All Things Gophers Basketball 2017 Recruiting Thread

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Richard said:
Hasahn French will be visiting 9/23
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First I've heard of him, nice offer list though. Found a brief scouting report:

French is not currently ranked in ESPN's top 100, but he is the 5th best player in the state of Massachusetts and is the 36th best power forward in the country. He performed well on the Nike EYBL Circuit this summer, where he averaged 6.8 points, shot 50 percent from the field, grabbed 7.5 rebounds, and blocked 1.4 shots in 20 total games. At Peach Jam alone, French averaged 5.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Cardinals, who lost in the title game to Mokan Elite.

The 6'7" three-star talent has an old school big man game, as he uses his strength, toughness, power, and aggressiveness to bully opposing bigs in the painted area. French is a decent defender (because of his ability to block shots and help from the weak side), and has solid touch around the rim on the offensive end.

If he can develop a more consistent jump shot (even if it's from mid-range), there's no question that the Commonwealth Academy prospect can play at any level in college.

French would add another powerful big man to St. John's front court. Between Michigan State transfer Marvin Clark Jr., Brown and French, the Red Storm would completely overcome the lack of strength that is expected to impact the 2016-17 team.

He also has the ability to run the floor and make plays in transition, which directly correlates to the Johnnies' style of play.
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Biggsohnasty said:
The 2017 class might not be as top-heavy as the 2014 one but given Pitino had no shot at landing Tyus and Vaugn and very little shot at landing Macura and Travis, it wasn't a huge knock on him missing those guys. Missing a bulk of the 2017 guys would be a huge blow because he's going into his fourth year as the team's coach - this is when recruiting should be established and if he's striking out on everyone, that's not good.

We can be as pro or anti Gopher as we want but the talent this state is producing now is better than its ever been from a volume standpoint and if Pitino isn't cashing in on that, he's missing a big opportunity.

Now the other side of that of course is that we don't necessarily need to just recruit the hometown kids. It bugs me sometimes how much the local media (Fuller, Wolfson et all) focus only on the local guys as Gopher targets while seemingly forgetting that we seem to be in on guys like Washington. It doesn't matter where the kids come from as long as they have talent. I get that wholeheartedly. But if you've got quality players - top 150 players - in your own back yard and you can't secure them, something isn't right.

It's not over yet and it seems like they are at least positioned well to get pledges from the remaining three high-major players but because they missed on Reuvers and Davison, they've put themselves in a position where they absolutely need some of these kids to pick them. That's not what you want in the recruiting game where every prospect is a lottery ticket.
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DeathClutch is right that Pitino hasn't done too poorly recruiting locally, but I see 2017 as a stumble.

One sign of how far the program has fallen is the resignation that, if a blue blood or other prominent program offers one of our recruits, that all hope is lost. That wasn't always the case; under Dutcher and Haskins, the Gophs went up against quite a few blue blood programs and usually came out on top. In fact, there was quite a bit of shock when we lost Copa to Marquette, and El Amin's going to Connecticut had people asking, "What happened?" Pryzbilla was rated the No. 3 recruit in the nation. Even Monson was able to grab five-stars Rickert and Humphries.
 

Bad Gopher said:
DeathClutch is right that Pitino hasn't done too poorly recruiting locally, but I see 2017 as a stumble. One sign of how far the program has fallen is the resignation that, if a blue blood or other prominent program offers one of our recruits, that all hope is lost. That wasn't always the case; under Dutcher and Haskins, the Gophs went up against quite a few blue blood programs and usually came out on top. In fact, there was quite a bit of shock when we lost Copa to Marquette, and El Amin's going to Connecticut had people asking, "What happened?" Pryzbilla was rated the No. 3 recruit in the nation. Even Monson was able to grab five-stars Rickert and Humphries.
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I don't think Haskins was a great recruiter. Over a long period he landed some highly regarded guys but he whiffed a lot. His recruiting post final four wasn't exactly great either which is hard to fathom.

Pitinos recruiting is the least of our problems. One of the few bright spots. We will land two solid players this year to add to a very talented roster. How the team performs this year will really dictate future recruiting efforts and in turn, Pitinos tenure.
 

Rouser said:
I don't think Haskins was a great recruiter.
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I must disagree. Check out these names.

Ariel McDonald
Randy Carter
Jayson Walton (Parade All-American, third team)
Voshon Lenard
Bobby Jackson
Courtney James (Mr. Basketball Indiana finalist)
Quincy Lewis (Mr. Basketball Arkansas)
Charles Thomas (Mr. Basketball Kentucky)
Joel Pryzbilla

All these players within seven years time. The star system didn't exist in the earlier years, but all of the players listed would have been at least four stars.
 


I haven't watched recruiting quite as closely this year as the last couple years, but would a best guess be the first to commit at each position with the most likely six candidates below?

Wright/Washington/Bede at point guard (one of these three)

John/Sims/French at power forward (one of these three)
 

golfing18now said:
I haven't watched recruiting quite as closely this year as the last couple years, but would a best guess be the first to commit at each position with the most likely six candidates below?

Wright/Washington/Bede at point guard (one of these three)

John/Sims/French at power forward (one of these three)
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Jamir Harris is also planning on visiting the U. I think he's more of an undersized combo guard, rated lower than Wright/Washington/Bede, but he's supposed to be a good shooter.
 

golfing18now said:
I haven't watched recruiting quite as closely this year as the last couple years, but would a best guess be the first to commit at each position with the most likely six candidates below?

Wright/Washington/Bede at point guard (one of these three)

John/Sims/French at power forward (one of these three)
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Wright and John.
 

Bad Gopher said:
I must disagree. Check out these names.

Ariel McDonald
Randy Carter
Jayson Walton (Parade All-American, third team)
Voshon Lenard
Bobby Jackson
Courtney James (Mr. Basketball Indiana finalist)
Quincy Lewis (Mr. Basketball Arkansas)
Charles Thomas (Mr. Basketball Kentucky)
Joel Pryzbilla

All these players within seven years time. The star system didn't exist in the earlier years, but all of the players listed would have been at least four stars.
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Probably could throw Jacobson in the mix also.
 



golfing18now said:
I haven't watched recruiting quite as closely this year as the last couple years, but would a best guess be the first to commit at each position with the most likely six candidates below?

Wright/Washington/Bede at point guard (one of these three)

John/Sims/French at power forward (one of these three)
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Yep, and probably most likely in the order you listed in each group too. Also, I kind of doubt they'd take a commitment from French right now before Sims and John decide.
 

Dayton just got a commit from a 6'4" guard Jordan Davis tonight. Might affect the McKinley Wright situation? But this kid doesn't even seem to have a 247 profile, so idk how good he is; maybe they still want Wright.

EDIT: Also, for what it's worth, Quade Green is visiting Syracuse this weekend. He's one of those 5-star point guards they're after, and if they get him, I'd guess they don't end up offering Isaiah Washington. Granted, crystal ball still has Green as a heavy Duke lean, so I'm not getting my hopes up right now.
 


Bad Gopher said:
To a hardened Gopher BB pessimist (realist?), missing out on Reuvers, Davison and Sims would signal the beginning of the end for the Pitino administration, even if they do get Wright and John. With the deepest and richest local class in recent memory, to come out with only two three-star recruits would be abysmal.
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-1
 



Bad Gopher said:
I must disagree. Check out these names.

Ariel McDonald
Randy Carter
Jayson Walton (Parade All-American, third team)
Voshon Lenard
Bobby Jackson
Courtney James (Mr. Basketball Indiana finalist)
Quincy Lewis (Mr. Basketball Arkansas)
Charles Thomas (Mr. Basketball Kentucky)
Joel Pryzbilla

All these players within seven years time. The star system didn't exist in the earlier years, but all of the players listed would have been at least four stars.
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+1
 


Bad Gopher said:
I KNEW I forgot someone.
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Michael Bauer had a Kansas offer and was top 50. Shane schilling was also a prized recruit - same Minnetonka team as Adam Boone I believe. Kevin Loge was also a highly thought of recruit as was the lefty from thief river falls. Clem locked down almost everything worth locking down in-state - the obvious exception being el-Amin. With that said, when he started here there often wasn't a single local recruit worthy of a high major offer. Times have changed.


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Bad Gopher said:
I must disagree. Check out these names. Ariel McDonald Randy Carter Jayson Walton (Parade All-American, third team) Voshon Lenard Bobby Jackson Courtney James (Mr. Basketball Indiana finalist) Quincy Lewis (Mr. Basketball Arkansas) Charles Thomas (Mr. Basketball Kentucky) Joel Pryzbilla All these players within seven years time. The star system didn't exist in the earlier years, but all of the players listed would have been at least four stars.
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How many of those players were recruited in year 1 and 2 of his tenure? He coached for 13/14 years here. Which is a testament to him. But Pitinos recruiting as this stage of his tenure has been outstanding imo. Now. If we don't start winning soon he won't make year 5 let alone 13. But if Pitino is coaching here a long time, there is no way his recruiting won't be stellar. He works hard. And frankly, I would gather he would have same or more success if he's here that long.

That said. Let's get past this season first.
 

Rouser said:
But Pitinos recruiting as this stage of his tenure has been outstanding imo. Now. If we don't start winning soon he won't make year 5 let alone 13. But if Pitino is coaching here a long time, there is no way his recruiting won't be stellar. He works hard. And frankly, I would gather he would have same or more success if he's here that long. QUOTE]

IALTO:clap:
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Recruiting is as much a factor of success as who your assistants are. If successful, the assistants will leave and he will have to find more good recruiters.
 

Cayman said:
Dayton just got a commit from a 6'4" guard Jordan Davis tonight. Might affect the McKinley Wright situation? But this kid doesn't even seem to have a 247 profile, so idk how good he is; maybe they still want Wright.

EDIT: Also, for what it's worth, Quade Green is visiting Syracuse this weekend. He's one of those 5-star point guards they're after, and if they get him, I'd guess they don't end up offering Isaiah Washington. Granted, crystal ball still has Green as a heavy Duke lean, so I'm not getting my hopes up right now.
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Saw Jordan Davis go up against Wright this summer at the Atlanta Gauntlet stop. Strong, explosive, good size at 6'3" and gave McKinley fits (had 30+ points). Was 2016 South Carolina POY so the kid can play. He's more of a CG, so this may or may not affect Wright's decision, but it doesn't hurt if you're a Gophers fan
 



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Go Gophers!!
 

A miss, but the cupboard is far from bare. On to the next one!
 

Yeah it sucks missing out on him, but at the same time we got Murph and Curry to man the PF position for hopefully many years to come.
 



brockkola18 said:
Sorry I wasn't aware that this thread wasn't for 2017 recruiting?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Your low post count might give the impression that you just came by to crap on us by post something negative, whether that was your intention or not. I'll give the benefit of the doubt that you're another fan just giving us an update.

McKinley Wright is visiting for the football game on Thursday. Race Thompson and Matthew Hurt will also be visiting unofficially. I'd imagine that both of them are high priority targets for us in their respective classes.
 

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