Predictions for notable recruits

Just a few posts ago, after lots of thinking, I suggested that we wouldn't bring in Wood under any circumstances in order to keep space available for a couple of bigs or perhaps one big and Turner.  With Wood now onboard, I have decided to #1 keep my day job and #2 pray for a big.  I'll go out on a limb now and say with Turner's arrest on suspicion of DUI he does not end up with us.  Question is which big?  Chandler, a European, Nolan, or Obekpa?  Maybe Felix gets dropped (hope not) or decides to prep and he'll take over God's Gift's scholarship after this coming year.  Or maybe it will be Nolan who will prep.

I must admit, Lavin keeps building and keeps me wondering!

Two bigs

Just a few posts ago, after lots of thinking, I suggested that we wouldn't bring in Wood under any circumstances in order to keep space available for a couple of bigs or perhaps one big and Turner.  With Wood now onboard, I have decided to #1 keep my day job and #2 pray for a big.  I'll go out on a limb now and say with Turner's arrest on suspicion of DUI he does not end up with us.  Question is which big?  Chandler, a European, Nolan, or Obekpa?  Maybe Felix gets dropped (hope not) or decides to prep and he'll take over God's Gift's scholarship after this coming year.  Or maybe it will be Nolan who will prep.

I must admit, Lavin keeps building and keeps me wondering!

You need to hope Felix gets dropped (or rather, drops himself). Otherwise, it's someone from the current roster splitting after the school year ends. Even if Wood preps a year, I think we go with Branch, Green, Harrison, and some Bourgault back there.

Branch
Greene
Harrison
Bourgault
Pointer
Garrett
Sampson
Sanchez
Achiuwa
*Wood
*Nolan
*Chandler
^Hooper

*hopefully
^sitting a year

I think that's your roster.

Quote from: Lapchick65 on April 29, 2012, 06:22:08 PM

Just a few posts ago, after lots of thinking, I suggested that we wouldn't bring in Wood under any circumstances in order to keep space available for a couple of bigs or perhaps one big and Turner.  With Wood now onboard, I have decided to #1 keep my day job and #2 pray for a big.  I'll go out on a limb now and say with Turner's arrest on suspicion of DUI he does not end up with us.  Question is which big?  Chandler, a European, Nolan, or Obekpa?  Maybe Felix gets dropped (hope not) or decides to prep and he'll take over God's Gift's scholarship after this coming year.  Or maybe it will be Nolan who will prep.

I must admit, Lavin keeps building and keeps me wondering!

Two bigs

I think the only way it's 2 bigs at this point, is if one of them can also be EFECTIVE at PF on offense and defense  as well.  It's just not Lavin's nature to invest 3 rides to a single position (with single position players).  Don't think Chandler can do it,  Obekpa seems to raw - it'll be tough enuf for him to master 1 position.  Don't know enuf about Nolan's game or skill level.   Unless one of the potential new bigs can,  I think Steve fills the 2nd big position in 2013.  Unless you think GG can be an effective PF - but I honesly didn't see that in his game last year - I think he's really limited to being only a short 5.

Quote from: paultzman on April 29, 2012, 06:23:53 PM

Quote from: Lapchick65 on April 29, 2012, 06:22:08 PM

Just a few posts ago, after lots of thinking, I suggested that we wouldn't bring in Wood under any circumstances in order to keep space available for a couple of bigs or perhaps one big and Turner.  With Wood now onboard, I have decided to #1 keep my day job and #2 pray for a big.  I'll go out on a limb now and say with Turner's arrest on suspicion of DUI he does not end up with us.  Question is which big?  Chandler, a European, Nolan, or Obekpa?  Maybe Felix gets dropped (hope not) or decides to prep and he'll take over God's Gift's scholarship after this coming year.  Or maybe it will be Nolan who will prep.

I must admit, Lavin keeps building and keeps me wondering!

Two bigs

I think the only way it's 2 bigs at this point, is if one of them can also be EFECTIVE at PF on offense and defense  as well.  It's just not Lavin's nature to invest 3 rides to a single position (with single position players).  Don't think Chandler can do it,  Obekpa seems to raw - it'll be tough enuf for him to master 1 position.  Don't know enuf about Nolan's game or skill level.   Unless one of the potential new bigs can,  I think Steve fills the 2nd big position in 2013.  Unless you think GG can be an effective PF - but I honesly didn't see that in his game last year - I think he's really limited to being only a short 5.

I think Nolan could fill that role. Reading ESPN's scouting report on him, it says he is actually more cut out for the PF position. Says he has a good shot up to 15 ft.

wasn't Jamal White taking up a scholarship this past season? would he be the scholarship that opens up?

wasn't Jamal White taking up a scholarship this past season? would he be the scholarship that opens up?

He's no longer on scholarship.

My predictions are usually wrong, as I was way off on Wood (I had said I didn't think we'd sign him under any circumstances).  I should have known better, as Lavin loves guards.

So this is how I see things now.  Turner, too good to pass up, has now been passed up on account of the suspicion of DUI, and will likely join Larry Brown at SMU.  He is off the table.  With Wood signed, and Felix too, we have the 1 remaining scholarship that needs to be burned on a BIG.  That BIG needs to be signed in just over 2 weeks, with the end of the regular signing period on May 16th.

Which leaves us with Chandler, Obekpa, Nolan, or some European lurking in the shadows.  First Chandler.  Top of the group perhaps, but possible academic issues.  Maybe the staff is waiting to see if he qualifies.  I think we'd sign Obekpa in a heartbeat, but the vibe here is that he'll go to Cincy.  If he decided on SJU, we'd be all done with our 2012 class.  I think we are high on Nolan, even though I'd prefer Chandler or Obekpa, since I think we need a natural Center to hold down the paint.  Nolan is taller than Obekpa, yet slighter, and more of a PF (which some people here say they like).  I am just getting a vibe that academic issues will send Nolan for a prep year, and we'll sign him for 2013 (once God's Gift's scholarship opens up).

So, if Chandler is unworkable, Obekpa goes with Cincy, Nolan is forced to reclassify and prep, that leaves us with a European.  So that is my latest hunch, a European with Nolan filling a spot for 2013.

My predictions are usually wrong, as I was way off on Wood (I had said I didn't think we'd sign him under any circumstances).  I should have known better, as Lavin loves guards.

So this is how I see things now.  Turner, too good to pass up, has now been passed up on account of the suspicion of DUI, and will likely join Larry Brown at SMU.  He is off the table.  With Wood signed, and Felix too, we have the 1 remaining scholarship that needs to be burned on a BIG.  That BIG needs to be signed in just over 2 weeks, with the end of the regular signing period on May 16th.

Which leaves us with Chandler, Obekpa, Nolan, or some European lurking in the shadows.  First Chandler.  Top of the group perhaps, but possible academic issues.  Maybe the staff is waiting to see if he qualifies.  I think we'd sign Obekpa in a heartbeat, but the vibe here is that he'll go to Cincy.  If he decided on SJU, we'd be all done with our 2012 class.  I think we are high on Nolan, even though I'd prefer Chandler or Obekpa, since I think we need a natural Center to hold down the paint.  Nolan is taller than Obekpa, yet slighter, and more of a PF (which some people here say they like).  I am just getting a vibe that academic issues will send Nolan for a prep year, and we'll sign him for 2013 (once God's Gift's scholarship opens up).

So, if Chandler is unworkable, Obekpa goes with Cincy, Nolan is forced to reclassify and prep, that leaves us with a European.  So that is my latest hunch, a European with Nolan filling a spot for 2013.

There is no deadline.  The signing period means nothing.  After that date a kid is not bound to his letter can come and go as he pleases you can say.  I think we will know within the period dates but technically it means nothing.

Also no European on the radar.  The Boris kid who played for Canaris and was 7'3 signed with FSU last week.

Thanks, Moose, for the correction and update.  Now I can stop thinking about a European Big!  That means we're down to:
1. Chandler
2. Nolan
3. Obekpa.

If Obekpa decides on SJU, our 2012 class complete.  If he goes with Cincy or elsewhere, then we're down to Chandler and Nolan.  That is when the real waiting begins, since academic concerns will mean that we won't formally offer until we know the student-athlete is in the clear.  So maybe we won't know until July -- after high school classes end and our compliance office and the NCAA have a chance to both check out academic records.

Re. the signing period, I understand now that the dates are insignificant.  Thanks.

Having said all of the above, I am normally wrong about everything!

I know there was some talk about SJU perhaps trying to get involved with Anthony January.  Well he reclassified to 2013 per Josh Gershon of Scout.com.

http://twitter.com/#!/JoshGershon/status/197448523833286657

I know there was some talk about SJU perhaps trying to get involved with Anthony January.  Well he reclassified to 2013 per Josh Gershon of Scout.com.

http://twitter.com/#!/JoshGershon/status/197448523833286657

That ship sailed long ago.  I don't think he should or will be considered again.  We have an insane amoount of talented depth at the forward positions. 

Things have really been very quite on our recruiting front.

I guess on the "known" recruiting surface we only have Michael and Chris O., left, which is not bad.   After the Nolan episode folks should not automatically write off (or feel the ship has sailed) the possibly of Chris O. staying in NY.  Yes, the odds might not be high, but who would have figured Nolan going to Ucon?  We have Coach Lavin power!

I believe we need to wait until the end of June to know if Michael has been approved to play by the NCAA.

I think it is very important for us to get one or both of these guys. No surprise there!  Not only would they fill our main weak spot (the #5 position), but their contributions will  help us have a successful upcoming season.  We need a better than average season to rekindle the interest of 2013 and 2014 recruits in St. John's.  Kids want to play on winners.  I am sure Coach is aware of that.

If Gumby's plan materializes, with us adding Obekpa and Chandler, we will be absolutely set to compete at the highest level in the BE and at a national level in 2012-13.  And we'll still be so young.  Lavin has done a tremendous job of building up a strong roster with real depth.  Love it!  Waiting unti the end of June for Chandler will be painful though!

There is nothing that says we have to wait until June to hear about Chandler. 

There is nothing that says we have to wait until June to hear about Chandler.

Agree with Moose here.  I haven't heard that.  Chandler and his family have everything submitted and were waiting for news any day. 

thanks MCNPA.  Really pleased to know that things are moving along with Chandler!

thanks MCNPA.  Really pleased to know that things are moving along with Chandler!

Just as a disclaimer, I don't have any special info here.  Just all recent reports are that everything is in and he's waiting on NCAA.  I don't think anything special going on in June with the NCAA although who knows, it could take that long.  Hopefully we find out sooner, regardless of whether it's a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Quote from: Lapchick65 on May 06, 2012, 10:34:39 PM

thanks MCNPA.  Really pleased to know that things are moving along with Chandler!

Just as a disclaimer, I don't have any special info here.  Just all recent reports are that everything is in and he's waiting on NCAA.  I don't think anything special going on in June with the NCAA although who knows, it could take that long.  Hopefully we find out sooner, regardless of whether it's a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Who knows this could last until August for all we know. I do know though that since he was denied initial eligibility last year at UCF he is given priority for review on his progress. Hopefully his current prep school got him to take the right courses and the NCAA accepts them. I believe that when the NCAA denies you they tell you exactly why you were denied eligibility. 

Adam Zagoria ‏ @AdamZagoria
Maryland 6-9 redshirt frosh Ashton Pankey is transferring for family reasons

Could he be a target?

Adam Zagoria ‏ @AdamZagoria
Maryland 6-9 redshirt frosh Ashton Pankey is transferring for family reasons

Could he be a target?

Look at the thread on him in recruiting and the transfer thread.