UMassHoops.com

NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1428

Here's a name that's totally new to me. I was just thinking to myself how I hadn't heard anything about any potential UMass recruits in a while. Apparently he might visit soon. I'll have to check him out further.

https://twitter.com/BFlinnFuture150/status/343827255631429633

69MG · Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 8:38 pm Post subject:

I saw this on VerbalRecruits.com but couldn't find anything on his 2012-2013 season. He may have sat out last year and reclassified from 2013 to 2014. ESPN, Rivals and Scout don't have a listing for him. He's a big dude, 6'7 250 lbs. Maybe someone else can find out where he was last year.

uz2b-len · Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:07 pm Post subject:

Size-wise he's EXACTLY the kind of recruit we need in 2014. As long as he has some skills to go along with his size. We haven't had real power forward in a while.
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69MG · Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:16 pm Post subject:

Found him. He transferred to the Hyde School in CT and he did reclassify to 2014. Also, he grew 2 inches and is now 6'9. A real under the radar prospect and maybe a steal if we can land him. See this article from NERR.
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/3056/3-Observations-from-Pittsburgh.php

NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1428

From what little I can find on him I'm sold on the guy. He seems like a hidden gem and if he had more exposure he'd be on everyone's radar. Data on him is spotty at best, but there's a complete AAU game from last month on youtube (see below). Based on that video, he's a good sized PF/C, probably a little smaller than Cady, somewhere between 6-7 and 6-9, maybe 230 or so. He's not super athletic, but he's pretty quick and coordinated for his size and he shows a nice mid-range jumper and a baby-hook. What impressed me the most was that he has a great motor, always hustling, boxing out and he even took a charge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkPwRe7cGs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJod9oOcXpo

Tarin Smith is also the starting point guard on the team, so if you watch the video you can check them both out. The team also has Wade Baldwin and Jared Nickens, both guys who were linked to UMass, but looks like UMass isn't on their lists anymore.

The roster (w/ jersey #s) for all the players is listed on the youtube site.

Edit: the guys also appears to be very strong and very good at using his body, also seems to have pretty good hands too.

wmmmfan · Sophomore Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Posts: 219

Played at East Orange, NJ HS and also plays football and is being recruited for that sport as well.

NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1428

^ Hrrmmm, not gonna lie, him playing football worries me a little, definitely a greater injury risk and less time to practice basketball. If they work out some sort of dual sport deal at UMass he'd also miss part of the basketball season I suspect.

He's listed on the rivals football site as a 6-6 230 offensive tackle. Seems like he'd be perfect as a tight end, maybe his hands aren't quite up to where they need to be for that.

njumass08 · Senior Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 1278

^

A big man with stone hands? Don't we already have one of those? Wink

(I know, I know, Cady is working on getting softer hands)

Chris20 · Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:33 am Post subject:

I think Cady's hands are fine. Not his issue.

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:38 am Post subject:

^

Right... Cady has never had hand issues... Sean Carter, on the other hand (no pun intended...), did have some issues that he overcame quite well.
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NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1428

69MG · Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:33 am Post subject:

eldonabe · Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:24 pm Post subject:

uz2b-len · Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:36 pm Post subject:

[quote="69MG"]

NilesGold · Senior Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 1428

Mentions both Grant and Tarin Smith.

http://recruitscoop.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1514162

"Grant, who will return to little known Woodstock (CT) next year, picked up a large amount of offers this spring. Drexel, Wichita State, Quinnipiac, Central Connecticut State, UMass, Stony Brook, George Mason and others have offers, but the big man recognizes that the Dragons, Minutemen and Colonials have kept in constant contact."

And for Smith... "UMass, Bucknell and Princeton are targeting him the hardest."

Based on the other schools pursuing them both, I think there's a decent chance we get them both. While neither is a top-flight recruit, I think they're both really solid and would be great additions. It's kind of weird because over the last couple of years they're very different from most everyone else on the roster and they are exactly what we've been missing. Not sure if DK is changing up what he's looking for (compared to 2-5 years ago), or if it's just coincidental.