Matrim55
Why is it so hard To make it in America
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Felt the need to create this thread as I'm watching BJ Johnson of LaSalle hang with Villanova.
Here's the opening caveat: Of course we all hope that we don't need to land a postgrad this offseason. If the three injured guys come back healthy, and Durham & Enoch improve, and we sign Diallo, and Jalen doesn't declare, then we almost certainly won't.
But that's a lot of "ifs," and given the make-up of the team for next year, as well as the dearth of uncommitted high school seniors who'd likely be able to help us next season, I feel like this is something to keep an eye on.
With that in mind:
BJ Johnson, LaSalle: 6-foot-7 200 lb wing who wasted two years at Syracuse before transferring home to Philly. He's averaging 19p/6r/1a/1b/1s per game this season, on 54/47/93 shooting splits, and he's been the best player on the floor vs. Nova.
Obviously this level of efficiency isn't going to continue, but he's a former top 100 recruit who will either end up in the draft or a bigger program next year. Pitino is probably courtside already, to be honest.
Ronald Delph, Florida Atlantic: 7-foot, 245 lb center who started his career at Auburn but never played a game for them, and is now in his second season at FAU. He's averaging 12p/9.5r/2b per game on 63/58 shooting splits, and has had big games against not-entirely-crap teams like USF and Hawaii, and FSU last season.
He'd be a perfect fit for UConn because he fouls a ton and has literally zero assists on the season. But still... if Enoch & Durham don't pick it up, and we don't land Bamba, this guy could be a meaningful target for us come spring.
EDIT: Somehow I missed the fact that this kid's playing right now against tOSU, our next opponent. He had 2 points, 10 rebounds and a block before fouling out, and the game has headed to overtime.
Johnathan Motley, Baylor: 6-foot-10, 230-lb PF who is projected as a first round pick on some sites. He's currently averaging 16p/8r/2a/1b on 50/40/78 splits for the 4th ranked team in the country.
Root for another Baylor scandal so they get the death penalty IMO. And even if that happens, Motley's probably in the league anyway.
Alan Herndon, Wyoming: 6-foot-9, 210 lb PF who redshirted his first year and is now a fourth-year junior scheduled to graduate in the spring. He's averaging 11p/6r/1a/2b on 52/50/59 shooting splits.
Kid didn't look out of place at Cal two weeks ago, and if he decides to take his talent out of Laramie, every Pac 12 school other than maybe UCLA will come knocking. We probably would as well.
Sean Obi, Duke: 6-foot-9, 255 lb C who has barely gotten on the floor for Duke over the past season-and-a-half after transferring from Rice. As a freshman he averaged 12p/9.5r/.8b/.7a on 59/54 shooting splits for a bad team against decent competition.
Obi can't protect the rim much, and his lateral movement is bad. It might be worse than "bad" after offseason knee surgery (he went under the knife in June), but I don't care... the dude, when on the floor, rebounds.
He showed no real interest in UConn after deciding he was going to transfer from Rice, but given the guys he'll be competing with if he comes back this year, and if he stays next year... if the dude wants PT, he's got to leave.
FWIW he played ball in Greenwich, which is where his guardian is from. Obi is a business major so I'm not 100% sure what we'd have to offer postgrad-wise.
Jack Whitman, William & Mary: 6-foot-9, 235 lb C who redshirted his freshman year and is now a fourth-year junior scheduled to graduate in the spring. He's averaging 11p/6.4r/1a/.6b per game on 62/69 shooting splits.
He battled like hell against Duke (I watched part of that game) and Louisville (didn't watch that one), and picked up a ton fouls in short minutes. But he rebounds, and he finishes around the basket even against length, and he doesn't turn the ball over.
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Everyone should feel free to add to this throughout the season. It's sometimes hard to keep track of all this stuff, but hopefully this can be a good start.
Here's the opening caveat: Of course we all hope that we don't need to land a postgrad this offseason. If the three injured guys come back healthy, and Durham & Enoch improve, and we sign Diallo, and Jalen doesn't declare, then we almost certainly won't.
But that's a lot of "ifs," and given the make-up of the team for next year, as well as the dearth of uncommitted high school seniors who'd likely be able to help us next season, I feel like this is something to keep an eye on.
With that in mind:
BJ Johnson, LaSalle: 6-foot-7 200 lb wing who wasted two years at Syracuse before transferring home to Philly. He's averaging 19p/6r/1a/1b/1s per game this season, on 54/47/93 shooting splits, and he's been the best player on the floor vs. Nova.
Obviously this level of efficiency isn't going to continue, but he's a former top 100 recruit who will either end up in the draft or a bigger program next year. Pitino is probably courtside already, to be honest.
Ronald Delph, Florida Atlantic: 7-foot, 245 lb center who started his career at Auburn but never played a game for them, and is now in his second season at FAU. He's averaging 12p/9.5r/2b per game on 63/58 shooting splits, and has had big games against not-entirely-crap teams like USF and Hawaii, and FSU last season.
He'd be a perfect fit for UConn because he fouls a ton and has literally zero assists on the season. But still... if Enoch & Durham don't pick it up, and we don't land Bamba, this guy could be a meaningful target for us come spring.
EDIT: Somehow I missed the fact that this kid's playing right now against tOSU, our next opponent. He had 2 points, 10 rebounds and a block before fouling out, and the game has headed to overtime.
Johnathan Motley, Baylor: 6-foot-10, 230-lb PF who is projected as a first round pick on some sites. He's currently averaging 16p/8r/2a/1b on 50/40/78 splits for the 4th ranked team in the country.
Root for another Baylor scandal so they get the death penalty IMO. And even if that happens, Motley's probably in the league anyway.
Alan Herndon, Wyoming: 6-foot-9, 210 lb PF who redshirted his first year and is now a fourth-year junior scheduled to graduate in the spring. He's averaging 11p/6r/1a/2b on 52/50/59 shooting splits.
Kid didn't look out of place at Cal two weeks ago, and if he decides to take his talent out of Laramie, every Pac 12 school other than maybe UCLA will come knocking. We probably would as well.
Sean Obi, Duke: 6-foot-9, 255 lb C who has barely gotten on the floor for Duke over the past season-and-a-half after transferring from Rice. As a freshman he averaged 12p/9.5r/.8b/.7a on 59/54 shooting splits for a bad team against decent competition.
Obi can't protect the rim much, and his lateral movement is bad. It might be worse than "bad" after offseason knee surgery (he went under the knife in June), but I don't care... the dude, when on the floor, rebounds.
He showed no real interest in UConn after deciding he was going to transfer from Rice, but given the guys he'll be competing with if he comes back this year, and if he stays next year... if the dude wants PT, he's got to leave.
FWIW he played ball in Greenwich, which is where his guardian is from. Obi is a business major so I'm not 100% sure what we'd have to offer postgrad-wise.
Jack Whitman, William & Mary: 6-foot-9, 235 lb C who redshirted his freshman year and is now a fourth-year junior scheduled to graduate in the spring. He's averaging 11p/6.4r/1a/.6b per game on 62/69 shooting splits.
He battled like hell against Duke (I watched part of that game) and Louisville (didn't watch that one), and picked up a ton fouls in short minutes. But he rebounds, and he finishes around the basket even against length, and he doesn't turn the ball over.
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Everyone should feel free to add to this throughout the season. It's sometimes hard to keep track of all this stuff, but hopefully this can be a good start.
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