Hey Everybody,
I was just wondering about whats been going on with the basketball team this spring and summer. I heard we were going to have a walk-on from Solon, and that Robert Johnson and Andre Paulk both H.S seniors were going to sit out next season for grades then have 4 years of basketball ahead of them from there. Also is there any word on the development of any players on the roster?
(06-06-2009 05:00 PM)TheWJ Wrote: [ -> ]Hey Everybody,
I was just wondering about whats been going on with the basketball team this spring and summer. I heard we were going to have a walk-on from Solon, and that Robert Johnson and Andre Paulk both H.S seniors were going to sit out next season for grades then have 4 years of basketball ahead of them from there. Also is there any word on the development of any players on the roster?
A well informed insider told me that I'd be "very happy" with the quality of the Men's BB talent coming on board. No names were mentioned.
(06-06-2009 05:00 PM)TheWJ Wrote: [ -> ]Hey Everybody,
I was just wondering about whats been going on with the basketball team this spring and summer. I heard we were going to have a walk-on from Solon, and that Robert Johnson and Andre Paulk both H.S seniors were going to sit out next season for grades then have 4 years of basketball ahead of them from there. Also is there any word on the development of any players on the roster?
Welcome aboard, TheWJ.
Two links for some inside information during the offseason are David Carducci's blog,
http://www.blogs.dixcdn.com/kentstatesports/ and the ABJ's
http://www.ohioverticals.com/blogs/kent_state/ Both are run by professional journalists, so they can't blast out every rumor they hear, but they do give a lot of good information.
The gentlemen from the Record Courrier has reported some good things about Brandon Parks development. Parks seems to understand that this is his last chance and is working his body and inside game because of it. If Parks comes through, Kent State will have a formidable force in the middle...a true center.
You probably already know who Kent State signed this offseason. The big men that they have coming in...Avila and Manns will both be juniors and it figures that one (Manns would be my guess) will get a redshirt. That said, Avila (6'5, maybe 6'6) sounds like a banger. Doesn't strike me as an offensive threat, but he may just compliment Parks, Simpson and Greene down in the post. If he is simply a tough as nails kind of guy, that would be okay...as long as he is good at it!
In the backcourt the freshman, Holt is a upper tier recruit. If Kent State can find a point guard from their current roster, using Holt as a bachup would take tons of pressure off of him. The Flashes also signed a kid named Ian Pinckney...I have no idea about him.
Remember, Flash Fan, getting Rodriquez Sherman back healthy (and as junior) is huge. This is the kid who could make Kent's engine go. If he can play a solid point guard and defend like he did in his first 2 years...look out. Also, a kid named Manny Cass (6'7) will be activated around the time Tyree Evans was last season. He is another X factor. Lots of talent, but been a while since he has played.
I like Kent's depth, I'll say that. But my concerns don't lie with the new recruits as much as they do with the development of the kids already here.
Parks - will he be quicker with better hands?
McKee - is the toughness we saw down the stretch (from NIU on) the real McKee
Singletary - a solid mental state to match his muscle and talent
Evans - is this guy the offensive killer that he is heralded to be?
Simpson - will he be stronger in the post?
Greene - what will a year of development do for him?
Henry - Ala - can he be a bench guy night in and night out?
Those are the seven that I am most interested in by far.
For those who don't already know, the other "big man" at Jackson HS, Kent recruit Henninger's teammate, has signed with Akron. He's 6'7" Josh Egner. Should even intensify the Akron -Kent State rivalry.
The WJ, I saw you said Andre Paulk was the other HS senior rumored to be sitting out next year at Kent. I saw Dave said on his blog that there was another guy in addition to Johnson and I had speculated it was Paulk but did it actually come out that it is him yet?
Also thought I'd add to what you guys have said about next year. On Dave's blog he says that Manny Cass might end up leaving for a JUCO because it's going to be tough for him to pay his way next year. It'd be too bad if that did happen. I think we all were really looking forward to seeing him. Dave didn't comment on it but I would assume Kent could possibly go after him after a year in JUCO. He also said they may show interest in Cameron Black the 6-9 center from Roosevelt. That'd be great especially since the only school I've heard is looking at him is Akron. I think I heard he has a 7-3 wing span which after accouple years of development would look great going againt Zeke.
Black has listed crAkron U as first choice on his website. I know 16/ 17 year olds are fickle, but do we really want the home town boy, who doesn't want to stay home?
Cameron made Portage Trail Conference Honorable Mention this past year. The kid's tall and I know you can't teach height, but I am not convinced this kid is D1 material. I am not certain of how many of the PTC First Team members are D1 material, let alone honorable mention. We can see how he continues to develope, but we don't need another tall kid around, just because he's tall.
Black has a website? From what friends of mine have told me Akron is the main school making a push for him right now. It would hardly be wise for him to put their arch-rival who hasn't went after him yet as his first choice. Also I went to one of their games this year and they seemed to be a running team. Paulk reminds me allot of a Mechie Johnson type player (when he was at IPFW) as far as his fast break game. Great in the open floor. Also Black grew something like 5 inches last summer so he had to adjust. I thought he looked raw in the post but hes from a great family and a coaches son so he can learn. I would like to see how Black does this year without Paulk there because I'm sure their pace will slow down considerably.
Anti-Zip makes a good point. Akron can recruit all the PTC honorable mention players they want. Cam Black would need atleast 2 years of practice and weight room before he would see the floor in the MAC. Also I think Kent needs to go after a some what high profile guard. Hopefully we can get atleast 2 more freshman for the 2010 class.
Currently, crAkron has two scholarships to offer for 2010. CrAkron may have been looking at him, but with the shake up with their assistant coach and primary recruiter (Boals) going to OSU, I am not certain how current any recruiting is.
I just don't want Kent to after another big, just because he's big or in this case...big and convenient.
Brash Flash, you make very good points. I also don't think Kent should go after a guy just because he's local or just because he is big. I mean Henniger is only one inch shorter than black and his numbers were far better this past year. I just hope they do keep their eyes on him this year to see how he develops. This past year he was the 3rd or 4th option in the offense on a very good team. Where he would be valuable is he would give us someone with legit height and length inside to play against some of the young big men coming to the Mac when Manns and Parks are gone. However if Cass is able to stick it out I would assume it's a mood point because what they really need for the immediate future in next years class is a guard.
Akron has been looking at him for the past year and has had him attend some of their games. I don't think Kent has shown any interest in him until he attended a team camp this past weekend at KSU. When they found that he was a legitimate 6'9" and had a span of 7'3" they showed moderate interest. I believe that Akron has the inside track. He is a coachable player who would give his best each and every night.
Paulk has the atheltic ability but I am not sure he can handle the D-1 college stress both on the court and academically. He would be a project for both.
Don't believe Robert Johnson has been admitted to KSU yet. We might not learn anything officially for another month.
Its frustrating that two "higher level players" like Johnson and Cass are so up in the air. I don't want to place blame because there are tons of factors at play, most of which I don't know a thing about. But what gets me is that back in February we're sitting there talking about having a three star recruit in Johnson and a solid 6'7 transfer in Cass to along with the team we will have back. Now, all of a sudden, its possible that neither one suites up for KSU in 09-10. Frustrating.
fallsdog, with Johnson it's grades and academics. As easy as HS is today, and with the minimal scores required on standardized tests, I can't fathom anyone having trouble, unless of course one has a learning disability or some other medical or psychological condition.
And with Cass? Was he on campus this past year?
There's no doubt, but if he was on campus the past year why did he waste that year here? He could've been at a JUCO already.
If Johnson's ability to perform academically is that much of a question, it may be best for him to spend a year concentrating on that if he does get admitted to Kent.
Basketball may be best served by waiting a year.