Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Scottie doesn't go: Freshman Scottie Reynolds flourishes in Philly after decommitting from Oklahoma
By Christopher James
Posted: 3/1/07, 12:38 AM EST Section: Sports
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The Herndon (Va.) guard had been set to play basketball for Oklahoma since his junior year. On media day in San Diego, he found out Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson left for Indiana. Herndon coach Gary Hall was there with Reynolds in California.
"I equate it to your first girlfriend," Hall said. "Scottie was hurt, and he was confused, and he was thinking, 'Where do I go now?'"
Hall said although Sampson had never been dishonest, Reynolds was a player who needed a strong relationship with his coach. The challenge was finding a coach Reynolds could trust in the waning weeks of his senior year.
"I wasn't going to let him feel bad for himself," Hall said. "Listen, you're in San Diego, California, you're one of the top point guards in the country. Every college in America is going to recruit you now. Give me a break, how bad can life be?"
Life is pretty good now for Reynolds, a breakout freshman for Villanova. Syracuse will have to contend with Reynolds on Saturday when it closes the regular season at 2 p.m. in Philadelphia.
Containing Reynolds could be difficult for SU. The freshman scored 40 points Wednesday night at Connecticut - more than half of the Wildcats' points. He was held to 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting when the Orange and Wildcats played Jan. 13, but Reynolds is firmly established as the front-runner for Big East Rookie of the Year.
Reynolds was averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 assists for Villanova heading into its matchup at Connecticut on Wednesday night.
Hall said he's never seen a player quite like him.
"He's the greatest player I've ever coached in high school," Hall said. "I coached (Orlando Magic star) Grant Hill in high school, too."
With plenty of talent, Reynolds had no trouble finding suitors last April when he became what Hall called a "free agent" after Oklahoma released him from his commitment.
Villanova was never high on Reynolds' list. Hall called Nova head coach Jay Wright last spring after remembering a game the Wildcats had played against the Sooners.
"Oklahoma had a terrific team," Hall said. "They were big, powerful, strong inside, and Villanova's playing four guards. Villanova just destroyed them. I remember sitting there with Scottie and thinking, 'Wow, what a great system for you. That's how you need to play.'"
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