[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Ducks/Trojans may be an NBA star-studded affair

November 18, 2011, 9:50 am

By Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)

Just when you thought that Saturday’s Oregon Ducks vs. USC Trojans face-off wasn’t capable of packing anymore hype or hoopla inside Autzen Stadium, well, make room for more.

 

A source has informed CSNNW.com that Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and at least 15 other NBA players will be in attendance, likely roaming the sidelines.

 

Players were in town this week for meetings at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

 

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingdwight?DucksTrojans-may-be-an-NBA-star-studded-=1&blockID=596606&feedID=8351

 

Another link reporting: http://lakers.ocregister.com/2011/11/18/kobe-lebron-others-expected-at-usc-oregon/65813/

 

 

Word is, Phil Knight (co-founder of Nike, UO Grad) rented out another suite for the USC/Oregon game today and was going to be having some of his friends come by. Now, as being reported, LeBron, Kobe, Melo and Chris Paul will be in attendance with some other NBA players. This is a monster recruiting weekend for Oregon Football, and their even might be a possible two sport athlete in the mix. Arik Armstead is a former USC commit who’s brother is a current DE for the program, Armond Armstead. However, their has apparently been some issues with Armond this season that has him looking to transfer and Arik looking at other options.

 

After de-committing, the Ducks have become a serious player for Arik. He is 6’8 and 270 pounds, rated as one of the top football recruits in the nation at either OT or DE (word is he would much rather play defense). Arik also has a big interest in playing basketball at the NCAA level as well, meeting with both football and basketball coaches on all trips. At Oregon, he plans to meet with Chip Kelly (football) and Dana Altman (basketball). He is rated the #35 PF prospect on ESPN.com and he even was at the Pangos All-American camp for basketball. 

 

Bottom line is, if LeBron, Kobe, Melo, CP3 and others show up to a game, that is HUGE! Phil definitely has helped out U of O big time and this would be something the recruits would definitely be hyped about. Besides Arik Armstead, word is Oregon has DE/DT Faith Ekakitie, CB Kevon Seymour, DE/TE Pharaoh Brown (current Michigan commit), OG Shane Brostek, QB Jeff Lockie (UO commit. Our other QB commit, Jake Rodrgiues, was supposed to come as well but unfortunately broke his ankle :), OG Shane Brostek and WR Dwayne Stanford. Stanford, a 6’4 wideout from Ohio, also is quite a basketball player, playing HS ball with dual sport star Adolphus Washington (who won Ohio State POY in Football and Basketball, and was named as MaxPreps Top 25 PF’s for the 2012 season. He might make this trip is well, but is apparently a mortal lock for Ohio St). Well, I hope the Ducks score some major points with their play today and with bringing in these NBA players (If the rumors are true). 

 

Here are videos of Arik Armstead and Dwayne Stanford balling (Stanford’s is an 8th grade mixtape. He was RIDICULOUS for that age, already 6’2 and showing insane athleticism. I am guessing most people thought he might be more of a basketball prospect than even football back than):

 

 

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

That does sound like a crazy amount of NBA talent in attendence to a College FOOTBALL Game, I just wish these guys stayed out of the way and stop influencing young players and the choices they make about their playing careers…I know this news sound great for Oregon fans like you Mikey but if UO continues to used its pull with NIKE they could soon face some stiff penelties from The NCAA(tehy have been investigated in the past)…Oregon is a University I pull for strangly so I don’t want them to cross that all to vague line between right and wrong…

[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

 Stanford is ridiculous. The 8th-grade league I played in didn’t even allow us to clap backboard after a lay-up — something no one in the league had the ability of doing.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Let them have a good time! None of them are alums, and I do not know if all of them will even be rooting for Oregon (Kobe definitely has LA and SC ties, with Jerry Buss being a former grad). I think it is kind of cool because they would not normally get a chance to do something like this. Also, if a recruit chooses Oregon, it will not be only based off seeing these guys at the game.

As I arrived in Oregon yesterday, you notice that the weather might not be for everyone. I mean, a lot of recruiting is based on coaches and facilities, but teams like USC and UCLA have location on there side. We lose countless kids to schools with bigger cities or nicer climates. Nike sponsors and donates tons of other schools, and it is not like the recruits will be sitting with the NBA players. Just thought it was kind of cool, and if the NCAA penalizes any school for $hit like this, they are being ridiculous. I know it could happen, but I will take my chances. I think you are off base when you say this is a major influencing factor in these kids lives. I see it as being more of a cool thing to happen on a visit. I hardly think meeting these NBA players at our school would make them say, "Wow, I need to go here!" It is just a highlight of a single visit. Not their future!

[HaleParticipant]

 Sorry Mikey but I’m rooting for USC, if it were pretty much anyone else I’d go Oregon.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

@yupyup: You are in Minnesota and you root for USC? Wha? Explanation needed.

@everyone else: Cardinal sin on my part in being to confident about this game. We were incredibly close near the end, but we could not get it done. Matt Barkley played fantastic (better than Andrew Luck. Not saying he is better, but played MUCH better than Luck did last week) and their WR’s were ridiculous. Clearly, having all of those NBA players on the sideline did f#ck all for our team, and I think winning would have done more for our recruits than having all of those guys there. Winning is the key to it all, and not winning this game does not kill us, but does our chances for a National Championship (not that I had much faith in winning or getting there). Still love our team and we played our hearts out. USC has gotten realer as the season has progressed. Still, GO DUCKS!

[HaleParticipant]

I don’t have a set favorite college football team but USC is the closest. I hate every team in Minnesota.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

They have the same colors as the Packers. Plus, they usually are awesome and exciting. Today was not there day. They were slightly upset you were not rooting for them. 

[HaleParticipant]

Oregon is probably my 3rd or 4th favorite. I can’t believe my support impacted the team so much…

[Author]

Posts