There's no chance we're going into next season with only an unproven freshman PG who's borderline top 50. We learned our lesson with that once last year and Hurley isn't making that mistake again. Especially with a guy who's a borderline PG to begin with
I don’t disagree with the sentiment. But at some point we have to groom a freshman pg. if he can’t play next year. Then the year after we’re gonna say, “there is no way Hurley can go into the year with a back up guard who hasn’t played consistent minutes yet”. A freshman guard could’ve given us what Mali gave us this year. We haven’t groomed a hs guard in a long while.
County is a combo guard who’s more scorer than pure point right now. There will be minutes for him at the 2 and as a secondary ball handler where he can develop his PG skills without having the pressure to run the show.
Thought he was more of a table setter. Didn’t think he was a score first guy. He’s also a ++ defender. He offers us positional size as well. Switchablility.
Agreed. Or we’re going to stop getting them.
Yea, like Malachi was extremely invaluable during the non conf portion of the schedule when Silas was in constant foul trouble and struggling a bit picking things up, but I expect him to hit the ground running next season assuming he's here. If a young player can't fill the role that Malachi has done the past 20+ games then that's an issue. I'd much rather a young player getting those minutes getting their feet wet so they're more comfortable the following season.
It also solves the issue of constantly starting over at the pg position with transfers. Have a guy in the program ready to take the reins. That’s invaluable with the complexity of our system.
Using this year as an example feels a bit odd to me. Silas has played too many minutes for a good chunk of the conference schedule, largely because Malachi has struggled in his role (with some very good games in there as well). The goal was to have Smith playing more minutes and not have games with Silas playing 35+ minutes. This offense is also clearly missing another ball-handler and creator. There are minutes for County and a backup PG.
Happy to know I’m not on a hill by myself here.
Well if we keep getting Tristen Newton and Silas Demary Jr from the portal we don't need to. I agree it would be nice, just not willing to put all the eggs in the Junior County basket. Especially when about half the board wasn't even happy we recruited him, but now wants to rely on him before he sets foot on campus
I’m not necessarily huge on County admittedly. But we went out and recruited him and asked him to play for us. If our coaching staff thought highly enough to bring him in, I hope they feel good enough about him to trust to give him spare backup minutes off the bench. Especially with a guy who can potentially be an All American in front of him.
But his role wouldn’t be Tristen Newton and Silas Demary. It’d be Malachi Smith and 23 Hassan Diarra. If we aren’t recruiting kids capable of that what are we doing? We have freshman guards producing all over the country. Furman has a freshman guard we’re about to see who has produced. We have to invest in the guys we recruit at some point. We’re hoping he’s Silas and Tristen a year or 2 from now. And the only way young guards develop is with reps
I'm saying I don't care about recruiting HS guards if we continue getting Tristen Newton's and Silas Demary Jr's from the portal. And I'm not even saying we shouldn't give County minutes. I just don't like the idea of having no other option if County isn't ready year 1. I think there's still value even if he's not ready for major minutes until year 2.
you mean the athleticism fans who wanted Toure?
Praying you keep getting Silas and Tristen in the portal is a dangerous game. Because you might just get Aiden Mahaney. That’s not a recipe for consistent success. We’ve been fortunate.
If Silas goes down I don’t think a backup transfer PG is saving our season.
How important was that experience his freshman year to be ready to take over his sophomore year.
I'm with you there, if we recruited him I think we should give him some minutes off the bench. Just don't love the idea of not having another option if he's not ready. Even if it's just another Malachi Smith type that ends up losing minutes by conference play if County is ready
Also like the idea of grooming a young PG. What really good player is going to want to join us to backup? Catch 22 on this one. You're better off giving the talented youngster time.
I reference Malachi because for next season with another year in the system and less deferring to players he shouldn't be deferring to I expect Silas to be one of the best PGs in the country and an AA caliber player, I expect him to be out there for 30+ minutes a game. There will obviously be games where health/foul trouble will change that, but in a perfect world I expect there to only be about 10 minutes of backup pg minutes available similar to this season with Malachi's role. So taking that into account you're going to have to bring in another player that (1) is comfortable with knowing they might not have a big minutes role wise and (2) be good enough to fill that role without completely sinking the team while on the court. If a freshman County can't do it then it is what is but if you evaluate and scout right you can find one, I watch enough hoops to see that these guys are all over the country. I just prefer that its a young player so they can be in the system learning for multiple years, if they can find another Diarra situation with multiple years of eligibility that works too.
Yep. It was good enough for Calhoun... we always groomed the next guy.
While I agree you need a 3rd competent PG in case of injury, I think he has to be a 3rd stringer, preferably a Donnell Beverly type, so that your freshman is brought along.
It can be done. Donnell Beverly joined the team despite Shabazz Napier getting backup minutes ahead of him.
