I know it sounds like a rationalization at this moment. But Lawton was a 3 star out of high school and signed with San Diego State in 2009. Baker sounded good, but wasn't even on the radar of the major recruiting services. From what I've read so far, I'd take Lawton in a heartbeat. Is it possible we backed off of Baker, when we saw that we could get Lawton?
(04-25-2011 03:10 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]At least you know it.
I couldn't find Baker on Rivals, Scout, or ESPN. ESPN rated Lawton a 90 two years ago. He signed with a San Diego State team that finished in the Top 10 this year. Can't imagine he's gotten worse since then. I don't think we've ever signed a player ranked 90- Chucky was a 79 and he worked out pretty well so far.
(04-25-2011 03:14 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ] (04-25-2011 03:10 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]At least you know it.
I couldn't find Baker on Rivals, Scout, or ESPN. ESPN rated Lawton a 90 two years ago. He signed with a San Diego State team that finished in the Top 10 this year. Can't imagine he's gotten worse since then. I don't think we've ever signed a player ranked 90- Chucky was a 79 and he worked out pretty well so far.
FOOTHILL CONFERENCE CONFERENCE | 2010-2011 ALL CONFERENCE TEAM
MVP -- Keon Pledger, San Bernardino Valley, G, 6-3, 185, So, Lynwood / Bellflower CA
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Jeff Klein, Chaffey
FIRST TEAM
Shelton Boykin Antelope Valley G 6-6 205 Fr LB Poly '10/Long Beach
Deondre Brodie Chaffey G 6-1 165 So AB Miller/ Fontana
Daquan Brown Barstow F 6-10 220 So Lincoln HS/Brooklyn, NY.
Dakota Downs Mt. San Jacinto F 6-7 210 So Hemet, CA / West Valley
Donte Godlock Chaffey G 6-2 170 So Fontana / Fontana
Da'Shawn Gomez Antelope Valley PG 6-3 180 Fr Inglewood '09
Thair Heath San Bernardino
Valley F 6-9 220 Fr Dominguez / Long Beach, CA
Eric Lawton Mt. San Jacinto G 6-2 160 So Hemet, CA / West Valley
Aaron Moore San Bernardino
Valley F 6-8 195 Fr Dominguez / Riverside CA
Steffon Neal Chaffey G 6-4 185 So AB Miller / Fontana
LaVanne Pennington Barstow G 6-4 205 So Genesis One Prep/Mendenhall, MS
I would imagine he's a pretty good player, but 30.8% from the three point line for a two guard worries me. But sounds like he could also play the point, so that will be helpful. Just coach him to throw the ball to Will Neighbour.
(04-25-2011 04:01 PM)outsideualr Wrote: [ -> ]I would imagine he's a pretty good player, but 30.8% from the three point line for a two guard worries me. But sounds like he could also play the point, so that will be helpful. Just coach him to throw the ball to Will Neighbour.
He will make his 3's the old-fashioned way. Not such a bad thing.
Then he really needs to shoot better than 70% from the free throw line. That's good for a center or forward. Not great for a scoring guard.
(04-25-2011 04:34 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote: [ -> ] (04-25-2011 04:01 PM)outsideualr Wrote: [ -> ]I would imagine he's a pretty good player, but 30.8% from the three point line for a two guard worries me. But sounds like he could also play the point, so that will be helpful. Just coach him to throw the ball to Will Neighbour.
He will make his 3's the old-fashioned way. Not such a bad thing.
His percentage will be a lot better at UALR. Steve will make sure he takes "good" shots. When we were leading the country in 3 point percentage, it wasn't because we had the best shooters in the country. It was because we had some good shooters, who knew their limitations, and knew when to shoot it and when not to.
(04-25-2011 04:56 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ]When we were leading the country in 3 point percentage, it wasn't because we had the best shooters in the country. It was because we had some good shooters, who knew their limitations, and knew when to shoot it and when not to.
Excellent point! Good coaches who insist on disciplined play make players better.
(04-25-2011 04:56 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ]His percentage will be a lot better at UALR.
He attempted 133 from the arc, which was 38 more than anyone else on the team. NO WAY he takes that many at Little Rock if he doesn't shoot any better than that.
Solidly positive A/TO, good for a SG. Led the team in steals.
I disagree with MJS about rather having Lawton than Baker, IMO Lawton represents what Steve has been recruiting for the past several years, small Juco guards that aren't good shooters. Baker was a HS kid who could flat out put it in the hole. I think we obviously wanted Baker first or we wouldn't have offerd him first. We went for Baker and lost, so we signed the next man on our list. We must have felt Lawton was better than Kofi Joseph or I assume we'd have taken him ( especially if he had already committed to us)
(04-25-2011 10:08 PM)Karl B Wrote: [ -> ]I disagree with MJS about rather having Lawton than Baker, IMO Lawton represents what Steve has been recruiting for the past several years, small Juco guards that aren't good shooters. Baker was a HS kid who could flat out put it in the hole. I think we obviously wanted Baker first or we wouldn't have offerd him first. We went for Baker and lost, so we signed the next man on our list. We must have felt Lawton was better than Kofi Joseph or I assume we'd have taken him ( especially if he had already committed to us)
Here's another description of Lawton after he signed with San Diego State. I constantly see him referred to as a "prized recruit" in the 2009 class that ended up being a Top 10 team-
Lawton, a 6-1 two-guard out of West Valley HS has drawn comparisons to AI because of his slight 160-pound frame
but his tremendous ability to fill up the basket. He can score from anywhere on the floor and does a great job of changing speeds on defenders.
You may be right that Baker fit more into what we needed. And he may turn out to be a great DI player. But there seems to be no doubt that Lawton was much more of a "talent" coming out of high school. He was signed by San Diego State. Baker had other offers from Eastern Illinois and South Dakota, and is going to Wichita State as a walk-on. ESPN rated Lawton as the #28 shooting guard in the country coming out of high school. We just don't (or haven't) gotten talent like that at UALR. I would rather get the most talented player we can get, regardless of his position. Talented, athletic players is always what we have been lacking at UALR. I believe that Neighbour and Lawton, are clearly players that could have played at a higher level. I think Javes may also fit that category and I saw enough "flashes" to make me think that Chucky could as well. We may be real close to putting a really talented DI team on the floor at the Stephens Center.