Western Kentucky 2004 — Recruiting Outcomes

Hits & Misses

Hit: Curtis Hamilton (UNKNOWN) — Originally unranked. Outcome: All Conference. Hamilton was a standout player for Western Kentucky, earning All Conference honors. Miss: Blake Slates (UNKNOWN) — Originally unranked. Outcome: Bust. Despite being given opportunities, Slates did not manage to make significant impact for the team. Miss: Brandon Fitzgerald (UNKNOWN) — Originally unranked. Outcome: Bust. Fitzgerald struggled to make a meaningful contribution during his time with the team.

Development Story

The 2004 recruiting class for Western Kentucky was small, with only three players. Despite this, the team managed to develop one All Conference player from an unranked recruit, showing a strong ability to identify and develop talent that may be overlooked by others. However, the team also had two players who did not live up to expectations. These players, both unranked coming into college, did not contribute significantly to the team's success. This highlights the inherent risk in relying heavily on unranked recruits, as their performance can be unpredictable.

Outcome Summary

Overall, Western Kentucky's 2004 recruiting class met its expectations. The original class was ranked 118th, and the S2S rerank moved it up to 112th, reflecting the All Conference performance of Curtis Hamilton. However, the two Bust outcomes balanced this success, keeping the class from moving further up in the rankings. This class underscores the importance of taking risks on unranked recruits, while also highlighting the potential downside of this strategy.