Northern Iowa lands 2008 recruit from Chicago

[Da Coach]

6' point guard John Moran of Chicago Jacobs high school has verbally committed to UNI and coach Ben Jacobson. Earlier this spring, Northern Iowa landed Class of 2007 Chicago Lincoln Park star Jon Montgomery.--

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/moranuni.html

ChicagoHoops.com has Moran rated the #12 player in Illinois for 2008--

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/2008rankings.html

Daniel Poneman's site has him at #17-

http://www.freewebs.com/chipatsj23h/classof2008ranking.htm

[DannyCooksey]

Re: Northern Iowa lands 2008 recruit from Chicago

John Moran of Chicago Jacobs high school has verbally committed to UNI and coach Ben Jacobson. Earlier this spring, Northern Iowa landed Class of 2007 Chicago Lincoln Park star Jon Montgomery.--

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/moranuni.html

From what I understand, Coach Jank was interested in him. I guess he came in too late. From what I've heard, this kid is a more offensive minded Bryan Mullins. Good pick up for UNI.

[tornado]

Historically UNI has always employed a pretty strong inside game with guys like Stout, Coleman, Schneiderman, etc...combined with good guard play especially bigger guards like 6-4 Erik Crawford, 6-3 Ben Jacobson...and a 3 guard offense.

Recentlly, several guards have left UNI reportedly because of playing time issues because they have a "glut of guards".
but with all the recent recruits being exclusively guards, they are really going to have to rely on guard play.

Steven Jones left, Mason Stewart left, and UNI also has a lot of guards returning...Ahelegbe, Josten, Brown, Viet, Dunham, Reed, Molstead.

Their other 2007 incoming players ARE ALL GUARDS, Matt Culliver, Jon Montgomery, and Drew Lundberg, so they will have only 2 front court players with any SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE...Coleman and Koch, with Eglseder returning with only 7 minutes per game.

So is this correct, PTTB?
The roster this fall will have 11 guards - Ahelegbe, Josten, Brown, Viet, Dunham, Reed, Molstead, Matt Culliver, Jon Montgomery, and Drew Lundberg,

and will have Coleman, Koch, Eglseder, Pedescleaux, and incoming freshmen Barz and O'Rear as the only front court players?

So of those 16 players, who are the walk ons?

I guess Lundberg is the one that stumps me. He wasn't really recruited by anyone else, is not even in the scout.com database, and Rivals barely mentions him, noting only that he's a zero-star, and by all accounts just doesn't have D-I talent. So he comes to UNI with the promise that he'll get a scholarship maybe 1 or 2 years down the road, but surely he must see all those other guards already ahead of him and by next year he'll be so deep in the playing rotation, he will get miffed and transfer. So why doesn't a kid like this see what's coming? I will be surprised if he even plays as much as Saihou Jassey did.

[DUBulldog]

So is this correct, PTTB?
The roster this fall will have 11 guards - Ahelegbe, Josten, Brown, Viet, Dunham, Reed, Molstead, Matt Culliver, Jon Montgomery, John Moran, and Drew Lundberg,

and will have Coleman, Koch, Eglseder, Pedescleaux, and incoming freshmen Barz and O'Rear as the only front court players?

So of those 17 players, who are the walk ons?

Molstead, Lundberg and Pedescleaux are walk-ons (I think Pedeschleaux is on football scholarship). Moran will be a senior in high school this coming season.

[tornado]

They will still have a lot of guards battling for playing time when Moran gets there

[audacious_aficionado]

i went to jacobs high school and saw johnny play a lot. he did very well against conference teams but he has never played against a lot of div I talent. also, nobody from jacobs has ever been successful in Div I bball. eric viernasel graduated in '04 and went to Cal. he barely plays and was supposed to be a great player.

[PTTB]

tornado-

There will be several guard competing for playing time when Moran steps on campus, but competition is good. This year, UNI signed 5 players to scholarship (so, Culliver/Lundberg/Montgomery are the guards and Barz/O'Rear are posts).

UNI in 2007-08 when Moran is a freshman will have (scholarships):

SG/WG- Travis Brown (Senior) 6'3
SG/WG- Carlton Reed (Senior) 6'4
PG- Matt Culliver (Senior) 6'0
PG/SG- Kwadzo Ahelgbe (Junior) 6'3
SG- Jermain Davis (Junior) 6'2
PF- Adam Koch (Junior) 6'8
C- Jordan Eglseder (Junior) 7'1
WG- Kerwin Dunham (Sophomore) 6'5
WG- Jonathon Montgomery (Sophomore)* 6'3
PF- Lucas O'Rear (Sophomore)* 6'6
C- Brent Barz (RS Freshman) 6'10
PF/C- Austin Pehl (Freshman---most likely RS) 6'9
PG- John Moran (Freshman) 6'1
*= could RS
One starting spot will most likely be either T. Brown, C. Reed, or K. Dunham
Another starting spot will most likely be either K. Ahelgbe, J. Davis, or J. Montgomery
The PG spot will be either K. Ahelgbe, M. Culliver, or J. Moran

UNI will have 5 post players for 2 spots and 8 guards for 3 spots. That's 2.5 post players per position. That's also 2.67 guards per position. Basically, it's a very similar ratio. Coach Jake will play more guys than Mac did. Moran fits UNI's PG position very well from what I have read and heard. I have no doubt that Moran will play significant minutes his freshman year. I think Ahelgbe will play both the PG and SG positions, and Culliver will probably be a signficant backup PG both years, but probably not a starter unless he gets alot stronger and picks up the system right away (plus he is coming off of a knee injury). If Moran learns the system quickly, he is going to have a good shot at playing big minutes...and if Ahelgbe improves his shot, he could be moved to the SG position if John becomes the better PG. But, there is a whole other year still left to be played that brings lots of drama and development on what will happen once John steps foot on campus.

UNI will also graduate 3 guards after John's first year at UNI.

It's good to see UNI getting some top 15-20 players from the state of IL. UNI is now done w/2008. On to 2009.

[scout4126]

I've heard O'Rear might go pro in baseball.

[Daniel Poneman]

a_a,
I have to disagree with you on that.
Moran blew up this summer and his stock skyrocketed because of his strong play on the AAU circut against D1 players.

[BBallPimp]

Isn't Jacobs a high school in Algonquin?

[PTTB]

I've heard O'Rear might go pro in baseball.

O'Rear didn't even play the last month or so of baseball for his HS team due to an injury. He is on campus at UNI right now, although that doesn't mean a whole lot (could get drafted, sign, and drop out of school), but he's not going to do that.

[audacious_aficionado]

a_a,
I have to disagree with you on that.
Moran blew up this summer and his stock skyrocketed because of his strong play on the AAU circut against D1 players.

he did in fact do this. i guess i'm skeptical more because of the lack of quality college players that come out of yes, Algonquin. the conference teams are very weak in comparison to most good bball high schools. he's good and i love the guy but i just can't see him being outstanding in DI play.