Transfer list possibilities, Spring 2020



Marquette has been who most recruiting analysts have been predicting for him so that makes the most sense, but thats a really weird list for a guy wanting to get closer to home.
 

Lot of the same names popping up on kids' list. I think you can tell who's actively recruiting hard.
 



Why is Carton transferring? He was getting PT at Ohio St. and looked like their future floor general.
 


Big days for ASU and UVA. With all the transfers and freshman coming in but not being able to be together because of covid is a huge advantage for the veteran teams.
 

New Gopher Signees, Johnson and Robbins

University of Minnesota head men's basketball coach Richard Pitino announced Wednesday the addition of a pair of highly sought-after transfer student-athletes, welcoming center Liam Robbins and forward Brandon Johnson to the Gophers.

Robbins spent the previous two seasons at Drake, while Johnson spent four seasons at Western Michigan and will be eligible immediately as a graduate student.

"We are excited to announce the additions of Brandon and Liam to our basketball program," Pitino said. "We set out to add some important pieces to our front court and felt like we did that with both guys. We expect both student-athletes to make an immediate impact on and off the court."

The 7-foot, 235-pound Robbins, a native of Davenport, Iowa, spent two seasons with the Bulldogs and exploded in his sophomore campaign. He averaged team highs of 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds along with 2.9 blocks per game, starting all 34 games for Drake and earning All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team, All-Defensive Team and MVC Most Improved honors. He set a school record with 99 total blocks, the third most in MVC history, and finished fifth in the nation in that category.

"Liam is dominant on the low block but can also step out and stretch the defense," Pitino commented. "He is also one of the best shot blockers in the country."

Robbins, who tallied seven double-doubles on the season, was also an NABC All-District Second Team honoree. A product of Assumption High School, Robbins is the nephew of Gophers associate head coach Ed Conroy and cousin of rising senior Hunt Conroy.

Johnson has been a perennial starter for the Broncos, as the 6-8, 220-pound forward amassed 92 starts during his three years on the court. A third-team All-Mid-American Conference selection this year, Johnson led the team in rebounds (258), blocks (31) and double-doubles (6) while ranking second in scoring.

He averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this year, ranking eighth in the latter category among all MAC players. He redshirted the 2018-19 season due to injury but steadily saw improvement in his stat totals during his freshman and sophomore seasons in Kalamazoo. Johnson graduated from Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary, Ind., where he averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds during his senior prep season.

"Brandon provides a great inside out attack offensively," Pitino said. "He's tough and physical. His motor never stops running. He will be ready to compete in the Big Ten from day one."

The duo of Robbins and Johnson will join two signees from November on next season's roster in guard Jamal Mashburn, Jr., and forward Martice Mitchell.
 











Hes got a good list of school pursuing him but i agree, I hope we can do better than this
Being in contact with is not the same as a offer. He is likely a extreme fall back for some of those and perhaps here as well.
 



Stats at UNLV certainly aren't impressive, I hope this is a last resort choice.
Over 500 minutes played last season, and he got to the free throw line a total of 7 times (and only made 3 of 'em). Looks like other teams wanted him to shoot.
 


Over 500 minutes played last season, and he got to the free throw line a total of 7 times (and only made 3 of 'em). Looks like other teams wanted him to shoot.
In a much larger sample size his freshman year, he shot 81% (29/36). That doesn't worry me.

He shot a lot of 3's and actually shot better (32%) from deep than his overall FG (28%) which is weird.

Okay, on closer inspection...he took 186 shots last year. And 168 of those were 3's. That's an incredible rate 90% 3P rate. Wow.

Definitely just looks like an off ball chucker. There was one game against Cal where he played 42 minutes and he gathered...0 rebounds. That seems difficult to achieve.
 




In a much larger sample size his freshman year, he shot 81% (29/36). That doesn't worry me.

He shot a lot of 3's and actually shot better (32%) from deep than his overall FG (28%) which is weird.

Okay, on closer inspection...he took 186 shots last year. And 168 of those were 3's. That's an incredible rate 90% 3P rate. Wow.

Definitely just looks like an off ball chucker. There was one game against Cal where he played 42 minutes and he gathered...0 rebounds. That seems difficult to achieve.
What surprised me was how little he got to the free throw line. 7 attempts all year, not per game, that's his season total.
 

What surprised me was how little he got to the free throw line. 7 attempts all year, not per game, that's his season total.
That 3P% just isn't good enough to be strictly a sharp shooter. Gotta lose the sharp for him. Maybe there's something there that the data doesn't say.
 

How self-absorbed/attention-whoring do you have to be to put out a top-15 list when your decision is already made? My gripe (one of many) with the NBA is that it seems to be the most 'look at me' league out there where guys are obsessed with getting attention. I know that stuff impacts kids as you see them rushing to twitter/Insta/Snap or wherever to announce who else likes them but announcing you are cutting your list to 15(!!!) schools when you've already made a decision is begging for attention in a sad way.

Yeah I'm an old soul yelling at the clouds and I don't care.

End rant...that felt good
 

Antonio sounds like Hurt 2.0. He shouldn't be a take unless everybody else turns us down.
 

What surprised me was how little he got to the free throw line. 7 attempts all year, not per game, that's his season total.

That 3P% just isn't good enough to be strictly a sharp shooter. Gotta lose the sharp for him. Maybe there's something there that the data doesn't say.
Yeah that along with his 90% threes shot attempt tells me he is the guy who runs to the corner on offense and just waits there for somebody to kick it out to him. Doesn't drive, doesn't initiate contact, etc.

I did a little more digging and he apparently was the #10 JUCO recruit in 2019, according to 247. At his JUCO he shot 41% from 3PT. He tore a thumb ligament in December that caused him to miss 6 games and made him less aggressive in going for rebounds, which explains how he played 42 minutes against Cal without a rebound. It lingered all year, that would help explain why he struggled shooting the ball.

Since he would be a senior grad transfer I would take him over a marginal HS project or just giving it to a walk-on. He reported interest from a lot of big name programs like Marquette, Maryland, Xavier, etc. so who knows if they were just kicking the tires or what.
 

per the U:

University of Minnesota head men's basketball coach Richard Pitino announced Wednesday the addition of a pair of highly sought-after transfer student-athletes, welcoming center Liam Robbins and forward Brandon Johnson to the Gophers.

Robbins spent the previous two seasons at Drake, while Johnson spent four seasons at Western Michigan and will be eligible immediately as a graduate student.

"We are excited to announce the additions of Brandon and Liam to our basketball program," Pitino said. "We set out to add some important pieces to our front court and felt like we did that with both guys. We expect both student-athletes to make an immediate impact on and off the court."

The 7-foot, 235-pound Robbins, a native of Davenport, Iowa, spent two seasons with the Bulldogs and exploded in his sophomore campaign. He averaged team highs of 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds along with 2.9 blocks per game, starting all 34 games for Drake and earning All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team, All-Defensive Team and MVC Most Improved honors. He set a school record with 99 total blocks, the third most in MVC history, and finished fifth in the nation in that category.

"Liam is dominant on the low block but can also step out and stretch the defense," Pitino commented. "He is also one of the best shot blockers in the country."

Robbins, who tallied seven double-doubles on the season, was also an NABC All-District Second Team honoree. A product of Assumption High School, Robbins is the nephew of Gophers associate head coach Ed Conroy and cousin of rising senior Hunt Conroy.

Johnson has been a perennial starter for the Broncos, as the 6-8, 220-pound forward amassed 92 starts during his three years on the court. A third-team All-Mid-American Conference selection this year, Johnson led the team in rebounds (258), blocks (31) and double-doubles (6) while ranking second in scoring.

He averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this year, ranking eighth in the latter category among all MAC players. He redshirted the 2018-19 season due to injury but steadily saw improvement in his stat totals during his freshman and sophomore seasons in Kalamazoo. Johnson graduated from Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary, Ind., where he averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds during his senior prep season.

"Brandon provides a great inside out attack offensively," Pitino said. "He's tough and physical. His motor never stops running. He will be ready to compete in the Big Ten from day one."

Go Gophers!!
 




Top Bottom