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Ohio Basketball Recruiting

Topic: What do we want?

Topic: What do we want?

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Bobcat1998
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Member Since: 11/7/2012
Post Count: 2,305

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What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 1:14:16 PM

I have seen LaPear Toles and he's a very athletic, very talented guard. I have not seen Mason Baich other than in his highlight video. I have not seen Bane or Culver other than highlights but I think we absolutely need Culver or Bane next year. We need an impact 6-4 or 6-5 guy who can drive the hole, hit the outside jumper and play D on the perimeter and these two guys seem as though they can do that. Baich looks good on film but so did Gollon and we already have him, and he's bigger. Toles looks good in person even but is still too frail for the physical MAC. We need guys who can push and shove with Buff's Conner or Western's Tava (back next year).

OU_Country
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Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 2:26:34 PM

If Toles or Culver are believed to be guys who get to the rim, AND play defense, I'm really in favor of them over anyone else listed on here. No slight on Baich, but I agree with your thought that we have at least 1 player seemingly very much like him. If Bane's defensive inadequacies are as reported, then the only way I really want him is if they're also able to bring in a ready to play JUCO/Transfer.

On the other hand, bringing in Bane could lead to a different approach: Let's just outscore everyone, and try to average 90 a game. It's not the worst idea.

Either way - lots of fun to speculate and discuss!

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 2:42:58 PM

Yeah according to Borna's analysis, Bane doesn't play a lick of defense. So there would be a learning curve and growth in that area of his game, no matter how good he is at scoring.

Truth be told though, I think I would rather have to teach a guy defensive techniques than how to shoot the ball and basketball offensive IQ.

From what I've read about Toles, he's a good all-around player and solid teammate, which seems like the kind of kid Saul likes. And he took over in district finals game when no one else was willing to step up. That's the kind of guy I like.

The worst thing Ohio can do is go out and get "the best available" just because. Get a guy who fits the program off the court and the system on it. Other than an athletic wing, I still say this team needs a backup for Jaaron. He can't play 40 minutes a night.

FlashGary
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Member Since: 6/18/2013
Location: Long Island, NY
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 5:47:26 PM

Having wrestled with our needs for next season and how to get them, weighing in coach Phillips' assumed desire to bring in four-year players who can be groomed as the best option, while also willing to bring in a quality transfer with at least two seasons remaining, I think you have to consider scrapping that plan for this recruiting period. Not that we want to, but because we may have to. I do believe that Buffalo leads the charge of several teams that might force coach Phillips' hand.

This conference suddenly has accumulated a bevy of bouncy, athletic players who can take you off the dribble and create havoc at the rim. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of seeing the likes of Spencer Parker and Blake Hamilton wheeling and dealing. We have to combat these type of players--Xavier Pollard, Willie Conner, etc.

It's just my opinion, but I think we need to do all we can to combat this right away as this is the last rodeo for upcoming senior starters Tony Campbell and Kenny Kaminsky. We've got the dominant big guy in the middle, the dominant lead guard and some pretty good three-point shooters. And we've got a handful of youngsters who we believe will develop into pretty good players--in time. But The Stones aren't singing about Tony and Kenny, as time is not on their side. Next season is it.

Hence, I don't usually look to go this way, but finding an extra scholarship someway, somehow and then bringing in two quality Juco players may be the way to go. We need a small forward who can shoot/slash and defend, a big guard who can shoot/slash and defend and a backup point guard. Maybe we can get all three in two players: a lengthy wing who can play small forward and big guard, and a combo guard.

Coach Phillips says he can sell Ohio. Those two positions are open on a pretty stacked team, with Treg Setty graduating and minutes available behind Jaaron Simmons and Jordan Dartis. You want to dream Bobcat nation? What type of team would we have next season if the staff could bring in two guys within the proficiency zip code as Hamilton and Conner? They're out there. They don't have to produce like those two Jucos did this season; just be in that vicinity.

This would take the pressure off of our younger players to fill roles that they may not be ready for on a consistent basis. I don't know what coach Phillips' plan is. This is just the rambling of one Bobcat's thoughts.
Re-posted from the post, Saul Gets It.

OUVan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Bethesda, MD
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 7:14:54 PM

FlashGary wrote:

You are envious of a team that finished behind us in the standings and we beat two out of three times? They had a magical run in Cleveland because they did something well that they don't normally do, shoot the ball. I disagree with your assessment of Saul's recruiting. I'm loving the type of player he has brought in.

Bobcat1998
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Member Since: 11/7/2012
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 8:41:21 PM

I am psyched to see what Ellis Dozier brings to the team next year. I saw five games live this year and while I know it's just warmups, he seemed fairly bouncy and athletic on alley oops and dunks. Maybe with a year with Tony he will be ready to give us that athletic 4.

colobobcat66
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Member Since: 9/1/2006
Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/14/2016 11:27:40 PM

There's going to be some very good players coming available after this season. Check out guys like Barry from College of Charleston 19.7 PTs per game or Neal from
New Mexico -12.7 per game and 2 years to play. Would be good to get a big time player to help fill out the roster and instant relief.

Last Edited: 3/14/2016 11:28:49 PM by colobobcat66

FlashGary
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Member Since: 6/18/2013
Location: Long Island, NY
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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/15/2016 1:20:10 AM

I don't believe I'm envious of what Buffalo did, OU Van. I'm giving them credit for what they did and I'm concerned about what they'll be next season, as well as a couple other MAC teams. Granted, we beat Buffalo twice, but they didn't have the suspended Lamonte Bearden the first time. I do believe he makes quite a difference.

I do like what I've seen from the kids that coach Phillips brought in. No problem with me there over the long haul for the likes of Doug Taylor and James Gollon. But it's hard to project whether they can be significant-minute contributors next season. Same for Laster, Harley and Wadly. That's a lot of uncertainty, recruit Jason Carter included. For next season.

So call me selfish, call me greedy. I just want to hedge my bet, because impact players with size the likes of Tony Campbell haven't come down the pike for us that often. So I would like to shore up a weakness or two with guys who are ready to play at a high level from the first day coach Phillips rolls out the balls for practice.

If the aforementioned players beat them out, great, we'll have a strong bench. If a Juco starts, and some of our other players are ready to fill in, great, we'll have a strong bench.

I lived through this on campus during the Walter Luckett years and saw it many times over as a professional sports writer, teams that came oh so close, but weren't able to maximize their player personnel efforts to do some serious damage while they had that impact player to build around. Gosh, how close we came back then! And I mean really close. You just don't know. Oh the pain! But I regress. We have a one-year window with Tony and Jaaron Simmons together. Can't we fortify next season's team while still building for the future?

Last Edited: 3/15/2016 1:26:56 AM by FlashGary

OUVan
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Location: Bethesda, MD
Post Count: 5,580

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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/16/2016 12:08:58 PM

FlashGary wrote:

Same for Laster, Harley and Wadly. That's a lot of uncertainty, recruit Jason Carter included. For next season.

Only Laster was a Saul recruit and he's actually a slasher. Personally one complaint that I have about Saul this year was how much he shortened his bench towards the end of the season and I think that had a bit to do with how sluggish we looked against Buffalo in the tournament. I don't watch the games the same way that Saul does but I was confused on what Wadly and Laster did to lose so many minutes. Wadly played a total of 30 minutes over the last 12 games. Especially against a team like Buffalo he could have been valuable on the defensive end just for his ability to alter shots. I hope for his sake it wasn't his health.

I have no problem with having a slasher or two as long as that's not all they can do (see Rodell Wigginton) but I much prefer having guys that move the ball really well.

PhiTau74
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Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Columbia, SC
Post Count: 457

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RE: What do we want?

Posted: 3/16/2016 2:59:17 PM

Wadly has zero offense, he missed 3 straight baskets from within two feet of the rim the other night on one possession. If you take Tony out you can't let the offense totally disappear. Taylor has upside, Wadly not really.

Last Edited: 3/16/2016 3:02:29 PM by PhiTau74

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