Lets discuss here.

All else being equal, first-time portal transfers are probably the most attractive recruit (the more eligibility remaining, the better). In general, you've got a better feel for how these players will perform in college (as opposed to a high school recruit), and you gain some level of protection from having them transfer elsewhere, since they would have to sit out for a year if they decide to move on again.

On the other hand, everybody has started to figure that out, so there is a more talent-rich pool of high school players to choose from, and teams at ETSU's level have a shot at higher-level players than in the past. (We just have to fight to keep them when they prove successful.)

Lucas Taylor from GA state visited. Formerly of Wake Forest. Good friends with Daveon Bradford, who is coming. Taylor is 6-5 pretty good shooter, averaged 14 ppg at GSU.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...cas-taylor

(03-30-2024 09:20 AM)GoBucsGo Wrote:  Lucas Taylor from GA state visited. Formerly of Wake Forest. Good friends with Daveon Bradford, who is coming. Taylor is 6-5 pretty good shooter, averaged 14 ppg at GSU.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...cas-taylor

Thanks! Looks like Coach S is definitely upping our talent!

(03-30-2024 09:20 AM)GoBucsGo Wrote:  Lucas Taylor from GA state visited. Formerly of Wake Forest. Good friends with Daveon Bradford, who is coming. Taylor is 6-5 pretty good shooter, averaged 14 ppg at GSU.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...cas-taylor

Yes, of course they know each other, as both were at Wake under Forbes and Savage. To respond to another poster on another thread about what Wake fans didn't like about Bradford................I can't really remember. Seems like he was just not cut out for the ACC, altho he had some moments. Generally ineffective?? Then..........he transferred to NM St., but I don't think he ever got to play there; likely because it was a second transfer. (He started at K. St., as I recall. And remember our previous K. St. transfer!)

I assume Forbes/Savage recruited both, but don't know that beyond a shadow of a doubt - so yeah, there was already a deep history with both of them. Just from others' opinions, some of whom know what they're talking about.........Taylor may be a better 'get' than Bradford, but if one places the latter into the SoCon..........that may work out much better than in the ACC.

We are in the mix for CJ Luster, a juco guard from Salt Lake Comm College. Hometown is Denton, TX. He's heard from us, Chattanooga, Jax State, UMass, Marshall, and others. Averaged 18.4 points per game and hit a solid 48.4% from 3, had 105 3s for the entire years. He's 6-4.

https://slccbruins.com/sports/mens-baske...uster/2756

(04-01-2024 12:46 PM)GoBucsGo Wrote:  We are in the mix for CJ Luster, a juco guard from Salt Lake Comm College. Hometown is Denton, TX. He's heard from us, Chattanooga, Jax State, UMass, Marshall, and others. Averaged 18.4 points per game and hit a solid 48.4% from 3, had 105 3s for the entire years. He's 6-4.

https://slccbruins.com/sports/mens-baske...uster/2756

48% on 105 3 pointers. Wow!

We are also in the mix for Texas Tech guard grad transfer D’Maurian Williams.. 2 years at Gardner Webb, 2 years at texas tech. Shoots well from 3, although not much playing time at tech this last season

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...n-williams

https://x.com/ThePortalReport/status/177...2185886792

The lack of any signings. Good or bad?

(04-28-2024 04:45 PM)Etsuwins Wrote:  The lack of any signings. Good or bad?

I have no idea but the silence is deafening. We can assume that the recruiting process is on going and a lot of announcements are coming soon.

I don’t think it’s good or bad, just takes some time. Players are weighing their options. On the podcast, Jay and Keith said there were multiple visits on going. Expect some announcements in the coming week or two.

I'm not saying it's likely, but there may not *be* any '24 signees. If Savage is gonna rely on portaling, then he may try to build up the roster primarily in that fashion. Just a thought. But surely he'll try to drag in one or two?? But a coach doesn't want to spend a year or two, with the schollys involved, developing a player, only to see that guy leave for a better opportunity somewhere else. It's really the UK "one and done" model across the entire universe now - almost. Rent-a-player. Sad, but that's essentially where we are. Expect portal news before any '24 grad news - just guessing......

And...........I suspect Sander may have initially underestimated the NIL pot needed. There's some crazy offers going down. This has evolved over the last few weeks, so it's not under his control, obviously. And that's just speculation; but if you want the best, you're having to pay up.

(05-01-2024 02:22 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  I'm not saying it's likely, but there may not *be* any '24 signees. If Savage is gonna rely on portaling, then he may try to build up the roster primarily in that fashion. Just a thought. But surely he'll try to drag in one or two?? But a coach doesn't want to spend a year or two, with the schollys involved, developing a player, only to see that guy leave for a better opportunity somewhere else. It's really the UK "one and done" model across the entire universe now - almost. Rent-a-player. Sad, but that's essentially where we are. Expect portal news before any '24 grad news - just guessing......

And...........I suspect Sander may have initially underestimated the NIL pot needed. There's some crazy offers going down. This has evolved over the last few weeks, so it's not under his control, obviously. And that's just speculation; but if you want the best, you're having to pay up.

So we’ve essentially taken the financial arms race that was once used on the coaches and now expanded it to include the players as well. I’m sure that’s going to put an end to impropriety and decrease corruption in the system.

(05-01-2024 05:24 AM)Efan Wrote:  

(05-01-2024 02:22 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  I'm not saying it's likely, but there may not *be* any '24 signees. If Savage is gonna rely on portaling, then he may try to build up the roster primarily in that fashion. Just a thought. But surely he'll try to drag in one or two?? But a coach doesn't want to spend a year or two, with the schollys involved, developing a player, only to see that guy leave for a better opportunity somewhere else. It's really the UK "one and done" model across the entire universe now - almost. Rent-a-player. Sad, but that's essentially where we are. Expect portal news before any '24 grad news - just guessing......

And...........I suspect Sander may have initially underestimated the NIL pot needed. There's some crazy offers going down. This has evolved over the last few weeks, so it's not under his control, obviously. And that's just speculation; but if you want the best, you're having to pay up.

So we’ve essentially taken the financial arms race that was once used on the coaches and now expanded it to include the players as well. I’m sure that’s going to put an end to impropriety and decrease corruption in the system.

Absolutely. Lawlessness was almost implicit in "The Wild West", after all - the scenario we have now entered. And those absurd coaches' salaries are a significant part of the impetus to get us to this point. It's devolved into a thinly-disguised all-out bidding war among the top, oh, 100 or so (depending on degree) portal surfers. I know of coaches who are going to significant ends to try and cover their tracks so that other coaches and staffs don't try to coattail their efforts. It's become almost cloak-and-dagger stuff at the extreme. So........it's reasonable to assume that even Savage is trying to shut down rumors, etc. Sometimes the agents are the 'bad guys' in this scenario, sometimes it's the parents, sometimes it's just the wild-eyed kids seeing and hearing what 'bags' other player are getting - and sometimes there's not really any "bad guys" involved - just pure economics.