2024 Recruiting

[bobolink]

Maybe I am in the minority but I'm a little disappointed with our portal work. Betting pretty damn big on internal development and I don't hate that because Frank has shown that it's a strong point in his programs. But was really hoping that we would make a splash.

And, yes, I understand how NIL works and I give hundreds of dollars to collective every year so I don't need to lectured on the current world of college hoops.

I'm with you on a little disappointment, although each incoming player could be very good and I'm glad they're in. Bar was set high by landing Cohen last year. I can't help wondering about who's going to bang with (for examples) Richmond's Neal Quinn (7', 260 lbs.) or his backup (Walz 6'11" 250lbs), or Bonnies Noel Brown (6'11" 270 lbs.) or SLU's Avila (6'10" 240 lbs), etc. Could be PTSD from Coach Frank's first year, where I expected overwhelming size, only to see Woodley disappear and Levesque get hurt. Then next year Mayhugh disappeared and the only 5 was Cohen, who fortunately was able to play every game and managed pretty well to avoid foul trouble. The incoming team looks to be much more athletic, and very dynamic, and has a lot of very good players, but could be weak in the post. OTOH lots of good rebounders, so may be fine. Will be excited to see the development of all returning players, and how Coach blends all this talent. Depth looks like a strong point.

[DanaDingle3]

Maybe I am in the minority but I'm a little disappointed with our portal work. Betting pretty damn big on internal development and I don't hate that because Frank has shown that it's a strong point in his programs. But was really hoping that we would make a splash.

And, yes, I understand how NIL works and I give hundreds of dollars to collective every year so I don't need to lectured on the current world of college hoops.

Bad take. Frank hated that we couldn't get defensive stops to close games last year. Think he got the kind of guys he was looking for.

Watching JMU punk Wisconsin in the tournament with their defensive aggression and tenacity was a thing of beauty. Hope we can overwhelm teams like that.

It'll be interesting to see how Foster and Watson look out there, but the roster has me hyped. Think we'll see some Diggins at point for more size, physicality on the floor.

[Upstate10]

Maybe I am in the minority but I'm a little disappointed with our portal work. Betting pretty damn big on internal development and I don't hate that because Frank has shown that it's a strong point in his programs. But was really hoping that we would make a splash.

And, yes, I understand how NIL works and I give hundreds of dollars to collective every year so I don't need to lectured on the current world of college hoops.

Bad take. Frank hated that we couldn't get defensive stops to close games last year. Think he got the kind of guys he was looking for.

Watching JMU punk Wisconsin in the tournament with their defensive aggression and tenacity was a thing of beauty. Hope we can overwhelm teams like that.

It'll be interesting to see how Foster and Watson look out there, but the roster has me hyped. Think we'll see some Diggins at point for more size, physicality on the floor.

I never said I was down on the guys that we got or that I couldn't see the vision. Just that I was hoping for a splash in the portal. Doesn't mean I'm not content with what we have or that I don't think we will be good next season.

Again, I am more than okay gambling on internal development and Frank's eye for high school talent is pretty damn good through two years here. I can both be disappointed that we didn't land a "bigger fish" and excited with the roster that we have.

But the upside with this group will depend on the steps that the returners take more than anything else. Sool needs to he an all-A10 player and Curry needs to take a major step forward. Which I have confidence in him doing after we saw the improvements from Keon and Sool last year. And I have ZERO doubt that Jayden will only continue to get better.

[Jackson96]

I do think we have the potential to be better defensively next year (no idea if we reach that potential) but I don’t know how good we are going to be offensively and what changes stylistically we will see at that end.

There is no Cohen to run stuff though. There is no Cross who, well for a lack of better terms, forced a lot of action. Shooting and spacing are huge question marks.

[NilesGold]

Maybe I am in the minority but I'm a little disappointed with our portal work. Betting pretty damn big on internal development and I don't hate that because Frank has shown that it's a strong point in his programs. But was really hoping that we would make a splash.

I'm with you on a little disappointment, although each incoming player could be very good and I'm glad they're in. Bar was set high by landing Cohen last year.

Compared to the departing players, and what I think most of us believe are areas of need, the incoming players are very underwhelming. Weaknesses last year, even before our losses was rim protection, outside shooting (floor spacing), and guard play in general.

Lose 2 A10 1st teamers and your starting PG.

Add Rivera, who plays like a rim-running PF, Watson who was a highly ranked recruit but didn't crack the rotation at ASU and looks to be somewhat of a combo forward, and Abdelgowad, who was a backup C at Murray State and as best I can tell has some potential as a post-up threat, but is not much of a rim protector. So we've added a bit of rim protection, but the floor spacing looks to be in even worse shape than last year, and the overall guard play might have gotten even worse.

1 scholarship remains, but it looks like they had a freshman big man on campus today, so are they hoping to sign him?

As it stands, we have 4 guards, 3 centers, and 6 forwards. I'm counting Nate Guerengomba as a guard and Ndjigue as a forward, but they both seem more like wing players than the rest of the forwards or guards on the roster.

Having Curry, Diggins, Worthy (and possibly Ndjigue/Guerengomba) as your only guards is a choice the staff is making, and one that I am very concerned is going to blow up in our faces. As far as I'm concerned the team has 1 point guard, and even he hasn't shown himself to be particularly adept at running the team or creating opportunities for others. Worthy as the only backup PG is the stuff of nightmares.

Where all that leaves us is being heavily reliant on several players (in particular Curry and Worthy), improving rather dramatically this offseason.

[Upstate10]

I'm shocked we haven't added a transfer guard. We are a single injury away from disaster there.

[Mykl_18]

Maybe I am in the minority but I'm a little disappointed with our portal work. Betting pretty damn big on internal development and I don't hate that because Frank has shown that it's a strong point in his programs. But was really hoping that we would make a splash.

And, yes, I understand how NIL works and I give hundreds of dollars to collective every year so I don't need to lectured on the current world of college hoops.

Internal development will definitely pay off, plus having the #1 class in the A10 coming in you want them to come into an environment with a built in culture and standard.

We got exactly what was needed in the portal, and patience and due diligence was key. Don't think we will have "buyers" remorse on any of these guys.

Thanks for your support as always!

We’re really pushing this “#1 class in the A10” talk. Not sure who were trying to fool here. Anyways, love the guys were brought in so far.

[Juice Stand]

I am a member, but I'm not interested in this insider's club concept. I think it's incredibly lame. I mean, one of the best posters on this board, 69MG, had to delete a post because it violated some secret code? I don't know. Lame.

I understand. Steele probably let the name slip and he shouldn't have because the kid wasn't official yet. I posted about it not realizing it wasn't official, so I deleted my post. Nobody should have known the name, including Collective members. Not secret code, just a slip up.

Thanks for the clarification, 69. Sounds like an honest mistake by Steele. That's much better than being told to pony up if I want info.

I'm not going to speculate much on the transfers since I know very little about them other than Watson is a highly rated guy that didn't play much at ASU, Rivera is undersized and has poor shooting numbers but rebounds and blocks shots, and I know nothing about Malek.

All front court players, so we do need one more outside player that can shoot and handle the ball. Others have said it, we're an injury away from trouble in that area, but hey, we were promised news by this week, and we got news.

[69MG]

Like it or not, Frank is counting on a huge jump in year two for at least 1 of our 2 transfer bigs. They both have potential. If one of them blossoms, we'll be OK with Daniel at the 4. If they both blossom we will have depth at the 5 for the first time in a long time. If neither come through we are in trouble.

Steele mentioned that he expects big jumps from Worthy and Foster. Maybe it's coach speak, but how did we feel about Rahsool and Keon after their first year? A lot of questions and the usual Pepto-Bismal start to the season.

[NilesGold]

Steele mentioned that he expects big jumps from Worthy and Foster. Maybe it's coach speak, but how did we feel about Rahsool and Keon after their first year? A lot of questions and the usual Pepto-Bismal start to the season.

Diggins & Thompson improved more than I expected, but I thought they were better their 1st year here than Worthy or Foster, and our guard play was still a major weakness.

Watson doesn't seem like a traditional big. In all the video of him I don't think I've seen him post up once. It's mostly transition dunks, slashing from the perimeter, and a few jump shots. Rivera is similar in play style, but really can't shoot.

Malek is the only one of the three additions who's more of a traditional big man with post moves.

[DoctorJ]

I'm actually pretty pumped. I think we likely got pretty good value out of the scholarships we had left.

That said, I'm also worried about shooting and how well it will all come together.

November is still a long way off...

[UMassfan_19]

A player like Watson you have to hope ends up like a Hankins Sanford. Not much to show at a power 5 but highly touted out of high schools and when given an opportunity became a very solid player. DHS also has to take a step which I think he can especially if he becomes a better 3 point shooter.

[DoctorJ]

Maybe Watson and DHS start together?

[Upstate10]

Maybe Watson and DHS start together?

Sounds very possible after listening to the pod. Frank was gushing over him. And Rivera sounds like the perfect sixth man. Bulldog off the bench who will probably end the game on the court more often than not.

Curry-Sool-Jayden-DHS-Watson is a very good five if the returners take all take a step and Frank has Watson ready to go.

The roster is far from perfect but I can see the vision with this group. They will play their asses off and should defend well. Still hope we add a guard but it won't be hard to get excited about this team in October. I live 3.5 hours away but will be buying season tickets.

[DoctorJ]

I agree about the vision. Not sure we will have another guard signee. I could be wrong.

Thinking we may see more three forward lineups, based on the current mix. Who knows at this time of year.

Just glad that we have filled out the roster and limited the number of freshmen.