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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 4, 2017 7:52:46 GMT -5
Has anyone heard much about where WU may be going with the 4 open scholarships that are out there now? It seems like the team is going hard after PG Malik Maitland, who played at Morehead State, but left the team this past season due to a situation in which his coach (Sean Woods) got physical with him and a teammate during halftime of a game. (http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20161223/former-lopez-hoop-star-malik-maitland-dealing-with-morehead-state-issues ). Woods ended resigning mid-season and Maitland left the program. I've seen some articles mention that Maitland may not have to sit out and may gain this season of eligibility back due to the incident that caused him to leave. This all happened in his 2nd season at Morehead, so he would definitely have 2 years of eligibility remaining, and possibly 3 if those accounts are true. Seems like he is a solid point guard that can create for others and he does score a bit as well...probably would be a good addition to join Keondre Schumacher in the incoming class with Keon Johnson and Patrick Fisher gone from last year's team...Not sure when he's planning on deciding on where he heads next, but the spring signing period starts next week.
But beyond that, I'm not hearing much about how the team plans to fill out the rest of the roster. I would think the team needs at least another big to come in to join Aussie Tom Pupavac now that Okeke is gone. Probably would be nice to add a wing with some size (or 2) to help fill the spots left by Rod Perkins and Josh Davenport. Austin Awad is a JUCO transfer coming in, but he seems to be mainly a shooter...would help to have a couple of guys who can attack the basket and/or be versatile defenders.
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Post by wupike on Apr 4, 2017 8:56:49 GMT -5
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Post by wupike on Apr 4, 2017 8:58:15 GMT -5
Won't let me post pictures or I'd post them all. |
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Post by Admin on Apr 4, 2017 10:54:51 GMT -5
Won't let me post pictures or I'd post them all. You should be able to post pics. Let me know what your problem is posting.  Justin Forrest |
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Post by wupike on Apr 11, 2017 15:59:35 GMT -5
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 18, 2017 8:40:33 GMT -5
WU seems to be hitting Australia hard, and if the program is getting some inroads there, that is good. That's a country that continues to improve its developmental programs and as we've seen with Cooks, there is definitely talent that can be found there. St. Mary's has had an Aussie pipeline for a while and they are always in the mix w/ Gonzaga in the WCC standings. Seeing that Zunic has made junior national teams is a strong indicator that he should be a solid addition to the program. Bret McCormick (from the Herald) had a good recap of the recruiting class up to this point, with some quotes from Keondre Schumacher, Austin Awad, and Tom Pupavac: www.heraldonline.com/sports/college/big-south/winthrop-university/article144662319.htmlStill three open scholarships...wouldn't hurt to get a slashing-type of wing with some size (kind of a Josh Davenport style of player)...and another big wouldn't be bad either. |
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 18, 2017 9:09:18 GMT -5
Brion Whitley from Riverview HS in Sarasota, FL is visiting WU this week....he's a 6'5" shooting guard who had originally committed to UNCW, but decided to decommit after their coaching change. If Kevin Keatts/UNCW liked him, he'd probably be a very good get for WU...and would be nice to have that sort of size on the perimeter as well.
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 18, 2017 9:42:19 GMT -5
I apparently missed it last night and this morning, but Jermaine Ukaegbu from Indian Hills CC committed to WU. He's a 6'5" SF..played HS ball at Montrose Christian (the HS that Kevin Durant came from just outside DC), averaging 12.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg his senior season (http://www.sacredheartpioneers.com/sports/m-baskbl/2015-16/bios/ukaegbu_jermaine_vk6x?view=bio). Played his freshman year at Sacred Heart, playing only 7 minutes/game, averaging 1.6 ppg & 1.6 rpg (shooting 53.8% from the field, but only 36.4% from the FT line...only took one three pointer, which he missed): www.sacredheartpioneers.com/sports/m-baskbl/2015-16/players/jermaineukaegbu2h31?view=profileHe then transferred to Indian Hills (which is a JUCO powerhouse, typically loaded with D1 guys), averaging 3.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg, along with 1.5 blocks/game, shooting 62.3% from the field (not hitting any threes) and 39% from the FT line (http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2016-17/div1/players/jermaineukaegbu61i7). Based on stats, seems like a wing version of Duby...athletic, hopefully a good defender, but you aren't going to run your offense through him... |
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 18, 2017 9:50:53 GMT -5
Based on this, looks like my assessment as a wing-version of Duby is pretty accurate...can jump out of the gym, seems to finish well around the basket...and looks like he can score off the dribble some. Should be able to provide energy (and hopefully defense)..
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Post by winthrop on Apr 18, 2017 14:42:31 GMT -5
3.3 ppg? We need more offensive production than that...
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 18, 2017 15:44:24 GMT -5
Duby averaged 3.1 ppg this past season...I really think this guy will provide similar things for the team as Duby did, sacrificing some height/size, but gaining some perimeter defense possibilities and a little different offensive skill set (attacking off the dribble instead of posting up)...In lineups with Cooks plus a couple of shooters, I think you can live with a limited scorer on the floor to go along with that, as long as he can provide defense/rebounding/etc.
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Post by wupike on Apr 18, 2017 19:37:56 GMT -5
He only average 3 min per game this entire season; he averaged 3 points and 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 3 min per game.... thats pretty impressive.
That team he was on was LOADED.
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 18, 2017 20:48:56 GMT -5
He only average 3 min per game this entire season; he averaged 3 points and 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 3 min per game.... thats pretty impressive. That team he was on was LOADED. Don't necessarily trust the minute counts from JUCO stats...They are almost always incomplete. No way he only played only 3 minutes a game and put up those #s. |
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Post by winthrop on Apr 21, 2017 13:18:09 GMT -5
Let's not forget we just lost 20ppg in Keon Johnson....
That needs to be made up in some way shape or form to still compete at a high level. Who will bring that scoring for us?
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Post by WinthropEagleFan on Apr 23, 2017 15:48:31 GMT -5
Brion Whitley committed to Murray State yesterday, and then WU got a commitment from Charles Falden today...Falden is a 6'3" guard who played for LC Bird HS in VA, and then spent this past season at Massanutten Military Academy for a post grad year. He scored 16 ppg w/ 5 rpg in his senior season at LC Bird...Can't find total stats for him at Massanutten, but I have seen where he has had some 30+ point scoring games for them.
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