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My guess is that Garcia was known to be a long shot and we were not getting anyone else. We just needed bodies. I say this because we all know the story of AF being a stroke of midnight luck signee, sight unseen. That means that we were not going to sign anyone else. If you have the grant, you might as well use it if the guy is a 7 footer. It looks like a flyer that will not work out. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that there would be a possibility that we could be bringing in 2 more players not including Moss. Of course, I had to assume that someone on the team now would not be here next year. JC seems to be resolved to the fact that he can not recruit players in the 6'8" category with talent from high school. I think that this is a cop out as schools like OU and Western and Mia seem to get bodies. It would be nice to see a big body who can develop play for four or five years. I will guarantee that Gary Waters will be getting bodies from the Cleveland Area and do not tell me that we could not beat CSU in recruiting. BTW, a BSU fan told me that they have 2 6'8" big bodies committed for next year.

I have been thinking about this and I think this is what's going to happen. Sullinger and Knight are ok for backing up the 5 and the 4 respectively and playing 15 minutes a game. If DiMaria or Knight can't become the number one guy at the 4 Singletary (an Antonio Gates type) of Woods (a Massey type) will have to start at the 4. We have to recruit a 5 out of junior college. If we end up with a Sullinger/Parks combo at the 5 we will have to change our style and we will probably drop off a bit.


We can't really say were building for 2010 either because we lose Knight, Sullinger, Mincy, Wood, Fisher and Garcia next year. This is my major concern as replacing 8 people (4 real good, 3 serviceable) in 2 years means we cannot have errors in recruiting. No second chances.

As great as our guards are, I think we will be very happy with Ronnie Moss, so when Mincy and Fisher finish up, we will still be in good shape there.
I also think everyone will be pleasantly surprised by the additions to next year's team beyond Moss.

Kent loses a lot of defense with them for sure. No question about it. Defense needs replaced. The rebounding and scoring will be fine.

Christian has stated to me that Ike is his best offensive rebounder. He is also a shot blocker. Ike is scrappy under the basket and gets to loose balls for tip ins and dunks. He should be decent for at least 20 minutes next year.

Parks gives bulk to wear players down defensively and is capable of hitting a jumper. He should be able to give them 10-12 minutes a game.

Rashad Woods will impress everyone next year. He will have to take more minutes there. He already plays minutes at the four this year. He isn't the defender that Scott is but he is stronger. He is a better shooter as well. 45% from three, 72% from the line. I think given 20-24 minutes a game, Rashad could go for 13 ppg and 5 rpg.

Sullinger won't be a 30 minute a night guy but he could handle 18-20 up from his 13. He gives a little scoring down low and a different look than the other guys who like to face the basket more.

DiMaria has the body to play some minutes at the four. I'm sure he won't be ready to handle 30+ though. Possibly 12 ish.

They have five guys there to man enough of the minutes. They aren't big this year (6'7", 210 and 6'7", 190). They will be every bit as big next year if you throw Parks out of t he mix. Like I said, defense inside will be the key. It would be nice to get a good defensive player about 6-7, 6-8.

Think back to the games when some of these guys have been forced to play because of injury or foul trouble. They have usually stepped up. Sullinger and Knight played well last year while Q was injured. Parks has shown flashes. It won't be as fast of a game but they can hang.

If Woods goes for 13, Ike 5, Sullinger 5, DiMaria for 4 and Parks for 4 that's 31 points inside a game. I also think they can bring in 17 rebounds a game.

Thanks for proving my point. None of those teams recruiting those guys were better than Kent. Nobody was expecting any of those three to lead the team in scoring at some point in their careers, just as nobody expected Fisher to do what he is doing this year. But as I said that bodes well for next year.

Christian's track record for recruiting high schools kids is poor. Luckily, he is one of the best at recruiting the JUCOs.

can you really say his track record for bringing in high school/prep kids is poor? We have two last year that were all mac freshman team, Rod and Chris, Mike Scott, Armon Gates, Deandre Haynes, Sullinger, Mincy, Knight, Mckee, Dimaria(we'll see, but sounds promising) Im sure Im forgetting some.

I know everyone wants the 6'9 PF or 7' center, but come on, Leon Williams has done well and won a championship at OU, "A" championship, What has Reitz won at WMU or Wood at Akron? And Pollitz for Miami is also a tweener just like we have, I dont see anyone in the conference completely out recruiting us for big guys or guards out of high shcool or prep. What I do see is alot of big guys that arent that great, just big bodies. I've said it before and Ill say it again, ill take a 6'7' center that can play over a 7' stiff anyday.

Guys JC has done not so well with the big guys but that's really not my point. The point is we have to replace 8 players in two years and that's tough for any coach and team. Also the scenario of using 5 guys to cover two positions with everybody playing about the same amount won't work. Your team will never develop a rhythm. Parks, Sullinger, Dimaria, Knight and Woods are such different types of players the guards would have trouble figuring out what was going on. You would have to pick two to be your 25-30 minute players and develop your system around them. Too much substitution can be a problem also. There was one non-conference game this year where I thought JC did too much of that at the guard positions and it resulted in a very poorly played game by us. It was against one of the weaker teams so I am sure JC was doing some experimenting but it doesn't make for some pretty basketball.

I am friends with Rashad and he has told me he is here another 2 years not just next year. just an FYI, unless he doesnt know his own eligibility...I think he has the ability to score 15-20pts a game any night he is on the floor give him a chance to learn the system his shot is one of the best looking shots I have seen in the 5 years I have been here.

It's funny how on another thread we are dissecting why it took Gates four years to become a consistent player and if McKee will ever make it. Sherman was good last year but has regressed. Hopefully, it is just a health issue. We know nothing about Dimaria, but there is a laundry list of other guys who either A. transferred, B. never saw the floor, or C. Both. Many have brought up Christian's recruiting misses in the past. But my point wasn't to highlight his one black mark as a coach. My point was actually to bring up his and his staff's ability to find guys at the last minute. For most teams, that happens once in a blue moon. KSU, however, has done it successfully four or five times in Christian's tenure and IMO, is the biggest reason why the 20-win streak has continued.

If Woods has 2 years after this year that helps.

I think he has only 1 year left.
From the KSU website:

Quote:Prior to Kent State: Played for Lee College in Texas leading the team to the semifinals of NJCAA Region XIV Tournament ... Hit 53 percent from the field while averaging just over eight points a game ... Also connected on 38 percent from three and secured nearly five rebounds a contest ... Grabbed an impressive 18 rebounds against Angelina College (Dec. 6) ... Originally attended DePaul University playing in eight games in 2005-06 ... Coming out of Westbury High School, was ranked as the 40th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com and the 41st by HoopScoop ... Also picked as the ninth-best small forward in the country and player in Texas by Rivals ... Was a high honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith’s ... Averaged 26 points and 7 rebounds as a junior and then averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists as a senior.

Counting this year, that's three years played.

KStud Wrote:It's funny how on another thread we are dissecting why it took Gates four years to become a consistent player and if McKee will ever make it. Sherman was good last year but has regressed. Hopefully, it is just a health issue. We know nothing about Dimaria, but there is a laundry list of other guys who either A. transferred, B. never saw the floor, or C. Both. Many have brought up Christian's recruiting misses in the past. But my point wasn't to highlight his one black mark as a coach. My point was actually to bring up his and his staff's ability to find guys at the last minute. For most teams, that happens once in a blue moon. KSU, however, has done it successfully four or five times in Christian's tenure and IMO, is the biggest reason why the 20-win streak has continued.

I know, I was more playing devils advocate by asking if you could really say he has done poor with the high school/prep recruits. I think you could make the argument both ways.

KentDelt Wrote:I am friends with Rashad and he has told me he is here another 2 years not just next year. just an FYI, unless he doesnt know his own eligibility...

Maybe he'll be here 2 more years to graduate, but it looks as if this year is definitely his 3rd year of playing and only has one more season of eligibility.

GFlash68 Wrote:My guess is that Garcia was known to be a long shot and we were not getting anyone else. We just needed bodies. I say this because we all know the story of AF being a stroke of midnight luck signee, sight unseen. That means that we were not going to sign anyone else. If you have the grant, you might as well use it if the guy is a 7 footer. It looks like a flyer that will not work out.

I can see the point you're trying to make, you have the grant so use it rather than sit on it, but if they sat on it they could have then used that scholarship more wisely and recruited a body that will actually contribute. Why rush into giving up that scholarship when maybe they could've found what they're looking for in this years class. Either way, after JC and Scott leave there is an obvious void, then after next years class leaves we have a HUGE void we need filled inside.

Did JC and his staff actually scout Gabe? Did they see him play? If they did they would have had to known that he couldn't play in JCs system. So either they just threw a scholarship out there sight unseen or they actually watched the kid play and thought he could help. If so, what did they see? Is it possible that whatever it was they could harness and he actually get some minutes next season?

Polish Hammer Wrote:

KentDelt Wrote:I am friends with Rashad and he has told me he is here another 2 years not just next year. just an FYI, unless he doesnt know his own eligibility...

Maybe he'll be here 2 more years to graduate, but it looks as if this year is definitely his 3rd year of playing and only has one more season of eligibility.

I believe that the basic rule is that he has 5 years to play 4. The JC year is being counted as a redshirt or transition year. If this is the case, he will have 2 more years. Not sure.

Polish Hammer Wrote:

GFlash68 Wrote:My guess is that Garcia was known to be a long shot and we were not getting anyone else. We just needed bodies. I say this because we all know the story of AF being a stroke of midnight luck signee, sight unseen. That means that we were not going to sign anyone else. If you have the grant, you might as well use it if the guy is a 7 footer. It looks like a flyer that will not work out.

I can see the point you're trying to make, you have the grant so use it rather than sit on it, but if they sat on it they could have then used that scholarship more wisely and recruited a body that will actually contribute. Why rush into giving up that scholarship when maybe they could've found what they're looking for in this years class. Either way, after JC and Scott leave there is an obvious void, then after next years class leaves we have a HUGE void we need filled inside.

Did JC and his staff actually scout Gabe? Did they see him play? If they did they would have had to known that he couldn't play in JCs system. So either they just threw a scholarship out there sight unseen or they actually watched the kid play and thought he could help. If so, what did they see? Is it possible that whatever it was they could harness and he actually get some minutes next season?

If the coaches were not making headway in getting someone who could help, I would not use the term "rush into giving". It was just a matter of why not. Another thing that I would like to know more about is how Gabe's head coach at Schoolcraft is now our assistant coach. Could there be something there?

GFlash68 Wrote:

Polish Hammer Wrote:

KentDelt Wrote:I am friends with Rashad and he has told me he is here another 2 years not just next year. just an FYI, unless he doesnt know his own eligibility...

Maybe he'll be here 2 more years to graduate, but it looks as if this year is definitely his 3rd year of playing and only has one more season of eligibility.

I believe that the basic rule is that he has 5 years to play 4. The JC year is being counted as a redshirt or transition year. If this is the case, he will have 2 more years. Not sure.

But he played last year at Lee College. This isn't a Jason Edwin case where he went to a junior college for a year to get academics in order and not play basketball. He played and used up a year of eligibility.

GFlash68 Wrote:

Polish Hammer Wrote:

GFlash68 Wrote:My guess is that Garcia was known to be a long shot and we were not getting anyone else. We just needed bodies. I say this because we all know the story of AF being a stroke of midnight luck signee, sight unseen. That means that we were not going to sign anyone else. If you have the grant, you might as well use it if the guy is a 7 footer. It looks like a flyer that will not work out.

I can see the point you're trying to make, you have the grant so use it rather than sit on it, but if they sat on it they could have then used that scholarship more wisely and recruited a body that will actually contribute. Why rush into giving up that scholarship when maybe they could've found what they're looking for in this years class. Either way, after JC and Scott leave there is an obvious void, then after next years class leaves we have a HUGE void we need filled inside.

Did JC and his staff actually scout Gabe? Did they see him play? If they did they would have had to known that he couldn't play in JCs system. So either they just threw a scholarship out there sight unseen or they actually watched the kid play and thought he could help. If so, what did they see? Is it possible that whatever it was they could harness and he actually get some minutes next season?

If the coaches were not making headway in getting someone who could help, I would not use the term "rush into giving". It was just a matter of why not. Another thing that I would like to know more about is how Gabe's head coach at Schoolcraft is now our assistant coach. Could there be something there?

Don't assume Gabe will be here next year. Technically scholarships are renewable on a yearly basis. Now its a terrible practice to revoke scholarships as you get a bad rap in the recruiting world. But who's to say JC and Gabe meet at year and JC asks him his after hoops goals and Gabe says i want to play professionally in Brazil to which JC says well based on what we have coming back you are not going to get many if any minutes here. So JC works with his many coaching contacts to find Gabe a D2 or NAIA school to play next year. Gabe gets free ed and exposure, we get another scholloy and everyone is happy.

ksu315

BINGO!