Report: McNeil Coming To Minnesota UPDATED 4/23: McNeil signs LOI with Gophers

Donate To GopherHole
It appears both Ellis and McNeil committed to the coach, not the school.
 

Amelia Rayno ‏@AmeliaRayno 50s
Bopp said Pitino and McNeil have talked every day since Pitino was hired at Minnesota. #Gophers
Click to expand...

Sounds like Pitino really likes this kid.

Edit:

Amelia Rayno ‏@AmeliaRayno 3m
Bopp also said Pitino hasn't specifically talked with McNeil about whether he will play at point, at 2 or as a combo. #Gophers
Click to expand...
 

station19 said:
It appears both Ellis and McNeil committed to the coach, not the school.
Click to expand...

Then why didn't Ellis go to Texas Tech? You may very well be right, but my guess is Ellis knew how much is stock has risen. So when Tubby got canned, it opened things up for him to shop himseld and see if any of the big boys would come calling.
 

dpodoll68 said:
I don't think there's much debate that Ellis is a better prospect overall (as of right now - not saying McNeil can't or won't be a better college player), but I think McNeil fits in better with our current roster and its deficiencies. Ellis looks to be more of a 2/3, and McNeil more of a 1/2, and we need the latter a lot more than the former.
Click to expand...

Perhaps that becomes especially true if we can get Vaughn to sign on the dotted line this fall....
 



station19 said:
It appears both Ellis and McNeil committed to the coach, not the school.
Click to expand...

I think Ellis is sentimental like my wife. She thinks I sometimes get so caught up in work, that I forget all about her. You would be amazed at what one well-timed phone call can do. It just reminds her that I still care.
 

His coach had some really great things to say about him in that interview. I know most former coaches will talk up past players, but some of those answers weren't just "status quo". He sounds like a great kid.
 

howieramone said:
I think Ellis is sentimental like my wife. She thinks I sometimes get so caught up in work, that I forget all about her. You would be amazed at what one well-timed phone call can do. It just reminds her that I still care.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a woman who is a little insecure, howie. Sorry, but that is what that sounds like.
 

bleedgold said:
I want to preface this statement with I really hope this kid is a player. I want nothing more for the gophers but to win often!

but...does anyone find it amusing how quickly our minds change with a new coach? Some ripped Tubby for poor recruiting, not getting 4 star or 5 star players, OTO and MAV are terrible division 2 recruits.

I just flipped through ESPN rankings (which are not an exact science nor is any website) but almost EVERY recruit Tubby got was rated higher then this kid. If Tubby would have signed this guy the whole board would be moaning and groining about "another" 2 star player blah blah.....but magically we all think this recruit is a great get for MN and Pitino and I really hope it is but it is incredible how our judgments change with a new coach.
Click to expand...

I fixed it for you. For the most part, I think Tubby did a wonderful job recruiting. He brought in more talent than we've seen in a long time. However, transfers forced him to have to recruit several guys very late in the process and he failed in that category. At this point in the process, McNeil is a good pick up.
 



GophersInIowa said:
For the most part, I think Tubby did a wonderful job recruiting. He brought in more talent than we've seen in a long time.
Click to expand...

How much time is a long time? So far, no player Smith has recruited to here has played a minute in the NBA. If that holds through the present group, he'll be the first Gopher coach since at least the 1940's to achieve that dubious accomplishment.
 

Bad Gopher said:
How much time is a long time? So far, no player Smith has recruited to here has played a minute in the NBA. If that holds through the present group, he'll be the first Gopher coach since at least the 1940's to achieve that dubious accomplishment.
Click to expand...

Yeah not even Royce White, who technically would qualify given the way you worded your post, has played a second in the NBA. He's spent all of his time in the NBADL, which is the same case with Paul Carter I believe. Also interesting the two players to get closest to playing in the NBA both transferred out of the program.
 

MadtownGopher said:
Yeah not even Royce White, who technically would qualify given the way you worded your post, has played a second in the NBA. He's spent all of his time in the NBADL, which is the same case with Paul Carter I believe. Also interesting the two players to get closest to playing in the NBA both transferred out of the program.
Click to expand...

If, as I expect, both Mbakwe and Dre Hollins end up playing in the NBA, Tubby will have matched Monson's output in that regard.
 

Tubby has done a good job of recruiting, it was just the lack of development and the alienating of players that got to me. Sure, not all of the transfers were Tubby's fault, but a lot of them were. My opinion is that Tubby's style of coaching breaks down players, but never builds them back up. Almost all his players seem to lack confidence. Always looking back at Tubby, wondering if they'll get pulled for actually trying to make some plays.

Back to McNeil, he is a good pickup considering how late in the recruiting game it is for this season. My assumption is that Coach P. will probably play him as a PG and put Dre back to SG. McNeil is a slasher, and doesn't mind giving up the rock as he goes to the lane. This would give Austin and Dre some good looks. Sure, Ellis was a better shooter, but we are lacking guards who can handle the ball... Dre is often too fast and turns it over, Mav gets too nervous and trips over himself.

Welcome McNeil!
 



Bad Gopher said:
If, as I expect, both Mbakwe and Dre Hollins end up playing in the NBA, Tubby will have matched Monson's output in that regard.
Click to expand...

I believe three guys that played for Monson played in the NBA: Joel Przybilla, Kevin Burleson and Kris Humphries.

Go Gophers!!
 

RolGnav said:
Tubby has done a good job of recruiting, it was just the lack of development and the alienating of players that got to me. Sure, not all of the transfers were Tubby's fault, but a lot of them were. My opinion is that Tubby's style of coaching breaks down players, but never builds them back up. Almost all his players seem to lack confidence. Always looking back at Tubby, wondering if they'll get pulled for actually trying to make some plays.

Back to McNeil, he is a good pickup considering how late in the recruiting game it is for this season. My assumption is that Coach P. will probably play him as a PG and put Dre back to SG. McNeil is a slasher, and doesn't mind giving up the rock as he goes to the lane. This would give Austin and Dre some good looks. Sure, Ellis was a better shooter, but we are lacking guards who can handle the ball... Dre is often too fast and turns it over, Mav gets too nervous and trips over himself.

Welcome McNeil!
Click to expand...


Funny, but true.
 

BleedGopher said:
I believe three guys that played for Monson played in the NBA: Joel Przybilla, Kevin Burleson and Kris Humphries.

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

I give Monson credit for Kris Humpries and Vincent Grier, who I believe played 7 minutes on October 19, 2009. Clem Haskins recruited Joel Pryzbilla and Kevin Burleson.

Correction: Grier's stats seem to have been in pre-season, so no NBA experience. Looks like Monson just got easier to beat.
 

JimmyJamesMD said:
Then why didn't Ellis go to Texas Tech? You may very well be right, but my guess is Ellis knew how much is stock has risen. So when Tubby got canned, it opened things up for him to shop himseld and see if any of the big boys would come calling.
Click to expand...

Ever been to Lubbock? He liked Tubby but lets not get carried away. . .


JK, I think your point is pretty valid. It appears as though Ellis realized that his stock is considerably higher as a spring recruit and wanted to see what else was out there.
 

bleedgold said:
I want to preface this statement with I really hope this kid is a player. I want nothing more for the gophers but to win often!

but...does anyone find it amusing how quickly our minds change with a new coach? Everyone ripped Tubby for poor recruiting, not getting 4 star or 5 star players, OTO and MAV are terrible division 2 recruits.

I just flipped through ESPN rankings (which are not an exact science nor is any website) but almost EVERY recruit Tubby got was rated higher then this kid. If Tubby would have signed this guy the whole board would be moaning and groining about "another" 2 star player blah blah.....but magically we all think this recruit is a great get for MN and Pitino and I really hope it is but it is incredible how our judgments change with a new coach.
Click to expand...
Well said, I'm also skeptical about this recruit, #93 rated PG, better than Mav was, but if you want to win in the big ten, these types of recruits on a yearly basis will not get it done.
 

McNeil

6'3"185 is a nice size sg in college for a freshmen, with the quickness to also play the point. His build and athletism remind me of Hargrow. I think McNeil is a better ballhandler though. I believe Hargrow may have been an inch or so taller. It will be nice to have both Hollins' and McNeil all on the court together at times, that would be a nice defensive combination with great quickness.
 

He fits the system, but I'm underwhelmed. I hope he gets here, works hard, and becomes a good player, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

We need talent, not bodies. This looks like a body signing, someone who can come off the bench and play some minutes. I doubt he ever excels.

By all means, prove me wrong.
 


Bob_Loblaw said:
Ever been to Lubbock? He liked Tubby but lets not get carried away. . .


JK, I think your point is pretty valid. It appears as though Ellis realized that his stock is considerably higher as a spring recruit and wanted to see what else was out there.
Click to expand...

Good point! So what you're saying is that the coach was more important than location, unless that coach's location is Lubbock
 

Some compare Mr. McNeil to Russ Smith of Louisville. Guessing some Cards backers were underwhelmed by signing Smith, a three star recruit not in the top 35 point guards in the nation in 2010. If Coach Pitino thinks Daquien can play in the Big Ten I will defer to his judgement and watch it play out over time.
 

dtrain19 said:
Some compare Mr. McNeil to Russ Smith of Louisville. Guessing some Cards backers were underwhelmed by signing Smith, a three star recruit not in the top 35 point guards in the nation in 2010. If Coach Pitino thinks Daquien can play in the Big Ten I will defer to his judgement and watch it play out over time.
Click to expand...

Pitino is between a rock and hard place. Yes, McNeil fits his system and is probably a solid basketball player, but this late into the process, he has to take what he can get to a certain degree. I would suspect that over the next few years, the pedigree of our recruits will rise, which is not an entirely bold statement.
 

If he's quick, can dribble, knows how to handle a press, and can facilitate a half-court offense when necessary, then he brings skills we don't have right now.
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
Ever been to Lubbock? He liked Tubby but lets not get carried away. . .


JK, I think your point is pretty valid. It appears as though Ellis realized that his stock is considerably higher as a spring recruit and wanted to see what else was out there.
Click to expand...

He might still go to Lubbock someone on twitter said he's visiting there.
 

McNeil appears to be an athletic kid that can score but doesn't have a great outside shot, sounds alot like Chip Armelin.
 

jovs said:
McNeil appears to be an athletic kid that can score but doesn't have a great outside shot, sounds alot like Chip Armelin.
Click to expand...

Chip was athletic. I think, and hope, that the difference is that McNeil can finish. Chip never had that quality to him unless he could be close enough to dunk.
 

There very few top-tier recruits left at this time of year and there some big holes on this team. Pitino knows this guy better than anyone and you just have to defer to his judgement as to whether he can play PG in the B!G. He looks like he is a very good ball handler which is a major need on this team.
 

Gopherguy0723 said:
He fits the system, but I'm underwhelmed. I hope he gets here, works hard, and becomes a good player, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

We need talent, not bodies. This looks like a body signing, someone who can come off the bench and play some minutes. I doubt he ever excels.

By all means, prove me wrong.
Click to expand...

Seriously, you're already writing this kid off!!!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom