Sparkman

[tornado]

Ability to run up and down the court and ability to step out and hit a short jumper plays into recruiting a big man..mobility, hands, passing, demeanor, etc..
I suspect since they're seniors -- most people viewing the likes of Sparkman, Kennedy, etc...realize they are seeing much closer to the finished product...but Nate Wells, has possibly more upside, and most mid-majors just aren't going to get a good 7-footer unless you get them before they blowup.

[midstateknowitall]

Totally agree with Tornado on his assessment of Wells. His potential can't be matched by any of the kids I mentioned. However like others stated we don't have any post player that is statistically productive on a consistant basis, so production is more of a concern for me.


Did Wells have any other Division 1 offers besides Bradley?

[ER3]

Ability to run up and down the court and ability to step out and hit a short jumper plays into recruiting a big man..mobility, hands, passing, demeanor, etc..
I suspect since they're seniors -- most people viewing the likes of Sparkman, Kennedy, etc...realize they are seeing much closer to the finished product...but Nate Wells, has possibly more upside, and most mid-majors just aren't going to get a good 7-footer unless you get them before they blowup.

I don't have a problem with BU taking a chance on Wells, in and of itself. My only concern with using a scholarship on a total project like him is based on the fact that we already have another very similar big man project who is going to RS this year in Davis, and we've still got a year left with the other project big man that just never developed (AT)...
Rolling the dice with your last scholarship on a big man project is fine for teams at our level...but we are going to go into next year with 3 of our scholarships tied up in big men that will likely give us little to nothing in terms of actual production next year...That is a risky proposition as far as our depth is concerned, IMO...One or two injuries and suddenly we may be down to walk-ons as the 2nd or 3rd options off the bench...
I guess I would have preferred that we only had a single scholarship tied up in either Davis or Wells...and not both...which would have given us the ability to try and bring in another shooter or a JUCO big that could contribute right away, but that isn't how it worked out.
Maybe Wells is better than scouting services give him credit for...maybe he is worth the risk...I guess in a few years, we'll know the answer one way or the other...

[real fan]

I don't have a problem with BU taking a chance on Wells, in and of itself. My only concern with using a scholarship on a total project like him is based on the fact that we already have another very similar big man project who is going to RS this year in Davis, and we've still got a year left with the other project big man that just never developed (AT)...
Rolling the dice with your last scholarship on a big man project is fine for teams at our level...but we are going to go into next year with 3 of our scholarships tied up in big men that will likely give us little to nothing in terms of actual production next year...That is a risky proposition as far as our depth is concerned, IMO...One or two injuries and suddenly we may be down to walk-ons as the 2nd or 3rd options off the bench...
I guess I would have preferred that we only had a single scholarship tied up in either Davis or Wells...and not both...which would have given us the ability to try and bring in another shooter or a JUCO big that could contribute right away, but that isn't how it worked out.
Maybe Wells is better than scouting services give him credit for...maybe he is worth the risk...I guess in a few years, we'll know the answer one way or the other...

I for one believe Davis is going to be a good player so it gives Wells a chance to practice 1 season against good competition which should help in his development, nice to finally have some size.

[BUFanatic]

I really wish we'd stop spending all of our "big men" scholarships on "projects". Geeze, there may be a TON of potential in a kid that won't do anything for you the first two years, but would it KILL you to have a proven big man in there for kicks and giggles? (Look how long it took Sticks to develop)

[real fan]

I really wish we'd stop spending all of our "big men" scholarships on "projects". Geeze, there may be a TON of potential in a kid that won't do anything for you the first two years, but would it KILL you to have a proven big man in there for kicks and giggles? (Look how long it took Sticks to develop)

With coach Platt working with our bigs now I believe we will see more improvement sooner as he has really helped J.P..A.T. and Will get better in a short time, wish he had been here 4 years ago, what a difference it makes when you have an inside scoring game, our guards will benefit even more if our bigs continue to get better.

[Dubl R 1]

I have had the opportunities to see Nate Wells and Dylan Sparkman play during the high school seasons and travel seasons plenty of times.

I have said this for a long time that Bradley Recruiting is a giganitc question mark.

Nate Wells Im sure is a great kid and 7'1 is something that can't be tought. But don't tell me that Iowa Basketball can even compare to Illinois Basketball as far as talent and skill.

Max Bielfeldt 6'8 (Notre Dame)
Dylan Sparkman 6'10 (East Peoria)
Jens Kennedy 6'8 (Dwight committed to Quincy)
Drew Blumenshine 6'8 (Notre Dame)
Josh Piper 6'8 (Champaign Centennial)

Are 5 post players in Central Illinois that I would of offered before Nate Wells. Height is nice but I think Production on the court also is has to be taken into consideration. Nate Wells just played Moline very undersized however well coached and had 12pts and 12rebs in an OT loss. Max Bielfeldt is getting double and tripled on every touch and putting up unreal #'s right now. Dylan Sparkman is putting up numbers as well being doubled and tripled every play. His guards are Terrible besides Kelch.

Nate could very well turn into a good player for Bradley but since Patrick O'Bryant name one big that has done anything significant... None coming to mind..

Sally and Zach were servicable ... Collins never was giving an opportunity to. Sticks is the same way. Will is forced to play the 5 because they don't have or wont develop anyone else.

Prosser isn't there yet, but is still a Fresh....

Just not fond of their recruiting efforts and who they go after...

Just my opinoin...

Blumenshine, Really?......No way, no how would I offer him a D1 scholarship.

[tornado]

Blumenshine, Really?......No way, no how would I offer him a D1 scholarship.

I agree, Blumenshine is a great kid and tough competitor, but every high school in the state has a kid that can bang and get 8 pts/5 rebs..
Canton had a 6-11 kid a couple years ago and Washington had Matt Reynolds -- that many were saying both had D-I potential, and yet neither went beyond a year or two of juco...

BTW -- an Ex-Bradley Brave -- a guy who has his jersey retired and hanging in Carver arena --
came up to me last night and said he had seen a few games of Max Bielfeldt, and that he felt Max was not only D-I but would do very well at any level of D-I.

[SFP]

I really wish we'd stop spending all of our "big men" scholarships on "projects". Geeze, there may be a TON of potential in a kid that won't do anything for you the first two years, but would it KILL you to have a proven big man in there for kicks and giggles? (Look how long it took Sticks to develop)

What do you mean? Sticks is still developing.

Let's face it it is very hard for a mid-major to find a big who will be ready as a Freshmen. We all said we wanted some bigs and finally JL is getting them. JP looked solid last night. WE is playing out of position at the 5 but looks much better when JP is in there with him. There's progress with our bigs and I bet these so called other new projects will work out just fine.

[midstateknowitall]

Blumenshine's #'s aren't big and would probably be very similar to Wells if he wasn't playing along side Big Max. So thats the reason he is averaging around 8pts and 5rebs...

I didn't say Bradley should have offered all 5 of those guys. I just stated I would have offered those 5 guys before Wells. I have seen them all play at the highest level and against some of the best players in the country. And I feel Bradley needs to go after bigs that they know what they are going to get.

No Projects since Patrick have worked out. Granted it could be the style they play, the system they run, but production out of their bigs is something BU lacks.

I was told once to look for Heart-Skill-Frame when watching players. Unfortunetly most colleges look at Frame-Skill-Heart.

I think you can afford to take chances on a Project if you have other bigs that have production in their game. Right now Wells has no one in that production category around him at Bradley. Thats my concern.

I hope it works out for BU and Im sure Nate is a great kid. I just didn't like the move at all. Especially when you have someone like Bielfeldt (especially) in your immediate area.

[SFP]

I hope it works out for BU and Im sure Nate is a great kid. I just didn't like the move at all. Especially when you have someone like Bielfeldt (especially) in your immediate area.

I bet that JL would have offered him a scholarship if he wanted one from us. He wants to leave town and can you blame him? (this is not a dig on Peoria) What 18 year old kid when given a chance wants to stay so close to home?

[midstateknowitall]

Dan Ruffin, Jordan Prosser, Jeremy Crouch, Dyricus Simms-Edwards:


Dodie Dunson Transfered Back
Marcellus Summerville Transfered Back


"They won't stay if you don't offer!"

[SFP]

Dan Ruffin, Jordan Prosser, Jeremy Crouch, Dyricus Simms-Edwards:


Dodie Dunson Transfered Back
Marcellus Summerville Transfered Back


"They won't stay if you don't offer!"

Let's leave the transfers out! Did those other guys have legitimate better offers? Max maybe getting better offers then they did and has the some options that the other did not. I'm not saying that BU can't recruit local kids but in reality there are some draw backs.

[midstateknowitall]

You can say the same about a player leaving the area as well. There is pro's and con's to college decision.

You can't win if you don't play!
(So if you don't offer a kid your not going to get him)

They aren't even giving themselves a chance because they didn't offer and have no room to offer now...

Thats why it bugs me so much!

[Beninator]

Da Coach:

I understand where your coming from. However you telling me that Jordan Prosser is a 3 or 4 star player? Becasue thats what they had him on the Scouting Services. I would take Beilfeldt right now over Prosser. Way more polished and better player.

Im telling you PIPER, BIELFELDT, SPARKMAN, KENNEDY are all extremely more polished than Nate Wells. And all are more productive than him right now. Bring Nate Wells to Illinois and see how he does against them. 7'1 in high school good or not you should be averaging a double double... Hell I know guards that do that in Central Illinois.

Blumenshine is the only big on that list that does not have a D1 or D2 offer. Kennedy committed and signed early because he was happy with going to Quincy. He would of had some low D1 offers if he had waited it out. Back to Blumenshine: he isn't a great offensive player however respectable but is a load defensively and rebounding. Anyone that saw the PND vs St. Ignatius game can say he did a great job on big NANA EGWU (Illinois Commit).

Hell, Bradley has never used their bigs as a scoring option anyway... just high ball screens and to defend right....

IMO Bradley should be top 3 in the Valley every year. Because of the New Facilities, How the community supports the teams (especially mens basketball), Location to Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis. And because its in one of the top 3 states of producing of basketball players.


I just feel like every year Bradley talks about who they have coming in and what potential and difference makers they are going to be and it never pans out. Why go to Iowa when you can recruit IL and get a player thats just as good or better?

Maybe Im way wrong in my understanding of talent and what it takes to play at Bradley.

I have gotten curious about this debate on this thread so I decided to research some game video on Bielfeldt. Based on what I have seen, there is absolutely NO WAY that I take Bielfeldt over JP. Bielfeldt is a mid-major type of player who plays below the rim and looks to be slow. I would need to see him in person to see how quick Bielfeldt is but I can see why the larger schools are passing on Max.