Cuonzo Martin is close to...

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
89,545
Likes
38,029
#1
establishing a pipeline in Memphis.

Yes, I said it.

It's still early, but what Martin has done in a short time has been top notch in West Tennessee.

He gets Jarnell Stokes, a player Memphis really wanted, to come here, and this was a huge comeback. Memphis was the leader since April.

Austin Nichols is going to make his college decision soon, and we are right in the mix. Him and Stokes are good friends, and said that Stokes' decision is going to affect his. You can take that in many ways, but it could point to a good way. Either way, we are right in the thick of things.

Then, a top 20 player for 2013, Nick King, is very interested in us and we are in his top 5.

Oh, did I mention that top 10 recruit Jonathan Williams III, former teammates and very good friends with Jarnell Stokes, is considering Tennessee?

The next 9-12 months could be a new change for Tennessee basketball, and in a good way. Should be interesting to watch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9 people
#3
#3
We still need to work the Atlanta area for players like Parker and Goodwin.
 
#4
#4
I wish he had an elite guard or center as a best friend... Nichols is another forward
 
#5
#5
I think CCM will pull some talent out of Memphis before he's done here.

He's doing his due diligence in getting early offers out to midwest kids as well.
 
#6
#6
zjcvols said:
establishing a pipeline in Memphis.

Yes, I said it.

It's still early, but what Martin has done in a short time has been top notch in West Tennessee.

He gets Jarnell Stokes, a player Memphis really wanted, to come here, and this was a huge comeback. Memphis was the leader since April.

Austin Nichols is going to make his college decision soon, and we are right in the mix. Him and Stokes are good friends, and said that Stokes' decision is going to affect his. You can take that in many ways, but it could point to a good way. Either way, we are right in the thick of things.

Then, a top 20 player for 2013, Nick King, is very interested in us and we are in his top 5.

Oh, did I mention that top 10 recruit Jonathan Williams III, former teammates and very good friends with Jarnell Stokes, is considering Tennessee?

The next 9-12 months could be a new change for Tennessee basketball, and in a good way. Should be interesting to watch.
Click to expand...

Coach Martin has done something Pearl did not do. If he pulls this off with the players you talked about. I sure they follow their buddy Stokes to Tennessee. That would get us turned around real fast. We can make room for those guys.
 
#7
#7
rickyyrs said:
Coach Martin has done something Pearl did not do. If he pulls this off with the players you talked about. I sure they follow their buddy Stokes to Tennessee. That would get us turned around real fast. We can make room for those guys.
Click to expand...

To be fair, CCM basically closed with Pearl doing a ton of work.

CCM deserves credit for sure, though. He definitely saved this recruitment and took advantage of his lucky break.
 
#8
#8
gorockytop101 said:
To be fair, CCM basically closed with Pearl doing a ton of work.

CCM deserves credit for sure, though. He definitely saved this recruitment and took advantage of his lucky break.
Click to expand...

Didn't Stokes pretty much eliminate UT after CBP left? CCM did a great job getting back in it with Stokes.
 
#9
#9
gorockytop101 said:
To be fair, CCM basically closed with Pearl doing a ton of work.

CCM deserves credit for sure, though. He definitely saved this recruitment and took advantage of his lucky break.
Click to expand...

CCM had to start from scratch. Stokes pretty much said as much. We were all but out of it after Pearl was fired.

But I do agree we caught a huge break with him being an EE and schools not having a scholarship available mid year.
 
#10
#10
rickyyrs said:
Coach Martin has done something Pearl did not do. If he pulls this off with the players you talked about. I sure they follow their buddy Stokes to Tennessee. That would get us turned around real fast. We can make room for those guys.
Click to expand...

One of the absolute biggest differences between hoops and just about any other sport: when you can only put 5 on the floor at a time, it is easy to turn a bad situation (talent-wise) around in a big hurry. Just look at Calipari at Kentucky. Every year it's a new team.
 
Last edited:
#12
#12
top5vols said:
We still need to work the Atlanta area for players like Parker and Goodwin.
Click to expand...

Atlanta becomes much less important if Martin is going to pull two recruits a year out of Memphis like it seems he wants to do.

The reason Atlanta was so big when Pearl was here was because he couldn't get Memphis. Not too mention the absolute suckitude from Ga. Tech and Georgia.

And Pearl did a great job in that area. It was the smart thing to do.

While Atlanta will always produce good players, it's going to be harder to get them with the emergence of Georgia under Fox and while Gregory isn't a good floor coach, he's an ace recruiter.
 
#13
#13
driley3 said:
So technically isn't stokes opening a pipeline to Memphis? I'm kidding, mad props to CCM
Click to expand...

If Martin is a quality coach, in five years we could say "December 22, 2011 changed Tennessee basketball" and I seriously mean that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#14
#14
I like your attitude about our BB team's future, but I don't know if alot of kids will have the strength to leave "their home town" as they like to say. Alot of pressure is put on these Memphis kids to stay in Memphis and most do. Hope you're right and Martin does start working that area hard because it would help our team recover much quicker. A good point guard would be great. :good!:
 
#15
#15
CM's signature recruit, he has opened up the pipeline with Stokes to the most important recruiting are for UT. GO ZO!
 
#17
#17
Agree. Martin has a great opportunity here. I don't see any big time 2012 guys but if he lands any of those 2013 guys, we are officially set. The only thing left is he has to win games.
 
#18
#18
gorockytop101 said:
To be fair, CCM basically closed with Pearl doing a ton of work.

CCM deserves credit for sure, though. He definitely saved this recruitment and took advantage of his lucky break.
Click to expand...

What do you people have against coach Martin. He did a great job getting Stokes. Give the man time. He will get it done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#19
#19
That's the point. It has to happen soon. Martin has a golden opportunity here. CJP continues to show he sucks. Another year with a crazy talented lineup and they suck. Anderson is questionable but to recruit that area hard, we for sure have to be more successful than them. UK will get what they want but that still leaves plenty of talent to cash in on.

Most important time for coach martin IMO.
 
#21
#21
I think we owe a debt of gratitude to Coach Pearl and his staff for opening the Memphis pipeline and should congratulate Coach Martin for closing the deal with Stokes. Hopefully, Cuonzo will be able to keep the pipeline open.
 
#22
#22
I agree we need the Memphis pipeline to compete for championships but having seen kid after kid pick other schools over Tennessee I am optimistic that Stokes will be the first of many to pick UT.

I think CM did a GREAT job landing Stokes but the stars all lined up perfectly for him on this one and future recruiting battles will be much tougher,
 
#23
#23
We saw the coaching job performed during the tournament against Duke and Memphis....Memphis stole that game from us. All it takes is a couple of big time NBA caliber players and this ship is turned around. Can't wait and hope all the cards fall where they need to make it happen!
 
#25
#25
zjcvols said:
establishing a pipeline in Memphis.

Yes, I said it.

It's still early, but what Martin has done in a short time has been top notch in West Tennessee.

He gets Jarnell Stokes, a player Memphis really wanted, to come here, and this was a huge comeback. Memphis was the leader since April.

Austin Nichols is going to make his college decision soon, and we are right in the mix. Him and Stokes are good friends, and said that Stokes' decision is going to affect his. You can take that in many ways, but it could point to a good way. Either way, we are right in the thick of things.

Then, a top 20 player for 2013, Nick King, is very interested in us and we are in his top 5.

Oh, did I mention that top 10 recruit Jonathan Williams III, former teammates and very good friends with Jarnell Stokes, is considering Tennessee?

The next 9-12 months could be a new change for Tennessee basketball, and in a good way. Should be interesting to watch.
Click to expand...

Nice to hear this. The Memphis pipeline would be impressive feat that hasn't been duplicated by any other UT coach since i have ben watching them play ball.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top