glm38 wrote:It was obvious they were both very good but I don't think even most Shockers fans thought they would turn into All Americans did they?
Honestly, I thought Fred Van Vleet was going to be an All American since the day I saw his high school tape for the first time. I've never, before or since, seen so many just flat out smart plays from a high school player. And I've never been that excited about an incoming recruit. WSU has some good recruits coming in this year, but I'm not obsessed with any of them the way I immediately became about FVV. I didn't think he'd be as good of a defensive player as he's become, though.
Baker's the one that surprised me. I heard a lot of talk about him from other WSU fans, and he certainly looked good at the start of the season before his injury ... but so did Wessel. I never expected him to become as good as he has. He really opened his game up from a perimeter shooter to the all-around player he is now.
I try to learn what I can about the incoming recruits and send my grandfather an email about them every year, since his info is limited to the newspaper. I sent him an email on November 4th, 2012,
raving about Van Vleet. My comment on Baker was just "good three point shooter" ... d'oh.