2016 Recruiting

[MasonFanatic]

I really think Paulsen would be smart to find a graduate transfer or JUCO player for next season. Give Jalen and Marquise some help for their senior season.

The open scholarship this year would also allow Mason to accept a mid-year transfer.

 

[Walter]

I am not hung up on the number of stars a player has. We all know that some of our best players were not highly rated recruits. And, some of our more highly rated recruits have been busts. I have faith in Paulsen that he knows what he is doing. Paulsen isn't some failed head coach or an assistant, he has won at every place he has been. The FF team had above average players who worked hard and bought into the system. However, it is harder to win at the A-10 level without at least one game changer on the team. Do we have THAT guy? Sure, Shevon is that guy this year.

So my question is, who of our current recruits might be that game changer? They all look like solid players to me but I haven't really paid enough attention to know who could turn into our go-to guy when we are down by 4 with a minute to go.

 

[gmujim92]

I really think Paulsen would be smart to find a graduate transfer or JUCO player for next season. Give Jalen and Marquise some help for their senior season.

The open scholarship this year would also allow Mason to accept a mid-year transfer.

The grad transfer would be ideal for a team in our situation. It would instantly provide proven veteran talent to a severely inexperienced roster, while at the same time not taking up scholarship spots that our coaches want to use on the 2017 class.

GW was smart to bring in Armwood and Creek to play alongside Savage, Larsen, Garino and McDonald, which was a huge reason Lonergan's rebuilding has been accomplished so quickly.

Finding two quality transfers like that would be a huge help for next season.

 

[G M U]

I am not hung up on the number of stars a player has. We all know that some of our best players were not highly rated recruits. And, some of our more highly rated recruits have been busts. I have faith in Paulsen that he knows what he is doing. Paulsen isn't some failed head coach or an assistant, he has won at every place he has been. The FF team had above average players who worked hard and bought into the system. However, it is harder to win at the A-10 level without at least one game changer on the team. Do we have THAT guy? Sure, Shevon is that guy this year.

So my question is, who of our current recruits might be that game changer? They all look like solid players to me but I haven't really payed enough attention to know who could turn into our go-to guy when we are down by 4 with a minute to go.

Jaire Grayer will end up being THAT guy. Just wait.

 

[gmujim92]

Jaire Grayer will end up being THAT guy. Just wait.

Grayer and Boyd on the wings together will be a handful for the rest of the A-10.

 

[Pablo]

Grayer and Boyd on the wings together will be a handful for the rest of the A-10.

I agree, although I should state that I also expected Raoul Heinen to be "THAT guy".

 

[liem.le.3388]

Josh Hall to Nevada. Not sure why he took us of his list because of Boyd's commitment and then commits to a school with 4 SFs.

 

[The Great PATSby]

He probably wanted to be closer to home. He's a west coast kid. Guess he doesn't like the Beast Coast.

 

[Pablo]

Josh Hall to Nevada. Not sure why he took us of his list because of Boyd's commitment and then commits to a school with 4 SFs.

http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/story/1599680-josh-hall-nevada:

"'I like their playing style; they'll run an NBA offense. They play a lot of guards and every player will play different positions. I like the way he uses each player differently.'

Hall joins some good prospects in point guard Devearl Ramsey, center Kenny Wooten and junior college transfer Arlando Cook in Reno.

'I'm really close with Devearl (Ramsey) and they have some other good players coming in,' Hall said. 'Them bringing in a big recruiting class definitely played a big factor.'"

 

[Herndon]

I agree, although I should state that I also expected Raoul Heinen to be "THAT guy".

Dude, I'm right there with you. After Heinen's sophomore year, I though he was going to be a STAR.

 

[Washingtonian]

http://www.prephoopsmichigan.com/news_article/show/564493?referrer_id=

2016 SG Karmari Newman told Prep Hoops Michigan via text message that his final 3 schools would consist of: "Buffalo, Cleveland State and George Mason" in no particular order.

Cleveland State was Newman's first ever offer two summers ago before his junior year after an Elite Camp.

Buffalo offered in the summer and Newman was on campus this Fall checking out what the reigning MAC Champions had to offer.

George Mason was the last to offer as they extended in late September but also picked up recent commitments from shooting guards in the 2016 class.

The Detroit East English Village senior had other offers from: Oakland, Detroit, Kent State, Duquesne, Eastern Michigan, Robert Morris and St. Bonaventure.

The pressure for Newman and the Bulldogs will be at an all time high this season, as Newman is the 3rd overall prospect in the state and his team is the 2nd best team in Class A according to Prep Hoops Michigan pre-season rankings.

 

[A.-Siegfried]

Newman is in town I believe.

 

[gmutom]

I realize guards are crucial in the Atlantic 10, but do we really need another shooting guard on the roster next year (even with Holloway leaving)? With Thompson, Marco, and Royal all graduating, I would hope we would leave the final scholarship for a big man – preferably a JUCO, transfer or 5th-year senior.

 

[A.-Siegfried]

Have 2 spots left. Have NO sophomores on the roster. I'd take a JuCo over a 5th year senior, but that class that is now empty does need filling!

 

[mkaufman1]

I realize guards are crucial in the Atlantic 10, but do we really need another shooting guard on the roster next year (even with Holloway leaving)? With Thompson, Marco, and Royal all graduating, I would hope we would leave the final scholarship for a big man – preferably a JUCO, transfer or 5th-year senior.

How about a lot of 6'7 swingmen?

And Newman was on campus for an official yesterday (I believe)

 

[Pablo]

I realize guards are crucial in the Atlantic 10, but do we really need another shooting guard on the roster next year (even with Holloway leaving)? With Thompson, Marco, and Royal all graduating, I would hope we would leave the final scholarship for a big man – preferably a JUCO, transfer or 5th-year senior.

With the 2 remaining scholarships available for the 2016-17 season (assuming that the seniors all use their final year of eligibility this season), I'd like to see Coach Paulsen sign a true PG and another frontcourt player (or 2 frontcourt players if he believes that one of his current or recruited SG's can play the point).

 

[gmujim92]

Have 2 spots left. Have NO sophomores on the roster. I'd take a JuCo over a 5th year senior, but that class that is now empty does need filling!

The difference is that in most cases, JUCOs need a year to get fully integrated and up to speed with their new team. Shevon was an obvious exception.

I'm skeptical that DP will look to either JUCOs or grad transfers -- he seems committed to playing the long game with 4-year players -- but we definitely need 3-4 guys who can step in right away and make a significant contribution next season.

 

[gmujim92]

Newman would be a nice addition simply because his strength is perimeter shooting, which we definitely need. Other than Murrell, there won't be anyone on our roster beyond this season whose primary weapon is shooting the 3. Gotta get better there.

His frame and his game remind me of Vertrail, minus the signature head tilt of course.

 

[Pablo]

The difference is that in most cases, JUCOs need a year to get fully integrated and up to speed with their new team. Shevon was an obvious exception.

I'm skeptical that DP will look to either JUCOs or grad transfers -- he seems committed to playing the long game with 4-year players -- but we definitely need 3-4 guys who can step in right away and make a significant contribution next season.

It certainly appears that Coach Paulsen prefers players who have 4 years of eligibility remaining and were well-coached in high school or a post-graduate program and are good students.

 

[TweederGMU]

Agree with Jim....would love another deadly 3 point shooter to the roster for 4 years. We need to upgrade this portion of our roster and game in order to compete with the Davidson's and vcu's of the league. Always nice to have a guy who can shoot the 3 on the roster.