731 replies to this topic

[oberhaus]

Can't leap???? At 6'1 he can dunk.

[fanofthegame]

The key here is 4 years. When Ohio State can mix in high quality "career" college players with these one and done and two and done superstars, thats where Aaron gives the buckeyes their biggest bang for their buck. Deibler was far below expectations starting out but given a few years of Matta ball he has become a legit threat. A similar path Craft will follow. Be prepared the first couple years. The bashers will get just enough to make them feel right. If he doesn't play alot they will say he is not good enough for this level. If he plays it just won't be at the stats he was putting up at L-B. The point guard can be a very unglamorous role, bring the ball up, run the offense, play solid defense. Typically scoring points is just not in the job description. You can be the best passer but an assist doesn't count until the ball is put through the hoop by another player. But when all is said and done, Aaron will be shining bright. Good Luck Aaron

[Maltese Falcon]

The best, I mean THE best, athletes play in the defensive backfield in college football, and at OSU that is even more true. He has nowhere near the speed or leaping ability to play corner at a major D1 program such as OSU. Those are NFL caliber players in their backfield 7 out of 10 times. This is not a slam on Craft but let's be realistic. #1 He could not play corner at OSU, that's absurd. #2 He isn't big enough to play safety, even more far-fetched.

Like Rob Kelly, Donnie Nickey and Dustin Fox? They all started for OSU in the defensive backfield

[Close Call]

You are absurd, get a clue the man can play football. Very quick, fast and strong not to mention football smarts. Playing corner for OSU is not out of the question. One of the best players to come out of Ohio. Stick to basketball bashing Easton you do not know Football. Thanks Mr. Craft you deserve a lot of respect.

Why get so offended? To suggest he could play on OSU's football team is a little silly. Just like it's silly to suggest the OSU corner has the finesse and skill to play basketball. No knock on Craft - I think he's going to do awesome at OSU - there's a reason he chose basketball over football.

[jawbreaker]

Like Rob Kelly, Donnie Nickey and Dustin Fox? They all started for OSU in the defensive backfield

I love how this turned into a football thread. Who cares if he could or couldn't play football at OSU. I don't think it was EVER an true option.

For what its worth, Rob Kelly could hit like a ton of bricks and Dustin Fox would piss me off most games.

Craft will see the floor a lot as a freshman and should be a great piece of the puzzle at OSU. He hasn't given a reason why he won't fit in well at OSU on and off the court. I guess you have to have a triple double every night to get respect from some people.

[man2mac]

Let's remember, Aaron was offered by Tennessee as well as OSU. Obviously the coaches at the big time programs in the power conferences feel Aaron is capable of playing at that level. These coaches stake their careers on offering these scholarships. Great HS career Aaron and best of luck at the next level!

[Corleone]

With Turner and Buford leaving early I see that as good and bad for Craft.
He may get some time but would be better served playing alongside someone like WB or Turner even if for just a year.
OSU's top 5 next year will be Lighty, Diebler, Thomas, D-Laud and Sully. Sounding like Lighty may start out at point while Hill/Smith get minutes and Craft gets groomed.
I feel he will have trouble in the B10 especially defensively. Hopefully he proves me wrong but right now it just looks to me like all he will be able to do is bring the ball up.

WHere did you hear about Lighty playing point next year? Not trying to yank your chain, but that would not seem like a natural position for him. And doesn't Hill run out of eligibility after this year?

[Easton]

WHere did you hear about Lighty playing point next year? Not trying to yank your chain, but that would not seem like a natural position for him. And doesn't Hill run out of eligibility after this year?

You're right on Hill, forget he played juco.
Lighty did play point in high school. I'm not sayin he's good at it!

Edited by Easton, 13 March 2010 - 08:54 AM.

[Easton]

Can't leap???? At 6'1 he can dunk.

Drop step?
I 1st dunked when I was 5'10" freshman and I was never considered a leaper.
Dunking off the dribble and having a great vert are two different things.

[ADog]

Aaron will be fine at OSU. It would not surprise me if he is not the starting point guard by the time OSU opens Big Ten play, if not sooner. He has all the tools to flourish at the D1 level. Will he be a superstar and end up in the NBA (which most people think you have to do to be considered successful in college) that remains to be seen but I do not think he will not have too much of a problem adapting to college ball (not saying he is or will be a NBA player). Remember folks...he has been dishing it off to Sully for a couple of years already and has drawn the toughest D assignment on his AAU team for awhile now.
Good Luck Aaron..GO BUCKS!

Edited by ADog, 12 March 2010 - 05:23 PM.

[ImAnEagle15]

Blah Blah about LCC. When Aaron drove he had 3 guys converging on him in a snap. When their point guard drove it was like the parting of the seas in the lane. You can't judge a player on one game. There will always be doubters out there but as someone who has seen Aaron play the past 4 seasons and in as many summers for the best AAU team in the nation I have no doubt that Aaron will succeed at the next level.

He will be moving down to Columbus like 2 weeks after graduation so he will be thrust into it in no time. It's not question that he's no Mike Conley and he'll be the first to admit it but I can see him contributing as soon as he gets down there. The great thing about this recruiting class is that there is no clear cut one and dones as has been the problem with the last few of Thad's classes. This group should be together for a while and should harbor for a great team in the next few years.

[ImAnEagle15]

His offensive game will only get better. You can improve your shot by sheer repetition. You can't however, teach great defense and instincts which is the greatest part of Aaron's game. Any fan of Craft's would take great pride after watching Aaron shut down 5-star and blue chippers such as Kendall Marshall, Doron Lamb, Andre Dawkins (who is already a sniper at Duke), and Reggie Bullock. He's already proven himself able to handle the pressure of better teams and to take the opposition's best player and make it his personal mission to hold him well below his scoring average. The Craft-doubters are the ones who've only seen him a couple times and more than likely only against his BVC competition in high school or worse only once and that was against LCC this past Wednesday. Aaron will succeed because he's such a high character young person. He gave up football, something else he loved to do, just to get ready for the next level.

[ImAnEagle15]

I watched the kid for the last 4 years during the summer and he looked pretty good. Then i saw him last night get man handled by HS PG. You can say what you want about last night but the reason LB got beat was LCC's PG did a great job on him. AAU ball is very different the High School ball. I think HS is closer to college then AAU. I have doubts about the kids ability to play at OSU.

It wasn't just LCC's PG playing him, it was also 2 or 3 other LCC players that converged on him everytime he went somewhere.

[lefty]

One thing about Craft is that they will be getting a point guard that is going to be there four years . That doesn't happen in major college basketball much these days . I hope Thad Cooper learns how to coach instead of letting his players go wild like a bunch of drunkin sailors as he has done his whole coaching career .

[a flock of tbirds]

Blah Blah about LCC. When Aaron drove he had 3 guys converging on him in a snap. When their point guard drove it was like the parting of the seas in the lane. You can't judge a player on one game. There will always be doubters out there but as someone who has seen Aaron play the past 4 seasons and in as many summers for the best AAU team in the nation I have no doubt that Aaron will succeed at the next level.

He will be moving down to Columbus like 2 weeks after graduation so he will be thrust into it in no time. It's not question that he's no Mike Conley and he'll be the first to admit it but I can see him contributing as soon as he gets down there. The great thing about this recruiting class is that there is no clear cut one and dones as has been the problem with the last few of Thad's classes. This group should be together for a while and should harbor for a great team in the next few years.

Don*t get upset EagleFan but The part about Lcc*s pg and the parting of the sea was insightful.My question is SHOULD Desi be able to blow by Craft initially?I feel that BIG TEN pg*s will be as quick or quicker than Desi and might cause Craft trouble EARLY in his career.I do think when he adjusts he WILL be a factor for 3 solid years at OSU.This isn*t a bash just an opinion and MOST frosh DO have an adjustment period,nothing wrong with that.It is called GROWTH!!!

[ImAnEagle15]

Don*t get upset EagleFan but The part about Lcc*s pg and the parting of the sea was insightful.My question is SHOULD Desi be able to blow by Craft initially?I feel that BIG TEN pg*s will be as quick or quicker than Desi and might cause Craft trouble EARLY in his career.I do think when he adjusts he WILL be a factor for 3 solid years at OSU.This isn*t a bash just an opinion and MOST frosh DO have an adjustment period,nothing wrong with that.It is called GROWTH!!!

When did Desi blow by him at all? Neither of them blew past each other all game. If one got around the other it was after getting cut off going one way. For the most part, they both played terrific defense on each other with Desi harassing Craft when he brought the ball up and Craft harassing Desi at the top when they were trying set up their offense. Did Desi get to the rim? Of course, he was on that night. Did he blow past Craft and leave him wondering how it happened? No. All I'm saying is that it would have been a little helpful had the other Eagles stopped group hugging their man and maybe step in front of Desi as he was driving to the rim. You didn't get Craft's best performance by far, and if this was one of the only times having seen him play I can understand where all the doubters are coming from. Even if LCC did get a great performance from Craft I still don't think we would have won. LCC is just a much more better team.

[Easton]

Desi is faster than Craft and blew by him at least 4 times.

[a flock of tbirds]

When did Desi blow by him at all? Neither of them blew past each other all game. If one got around the other it was after getting cut off going one way. For the most part, they both played terrific defense on each other with Desi harassing Craft when he brought the ball up and Craft harassing Desi at the top when they were trying set up their offense. Did Desi get to the rim? Of course, he was on that night. Did he blow past Craft and leave him wondering how it happened? No. All I'm saying is that it would have been a little helpful had the other Eagles stopped group hugging their man and maybe step in front of Desi as he was driving to the rim. You didn't get Craft's best performance by far, and if this was one of the only times having seen him play I can understand where all the doubters are coming from. Even if LCC did get a great performance from Craft I still don't think we would have won. LCC is just a much more better team.

I will agree with you about the lack of help LB gave Craft but watching that game I saw a big ten recruit unable to get control of the opposing teams PG!Maybe I didn*t see the BLOW by but you didn*t see Kirkman ever brought under control that game.HE GOT WHERE HE WANTED!!Like it or not this indicates SOMETHING.

[LimaJock]

I feel he will have trouble in the B10 especially defensively. Hopefully he proves me wrong but right now it just looks to me like all he will be able to do is bring the ball up.

Why people cont to critisize a D-1 athlete like aaron i don't get. Im pretty sure from what Matta has done his whole coaching career proves he knows what he is talkin about. I see aaron having no trouble playing in the B-10. Did he not play with one of the best AAU teams and excel while playing with them? Wouldn't everybody he plays against during AAU be a lot of the same people he plays in college? Didn't he get offered by more than one major D-1 college? .......(hint all the answers to these questions are yes) ..... i have no doubt that aaron is a great fit for the buckeyes and will excel. Why don't we all just enjoy what he has done in high school and wish him a successful future as a buckeye.
GO BUCKS!

I allowed a knowledgable person who has played against and watched Aaron many times to post because he was so fired up about the comments made on here against aaron.

LJ

[Red Baby]

When did Desi blow by him at all? Neither of them blew past each other all game. If one got around the other it was after getting cut off going one way. For the most part, they both played terrific defense on each other with Desi harassing Craft when he brought the ball up and Craft harassing Desi at the top when they were trying set up their offense. Did Desi get to the rim? Of course, he was on that night. Did he blow past Craft and leave him wondering how it happened? No. All I'm saying is that it would have been a little helpful had the other Eagles stopped group hugging their man and maybe step in front of Desi as he was driving to the rim. You didn't get Craft's best performance by far, and if this was one of the only times having seen him play I can understand where all the doubters are coming from. Even if LCC did get a great performance from Craft I still don't think we would have won. LCC is just a much more better team.

For being an Eagle, you sure take pride in bashing all Eagles who aren't named Craft. Perhaps you should look into a name change.