2024 Recruiting: - Jordan Derkack (Merrimack Transfer) | Page 2 | The Boneyard

2024 Recruiting: Jordan Derkack (Merrimack Transfer)

I hope Hurley doesn’t tell him that..
He’s clearly got a ton of potential but he’s also averaging 3.7 PPG on sub-40% shooting. If the offseason goes to plan, I’m guessing he’s looking at a pretty sizable role as a scorer off the bench with a chance to compete for a starting role, but you can’t go into next season with him penciled in as a starter.
 
I hope Hurley doesn’t tell him that..

Why not? Our coaches should be (and are) honest with our players about what they need to improve and how much to be be a starter on a team with top-10 aspirations.

They're also honest with players about their potential role. Solo's role is likely to be off the bench learning the game considering how much he needs to improve. That's why we apparently are after other SGs like this Merrimack kid.
 
He’s clearly got a ton of potential but he’s also averaging 3.7 PPG on sub-40% shooting. If the offseason goes to plan, I’m guessing he’s looking at a pretty sizable role as a scorer off the bench with a chance to compete for a starting role, but you can’t go into next season with him penciled in as a starter.
“His to lose” meaning he’ll get every opportunity to win the position. Recruiting over him with a penciled in starter from the transfer portal may have unintended consequences
 
Why not? Our coaches should be (and are) honest with our players about what they need to improve and how much to be be a starter on a team with top-10 aspirations.

They're also honest with players about their potential role. Solo's role is likely to be off the bench learning the game considering how much he needs to improve. That's why we apparently are after other SGs like this Merrimack kid.
The Merrimack kid is not being recruited as a starter imo. Again I think this will all be moot in the fall. I think Hurley will bring in guys to challenge him for the spot. But I wouldn’t bet money on him being a bench player again. We’ll see
 
“His to lose” meaning he’ll get every opportunity to win the position. Recruiting over him with a penciled in starter from the transfer portal may have unintended consequences

You recruit to find the best talent to reach our aspirations. Championships. You think Hassan was feeling warm and fuzzy inside when we secured a commitment from Cam? Hell no. But he stuck around and made a name for himself, and may just start next season.

If any player on our roster doesn't have the nads to stick around and battle for a starting spot, they weren't meant to be here anyways.
 
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You recruit to find the best talent to reach our aspirations. You think Hassan was feeling warm and fuzzy inside when we secured a commitment from Cam? Hell no. But he stuck around and made a name for himself, and may just start next season.

If any player on our roster doesn't have the nads to stick around and battle for a starting spot, they weren't meant to be here anyways.
That’s naive. Hassan wasn’t and isn’t the level of prospect/recruit solo is. Solo showed a ton early in the season. Hurley has been quoted as saying he won’t go grab a bunch of portal guys this summer because he believes the young guys fill a lot of those holes. We’ll go get a starting big and some depth pieces to challenge guys like solo and Jaylin. But I think those two guys can very well be our starting 2 and 3 next season.

Diarra/Nowell
Solo/Portal add
Stewart/Ross
Karaban/Samson(?)
Portal add/Samson or Singare(?)

I trust Hurley either way
 
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That’s naive. Hassan wasn’t and isn’t the level of prospect/recruit solo is. Solo showed a ton early in the season. Hurley has been quoted as saying he won’t go grab a bunch of portal guys this summer because he believes the young guys fill a lot of those holes. We’ll go get a starting big and some depth pieces to challenge guys like solo and Jaylin. But I think those two guys can very well be our starting 2 and 2 next season

They were both 4* players in high school. Basically the same level recruit. Neither is an NBA prospect. Junior Hass and Freshman Solo are similar players (not very good at anything, undersized, good athletes). Solo a better leaper but Hass more skilled.

Hurley quotes are coach speak. Meaningless. It's PR not gospel. He says the same ish every season and our entire back court is transfers.
 
They were both 4* players in high school. Basically the same level recruit. Neither is an NBA prospect. Junior Hass and Freshman Solo are similar players (not very good at anything, undersized, good athletes). Solo a better leaper but Hass more skilled.

Hurley quotes are coach speak. Meaningless. It's PR not gospel. He says the same ish every season and our entire back court is transfers.
I disagree. Solo is absolutely an NBA prospect imo
 
I disagree. Solo is absolutely an NBA prospect imo
I think the point is he’s not currently an NBA prospect and wasn’t coming out of HS. That’s not to say he couldn’t become one with his athleticism.
 
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That’s naive. Hassan wasn’t and isn’t the level of prospect/recruit solo is. Solo showed a ton early in the season. Hurley has been quoted as saying he won’t go grab a bunch of portal guys this summer because he believes the young guys fill a lot of those holes. We’ll go get a starting big and some depth pieces to challenge guys like solo and Jaylin. But I think those two guys can very well be our starting 2 and 3 next season.

Diarra/Nowell
Solo/Portal add
Stewart/Ross
Karaban/Samson(?)
Portal add/Samson or Singare(?)

I trust Hurley either way
Diarra/Nowell(6th man)
Liam McNeeley/portal
Stewart/Ross
Karaban/portal
Johnson/portal

Ball is elsewhere. I am certain Hurley will reward Johnson for his loyalty to the program and make him the starter for his senior year.
 
Wingspan, shooting ability and athleticism. Not Donovan Mitchell caliber, but that’s the prototype. He has high defensive potential with that wingspan as well.
He needs to show his shooting ability more for it to be a deciding factor in being an NBA prospect
 
If Dan wants him, I want him. This ain't rocket science

Dan wanted Timberlake too did you watch him? Let’s be honest here Dan got a bit lucky with that swing and miss.

Hey if you get a stud shooter as well and this guys a piece then it’s all good. But if we’re hoping he becomes a better shooter because he’s now in Storrs I’m not thrilled.

But that’s just me!
 
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Agree. And how often do we say, take the guys that want to be here. If he does, let’s make it happen.
Right. He would surely be advised that practices border on survivalist training. He likely would be told he might not be a starter for the rest of his career. But if he likes that kind of challenge and can handle the puke bucket.................come on down! All dog. That would be the kind of guy the staff would be looking for. Maybe he likes the idea of a life changing opportunity. The practice facility is not for the faint of heart.
 
Diarra/Nowell(6th man)
Liam McNeeley/portal
Stewart/Ross
Karaban/portal
Johnson/portal

Ball is elsewhere. I am certain Hurley will reward Johnson for his loyalty to the program and make him the starter for his senior year.

Johnson isn't going to be rewarded with a starting spot for "loyalty." He will earn his role in practice like every player on our roster. This is a silly take. No one is guaranteed s---.

Also, speculating on transfers is lame. We're fighting for a sweet 16 spots in 9 hours .
 
I hope Hurley doesn’t tell him that..
Off season that is what Hurley and staff will do.

Here’s where you are
Here’s where you need to be
Here’s what you have to do
Let’s get to work!

If a kid can’t handle that, he’s not going to be worth a damn anyway.
 
I watched a few games... Derkack is growing on me. I see a great 6th-man or low-end starter here. Definitely worth pursuing.

If we nabbed a Cliff-level big and this kid, we would be in a good spot. Not great (kids like Cam and Tristen are rare) but good.
 
Dan wanted Timberlake too did you watch him? Let’s be honest here Dan got a bit lucky with that swing and miss.

Hey if you get a stud shooter as well and this guys a piece then it’s all good. But if we’re hoping he becomes a better shooter because he’s now in Storrs I’m not thrilled.

But that’s just me!
We don’t know all of the players that will even be in the portal yet. Who is to say that other players he’d want more will end up in the portal once the tournament wraps up? This is kind of just noise at this point anyway. The picture should be clearer a month from now.
 
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Diarra/Nowell(6th man)
Liam McNeeley/portal
Stewart/Ross
Karaban/portal
Johnson/portal

Ball is elsewhere. I am certain Hurley will reward Johnson for his loyalty to the program and make him the starter for his senior year.

Assuming we land McNeeley is a pretty bold leap. Seems like we should assume KU leads until we hear he’s visiting other schools.

Also Samson is maximized in his role as a 16-18 minute off the bench big man. He is not nearly skilled and impactful enough to start, if we’re hoping to contend in the BE, let alone make a tourney run next season.
 
Dan wanted Timberlake too did you watch him? Let’s be honest here Dan got a bit lucky with that swing and miss.

Hey if you get a stud shooter as well and this guys a piece then it’s all good. But if we’re hoping he becomes a better shooter because he’s now in Storrs I’m not thrilled.

But that’s just me!
UConn got lucky with Cam. His awesome.

But I believe that the UConn staff would have done a much better job putting Timberlake into a position to succeed and Timberlake would have likely been successful at UConn (although I starter role could well have over-exposed him).

The same is going to happen next season. The current team is led by Newton is slow and methodical and that fits with the current lineup.
A team with Diarra at the point - with Stewart, Johnson, and - yes - Ball is going to be much better at a faster pace, because that is going to suit them better. (And Ball is going to look vastly improved because of the increased suitability.)
 
I’m very bullish on Ball. His best game of the year was vs UNC and he has incredible length and great athleticism. I think he is a clear starter on next year’s team. I don’t think we got to see his whole offensive package this year because he was typically the 4th or 5th option when he was on the floor. Stroke looks good.
 
This guy is NOT a replacement for Newton. Period. The end.
I don't think it's matter of replacing guys, it's a matter of bringing in players that can help you win games.
 
I’m very bullish on Ball. His best game of the year was vs UNC and he has incredible length and great athleticism. I think he is a clear starter on next year’s team. I don’t think we got to see his whole offensive package this year because he was typically the 4th or 5th option when he was on the floor. Stroke looks good.
Agreed and Ross too. I think Ross will be a better third year player than second year player, but we will see a lot more of his game next year. Stewart is a clear breakout candidate next year.
 
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