Recruiting Questions

[forevershockerfan]

Here is my question. Let's just say we will sign 2 more recruits for next Season. Off of this SN recruiting list, please share the 2 players you feel the Shockers could sign, that would help the Shockers the most, and what position they play.

[tropicalshox]

Tyler Brown, a 6-4 SG

Wesley Washpun 6-0 PG

followed closely by Daishon Knight 6-1 PG

Those three fit the descrition of a young pg and wing that Marshall talked about. I think Brown could play the 3.

Not in that description and not at all for sure how interested the Shockers are is C/PF Brennan Cougill.

PS. I'm pretty sure there are a few others not yet on this board that are getting serious Shocker consideration.

[tropicalshox]

On the Oklahoma question I forgot to mention Dominique Raney. Not hearing much about his recruitment but he's doing OK this year and is still available.

Ronquis Lewis is somewhat of a possiblity that we haven't discussed along with twins Cortrael and Cortrez Colbert who have the interest of Tulsa and Oral Roberts.

[pinstripers]

What year on those guys?

[tropicalshox]

What year on those guys?

Oklahoma guys are all 2011 except for Bullard.

[wushock]

Where are the studs. These are all small guys. We need heighth

[tropicalshox]

I'm pretty locked in on what Marshall said they are looking for if we add more in 2011. However, there really isn't to many inside players for 2011 on this board that we have much of a chance. Juco James Watson comes to mind. Of course there is a stud, Kevin Thomas but little chance for the Shockers. I think he's going to Texas. I do believe there are others that we don't have listed yet.

Perhaps the one to keep an eye on is close by, Abodunrin (Gabe) Olaseni at Sunrise.

[60Shock]

I can't remember Romain's exact juco ranking. It was in the 120's I believe. The freshman recruits are not even close to top 300.

Did I understand you correctly or did I miss something? We have just had two consecutive well below average recruiting classes,(and I am being very generous), which leaves us with a scant number of players in our present freshman and sophmore ranks.

This is the first time I have seen any ranking numbers assigned to our new incoming recruts. Are you saying that our present incoming recruiting class doesn't have even a single player ranked anywhere near the top 300?

[tropicalshox]

I can't remember Romain's exact juco ranking. It was in the 120's I believe. The freshman recruits are not even close to top 300.

Did I understand you correctly or did I miss something? We have just had two consecutive well below average recruiting classes,(and I am being very generous), which leaves us with a scant number of players in our present freshman and sophmore ranks.

This is the first time I have seen any ranking numbers assigned to our new incoming recruts. Are you saying that our present incoming recruiting class doesn't have even a single player ranked anywhere near the top 300?

Yes. But rankings aside, I think we have a pretty good one in White and I expect Wessell to also be a player. I just don't know enough about Cotton to guess. I heard that he compares favorably to Chatman. But I never understood the love for him. Creighton fans giving him twits about being an elite point guard blew my mind. He's far from it.

The juco recruit however is probably the highest ranked juco we've ever had. I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me if he's the highest ever to come into the Valley. If things work out, it could be a huge get.

[tropicalshox]

Let me add this about rankings. When you get outside of the top 150, rankings start to get a very blurry. However there is not a thing I see to make a case for them at that level. IMO White is the closest but still well out side of 300. In fairnest to Wessel, early verbals from a recruit not yet noticed on a national scale hurts for them to be recognized later on.

[wufan]

As far as mid-majors go and getting ranked studs, there is also this aspect:

Rivals and like expect PFs to be 6-8 and 240 at minimum. Anything "less" they expect to be an uber-athletic SF/wing or SG. Since most Valley teams get PFs that are 6-7, 225 (like Jake White) they slide way down the rankings scale as "too small," or "tweeners." This size of player has proven again and again to be successful in the MVC but will not get the national recognition for their skills. There is too little differentiation so the bigger kid gets the accolades.

This has similarly hurt Wessel as he has the size, athleticisim, and ball handling skills of a good shooting guard, but shoots like a PG. He's a tweener that signed early with a local "mid-major" and will be lumped in with such players.

That's not to say that we signed world beaters, only that very little stock should be put into our current classes' rank. They fill niches on this team and as a group will make this team better. Carl Hall, if coming out of HS, would likely be equivalent to a top 75 player!

I would hardly call last years class a disapointment either. Ragland, and Smith were both well thought of players on the equivalent scale to top 250 HS players. They proved that they could play after the first of the year and should be very good next year. Also, EO is a 7-0 project with an outrageous ceiling normally reserved for the UConns and Syracuse's of the world. That type of player works out as an NBA prospect about 30% of the time. We still have a good chance of having a real winner there and he still has 2 years to prove it.

Most good teams in the Valley have an average of 2 "players" come out of each class with one additional first team All-Valley type player every 4th year. The rest of the roster is littered with scrubs. Using that as your basis for good recruiting, next year WSU will have 5 seniors that are players (Stutz, Kyles, Murry, Rags, and Smith), Two juniors; Hall (who is as close to "can't miss" as WSU will see) and Williams, and who knows about about Orukpe, White, Wessel, and Cotton. That means HCGM missed on one years recruiting class in which he chose to sign Ragland, Smith, and EO (best available) and has a servicable 7-10 man rotation going in to next year. Should be right in line with competing for a Valley title and an NCAA birth. If we can get good production out of EO or White, and one of our seniors will step up (finally), then WSU will be amongst the elite in the world of mid-majors.

IMO, Gregg has done everything he can to tilt the odds of success in his favor for next year. Still a lot of work to be done for 2012, but with Thurman and Ellis sitting on our back porch, the fates could be in our favor and a coup like that could put WSU in the NCAA for the foreseeable future and keep Marshall in Wichita.

[pinstripers]

I'll bet on adding 2, maybe 3 more. The point about tweeners is a good one.

[Overtime]

Wufan has made me feel better about next year!

[60Shock]

He has made me feel better too. I understand that recruiting classes can be thrown out of kilter by JUCO players, who for the most part, are juniors when they arrive and two years later they are gone.

This has caused the absence of and relative void of players in both our present freshmen and sophmore ranks.

Whether our remaining true freshmen and sophs mature enough to make valueable contributions or simply end up as minor roll players is highly unknown at this time.

[SubGod22]

If we sign two more, I hope at least one is a Frosh.