Jermaine Lawrence asks for release

[waterhead]

According to a linked article on BCN...this transfer request has been confirmed by UC.

 

[waterhead]

I'm not sure it matters from a UC fan perspective WHY he asked for his release. If he wanted to be closer to home, didn't like the coaching style, wanted to be more of a focal point, didn't like our chances this year, too much competition, his "handlers", etc etc etc.

I know a lot of fans are going to (or already have) blame the coach for losing the one "high star" recruit we've had recently...but that would seem backwards to me.

Usually it's the player who has a bit of an attitude or lacks the work ethic who asks to transfer from a Cronin coached team (can't comment on Lawrence right now). I ask the Cronin critics if they feel Cronin should cater to the player's preference rather than his own coaching knowledge built from Huggins to Pitino to his own experience. Who knows what is better for the team's succes? Coach...or still not old enough to drink beer player?

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Here's what I take away from the Lawrence situation overall...In the future if a HS kid has a "handler" or an "inner circle" and they aren't a sure thing 100% slam dunk Anthony Davis lottery pick, then I don't want them. Maybe I'm behind the times, but I think if you have to go outside of the kid, his parents, and his aau/hs coach(es), then there is probably some potantial baggage there.
It's hard to not think that JL is taking the easy way out. Unless he's really that homesick, all he needed to do is look at a guy like JJ and man up and put in some work. No way sitting out and playing a total of 37 games in 3 years is going to be good for chances at the next level. He's likely going to be on a worse team after sitting out, instead of going into a 2nd season in the same system where he would be given as many quality minutes as he can give.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Certainly hate to lose talented players but more then that,really hope this doesn't effect the in roads we have made recruiting the New York area.

Any news from AD? Have we received notification yet?

 

[Lobot]

According to a linked article on BCN...this transfer request has been confirmed by UC.

Nothing personal Waterhead but this isn't correct. As far as I have heard UC has not received notification yet and the situation is still very fluid. Don't start tearing down the kid quite yet. This is probably a done deal but might not be over with. No sense in us fans burning the bridge until he's officially gone IMO.

 

[[email protected]]

Lawrence couldn't shoot, his FT % was horrible, and he wasn't that athletic. For all the accolades he arrived with, it just didn't add up. Like Shaq Thomas, he was supposed to be able to get his own shot and play on the perimeter. If you simply can't shoot, it doesn't matter if you're a BIG who can play on the wing. I don't think his loss will have any negative impact. I would rather open up a roster spot for a better player. Lawrence will land at a mid major where he'll be an average player next year.

 

[BearcatMick]

Lawrence couldn't shoot, his FT % was horrible, and he wasn't that athletic. For all the accolades he arrived with, it just didn't add up. Like Shaq Thomas, he was supposed to be able to get his own shot and play on the perimeter. If you simply can't shoot, it doesn't matter if you're a BIG who can play on the wing. I don't think his loss will have any negative impact. I would rather open up a roster spot for a better player. Lawrence will land at a mid major where he'll be an average player next year.

Good God he was a freshman. 95% of college Freshmen struggle. It doesn't mean he sucks.

Using your logic, you probably would have thought Kenyon martin was a mid major player as well after his freshman year

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Good God he was a freshman. 95% of college Freshmen struggle. It doesn't mean he sucks.

Using your logic, you probably would have thought Kenyon martin was a mid major player as well after his freshman year

BearcatMick this may have been your best post ever.

 

[[email protected]]

Kenyon Martin wasn't nearly as highly recruited as JL and he was much more athletic. JL was one of the most sought after players we've ever recruited. Big difference. JL looked lost at times and he had no post game. If that's not his game because he is really more of an "outside in" player, well guess what, he had no outside game either. Sounds kind of like a prima donna to me. Good riddance. Let's find someone who wants to be here and isn't afraid of competing for playing time.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Kenyon Martin wasn't nearly as highly recruited as JL and he was much more athletic. JL was one of the most sought after players we've ever recruited. Big difference. JL looked lost at times and he had no post game. If that's not his game because he is really more of an "outside in" player, well guess what, he had no outside game either. Sounds kind of like a prima donna to me. Good riddance. Let's find someone who wants to be here and isn't afraid of competing for playing time.

Yes he was, Kenyon Martin was a consensus top 50 recruit.

 

[Cataclysmo]

I realize that Jermaine struggled as most freshmen do. But he was the third best freshmen on OUR TEAM last season.

 

[TrillCosby]

I realize that Jermaine struggled as most freshmen do. But he was the third best freshmen on OUR TEAM last season.

Who also was playing out of position and had dealt with numerous injuries while playing as a freshman. He still has a huge upside no matter where he ends up.

 

[Cataclysmo]

Who also was playing out of position and had dealt with numerous injuries while playing as a freshman. He still has a huge upside no matter where he ends up.

I guess I just never saw his upside. He was way too skinny and couldnt shoot to save his life. His defense, understandably, was atrocious. So im not sure what posistiom he actually could play, because a guy whos too skinny to get to the rim and too bad at shooting to pull up from mid range is a liability on offense.


Id be suprised if he ever made the NBA. If that day comes, this whole board can have drinks on me.

 

[JasonS]

Please wait for news to be official before posting anything about the kid. Don't post something you might regret. He is probably gone but let's wait for confirmation first.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Please wait for news to be official before posting anything about the kid. Don't post something you might regret. He is probably gone but let's wait for confirmation first.

Absolutely Jason. No reason to post something negative anyway. The kid has every right to explore all his options. It's his life and he has to do what is in his best interest. Hope he stays but if he don't I hope he does well.

 

[cliftonballer]

Waite Hoyt, I echo those sentiments.

 

[Bearcat22]

There was an article posted here at one time where Mick described one of the biggest challenges of recruiting is having to re-recruit players on his own team due to their own unrealistic expectations or those of the player's family or handlers. I wonder if this occurred with JL. I hope it works out for him wherever he goes.

 

[Bulldog01]

EVERY freshman in America gets homesick at one point or the other in college. Stop jumping the gun. Kid got homesick, uncles ask him did they want them to look into somewhere closer only for benefits of them receiving tickets. Mom is going to step in and tell him takes his butt back to Ohio and bring her back a degree, she don't care about the NBA. Hope it plays out like this as anybody on here who went away for college tell you they got homesick.

 

[Cats Fan in TN]

If this is true and JL is on his way out I personally don't see this as a huge loss. People harp on potential, his athletic ability and the fact he was a 5* recruit, that's all great but what I saw was a pretty good athlete who was out of position offensively and defensively 9/10. No post moves, poor mid range game (Don't really remember him making a jumper all year). He did at times rebound okay at times but overall he looked lost. The ONE thing that stood out to me above all else was his body language all season, it didn't look like he wanted to be there, looked unhappy, uninterested most of the season. If he chooses to transfer I wish him all the best and hope he stays injury free for the remainder of his career. I do think getting Ellis back will be an instant upgrade in hustle and toughness alone, not to mention he put up damn good numbers at the Juco level.

Don't read too much into him getting booted before. He got in a minor bar fight after the Brawl where no legal action was taken. It was all about timing, had it been before the brawl I doubt he gets booted for that situation. He took the fall for Yancy and CM who both threw and landed more blows during the XU fiasco. I welcome this kid back with open arms, he wants to be here and I think he truly is thankful for the opportunity. I think he's an instant upgrade over JL and you get 2 years out of him.

Mick knows what he's doing, theres a reason he is a D-1 basketball coach and we are not, and while we may not like or agree with some recruiting decisions, I think he has earned our trust as fans. Remember what he took over and what we are now, the man does not get the credit he is due (not saying he's the perfect coach, but we are damn lucky to have him). Lets just trust the process, we are 12 deep and these guys will compete on a daily basis, that will bring out the best in players. Should be a fun year.

 

[Bulldog01]

Please wait for news to be official before posting anything about the kid. Don't post something you might regret. He is probably gone but let's wait for confirmation first.

don't be fake and smile in his face but talk about him behind his back. That a really make me want to leave the fakeness. He can stand the truth and get over adversity, but fakeness kills the relationship everytime.