Comments on: Water polo recruiting: USC coach talks Renteria, Watson and more http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2011/02/10/water-polo-recruiting-usc-coach-talks-renteria-watson-and-more/155508/ High school sports talk by the staff of the Orange County Register Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:48:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: HBPolofan http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2011/02/10/water-polo-recruiting-usc-coach-talks-renteria-watson-and-more/155508/#comment-112478 HBPolofan Sat, 12 Feb 2011 03:04:27 +0000 http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/?p=155508#comment-112478 Amen Ed! Yes the guys get USC on their diploma...but sure waters down polo in general... Amen Ed! Yes the guys get USC on their diploma…but sure waters down polo in general…

]]> By: edward watson http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2011/02/10/water-polo-recruiting-usc-coach-talks-renteria-watson-and-more/155508/#comment-112438 edward watson Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:23:54 +0000 http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/?p=155508#comment-112438 Dan - the large recruiting classes over the years by usc, ucla and cal in particular are the reasons water polo is a 3-4 team ncaa sport each year, and we are not the best in the world at the olympic level. History shows no more than 3-5 of these kids at usc will even be playing when they are seniors. Each year there are 50-70 of the top players at usc / cal / ucla who aren't on the game roster, or sit on the bench, and by the time they are juniors / seniors they quit (zero seniors on usc roster last year). Imagine being on the "scout" team at these 3 schools, and going head to head against the starting team 120 days a year for 3 years - and not playing - they end up beat up, injured, worn down and dejected. Spread those same kids on about 10 other california D1 programs, and the 4-5 legit east coast programs, and you have up to 75 super legit players getting 3000+ minutes of D1 playing time by the time they graduate. That enhances the olympic pipeline process, and the college game in general. In the meantime, schools like UOP, LMU etc are forced to recruit european players to compete with usc / cal / ucla recruiting tactics, and they go home and play in the olympics for their countries after we further their training in the US. Good recruiting for USC (they have no other choice and are the BEST) but it is BAD for the sport. PERIOD! UCLA is already stacked with kids not getting playing time, and cal appears to have title 9 problems in general, where large male rosters on non-football teams may be at risk. Too many superstar high school kids get chewed up in this process, and it waters down the sport (no pun intended). Tip: Unless already on the JNT, tell your star water polo players to study more in high school, get good grades, be the captain of one of the other 15 schools out there, and get ready for the real world after college. Dan – the large recruiting classes over the years by usc, ucla and cal in particular are the reasons water polo is a 3-4 team ncaa sport each year, and we are not the best in the world at the olympic level. History shows no more than 3-5 of these kids at usc will even be playing when they are seniors. Each year there are 50-70 of the top players at usc / cal / ucla who aren’t on the game roster, or sit on the bench, and by the time they are juniors / seniors they quit (zero seniors on usc roster last year). Imagine being on the “scout” team at these 3 schools, and going head to head against the starting team 120 days a year for 3 years – and not playing – they end up beat up, injured, worn down and dejected. Spread those same kids on about 10 other california D1 programs, and the 4-5 legit east coast programs, and you have up to 75 super legit players getting 3000+ minutes of D1 playing time by the time they graduate. That enhances the olympic pipeline process, and the college game in general. In the meantime, schools like UOP, LMU etc are forced to recruit european players to compete with usc / cal / ucla recruiting tactics, and they go home and play in the olympics for their countries after we further their training in the US. Good recruiting for USC (they have no other choice and are the BEST) but it is BAD for the sport. PERIOD! UCLA is already stacked with kids not getting playing time, and cal appears to have title 9 problems in general, where large male rosters on non-football teams may be at risk. Too many superstar high school kids get chewed up in this process, and it waters down the sport (no pun intended). Tip: Unless already on the JNT, tell your star water polo players to study more in high school, get good grades, be the captain of one of the other 15 schools out there, and get ready for the real world after college.

]]> By: dalbano http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2011/02/10/water-polo-recruiting-usc-coach-talks-renteria-watson-and-more/155508/#comment-112424 dalbano Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:00:29 +0000 http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/?p=155508#comment-112424 It's a huge number especially considering USC didn't list a single senior on its roster last season I suspect there is, however, a core part to this group On one hand, I see Jovan planning for the future -- the players I know well in this group will need some time adjust/sharpen their games for college Watson will need to improve his swimming/ and defense Renteria needs to keep working on his under-rated defensive skills It's a big leap from high school polo to the college game. With a large roster, there's probably not so much pressure for these guys to produce right away, though I think some of these guys might be able to help next season On the other hand, from a distance, I was impressed that Nikola Vavic preformed so well last season as a true freshman. I liked him a ton in high school but if he is able to come in and star so quickly, that tells me he's maybe better than I thought or there's a system in place that is certainly working Either way, the future looks great at USC because they have a great coach and plenty of talent It’s a huge number especially considering USC didn’t list a single senior on its roster last season

I suspect there is, however, a core part to this group

On one hand, I see Jovan planning for the future — the players I know well in this group will need some time adjust/sharpen their games for college

Watson will need to improve his swimming/ and defense
Renteria needs to keep working on his under-rated defensive skills

It’s a big leap from high school polo to the college game. With a large roster, there’s probably not so much pressure for these guys to produce right away, though I think some of these guys might be able to help next season

On the other hand, from a distance, I was impressed that Nikola Vavic preformed so well last season as a true freshman. I liked him a ton in high school but if he is able to come in and star so quickly, that tells me he’s maybe better than I thought or there’s a system in place that is certainly working

Either way, the future looks great at USC because they have a great coach and plenty of talent

]]> By: PoloMan http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2011/02/10/water-polo-recruiting-usc-coach-talks-renteria-watson-and-more/155508/#comment-112418 PoloMan Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:31:23 +0000 http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/?p=155508#comment-112418 Dan - I am curious on your take regarding this large class. My opinion is that if you want your kid to actually play, SC is not the place unless he is one of the top ten high schoolers in the country. Especially with the Euro connection. Of you course, if your kid wants to attend SC and doesn't care about playtime, than go for it. Is Jovan's apparent strategy of mass recruiting to deprive others unhealthy for the sport? It seems to be working for him. Dan – I am curious on your take regarding this large class. My opinion is that if you want your kid to actually play, SC is not the place unless he is one of the top ten high schoolers in the country. Especially with the Euro connection. Of you course, if your kid wants to attend SC and doesn’t care about playtime, than go for it. Is Jovan’s apparent strategy of mass recruiting to deprive others unhealthy for the sport? It seems to be working for him.

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