a high 2nd round pick. I agree that he has a little better skills than Boone, but Boone is close to 6'11 245, and size really matters in the NBA. He's got excellent size for a PF/C. Gist is undersized for PF and really isn't a SF, so his tweener size gives him a big disadvantage.

Btw, Boone seems like a good guy. He got a LOT of criticism his last year at UConn for not appearing to be enthusiastic - and people said he lacked heart - as he had a somewhat disappointing season. I think he got a bad rap and has a great future.

Touche, I guess I was referring to getting drafted at all... oops. ;)

Yeah, Boone is a great person. He is just shy and being a vocal leader was never one of his strengths. It's not that he wasn't trying, but stamina was always an issue for him. The other thing was the let down after winning the title. That and he was extremely close with Okafor. I think a lot of people expected Boone to step in and be the next Okafor the following year. Boone has never been one to try to be what others want him to be, but rather been pleased with who he is. He's a very interesting person, and I guess never had as much desire as most do in his position. He just enjoys life, this coming from someone who grew up with a single mom and was taught to enjoy life in it's simplest form. He got a lot of criticism from the athletic department of my HS when he went prep following his senior year instead of jumping into college. As it turns out, he made the right move and UConn really put him on the map. For a quiet kid, this was the best thing that ever happened to him, but he made the right move going pro early--this surprised everyone who was close to him (as education was always VERY important to him).

I ran the South Carroll sports web-site in HS and covered Boone and Marshall Strickland as well as the Basketball & Football teams extensively. Boone talked to me a lot, sometimes more than his teammates. He wasn't the typical HS jock type. In fact, he and Marshall didn't get along for a while. Marshall Strickland, in case you don't know played for the Hoosiers and was projected as a top PG recruit coming out of HS. He took a bit of a hit after his junior year because he was ineligible to play his senior year in HS due to playing varsity ball in 8th grade (he was that good). He ended up flopping under Davis' system in Indiana and has been playing ball in Europe.

[Hallas]

Juan Dixon and Joe Smith taught Gary that you don't need to be a great HS talent to become a great college player...I think Gary saw this and is after thay type of player.

Nothing is wrong with that but it does mean he isn't likely to get many top top guys and because of that, fans won't like it.

I disagree that he capitalized on the title and if he did, he didn't coach the team well enough.

We had a couple highly touted draft classes. But Gary played the percentages and went for a large number of middle-upper recruits, instead of going for the Carmelos etc. Gilchrist, McCray, Travis Garrison, Cainer-Medley, Strawberry, etc.

I think we reloaded well considering we lost basically our entire starting 5 after our 2002 championship. The problem is he didn't really get through to his players (especially Gilchrist) and it basically negated the recruiting benefits he might have received post-championship. You can blame a lot of that on Gary, but there's an element of luck involved. No one really could have predicted that our starting point guard would go from a bring young star to a cancer.

[Oriole4Life]

Development is his specialty. I mean, was Bambale Osby as good as he is now when he came in from New Mexico? No. On the natioanl championsip team, Chris Wilcox was the only true star recruit, although Steve Blake was pretty highly touted too. Not to say he hasn't gotten some studs, you guys have broken that down pretty well so far. I really like our lower classmen right now, and that's the first I've seen of the 2008 class. Looks promising.