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The Daily OrangeMBB | Orange lands Fair: 2nd recruit for 2010 class
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 10/21/08, 3:33 AM EST Section: Sports
C.J. Fair tracked Donte Greene's every move last year.
Fair, then a sophomore at Baltimore City College High School, didn't care whether Syracuse's star freshman made the shots he took. He loved the freedom - the fact that Greene was allowed to roam inside and outside and seemingly shoot at will.
"I watched (Greene) a lot," Fair said. "Coach (Jim) Boeheim let him play. Not crazy shots. But he had a lot of freedom."
Now, Fair will follow in his fellow Baltimore native's footsteps. The 6-foot-7 junior forward committed to SU this past weekend, joining guard Dion Waiters in the 2010 class.
Syracuse's forward-friendly offense appealed to the versatile Fair, and after talking to coaches directly about the Xs and Os this weekend, he made his decision.
"I liked the way they laid the gameplan out," Fair said. "If I were to come there … they said I'd have a good opportunity to start. They run their offense through their forwards. That fit me really good.
"Other schools didn't say I'd have a green light there like I would at Syracuse."
There were plenty of "other schools," wooing Fair, who averaged 20.3 points and six rebounds per game last year while leading Baltimore City College to the state semifinals. Fair had already visited Louisville and Virginia prior to Syracuse last weekend, while Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina State, Maryland and Wake Forest had high interest.
Syracuse coaches told Fair - a four-star recruit on Scout.com - he'd have a shot to start immediately. He'd heard this before. But while other schools recruited other prospects freely, Fair said SU fished for recruits conservatively, picking and choosing its fights.
Fair fits the mold of the athletic, wing player that Boeheim covets. Two years ago it was Greene. This year it was Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph. Next year, it's James Southerland. In two years, Fair.
Watching Jones at practice Friday, Fair said he hopes to fit into a comparable role.
Fair, then a sophomore at Baltimore City College High School, didn't care whether Syracuse's star freshman made the shots he took. He loved the freedom - the fact that Greene was allowed to roam inside and outside and seemingly shoot at will.
"I watched (Greene) a lot," Fair said. "Coach (Jim) Boeheim let him play. Not crazy shots. But he had a lot of freedom."
Now, Fair will follow in his fellow Baltimore native's footsteps. The 6-foot-7 junior forward committed to SU this past weekend, joining guard Dion Waiters in the 2010 class.
Syracuse's forward-friendly offense appealed to the versatile Fair, and after talking to coaches directly about the Xs and Os this weekend, he made his decision.
"I liked the way they laid the gameplan out," Fair said. "If I were to come there … they said I'd have a good opportunity to start. They run their offense through their forwards. That fit me really good.
"Other schools didn't say I'd have a green light there like I would at Syracuse."
There were plenty of "other schools," wooing Fair, who averaged 20.3 points and six rebounds per game last year while leading Baltimore City College to the state semifinals. Fair had already visited Louisville and Virginia prior to Syracuse last weekend, while Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina State, Maryland and Wake Forest had high interest.
Syracuse coaches told Fair - a four-star recruit on Scout.com - he'd have a shot to start immediately. He'd heard this before. But while other schools recruited other prospects freely, Fair said SU fished for recruits conservatively, picking and choosing its fights.
Fair fits the mold of the athletic, wing player that Boeheim covets. Two years ago it was Greene. This year it was Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph. Next year, it's James Southerland. In two years, Fair.
Watching Jones at practice Friday, Fair said he hopes to fit into a comparable role.
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Stu Walters
posted 10/21/08 @ 11:36 AM EST
Congrats to Jim Boeheim and Mike Hopkins. They don't need AD Daryl Gross to screw up hoops recruitment like he's destroyed football. Hopefully Gross and Cantor will be gone to Washington Dc after Obama gets elected. (Continued…)
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