Tweet
I know that I might be in the minority here, and maybe I'm just being an optimist, but I like this class a lot. Sure it doesn't skyrocket us to a top 3 team in the Valley, but I wasn't expecting this class to do that. Obviously we don't know much until they play D-1 ball, but let's look at who we've gotten.
Darrell Brown Jr.: A 5-10 point guard who can score (averaged over 22 ppg his senior year of high school) and get others involved (with over 6 assists per game). The player in this class, as of right now, I'm most excited about.
Koch Bar: a 6-10 Center who, while raw, has a ton of upside. I know it's high school, but he still averaged near a double double (14 points, 9.5 Rebounds) and added a bunch of blocked shots. I don't see any way he gives us less should be able to give us what Cooper gave us last year, unless he redshirts. He's a project, and I know from recent experiences, that worries some people, but Wardle seems to be a better coach than Geno, and sometimes projects pay off in a big way. Just ask an Evansville fan about their last project center.
Jayden Hodgson: Honestly, the recruit on coming in next year I know the least about. Not going to spend a lot of time here, but I don't think it would be that hard for him to at least match, if not exceed, the production we got out of Okafor last year.
Nate Kennell: I think a lot of people are down on Kennell because he's a local kid. People are acting like there's no way that he sees the court while also asking why we haven't signed a shooter. Let's not forget this kid scored almost 25 a game his junior year. Sure his scoring dipped his senior year, down to around 18, but that's because Metamora didn't need him to score in bunches. They needed him to be a team player and leader, and that's what he did. I think if he wasn't local, our fans would be all excited about a 6-5 (or 6-4 depending on where you check) shooting guard who shot as well as Kennell did in high school. Especially one who is first cousins with Aaron Zobrist, one of the best shooters in the schools history.
Jerome Merritt: Not the most exciting of spring signees, but still an athletic wing who can defend. Give me that any day of the week. I doubt he's a star here at Bradley, but if he's as athletic as some stories make him out to be, he'll carve out some sort of role for himself.
That's just the scholarship guys coming in for next year, not counting Lou Griffith (who I like a ton, even though he's almost certainly redshirting this year) or Alex Foster who will definitely provide help inside. I don't think there's any question that the team has gotten better from last year. Meanwhile, the Valley was pretty senior heavy last year, and while other teams will get better, most aren't returning as much production as Bradley is. I know we aren't used to it, but players are supposed to get better from year one to year two. Look how much better Donte looked last year than his freshman year.
I hate to grade a recruiting class until we see them on the court, but as of right now, I'd give this class a B. Is it perfect? No, but it fills some holes and we were never going to get the type of freshman that schools like Kentucky get. I'm curious to see what we will do with the last scholarship and can't wait to see this team take the court in the fall.
Darrell Brown Jr.: A 5-10 point guard who can score (averaged over 22 ppg his senior year of high school) and get others involved (with over 6 assists per game). The player in this class, as of right now, I'm most excited about.
Koch Bar: a 6-10 Center who, while raw, has a ton of upside. I know it's high school, but he still averaged near a double double (14 points, 9.5 Rebounds) and added a bunch of blocked shots. I don't see any way he gives us less should be able to give us what Cooper gave us last year, unless he redshirts. He's a project, and I know from recent experiences, that worries some people, but Wardle seems to be a better coach than Geno, and sometimes projects pay off in a big way. Just ask an Evansville fan about their last project center.
Jayden Hodgson: Honestly, the recruit on coming in next year I know the least about. Not going to spend a lot of time here, but I don't think it would be that hard for him to at least match, if not exceed, the production we got out of Okafor last year.
Nate Kennell: I think a lot of people are down on Kennell because he's a local kid. People are acting like there's no way that he sees the court while also asking why we haven't signed a shooter. Let's not forget this kid scored almost 25 a game his junior year. Sure his scoring dipped his senior year, down to around 18, but that's because Metamora didn't need him to score in bunches. They needed him to be a team player and leader, and that's what he did. I think if he wasn't local, our fans would be all excited about a 6-5 (or 6-4 depending on where you check) shooting guard who shot as well as Kennell did in high school. Especially one who is first cousins with Aaron Zobrist, one of the best shooters in the schools history.
Jerome Merritt: Not the most exciting of spring signees, but still an athletic wing who can defend. Give me that any day of the week. I doubt he's a star here at Bradley, but if he's as athletic as some stories make him out to be, he'll carve out some sort of role for himself.
That's just the scholarship guys coming in for next year, not counting Lou Griffith (who I like a ton, even though he's almost certainly redshirting this year) or Alex Foster who will definitely provide help inside. I don't think there's any question that the team has gotten better from last year. Meanwhile, the Valley was pretty senior heavy last year, and while other teams will get better, most aren't returning as much production as Bradley is. I know we aren't used to it, but players are supposed to get better from year one to year two. Look how much better Donte looked last year than his freshman year.
I hate to grade a recruiting class until we see them on the court, but as of right now, I'd give this class a B. Is it perfect? No, but it fills some holes and we were never going to get the type of freshman that schools like Kentucky get. I'm curious to see what we will do with the last scholarship and can't wait to see this team take the court in the fall.
Comment