Ricardo Gathers - PF - Riverside Academy - Reserve, LA - BAYLOR

this has to exceed anyone's expectations...

welcome aboard!

this has to exceed anyone's expectations...

welcome aboard!

Not mine

Everyone has been talking about KA so much lately and rightfully so because he is an elite talent but Gathers is just as important of an addition to this roster as KA would be. GG hasnt quite played against top competition and Pelle has all the talent but is still raw. Gathers brings a big body post presence who can also run the floor and is a good athlete. I think his skill set is very much needed in this lineup and he could be one biggest and most important pieces in this puzzle.

Except by the time Gathers gets here, GG will have banged bodies for an entire season in the Big East (I'd certainly call that "top competition"), and Pelle could be as many as 40 games past being "Raw".

Everyone has been talking about KA so much lately and rightfully so because he is an elite talent but Gathers is just as important of an addition to this roster as KA would be. GG hasn't quite played against top competition and Pelle has all the talent but is still raw. Gathers brings a big body post presence who can also run the floor and is a good athlete. I think his skill set is very much needed in this lineup and he could be one biggest and most important pieces in this puzzle.

I think you have a good point about the value of the Bayou Bull and his rebounding skills and his all around abilities on the court.  He will be special- an aggressive rebounder.  I also think Norvel, though with a different style, will be an aggressive rebounder this coming year.

I thought our "big men" this past season were too timid when it came to going after rebounds.  They seem to be more concerned with staying in their space then in following the ball.  In the UCLA game they never seem to leave their feet for a potential rebound.

There is a certain mentality with aggressive rebounders.  They feel that all missed shots should be their rebounds.

I also like the fact that Ricardo has strong hands that will hopefully prevent slap aways.

It will be fun to see the battles under the boards in the years to come.

I don't think Gathers commitment should be underestimated for several reasons.  First off, he's arguably the best rebounder in the country in hs right now.  He lead the EYBL overall, peach jam and does it against taller players as well.  He's a nightmare to defend as a PF because he has the strength of a PF but can put it on the floor and run the court like a wing.  Going to be hard for a lot of teams to adjust to the types of players we have that have some really strong suits.  He's the first real tough rebounder we've picked up in a while and compliments our lineups tremendously.

Wow, great news to come back to!  Another top 50 player for Lavin--this is just getting silly!  I believe it was posted that Gathers and Anderson played together a time or two? If so, that would really help. 

I think we have a legitimate McDonald's All-American candidate here.  He is ranked #43 now, but his stock will surely rise after his summer performances and leading the EYBL in rebounding.  He's definitely got the resume for it after he wins Louisiana Mr. Basketball for the second time, puts up more silly stats in high school, and with his rep as the strongest player and best rebounder in the country.

I'm not shocked about the Uconn posts about 11 SF's.  They were pulling that stuff way before we even landed Garrett.  We have a lot of versatile athletes that can play a # of positions.

Wow, great news to come back to!  Another top 50 player for Lavin--this is just getting silly!  I believe it was posted that Gathers and Anderson played together a time or two? If so, that would really help. 

I think we have a legitimate McDonald's All-American candidate here.  He is ranked #43 now, but his stock will surely rise after his summer performances and leading the EYBL in rebounding.  He's definitely got the resume for it after he wins Louisiana Mr. Basketball for the second time, puts up more silly stats in high school, and with his rep as the strongest player and best rebounder in the country.

I'm not shocked about the Uconn posts about 11 SF's.  They were pulling that stuff way before we even landed Garrett.  We have a lot of versatile athletes that can play a # of positions.

If you look at the Uconn roster, they have about as many wings as we do.  Lamb, Daniels, smith, Giffey and another 1 or 2.  I know they might can Roscoe a PF, but he's as much a PF as Jakarr is.

I think we're set now up front.  Norvelle at 6'10 210, GG at 6'9 240, and Gathers at 6'7 240.  We could certainly use an elite five in 2013 to take GG's place, but I feel good about the next few years up front with our style of play.  If the national champs can get away with starting 6'8 192 freshman Roscoe Smith and 6'9 240 soph Oriakhi, we'll be fine. 

Glad to finally have Gathers in red. 

Per Dave Telep Recruiting Blog....  Ricardo Gathers is a big get for St. John's.

1. St. John's scores significant recruit

Last year, the Red Storm accepted commitments from a ton of wing players. This year, coach Steve Lavin has a pledge from a guy willing to the dirty work in the paint. Ricardo Gathers (LaPlace, La./Riverside) said a few months back that St. John's was his leader and over the weekend took it a step further and committed. He is this year's leading rebounder from the Nike EYBL and he did it on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. He's the rock in the paint that Lavin can now count on to bring it and create a presence in the lane.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/blog?name=telep_dave&id=6821218&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2fblog%3fname%3dtelep_dave%26id%3d6821218

St.John just got a little meat on it's bones. Welcome aboard.

  WELCOME Richardo! Physically he reminds me of Cecil Rellford & Mel Davis.

WELCOME Richardo! Physically he reminds me of Cecil Rellford & Mel Davis.

Physically and ability-wise, I think the Bayou Bull could match up quite nicely with Mel Davis.  I always thought that Mel on any given night could get 20 points and 20 rebounds.  He was that good.  Ricardo, once he improves his FT %, could also hit those marks.  What might hurt Ricardo's rebound totals is having so many good shooting team mates.

This is great news! Welcome Ricardo!

A quick question for anyone who has seen him play in person... Since everyone is saying what a great rebounder he is... How does is game compare with Blair from PITT?

This is great news! Welcome Ricardo!

A quick question for anyone who has seen him play in person... Since everyone is saying what a great rebounder he is... How does is game compare with Blair from PITT?

Much more athletic.

I'm not shocked about the Uconn posts about 11 SF's.  They were pulling that stuff way before we even landed Garrett.  We have a lot of versatile athletes that can play a # of positions.

Last time Steve was in the sweet 16, the roster was  6'8 Jason Kapono, 6'7 Matt Barnes, 6'5 Billy Knight, 6'6 Ced Bozeman, 6'7 Dijon Thompson, 6'7 Andre Patterson, 6'5 Rico hines, 6'4 Ray Young, 6'8 Josiah Johnson, 6'8 TJ cummings.   Two Bigs in 6'11 Dan Gazduric and 6'10 John Hoffart, and one 6'1 guard Ryan Walcott.  One could easily argue "11 wings".  Kapono would play SF, PF and SG at UCLA.  Matt Barnes would play SF and PF.  Knight would play SG and SF.   Bozeman would start 3 years at PG, lead the Pac 10 in assists as a Jr, tear his ACL, and come back after redshirting as the starting SF on the '06 team that lost in the National Championship Game.  He'd also play SG that year.  Thompson would play SF, PF, SG and even start at PG.  Patterson played PF and C.  Rico started at PF, SG and SF.  Young played SG and PG.  Johnson played PF and C (he's Marques Johnson's son).  TJ Cummings would play PF, SF and C.  Ryan Walcott would play PG and SG.  Only the bigs, Gadz and Hoffart were single position guys.

Kapono, Barnes, Bozeman, Thompson and Gadzuric made the NBA from that roster.  Cummings and Patterson were both multi-year 15pt/7reb guys in teh NBDL -  both as SFs.  Former McD AA Young also played multi-seasons in the D-League.  Billy Knight joined the Globetrotters.  Rico, as you know, became a trainer and a coach.  The multi-positon experience is a large part of the reason those players WERE (and are) successful past their college careers.

With the players we've signed, this will be EXACTLY Steve Lavin's kind of team.   "11" wings?   D@MN STRAIGHT!!!

Last time Steve was in the sweet 16, the roster was  6'8 Jason Kapono, 6'7 Matt Barnes, 6'5 Billy Knight, 6'6 Ced Bozeman, 6'7 Dijon Thompson, 6'7 Andre Patterson, 6'5 Rico hines, 6'4 Ray Young, 6'8 Josiah Johnson, 6'8 TJ cummings.   Two Bigs in 6'11 Dan Gazduric and 6'10 John Hoffart, and one 6'1 guard Ryan Walcott.  One could easily argue "11 wings".  Kapono would play SF, PF and SG at UCLA.  Matt Barnes would play SF and PF. 

I have to say, that was such a weird roster. Watching Kapono trying to defend bigs was bizarre; Matt Barnes was almost capable, but always looked out of position. But he wouldn't back down to anything. I think he was my favorite of that group, along with Gadzuric.

The many wings can definitely work in college; though I remember some chatter (that I agreed with) that it might have hurt his draft stock. Then again, I don't think he has/ had the kind of game that a team tries to draft in the first round - not big enough to really be a post, not a good offensive player from the wing, but damn is/ was he willing.

They didn't have anyone like Gathers who was built to bang.

With some many wings on our roster, I hope KFC puts on a "Wing Night" at CA this season.  They can even name some of their wing specials after our players.

You know, in addition to being a UCLA fan, I'm also a Virginia Tech fan - I live in Blacksburg.

So in going thru this thread and watching the various videos of Gathers, I can't help but notice a great similarity in his game ankd skill-set to that of the Hokie's recently graduated Jeff Allen - a 6'6 235 lb extremely athletic bull with a solid handle, who tho undersized,  was 3rd in the ACC in boards at 9.7...

Quote from: crgreen on August 02, 2011, 01:57:22 PM

Last time Steve was in the sweet 16, the roster was  6'8 Jason Kapono, 6'7 Matt Barnes, 6'5 Billy Knight, 6'6 Ced Bozeman, 6'7 Dijon Thompson, 6'7 Andre Patterson, 6'5 Rico hines, 6'4 Ray Young, 6'8 Josiah Johnson, 6'8 TJ cummings.   Two Bigs in 6'11 Dan Gazduric and 6'10 John Hoffart, and one 6'1 guard Ryan Walcott.  One could easily argue "11 wings".  Kapono would play SF, PF and SG at UCLA.  Matt Barnes would play SF and PF. 

I have to say, that was such a weird roster. Watching Kapono trying to defend bigs was bizarre;

Of course, what was equally bizzare (and often overlooked in such discussions) was watching those same bigs trying to defend Kapono.  Since he finished his careeer tied with Reggie Miller for 3rd place in UCLA scoring history, they didn't have a whole lot of success...Despite Kap's "difficulties" in defending those bigs, the fact of the matter is UCLA won those matchups virtually every time.  And to me, should always be the bottom line in the discussion.

Ricardo will be playing in the Adidas Nations tourney for the Latin American team.  I guess his Latin roots are close.  Will be fun to see him compete against the loaded US teams as they really split a lot of time.  Gathers should garner much of the Latin roster's PF minutes.