While the official team releases have mostly yet to be sent out, the internet and the chat rooms have a lot of very interesting and promising new basketball players coming into the league.

What began as a lot of angst for fans of the teams in sudden transition (OU, Akron, Miami) is slowly gaining an understanding of how Buffalo, and particularly Kent State, have maintained their programs in recent years.

It looks like those teams were actually ahead of the curve with grad transfers, transfers and JC recruiting. Like it or not (and believe me Buffalo and Kent are't fond of this ... just realistic) this is how the game is being played more and more every year.

The four-year model is no longer viable for a coach looking to keep his job - it's a two to three year window at best. That's the down side.

The up side is, with good recruiting and knowledge of who/what works for you ... the possibility of becoming really good, really fast is there to be had.

Buffalo recovered really fast after losing a lot of key players - including the returning MAC POY and top scoring guard and a coach - two years ago, and still regrouped late with some key recruits (Hamilton) to make a second straight NCAA Tournament.

Kent had nine first-year players to start last season - got lucky and kept its best three-year guy (JHall) from transferring - and down the stretch became the toughest out in the league ... then going to the NCAA Tournament.

The second time around for a lot of these guys who originally might not have given a MAC team a second recruiting thought ... suddenly, finding the right MAC team does not look like such a bad idea.

Sure ... fans got to buy a program to keep up with the names and numbers, but the real possibility for wins/success vs. just being middle of the pack can be there.

Again, it's not ideal ... or the way most traditional basketball folks want it ... but it's tough to find a cassette (or even a good CD) player anymore no matter how much you might want one ...

Got to use what everybody else does or just keep falling more and more behind.

Now let's hear about who's coming into the MAC next season.

Akron is bringing in the following:

Mark Kostelac - 6-11 C from IMG Academy

Torrey Patton - 6-4 PG from Trotwood-Madison High School - Him and Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves had quite the duel in the state semifinal game.

Loren Jackson - 5-8 PG Long Beach State transfer

We have a few more guys making campus visits and to the best of my knowledge only 1 more scholarship available. The most noteworthy target is SG Malcolm Duvivier. He's a two year starter at Oregon State, but sat out last season for "personal reasons." Georgetown is also reportedly interested so he may be a tough target to land.

Kent State got a commitment from JUCO PF Akiean Frederick, 6'8" 215. Averaged 22.4 ppg (9th overall in all NJCAA Div-II), 11.3 rpg (5th overall) at Sinclair Community College in Dayton

(04-28-2017 01:42 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Akron is bringing in the following:

Mark Kostelac - 6-11 C from IMG Academy

Torrey Patton - 6-4 PG from Trotwood-Madison High School - Him and Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves had quite the duel in the state semifinal game.

Loren Jackson - 5-8 PG Long Beach State transfer

We have a few more guys making campus visits and to the best of my knowledge only 1 more scholarship available. The most noteworthy target is SG Malcolm Duvivier. He's a two year starter at Oregon State, but sat out last season for "personal reasons." Georgetown is also reportedly interested so he may be a tough target to land.

We can add one more to the list:

Deng Riak - 6-10 C East Carolina Transfer - High school teammate of Loren Jackson.

After Ty Dalton said that he would be leaving the program today, Akron should have 1 more scholarship available.

Eric Hester is transferring to Akron from Florida. He was a former 4* player and had quite the offer list. He was a true freshman last year and will have to sit out a year.

http://247sports.com/player/eric-hester-34736

Ohio lost 6 of 13 scholarship players and currently have 5 commits, 4 true freshmen and 1 grad transfer-

- PG Zach Butler ** 6'5", 175lbs, Spartnsburg, NC. Offers: Charlotte, Hofstra, Murray St, UNCW, FIU.

- PG Teyvion Kirk ** 6'4", 185lbs, Joliet, IL. Offers: Arkansas, MTSU, St Bonaventure, Duquesne, UTEP, Drake, Brown, Green Bay, Denver, American, UC Davis, Chicago St, So Illinois, Milwaukee, Bethune-Cookman, Montana St, Miami(OH), NIU, Kent St.

- SF Bennett Vander Plas ** 6'7", 200lbs, Ripon, WI. Offers: Memphis, Penn, Wright St, Green Bay, Milwaukee, IUPUI, Bucknell, Cedarville, Loyola.

- PF AJ Gareri *** 6'9", 205lbs, Akron, OH. Offers: Kent St.

- PF Kevin Mickle ** 6'7", 220lbs, Brooklyn, NY. Grad transfer from FGSU.

(04-28-2017 04:51 PM)UAZippers Wrote:  

(04-28-2017 01:42 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Akron is bringing in the following:

Mark Kostelac - 6-11 C from IMG Academy

Torrey Patton - 6-4 PG from Trotwood-Madison High School - Him and Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves had quite the duel in the state semifinal game.

Loren Jackson - 5-8 PG Long Beach State transfer

We have a few more guys making campus visits and to the best of my knowledge only 1 more scholarship available. The most noteworthy target is SG Malcolm Duvivier. He's a two year starter at Oregon State, but sat out last season for "personal reasons." Georgetown is also reportedly interested so he may be a tough target to land.

We can add one more to the list:

Deng Riak - 6-10 C East Carolina Transfer - High school teammate of Loren Jackson.

After Ty Dalton said that he would be leaving the program today, Akron should have 1 more scholarship available.

How many seasons can Deng Riak play at Akron? He took a medical redshirt for 2015-2016, played 2016-2017, and will need to sit out 2017-2018. With the medical redshirt and transfer year, does he get 6 years to play 4 seasons? Or does he just get 2 years on the court at Akron?

(05-10-2017 07:51 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-28-2017 04:51 PM)UAZippers Wrote:  

(04-28-2017 01:42 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  Akron is bringing in the following:

Mark Kostelac - 6-11 C from IMG Academy

Torrey Patton - 6-4 PG from Trotwood-Madison High School - Him and Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves had quite the duel in the state semifinal game.

Loren Jackson - 5-8 PG Long Beach State transfer

We have a few more guys making campus visits and to the best of my knowledge only 1 more scholarship available. The most noteworthy target is SG Malcolm Duvivier. He's a two year starter at Oregon State, but sat out last season for "personal reasons." Georgetown is also reportedly interested so he may be a tough target to land.

We can add one more to the list:

Deng Riak - 6-10 C East Carolina Transfer - High school teammate of Loren Jackson.

After Ty Dalton said that he would be leaving the program today, Akron should have 1 more scholarship available.

How many seasons can Deng Riak play at Akron? He took a medical redshirt for 2015-2016, played 2016-2017, and will need to sit out 2017-2018. With the medical redshirt and transfer year, does he get 6 years to play 4 seasons? Or does he just get 2 years on the court at Akron?

I believe it is only two years of play at Akron. He is not getting a second redshirt this season.

Kent State signed PF 6'9" Jonathan Nwankwo, from Idaho Southern College (JUCO). 9.8 ppg on 60% shooting, 7.7 rpg last year. He tore his meniscus and MCL in January, so he missed half of last season.

Before that he redshirted a year at VCU. Verbal Commits had him as a 3.3, ESPN had him as a 4-star and 35th center in the 2015 class.

"Nwankwo joins a class that also includes Ohio high school standout BJ Duling and recently signed post players in Akiean Frederick and Philip Whittington. All four signees in this year's class are listed at 6-7 or taller."