(10-30-2015 10:56 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(10-30-2015 10:22 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(10-30-2015 10:11 PM)UofRfan Wrote:  As always things will be done in a reactive instead of proactive manner.

Nail on the head. That's something that burns me up in any situation. "Leadership reacting to situations, not LEADING."

It's been this way for a decade. The BOV needs to stop being a rubber stamp for the administrations "recommendations".

The blind leading the blind.

Really? When was the last time you were on campus and took a look around? I continue to marvel at the nonsense spouted as fact without first acknowledging the university exists first as an institution of higher learning, not as an excuse to sponsor sports. Yet, just for the record, BFS, University Park and the new ballparks were all completed within the last decade by the "blind leading the blind."

I agree with you guys on Cost of Attendance and the need to commit to this shortly in order to compete long term but I'd be interested to hear how big (if any) a factor this was in any of these recruiting battles. The last 4-5 recruits that JMU lost were to Murray State, GW, Richmond and UNCW (who doesn't pay COA by the way). The first 3 are better programs than JMU and there is no shame in losing a recruit to them. Northeastern (no COA) seems to be doing well on the recruiting front. As nice as it would be to get the endorsement from a 3 star guard I'm not too worried about the last scholarship for 2016 Brady has proven he can find talent even if it's under the radar. I think the bigger handicap is the contract situation. I hope JMU learns from years past and makes a quick determination on the contract status. Ideally that would be even early in the season if the team gets off to a very quick start or at a minimum right after this season. JMU didn't even get the full benefit out of the NCAA appearance because of the timing of the appearance and Brady's contract status. 2017 is a huge year in terms of recruiting with all of the open scholarships that they have. They'll set the program back if they go into 2017 without the coaching situation settled. Hopefully by then we'll have additional clarity on conference and arena as well.

Marquell Fraser just received an offer from VCU- wow. Looks like a longshot for him coming to Harrisonburg.

(11-03-2015 03:10 PM)TheOneAndOnlyCoach Wrote:  Marquell Fraser just received an offer from VCU- wow. Looks like a longshot for him coming to Harrisonburg.

Yeah looks like he's taking an official visit to VCU this weekend per Corey Evans.

https://twitter.com/coreyevans_10/status...6849713152

Maybe in preparation for Fraser going to VCU JMU offered another 2016 PG today- Jordan Shephard from Asheville NC. He has several offers from mid majors (App State, Charlotte, BU, Miami of Ohio) and is listed a 6'3".

Here's a video from the summer- looks like a real smooth offensive player- Fraser is likely the better defender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOSbz08kzto

I read in one of the tweets, and it may not be accurate, that Fraser has officially visited Bradley, JMU and now VCU. Might have been 97 that said that he also visited Oregon State. That may have been an unofficial visit. I agree with 97 that the offer to Shepherd is because of VCU's move on Fraser....they must have felt like they had a decent chance with him until then. Shepherd looks like a true point guard with some hops, but has a slight build. Fraser has better size and is more burly, but perhaps is not as skilled offensively, as 97 suggested. Very quick read from watching a minute or two of video.

Another JMU target that recently committed to GW is Jair Bolden, as has been posted. If you look at the structure of GW's team, however, I happened to notice that they also got a commit from supposed 5-3 Darnell Rogers. I asked myself if it were a mistake and it's not. I actually thought the guy looked like he was more like 4-11 and many coaches have commented that they believe he's not 5-0 feet tall. Amazing video on this guy....shortest player I've ever seen to play D-1 ball.

http://verbalcommits.com/players/darnell-rogers

(11-06-2015 11:39 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  I read in one of the tweets, and it may not be accurate, that Fraser has officially visited Bradley, JMU and now VCU. Might have been 97 that said that he also visited Oregon State. That may have been an unofficial visit. I agree with 97 that the offer to Shepherd is because of VCU's move on Fraser....they must have felt like they had a decent chance with him until then. Shepherd looks like a true point guard with some hops, but has a slight build. Fraser has better size and is more burly, but perhaps is not as skilled offensively, as 97 suggested. Very quick read from watching a minute or two of video.

Another JMU target that recently committed to GW is Jair Bolden, as has been posted. If you look at the structure of GW's team, however, I happened to notice that they also got a commit from supposed 5-3 Darnell Rogers. I asked myself if it were a mistake and it's not. I actually thought the guy looked like he was more like 4-11 and many coaches have commented that they believe he's not 5-0 feet tall. Amazing video on this guy....shortest player I've ever seen to play D-1 ball.

http://verbalcommits.com/players/darnell-rogers

Darnell Rogers is the son of Shawta Rogers. Shawta Rogers was a diminutive PG from Baltimore for GW back in the 90s- back when they have Kwame Evans, Alexander Khoul and Jarvis was the coach on some NCAA tournament teams. One of Rogers other sons was a freshman recruit for Delaware a few years ago but it didn't work out. Darnell seems to be the reincarnation of his father but I wondered the same thing with Bolden- not sure why you would want to go there when a player who can only play PG and is a legacy at GW is part of the same class- I guess the staff made him comfortable that they can run 2 guard sets.

I think Fraser is bigger so he can rebound and defend better than Shepherd. I actually like them both- Shepherd had some Steph Curry in his game in terms of his handle (not his shooting)- his outside shot would need some work and he wouldn't probably be able to defend 3s the way Fraser could or rebound like Fraser. Getting either prospect would be I think a good get for JMU.

Marquell Fraser visited VCU this weekend. He announces his decision tonight at 8PM. You have to think that VCU is the heavy favorite. Maybe JMU can surprise much like in hindsight 2010-11 when the Dukes went to the Siegel Center and beat VCU to end the regular season.

Fraser committed to VCU on his official visit per several sources on the interwebs.

Fraser essentially said he committed to VCU because he was a good fit with their program. In watching some brief video of him, he's got terrific size, including length, and he seems to have good court vision as a guy that's perhaps not a natural point guard. According to what I read, and what's apparent in watching him, the major hole in his game is his perimeter shooting. Personally, I think that both Griffin, who committed to Murray State, and Shepherd are better fits with JMU's system. From what I've read on Shepherd, he was trying to set up an official visit to JMU (he's visited three other schools already and has something like 16 offers) and Phenom Report had him rated as the no. 16 player in the state of NC. Believe he was the no. 4 point guard on that list....the three ahead of him have committed to play at ACC schools. In any event, signing day starts tomorrow and runs through the 18th, so we'll know soon if Shepherd comes on board.

What I've learned in following some of this stuff the last few years is that the team that gets involved late (in terms of offer/visit) usually gets the player. Brady and JMU have no trouble identifying talent and even getting visits, etc. but some of the guys they have been pretty far along on are a little out of JMU's league so they wind up signing elsewhere (i.e. Pierce with Marquette/VaTech, Fraser with VCU)- it's the guys they get in late on (Kangni, hopefully Shepherd) that they have a real shot at. I think if you are JMU you keep doing what you're doing in terms of recruiting- trying to identify under the radar talent and balance that out by pursuing kids that are more heavily recruited. I really like Shepherd's game I think he could be a gem. Hopefully we are able to bring him on board.

Didn't want to start a new thread, but this is an interesting article on UAB's bball coach paying COA for the men's and women's team out of his own pocket:

http://footballscoop.com/news/uab-mbb-co...is-pocket/

Hollywood is supposed to sign this evening.

The media is once again throwing roses at the feet of Pat Skerry in terms of his incoming recruiting class. We've been hearing about Towson's recruits for a few years now and aside from when Bennimon played for them they have been a non factor.

(11-11-2015 06:38 PM)Dukes84 Wrote:  Hollywood is supposed to sign this evening.

Coach just tweet the announcement
https://twitter.com/NSunderland4/status/...2454518785

(11-11-2015 04:10 PM)olderduke Wrote:  Didn't want to start a new thread, but this is an interesting article on UAB's bball coach paying COA for the men's and women's team out of his own pocket:

http://footballscoop.com/news/uab-mbb-co...is-pocket/

Class...

short video of Hollywood. He's playing on a team with at least one other D1 recruit (a guard who recently committed to Valpo). Check out this blocked shot- looks like a legit big guy, rim protector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv48a8XKSTE