I don't know where to go to find recruiting rankings prior to the 1998 class, but perhaps that '98 class can be a bit of a guide as to Odom's approach in recruiting. 5 of the 6 recruits that year, Hicks, Songaila, Dawson, Scott and Murray were ranked between 50 & 101 (although I'm finding Ervin Murray's rank of 85-101 a little bit hard to believe). To me that seems like a realistic approach where you focus MOST of your efforts on the guys ranked 50-125 or 150 and then bring them along incrementally to complement the occasional stud. But it looks like Manning is putting too many eggs in the stud basket as we currently have offers out to the 5, 8, 9, 11, 15, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24 and 25th highest rank players per 247 Sports. We've offered at least 16 of the Top 51 (Nickleberry) and it seems like we are only really in contention with 3 or 4 (lukewarm at best?).
In the past few years, hasn't Manning offered even more of the Top 50 in hopes of casting a wide net and reeling in a big fish? So far it's yielded Craw (82), Moore (71), SJM (101), Brown (32.5), Hoard (28.5), and Zeke (85.8) as our top 6 highest rated recruits (out of 18). That doesn't seem like the best batting average, certainly when it comes to swinging for the fences at the Top 25 of each class. Perhaps Danny and company ought to have been spending a little more time courting the players in the 50-125 range, who might get picked over by their first choice in the ACC and want a chance to exact some revenge on other ACC coaches.
Instead, he spends too much time courting Cinderella at the Ball, and then gets left holding the shoe. To wit, the other 12 recruits have been mostly reaches with an avg ranking of 220, including Collins at 121. While you have to give credit to Danny for finding that huge diamond in the proverbial rough, what do you assign Cornelius Hudson, Dinos or Sunday Okeke? Even if you remove JC from the calcs, throw out Okeke and give Young Crab a 125, and Dinos a 100, that's still an avg of about 209.5. That's simply not good enough and probably nowhere close to Dave Odom quality over 12 years. That's a problem in and of itself. 2018 is certainly a step in the right direction, but he still needs a very good 2019 class to keep it rolling. Is it enough to make up for the first 3-4 years?
PS -- it was Dave's underachievement with this bunch and J-Ho that ultimately got him "un-renewed" in 2001. It was probably time for a fresh start and Prosser managed to do a bit more with that bunch than win the NIT Championship. Anyway, while Odom had the good fortune of more big-time (performance) players like RoRo and Childress and Duncan, Odom's Collins, his first 8 years, it wasn't like he had a bunch more Top 50 recruits to augment his team and push them over the top. But he came damn close for a few years with fair (average 3.5 stars?) to above-average talent, which is where Wake probably should be (two 50-75's with a few 75-150's sprinkled in). Many forget, but Odom had recruited more highly ranked players like Steve Rich, who ultimately transferred, and good 'ol Mahktar, who nearly got us put on probation. But Odom was doing a better job of assigning his priority targets and courting those coveted post guys who could make a difference for the type of style he preferred. Manning seems to be inching closer with these rangy, athletic swing men, but it won't be enough beyond 2018-19. Get crackin' Danny! Assuming you still have your job.
