Michael Chandler - C - NW FLorida JUCO - Indianapolis, IN - OREGON

Dang, folks! Let's use some periods and other punctuation!

I don't think we know the teams' flaws until we see the recruits on the court against Division I talent. Not that he won't get better, but remember that surefire star Harrison Barnes is struggling at UNC. Lots of guys can't be the monsters they were in high school on the college level, and this applies more often to centers.

LOL  I agree, peter....  Run on after run on.

Barnes is a solid player, but he isn't one of those "takeover" guys.  He's deferring to his teammates and selfish to a fault.  Not to mention, he still isn't playing with a point guard.  UNC point guards have been taking some flak and it's warranted.

Quite frankly, Barnes was given too much credit by the media before he ever played his first game in Chapel Hill.  I guess many St. John's fans can remember one, Felipe Lopez, garnering much hype before his first game for the Johnnies.  Although, he wasn't annointed a first-team AA like Barnes....  He still got plenty of hype.  That's another story for another day.

I'm not sure about Chandler's makeup, as I've yet to see him play.  I'm not gonna consider him a "monster," but I'd definitely love to have him with the group we're bringing in.  I think with his size and the skills the analysts have harped on can definitely come in handy....  Even for a freshmen.   

I don't have any sort of recruiting knowledge but does anyone know what happened to the recruitment of Michael Chandler??

ESPN lists Chandler as uncommitted, and has him listed under 2011 prospects SJU is "considering".  I'm fairly certain he hasn't always been on that list has he?  And did he in fact commit to UCF?  Or is there a potential here for him to enroll late at another school and be eligible second semester??

I remember seeing posters say he came with some baggage but was a big body and had a high upside.

I think I can answer my own question a bit..  it seems he failed to qualify for UCF, and therefore is enrolling in prep school.  An article from a Fla paper says that because he failed to qualify his loi is null and void, and his recruitment is open again.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-30/sports/os-ucf-michael-chandler-fails-to-qualify_1_michael-chandler-eric-gordon-shootout-indianapolis-star-super "Since he did not enroll at UCF for the fall semester, Chandler’s letter of intent is no longer binding. He is free to sign with any school after he completes prep school and qualifies to play at the Division I level."

Do we have interest?

I think I can answer my own question a bit..  it seems he failed to qualify for UCF, and therefore is enrolling in prep school.  An article from a Fla paper says that because he failed to qualify his loi is null and void, and his recruitment is open again.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-30/sports/os-ucf-michael-chandler-fails-to-qualify_1_michael-chandler-eric-gordon-shootout-indianapolis-star-super "Since he did not enroll at UCF for the fall semester, Chandler’s letter of intent is no longer binding. He is free to sign with any school after he completes prep school and qualifies to play at the Division I level."

Do we have interest?

We shouldnt be touching him with a 10 foot pole.

Who doesn't qualify academically to play a sport at UCF?

Bump

Understand the potential upside here, but I hope the staff has really, really done their homework with this guy.  That NY Times article posted on the other site, combined with the events have surrounded this kid, sends up major red flags.  If that is just due immaturity and/or events out of the kid's control, then fine.  But the last thing our team needs next year is a roster that relies upon this guy to be the size in the middle, only to have a Pelle or Nuri situation unfold. 

Understand the potential upside here, but I hope the staff has really, really done their homework with this guy.  That NY Times article posted on the other site, combined with the events have surrounded this kid, sends up major red flags.  If that is just due immaturity and/or events out of the kid's control, then fine.  But the last thing our team needs next year is a roster that relies upon this guy to be the size in the middle, only to have a Pelle or Nuri situation unfold.

If he's option 1,2, and 3, like Pelle was last year - then yes, it's a problem.   But if Lav has commitments from say Sanchez, and/or Obekpa, and a Juco like Young.   Then I would kick the tires on Chandler and see how hungry he is to play some meaningful basketball.   Because on talent alone he was being mentioned in the same sentence as Drummond and other elite big men last year.   

http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/03/17/big-man-mike-chandler-waiting-to-hear-from-ncaa/

According to his uncle, Allan Chandler, Florida State, Missouri, Kansas and St. John’s are among the schools interested in Chandler, who was ranked the No. 5 center in the Class of 2011 by Rivals and previously committed to Louisville, Xavier and Central Florida.

“He’s got a couple schools that are interested in him right now,” Allan told SNY.tv Saturday by phone. “At this point we’re just waiting to hear from the NCAA as far as his eligibility goes and then once we hear from them he’s going to make a decision about where he’s going to school.”

St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has been in touch with Chandler and assistant Tony Chiles has been to see him at Faith Baptist in Florida.

“I haven’t seen Mr. Chiles,” Allan Chandler said. “St. John’s is another school that definitely would be interested.”

I mean a 6-10 center who can rebound and block shots is just what the doctor ordered. Seems like this kid is troubled though.

Go for it!   We've had enough bad breaks the last year we are due to have a question mark work out.  Grab him

I think these highlights are mostly from his Junior year, so two seasons ago... but it's worth seeing.
Kid has great hands and footwork for a big man.   That's what really stood out to me.   


http://youtu.be/XwjnsPlBJ0g

how tall is he?

how tall is he?

Listed as 6'10 by ESPN.

Is Lawrence North the same high school Greg Oden went to?

Oden went to the same high school (Lawrence North) as did Mike Conley Jr.

based on the video, he puts the ball on the floor way too much - which would lead to turnovers in the Big East, hopefully he has added muscle mass from two years ago. 

Oden went to the same high school (Lawrence North) as did Mike Conley Jr.

And for you slightly older guys, Eric Montross went there, too.

Quote from: kjd01067 on March 17, 2012, 12:26:36 PM

http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/03/17/big-man-mike-chandler-waiting-to-hear-from-ncaa/

According to his uncle, Allan Chandler, Florida State, Missouri, Kansas and St. John’s are among the schools interested in Chandler, who was ranked the No. 5 center in the Class of 2011 by Rivals and previously committed to Louisville, Xavier and Central Florida.

“He’s got a couple schools that are interested in him right now,” Allan told SNY.tv Saturday by phone. “At this point we’re just waiting to hear from the NCAA as far as his eligibility goes and then once we hear from them he’s going to make a decision about where he’s going to school.”

St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has been in touch with Chandler and assistant Tony Chiles has been to see him at Faith Baptist in Florida.

“I haven’t seen Mr. Chiles,” Allan Chandler said. “St. John’s is another school that definitely would be interested.”

I mean a 6-10 center who can rebound and block shots is just what the doctor ordered. Seems like this kid is troubled though.

Not sure if the word is troubled.  The comment that makes me wonder if it was a maturity issue, an issue he may have worked through (I'll leave it up to our staff to figure that $64,000 question out), is: "If I don’t have the academics, I can’t get into a college, you know?” Chandler told WVIllustrated.com in 2010. “I wish I would have thought about that the way I am now a long time ago. In college, you’re going to be playing a lot of games, so you’ve got to focus on the schoolwork because you’re going to be missing a lot of school.”
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[/size]That was 2010 - what occurred during 2011 up until today is the back story. But may be worth a chance if not option 1 as some have wisely posted.