University of Cincinnati Sports: La Salle's McElroy re-opens recruiting

Monday, May 12, 2008

La Salle's McElroy re-opens recruiting

La Salle High School forward Danny McElroy, who committed to UC as a sophomore, has re-opened his recruiting, according to La Salle coach Dan Fleming, and will not attend UC after all.
Fleming told our high school writer, Tom Groeschen, the decision was mutual.

McElroy, who will be a senior next season, averaged 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds last season at La Salle. He would have been a member of UC's recruiting class of 2009.

Under NCAA rules, UC coach Mick Cronin is not allowed to comment on a recruit until he signs a national letter-of-intent.

17 Comments:

at 10:30 AM

'WLMNMW' Prez said...

Didn't really see this one coming. It's ridiculous anyhow for most 12 to 15 year olds thinking they know where they want to play college ball.

Can't get inside his head, but maybe his eggsavior loving coach got to him. Or possibly he saw the group of D-1 wannabes quit on Super Coach the last seven games of the season. Who knows?

Sure am glad that we have a football team!

at 10:43 AM

Unknown said...

Every bit of news coming out of the UC basketball program since March has been negative.

They should just stop putting out information.

at 11:06 AM

MsUC said...

This was known for the past year. DM was struggling academically at LaSalle and not developing into a BE player.

This decision is best for both. Glad to finally read this announcement

at 11:47 AM

Thad said...

You could see this coming and I am glad that it is mutual. McElroy had not improved since his freshman year and he doesn't work hard. I don't think that Cronin wanted him that badly anyway. It will be interesting to see where he takes his H.S. career from here.

UC hasn't had negative news since march. They have just lost some recruiting battles, remember they did win one against Pearl getting Cash Wright. Hey the news isn't that bad, it could be like the school across town that has had to kick off one of their players to acquire a new one and had one of their departing players get busted. UC will be fine with the 13 scholarships they have now.

at 11:50 AM

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I guess some see the LOI signing of Dixon and Toyloy, and the news that the APR ship has been righted as negative. That's their problem.
McElroy by report hasn't shown much growth as a player since his sophmore year and frankly is no longer seen as a high D-1 talent. The mutual agreement thing is code for we don't want you anymore.

at 12:31 PM

CanMickCoach? said...

More scholly games from UC. Looks like McElroy chose the wrong scholly suitcase.

Heard he will be leaving LaSalle too -

What a shame - he committed so early, I bet many coaches wrote him off. Now that he is free - I hope he lands on his feet. This just doesn't feel right.

at 4:23 PM

Thad said...

This was not a scholly game. McElroy committed very early and regressed, maybe to the point where he won't be D1 talent. I am glad that both sides agreed on this. He is definitely not BEast material and if M.Williams is granted another year Mick would not have any schollies left.

Word is that he doesn't do any schoolwork. He also talks a lot without backing it up.

at 7:09 PM

MsUC said...

Don't care if you're in HS or college. If you don't put forth the effort, you're responsible for your inactions and results. A lesson in life better learned sooner than later.

at 7:10 AM

Anonymous said...

Thad - What's your proof that McElroy doesn't work hard and hasn't improved.

My guess is that the kid wants to go to a school that has a realistic chance of making NCAA every yr and that isn't UC.

Can't blame him for backing out of his verbal to a BE bottom feeder.

Agree that it's ridiculous for kids to verbal so early perhaps shouldn't be allowed to do so until jr. yr.

at 9:11 AM

Unknown said...

Thad & DrHatter,

I'm not wowed by the signing of 0-3 star players in a 4-5 star league. Could they become diamonds in the rough? Sure, but more likely they won't.

Since March showed up, UC has seen a losing record, a first round loss to a nobody in The Afterthought Tournament, a 5 star recruit turning us down, the end of a decades long Miami/UC rivalry, the report that the Big O is agitated by the losing, and a JUCO turning us down.

I'm betting that I'm missing some other negative stuff. As they say in the Army, "One Aw Sh_t cancels a truck load of Attaboys."

at 11:34 AM

CanMickCoach? said...

Some of the posters act like it is not ok to want UC to be the best again. Why should we settle for mediocre? I want UC to win like none other - I miss the 20+ win seasons, the annual top 20 finish. Why cant others want UC to be great again?

Look what Painter did at Purdue - started all freshmen and sophs last year if I recall correctly.

It is ok to want to win.

at 1:37 PM

'WLMNMW' Prez said...

I can't wait until we are a force to be reckoned with in BOTH football and basketball. The whole Cincinnati area has been conditioned by the Reds and Bengals to expect and accept mediocrity. And now, let's not allow UC BB to follow suit.

Reading the other comments, it seems that I'm certainly not all by myself in believing that we are at least one college president and one BB coach away from being a perennial 20+ win team again.

Saying that, I hope that time proves me wrong. We'll just have to wait and see. Two years from today, either way, all doubt will have been removed.

In the meantime, we will have to endure Z and her UC-21 puppets. Thank goodness for FOOTBALL!!

at 2:11 PM

Thad said...

Rauja,

My proof that McElroy hasn't improved are the rankings. He was around 100 when he verballed. He has fallen to around 180 now and his classroom work is terrible. I have heard he barely attends class.

Your guess is completely wrong. McElroy is NOT BEast material. He may not even be Division 1 material. He may have to go to JUCO first his academics are in such bad shape.

UC was given a self imposed death penalty so it is ludicris to give Cronin only 2 years to fix the mess NZ left him with.

UCfan79,
If you are not impressed with the 3Star recruits I recommend you take a gander at Pitt's recruiting classes. Take a look at ND's recruiting classes, ND's 2006 recruiting class was ALL 3 STAR players including Harangody. What was Kenyon rated? Logan? Chris Wright who was Andy Kennedy's best player was a 3 star recruit. Louisville's 2007 recruiting class has a 2 star and a 3 star recruit, Georgetown has a 2 star recruit. You really need to analyze what you are saying.

Do I have to remind you also that in the end you lose more recruiting battles than you win, that is a FACT.

I am also fine with not playing Miami. I would rather have a H&H against OSU, Kentucky or Indiana year in and year out than Xavier, Dayton or Miami.

The JUCO that turned us down has academic baggage. He was promised a starting position due to Pearl kicking two starters off the team, one his point guard, he had no choice but to offer the moon and stars. BTW, the APR report that came out has Tennessee losing a scholly due to grades, this sure can't help Coach Pearl, especially after his UWM team had a tourney low 8% graduation rate in 2004. So in the end Maze turning us down is not a big deal. We don't need the academic hardship and we already have 4 guards with another possibly on the way when the Indiana suspension comes down.

Camio,
Painter is in the weak B10, not the BEast. It is a lot harder to win in the BEast especially with the new schedule playing every team.

at 9:18 AM

Anonymous said...

Thad - Tell me how you know McElroy's class room work is terrible and he barely attends class. What's your source for such info?

You say McElroy is not BE material and then point out BE teams have turned 3 and even 2 star recruits into successful plyrs. McElroy is a 3 star so your logic that he wouldn't be successful in BE doesn't make sense.

Of course UC would like H/H with OSU, Ind., and Ky - so would Xavier. Not gonna happen. Why would you want to discontinue X series? Muskies add to UC SOS, the series makes money, fans want it? Could it be that Bearcats regulary lose to X?

Look forward to future battles between X and UC featuring Muskies 4 star recruit Frease and Gates. Should be some great games.

at 9:48 PM

Thad said...

I have sources at LaSalle that say McElroy's classroom ethic is horrible. He opened up his recruitment because he is going to transfer from LaSalle. Did you forget that Hep Cronin sits on the bench for LaSalle?

I stated that Logan and Martin were not 3 or 4 star recruits. They had the work ethic to be the best they could be. McElroy does not have that trait. He has regressed massively the past year. Scout has dropped his rating to 2 stars and rivals will drop him again when it is updated. I also stated that other elite teams in the BEast recruit 2 and 3 star players and stay atop the league, and get in the tourney.

UC has tried to get a series with UK and OSU. OSU only played UC when they had their worst team in 80 years. Both UK and OSU will not play UC here. Indiana may listen to playing UC since Crean is there. UC playing either of those three teams are better than playing a non big 6 conference opponent.

So the Muskies add to UC's strength os schedule? Please tell me Xavier's SOS last year? What was UC's. It also seems to me that UC beat Xavier with its worst team in 80 years. Xavier was also lucky to escape with a win against a down and out UC team last year on their home court. UC is Xavier's super bowl, why do they always have a week to prepare for it? What have they done post shootout the past 3 years? Please tell me.

First off Frease is a Center, Gates is a PF. McClain is UC's center so that will be the matchup. Also, Gates is a 5 Star recruit, not a 4 star, he is also up to #22 in his class.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=42183

at 11:46 AM

Anonymous said...

Thad - You're right that 3 star guys like Logan and Martin can turn out to be super players, but you forgot to mention the most outstanding example of this transformation - Xavier's David West - Player of the year at X, and now an NBA all star.

Have no idea what X's SOS was this past season. Just know they were an E8 team and have gone to tourney last 3 yrs. That's success.

Didn't realize Gates was 5 star, he's a great recruit for Mick and the Bearcats, and altho X's Frease and Gates might not go head/head in cross town shootouts we're in for a lotta exciting BB when the two are on the floor together.

at 7:14 PM

Thad said...

Rualja,

Kenyon was basically unknown when he came to UC. He was raw and could not shoot at all, had sub .500 FT%. Steve Logan was passed over by everyone and worked hard to almost be a first team all american even though his numbers were as good as Duke's Jay Williams.

David West was a much more prolific recruit that had some academic issues so he went to X. D.West average went from 11 ppg as a frosh to 20 his senior season. He also averaged 30 mpg in a weaker conference.

Steve Logan average went from 9 ppg to 20 his senior year.

Kenyon averaged s points per game, that is right 2 points per game his freshman year and 19 his senior year.

I would say that Kenyon's transformation was more drastic that D. West's. Ken's FT% jumped from 30% to 70% during his career.

Also, since you claim that X brings up UC's SOS

UC's SOS=52
X's SOS=64

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Monday, May 12, 2008

La Salle's McElroy re-opens recruiting

17 Comments: