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Would Dez Wells help lead to # 9?
First, this is not about what happened or didn't happen at Xavier. I don't have any idea what really occurred, and neither does any of us besides the parties involved. I do know that if a grand jury fails to indict--with no defense lawyer there presenting any exculpatory evidence--it is "a" sign. It does not necessarily mean innocence, but it is something to consider.
And I hope people don't read this wrong, but I am all about giving kids a second chance. And yes, I mean 20-year old "men." While I condemn criminal acts and acts of violence, and hope that this was a misunderstanding, I also praise those who can take a person and allow him that second chance, hopefully creating an environment surrounding him with good influences.
So it's not about that. It's about basketball.
Dezmine Wells is a 6'4 G/F from Xavier University, a sophomore who averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds per game as a freshman, shooting almost 38% from 3-point range and 50% from the field. Excellent statistics, and Xavier plays a good schedule, and has a good reputation as a basketball school.
He's a RSCI ranked # 54 recruit, Rivals.com ranked # 76, Scout.com ranked # 44.
A good player. But is he a great one?
While the kneejerk reaction may be to see how he can help the team this year, he would be a transfer. As we know, NCAA rules state that a transfer must fulfill one year in residency at the new school in order to be eligible (fall and spring semesters), absent an NCAA-granted waiver.
A waiver that is discretionary.
A waiver without firm rules.
A waiver that would beg the question by the NCAA, "where is the young man transferring?"
A waiver that when the answer is, "Kentucky," may get a different response from President Emmert and his cronies than if the answer were, "Duke University," or "U-Dub."
No guarantees of immediate eligibility.
Now you have a scholarship tied up this year, as a redshirt season. And next year as a redshirt sophomore, and the following year as a redshirt junior, and the following year as a redshirt, 5th year senior.
Maybe that's not a bad thing. And maybe he's a two-and-through, or three-and-free to the NBA kinda player anyway.
But it does make you think. Would this keep a top 10 recruit away from signing in 2013? 2014?
This isn't the Rick Pitino waiver-wire University, where scholarships continue to go through metamorphisis and players on scholarship suddenly find it in their best interest to leave the University. While John Calipari may not have kept everyone on scholarship when he arrived at Kentucky, there can be no doubt that players he recruited, players he promised a scholarship, are players he keeps.
Is Dezmine Wells worth it?
I'm not saying he is, or he isn't. Just asking the question.
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