(06-09-2019 08:58 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(06-09-2019 05:36 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(06-09-2019 11:39 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(06-09-2019 08:04 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(06-08-2019 05:46 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  Any names? I am curious why these guys haven't committed somewhere yet if they are decent.

Guys are still putting their names into the transfer portal . I have no special insights.

But a "for instance", 6'9" Moustapha Diagne - a 4 star recruit with immediate eligibility - announced last week that he's leaving Western Kentucky and hasn't apparently selected another school.

Diagne is a really interesting name. He was set to start for Western Kentucky until Charles Bassey came back to school after testing the NBA Draft waters. Slick Rick Stansbury has been getting some studs there, I wonder how much he's paying them lol.

Gary, do you have any insight on 6'10" Kerry Blackshear, Jr. who is transferring out of Virginia Tech? He's immediately eligible and was a 3/4* recruit out of high school...doesn't appeared to have chosen a new school as of yet.

He's visited Kentucky already that I know of for sure. He's most definitely going to a high major school, if not a blue blood.

Blackshear is considered the top transfer this year from what I've read. Has visited UK and Arkansas already and has a trip planned to Tennessee this week.

Seahawks add Eastern N.C. Standout

https://uncwsports.com/news/2019/6/10/me...ndout.aspx

Really looking forward to seeing Shykeim get on campus and continue to grow as a player. Him and Dodd playing together in our second unit could be a nice advantage for us next season.

I’m pretty sure they are working for a starting role regardless.

(06-10-2019 02:00 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  I’m pretty sure they are working for a starting role regardless.

I see a path for Dodd to start as a Freshman, but not Phillips. Phillips is primarily a PG, that can play off the ball at times. My guess is he'll back up Toews, unless he can take Gadsden starting spot. Which I don't see happening. My thinking is that the staff will land a grad transfer big that can start right away, so we want be relying heavily on Dodd as a freshman. I think Imajae is a great talent, but I would prefer him to be eased into his role not thrown into the fire as Kai was last season. Even Cacok wasn't great as a freshman. It's tough when you're a big.

(06-10-2019 07:44 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 02:00 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  I’m pretty sure they are working for a starting role regardless.

I see a path for Dodd to start as a Freshman, but not Phillips. Phillips is primarily a PG, that can play off the ball at times. My guess is he'll back up Toews, unless he can take Gadsden starting spot. Which I don't see happening. My thinking is that the staff will land a grad transfer big that can start right away, so we want be relying heavily on Dodd as a freshman. I think Imajae is a great talent, but I would prefer him to be eased into his role not thrown into the fire as Kai was last season. Even Cacok wasn't great as a freshman. It's tough when you're a big.

I personally believe that starting five is overrated. It's not nearly as important what you start with as it is what you finish with. I'm looking for us building into a bench that the second five is pretty much as strong as the first. There still will be leaders that will be solid starters. But I see us having a mix that will provide some different starters depending on matchups with our opponents. Having the option to play big or small is becoming more of the norm. Teams use to focus on being the biggest. Then it turned to smaller and quicker. Now is the era of mixing it up depending on the opponent's weakness. It ties in with employing a video person. As a past President would call it, it's all about strategery.

(06-10-2019 07:44 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  My thinking is that the staff will land a grad transfer big that can start right away, so we want be relying heavily on Dodd as a freshman.

Unless more put their names into the transfer pool, we are really down to a smallish # of grad transfer bigs that are still available for immediate duty. A few strike me as being potentially impactful, but the others seem more like potential role players to fill out the roster - which might be okay given that they would only take up a scholarship for a year, and given how young this team will be.

(06-12-2019 07:16 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 07:44 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  My thinking is that the staff will land a grad transfer big that can start right away, so we want be relying heavily on Dodd as a freshman.

Unless more put their names into the transfer pool, we are really down to a smallish # of grad transfer bigs that are still available for immediate duty. A few strike me as being potentially impactful, but the others seem more like potential role players to fill out the roster - which might be okay given that they would only take up a scholarship for a year, and given how young this team will be.

Agree. Everyone is looking for quality big men that can play immediately, so those left probably aren't...quality.

(06-12-2019 11:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 07:16 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 07:44 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  My thinking is that the staff will land a grad transfer big that can start right away, so we want be relying heavily on Dodd as a freshman.

Unless more put their names into the transfer pool, we are really down to a smallish # of grad transfer bigs that are still available for immediate duty. A few strike me as being potentially impactful, but the others seem more like potential role players to fill out the roster - which might be okay given that they would only take up a scholarship for a year, and given how young this team will be.

Agree. Everyone is looking for quality big men that can play immediately, so those left probably aren't...quality.

There are still a few out there that could really help UNCW. They need another true big to either start or backup Linssen. Dodd, though he was a great rim protector in High School is not a "true big."

(06-12-2019 11:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Agree. Everyone is looking for quality big men that can play immediately, so those left probably aren't...quality.

Yep. And that leaves mid-major coaches with a decision: Use that final scholarship on a D-I caliber guard or a D-II caliber big man.

(06-12-2019 12:06 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  There are still a few out there that could really help UNCW.

Any insights on Dusan Kovacevic from Davidson?

(06-12-2019 12:43 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 11:18 AM)82hawk Wrote:  Agree. Everyone is looking for quality big men that can play immediately, so those left probably aren't...quality.

Yep. And that leaves mid-major coaches with a decision: Use that final scholarship on a D-I caliber guard or a D-II caliber big man.

Exactly. We know what Kevin would do. Not saying that’s right. May bite him in the ass at State.

To avoid controversy because of a Keatts reference I’ll also predict what Brownell would do. He’d likely take a couple of D3 caliber offensive players with incredible grit and defensive intensity and turn one of them into a 3 year starter while winning a couple of CAA tittles over the kids’ four years.

(06-12-2019 07:41 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 12:06 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  There are still a few out there that could really help UNCW.

Any insights on Dusan Kovacevic from Davidson?

Not really... Diagne is the guy I'm most interested in at this point

(06-13-2019 08:18 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 07:41 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 12:06 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  There are still a few out there that could really help UNCW.

Any insights on Dusan Kovacevic from Davidson?

Not really... Diagne is the guy I'm most interested in at this point

No argument from me!

He looks like one of the few bigs available that could come right in an seriously add value.

UNCW picks up a commitment from John Bowen. A 6’8 PF transfer from D2 Belmont Abbey. Played High School ball at West Bladen High School.

https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/spor...nbowenclta

(06-13-2019 06:19 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  UNCW picks up a commitment from John Bowen. A 6’8 PF transfer from D2 Belmont Abbey. Played High School ball at West Bladen High School.

https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/spor...nbowenclta

Hmm. 6'8", good handles for a big man, runs the floor and seems athletic. Can shoot the 3 ball but hit only 25%. Have to wonder why he didn't play much on a D2 team? Great academics. Seems to fall into the category of "best available" this late in the game.

(06-13-2019 07:00 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(06-13-2019 06:19 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  UNCW picks up a commitment from John Bowen. A 6’8 PF transfer from D2 Belmont Abbey. Played High School ball at West Bladen High School.

https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/spor...nbowenclta

Hmm. 6'8", good handles for a big man, runs the floor and seems athletic. Can shoot the 3 ball but hit only 25%. Have to wonder why he didn't play much on a D2 team? Great academics. Seems to fall into the category of "best available" this late in the game.

Yeah, not too much out there on him that I can find. He's long, I wonder what his wing span is because I would be willing to bet it's around 7 foot. I believe he still has to sit 1 year to play 2, so this doesn't necessarily fill the hole for next season. Still one scholarship available.

(06-13-2019 07:04 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(06-13-2019 07:00 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(06-13-2019 06:19 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  UNCW picks up a commitment from John Bowen. A 6’8 PF transfer from D2 Belmont Abbey. Played High School ball at West Bladen High School.

https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/spor...nbowenclta

Hmm. 6'8", good handles for a big man, runs the floor and seems athletic. Can shoot the 3 ball but hit only 25%. Have to wonder why he didn't play much on a D2 team? Great academics. Seems to fall into the category of "best available" this late in the game.

Yeah, not too much out there on him that I can find. He's long, I wonder what his wing span is because I would be willing to bet it's around 7 foot. I believe he still has to sit 1 year to play 2, so this doesn't necessarily fill the hole for next season. Still one scholarship available.

Since he has to sit a year, coaches must see some really good potential.

(06-13-2019 07:11 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(06-13-2019 07:04 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(06-13-2019 07:00 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(06-13-2019 06:19 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  UNCW picks up a commitment from John Bowen. A 6’8 PF transfer from D2 Belmont Abbey. Played High School ball at West Bladen High School.

https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/spor...nbowenclta

Hmm. 6'8", good handles for a big man, runs the floor and seems athletic. Can shoot the 3 ball but hit only 25%. Have to wonder why he didn't play much on a D2 team? Great academics. Seems to fall into the category of "best available" this late in the game.

Yeah, not too much out there on him that I can find. He's long, I wonder what his wing span is because I would be willing to bet it's around 7 foot. I believe he still has to sit 1 year to play 2, so this doesn't necessarily fill the hole for next season. Still one scholarship available.

Since he has to sit a year, coaches must see some really good potential.

That's my thinking as well

(06-13-2019 06:19 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  UNCW picks up a commitment from John Bowen. A 6’8 PF transfer from D2 Belmont Abbey. Played High School ball at West Bladen High School.

https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/spor...nbowenclta

One scholarship still open for this year's team?