2021 Recruiting

[sleeperpick]

Agree with all, we absolutely have to sign a legit big man in this class. I am genuinely curious for the rationale from someone who looks at this and either doesn't see a problem / understands what the plan is here because I'm just not seeing it.

We are going to have a team consisting exclusively of 3/4's and PGs that can't really shoot (hope Kolek can really shoot). It makes sense to me in the 2020 college basketball landscape

 

[sleeperpick]

I think they are after a legit big man, they just offered the 6'9 kid from DC who URI also offered. They also were after that JUCO too.

Watson probably is just an athletic depth piece. If its a position that the A-10 definitely recruits well its that athletic guard spot, so I'm sure they would find a way for him to fit in.

I am still surprised they did it but I'm just a fan not a coach haha.

the JUCO kid who is a 23 year old sophomore has one other scholarship offer (Tenn Tech) that is addicted to BBW porn on Twitter that also weighs less than a single Jollay testical (elephantiasis) ?

Love the 6 foot 9 big from DC... but when Rhody wants a DC kid the track record is Cox can go and get them when Rhody is competing for them with other mid majors (been doing it for 5+ years) so I wouldn't hold my breath

I hope we get a Reynolds or Folkes or Darius Johnson or even a Garrett Johnson but odds can't be extremely high as they keep racking in better offers. We need a legit center (size, weight, tough, mean), someone on the team that can shoot and also d up smaller guards, a PG and hopefully another big man. Please Simp and MOJO PLEASE

 

[Patriotsince81]

the JUCO kid who is a 23 year old sophomore has one other scholarship offer (Tenn Tech) that is addicted to BBW porn on Twitter that also weighs less than a single Jollay testical (elephantiasis) ?

Love the 6 foot 9 big from DC... but when Rhody wants a DC kid the track record is Cox can go and get them when Rhody is competing for them with other mid majors (been doing it for 5+ years) so I wouldn't hold my breath

I hope we get a Reynolds or Folkes or Darius Johnson or even a Garrett Johnson but odds can't be extremely high as they keep racking in better offers. We need a legit center (size, weight, tough, mean), someone on the team that can shoot and also d up smaller guards, a PG and hopefully another big man. Please Simp and MOJO PLEASE

So you're saying we need everything.

 

[gmujim92]

As much as we like to joke about it, this is not at all like Hewitt trying to fill a roster with interchangeable 6-7 wings.

We’ve got 2 point guards with at least 2 years of eligibility remaining and are pursuing Darius, who will definitely be a PG in college.

There will also be a big man to replace Calixte, whether it’s the Samb kid or somebody else.

The rest of it is continuing to get longer and more athletic at the 2 through 4 spots. We’re chasing several guys who have quality offers so if you don’t have a Plan B, C, D and so forth, you’re not doing it right.

 

[FreeGunston12]

The staff can offer all the wings they want - they just really need to get commitments from two 4/5s in my opinion.

I'd also love for them to sign one of the highly sought after point guards that have been offered. But if they don't get one, it wouldn't be the end of the world to add another wing. Presumably, we would still have Hartwell, XJ and Polite/Kolek (I think they can) to play the 1.

 

[mkaufman1]

the JUCO kid who is a 23 year old sophomore has one other scholarship offer (Tenn Tech) that is addicted to BBW porn on Twitter that also weighs less than a single Jollay testical (elephantiasis) ?

Love the 6 foot 9 big from DC... but when Rhody wants a DC kid the track record is Cox can go and get them when Rhody is competing for them with other mid majors (been doing it for 5+ years) so I wouldn't hold my breath

I hope we get a Reynolds or Folkes or Darius Johnson or even a Garrett Johnson but odds can't be extremely high as they keep racking in better offers. We need a legit center (size, weight, tough, mean), someone on the team that can shoot and also d up smaller guards, a PG and hopefully another big man. Please Simp and MOJO PLEASE

I have no clue how serious they are about that sophomore JUCO. We'll see if that comes to pass.

If they get Garrett Johnson hes essentially another wing. I suspect hes out of the picture but that is why they are after Folkes and now Watson.

We are probably going to agree to disagree, but as much as I'd love a traditional big man, I don't think the traditional kind is going to be coming. Think more athletic like what they just offered. Just my opinion.

This is all speculation anyway, I have no clue how the 2021 class will pan out, but I'm hoping it makes sense like the other classes have with a nice mix of needs.

 

[GMUgemini]

Always! haha.



It is definitely concerning and I don't know how or where a guy like Watson would fit. Maybe someone can help me and @tblack33 understand.

My thoughts all along for 2021 was that with the 4 scholarships available, you would get another big, a best available point guard, and another guard to supplement Gadsden. I guess Watson would be the guard to help out at more of the 2, even though we have a lot of players who can play that 2/3 spot like you mentioned.

They obviously filled the athletic wing with Gadsden, and I'd like to see the point guard (Darius/Erik Reynolds) and the big (Castro or the other 6'9 guy they offered) spots filled out first since I think those are more critical.

Lets hope theres a method to the madness.

I don't have that big of a problem with the offers, because let's think it through:

1) Miller is graduating after 2021, so that is going to leave a ton of minutes at the 3 and you want competition there.

2) I have a feeling Gadsden is going to be more of a 4 than a 3, but even if he isn't...

3) I think we can assume that Dady is at the back of the depth chart here and won't see many minutes and so he's either going to be a practice player (someone who comes in rarely) or he'll transfer.

4) So that leaves you with Kolek and Frazier as your primary options at the 2 and 3 in 2022. And even if you add Gadsden to that mix, you've got two guys who can play the 2 (Kolek and Frazier) and 2 guys who are 3s (Gadsden and Dady).

5) Caveat: I also realize that Polite and XJ can play the 2 as well, but we want them playing point for us to be as effective as possible.

6) And let's keep in mind that Paulsen says he wants to play 4 around 1, and Henry doesn't exactly look like he's a primarily perimeter player, so if you look at the depth chart that way, you have to shift Henry to the 5 mostly and now you're looking at in 2022 Kolek, Frazier, Gadsden, Dady for 3 positions.

7) And, yes, you can question that philosophy and question whether Paulsen will actually devise an offense that actually does that, and you can question whether Henry will be effective as a single center in the A-10, but at least you can see and understand the reason why he's going after so many wings.

 

[gmujim92]

I don't have that big of a problem with the offers, because let's think it through:

1) Miller is graduating after 2021, so that is going to leave a ton of minutes at the 3 and you want competition there.

2) I have a feeling Gadsden is going to be more of a 4 than a 3, but even if he isn't...

3) I think we can assume that Dady is at the back of the depth chart here and won't see many minutes and so he's either going to be a practice player (someone who comes in rarely) or he'll transfer.

4) So that leaves you with Kolek and Frazier as your primary options at the 2 and 3 in 2022. And even if you add Gadsden to that mix, you've got two guys who can play the 2 (Kolek and Frazier) and 2 guys who are 3s (Gadsden and Dady).

5) Caveat: I also realize that Polite and XJ can play the 2 as well, but we want them playing point for us to be as effective as possible.

6) And let's keep in mind that Paulsen says he wants to play 4 around 1, and Henry doesn't exactly look like he's a primarily perimeter player, so if you look at the depth chart that way, you have to shift Henry to the 5 mostly and now you're looking at in 2022 Kolek, Frazier, Gadsden, Dady for 3 positions.

7) And, yes, you can question that philosophy and question whether Paulsen will actually devise an offense that actually does that, and you can question whether Henry will be effective as a single center in the A-10, but at least you can see and understand the reason why he's going after so many wings.

I agree with most of what you posted except I don’t see Henry as a 5. He was recruited as AJ’s successor and with Oduro having 3 more years of eligibility, hopefully we won’t need to play Henry at the 5 except in small-ball scenarios.

 

[GMUgemini]

I agree with most of what you posted except I don’t see Henry as a 5. He was recruited as AJ’s successor and with Oduro having 3 more years of eligibility, hopefully we won’t need to play Henry at the 5 except in small-ball scenarios.

I don't know how Henry will actually be used (remember, they desperately tried to make AJ a 5), I'm just trying to read the tea leaves from what I've heard Paulsen say in interviews and who they're targeting right now in 2021 and 2022.

 

[gmujim92]

I don't know how Henry will actually be used (remember, they desperately tried to make AJ a 5), I'm just trying to read the tea leaves from what I've heard Paulsen say in interviews and who they're targeting right now in 2021 and 2022.

I don’t think the staff tried to make AJ a 5, it’s just where he was most comfortable his first couple years because he had always played around the basket. Hopefully Malik makes the transition more quickly so it doesn’t take 3 years for him to click.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I don’t think the staff tried to make AJ a 5, it’s just where he was most comfortable his first couple years because he had always played around the basket. Hopefully Malik makes the transition more quickly so it doesn’t take 3 years for him to click.

I recently watched some more tape of Henry. He looks pretty raw to me. Might be more of a project than I initially thought. He can definitely jump out the gym, and he has a
crazy wingspan. But he has some of that big-man awkwardness to his game, and I imagine his progression in that area would be slowed due to current conditions. In my opinion, if he does become a 4 in our current system it will be because the staff developed him into one.

 

[gmujim92]

I recently watched some more tape of Henry. He looks pretty raw to me. Might be more of a project than I initially thought. He can definitely jump out the gym, and he has a
crazy wingspan. But he has some of that big-man awkwardness to his game, and I imagine his progression in that area would be slowed due to current conditions. In my opinion, if he does become a 4 in our current system it will be because the staff developed him into one.

He’s not a natural perimeter player to be sure, but his skills are more advanced than AJ’s were at this point. Will he work as hard as AJ has to expand and refine his game? That’s the million-dollar question.

 

[Falco]

Always! haha.



It is definitely concerning and I don't know how or where a guy like Watson would fit. Maybe someone can help me and @tblack33 understand.

My thoughts all along for 2021 was that with the 4 scholarships available, you would get another big, a best available point guard, and another guard to supplement Gadsden. I guess Watson would be the guard to help out at more of the 2, even though we have a lot of players who can play that 2/3 spot like you mentioned.

They obviously filled the athletic wing with Gadsden, and I'd like to see the point guard (Darius/Erik Reynolds) and the big (Castro or the other 6'9 guy they offered) spots filled out first since I think those are more critical.

Lets hope theres a method to the madness.

Paulsen is just casting a wide net and hoping one of the wings pan out.

 

[gmujim92]

Garrett Johnson is committing tomorrow. Supposedly he will choose from among 12 finalists ... assuming Mason is one of them.

My bet is he picks Richmond.

 

[sleeperpick]

Garrett Johnson is committing tomorrow. Supposedly he will choose from among 12 finalists ... assuming Mason is one of them.

My bet is he picks Richmond.

he tweets a lot about Xavier and that is his only P6 offer so maybe he picks there. Would be a good get for a mid major for sure though.

 

[mkaufman1]

I know Mason has a lot of guys who play the 2/3 for the next few years but its my birthday and he's 6'7 so damnit that would be a great birthday present. Haha.

Hopefully Mason got through to his top 12, since they have been on him for a while and have a good pipeline to Episcopal with XJ and recruiting Darius as well.

 

[tblack33]

I know Mason has a lot of guys who play the 2/3 for the next few years but its my birthday and he's 6'7 so damnit that would be a great birthday present. Haha.

Hopefully Mason got through to his top 12, since they have been on him for a while and have a good pipeline to Episcopal with XJ and recruiting Darius as well.

The only Johnson I care about (other than my own), is signing Darius. It is the longest of long shots, but for some reason I think we've got a chance.

 

[sleeperpick]

The only Johnson I care about (other than my own), is signing Darius. It is the longest of long shots, but for some reason I think we've got a chance.

you're just saying that since he liked your tweet

 

[Patriotsince81]

The only Johnson I care about (other than my own), is signing Darius. It is the longest of long shots, but for some reason I think we've got a chance.

I just hope that he and XJ have a close relationship. That can work for us or against.

 

[GMUgemini]

I just hope that he and XJ have a close relationship. That can work for us or against.

There's no way they both went to the same small Catholic school just to play basketball on the same team and AREN'T close. That also doesn't mean he'll choose Mason. Johnny Williams was close to his brother, but there was no way he was coming here.