Nate Navigato - unofficial visit Thursday 4/23

[tornado]

not much else left out there and we still have scholarships to fill..

as it looks currently we don't need to bank those scholarships nor get desperate and start taking just anybody -
we should have at least five more open scholarships for 2016..

[Old Coach]

I would rather see Nate as a walk on. I'm don't believe he can play at the mid to upper level. The schools we are competing with don't impress me (Buffalo, UIC, American). I'd rather save the scholarship. Just my opinion.

Most kids don't pass up mid-major scholarships to walk-on at another mid-major school. If Wardle thinks he's good enough, then that's good enough for me.

[Da Coach]

Plus, prior to his senior year, Nate was not a stand-out basketball player.
Former Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley was able to see potential in him, and he verballed to Buffalo early last fall, 9/18/14. Then Nate had a terrific senior season. I believe if he hadn't already been committed, he would have had lots of higher mid-majors offering. He averaged 20.7 ppg against top-level high school competition. He carried an otherwise average Geneva team to the IHSA state finals, where they finished 4th. Nate is an exceptional perimeter shooter for a big wing player, something Bradley hasn't had for a long time.
According to IHSA stats, he was 73 for 172 from three (42.4%) and he was 54.5% overall. He is also an 84% free throw shooter.

Nate would be a great addition to this already extraordinary recruiting class.

[Dubl R 1]

I really want Nate here!... There is always a spot on a team for a pure shooter

[Fetz86]

Saw the kid play a couple times, he has good hands, shoots well, and plays the passing lanes on defense for steals like Jeremy Crouch used to. I think he would be a really nice addition.

[egib52]

For years the knock has been that Bradley gets athletes and tries to turn them into players. Nate may not be the most athletic, but he obviously has an advanced skill in his shooting. Plus his height means that he should at minimum be able to spot up and get looks. I think we sign him up, and if he progresses like JC did then awesome.

[AZ BU Fan]

Amen. How many players has UNI recruited who could SHOOT THE ROCK but weren't stellar athletes? We want shooters (unless GW wants to play 40 min of full court press.

[Da Coach]

Agreed. Coach Wardle has gotten a nice collection of guards so far in Suggs, DLO, Okafor, and Pittman, but none of those are the pure shooter type we all have been wanting to see at Bradley for a long time.

[Da Coach]

Illinois Prep Bullseye is reporting that Toledo is coming strong after Nate Navigato. They recruited him before he committed to Buffalo, and are back on him again now.

https://twitter.com/prepbullseye/status/591600079321993216

[Vent]

Next year is going to be a difficult year and we are going to take our lumps. I would rather pocket the scholarship and use it to sign somebody in the fall when our recruiting can be more selective and we can get who we want, not who is the best available. However, if Wardle thinks Nate is a can't miss, he should sign him. At this time I don't think we have the luxury of having projects.

[Big Mike]

Would really like to land Nate......the lack of a solid 3 pt shooter has hurt the Braves for a long time.....hope we still have a chance of landing him after all a day after his release he visits the Hilltop!

[lefty]

Amen. How many players has UNI recruited who could SHOOT THE ROCK but weren't stellar athletes? We want shooters (unless GW wants to play 40 min of full court press.

who's GW again?

[patrick_o'brian]

Next year is going to be a difficult year and we are going to take our lumps. I would rather pocket the scholarship and use it to sign somebody in the fall when our recruiting can be more selective and we can get who we want, not who is the best available. However, if Wardle thinks Nate is a can't miss, he should sign him. At this time I don't think we have the luxury of having projects.

If my math is right we should have 4 scholarships next year, no?

[Vent]

If my math is right we should have 4 scholarships next year, no?

I'm not certain, but you never have enough good players. Especially as injuries set in and good healthy practice competition does wonders to a team's chemistry.

[Big Mike]

Tribune article on Nate from his Dad on the whole process.....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-basketball-nate-navigato-st-0426-20150424-story.html