Ryan Thornton leaving

[Dubl R 1]

I like what I've seen from James Robertson the last couple of years as well. I first noticed him at the Field House a couple of years back in a sectional game, it might have been against Washington. To look at him then, you wouldn't have thought he could do anything, but he just kept hitting big shots in that game as a sophomore i think. Anyway, he's not the most gifted athletically, but he really hustles and has what appears to be a killer instinct in him. He's got good range, and a pretty quick release. Plus, another example of a player that really WANTS to be a Brave.


Welcome to BU James.

[PTownHawkeye]

I like what I've seen from James Robertson the last couple of years as well. I first noticed him at the Field House a couple of years back in a sectional game, it might have been against Washington. To look at him then, you wouldn't have thought he could do anything, but he just kept hitting big shots in that game as a sophomore i think. Anyway, he's not the most gifted athletically, but he really hustles and has what appears to be a killer instinct in him. He's got good range, and a pretty quick release. Plus, another example of a player that really WANTS to be a Brave.


Welcome to BU James.

DublR- you're exactly right about that game vs Washington...that was James Robertson's breakout game. I don't have any expectations for him off the bat, I'm just hopeful that he can develop into a 5-10 minute/game player who can be a 3-point specialist.

[Dubl R 1]

DublR- you're exactly right about that game vs Washington...that was James Robertson's breakout game. I don't have any expectations for him off the bat, I'm just hopeful that he can develop into a 5-10 minute/game player who can be a 3-point specialist.

The other good thing about James is that he's played against really good talent, and I don't think he's a guy that would come in and be awed or overwhelmed against the kind of players he'll encounter at the D1 level. I agree he's probably not going to be a 20 min plus player, but a guy that could develop into a spot/situation type player that could contribute. I think his ballhandling, and strength will be his two biggest obstacles to overcome if playing time is to follow. I don't think he's as bad defensively, technique and footwork wise as some people think, but his strength would be an issue at the D1 level.

[mrcoachdude]

"I'm leaving Bradley on great terms," Thornton said. "I made a lot of great friends and they wished me the best. The coaching staff was phenomenal. I learned so much from them. I really appreciated the opportunity and tried to make the best of it."


CLASS!!! That's the difference that some could stand to learn from! Good luck to RT.......... I wouldn't be surprised to see him make an immediate impact.

Notsure RTreads her, but he is a class act and I wish him the best.....I really believe he would have had an impact with BU in a couple years.....but he is making the right move here and with CLASS

[Chico]

Scouter, once we found out the text message story was a lie, why should we believe what he says now. If some of his new story is proven wrong, will he make up another one to try and cover his tracks?

[tornado]

OK, OK...enough talk about the TCS issue, let's move on.......

Bradley has one open scholarship for 2008 and FIVE more that can be used to fill slots for the fall of 2009.

So, with so many scholarships opening for 2009, does it make any sense at all to "bank"
the present one and use it next year?
I think not, and I think this is a perfect time to go ahead and try to fill it anyway, even though
agreeably a whole lot of the available players are already committed.

BUT....there are some possibilities.......

--late blooming juco kids...several top rated big men DO still exist...note
#19, 26, 31, and others on the TOP juco rankings......there's even a 7-footer on the list

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2005

--maybe a kid who's under the radar, kind of like Will Franklin, Will Egolf, or Boogie were,
and our coach does have feelers to find some of these kids.

--maybe a transfer from another D-I, as there are really a lot of those left available out there.
These kids would come in and even though they wouldn't play next year (no loss when compared
to banking the scholarship), but they would also come in with potentially some good D-I experience,
and numerous fine players are out there. Some of the kids will want to look for a D-I with the
shot at immediate playing time. This is what I think we might be hearing more about soon.

[Beninator]

OK, OK...enough talk about the TCS issue, let's move on.......

Bradley has one open scholarship for 2008 and FIVE more that can be used to fill slots for the fall of 2009.

So, with so many scholarships opening for 2009, does it make any sense at all to "bank"
the present one and use it next year?
I think not, and I think this is a perfect time to go ahead and try to fill it anyway, even though
agreeably a whole lot of the available players are already committed.

BUT....there are some possibilities.......

--late blooming juco kids...several top rated big men DO still exist...note
#19, 26, 31, and others on the TOP juco rankings......there's even a 7-footer on the list
http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2005

--maybe a kid who's under the radar, kind of like Will Franklin, Will Egolf, or Boogie were,
and our coach does have feelers to find some of these kids.

--maybe a transfer from another D-I, as there are really a lot of those left available out there.
These kids would come in and even though they wouldn't play next year (no loss when compared
to banking the scholarship), but they would also come in with potentially some good D-I experience,
and numerous fine players are out there. Some of the kids will want to look for a D-I with the
shot at immediate playing time. This is what I think we might be hearing more about soon.

all I want for Christmas is a scoring forward who can run the transition game!

[tornado]

Another one of the Top jucos is off the board....

6-10/230 big man from Pratt Junior College, Alex Rivas,
12 rebounds per game and 103 blocked shots (3.1 bpg) on the year!!!

He is now off the board as he signs with South Florida.

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=808175

[Out of Balance]

Now there is an official announcement--

Walking on, off the Hilltop--

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/051508/BRA_BGKHEEU8.071.php

Ryan Thornton is leaving Bradley. As rumored, he is transferring to NAIA Illinois-Springfield, where he'll be eligible to play next season.

Bradley will get 1 new walkon, James Robertson, a 6'3" shooting guard from Richwoods HS. James is the grandson of longtime Bradley employee Corky Robertson, and the great-grandson of BU coachin great A.J. Robertson, for who the Fieldhouse was named. James is also quite a good shooter.

Coach Les also said that walkons Ryan Phillips and Brian Lavin would be back, but that Cameron Sweatman would likely not return.

Note that Les also comments about what he might do with the vacated scholarship of Tyrone Cole-Scott.

This is a great story! It is good to see where someone is so thankfull for what he did receive, "class act". We will be following you! Best of Luck RT, you will do well in life!!