HB could establish ISU's MBB identity

**Cycsk** · 11-13-2009, 09:00 AM

No matter where HB goes, he is likely to do very well, help the team contend for a national championship, and have an NBA career.

However, only at Iowa State does he have the opportunity to define the identity of an entire program! It isn't just about basketball, but also about the story and relationship that he already has, as well as the unlimited potential he has as a goodwill ambassador (aka recruiter) in the future. He won't just be the "mayor of Ames," he will be more like the "people's president of the university!"

At UNC, Duke, Kansas, and UCLA, he will just "fit in." OU "needs" him more than the others, but there just aren't the intangibles that allow him to have the kind of impact on the program like at ISU.

At ISU, he will dramatically affect the very essence of the entire program, right away and for the foreseeable future. What other player has ever had this kind of opportunity coming out of high school? And this is all in addition to his NBA career (which I think will be advanced by the exposure he will get as a standout freshman for ISU rather than fighting for minutes at other schools).

**Cloned4Life** · 11-13-2009, 09:23 AM

Sure, Harrison can go to UNC and win a championship with 8 our 5-Stars.

We've seen that story before. Nothing spectacular about it.

OR Harrison could come to ISU. Establish our identity. Take a team of Not-5-Stars and lead them on a title run.

It CAN happen at Iowa State.

A run at a title CAN happen right here in Ames.

Harrison, you can MAKE IT HAPPEN RIGHT HERE IN THE TOWN YOU GREW UP IN.

So it really comes down to two choices:

1) Go play with a bunch of guys that were highly touted, recruited by everyone, and make a run at a title, playing in the shadows of all the "greats" to come before, be Dicky V's little buddy...yada yada yada, again...heard that story before.

2) Stay at home. Play for a coach that is going to build a TEAM around you. Is Mac bringing in 5-Star talent? A little. Brackins is a stud. Gilstrap is a stud. Colvin was pretty highly recruited. So he can recruit a little. The rest of the pieces of the TEAM will be filled by players that UNC's of the world probably wouldn't sniff at.) Lead a TEAM of pretty talented players on a title run...

Play WITH the best...or play prove that you are better by playing AGAINST the best...

The latter holds much more glory.

Marcus Fizer made the right choice, and he almost got us a title.

**Cycsk** · 11-13-2009, 11:09 AM

Indeed!

Except that he won't just be a great basketball player for us. He could shape the identity of the university!

Watch out Culver, if he comes to ISU, he may soon be running for Governor!

**BBHMagic** · 11-13-2009, 11:15 AM

I remember seeing on a UNC sight a post that said that Harrison would be a "nice" get for their team. That just sums up this thread. Yeah, Harrison will be good anywhere he goes. But he doesn't have the chance to leave the legacy many dream of by going anywhere but ISU.

**LutherClone** · 11-13-2009, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Cloned4Life

2) Stay at home. Play for a coach that is going to build a TEAM around you. Is Mac bringing in 5-Star talent? A little. Brackins is a stud. Gilstrap is a stud. Colvin was pretty highly recruited. So he can recruit a little. The rest of the pieces of the TEAM will be filled by players that UNC's of the world probably wouldn't sniff at.) Lead a TEAM of pretty talented players on a title run...

Play WITH the best...or play prove that you are better by playing AGAINST the best...

The latter holds much more glory.

Marcus Fizer made the right choice, and he almost got us a title.

Originally Posted by BBHMagic

I remember seeing on a UNC sight a post that said that Harrison would be a "nice" get for their team. That just sums up this thread. Yeah, Harrison will be good anywhere he goes. But he doesn't have the chance to leave the legacy many dream of by going anywhere but ISU.

This and this.

**TheHelgo** · 11-13-2009, 11:22 AM

i have had these same thoughts, and agree 100%. He could define ISU basketball! Michael Jordan, et all have already defined UNC basketball, so that opportunity is not there at UNC. It is at ISU. Don't get me wrong, we have our legends - Hoiberg, Fizer, Brackins, etc. BUT, we have never had a program-defining player - someone who is so proud and identified by the program that they become the face of the program (like MJ at UNC). The closest we have is Hoiberg as a player and Orr as a coach. Hoiberg is almost exclusively local though. up and coming HS players outside Iowa probably don't recognize the name Hoiberg. with the kind of career Barnes has the talent to have, he could be that guy. Of course, so could Brackins, but Barnes has the history of growing up a fan and being the hometown boy.

Sorry for the rambling.

**Cycsk** · 11-13-2009, 11:42 AM

Yes, yes, yes, to everyone's responses.

This dimension has been underplayed in the media and on this forum. However, I doubt if it is lost on HB. He is pretty shrewd. All of the attention from the other schools only heightens and expedites his influence on ISU's identity when he picks us.

Announcing right before the season opener is brilliant. Perhaps the only more dramatic occasion would be at halftime of the ISU/Duke game in Chicago!

And because of Brackins and other key recruits this year, he will be coming to a "good" team rather than the struggling teams of the last few years. That has to make it all feel much better for him.

**CyLoboClone** · 11-13-2009, 11:51 AM

But isn't Brackins done after this season? If HB decides to stay local do you guys really think that the big man will forgo going Pro for another season as a 'clone? Just look at Bradford- he is lucky he has insurance. I think Brackins leaves even if HB comes.

**BBHMagic** · 11-13-2009, 11:54 AM

I don't think you can look at Bradford because that's football (a liiiiitle more physical).

But yeah it would probably be a long shot for having Brackins back, but who knows everyone thought he'd leave last year. Staying for a national championship would be a better reason to stay than the reason for staying this year.

**cstrunk** · 11-13-2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by CyLoboClone

But isn't Brackins done after this season? If HB decides to stay local do you guys really think that the big man will forgo going Pro for another season as a 'clone? Just look at Bradford- he is lucky he has insurance. I think Brackins leaves even if HB comes.

kg-cyclones spoke with Brackins and asked him about the potential of staying for his senior season if HB commits to ISU. He said that he thinks it would definitely be fun and he is not sure what he would do at this point. "If it were about money, I would be gone already."

I believe kg-cyclones was about 50/50 on whether or not Brackins would come back (if HB commits).

**CyLoboClone** · 11-13-2009, 12:06 PM

well, that would be sweet then, wouldn't it?

I guess Brackins figures that the money will be there when he is ready...

**CyLoboClone** · 11-13-2009, 12:10 PM

and damnit! didn't Tinsley drive an escallade around ames the day after he botched the layup? I heard that and was ****** because he was ready to scoot to the NBA before the season was up. This makes me like Brackins even more.

**Cydkar** · 11-13-2009, 12:17 PM

Brackins will NOT be back.

**trajanJ** · 11-13-2009, 12:21 PM

I'm not sure how much of an identity a one-and-done establishes. But Beasley took K-State to the second round of the tourney and that's more than they had done in a while. You can't compare him to the Mayor, because that was a different day when players stayed longer in college. The key for ISU is to take advantage of the publicity and continue to recruit better athletes.

**CYdTracked** · 11-13-2009, 12:23 PM

and damnit! didn't Tinsley drive an escallade around ames the day after he botched the layup? I heard that and was ****** because he was ready to scoot to the NBA before the season was up. This makes me like Brackins even more.

Tinsley never drove it because he had a suspended license or something. I saw Horton driving it more than anyone probably.