2025 Recruiting: - Acaden Lewis final four | Page 9 | The Boneyard

2025 Recruiting: Acaden Lewis final four

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I am not sure why we would prioritize a 5th G over an automatic starter at 4# in Bundalo. Having a battery of Bundalo + Abraham + Reed + Reibe gives you so many looks at match up options.

You can go big and strong, traditional 4/5 with Abraham and Reed.
Go long and deep, stretch with giants who can shoot a 3 with Bundalo and Reibe
And mix it up with a stretch 4 who can play outside then crash the board with Reed in the middle.

If you need a G, you can get a transfer G (RJ, Tristan, Cam, now Aidan). Guards with March experience are extremely valuable. A mixture of Mahaney, Ball, Adams, and Nowell gives you a lot of flexibility 1-3

2025:
1 & 2: Mahaney, Adams, Ball, Nowell
3: Stewart and Ross
4 & 5: Reed, Reibe, Bundalo, Abraham, Singare
Plus Reibe in a “positionless” system can shoot the 3 some and move a shot blocker out from under the rim to guard him. In that scenario you’d want a 4 like Bundalo to be able to get some offensive rebounds and putbacks, along with being an occasional option on the block.
 
I’m sometimes troubled by the use of the term “wing”. To me it implies a player that prefers to play beyond the arc and occasionally take guys off the dribble to get to the rim or use a midrange game. Generally I do not associate those guys with doing heavy rebounding. I love what Alex has given in terms of being another presence on the glass. Ideally the 4 spot can give you some shooting, some size, some rebounding, and some ability to defend opposing 4s that might have a post game.
That's an interesting take but it seems that our guards (Tristan, Cam) and some wings (Castle) do a lot of the rebounding so not sure exactly what Dan Hurley expects. I only know he wants to dominate the boards at both ends so perhaps that means mostly everyone crashes the boards and it just turns out that way. We get a lot of long rebounds due to a lot of outside shooting misses on both ends so that explains the smaller guys cleaning up.
 
That's an interesting take but it seems that our guards (Tristan, Cam) and some wings (Castle) do a lot of the rebounding so not sure exactly what Dan Hurley expects. I only know he wants to dominate the boards at both ends so perhaps that means mostly everyone crashes the boards and it just turns out that way. We get a lot of long rebounds due to a lot of outside shooting misses on both ends so that explains the smaller guys cleaning up.
I just wonder with the guards we have and are recruiting being a bit smaller than guys like Castle, Newton, and Cam, if that would continue. Having a well rounded 4 that can defend big forwards, rebound, and shoot a bit I think is important. If Bundalo and Reibe want to both commit here, then I sure hope we’d want to take both.
 
Also worth noting: “They're looking for two guards to come in for this class and one big so the opportunity is there."

This does put a little pressure on the 3 remaining guards to pull the trigger or lose out. Spot goes to the guard that likely wants it the most. I wonder if Reibe and Bundalo are an either/or situation or if they’d take both.

Find it fairly interesting how UNC gets so little traction in these scenarios. They feel like the bridesmaid quite often, which leads me to believe the brand is keeping them included but something else is really keeping them from landing. They’re going to have playing time at guard.

I love how Dan Hurley approaches this though....We're not going to get Diallo'd. We are a place people want to be, s(H)it or get off the pot. I think it's a great way to identify the right character guys who know what they're looking for.

Kudos for the staff knowing the grass isn't always greener.
 
I love how Dan Hurley approaches this though....We're not going to get Diallo'd. We are a place people want to be, s(H)it or get off the pot. I think it's a great way to identify the right character guys who know what they're looking for.

Kudos for the staff knowing the grass isn't always greener.
I read it this way too. Darius committing is the first domino. Now it’s time to turn up the heat a little bit. Every guy left on the board for us is a phenomenal option, that fills a need. Hurley is always playing chess not checkers and except for Meleek, I believe all the others we’ve prioritized are either close to wrapping up visits or actively entering “decision mode.” Doesn’t hurt to start very strategically reminding everyone that our dance card only has a few spots left, and if they want to be here they shouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable sitting back and waiting it out.
 
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I just wonder with the guards we have and are recruiting being a bit smaller than guys like Castle, Newton, and Cam, if that would continue. Having a well rounded 4 that can defend big forwards, rebound, and shoot a bit I think is important. If Bundalo and Reibe want to both commit here, then I sure hope we’d want to take both.
I'd love to get them both. They are important for shot blocking as well. As far as small guards Bazz and Boat were often leading rebounders back a few years and they could really go up for those long rebounds. Ball is about 6-3 and has a 42" vertical so we may see more of his acrobatics this year. It will be fun how this all plays out.
 
Who's small? Nowell.

Mullins 6'5"
Thomas 6'4"
Adams 6'5"
Mahaney 6'3"
Lewis 6'3"
Hass 6'3"
Ball 6'3"
None are really small but Castle is 6’6”, Newton is 6’5”, and Spencer is 6’4”. All are excellent rebounders for guards. That’s not to say this crop won’t rebound well, but they have big shoes to fill in that regard.
 
How about baseballs thrown onto the field when ARod was called out for slapping the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove? Or batteries thrown at opposing outfielders? Lol
The battery thing was Philly Phans throwing them. Google it and see my above comment about Philly being the worst…

Bottom line is every fan base has a few nitwits who can’t control themselves. Heck people have started throwing things at musicians.
 
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None are really small but Castle is 6’6”, Newton is 6’5”, and Spencer is 6’4”. All are excellent rebounders for guards. That’s not to say this crop won’t rebound well, but they have big shoes to fill in that regard.
The height issue was intensified in the finals vs Purdue that our perimeter was taller than theirs so could really contest 3s.

In general, height is not as much of a concern in our offense, as it is on defense, but 6'3" is plenty from a guard.
 
The height issue was intensified in the finals vs Purdue that our perimeter was taller than theirs so could really contest 3s.

In general, height is not as much of a concern in our offense, as it is on defense, but 6'3" is plenty from a guard.
Imo height will be more important at the non center positions going forward because Clingan was a high level rim protector, and did his work in the lane and close to the post. Reibe is very skilled but is not quite the same type of big as Clingan. UConn would want to have rebounding from the 1 through 4 spots as well as strong perimeter D and quickness to cut off guard penetration and run opponents off the three point line.
 
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Reading the tea leaves on Thomas. I think the ship has sailed there. Darius Adams didn’t even bring him up in regards to the guys he wanted to recruit to UConn.

Except that every source still states we're recruiting him and that we were present at his "school" not that long ago. I think we're definitely still recruiting him but we also realize that he's probably playing the long game and we prioritizing the other guys since a bird in the hand... But if we miss out on our other options, I would think our ship would still be in the water.
 
Except that every source still states we're recruiting him and that we were present at his "school" not that long ago. I think we're definitely still recruiting him but we also realize that he's probably playing the long game and we prioritizing the other guys since a bird in the hand... But if we miss out on our other options, I would think our ship would still be in the water.
If you think we’re getting Thomas at this point, I have a bridge to sell you.
 
The height issue was intensified in the finals vs Purdue that our perimeter was taller than theirs so could really contest 3s.

In general, height is not as much of a concern in our offense, as it is on defense, but 6'3" is plenty from a guard.

IMO: Height is always a good thing, but it's gotta come with skill first. We learned that when we recruited AK rather than our usual type of PF like Akok or Johnson before he switched to the C.

Fundamentals gotta come first on both ends of the floor.

Also gotta consider the guys who are undersized but uber-strong athletic. Nowell and Solo are undersized for their position, but both of them are built like a bull on HGH. If their fundamentals on defense are right, they're going to defend the drive well and should have enough length to contest.
 
If you think we’re getting Thomas at this point, I have a bridge to sell you.
I like the talent a lot but I think the decision timelines will probably mean we are more likely to land another guard at this point.
 
I like the talent a lot but I think the decision timelines will probably mean we are more likely to land another guard at this point.
Yeah - and honestly it seems like his priorities are a bit different. He just set up a visit to Kansas State. That tells me something.
 
Yeah - and honestly it seems like his priorities are a bit different. He just set up a visit to Kansas State. That tells me something.
No hard feelings. We wanted him, the staff wanted him, that was clear to everyone. He’s a great player. But there are also other great players out there. It’s a business.
 
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If you think we’re getting Thomas at this point, I have a bridge to sell you.

Didn't say I think we're going to get him. Just that we are still recruiting him as had reported repeatedly.
 
Didn't say I think we're going to get him. Just that we are still recruiting him as had reported repeatedly.
I hear you…but I’m not sure the reports that we are still recruiting him really matter that much…it seems obvious he’s not as much of a priority anymore nor are we a priority for him.
 
Bundlo vs Reibe or Bundle AND Reibe might have more to do with the balance Danny seems to like on the roster between veterans, highly rated freshman, super sophomores and transfers.
 
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On the subject of creepy Duke....not trying to be a hater, and I appreciate the enthusiasm of the crowd, but this Duke video always makes me laugh.


Why in the hell did they choose that song??

Because they're softies?
 
Scheyer hasn’t done much at all with developing guards.

Foster, Roach, Proctor, Powers, Stewart were all top 25 guards that didn’t get any better or transferred out. He did get McCain in but I attribute that more to his killer tic toc videos.
 
Scheyer hasn’t done much at all with developing guards.

Foster, Roach, Proctor, Powers, Stewart were all top 25 guards that didn’t get any better or transferred out. He did get McCain in but I attribute that more to his killer tic toc videos.
I know people like to pile on you, but this one dude cmon.
 
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