The Recruitment of John Lucas
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I’ve always been a huge John Lucas fan.
Pretty impressive NBA stat sheet:
Points 9,951 (10.7 ppg) / Assists 6,454 (7.0 apg) / Steals 1,273 (1.4 spg)
This is the guy that helped Tyshawn Taylor put his game together in just a short period before TTs senior season.
This is the guy I want Kansas to hire as an assistant coach.
This is the opportunity for Kansas to leapfrog right over Kentucky. We’ve matched their luxury suites now… It’s time to take the next step in college basketball. Pay the big bucks for an assistant coach that can really make a difference.
Every 5-star HS guard recruit in the country would line-up to sign for Kansas. We wouldn’t even have to recruit, just answer the phone.
Entice Lucas with his own gym and business to train young players during the summer.
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@drgnslayr I’m confused. Is this in response to Snacks getting caught with pot and that you assume he is gone after the season? Also, has Lucas said he is interested in KU?
These are just questions and curious to know what you know.
Rock Chalk.
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The Snacks incident just got my mind turning, along with the post on Danny recruiting Maker. This is my wish list only. Nothing out on John becoming a Jayhawk… yet!
This is the next smart move in college basketball. Not only give your school one more great recruiting tool, and development tool throughout the season… give your players reason to stay more than one season. The carrot for players to stay another year is to go through massive development.
College basketball is going through a talent drain as players leave early.
The NBA is experiencing a shortage of players with adequate skills for the same reason.
College ball needs to actually develop into what college is… a center for learning. I’m not criticizing Kansas or other schools, but the focus really isn’t on development. The focus is on recruiting. Snacks was brought in as a recruiting tool, especially in the Chicago area.
Instead of investing in recruiters, why not invest in developers? Give recruits what they really want, instead of just recruiters who talk big and show lots of love.
AAU ball is a joke. Kobe has it right:
Why Kobe Bryant’s AAU Basketball Criticism Will Fall On Deaf Ears
““Teach players the game at an early age and stop treating them like cash cows for everyone to profit off of,” he said. “That’s how you do that. You have to teach them the game. Give them instruction.””
We all see the potential in Svi. He’s just a pup. Imagine if we had someone to teach those skills on our coaching staff? Clearly, we do not have that person now.
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@drgnslayr would that fly w/ncaa?
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@drgnslayr did you have your baby yet?
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One week from today! It’s necessary for a c-section, so the appointment is next Friday!
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It does bring up an interesting question, and not one I saw discussed yesterday. Who are some candidates we’d want to fill a vacated asst. coaching position?
I think Lucas would be an awesome hire.
There was a lot of discussion about Jacque Vaughn when it was learned of his imminent dismissal from the Magic.
Would it be another “Self guy” or would he stray from his own coaching tree? The KU tree?
BTW, the 2-week suspension for Snacks is pretty weak, IMO. As was discussed at length yesterday, I don’t know how you maintain credibility with current players’ families or the families of potential recruits if you condone such actions. 2 weeks is pretty close to condoning it
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Larry Brown made a very interesting point when asked about the problems with college basketball. He said that one of the issues is that college programs aren’t doing enough teaching - that the assistants and head coach are so consumed in either game preparation or recruiting that they don’t have the time to really teach the players. I think that’s a good point.
I think it would be useful to a lot of programs to have the opportunity to really get to work with the players that they have in the preseason on a limited basis. In-season time is limited because there are almost always games, but in the preseason you could really get some things done.
I know that this would put an extra burden on the players, but it’s not like these guys aren’t going to be in the gym, anyway. Every basketball player I knew was in the gym whether they were required or not. Might as well make that time a little bit more productive.
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I’m thinking Jacque has too much ambition to come back to Kansas. He is well-connected and has a lot of opportunities in the league. Lucas has had his day in the league, both as player and coach. He is older and most-likely not quite a risk of flight based on ambition. This could be his retirement nest egg, both financially and lifestyle.
I agree that 2-weeks is a joke. But it would also damage current players to disrupt the flow with him being fired. I expect this isn’t over. I expect to read that Snacks will be involved in other activities after the season to show his dedication not only to the reputation of Kansas but to help youth with drug issues.
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“would that fly w/ncaa?”
I guess you mean, “could Kansas players participate in a summer clinic in Lawrence?”
There are some gray areas, but I’m sure everything could be approved by the NCAA prior to making the commitment. Players play all summer now and in organized developmental situations. Maybe it just means Lucas can’t be directly involved with Kansas players during the summer.
“In-season time is limited because there are almost always games, but in the preseason you could really get some things done.”
I think most of what would give Kansas a huge advantage in basketball wins is to have a coach like this during the season. Now we get a big part of the “NBA advantage”… this is what the Mayor has… his ability to scout teams and exploit match ups. For example, no coaches in college teach hedging. It’s a part of the game completely missing in college. This is something Lucas will bring. So we scout our opponents, discover not only their team tendencies… but also player tendencies. Player X can only drive to his right, so hedge him right. Force him away from his strength. etc… etc… etc…
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@drgnslayr good thing it’s not today!!
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@drgnslayr I meant could Lucas do both?
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Not sure? Does anyone out there know?
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@drgnslayr bet it’s not.
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John Lucas has a huge program that keeps him very busy and very wealthy and I just don’t see him taking an assistant position at KU when I am sure he has opportunities to return to the NBA as Head Coach which he has been before (Cavaliers, Spurs and 76ers).
My home base in the early 70’s was Bethesda, Maryland and I followed his career ever since, particularly the Lefty Driesell coached Maryland teams that included Len Elmore, Tom McMillan and of course John Lucas. During those years('74???) Maryland had recruited one Moses Malone and had a signed letter of intent and the team was set to battle then power house North Carolina State that featured David Thompson, Tommy Burleson and Monte Towe. At the last minute, Malone decided to jump to the ABA (one of the earlier HS to pros) and left Maryland without a center…and there it went Lefty’s best chance for a title. He was a super gifted athlete and he was also and All-American in tennis.
His John Luca Enterprises conducts camps and clinics at several levels including HS and for players preparing for the NBA. draft; he does not work with active college players, and to the best of my knowledge, Tyshawn did not attend his camp while at KU, although he might have attended one after graduation and prior to the draft, as I indicated, Lucas does not work with active college players.
As former heavy drugs user, one of his strengths is working with athletes with addiction problems, and this is the part of his work that, as a former user, is the near and dear to him, and I just don’t believe he would want to give that up.
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“Tyshawn did not attend his camp while at KU, although he might have attended one after graduation and prior to the draft, as I indicated, Lucas does not work with active college players.”
I recall that he did over the summer between his junior and senior year. It was on KUSports.com. The talk was that Lucas helped him on his shooting form on the perimeter. I know that was part of it, but I knew he helped him learn to finish at the rim, too, an area where TT was very close to learning, but couldn’t quite get there until his senior year when Lucas showed him how to take control of the end of his drives.
TT did go through the Lucas’ 2012 NBA Draft Camp… but I believe this is after his experience the year before.
This past summer, Christian Garrett attended a Lucas camp and was the rage when he scored on Andrew Harrison. The Harrison twins have been actively coached by Lucas since the 8th grade.
KU basketball walk-on Garrett driven to win
Let the Harrison twins’ hype begin
All I’m saying is offer Lucas a fat deal during the basketball season and a facility for his summer camps. He may not be interested, but who knows? I don’t see him returning to the NBA. That time has passed and he wasn’t really a successful head coach. I think he’d like something where he could put down some roots and stability, especially at his age.
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Here is link to the programs he offers and the only one for college players is the pre-draft program. Not really that important.
He has a huge business not only with his training programs but also with the Great Oaks Recovery Center and he really has his hands full. There is no way KU can provide the facilities he would need and some of his programs would be in direct competition with Coach Self’s own camps. Also, I am not sure it would be allowed by the NCAA or the University of Kansas (it is a state organization after all); Cole Aldrich conducts camps in the Summer and they are not at KU but at High School in Johnson County (Olathe); one would think that he would have one at KU if he was allowed. Maybe someone else could chime in with more information on the subject???
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Thanks for the links.
I knew he had a cocaine problem back in his playing days. Glad to see him helping others. Didn’t know he was so involved in it.
He has always had college players come in the spring/summer. I just don’t think it is a listed program on his site. It is by invitation only or by others who have the inside track.
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@drgnslayr Here is my wish list for the future when Coach Self retires.
Interesting take on John Lucas. If KU could get him to come, he might be a really good replacement.
Also, Coach Manning. If he has a good career at Wake, KU might come knocking on his door after Self decides to step down. Manning should answer. His ties to KU already put him at the top of the list in my opinion. KU needs a high level coach to come in after Self retires to continue the tradition. Who else would fit? A former KU player who has coaching experience and aspirations to be at a blue blood program. Maybe Paul Pierce or Sherron or Danny’s current assistant, Ballard.
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Lucas is my dream catch… but @JayHawkFanToo helped bring me back to reality. It’s unlikely we could get him here. But I wonder what kind of money he is making now and what could be appropriated through our AD?
This is taking college basketball in a new direction. The focus has never been about assistant coaches, and I’m sure athletic department budgets have never opened up to this possibility before.
What I’m talking about is major bucks for an assistant coach. Something unheard of. And the assets the guy brings with him is as enticing as the luxury flats we are now bribing recruits with.
If we can build palatial accommodations for players, we can spend the bucks on real developmental coaches.
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Lucas HC record in the NBA is not good ( 174-258 ). I believe he has found a niche working with athletes with addiction and apparently he is better at that than coaching. At 61, he is also almost 10 years older than Coach Self so his coaching future is very limited.
My hope is that by the time Coach Self is ready to retire Brad Stevens is ready to come back to college and KU is able to get him; he is only 38 years old. Tony Bennett would also be a good pick but I believe he is building a great program at Virginia and would be difficult to get him to go anywhere; he is 46 years old.
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I never considered Lucas a candidate for Kansas HC. Saw his role as only in player development.
I think this is where the problem is in college coaching. Every assistant just trying to be a head coach. That’s because assistant coach jobs are only viewed in that scope. I look at Lucas more like a specialist like Hudy. She’s not head coach material either.
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Tim Jankovich at $700K is the highest paid Assistant Coach in college basketball and this is due to his position as Head Coach-in-waiting. Before that it was Dalonte Hill at KSU that brought ( many would say he “bought” ) all those DC players to KSU before moving to Maryland; no other Assistant or Specialty Coach makes even close to that…most Division I Head Coaches don’t make that much money. No way Lucas would consider taking a position for that money.
