Re: Otchere, not to be a downer, but how often does the AE get a "player' with that kind of size to come to our conference? Especially with the sophisticated recruiting element of today. Certainly not never, but very rarely - Coppenrath (at 6'9""), Warney (at 6'8"), Reggie Lewis (at 6'7"), Malik Rose (at 6'7"), and Vin Baker (at 6'11"), are definitely the exceptions to that rule over the last 30+ years.
If I'm recruiting him to SBU, I'm being totally straight with the kid and try to sell him on the following "package":
1) Convince him going to the NBA is a very remote possibility (that is, be straight with him);
2) Emphasize that if he excels in the AE, he's certainly got a shot at playing in Europe;
3) He's going to get a 1st class education at SBU, which will set him up for life;
4) He's going to get a helluva lot of minutes right out of the gate, if he comes to SBU, as opposed to other schools;
5) He can be the fulcrum and the magnet that draws future recruits, of a potential dynasty at SBU; won't be the same elsewhere;
6) Trips to the big dance from a mid-major always get good press;
7) You will be playing close to home - great for friends and family to see you live;
Sell him on our beautiful arena;
9) Mention how our past grads have played professionally;
10) Ask him if that shiny, new Lexus parked in Grad Chem, belongs to anyone he knows?
P.S. Ignore that sinister smiley face on # 8 (couldn't get rid of it via edit for some reason)