Questions About Recruits for Fall 2011

[Ricardo del Rio]

I never know, if posts like this belong on the Recruiting page or not. So, if it does, please move it.

After this season, the Shockers have four scholarships to give. Am I correct? (Durley, Hatch, Ellis and Blair)

I am not sure, but I do not believe any recruits have been signed for the incoming class for Fall 2011. If so, what are their names?

Does anyone believe that a trend is developing toward a greater emphasis on the recruitment of juco players?

Should I worry that the Shockers are lagging in their recruits for Fall 2011 or is it too early to worry?

[ShockTalk]

Evan Wessel.

[ShockTalk]

In losing 4 seniors, there will almost be no doubt that a juco player (or two) will be involved in the 2011 class. To answer your question, no.

And.....I'm not worried.

[WuDrWu]

Evan Wessel.

Technically he is not signed, although this could be said for every senior in the country at this point.

But yes, there are 3 open at this point and I too think it would be foolish to expect that none of those scholarships are going to JUCOs.

[The Mad Hatter]

Way too early to worry. We already have a verbal from Evan, and we have not even gotten to the fall signing period (the first time class of 2011 recruits can sign letters of intent).

I'd say the fall signing period is the prime indication of how you are doing in a recruiting year. If you can lock up players in the fall, it generally speaks well of how you have been recruiting that class.

That is not to say that you can't get some very good players in the spring signing period, such as Demetric.

[shockar25]

I agree. I think the fall signing period this year will be a big indicator, and I don't doubt HCGM will have some nice recruits to keep the cupboard stocked.

[tropicalshox]

I expect at least one juco frontline player to be part of the 2011 class. With as many frontline players leaving after this year, it's just about a necessity, not a trend.

As far as lagging behind, Evan committing to the Shockers as early as he did was unusual. There are usually no verbals at this point. On the down side we don't appear to be in the lead for our most higly rated recruits.

[xazshox]

Jucos

At the risk of belaboring the point, I think GM had to recruit a couple of jucos for next year to fill pressing needs that were somewhat brought on by the players he inherited when he came here. With a mostlyi veteran team here next year, GM obviously wanted to get an experienced juco point guard to replace Clevin Hannah rather than a frosh for that key position. And, with only 1 experienced swing forward in Hatch, GM saw the need for more help there on a more immediate basis not only for this season but next season as well. With 4 players graduating next season, and 3 of them being power forwards, it seems to me that Gm may opt for a juco transfer at that position, but the other 3 players may likely be all frosh. So as I see it, there is no particular trend going forward regarding GM's recruiting of Juco players. The recruiting board certainly confirms that is the case, too.

[SubGod22]

Ideally I think we'd get 1 JUCO PF in '11. We'll have Stutz and Ehimen at C and Hamilton at PF.

The other 2 I'd rather see go to FR. I'm not a huge fan on bringing in too many JC guys. It's not the best way to build long term but they do sometimes fill needs.

As far as what positions the other 2 go to depends on where they see Wessel playing. Right now it's 1, 2 and 3 positions. We definitely need another guard/wing in this group as Smith, Rags, Murry and Kyles will all be SRs.

The last one could go anywhere. I could see them looking at another JC guard considering how many we'd be losing the following year. But I wouldn't be opposed to bringing in a 3rd FR to fit that or even a FR big.

There are a lot of options and we'll have 5 available in 2012. That's going to be a lot of turnover in a short time and you can bet there will be a few JC guys in the mix there as well.

[pogo]

HCGM has stated he likes to have at least 2 point guards so I would predict a scholarship going to a frosh PG to redshirt behind DW and JR. But hey, I've been wrong before. I see EW more of a 2 or 3 depending on how quick he is and remains.

[WuDrWu]

I'll go a step further than SG22 and say that multiple JUCO signings in consecutive years are a certain path to long term (perhaps mid term) failure.

It is highly probable that next year we will have a Jr class with 1 player that has meaningful experience at the D1 level and 1 project with a little experience.

A So. class with 2 benchwarmers.

A Fr. class with at least 1 redshirt candidate.


Adding Jucos to that mix will, imho, crucify our program for years to come.


But again, that's just mho.


I guess my point is that our bed is already made as we danced with the devil (so to speak) this year by signing no freshman and 3 jucos AND Kenny didn't work out.

The time to rebuild is NOW, in 2011.

[The Mad Hatter]

I'll go a step further than SG22 and say that multiple JUCO signings in consecutive years are a certain path to long term (perhaps mid term) failure.

It is highly probable that next year we will have a Jr class with 1 player that has meaningful experience at the D1 level and 1 project with a little experience.

A So. class with 2 benchwarmers.

A Fr. class with at least 1 redshirt candidate.


Adding Jucos to that mix will, imho, crucify our program for years to come.


But again, that's just mho.


I guess my point is that our bed is already made as we danced with the devil (so to speak) this year by signing no freshman and 3 jucos AND Kenny didn't work out.

The time to rebuild is NOW, in 2011.

In fairness to this year's recruiting class, one of those jucos has 3 years of eligibility remaining and we have two redshirt freshman.

I agree that we need to load up on freshmen for the next couple of years (although the occasional juco won't hurt), but the best way to do that is to put together a team that can get to and make a run in the tournament, since that will attract high quality freshmen to the program. If guys like Ragland help you get there, it is well worth it. I certainly don't think the program is worse off for having had two years of Clevin at the helm.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the comments very much.

As you can tell, I am not too smart about the recruiting process, which includes key dates, signing periods, offers, verbals, etc.

One matter, which confuses me is I have read that some universities have made offers to 9th grade players.

Oh well, if y'all say not to worry, I ain't gonna worry.

[SubGod22]

I think USC a few years back offered an 8th grader. Some of it gets a bit ridiculous but normally you don't see a lot of offers until kids are JRs. SO offers aren't rare either as Perry shows. Some phenominal FR can pick up offers. However, nobody can sign until November of their SR year.

[ShockTalk]

I'll go a step further than SG22 and say that multiple JUCO signings in consecutive years are a certain path to long term (perhaps mid term) failure.

It is highly probable that next year we will have a Jr class with 1 player that has meaningful experience at the D1 level and 1 project with a little experience.

A So. class with 2 benchwarmers.

A Fr. class with at least 1 redshirt candidate.


Adding Jucos to that mix will, imho, crucify our program for years to come.


But again, that's just mho.


I guess my point is that our bed is already made as we danced with the devil (so to speak) this year by signing no freshman and 3 jucos AND Kenny didn't work out.

The time to rebuild is NOW, in 2011.

In fairness to this year's recruiting class, one of those jucos has 3 years of eligibility remaining and we have two redshirt freshman.

I agree that we need to load up on freshmen for the next couple of years (although the occasional juco won't hurt), but the best way to do that is to put together a team that can get to and make a run in the tournament, since that will attract high quality freshmen to the program. If guys like Ragland help you get there, it is well worth it. I certainly don't think the program is worse off for having had two years of Clevin at the helm.

I agree with both of you.

You're right Doc. In general, juco players can be a real crap shoot and, for many, you may only get one solid year at best. The faster turnover in players must also be a problem in building continuity in the program.

On the other hand, I'm not sure you can even count EO as a juco recruit or, for that matter, as a part of the 2010 incoming class. It almost seems like he should be graduating by now.

Not only has Clevin been an outstanding player, teammate, and solid representative of WSU, but so was Ramon. I'm not sure where we'd be today without their leadership and upperclassman influence on this team.