(04-23-2020 07:36 AM)Big Red Wrote:  At this point, NIU has 2 spots to fill with 4 outstanding offers on the table.

Tavon Jones - JUCO Sophomore - 6'3" - SG - 3* from Linden HS (Linden, NJ) - has started his collegiate career at Odessa (Odessa, TX) and as a sophomore he started 5 of 35 games averaging 13.8 minutes and 6.5 ppg shooting 47.8% from the field (30% 3PT) and 63.9% FT. I believe, even though he graduated from HS two years ago, he has only played 1 season at Odessa so he may be an incoming sophomore if he signs. In regards to Odessa College, there's literally nothing special about them. They went 14-16 last season and lost their last 5 games. So, if one were to try to look at his pedestrian numbers and draw some conclusion about him being a first year played being buried behind a loaded roster, it doesn't appear he was. Now, he was a 3* recruit coming out of HS so apparently there was something there. He very well could have been injured his first year, which is why he didn't play. Coming out of high school he had a ton of offers that he passed on for one reason or another (Eastern Kentucky, Massachusetts, Quinnipiac, Niagra, Hofstra, Buffalo, Stoney Brook, Seton Hall, St. Peter's, and Saint Joseph's). As of right now, NIU is the only school to make an offer on him as a transfer. After a little digging, it seems people (message board types) were pretty aware that he couldn't qualify academically and would be going to either a prep school or JUCO. One commenter even stated that he expected to see Jones in a few years in a major or mid-major program in a couple of years with a 3 point shot added to his game. Judging from his stats this past year, that didn't happen and it appears he couldn't shoot the 3 in high school either. Doesn't look like he can shoot free throws either. If I were a guessing man, I'd guess this guy goes to the basket. Eugene German but can't shoot. In my opinion, going off of what I've learned about him in a very short information search, adding Jones for next year would be a waste of a roster spot/scholarship. If you're going to take a shot on a guy with bad grades, at least get one that can score.

Adong Makoui - Sophomore - 6'9" - PF - 2* from The RISE Centre Academy (Brantford, ON, his hometown is Edmonton, AB) - Makoui started his career at Daytona State College where he started 30 of 30 games averaging 6.6 ppg/5.4 rpg while shooting 69.8% from the field and 75% FT. He also blocked 46 shots which is about 1.5 per game.

Makoui has other offers from SIU, Portland State, Murray State, Kent State, and Buffalo.

Christian McCray - Sophomore - 6'7" - SF - West Los Angeles College (Culver City, CA) - 2* recruit from Oak Hill Academy (Wilson, VA)/I'm not sure where he attended HS before Oak Hill but he's from Plantation, FL (I think he went to Everglades HS but I'm not 100% certain) - As a sophomore at WLAC, McCray started 28 of 30 games averaging 24.7 minutes and 18 ppg/6.8 rpg shooting 53.3% from the field (39.6% 3PT - 55 of 139) and 86% FT. West LA was pretty good last year going 21-9 and averaging 88.6 ppg. McCray led all scorers with his 18 ppg. McCray looks to be an accomplished scorer and has decent size. He's got long arms and legs and is built more like an athlete than someone who is built much thinner (somewhere between Jaylen Key and Levi Bradley). McCray has a lot of interest in his services presently with offers from: NIU, Georgia Southern, Southern, CSU Northridge, CSU Fullerton, Coppin State, North Carolina A&T, Chicago State, and Kentucky State. He's basically got his pick of region except maybe the northeast. If he wants to stay in California, he has a couple of decent opportunities. If he wants to get closer to home, Georgia State is a fantastic program. So, Montgomery has some work ahead of him but any add this late typically means there very well could be a chance.

Luke Scheffers - 6'1 - PG - 2* from St. Charles North HS (St. Charles, IL) - I'll do some video research on him tomorrow or the next day (maybe some day I'll get to that extra research...but the best I can tell about him is he's a scrappy little point guard who doesn't score much and plays good defense.). Scheffers has received other offers from Grand Valley State, Nova Southeastern, and Lewis University.

If I were able to just pick two of those guys, I wouldn't hesitate to make the selections be Makoui and McCray. Jones would be fine, but I don't think he helps the team like the other two (especially McCray). Scheffers is probably best suited to either go JUCO (or take one of his D-II offers, which is probably more suitable for him) or walk-on at NIU, a la Dan Filippone. Obviously, the JUCO route would be if he still fancies himself a D-I player. If I were a betting man and adding up the variables, I'd bet it's a 50/50 toss up between the D-IIs and being a walk-on.

Why would Scheffers walk-on? He’s had an offer sitting there for months. Regardless, he’s not coming to NIU. Btw, he’s the top rated PG uncommitted in the state. My gut says he either gives up the sport or tries to walk-on to a bigger D1 and ride the bench just to keep b-ball in his life. My impression is that he’s completely focused on education and b-ball is secondary.