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2019 & Beyond Recruiting Targets

We need help in the paint...6'8-6'10 250 to help out Child's. Boya is gonna need time and Barr has bad hands, Luuk will be missed for rebounding, Henry is 6'5 and jumps out of the gym, one of them is enough!
 
I agree with Big Mike's comments about needing to help Eli Childs in the paint. Don't forget Stephan Gabriel is reported to be an athletic 6'5".
 
Elijah Childs is the only rostered player who will be a junior next season. If Danya Kingsby is eligible, and assuming he has 2 seasons of eligibility left, he might also be a junior. And Childs and Ja'Shon Henry are the only returning power forwards. So it might make sense to try to land a junior college forward with the last scholarship.

But, otoh, with the departure of guards Pittman and Hodgson, the loss of other key guards Lundy and DLO to graduation, and with Tahvanainen, Thomas, Brummett, and Kingsby having some uncertainty about how much they'll be ready to contribute, our coaches may think we need another guard with that last scholarship. I am OK with whatever the coaches do. But IMO, we would be best to avoid taking a "project", or a transfer who has to sit out a year.

Here is an updated list of available transfers, including a list or pretty good grad-transfers. I don't know if a grad-transfer is what our coaches are considering, but there are a few I think could really help Bradley next season.
https://watchstadium.com/news/these-...on-04-01-2019/
 
Da Coach said:
But, otoh, with the departure of guards Pittman and Hodgson, the loss of other key guards Lundy and DLO to graduation, and with Tahvanainen, Thomas, Brummett, and Kingsby having some uncertainty about how much they'll be ready to contribute, our coaches may think we need another guard with that last scholarship. I am OK with whatever the coaches do. But IMO, we would be best to avoid taking a "project", or a transfer who has to sit out a year.
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Do you mean Kingsby has uncertainty in terms of if he is eligible? Or even if he is eligible are we not sure how much he will play right away? I was hoping he would be like Lundy second half of the conference season with a better ability to create his own shot.

Do you also expect Gabriel and Mast to be in the rotation right away/which newcomers do you think are most likely to contribute right away?

With guards of Brown/Kingsby/Kennell, and posts in Bar/Boya/Childs/ I think what we need really comes down to Henry. If Henry can contribute more from the 3 next year with improved shooting and ballhandling, then a post player would be good. If he is going to play the 4 spot more, then I would prefer another wing that can maybe shoot a little from the outside. Of course I have no idea how much any of the newcomers are expected to play either.
 
BUfan14 said:
Do you also expect Gabriel and Mast to be in the rotation right away/which newcomers do you think are most likely to contribute right away?
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I don't think you can ever count on Freshman. Ideally, they would be in the rotation by season's end, but look at this season. Everyone assumed Boya would play a big role on this team, and never found his footing. Generally, it takes Freshman a year or so to understand the speed and physicality of the game. Obviously there are exceptions, but the norm is a slow integration.
 
BUfan14 said:
Do you mean Kingsby has uncertainty in terms of if he is eligible? Or even if he is eligible are we not sure how much he will play right away? I was hoping he would be like Lundy second half of the conference season with a better ability to create his own shot.
Do you also expect Gabriel and Mast to be in the rotation right away/which newcomers do you think are most likely to contribute right away?
With guards of Brown/Kingsby/Kennell, and posts in Bar/Boya/Childs/ I think what we need really comes down to Henry. If Henry can contribute more from the 3 next year with improved shooting and ballhandling, then a post player would be good. If he is going to play the 4 spot more, then I would prefer another wing that can maybe shoot a little from the outside. Of course I have no idea how much any of the newcomers are expected to play either.
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I believe that Gabriel and Mast can contribute right away. Maybe any of the freshmen can. But, we don't know for sure how they will adjust to D1. Remember Devonte Cooper, Joel Okafor, Jerome Merritt, and Stipanovich, and those are just some of the examples during the Wardle era of recruits that didn't work out.

And as we have seen in Bradley's past, there is also no assurance they will be at Bradley next season (anyone remember Chudier Bile?). That is what I meant by the incoming freshmen "having some uncertainty about how much they'll be ready to contribute".

In Kingsby's case, I think he can be a major contributor if he is eligible. However, despite media reports like this quote from the PJ Star that he "is expected to be eligible to play at Bradley for the 2019-20 season", there is an obvious question about that. I would be happy to see him playing for Bradley next season, but has anyone explained how he can be immediately eligible if he is transferring to Bradley from LSU? He spent 2 years at College of Southern Idaho prior to moving to LSU a year ago. He will probably be granted a redshirt and get another year of eligibility, but that makes only 3 years that he has spent in college. For a kid who didn't even qualify for D1 out of high school, it seems a bit unlikely that he will graduate after just 3 years and qualify as a grad-transfer, though it would be great if he did. However, nowhere has it been stated that he will be a grad-transfer.

Here is the NCAA rule regarding transfers from one 4-year school to another- http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes...transfer-terms
Transfer Process:
Academic year in residence: Under the basic transfer regulations, you must spend an academic year in residence at the school to which you are transferring. If you transfer from a four-year college to an NCAA school, you must complete one academic year in residence at the new school before you can play for or receive travel expenses from the new school, unless you qualify for a transfer exception or waiver. To satisfy an academic year in residence, you must be enrolled in and successfully complete a full-time program of studies for two-full semesters or three-full quarters. Summer school terms and part-time enrollment do not count toward fulfilling an academic year in residence.

So if it is like most cases of transfer from D1 to D1, he should have to sit out next year, unless there has been a waiver granted by the NCAA.
 
Do you know of any Juco’s we are definitively connected to?

I agree that adding a Juco is probably the best from a balance standpoint and I think, looking at our roster, we need to add the best player possible regardless of position. We have some depth at every position. We return one of everything and add one of everything except a traditional center. Considering how most teams play today, we probably don’t need a 3rd true center but if there is one that is a stand out in the vein of Krutwig or McGlynn we would be foolish to send them away for a lesser player of another position.

My personal choice would be a tweener forward that could be a big 3 or athletic 4 like Theron Wilson or Taylor Brown. We’ve got Henry, who seems to be more of a 4, and Gabriel, who I think will be more of 3/guard. Getting a guy that combines the two would be great. It would take pressure off of each of those guys to perform in big roles and give coach a lot of flexibility in his line ups.

Regardless, getting a big time Juco player is our best move forward in my opinion.
 
Da Coach said:
Bradley has offered a scholarship to-
2019 Caleb Grill- 6'3" point guard from Maize HS in Wichita, Kansas....
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Da Coach said:
....Bradley recruit Caleb Grill ....
....to commit early to South Dakota State......
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Former Bradley 2019 recruit Caleb Grill has now asked for & received his release from South Dakota State where he had committed - and is reopening his recruitment
..and altho not certain - he may follow TJ Oetzelberger to UNLV but maybe he wants to stay in the midwest since
he's now setting up visits to Kansas State and Iowa State.


also - South Dakota State's top player - David Jenkins, who averages 19.7 ppg has also asked out and will transfer
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas.../david-jenkins


Xzavier Jones - still talking about his Bradley offer - https://twitter.com/prepballstars/status/1108918411600556032
 
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another couple guys have committed elsewhere - so names removed - including the guy who was NJCAA scoring leader

2019 (possibly 2 open scholarships) - ** Spring signing period is April 17 - May 15

Stephan Gabriel - SIGNED - LINK - visited last fall and was impressed with staff & facilities!
Antonio "Tonio" Thomas - SIGNED - visited the weekend of 9/13-15 and loved Bradley!
Ville Tahvanainen - also SIGNED while on visit 9/29/2018 when he was impressed with Bradley
JaMir Price- SIGNED for 2019 but may do a year of prep school
Rienk Mast - COMMITTED- Dutch U18 National player, visited Bradley & got an offer - should sign in April
Danya Kingsby - COMMITTED- transfer from LSU
************************************************** ***************************
Recent names.....
Jaylen Fisher is on the transfer market -
Bryce Moore - transfer from Western Michigan - LINK
Tim Finke - transfer from GCU
JD Notae - LINK

older names.....
Josh Wallace - OFFERED 11/28/2017 - playing well but paucity of offers makes one suspicious that he may have issues with qualifying
Xzavier Jones - OFFERED 7/23 and visited on 8/07/17! - new highlights- moving up in rankings
Michael Moreno - just visited and got OFFERED August 27, 2017
David Sloan - at John A. Logan juco - named Player of the Year in his juco conference LINK
Luther Taylor, Karl Wright (just one offer - UIS), Kejuan Clements, Malcolm Whitlow, Jermaine Hamlin, Demarius Boyd, Cortez Mosley (Richwoods),
Steve Wooten, Jr. (Mineral Area juco), Jan Palokaj (Croatia), Spencer Jones, Jaden Shackleford,
Kareem Queeley, Nathan Johnson, Quinn Cafferty, Rashaun Agee, Ahmad Louis



2020 (will lose 4 more seniors so will have three more open scholarships for 2020)
Most of the 2020 recruits won't commit until after the summer AAU and on into their senior season in the fall)

Nijel Pack - OFFERED on Jan. 21, 2109
Desmond Polk - OFFERED probably already blowing up past the midmajor level
Mabor Majak - Hamilton Southeast near Indianapolis - OFFERED - LINK
Darius Hannah - OFFERED
Anthony Leal - OFFERED on July 10,2018
Mason Madsen - OFFERED 7/25/2018
Gabe Madsen - OFFERED 7/25/2018
Latrell Wrightsell - has already visited Bradley - putting up great numbers
Will Berg
Sincere Parker
Carter Gilmore
Devon House - discussed Bradley visit
Seryee Lewis
Ethan Kilgore - from KC area
Dayten Holman
Isaiah Rivera -
Martice Mitchell (just offered by ISU),
Dante Maddox, Jr. (son of Bloom HS head coach)
Rashad McDaniels - recently visited Bradley - LINK
Michael Peake, Caleb Love, Mike Saunders, Jr., Demarius Splunge, Katrell Raimey, Caleb Lohner, Quevian Adger, Isaiah Burrell, Jalen Johnson, Kaleim Taylor, Terrance Thompson, Jordan Davis, Jonathan Davis, Jadin Booth, Reggie Morris, PJ Edwards, Anthony Washington, Jeron Artest, Kayne Henry, Noel Coleman, Ray'Sean Taylor


2021 (lots depends on if we have built up with jucos or 4-year guys but Childs will be a senior and thus at least 1 more will open up in 2021)
Dimitrios Stragalinos - OFFERED 9/28/2018
Tevin Smith - OFFERED 2/16/19
Isaiah Donnell - LINK
Michael Foster - OFFERED on 11/11/2017 - BRADLEY had previously OFFERED, then he verbaled to Arizona State but now he has reopened recruitment
Anthony Fairlee - signed with Mineral Area juco may still be on BU's radar screen after knee surgery
Tyronn Mosley - now headed to Coffeyville juco
Max Christie - now rising into the 5-Star level - Working LINK
Nate Santos - reclassified from 2020
Emmanuel Umoffia -- holds Bradley OFFER but now headed to Meridian Community College (juco)
Chucky Hepburn, David Joplin, Ben Nau, Hunter Sallis, Taj Manning, Zane Meeks, Tyreese Hunter

..mentions of a 2023 kid Ethan Kizer (Hollis Twp- now moved to Metamora) -
http://ny2lasports.com/article_one.aspx?articleid=4158 -
https://twitter.com/IL_IrishMBB/stat...65880980148224 -
https://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27660



UPDATE on April 12 - a couple more names removed as they have committed elsewhere
 
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I have heard the Braves staff was at a workout checking out former recruit Tim Finke, who as posted earlier, is transferring from Grand Canyon. SIU was also at the same workout checking him out. I am not sure how serious our interest is.
 
KillerB said:
I have heard the Braves staff was at a workout checking out former recruit Tim Finke, who as posted earlier, is transferring from Grand Canyon. SIU was also at the same workout checking him out. I am not sure out serious our interest is.
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Grand Canyon is somewhat of a Transfer U with many incoming transfers...now Tim Finke wants to transfer out? Wonder what the whole story is.

He got decent playing time - especially for a freshman- probably more than he'd get anywhere else. And his older brother
had a really great year there at GCU - so you'd think he'd stay .....
But he say it's the "style of play" and he "didn't feel as if he fit"... what??- he goes thru the entire recruiting process
& gets to play a bunch at GCU with his bro then decides he doesn't like the style of play?
That doesn't make a lot of sense. How did he NOT know their style of play after two to three whole years of being recruited & playing for them?

He started some games but wasn't very productive & mostly came off the bench playing 16 minutes per game
(roughly the same amount of minutes Luuk van Bree or Luqman Lundy played - but they are seniors!) -
BUT...his production was less than those guys....He averaged just 3.5 ppg hitting 37% overall and from 3-pt -
Plus van Bree added a lot more rebounds and Lundy a lot more ball-handling & assists.

I think he could be a Jeremy Crouch-type player down the road....but wouldn't help at all next year.
..but my fear is that he is NOT a team player and is focused way too much on himself and filling his needs-
check what he told the Champaign News-Gazette...
"This time around I'll be a lot more precise on exactly what I want and exactly what I desire"
https://twitter.com/ngpreps/status/1113173632908451840
...ya gotta wonder if those kinds of comments will turn a few coaches off.....

I know our coaches want to be very careful with that last scholarship - make it count.....
You gotta admit Coach Wardle knows more than we do about this - but you'll never convince everyone.
There were some (on another message board) truly ignorantly labeling Lundy, LVB, Brummett, etc. as wasted scholarships..
 
If Bradley could land a quality transfer like Finke, he'd have to sit out next year and would be eligible in 2020-21. But I think it would be worthwhile.
Bradley will lose Darrell Brown and Nate Kennell, 2 of our key players, and the 2 best 3-point shooters we have. So landing a talented shooter with other great skills would go a long way toward replacing DB's, and Nate's production. Tim Finke only averaged 3.5 ppg , but he did not play very much. He did shoot 37% from three, but is capable of much better. He was a consensus 4-star recruit whio chose Grand Canyon over offers from a bunch of high major schools. So I wonder if he isn't looking to go higher.
 
Da Coach said:
...So I wonder if he isn't looking to go higher.
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you think so? After seeing how his brother thrived and has a much better shot at a pro career after transferring to a level that was better matched to his skills. Plus he's working out in front of SIU & Bradley according to KillerB - so looks more like he's considering midmajors
 
Finke played AAU with my son and is a stud. Great athlete, great shooter and can handle the ball. He would be an instant starter at BU. He outgrew the Illinois Irish and played with the St. Louis Eagles his last year in AAU. I would be thrilled if he ended up at BU.
 
Da Coach said:
He was a consensus 4-star recruit whio chose Grand Canyon over offers from a bunch of high major schools. So I wonder if he isn't looking to go higher.
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We'll agree to disagree on this one. I follow Illinois recruiting very closely and the high major offers were vanishing by his senior year in high school. Grand Canyon seemed to be orchestrated as a school where he and his brother could play together and see a fair amount of time. I am not saying he would not do well at Bradley, but I agree with T on this one. I truly believe he thought he was better than he played. This is a common trend in college basketball, no one wants to develop they all want to star from day 1. I will be surprised if he goes higher than BU with a scholarship.
 
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