Yeah I've often wondered how much that one had to sting. Burke and Sullinger were tight pals so I'm surprised they let him go. Craft is a great player in his own right and at the time I understand he was the more highly touted recruit. However can't have a guy like that in your back yard and say thanks but no thanks. Craft can play d and run a team but give me Burke any day of the week. Felt that way then, definitely feel that way now. It's easy to be a Monday morning QB but Thad got burned on that one.

 

There is no one on the planet that thought Burke was a better prospect than Shannon Scott coming into college. That's why OSU didn't go after Burke. Had nothing to do with Craft...

 

There is no one on the planet that thought Burke was a better prospect than Shannon Scott coming into college. That's why OSU didn't go after Burke. Had nothing to do with Craft...

 

When looking at the PG situation though did they even really look at Burke? Or were they all in on Craft? I get not adding Burke over Scott, I was just looking at it from a PG perspective. I guess it's similar to the UK/Lofton situation, pass on an in state talent and take the more highly touted national recruit at a different position.

 

When looking at the PG situation though did they even really look at Burke? Or were they all in on Craft? I get not adding Burke over Scott, I was just looking at it from a PG perspective. I guess it's similar to the UK/Lofton situation, pass on an in state talent and take the more highly touted national recruit at a different position.

 

Craft was the previous class with Sullinger. They wanted a PG in the next class and took a commitment from Scott fairly early. At that point there was no room for Burke since Scott is also a point...

Craft was the previous class with Sullinger. They wanted a PG in the next class and took a commitment from Scott fairly early. At that point there was no room for Burke since Scott is also a point...

 

Sorry, thought Scott was a 2.

Sorry, thought Scott was a 2.

 

Bottom line is Burke was a scorer, childhood and AAU teammate of Sullinger, and practically begged for an offer from the school he grew up dreaming of playing for with his best friend at the time, so take the PG discussion out of the equation. It proved to be a bad move on Thad's part and he's taken some heat over the year's for it. IDC that Shannon Scott was higher rated at the time because something has to be said for "projecting" a players capability in 1-2 years out of HS which Burke clearly has graded out higher. I'm a diehard BuckNut so I can criticize my own coach...lol. Outside of the Oden, Conley, Cook, and Lightly class there has been no bumper crop of 4-5 stars players coming in but again, OSU is STILL and always will be a Football school so as long as Thad wins a Big Ten title every couple of years and makes it to the Sweet 16 every other year no one will question anything. I'm just greedy and want a "ship" in basketball too.

 

Russell is a great addition and will produce as soon as he arrives and I hope he can get Okafor to join the fold.

That's big time! Congrats to the kid.