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Khalif Ford and Mark Kruse have been granted their release and will transfer.
Ford is a point guard who started 16 games and averaged 23.4 minutes, 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists per game.
Kruse, a small froward type, played in 11 games, and averaged 5 minutes, 2.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg.
Khalif Ford appears he would have been the only returning point guard next year, so Porter Moser better hope he lands a couple good point guard recruits. But he also won't be much of a loss. He averaged more turnovers than assists last year (2.8 to/2.7 assists). I have never seen a point guard who did that.
Normally a point guard wouldn't be playing PG long if he had those kinds of numbers, but ISU didn't have any other PGs. Ford also wasn't a very good shooter.
From PJ Star sports expert Kirk Wessler in his Jan. 10, 2012 column following 8th loss in a row at Drake-
"Yes, the Braves are better than they were when the season started two months ago. By a light year or two, they??™re better."
And from the PJ Star 4/26/12, Dave Reynolds-
"Fields and Grier both appear to be difference makers. If Bradley continues to add the right players around them, happy days may be ahead for the Braves after a long dry spell."
But if a team that was already short at the point guard spot loses its only point guard and one of its only returning seniors,
they are in deep trouble.
The Redbirds lose 3 of their top 4 scorers from this past season in Plank, Onyeuku, and Dana Ford.
I realize those aren't All Conference losses, but for a team that could barely average 53 ppg in conference play, losing that much scoring will hurt. Maybe the incoming freshmen will help and maybe the press the Valley has been getting will get a couple jucos real quick for Porter.
But I just can't see the guys they got returning doing any better next year.
One, Dominitrix Johnson, is another "combo guard" (meaning he really isn't a point guard) who averages as many turnovers as assists. Why would the Pantagraph even mention that??
Johnson is truly "under the radar" as there is virtually nothing about him on any of the main recruiting sites.
The other name they give is Stefhon Hannah, who they note visited last fall.
But since last Fall, Hannah went on to have a great juco season and was pursued by Illinois, Missouri, and several other big (BCS-type) programs.
Hannah has been sitting on an offer from ISU since last fall so he sounds like he could end up elsewhere.
This is unfortunate in the sense that it continues an ugly trend of unwanted turnover within the program.
On the other hand, it allows Moser and his staff the opportunity to greatly upgrade the athletic talent on the roster.
In Kruse's case, he wasn't going to be a factor in the Valley. He doesn't posses the athleticism to guard people in this league. Any offense he could have provided would have been nullified by his lack of defensive awareness. Moser took a chance with this kid and it didn't work out unfortunately. Kruse can help a team at a lower level, I think.
Khalif Ford has ability, but with a poor start coupled with a benching in favor of a walk-on in some cases, his confidence suffered and so did his overall game. Khalif is not a good shooter and if he wasn't protecting the ball well and running the offense, he wasn't helping. He is a good kid and I hope he finds success elsewhere.
We have a chance to land the marquee point guard we desperately need along with depth at guard, and along the front-line. These 3 scholly's could be HUGE helps as long as he signs the RIGHT guys. We have some promising younger players that got valuable experience this past season. With even better talent arriving in the fall, the Redbird have a chance to improve. The problem is the rest of the league will be just as good and likely better. I am keeping my hopes up.
Dinma Odiakosa 6'8 255......The Nigerian Nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 37 points and 27 boards in 2 wins over Bradley. "Will Egolf is 6'9 and he had 4 rebounds. That's not good enough and he's not good enough"....Dick Versace 2/9/10
Hannah gave ISU a "soft verbal" whatever that means in the fall. ISU assistant Chris Jans was the Head Coach at Chipola JC and he recruited Hannah there in the first place. The hope is that with no one else there at PG, Hannah would receive the keys to the car without question.
He is regarded as a true PG who has the ability to score. I know Missouri and Florida St. are interested as well as Illinois. We have been on him the longest and have a good 'in' with Coach Jans. This is the guy I hope we can sign. From all accounts he is a true difference maker. If not him, I would be happy with former Peoria star Jake Motteler.
Hopefully Hannah will see the appeal to playing with Eldridge and Bobby Hill etc. and find the prospects of starting in the Valley attractive.
Dinma Odiakosa 6'8 255......The Nigerian Nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 37 points and 27 boards in 2 wins over Bradley. "Will Egolf is 6'9 and he had 4 rebounds. That's not good enough and he's not good enough"....Dick Versace 2/9/10
One, Dominitrix Johnson, is another "combo guard" (meaning he really isn't a point guard) who averages as many turnovers as assists. Why would the Pantagraph even mention that??
Johnson is truly "under the radar" as there is virtually nothing about him on any of the main recruiting sites.
Bess mentioned that Southeast is interested in current Three Rivers player, sophomore Dominitrix Johnson. The former Bell City guard, currently out with a broken nose, is also being courted by Mizzou, Auburn and Bradley.
First of, cpac, read the link you provide!!
It starts off with an interview with a junior college coach who calls the column writer out for writing stuff that just isn't true!!
The whole thing pretty much calls into question the credibility of this guy "Mike Mitchell" who writes this silly blog for some paper out in the boonies of Southeast Missouri.
But OK, if you want to use him as your source......
I have learned that when you hear the statement "being pursued by" or "being recruited by" all it means is that the kid has gotten a call from one of the coaching staff or they have been out to see him.
Clearly it doesn't mean the kid got an offer, because if you just look a bit further down in your same link, you find this:
"As for Dom Johnson, he wants to go to Mizzou. He's just waiting on the scholarship offer."
Obviously that actual offer never came, and the kid is weighing other possible offers such as ISU.
Have you not seen stories on recruits who list 12-15 different BCS programs as interested or offering, then the kid ends up going to North Dakota State or somewhere similar.
Just goes to show that those kids were blowing smoke about "offers" and I think that's the case with this kid Johnson.
If he ends up at Illinois State, I guarantee you it does NOT mean Porter beat out Missouri, Auburn, and Bradley.
Any way, can you tell me why Porter Moser would even want another NON-point guard who has as many turnovers and he has assists? Isn't that exactly what you have so many of that they are transferring elsewhere.
And do you think ISU still any chance of signing Hannah?
Even if Dom Johnson goes to ISU, will it change anything?
Moser recruits kids who can score but are defensive liabilities, that he is afraid to play them (Fortes)
Or he recruits kids who can't score or even hit 35% on field goals (not talking 3-pointers) such as Ford, Dyer, Odiakosa, Carlwell, Vianney.
Didn't we hear hype about how great these players would be?
How can PM be such a bad judge of talent?
I have learned that when you hear the statement "being pursued by" or "being recruited by" all it means is that the kid has gotten a call from one of the coaching staff or they have been out to see him.
Clearly it doesn't mean the kid got an offer, because if you just look a bit further down in your same link, you find this:
"As for Dom Johnson, he wants to go to Mizzou. He's just waiting on the scholarship offer."
Obviously that actual offer never came, and the kid is weighing other possible offers such as ISU.
Have you not seen stories on recruits who list 12-15 different BCS programs as interested or offering, then the kid ends up going to North Dakota State or somewhere similar.
Just goes to show that those kids were blowing smoke about "offers" and I think that's the case with this kid Johnson.
If he ends up at Illinois State, I guarantee you it does NOT mean Porter beat out Missouri, Auburn, and Bradley.
Any way, can you tell me why Porter Moser would even want another NON-point guard who has as many turnovers and he has assists? Isn't that exactly what you have so many of that they are transferring elsewhere
not sure mel deserved that type of harsh response. He was simply reporting what he read in an article. but thanks for disecting it so well. the fact that we are interested in Johnson doesn't mean he's our #1 target. he was simply a name that the staff allowed to be released to the public. There are several other players we have mutual interest with that have been left out of the article.
And do you think ISU still any chance of signing Hannah?
Why wouldn't we have a 'chance'??? I don't know what his intentions are, but I believe we have as good a shot as anyone to land him. We have been in on him the longest, which worked pretty well in the Eldridge sweepstakes wouldn't you say???
Ford, Dyer, Odiakosa, Carlwell, Vianney
not sure what you've been reading and/or smoking, but the word 'great' has never been associated with any of these names in any context from a Redbird fan with the possible exception of describing their personal character. You are miles off course here.
Carlwell was a project that wasn't heavily recruited at all. he has chronic knee problems which will always hinder his play. If we can get 8-10 minutes of solid defense/rebounding, we will take it.
Odiakosa/Vianney have the played the game for a combined total of 9 years. With that little playing experience I feel they are promising and have potential. They are just raw. Both have talent.
Dyer finished the season in the starting lineup and averaged around 10 per game the last 6-8 games. he improved tremendously from his frosh-soph seasons and is capable of making a similar leap next season. he will never be great, but looks to be a guy who can cause match-up problems and be an effective scorer.
Ford had his moments, but his development was hurt by two injuries last season when he could have gained valuable minutes. He struggled most of this soph season as a result. At no time was he ever considered a great player, PG, or shooter.
Porter Moser has a severe tendency to misjudge talent.
He has made some mistakes here, I'll grant you that. He has also made some good choices in Fortes, Vandello, Holtz etc. There is some talent on the roster and by all accounts, more is on the way. The biggest mistake he made was in signing Dunson because he had Mullins all but signed on the dotted line until Dunson stepped up. I don't know who was better in HS, but obviously I'd rather have Mullins now. That will haunt him and us for 3 more years.
Dinma Odiakosa 6'8 255......The Nigerian Nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 37 points and 27 boards in 2 wins over Bradley. "Will Egolf is 6'9 and he had 4 rebounds. That's not good enough and he's not good enough"....Dick Versace 2/9/10
Must be slow getting anything newsworthy in Southeast Missouri.
Anyway, they report on ISU's interest in Dom Johnson, and even give a link to the Redbirds Message Board"....talk about credibility!!
I'm not anxious to debate the Redbird roster, but I have indeed seen claims that guys like Vianney and Dinma were solid, in DO's case had international playing experience and would help the team right away.
And there is a reason Fortes didn't get off the pine until the Valley season was done and sealed for the 'Birds, and it is because of completely absent, porous defensive abilities.
He did a fine job of scoring during the games he played, but how many of them did the Redbirds win? (answer=only one in OT vs. Drake in B-N)
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