Derrick Marks

[Dane Pound]

From the Sun-Times Hoop Report on 2011 recruit Derrick Marks:

 

Plainfield Central's Derrick Marks committed early to Albany. Last December, just a couple months into his junior basketball season, the talented 6-2 guard gave the America East Conference school a commitment. He found what he believes was a great fit for him. Marks built a relationship with the staff and program and he has stayed true to that commitment. And Albany, which made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007, made Marks a priority early on. Albany did its homework, identified a piece that would be perfect for them and, to the credit of the Great Danes staff, got the job done.

 

These are the types of early commitments you really appreciate, where both the program and player find something that works, is shared and is ideal. This wasn't a kid committing early to Kansas, Kentucky or Duke, a commitment others would view as a "no-brainer." This wasn't a kid committing early to the Big Ten or the Big East, conferences that have produced multiple Final Four teams in recent years. Marks found what he was looking for early in the process, was fortunate to feel that comfort level and looked to take a load off his shoulders as he played out his final two years of high school basketball. And he remains committed. And this is exactly the type of commitment --and others like it -- that should be respected by college programs across the country.

 

In the recruiting business you hear all too often of college coaches still actively recruiting prospects that have given a "verbal commitment." There is an unwritten rule in basketball recruiting that those players are off limits. No coach in the country wants a player that is committed to them being recruited -- or even contacted -- by other college programs. So why do some still do it to others? Why do men continue to hit on an engaged girl?

[Clickclack]

And yet they are still coming for him...he's being contacted by programs MUCH higher then the AE. If he makes it through the month of July and early August committed to us (AAU circuit) it will be a significant coup for UA.

[KingDane]

 

In the recruiting business you hear all too often of college coaches still actively recruiting prospects that have given a "verbal commitment." There is an unwritten rule in basketball recruiting that those players are off limits. No coach in the country wants a player that is committed to them being recruited -- or even contacted -- by other college programs. So why do some still do it to others? Why do men continue to hit on an engaged girl?

 

The expectation of ethical behavior is often sacrificed as the stakes get higher.

[slickwilly]

This is from 6/18 so at least he confirmed recently that he is still committed to Albany.

 

Derrick Marks, 6-2, Plainfield (Central)

The Hoops Report caught up with Marks at the Oswego East Shootout last weekend. He stated he does remain committed to Albany, where the powerful guard would be an absolute steal in the America East Conference. Marks has a burst in the halfcourt and in the open floor that allows him to get to the basket, where he uses his strength and great body control to finish at the basket. He's constantly in attack mode and is one of the more underrated players in the state of Illinois who is trying to show he can also play some point guard as well. He's among the top 20 prospects in the senior class in both the Hoops Report and Chicago Hoops rankings, yet gets very little fanfare playing in the southwest suburbs.

 

http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoopsreport/2010/06/summer_hits_always_a_certainty.html

[danes05]

looks like he is gone.

 

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/marksalbany.html

[Phoenix]

Coach Brown's 'tweet' from late last night.."The recruiting game is a crazy one! A verbal commitment means nothing. Signing the NLI is all that matters!"

[Clickclack]

A number of big time schools have come through with offers...DePaul, Dayton, Iowa St. and Minnesota coming hard. He's not coming back... ;( This was a great early verbal but I always knew July would be the key month, if we made it through this month he'd be ours but he's been playing out of his mind and didn't escape the attention of big time schools.

[Eli]

What an ass. So now what? I hope Brown has a replacement on his recruitment board.

[DanesRGood]

Sucks.

[Clickclack]

What an ass. So now what? I hope Brown has a replacement on his recruitment board.

 

It's fairly common...kid starts to blow up and backs out.