Welcome DeVon Cooper

[FreeGunston12]

I wonder if some of them put feelers out there before entering the portal.

Yeah, I'm so ignorant to how that all works. Aren't there rules about contact? Can the player initiate the contact, but not the coach before being in the portal? I think that is how it works?

Could this have been the recruiting call during the radio interview the other day?

 

[gmujim92]

Yeah, I'm so ignorant to how that all works. Aren't there rules about contact? Can the player initiate the contact, but not the coach before being in the portal? I think that is how it works?

Could this have been the recruiting call during the radio interview the other day?

There are back channel conversations going both ways even before guys are officially in the portal. Honestly that’s the smart way to do it — with over 1,200 names on the transfer list, if you don’t have a pretty good idea somebody else wants you, probably best not to burn bridges with your current coach.

 

[mkaufman1]

Tournament experience in both these two commits. Looks like Cooper had a pretty good game against WVU in the opening round.

One of the things I really like about the two new commits. It’s one thing to win in high school. It’s a total different quality to be able to win at the division 1 level and have made the ncaa tournament.

really excited about the potential these two can bring along with that winning experience.

 

[GMUgemini]

Polite
Cooper
Schwartz
Miller ?
Oduro ?

Pretty big. Pretty strong. Pretty good from 3. I think KE has let everyone know if you aren't on board now I'll find someone to replace you. He's not waiting around. Kudos for that.

That could definitely work. I wouldn't rule out any of the current PG on the roster as potential starters and that includes Hartwell (I know, I know, what a lot of you feel about Hartwell, but it's a new coach, new system, and everyone has a chance).

 

[bravesfan]

I'm just happy he's bringing in people with size. 6' 4" shooting guard who averaged over 31 minutes a game (and 12.5 points) ... yes please.

 

[Patriot8]

Fantastic pickup. Can he bring his teammate Johni Broome with him? 6'10 Freshman averaged 14 & 9 last season.

 

[GreenLantern]

Another player with NCAA tourney experience. This will pay off down the road

 

[gmujim92]

That could definitely work. I wouldn't rule out any of the current PG on the roster as potential starters and that includes Hartwell (I know, I know, what a lot of you feel about Hartwell, but it's a new coach, new system, and everyone has a chance).

No offense to Jamal but if he’s starting by November, we’ve got major problems at the PG spot. He can’t guard anyone. At least XJ has an excuse that he was playing on one good leg — if healthy I’d like to think he will put up a fight to stay with his assignment.

 

[psyclone]

FWIW: Cooper's "comparable" in 2019 was none other than Jaire Grayer's 2017 (sophomore yr).

Other tidbits: this year he was 488th nationally in effective fg% at 52.2% and 381th from the line at 78.3%.

 

[Herndon]

Solid. We will see how it plays out obviously, with a guy transferring "up" but they played Richmond about as tough as we did, so they're likely at least ABOUT in our neighborhood. So he was a solid starter, that will provide some shooting.

Looks to be a good pickup. 2/2 for English, it appears (with all the usual caveats that games are played on the court and not on recruiting visits)

 

[GMUgemini]

Solid. We will see how it plays out obviously, with a guy transferring "up" but they played Richmond about as tough as we did, so they're likely at least ABOUT in our neighborhood. So he was a solid starter, that will provide some shooting.

Looks to be a good pickup. 2/2 for English, it appears (with all the usual caveats that games are played on the court and not on recruiting visits)

They also beat Belmont in the OVC title game.

 

[GMUgemini]

No offense to Jamal but if he’s starting by November, we’ve got major problems at the PG spot. He can’t guard anyone. At least XJ has an excuse that he was playing on one good leg — if healthy I’d like to think he will put up a fight to stay with his assignment.

I hear you, and we will find out if he is just incapable of defending or not. It’s day zero for all the guys who stuck around.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I hear you, and we will find out if he is just incapable of defending or not. It’s day zero for all the guys who stuck around.

Speaking of . . . I think the consensus is to expect Greene to transfer. Still, I would be excited to see what he could do under KE. It just always seemed like a bad fit under DP. I still think he could be a solid point guard, thinking about times like those 39 points against Richmond. All probably a moot point.

 

[MASONscott]

I hear you, and we will find out if he is just incapable of defending or not. It’s day zero for all the guys who stuck around.

Not sure many recent PGs at Mason have been strong defenders. I loved Kolek’s freshman year but defense especially against BLOB plays wasn’t a highlight. Otis Livingston had some challenges as well.

 

[GMU79]

Yeah Schwartz is 230 and Cooper 201. Grad transfers with physical maturity and multiple years in Division I strength and conditioning programs. If those guys’ bodies break down next season it means we’re cursed.

Yes, we have always overly relied on freshmen who are still skinny kids.

 

[GMU79]

Solid. We will see how it plays out obviously, with a guy transferring "up" but they played Richmond about as tough as we did, so they're likely at least ABOUT in our neighborhood. So he was a solid starter, that will provide some shooting.

Looks to be a good pickup. 2/2 for English, it appears (with all the usual caveats that games are played on the court and not on recruiting visits)

Hope it works out as well as the kid who transferred up from Radford to L'ville. Name escapes me.

 

[GMUgemini]

Not sure many recent PGs at Mason have been strong defenders. I loved Kolek’s freshman year but defense especially against BLOB plays wasn’t a highlight. Otis Livingston had some challenges as well.

Well, if he's going to run something like Thibodeau's defense (he alluded to studying it in one interview), there's going to be a lot of pressure placed on the guards to be able to keep their man from going down the middle and to channel them to the sides and/or into a big for a contested jump shot. The big's job would be to stick to the roller on high ball screens so the guard with the ball has no easy outlet pass and has to make a play on their own. So whoever is guarding out there on the perimeter better be able to stay in front of their man. Right now, that's Polite over any of the other potential PGs.

 

[MASONscott]

Well, if he's going to run something like Thibodeau's defense (he alluded to studying it in one interview), there's going to be a lot of pressure placed on the guards to be able to keep their man from going down the middle and to channel them to the sides and/or into a big for a contested jump shot. The big's job would be to stick to the roller on high ball screens so the guard with the ball has no easy outlet pass and has to make a play on their own. So whoever is guarding out there on the perimeter better be able to stay in front of their man. Right now, that's Polite over any of the other potential PGs.

Oh I agree and hope to see it.

 

[emjayar08]

Hope it works out as well as the kid who transferred up from Radford to L'ville. Name escapes me.

Hancock? Hes from Roanoke, VA. Never went to Radford. Yeahhh that'd be nice to get another Hancock...

 

[gmulion]

Hope it works out as well as the kid who transferred up from Radford to L'ville. Name escapes me.

Carlik Jones who averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists this year at Louisville.