Add Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford to the list.
By spending Monday morning at McGuinness, Ford made it clear Orton is a top priority in OSU's recruiting efforts for the Class of 2009.
"It seems like he has a lot more interest in me than (former OSU coach) Sean (Sutton),” Orton said.
"He (Ford) said they're going to try their hardest to recruit me.”
Orton is "wide open” and said OSU has as good a chance as anybody to earn his commitment.
Less than a week after he got the OSU job, Ford was already visiting Orton, which meant a lot to the prized recruit.
"It said a lot more than (anything) Sean ever did,” Orton said.
Ford also attended the Old School Showcase in Conway, Ark., last weekend to watch as Orton and his Athletes First teammates won the tournament. Self, Capel, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Memphis coach John Calipari were among other big-name coaches at the event.
Orton, ranked the nation's No. 11 rceruit and the No. 1 center according to Rivals.com, is the younger brother of former OSU forward Terrence Crawford.
Yet, the 6-10, 260-pounder told The Oklahoman in early April that he didn't receive much interest from OSU while Sean Sutton was head coach, stating: "It really didn't seem like they (OSU) cared about me at all.”
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Dude, he never panned out. I didn't say "good contributer" or "flashes of brilliance", I said "great" player. You've proved my point. Big post players from small schools just don't see the type of talent in Oklahoma to prepare them for playing against the Jayhawks and Longhorns of the world. If Orton simply has to push a 6'2 kid into the paint and dunk on him, he'll never be able to create his own shot.
Matt, you are way off on Terrence Crawford. He showed flashes of brilliance before his injury troubles, so we will never know how good he might have been. But even on two bad legs, he made some huge contributions to some great OSU teams his last two years.
Big Country and Ryan Minor come to mind pretty quickly. OU's Griffin brothers aren't from a small town, but wasn't their school 2A? Your point is well-taken though, there haven't been a lot of them, but it's really kind of a numbers game. I mean, how many guys 6' 6" and up come out of the small high schools? Not that many.
Jim, read my post again. I didn't say he was no good. I simply said that big post players from small schools haven't panned out lately. Name every small town kid in Oklahoma that has gone on to a great college career (other than a guard).
Dean-We still have one scholarship to give for the 2007-2008 school year in which we are currently in the Spring signing period that ends sometime in May. That one could still be used for somebody coming in for the 2008-2009 school year. Since Orton is part of the 2009 class, the earliest we could sign him would be in the Fall 2008 signing period. He could use one of the scholarships we will have opening up after next season. There should be at least two scholarships available after next year, for Eaton and Harris. I also agree with you that it's good for Ford to jump right out there and show that he's going to be a player in-state.
Did I read somewhere else that OSU had one scholarship to give? Why not try to get him? Is there anyone else in the state not committed that is better? I have to agree, if the other coaches were there hoping to recruit him Ford almost had to be in the mix. He has to show the fans and alumni he will recruit in-state. Good move on Ford's part.
By the way, sorry to hurt your feelings ou, but you are not an elite basketball program--a decent one, yes, but not elite. OSU is much closer to beinbg an elite program than ou.
Matt, you're way off on this one and must've gone to a large school. There are plenty of guys in smaller schools that are just as good as those from small schools--some even better.
Let's hope Orton doesn't turn out to be another Ryan Humphrey or Terrance Crawford. More often than not, a big kid from a small Oklahoma school doesn't pan out, with the exception of Big Country. Playing against Texas on Big Monday is a lot different from posting up against a 6'2 kid from Dewey and shattering the backboard.
Commenters; the first amendment still applies here. Express yourselves and have fun. Sensitive men should not involve themselves with sports. You end up with all of these poor excuses crying about what someone said. I think "ardmore" keeps kleenex in business with all the whining he gets out of you boys. Your wives probably think you are allergic to your computers.
I agree with Chris and Bill. I wish the fans of both schools would show more class and not get on here just to make ugly comments. Please people, just comment on the story and quit taking cheap shots and insulting the other side. It just makes you sound like a loser.
Lanny-My apologies if I misunderstood your intent. There are so many negative comments on here, it's hard to tell sometimes. Anyway, I haven't seen him play, but if what you are saying is true, then maybe that is why Sean wasn't interested in him. If he's really a low-energy kind of guy then you wouldn't think he would fit well in the up-tempo kind of game Ford is planning to play. But according to this article, I guess Ford sees something in him.
I don't know Roy, what is the deal with OU and cheating? A former player is no concern for anyone, he finished school 5 years ago. But, please, continue with the silly comments. I would worry about which program will get caught cheating at OU next, not what an old OSU player is in trouble for outside of the OSU program.
Patrick you misinterpreted my intentions, I have OSU connections. Have you watched him play? He stays on one end and doesn't have a stick of fire.I doubt those coaches went just to watch him !
Nice observation Chris, one time you are going to scroll down here and see comments that actually apply to the article. Nah, I highly doubt that with GOMERS like itmustsucktobeosu on here. This guy CAN'T have a life. The sad thing is I have some in-laws from Wilson. I wonder if they know this Yahoo. Grow up Junior.It refects poorly on the fair town of Wilson. You are making them more famous than Chuck Norris.(In a bad way)
Bill, I agree. I am excited at the prospect of Capel and Ford getting the in-state kids to stay. It's always great to see in-staters succeed. And I'm a fan of kids who were rivals in high school, who end up playing up against each at rival colleges, it adds something to the game. The last rivalry like that I can remember is Bryant Reeves and Ryan Minor.
It's a shame that so many OU and OSU fans comment on the other school than on the article itself (and make themselves and their school look a little stupid in the doing). The fact is that high school players on the level of Henry and Orton will rarely attend an in-state school at this time. The good news is that both Capel and Ford have the potential of returning both programs to the success level they have enjoyed in the past and possibly higher. As a basketball fan, I am looking forward to the next few years. And kudos to the ones that actually comment on the story at hand.
I am an OSU fan, and everytime I read an article I scroll down to the "Your Thoughts" section hoping it won't be the same old talk. Well, it always is. Aside from a few of the comments, I feel like I am back in grade school with all the name-calling and bashing the other schools. It's coming from both OU and OSU fans, and it gets old fast... it's just the same old comments from the same people day in and day out. Get a life people!!! And quit embarrasing your schools.
if ou wants to win a championship in basketball they better get a point guard. Warren is a great player but he is not a point. They are going to have him play there and it might work out but is natural position is the 2. It is hard to win a championship of any kind without a true point guard. Also, Capel has signed only one elite player in Warren. Griffin counts as his recruit but ou got him thanks to Sampson. Sampson signed big brother to get him.
Hey LUKE SKYWALKER, let me just help bring you back down to earth on this one. You better hope and pray that OU has a shot to, at some point, win a championship because OU is clearly a better program than your POKES and if you think OU has no chance, then your extremely overpaid (and overrated) new coach Boone just hired might want to reconsider, cause he's definitely got NO CHANCE!!!!!!
As a KU fan, it sounds like Ford is going to make things a little bit harder on Bill Self to recruit the best guys in Oklahoma. According to rivals.com, Orton is really high on Florida and Ohio State currently. I hope KU gets Xavier Henry first, and if we get Orton, that'll be a pretty good class with just those 2. If Orton wants to win another National Title, and go to the NBA, he better look at KU, because Bill Self is creating something special.
Kenny you do realize that OU got two of the top three RB's in the nation last year and that Oku would have been an idiot to go to OU after that. Oh and he has eliminated OSU as well. As far as Orton goes it is no secret that people in the know realize that there is no way Orton stays in-state. He isn't going to tell the newspaper that, but he tells people at school that all the time.
As a KU fan, OSU can have Orton..I want Xavier Henry..Actually, I'd take both..It seems like KU does pretty good getting Oklahoma players, Darnell Jackson, Jeremey Case, J.R. Giddens..Hopefully we can nab these 2..I give it up to Ford though, he looks like he's shakin things up for the Cowboys..
Good to see us going after a big man. We definately need one. I agree with the earlier post that Ford is impressing me already. Look forward to see what he can do.
hey guys... if orton doesn't want to go to ou it's because he's not very good remember??? hahha. just like david oku, he must be a horrible player, he doesnt want to go to ou...... haha:)
(Tongue in cheek) You guys didn't know that OU is the favorite to win the national championship now?!? They signed Willie Warren for next year. It's a lock now. Just ask Al, Rhode, or Dean. They're going to dominate the Big XII and then the NCAA Tourney. It's not like they were on the verge of losing their amazing coach to little old South Carolina or anything. Plus, they have such a RICH tradition of (never) winning a national championship in the sport...c'mon y'all. They're right up there with KU and UNC now. Don't you guys listen to the radio?!?
JJ - Actually if you read the first blurb in the article it notes elite programs and coaches and then alludes to others and it is then that OSU gets mentioned. But nice OSUcks commentary - very mature.
"Capel must be setting Ford up because Capel watched him loaf around in Tulsa." Right and I suppose Capel is also setting up Bill Self, Mike K, Ben Howland, Billy Donovan (who came to watch him play this past season) and all the other ultra-successful coaches around the country that are recruiting him because Capel has such a superior eye for talent that none of them have. What an asinine statement. Already making excuses just in case OU doesn't sign him. I guess you (and Capel)are going to look pretty stupid if Orton signs with OU, huh?
Michael, you state, "My question is when did OU become an "Elite" basketball program and Capel become a "big-name" coach? Are you kidding me?".....Well, the same can be said for OSUcks since they are now listed.
I think it is clear that whether we have a chance to land Orton or not, it is ridiculous that you don't demonstrate an aggressive effort to bring him to OSU. I don't, however, use this as a way of putting Sean down. Sean/staff's recruiting put two McDonald's on campus. In the long run Ford will benefit from showing he isn't afraid to go for the big fish.
Jason's comments are a little much but he is right about itmustsucktobeosu. You have to feel sorry for someone who is so lost and has so little in life. It's very sad. The best thing to do is to ignore the guy and deny him the attention that he craves. Until we all do that he will keep at it because I'm sure it's the only validation he gets in life.
Hey Mr. Itmustsucks....Truth is you are an idiot from from one of the small towns in Carter county and you do not want to admit it. Ardmore does not allow people with your intellect to hang around their town. You are too much of an embarssment for them to claim you.
Hey, itmustsucktobeosu: Did you know that more than 1 MILLION American men and women have died defending our nation and our liberties since the Revolutionary War? They gave up their dreams, their families and their future so all of us could live our lives as we choose-free to pursue whatever interests we desire. A lot of us enjoy sports, me as much as anyone. I, and many others, have other interests as well. I think it is highly irresponsible to not follow the issues and affairs that impact me, my community, my state and my nation. That is the BEST way to honor the sacrifice of those who died for you. To understand the issues of the day and take part in the democratic process. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND HAPPEN TO FEEL THE BEST WAY TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IS TO MEMORIZE THE OU FOOTBALL PLAYBOOK AND COMMENT ON EVERY SINGLE NEWS STORY THAT APPEARS ON NEWSOK.COM. That is ok. That is certainly your choice. I just happen to think it is a pretty pathetic way to excercise the freedoms that so many died to give you. Have a nice day...
This is exactly what I hoped Ford would do. I could we not even attempt to get this guy when a big man is what we have needed the worst the past few years, and we have the nation's best in our own back yard, and he has OSU ties and we don't even act interested. Thank you, Travis Ford, you are already doing a great job in my book.
people that mess up and go to osu for sports always do nutty things, its like they realize where they are, just a little too late, then they go off the deep end, probably depressed or something.
Did anyone notice there wasn't a "Your Thoughts" section of the Mike Baldwin piece on Chris Massey? I guess they saw this coming? What in the world is the deal with you Pokes and under age girls???
We need a stout big man inside. Thomas is tall, but he's so lean that he gets knocked around and he hasn't yet learned to establish himself. Orton will provide some needed help where we really need it.
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.