The success of last season’s Dayton Flyer mens’ basketball squad is still fresh in the minds of many UD fans and alumni. It wasn’t long ago that we watched the program wilt under former Head Coach Jim O’Brien, but now, Oliver Purnell and his players are resurrecting a basketball behemoth that once knew only how to win and rarely felt the pain of losing. The direction of the program in Purnell’s short tenure has been steady, solid, and upward. Every year the bar has been raised to achieve higher goals than the previous season. Coming off a 21-12 campaign and a 2nd round NIT showing, the goals get much tougher from here on. It is much more difficult to improve 3-4 wins on a 21-victory season than it is to snatch 3-4 more wins on a sub .500 team. Whether it be the “bell curve” or something else, the gap between winning and winning it all seems to decrease every year. Winning has always been a fine line, but it has also been practical, simple, and understood. Great recruiting means wins. Coaching is important, but few teams win a national championship because of outstanding coaching and less-than-outstanding talent.

It is for this reason that Dayton needs a blue-chip recruit. Last year, Tony Stanley was the star of a solid class of young players who made a sizeable contribution as freshmen, but it won’t be enough to leapfrog perennial A-10 West powers GW and Xavier anytime soon. Those programs reload every year with top-notch talent, leaving Dayton no other choice but to follow suit or get left behind.

Troy High School standout Brooks Hall has been courted by the UD coaching staff for over a year. At 6’6”, 185lb, Hall is a greyhound who can handle the ball like a point guard, but can slash to the hole and hit the open trey like an off-guard. Not only was Hall the only junior to make 1st Team All-Ohio, he is also considered the top Ohio prospect for the 99-00 recruiting year. As a junior, Hall averaged 23 points a game and a handful of rebounds for a Troy team that was otherwise mediocre. His talents are not in question, but where he will end up is.

Early in the recruiting process Ohio State, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Kansas, and other Div. I powers were at his door asking for his time. As it stands now however, Hall has stated he wants to stay near home and play for a program that give him quality exposure and great competition, but also a chance to be a star rather than be a good player among other equally talented and notorious athletes. Insiders feel Hall has eliminated UC and Kentucky from his list (OSU withdrew its scholarship offer after signing another player) and has narrowed his choices down to Michigan State, NC State, Wright State, and Dayton. Hall’s select-team coach is an assistant for the Wolfpack, while Brooks’ father is a WSU alum. Some consider NC State too far away and WSU too un-established to be his final choice though.

Brooks acknowledged in a Dayton Daily News interview that MSU Head Coach Tom Rizzo and UD Head Coach Oliver Purnell have impressed him the most. Flyer fans are hoping UD’s proximity and Hall’s frequent trips to the campus on weekends are a positive sign. At least one recruiting scout has also stated that UD may appear to be in the lead for Hall’s services as of now. Of course, things can change.

The Flyers are two legitimate superstars away from contending for the A-10 title and a lofty national ranking. It is imperative for Purnell to sign the hometown players who can help the program. Once one blue-chip recruit signs with UD, it can be an ice-breaker, opening the door to more great players and perhaps more wins.

Brooks Hall aside, one positive from last year’s success has already been felt. Brett Nelson, a junior phenom from W.Va., recently signed with Florida, adding yet another standout to the Gators’ already stocked class — with help in part from former Flyer and current Gator assistant Anthony Grant. Nelson, considered the #2 point guard in the country as recently as June 4 on Recruiting Beat, narrowed his final choices to Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and Dayton. While the Flyers still missed out — and Nelson’s reported final three choices were Kentucky, Duke, and UF — it is a strong sign that Purnell and the Flyer program are getting the attention of quality players. Purnell can flat out coach. He can also recruit. Odell Hodge and other standout players whom Purnell recruited and coached at Old Dominion were A-10 caliber players in the mediocre CAA. The best Flyer Fans can do is to hope for the best, expect good things, but be patient. Purnell WILL land a superstar or two for the University of Dayton. Whether it be Brooks Hall or not, the word is getting out.