Ahmad Gilbert '15 SF 6'6" - Offered

[Play Angry]

Per Sully and the rest of the twittosphere, we offered four star SF Ahmad Gilbert this morning.

[Shocker-maniac]

4-star. Suh-wheat!!!

[WSUwatcher]

Well, maniac, offers are easy; signings more challenging.

We know at least that Marshall is after some elite recruits, which his predecessor would not have tried -- and that's good. On the other hand, he seems to be doing pretty well with his under the radar crew as it is. So I'm not going to get too excited about stars. These days, I figure if Marshall and his staff sign someone, they think he's worth having, regardless of star count.

[Dave Stalwart]

I guess you don't have to worry as much about missing when you have a recruiting class like this year's already in place. This season in particular is like a free pass to play bigger odds on recruiting.

[WSUwatcher]

In a way that's true, DJ -- but you know Marshall isn't going to let this recruiting season just be a gamble. Plus, with Tekele Cotton being one of the seniors, there are some big shoes to be filled by someone (which is not to slight Darius in any way, either -- if he has the kind of senior year Carl Hall had, he'll certainly be missed too after he's gone).

[Steeleshocker]

In a way that's true, DJ -- but you know Marshall isn't going to let this recruiting season just be a gamble. Plus, with Tekele Cotton being one of the seniors, there are some big shoes to be filled by someone (which is not to slight Darius in any way, either -- if he has the kind of senior year Carl Hall had, he'll certainly be missed too after he's gone).

I agree that Marshall will work plenty hard to get the best players available, but if the freshmen this year progress as we hope, they should be able to fill Tekele and Darius' shoes as sophomores.

But if Marshall can't get guys he thinks will contribute as much as this year's freshmen, I could see him holding a scholarship for the following year.

[wufan]

But if Marshall can't get guys he thinks will contribute as much as this year's freshmen, I could see him holding a scholarship for the following year.

I don't see that. I've never seen Marshall worry about balancing classes. He recruits in mass and offers to anyone that he thinks can make his team better.

[Steeleshocker]

I don't see that. I've never seen Marshall worry about balancing classes. He recruits in mass and offers to anyone that he thinks can make his team better.

I agree, but that last statement you made is key. He's only going to bring in guys who will make the team better. If the recruits willing to sign in 2015 aren't as good as the prospects for 2016 AND won't beat out this year's incoming class, he might just hold onto one.

I understand we haven't seen this in the past (Marshall has historically loaded his roster), but with the last two seasons we have had it's apparent more top level recruits are strongly considering us. That might cause for a change of tactics.

Based on our current unranked players playing like 5 stars, I expect our new recruits to perform like 6 stars, and future 4 & 5 star recruits will play like 7 stars. It's just going to be so unfair to those other teams ;-)

[wufan]

I agree, but that last statement you made is key. He's only going to bring in guys who will make the team better. If the recruits willing to sign in 2015 aren't as good as the prospects for 2016 AND won't beat out this year's incoming class, he might just hold onto one.

I understand we haven't seen this in the past (Marshall has historically loaded his roster), but with the last two seasons we have had it's apparent more top level recruits are strongly considering us. That might cause for a change of tactics.

Based on our current unranked players playing like 5 stars, I expect our new recruits to perform like 6 stars, and future 4 & 5 star recruits will play like 7 stars. It's just going to be so unfair to those other teams ;-)

While your premise is solid, I still think he fills every schollie every year.

[WSUwatcher]

The best combination would be a 4 (or 5)-star talent who has Tekele's attitude -- remember reading how he went to Marshall and asked Coach to make him special? It obviously worked, and then some. Unfortunately, lots of 4-stars (not to mention 5s) are already convinced they're special, which probably wouldn't play well at WSU.

The ultimate Gregg Marshall player would have been Tim Duncan, just as he is for the other Gregg with an eight-letter last name.

[Shocker-maniac]

Here's some additional info on Ahmad Gilbert

o 6-6 HS SF in Philadelphia, PA

o Current offers from Drexel, Quinnipac, Hofstra, South Florida, and Wichita St.

Per Future 150 http://future150.com/hs/basketball-p...ilbert-sf-2015

STRENGTHS:
Agility
Athleticism
On-Ball Defense
Scoring With Either Hand
Size For Position

Reebok Breakout Classic (July 9th-11th, 2014): Gilbert has transformed himself from a combo forward to a perimeter player in a short amount of time. He has improved his ball handling greatly and looks comfortable on the perimeter. Those looking for a wing who can score on both the interior and from the perimeter are going to take a long look at the Philadelphia area product. He has just begun to scratch the surface of his potential and could be a big riser in this class.

Projected to be High Major College

Skills Review:

Shooting: Average
Dribbling: Good
Passing: Average
Rebounding: Good
Intangibles: Average

Per ZagsBlog http://zagsblog.com/articles/who-are...cts-in-philly/

Constitution was one of the youngest teams in the Philadelphia Public League’s “A” Division, and though the school also moved up from A to AA classification, the Generals still made the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in large part to the play of Gilbert, a 6-foot-6 wing. Gilbert averaged 12.8 points to lead four players on his team in double-figures, but it was his contributions on the defensive end and boards that really stood out. A high-major athlete with a developing jumper as he works on moving from the interior to the perimeter, Gilbert’s ceiling will be determined by how his shooting and handle progress over the next 12 months. He’ll play his summer ball with Alston on Team Final’s 16U Blue squad.

Video Highlights (#21):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHqIyE-d8gI

[Shocker-maniac]

@TheRecruitScoop: 2015 Constitution (PA) SF JR Gilbert has a top 8 of Temple, Quinnipiac, USF, Rhode Island, Wichita State, Hofstra, George Mason & Duquesne.

[AndShock]

@TheRecruitScoop: 2015 Constitution (PA) SF JR Gilbert has a top 8 of Temple, Quinnipiac, USF, Rhode Island, Wichita State, Hofstra, George Mason & Duquesne.

....one of these schools doesn't fit in with the others. :)

[Shocker-maniac]

@ShowTimeNation: 2015 Constitution (PA) SF Ahmad Gilbert (@GilbertAhmad) has committed to George Mason. #A10 #T2SO http://t.co/z5pW5WQL16
08/16/2014

[tropicalshox]

Gilbert opened up his recruitment after the firing of Paul Hewitt and has now committed to Minnesota.