The Last Scholarship

[KillerB]

Getting a big shooter in Eastman is great. I was a proponent of landing another shooter and his size is a big bonus.
So what does BU do with its last scholarship? Some are calling for an impact big.. maybe from the JC ranks.
I would like to see the Braves go a different direction and hold the scholarship.
Everything I have heard and read says the 2010 Class in Illinois will be the deepest and most talented in decades. Regardless of position I would like to see the Braves have at least 2 scholarships to give to that group.

Just some food for thought.

[SFP]

JL plays for the moment so I'm sure his thought are how do we get this team to win now! The following year is just that.

We need another big that can hold down the fort at the 5 unless the staff believes AT or JP can contribute next year. If not this year then next year we will need to bring in another 5. We will be deep at the 4 which is great and which case we can win the Valley but to be a top 20 team we'll need a force in the 5 position. I like the makeup of the team right now but early next year our depth at the 5 will be weak. WE will not be ready to give us his full effort, AT has not shown us that he can contribute, SS IMO should not be playing long extended minutes (I love the guy's attitude) and JP will only be a freshman and hopefully will play the 4.

Can you imagine what JL system would be like if we have the bigs that can play? Right now I'd take a DC again to shore up that position!

[Da Coach]

I would like posters who say we need an "impact big" to suggest who that person should be.
As I said in another thread, there are probably 250-300 D1 coaches looking to add an impact big man this spring. It is easy to request that, but the true impact big men are few and far between. So does anyone have any suggestions where we would get one, and who it would be?

By the way- here is Jucojunction's list of the top 150 juco players for 2009. There are a couple big men rated high, but Bradley has no chance at them. They will either go to major schools, or they won't be eligible, which is why they are still uncommitted.
Among the rest of the list, note that there are very few true "big men" who aren't committed and who can make an impact. This is not a good year for juco big men.

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2309

I would expect the last scholarship to go to someone Bradley is already recruiting and is close to committing. A more remote possibility is still for a transfer.

[dogsrus]

I would like posters who say we need an "impact big" to suggest who that person should be.
As I said in another thread, there are probably 250-300 D1 coaches looking to add an impact big man this spring. It is easy to request that, but the true impact big men are few and far between. So does anyone have any suggestions where we would get one, and who it would be?

By the way- here is Jucojunction's list of the top 150 juco players for 2009. There are a couple big men rated high, but Bradley has no chance at them. They will either go to major schools, or they won't be eligible, which is why they are still uncommitted.
Among the rest of the list, note that there are very few true "big men" who aren't committed and who can make an impact. This is not a good year for juco big men.

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2309

I would expect the last scholarship to go to someone Bradley is already recruiting and is close to committing. A more remote possibility is still for a transfer.

I have to agree....I think a healthy WE and AW would have made BU an NIT minimum this year with an OUTSIDE chance to sneak in the NCAA even if it meant winning the Valley tourney.

So with those guys back next year and JP/MK we will shoot better and have SOME size but should have more skill. Size is useless without skill.....don't just get a widebody for eating up space.

[Braves4Life]

I think part of JL's recruiting "problems" in the past have been that he has recruited athletes first over basketball players. I think he has seen the light and is now recruiting high IQ b-ball players first, even though they may not be quite as athletic.

I think we will see the fruits of this change in 2-3 years. Remember, JL is still a young coach who is learning from his mistakes. I really believe that he has now found the winning recruiting formula. We will see in 2-3 years. If not......................

[BradleyBrave]

I would like posters who say we need an "impact big" to suggest who that person should be.
As I said in another thread, there are probably 250-300 D1 coaches looking to add an impact big man this spring. It is easy to request that, but the true impact big men are few and far between. So does anyone have any suggestions where we would get one, and who it would be?

By the way- here is Jucojunction's list of the top 150 juco players for 2009. There are a couple big men rated high, but Bradley has no chance at them. They will either go to major schools, or they won't be eligible, which is why they are still uncommitted.
Among the rest of the list, note that there are very few true "big men" who aren't committed and who can make an impact. This is not a good year for juco big men.

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2309

I would expect the last scholarship to go to someone Bradley is already recruiting and is close to committing. A more remote possibility is still for a transfer.

We found an impact big (or someone capable of being an impact big with more minutes) in Taylor Brown in the middle of the summer, and almost had another one in John Wilkins. Coaches get fired, kids change their minds, or other things happen that make guys available. We can find a capable big if we want to. I'm just not sure that we (meaning the staff) wants to. We seem pretty married to playing small, even against big teams.

[OrangeandBlack74]

I have a hunch the last scholarship will be given to a local player that BU is already recruiting.

[shaunguth]

I have a hunch the last scholarship will be given to a local player that BU is already recruiting.

Same here. That doesn't mean we're done recruiting other positions though.

[PTownHawkeye]

I would like to see the Braves go a different direction and hold the scholarship.

I think this is a good idea. As DC mentioned, there aren't a ton of quality bigs available this late in the recruiting game. Another possiblity is to keep our eyes open for a transfer player. Clinton Mann from Iowa State (6'7 220 lb PF) would be an example of a decent recuit who couldn't crack the rotation on a team that has flaws, but also has a likely future lottery pick (Craig Brackins) playing 35 mins per game at the same position as Mann played.

I just hope we don't "settle" for whatever is available. I trust JL and his staff to make a smart decision.

[shaunguth]

I think this is a good idea. As DC mentioned, there aren't a ton of quality bigs available this late in the recruiting game. Another possiblity is to keep our eyes open for a transfer player. Clinton Mann from Iowa State would be an example of a decent recuit who couldn't crack the rotation on a team that has flaws, but also has a likely future lottery pick (Craig Brackins) playing 35 mins per game at the same position as Mann played.

I just hope we don't "settle" for whatever is available. I trust JL and his staff to make a smart decision.

I've been saying all along that I wouldn't mind holding a scholarship for 2010. As of right now, we have five in the graduating class of 2013.

[BradleyBrave]

I think part of JL's recruiting "problems" in the past have been that he has recruited athletes first over basketball players. I think he has seen the light and is now recruiting high IQ b-ball players first, even though they may not be quite as athletic.

I am not sure I agree with that. When JL came here, he had athletes rather than basketball players. His first big class brought in skilled guys like Ruffin, Crouch, and Bennett - guys who can shoot, dribble, and pass rather than run and dunk. After that he got Will Franklin, another highly skilled player who wasn't going to outrun or outleap anyone. Same with Andrew Warren. Same with Sammy M. Same with McCain and Norris. The Yuba guys were really the only raw 'athletes' JL landed. This year, Dunson and Roberts (especially Roberts) kind of go against the typical JL recruit as far as their refined skills of shooting and dribbling go (much moreso Roberts than Dunson). It wouldn't have been as big of a deal if AW hadn't have been hurt, but it was obvious that our guards were more athletic but less skilled than they have been in the past. The landing of Eastman gets back to more of the type of player JL has recruited up to this point - highly skilled, basketball player first, athlete second.

[Beninator]

We found an impact big (or someone capable of being an impact big with more minutes) in Taylor Brown in the middle of the summer, and almost had another one in John Wilkins. Coaches get fired, kids change their minds, or other things happen that make guys available. We can find a capable big if we want to. I'm just not sure that we (meaning the staff) wants to. We seem pretty married to playing small, even against big teams.

imo...When I think of impact big, I dont think of TB... After all is said and done, TB will have an impact at BU... he isnt what I would consider when looking for a "big"

I have a hunch the last scholarship will be given to a local player that BU is already recruiting.

I think you are right on this as well O&B.

I've been saying all along that I wouldn't mind holding a scholarship for 2010. As of right now, we have five in the graduating class of 2013.

If next year's class is as deep as everyone is stating, holding a scholarship would be a good idea. I dont see it happening though.

[shaunguth]

If next year's class is as deep as everyone is stating, holding a scholarship would be a good idea. I dont see it happening though.

I don't either, simply because nothing is guaranteed and two of the players in our 2013 graduating class are verbals for 2010. However, we may still have a scholarship to use, so why not? I'll trust the staff with this choice!

[Da Coach]

I have a hunch the last scholarship will be given to a local player that BU is already recruiting.

I hear DSE has an official visit lined up soon with BU. So probably nothing will happen until then.

[Braves4Life]

I hear DSE has an official visit lined up soon with BU. So probably nothing will happen until then.

I'm interested in your opinion on this da coach. Do you think BU really needs a player like DSE, or would the scholarship be better spent on a 6'7"+ forward/center?