That was quick - good start to their recruiting I'd say.

If they want to utilize the Chino Hills connection, D.J. Brown from San Jose State is graduating from the Spartans and looking for a school to play at next year.

http://www.sjsuspartans.com/sports/m-bas...45772.html

The timing seems a little tight but I wonder if this was facilitated at all by Coach Pera's CA (LA Metro area in particular) connections.

(04-03-2014 12:01 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  The timing seems a little tight but I wonder if this was facilitated at all by Coach Pera's CA (LA Metro area in particular) connections.

I would guess that it was a case of either Penn or VCU having this kid in their sights but possibly not at the top of their lists and we were able to offer him immediately.

(04-03-2014 08:04 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(04-03-2014 12:01 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  The timing seems a little tight but I wonder if this was facilitated at all by Coach Pera's CA (LA Metro area in particular) connections.

I would guess that it was a case of either Penn or VCU having this kid in their sites but possibly not at the top of their lists and we were able to offer him immediately.

Rivals article with all the details (not sure if behind paywall, it says feel free to share):

https://rice.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1627622

Rivals also with news of Rhoades' 2nd assistant hire.

Mency's inside/outside game looks impressive

(04-03-2014 10:42 AM)talon owl Wrote:  

(04-03-2014 08:04 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(04-03-2014 12:01 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  The timing seems a little tight but I wonder if this was facilitated at all by Coach Pera's CA (LA Metro area in particular) connections.

I would guess that it was a case of either Penn or VCU having this kid in their sites but possibly not at the top of their lists and we were able to offer him immediately.

Rivals article with all the details (not sure if behind paywall, it says feel free to share):

https://rice.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1627622

It's behind the paywall, but the intro says this is a Pera recruit.

(04-03-2014 10:48 AM)owlatheart Wrote:  Mency's inside/outside game looks impressive

From behind the ESPN paywall:

Quote:Strengths:
Mency has that prototypical frame for the Division 1 level with very good length and he's a very good athlete as well. He can explode in transition and he has a knack for always being around the ball. In the half court he can slash to the rim, but his main strength is draining jump shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, he can slide his feet well and he has active hands.

Weaknesses:
To take his game to another level, Mency needs to improve his ball skills, particularly his ball handling against pressure. In addition, he needs to implement a triple threat game (jab step, quick 1st step, pull-up game) to take his game to another level.

Bottom Line:
Mency is a relative sleeper still amongst most high-major Division I programs. However, that will change as his game is seen during the regular season and spring.

ESPN gives him 2-stars, Scout gives him 3-stars. Rivals has been pretty worthless for basketball recruiting (in terms of rating/scouting guys that commit to Rice, which has nothing to do with Jefferson Powell, or Moondog before him). I like that he is a good shooter with a little size and has athleticism.

(04-03-2014 04:39 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(04-03-2014 10:48 AM)owlatheart Wrote:  Mency's inside/outside game looks impressive

From behind the ESPN paywall:

Quote:Strengths:
Mency has that prototypical frame for the Division 1 level with very good length and he's a very good athlete as well. He can explode in transition and he has a knack for always being around the ball. In the half court he can slash to the rim, but his main strength is draining jump shots from beyond the arc. Defensively, he can slide his feet well and he has active hands.

Weaknesses:
To take his game to another level, Mency needs to improve his ball skills, particularly his ball handling against pressure. In addition, he needs to implement a triple threat game (jab step, quick 1st step, pull-up game) to take his game to another level.

Bottom Line:
Mency is a relative sleeper still amongst most high-major Division I programs. However, that will change as his game is seen during the regular season and spring.

ESPN gives him 2-stars, Scout gives him 3-stars. Rivals has been pretty worthless for basketball recruiting (in terms of rating/scouting guys that commit to Rice, which has nothing to do with Jefferson Powell, or Moondog before him). I like that he is a good shooter with a little size and has athleticism.

He seems to be a little like the small forwards that La Tech has (though theirs are 6'7"). Looks like a nice start to recruiting.

I think what will happen is that once Rhoades implements his style, recruits will figure out that 1) it's a lot of fun to play that way, and 2) keeping everybody fresh will require lots of depth, meaning lots of playing time to go around. The one variable that remains is whether attendance will increase to the point that the days of playing before an empty gym will vanish. I think Rhoades would do very well to cultivate the student body interest the way Scott Thompson did. And since it is a fun style to watch as well as to play, I think almost any progress in the won/lost record will produce an return of interest for first alumni and later the general public.

The two things I was looking for our basketball coach to emphasize were academics and 94 foot basketball. I think we got both.

cross-post from ftbendowl in basketball news thread:

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-all-state...ory?page=1

We have a visit next weekend from a four-time all-state selection in Pennsylvania - Muhammad Ali-Abdur Rahkman. He's a 3-star recruit who scored 2,136 points in his prep career. He's 6-4 but I don't know if he's a guard or a forward.

Looks like a guard from a quick GIS.

Offers from VCU, Bucknell, Harvard, George Mason, others.

CBSSports writer predicts his commit to Rice.

http://247sports.com/Player/Muhammad-Ali...kman-40065

I wonder if this will also spur some walk-on's. I realize you can't have very many, but it seems that this sort of game lends itself to guys a little off the radar in terms of many/most college programs.

(04-14-2014 02:31 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Looks like a guard from a quick GIS.

http://247sports.com/Player/Muhammad-Ali...kman-40065

"GIS" = ???

Google internet search maybe?

Rahkman hasn't committed yet (and signing day begins tomorrow by the way). Unfortunately, he's visiting Michigan this weekend and it's pretty apparent to me that is where he will go if they offer him. That won't happen for sure, but Michigan is losing Glenn Robinson III today to the NBA draft, and possibly Nik Stauskas as well.

(04-14-2014 10:38 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(04-14-2014 02:31 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Looks like a guard from a quick GIS.

http://247sports.com/Player/Muhammad-Ali...kman-40065

"GIS" = ???

Google image search

In other "recruiting" news, or at least basketball news, the RUBPA email linked to an article saying that Obi was taking official visits with Vandy and Duke. Glad to see at least one of our transfers might actually go to a good academic school. Very interested to see what recruiting Rhoades can continue to accomplish with 2014-15 recruiting. Also curious whether the coaching change has led to any of the prior recruits asking to be let out of their LOI.

cross-post from OTTS in the Drew Bender thread -- promising transfer IN from ASU:

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/egor-koulechov

Abdur-Rankman committed to Michigan :(

Still for the new staff to be finding players this late in the process that we end up going head to head against Michigan does say a lot about their talent evaluation skills. Let's hope they get the other PA kid.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-c...1512.story

Here's the official release on Mency: http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-baskbl/...14aaa.html