Mystery Wisconsin Point Guard Unveiled

Jeremy · 07-06-2006, 07:55 PM

Mystery Wisconsin Point Guard Unveiled
Jeremy
CycloneFanatic.com

As many of you will remember, I have long talked about a mystery recruit from Wisconsin that would be given an offer by ISU. While the identity and information of this player has been known for a very long time, I had been asked repeatedly to keep the name of the player under wraps until ISU was ready to make it common knowledge.

With a major recruiting website having now leaked the identity of this mystery man, I will confirm the reports that ISU has offered 6'4" Wisconsin PG Diante Garrett for the class of 2007.

As many of you debated over endlessly at that time, we reported back in the very early days of the McDermott era that he made a trip to Milwaukee to do some recruiting. That topic and story can now be put to rest since you all know now who he was visiting so early on:) There were many topics at the time over just who was on ISU's radar at such an early date and why it was such a big deal to keep his name under wraps. The reason is that ISU wanted to give themselves all the advantage they could by keeping as low of profile as possible on Diante until they felt more confident in how things would move forward both with him and the program in general.

Diante is considered as important of player as any the coaching staff has on their list right now. With the PG position being very slim for the next few years at ISU, Diante is a key player for the future of the program. While other positions have some major needs, none seem to be as important to the coaching staff for the 07-08 and 08-09 timeframe as the true point guard. Garrett fits the mold of what the staff feels would make a great Big XII guard and compliment their roster and targeted players.

lennon3 · 07-06-2006, 08:36 PM

Any info on him? I am having trouble finding what type of player he is or any other kind of information on him.

clone33 · 07-06-2006, 08:37 PM

Jeremy, what do you think the chances of him committing are?

Jeremy · 07-06-2006, 08:41 PM

I would have to say the chances are really good, that's the main reason behind the secrecy surrounding the interest in him. He has seen a lot of growing interest by major programs over the past month or so and it will be important to get him to comitt as early as possible and still follow up after that with more contact. He really has a ton of upside but most importantly he fits exactly into the mold of what the coaching staff knew they wanted right away.

clone33 · 07-06-2006, 08:47 PM

I've got a question though. Dont we only have 4 schollies for the '07 class? With Brackins committing and an offer out to Stinnett, McFarland, and Leuer makes four. Right?

Nuts4Cy · 07-06-2006, 09:11 PM

Don't forget, we may loose some scholarships due to Ncaa violations as well with the whole Juri thing. The big question is - is this the reason why Stinnett hasn't accepted the scholarship as of yet? Maybe the coaches told him that they had someone else as the front runner, and they wanted to see how things progressed...

rpudenz · 07-06-2006, 10:57 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeremy @ 07-06-06 6:55 pm) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Mystery Wisconsin Point Guard Unveiled
Jeremy
CycloneFanatic.com

As many of you will remember, I have long talked about a mystery recruit from Wisconsin that would be given an offer by ISU. While the identity and information of this player has been known for a very long time, I had been asked repeatedly to keep the name of the player under wraps until ISU was ready to make it common knowledge.

With a major recruiting website having now leaked the identity of this mystery man, I will confirm the reports that ISU has offered 6'4" Wisconsin PG Diante Garrett for the class of 2007.

As many of you debated over endlessly at that time, we reported back in the very early days of the McDermott era that he made a trip to Milwaukee to do some recruiting. That topic and story can now be put to rest since you all know now who he was visiting so early on:) There were many topics at the time over just who was on ISU's radar at such an early date and why it was such a big deal to keep his name under wraps. The reason is that ISU wanted to give themselves all the advantage they could by keeping as low of profile as possible on Diante until they felt more confident in how things would move forward both with him and the program in general.

Diante is considered as important of player as any the coaching staff has on their list right now. With the PG position being very slim for the next few years at ISU, Diante is a key player for the future of the program. While other positions have some major needs, none seem to be as important to the coaching staff for the 07-08 and 08-09 timeframe as the true point guard. Garrett fits the mold of what the staff feels would make a great Big XII guard and compliment their roster and targeted players. [/b][/quote]

Anywhere we can get a profile on this kid?

Kyle · 07-06-2006, 11:43 PM

There's not much, but I found this Wisconsin message board discussion.

http://mb28.scout.com/fwisconsin36703frm4....cID=12002.topic

He was only honorable mention as far as all-state selections went last year.

PsychedClone · 07-06-2006, 11:59 PM

I saw Diante Garrett play tonight in a high school summer league. He is the real deal. People in Wisconsin are already comparing him to Devin Harris.

He plays for Milwaukee Vincent, a perennial Wisconsin powerhouse team that has won 5 or 6 Division 1 state championships in the past 10 years. He is coached by Tom Diener, an uncle to Travis and Drake Diener who played at Marquette and DePaul, respectively.

Diante's father, Dick Garrett, played his college ball at Southern Illinois and then spent 5 years in the NBA with the LA Lakers, Buffalo Braves, Milwaukee Bucks, and NY Knicks. I spoke to both Diante and his father briefly tonight. Dick Garrett is very friendly and easy to talk to.

There are several schools that are interested in Diante but ISU seems to be at the top of the list right now. He is now on the radar screen of schools like Wisconsin, Marquette, and Tennessee. GMac has been to Milwaukee personally to see him play. Coach Otzelberger has cultivated a nice relationship with Diante and his father. Dick said he would be talking to Coach Otzelberger again tomorrow. There is a possibility Diante may commit by the end of the summer and ISU's chances of getting him look reasonable good at this time.

PsychedClone · 07-07-2006, 12:01 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kyle @ 07-06-06 10:43 pm) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> There's not much, but I found this Wisconsin message board discussion.

http://mb28.scout.com/fwisconsin36703frm4....cID=12002.topic

He was only honorable mention as far as all-state selections went last year. [/b][/quote]

He was injured in a car accident last season and missed several games. He'll be an all-state selection this year as a senior.

goonies_89 · 07-07-2006, 01:08 AM

anybody have some videos on him?

HandSanitizer · 07-07-2006, 08:37 AM

So we only have 4 scholly's to give in 07 right? One is already used on Brackins.
And we could lose up to 2 schollys for academic progress reasons for the next two years?
And we could lose another for Jiri? When is that going to be decided??????
So assuming we have 3 scholly's left after Brackins, what do you think are most important positions to get filled?

These seem to be our (best chance) targets.
Garrett
Stinnet
McFarland
Leuer

I think we need to get garrett and Stinnet because of our Juco guard situation. Then we would have Dunson, Garrett, Stinnet for quality guards.

I think we cant go wrong with either and it will depend on how good C.Johnson, W.Johnson are to figure out which postion we need filled the most.

So for now my wish list is Garrett, Stinnett, and a tossup between the other two. Now what will suck is if we get 1 or 2 schollys taken away.

Cloned4Life · 07-07-2006, 09:51 AM

I agree:

1) Stinnett

2) Garrett

(I would say two guards is a must)

3) Tossup between Mcfarland/Leuer, probably leaning toward Mcfarland.

A Class of Brackins, Stinnett, Garrett, and Mcfarland would be extremely solid, IMO.

Cydkar · 07-07-2006, 10:25 AM

I prefer Leuer to Mcfarland.

BooneCy · 07-07-2006, 11:14 AM

I would prefer a good PG, either Garret or Stinnet and then a forward. I wouldn't want to create a jam at the point position. Speaking from a coach's perspective, that would be difficult to manage with the guards coming in now and then again next year. I have a feeling we might have a few busts in the forward postion, so we need to find bigger more aggressive guys down low. Go get a point and then give Brackins some help with another forward.