Bush Wamukota 7 Foot C 2014 - is a Shocker!

[shockerofandover0943]

What kind of post is that?!

A ShockRef kind of post.

[WSUwatcher]

What kind of post is that?!

Meaningless, mostly, unless Ref thinks he has a better idea than the coaching staff does. If so, I'll choose Marshall and the staff and their judgment any day unless Ref comes up with a really, reaaallllly good explanation as to why he knows something critical that they don't -- and "no" isn't it. It's possible that Ref, in his role as ref, may have seen Wamukota and been unimpressed, but it's unlikely he knows more about the guy than the staff does, or is better at projecting than they are.

You're obviously new around here, B&G, so let me help a bit: we have some posters who love to be cryptic at times, as if they were ancient oracles. Apparently they think it's cute, or clever. Those who don't share that view simply find it annoying and tune out.

[shock]

You're obviously new around here, B&G, so let me help a bit: we have some posters who love to be cryptic at times, as if they were ancient oracles. Apparently they think it's cute, or clever. Those who don't share that view simply find it annoying and tune out.

Unless it's Doc. Everyone listed to him.

[Aargh]

If he rebounds above the rim, but was only getting 2.6 per game, where were the other guys rebounding from?

I'm not surprised that his former coach is trying to help him land a D1 slot, but...

...Wiley, like Oklahoma Baptist, is an NAIA school. Wiley is not the #2 NAIA program in the nation - OBU is. Those 2.6 points and 2.7 boards were achieved on a team that's probably substantially worse than OBU and against teams that were probably substantially worse than OBU.

I'm not convinced. If he signs, I'd hope it would be in spring and there would be another season with substantially better numbers - and hopefully some eye-popping blocks stats.

[BOBB]

What kind of post is that?!

The blurting of a know-it-all.

[shockerfan34]

I'm not convinced. If he signs, I'd hope it would be in spring and there would be another season with substantially better numbers - and hopefully some eye-popping blocks stats.

While I agree there is definitely some room for skepticism here based on those NAIA stats, I assume if we are willing to offer him now coach must see something in him.

In recruiting its often key to find these prospects before everybody else does and waiting until he puts up bigger numbers this year gives up that advantage. If we had waited until after the AAU season to offer Van Vleet after he "blew up" would we still have been able to sign him? I think that answer is probably not. Lets just hope this is a case of being in on a hidden gem before it gets discovered by everybody else.

[shockmonster]

While I agree there is definitely some room for skepticism here based on those NAIA stats, I assume if we are willing to offer him now coach must see something in him.

In recruiting its often key to find these prospects before everybody else does and waiting until he puts up bigger numbers this year gives up that advantage. If we had waited until after the AAU season to offer Van Vleet after he "blew up" would we still have been able to sign him? I think that answer is probably not. Lets just hope this is a case of being in on a hidden gem before it gets discovered by everybody else.

Yes, if the coaching staff has done their research and believes in the kid, you don't wait for others to agree with you. You sign him up before they get there.

[RoyalShock]

And it's not like the other interested schools are Alcorn, Grambling and Alabana A&M.

[Dan]

I take comfort in the fact that our coaching staff are better evaluators of talent than anyone on this board.

[MadaboutWu]

Given how much we need a center (and preferably two) to contribute immediately, the staff must see tremendous upside to take a gamble on this young man.

[RoyalShock]

If they brought him in for an official visit, you can bet they have already seen film of him and watched him work out. Checking in on a guy is one thing. Inviting him to campus on the recruiting budget's dime means they are serious.

[WSUwatcher]

If he rebounds above the rim, but was only getting 2.6 per game, where were the other guys rebounding from?

I'm not surprised that his former coach is trying to help him land a D1 slot, but...

...Wiley, like Oklahoma Baptist, is an NAIA school. Wiley is not the #2 NAIA program in the nation - OBU is. Those 2.6 points and 2.7 boards were achieved on a team that's probably substantially worse than OBU and against teams that were probably substantially worse than OBU.

I'm not convinced. If he signs, I'd hope it would be in spring and there would be another season with substantially better numbers - and hopefully some eye-popping blocks stats.

If WSU is serious about Wamukota, Aargh, it isn't because of the stats he's put up -- it's because some pretty competent coaches see some pretty eye-popping upside.

[Kung Wu]

First the bad:

He was awful the first half of the season and made a single bucket in 12 games! He's not a good free throw shooter.

---

Now the good:

But then something clicked and he went on a tear and averaged %59.46 field goal percentage over the last 9 games last year making 22 of 37 tries, and not shooting less than 50% in any game except one game where he went 0 for 1.

The kid was only getting 6.5 minutes per game. Somebody check my quick math here: 40 min/6.5min = 6.15. 6.15 x 2.57 rebounds per game =

He averaged 15.8 rebounds per game per 40 minutes if I didn't jack that calculation up.

Carl Hall's per 40 minute rebounds per game last year was 10.
EO's per 40 minute rebounds per game last year was 12.

6.15 x 2.8 points per game =

He averaged 17.23 points per game per 40 minutes.

BOTH of those stats INCLUDE the 12 games where he drew complete blanks. I'm guessing if I removed those games he would look like Wilt Chamberlain. lol

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Maybe he was injured the first half of the season? Homesick? Just madly confused at the American college pace and game?

This dude is an enigma.

[wufan]

He was 6-7 in the first half and 6-11 in the second.

[Kung Wu]

Either the article said, or someone else pointed out that, there were two seniors playing in his position.

I did some figgurin' and he ended up playing about 14.31 mins per game over the last 9 games, and his per 40 ppg and per 40 rpg did not change ... they were still about 17 ppg and 15.8 rpg per 40. That 14.31 was only missing a couple of games data, but I doubt it would change much.

So he ended up taking some significant playing time away from a couple of seniors that were playing ahead of him and put up pretty solid numbers for the PT he was getting, really.