Ron Baker '15-'16

[ShockBand]

Soak in every minute of this season gents. Isn't often in ANY program to have 2 All-American's playing at the same time. We have the incredible opportunity to watch both have one last go-round together, and hopefully go out like the champions they are. One thing is for sure, I don't think we'll be able to properly convey what they've meant to all of us on Senior Night...no matter how loud or how long the cheers are.

This. x1000. If I'm getting a little verklempt just THINKING about Senior Night, good grief I'm going to be a mess when it actually happens.

Savor every moment this season, Shocker Nation!

[RoyalShock]

I enjoy analyzing just why a guy like Ron played in obscurity, barely getting a D1 sniff, while Conner becomes a top-50 player under the spotlights.

What we know of Ron's history is that he was a humble 3-sport star at a small-ish 3A school in sparsely populated western Kansas. He didn't have time to play a lot of AAU ball, like his talented equals. With his personality and temperament, he wasn't going to put up 30-points a game while his teammates' sole job was to get him the ball, which is what a kid from a small town in western Kansas would have to do to get noticed. The level of competition didn't require Ron to be that guy.

It's not surprising at all to me how his recruitment played out. That's just how it works.

Regarding KU, I don't recall their having been any talk about Ron being a football recruit (I could be very wrong). Evan Wessel definitely was so maybe Aargh is getting them confused in this instance? At any rate, he had an opportunity for KU coaches to watch him play pick-up with the Jayhawks, but declined because he had been playing baseball and his basketball skills weren't sharp. He thought he would embarrass himself (more evidence of his level of humility). I'm not convinced that even had he walked on at KU, that coaching staff would have ever realized the player Ron could be because they would recruit over him with players who would, by default, be higher on the depth chart in their minds. Would they ever think of him as more than just a walk-on? That just makes the job Chris Jans did all the more impressive.

#Baker2016!

[WstateU]

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles...o-nba-prospect

Everyone should read this article. If you've read it previously, you should read it again.

I forgot about this one... thanks for posting it again.

It's a friggin' Hollywood movie script only missing the final scene... stay tuned!

[kochHead]

I forgot about this one... thanks for posting it again.

It's a friggin' Hollywood movie script only missing the final scene... stay tuned!

NC

[moshock]

I'm a big RB / FVV fan.

I do get tired of the "Why go to XXX University and ride pine when you can be a star at WSU" I call BS on that mid major mentality. Welcome to MAJOR basketball. We don't have a weak starter or to quote HC3G - we don't recruit backups. If you crack the rotation at WSU - you are a damn good basketball player

Cleanthony rode pine most of the year at WSU as a Jr (Our FF). There are a lot of places he may have started - like KU or UK.

[Steeleshocker]

I'm a big RB / FVV fan.

I do get tired of the "Why go to XXX University and ride pine when you can be a star at WSU" I call BS on that mid major mentality. Welcome to MAJOR basketball. We don't have a weak starter or to quote HC3G - we don't recruit backups. If you crack the rotation at WSU - you are a damn good basketball player

Cleanthony rode pine most of the year at WSU as a Jr (Our FF). There are a lot of places he may have started - like KU or UK.

I agree with the sentiment, but I'm pretty sure Cle led the team in scoring his junior year (or was damn close).

[lemuel777]

I agree with the sentiment, but I'm pretty sure Cle led the team in scoring his junior year (or was damn close).

He did come off the bench. He was not a starter until the numerous injuries the team endured that year.

[Steeleshocker]

He did come off the bench. He was not a starter until the numerous injuries the team endured that year.

I didn't say that. "Riding the pine" and "coming off the bench" are two very different things.

[Shocker Mama]

I will always remember the game against Gonzaga as my favorite Ron Baker game. I'm sure there are individual plays that happened in other games that are memorable (how many times has he ended an opposing team's fast break by swatting the ball from behind as the streaking player thought he was about to make an easy layup?), but the way he just took over that game is when I realized just how special a player he was.

Loved that game! This is still one of my favorite photos.image.jpg

[RoyalShock]

This is a couple of weeks old, but I don't remember seeing it here before:

Ron Baker can be an NBA Difference Maker

[The 'hut]

One thing that is greatly overlooked is the impact Ron has had for the entire university. I grew up in what many would consider western Kansas. I still go back to take care of my father from time to time. The western Kansas cable companies have added Cox 22 as a special station just the last 2-3 years. Yes, they get few games from another university, but many, many youngsters were getting their first heavy dose of WSU. There were 1 or 2 radio stations out west who purchased rights to broadcast games, something I have harped about for years. That was made possible by fans of Ron wanting non streaming access. These are potential traditional, in state students at WSU. In short, he is marketing to an very solid potential student base that WSU has struggled to reach until he came along.

[RoyalShock]

NBA Draft Watch List - Ron Baker

[Kung Wu]

One of Ron Baker's top 3 accomplishments is changing the landscape of teeny bopper hair all over Kansas, let alone Wichita. Every other kid in this state is sporting the Baker Mop. THAT'S influence.

[SHOXAAC]

One of Ron Baker's top 3 accomplishments is changing the landscape of teeny bopper hair all over Kansas, let alone Wichita. Every other kid in this state is sporting the Baker Mop. THAT'S influence.

My mom is bummed not to see the Baker mop at the Oxford Grand any more. The Baker mop stylist has moved on.
#shoxmvcmomofficiallybummed

[60Shock]

One of Ron Baker's top 3 accomplishments is changing the landscape of teeny bopper hair all over Kansas, let alone Wichita. Every other kid in this state is sporting the Baker Mop. THAT'S influence.

You too, Kung Wu?