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Topic: Portal starts up again March 18th
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FJC31
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Posted: 4/15/2024 2:37 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Bowen Hardman - reserve guard at Ohio State - is in the portal.

He now follows Boals, AJ Clayton, and Jason Preston.

Boals is following him back.

6'3" Former 3 star from Cincy. Shot 42.3% from 3 last season. (limited mins)

https://www.on3.com/db/bowen-hardman-11478 /
Would be surprised at this one. If it's a guard we want, a true point runner would be better, plus a big, plus a wing forward. Hardman as I remember is primarily a three point shooter.
I don't think Hardman addresses a primary need, but his ability to shoot the 3 could replace what we lost in Miles.

My buddy (another OU grad) actually reps Hardman. He didn't give me any tidbits, but I wouldn't rule this out.
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Posted: 4/15/2024 7:55 PM
I'll always sign up for more shooting. Still think we're a little lacking there, particularly if we end up playing small a lot. Last year we were a small ball team that didn't shoot the 3 super well, which is a tough combo.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/15/2024 8:33 PM
Hardman now follows Akron’s hoops page on IG. We should probably brace ourselves for another Zips add.
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Posted: 4/16/2024 7:39 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Hardman now follows Akron’s hoops page on IG. We should probably brace ourselves for another Zips add.
Obviously they lost a ton from last year's roster, which I assume made more of their NIL money "available." But is it also a safe assumption that, being located in the Akron/Canton/Cleveland area, that teams like Akron and Kent would potentially have more NIL money to use?
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Posted: 4/16/2024 8:15 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Hardman now follows Akron’s hoops page on IG. We should probably brace ourselves for another Zips add.
Serious question here and it's not a knock on Coach Boals but how is Groce seemingly so much better at recruiting than Boals? How does Groce get these guys to go to that crappy college with a crappy gym and less of a fan base? I always thought Kent and Akron could recruit more because they were able to accept non-academic qualifiers like Treadwell was and let them redshirt and get grades up to play while OU didn't allow that. But Groce goes and nabs guys from the portal left and right.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 8:37 AM
100%Cat wrote:expand_more
Hardman now follows Akron’s hoops page on IG. We should probably brace ourselves for another Zips add.
Obviously they lost a ton from last year's roster, which I assume made more of their NIL money "available." But is it also a safe assumption that, being located in the Akron/Canton/Cleveland area, that teams like Akron and Kent would potentially have more NIL money to use?
I think Akron has more NIL money to play with due to roster losses, but I'd also add that its coming off its second tourney/MAC title in 3 years. Easier to raise more money and recruit when you're winning like that. Recency bias.

If the portal was thing post-Preston/UVA upset, we would have likely be in a similar position at the time. This board might know there's a lot to like going into next season, but donors and some of these P5 transfers are seeing 20-13 and 19-14 over the last two years are probably just like "eh'.
Last Edited: 4/16/2024 8:40:48 AM by FJC31
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 8:56 AM
Name to keep an eye on -- Isaiah Gray from Cornell. Follows Boals on IG along with Sheldon, Shereef, and AJB. Guessing he's at least visited when you factor in the players.
shabamon
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Posted: 4/16/2024 9:37 AM
Yanic Konan Niederhauser to Penn State.
shabamon
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Posted: 4/16/2024 10:00 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Name to keep an eye on -- Isaiah Gray from Cornell. Follows Boals on IG along with Sheldon, Shereef, and AJB. Guessing he's at least visited when you factor in the players.
Would be more interested in this guy. Good scorer from inside the arc. Good assist and A/TO rate. Maybe could run some point. Cons are a poor three point shooter and sub-par at the line. But overall a good efficiency and +/- player.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 10:27 AM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Name to keep an eye on -- Isaiah Gray from Cornell. Follows Boals on IG along with Sheldon, Shereef, and AJB. Guessing he's at least visited when you factor in the players.
Would be more interested in this guy. Good scorer from inside the arc. Good assist and A/TO rate. Maybe could run some point. Cons are a poor three point shooter and sub-par at the line. But overall a good efficiency and +/- player.
Agreed on all points. In clips, he's bringing up the ball for Cornell. Seems like helluva an athlete too, has some highlights dunking over guys.

Last game of the season against OSU in NIT stats: 19 PTS, 8-10 FG, 3-4 FT, 5 REBS, 4 ASTS, 2 STLS.
Last Edited: 4/16/2024 10:30:58 AM by FJC31
shabamon
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Posted: 4/16/2024 11:38 AM
Has Gray just recently started following our people on IG? We were linked to him nearly a month ago. Since then he has apparently taken a visit to Minnesota. Just wondering if there's recent movement between us.
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Posted: 4/16/2024 11:52 AM
Bobcat1998 wrote:expand_more
Hardman now follows Akron’s hoops page on IG. We should probably brace ourselves for another Zips add.
Serious question here and it's not a knock on Coach Boals but how is Groce seemingly so much better at recruiting than Boals? How does Groce get these guys to go to that crappy college with a crappy gym and less of a fan base? I always thought Kent and Akron could recruit more because they were able to accept non-academic qualifiers like Treadwell was and let them redshirt and get grades up to play while OU didn't allow that. But Groce goes and nabs guys from the portal left and right.
Others may downplay it, but I think his time at Illinois helps. He didn't see a TON of success, but being in the Big 10 for 5 seasons, going to the tournament a few times... I think if you're closing your eyes and everything else is level... Groce gets the nod. His track record getting three teams to the tournament is impressive.

I refuse to blame the NIL on everyone of our issues, but I too wonder why/how we're not getting these guys - or seemingly even IN on these guys? Is Akron really sitting on some pile of money we don't know about? I really don't think so. They're doing something, and maybe it's honestly as simple as reaching out. All these lists kids put out as being "contacted by" OU is rarely listed. OU is beautiful. The team is consistently good. We shouldn't have any issues getting people here for a visit, but alas...
Last Edited: 4/16/2024 11:54:54 AM by M.D.W.S.T
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 11:55 AM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Has Gray just recently started following our people on IG? We were linked to him nearly a month ago. Since then he has apparently taken a visit to Minnesota. Just wondering if there's recent movement between us.
Since we don’t have anyone reporting on portal activity, I check Boals following each day to see if anything has changed. Gray was new this morning. Also noticed he followed Boals back. Then I typed in some players names into who Gray was following and Sheldon, AJB, and Shereef popped up.

I actually had written Gray off because I saw too he was visiting Minnesota last week. My guess is he’s visited both. FWIW — he’s not following Minnesota’s HC on IG and I typed in some players and no one popped up. Total speculation until the kid commits.
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Posted: 4/16/2024 3:42 PM
This is probably only a part of the picture, but I've heard that Boals puts a lot of emphasis on character and won't recruit a player who he doesn't think will fit in with the culture he's trying build regardless of athletic talent. Groce has recruited some good kids, but he's also had some with "issues." I don't think Boals will touch those types.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 4:27 PM
JimLurker34 wrote:expand_more
This is probably only a part of the picture, but I've heard that Boals puts a lot of emphasis on character and won't recruit a player who he doesn't think will fit in with the culture he's trying build regardless of athletic talent. Groce has recruited some good kids, but he's also had some with "issues." I don't think Boals will touch those types.
*IJ Ezuma enters chat*
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Posted: 4/16/2024 4:49 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
This is probably only a part of the picture, but I've heard that Boals puts a lot of emphasis on character and won't recruit a player who he doesn't think will fit in with the culture he's trying build regardless of athletic talent. Groce has recruited some good kids, but he's also had some with "issues." I don't think Boals will touch those types.
*IJ Ezuma enters chat*
For better or worse, we don't know why IJ didn't play the last couple years, but it's bush league to assume it was due to a character issue.
Last Edited: 4/16/2024 4:49:33 PM by Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 4/16/2024 5:30 PM
John Hughley IV has committed to Xavier.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 7:06 PM
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
This is probably only a part of the picture, but I've heard that Boals puts a lot of emphasis on character and won't recruit a player who he doesn't think will fit in with the culture he's trying build regardless of athletic talent. Groce has recruited some good kids, but he's also had some with "issues." I don't think Boals will touch those types.
*IJ Ezuma enters chat*
For better or worse, we don't know why IJ didn't play the last couple years, but it's bush league to assume it was due to a character issue.
I’m not going to highjack and create another IJ thread (apologies in advance to everyone). No one said anything about character, but there were “issues” as alluded to above.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 7:36 PM
UNCW just landed a mammoth a big man via portal. Would love to know what they’re doing differently.

https://x.com/sam_federman/status/1780378663424299410?s=4...
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Posted: 4/16/2024 8:09 PM
JimLurker34 wrote:expand_more
This is probably only a part of the picture, but I've heard that Boals puts a lot of emphasis on character and won't recruit a player who he doesn't think will fit in with the culture he's trying build regardless of athletic talent. Groce has recruited some good kids, but he's also had some with "issues." I don't think Boals will touch those types.
This. All of this.

And no, IJ Ezuma had no character issues and was for all intents and purposes a great teammate.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/16/2024 8:23 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Has Gray just recently started following our people on IG? We were linked to him nearly a month ago. Since then he has apparently taken a visit to Minnesota. Just wondering if there's recent movement between us.
Since we don’t have anyone reporting on portal activity, I check Boals following each day to see if anything has changed. Gray was new this morning. Also noticed he followed Boals back. Then I typed in some players names into who Gray was following and Sheldon, AJB, and Shereef popped up.

I actually had written Gray off because I saw too he was visiting Minnesota last week. My guess is he’s visited both. FWIW — he’s not following Minnesota’s HC on IG and I typed in some players and no one popped up. Total speculation until the kid commits.
AJC and Lamar now following Gray on IG.
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Posted: 4/16/2024 10:26 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
UNCW just landed a mammoth a big man via portal. Would love to know what they’re doing differently.

https://x.com/sam_federman/status/1780378663424299410?s=4...
I covered Harlan Obioha the past few years at Niagara. Really solid player. Has some holes in his game but thought he would've ended up going somewhere bigger. Was hoping Ohio would pursue him.
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Posted: 4/17/2024 8:58 AM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Has Gray just recently started following our people on IG? We were linked to him nearly a month ago. Since then he has apparently taken a visit to Minnesota. Just wondering if there's recent movement between us.
Since we don’t have anyone reporting on portal activity, I check Boals following each day to see if anything has changed. Gray was new this morning. Also noticed he followed Boals back. Then I typed in some players names into who Gray was following and Sheldon, AJB, and Shereef popped up.

I actually had written Gray off because I saw too he was visiting Minnesota last week. My guess is he’s visited both. FWIW — he’s not following Minnesota’s HC on IG and I typed in some players and no one popped up. Total speculation until the kid commits.
AJC and Lamar now following Gray on IG.
I wonder if this was a Boals connect from back at Stonybrook? He's from Brooklyn.
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Posted: 4/17/2024 10:07 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Has Gray just recently started following our people on IG? We were linked to him nearly a month ago. Since then he has apparently taken a visit to Minnesota. Just wondering if there's recent movement between us.
Since we don’t have anyone reporting on portal activity, I check Boals following each day to see if anything has changed. Gray was new this morning. Also noticed he followed Boals back. Then I typed in some players names into who Gray was following and Sheldon, AJB, and Shereef popped up.

I actually had written Gray off because I saw too he was visiting Minnesota last week. My guess is he’s visited both. FWIW — he’s not following Minnesota’s HC on IG and I typed in some players and no one popped up. Total speculation until the kid commits.
AJC and Lamar now following Gray on IG.
I wonder if this was a Boals connect from back at Stonybrook? He's from Brooklyn.
Gray would give us a hard-nosed guard in the ilk of Tribble or Malique Jacobs. I would not mind that at all.
FJC31
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Posted: 4/17/2024 10:38 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Has Gray just recently started following our people on IG? We were linked to him nearly a month ago. Since then he has apparently taken a visit to Minnesota. Just wondering if there's recent movement between us.
Since we don’t have anyone reporting on portal activity, I check Boals following each day to see if anything has changed. Gray was new this morning. Also noticed he followed Boals back. Then I typed in some players names into who Gray was following and Sheldon, AJB, and Shereef popped up.

I actually had written Gray off because I saw too he was visiting Minnesota last week. My guess is he’s visited both. FWIW — he’s not following Minnesota’s HC on IG and I typed in some players and no one popped up. Total speculation until the kid commits.
AJC and Lamar now following Gray on IG.
I wonder if this was a Boals connect from back at Stonybrook? He's from Brooklyn.
That's what I thought. He's now following AJC back and also EJ4. My guess is he's committing soon, but I also thought the same about Whitt, Myles, and Javonte Brown after similar occurrences. It's officially Isaiah Gray watch.
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