Where in the World Is Coach Arnold
By Jeff
If you listened to the final Hoopstalk show last night, you heard that Gib was supposed to join us. He called around 6:55 to say he was at the airport. Why? It seems he had gotten a phone call about an hour earlier from a coach about a recruit who had just decommitted from Iowa State and might be available if Gib could have a " face to face". So where was Gib going last night at 7 pm? Why, back to Houston which he had just left three days ago after being in Europe for ten days.
You say it might be fun to be a coach. Consider this event and rethink it.
One of things that I heard from just about everyone in Houston was what a great recruiter Gib is. He is willing to go anywhere at anytime to talk to a recruit. What he needs is a Division recruiting budget, somthing he doesnt have and the prior staff never had. Fortunately for UH, Gib doesnt let that get in the way of finding the best talent he can for this program. More to come
Hoops Talk
April 7th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Could that Iowa State decommit be none other then Anthony Odunsi? 6'3" 190 lb Guard. Had offers from Stanford, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. Suppose to be the real deal. Signed in November with Iowa State and asked/granted his release from Iowa State yesterday. Also plays with a set of twins (Harrison's). Nationally ranked #1 and #10 guards in the 2013 class.
April 7th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Odunsi's reason for leaving Iowa State is that he felt he wouldn't get enough playing time. Cyclones granted him his release as long as he doesn't play for another Big 12 team or school on the Cyclones upcoming schedule. Suppose to be a physical specimen for an incoming frosh.
April 7th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Alright Coach Gib! Go get the youngster and bring him back to Hawaii with you. Wish we could go to China with the team. Maybe Oceanic can stream a broadcast???
April 7th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Hawayer hot up for point guards?
April 7th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
I'd still settle for a seasoned jc point in the mold of Darius or Pierre of S Idaho,national jc champs. Jeff Portnoy Law Office will front travel expenses for the team to China, thanks Jeff,we knew you could do it.
April 7th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Chee Hoo: Regarding the Harrison twins. If, and it's a big if, Odunsi winds up at UH don't expect the Harrisons to follow. Just read a story that Odunsi and the Harrisons got into an altercation with each other (2 against 1?), and all three were suspended for a playoff game in late February. Still, when you read his comments and see his interview, Odunsi sounds like a nice kid, and quite mature. I'd be worried, though, why he chose to de-commit. From their first videos, I liked Pierre better than Darius, and as it turns out, Pierre was named the top player in the national juco tournament. Which now probably means he's a long shot for Gib.
April 8th, 2011 at 2:31 am
Jeff, if Gib doesn't have a recruiting budget, do you know how he pays for these trips? I'm assuming it's coming out of his own pocket and if so that is just not right. If UH ever wants to TRY and make it to the "next level" UH basketball needs a recruiting budget.
April 8th, 2011 at 8:26 am
I really have no idea who or how many players UH will sign next week, it's very exciting.
April 8th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Hey Jeff,
Thank you very much for the inside scoop on this. I was disappointed to listen to your radio show without any info on recruiting but you did one better by notifying an actual target.
Keep up the good work and thanks again.
Kendall
"Big Gib and UH Basketball Fan"
April 8th, 2011 at 9:52 am
monies from Men's BB Booster club membership fees goes towards helping out in recruiting costs so one way to help our team is to join the booster club, whether you have $50 or $5000 ,it doesn't matter , every dollar counts. Join the Booster club, Tom Ishii is the president and a great guy. Go to the UH website for more information.
April 8th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Thanks for the info. Jeff. I hope this blog and your Hoopstalk show are back next season
April 8th, 2011 at 10:22 am
The best guard in the nation is right here in Hawaii - BYU Hawaii's Jet Chang! Gib should go get him. I'll guarantee you that, if you pit Jet Chang, one-on-one, against any of UH guards, he'd jerk them out of their shoes.
April 8th, 2011 at 11:39 am
Never let it be said Gib doesnt have a sense of humor. I emailed him today to ask how recruting was going. He told me he just signed Yao Ming. He is still in Houston, and then onto LA this weekend, Signing day is next week. Also in response to kaneohe 97, my understanding is that he is spending his own funds on recruting as the budget was exhausted months ago.
April 8th, 2011 at 11:57 am
In my opinion, I don't think it is particularly noteworthy to spend your personal money for recruiting trips. People, in other occupations, do this all the time. Sometimes my company pays for me to attend conferences on the mainland. At other times, when they can't pay for me, I use my own money to attend conferences. It's all about wanting to "get better" and one's willingness to invest in one's own education/skill development.
April 8th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I believe booster club money is also helping with Gib's airline expenses,along with accumulated frequent flyer miles from previous trips.
April 8th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
an analogy between educational/self improvement seminars and recruiting trips???????
April 8th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
what is your point AL ?
April 8th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
The analogy is this, al. If there is a really good conference on the mainland - one that will surely make you better at your job, but your company is unable to pay for it, what are you going to do? Sit back and let the opportunity go by? Or are you going to INVEST in yourself and pay to go with your own funds?? A person who is serious about his/her profession would do the latter.
Same with Coach Arnold. If there is a worthy potential recruit, and he needs to act really quickly, I would expect that he would be willing to use his own funds. Why? Because one good recruit can make the team much better, which in turn, makes Coach Arnold better at his job.
April 9th, 2011 at 8:36 am
mr.b...okay. i misinterpreted your opening sentence on your previous post. i do agree with your point, now. sorry.
i hope that in the future the recruiting budget is increased. if we expect great things then we need to spend money to get great results.
i hope the uh administration will learn from the june jones debacle. i know we have different players on the upper campus and i have heard that they are working towards that goal of contract extension, assistant's pay, operating, and recruit budgets.