Interesting grad transfer just announced in 6'9" 205lb, Hassan Hussein, from Lorton, Va by way of Mt. Zion and Vermont Academy. Started 27 games for FIU last year. Injured most of his first two years. IT major. Would add the depth we need for one year and certainly closer to home.

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(05-23-2018 06:00 PM)nogretheogre Wrote:  

(05-23-2018 01:49 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(05-23-2018 01:28 PM)mrjoolius Wrote:  How slow is W&M announcing new additions? They just announced the Van Vliet addition today

http://www.tribeathletics.com/news/2018/...ogram.aspx

Maybe they had to wait for his final semester grades before admissions would give their official bless off.

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Kind of surprised that he'd come here. Seemed like he had quite a few minutes for Wisconsin last year and he's not likely to supplant Knight as the starter for his senior year. Girlfriend in DC?

If Knight has Pro inspirations then his natural position is at the 4 spot not center, My perception is that for 2019-20 season Knight starts in the 4 spot and Van Vliet is the center! My be crazy but interesting line up with Van Vliet's backup being our newest signee -- Harvey!

The plug and play matchup options at Tony's disposal in 2019/20 will be a nightmare for CAA opponents.

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Van Vliet slides nicely into that 3pt shooting big slot vacated by Rowley for 19-20

(05-25-2018 09:34 AM)wmmii Wrote:  

(05-23-2018 06:00 PM)nogretheogre Wrote:  

(05-23-2018 01:49 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(05-23-2018 01:28 PM)mrjoolius Wrote:  How slow is W&M announcing new additions? They just announced the Van Vliet addition today

http://www.tribeathletics.com/news/2018/...ogram.aspx

Maybe they had to wait for his final semester grades before admissions would give their official bless off.

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Kind of surprised that he'd come here. Seemed like he had quite a few minutes for Wisconsin last year and he's not likely to supplant Knight as the starter for his senior year. Girlfriend in DC?

If Knight has Pro inspirations then his natural position is at the 4 spot not center, My perception is that for 2019-20 season Knight starts in the 4 spot and Van Vliet is the center! My be crazy but interesting line up with Van Vliet's backup being our newest signee -- Harvey!

Based on what I've seen, I don't think Van Vliet's game is suited for the paint at all, and I don't see him venturing in there unless it is necessitated by foul trouble.

Two past Tribe recruits:

Malik Osborne Rice to Florida State.
Kyle Castlin Columbia to Xavier.

Hofstra picks up 6’7” 240lbs Georgia transfer Isaac Kante. Sit one, play three.

Isabell has narrowed his list to Xavier, Boston College, and St. Louis.

(05-31-2018 04:29 PM)WillaMary08 Wrote:  Isabell has narrowed his list to Xavier, Boston College, and St. Louis.

He picks St. Louis.

Transfers Leaving:
Towson: FR 6'3" G Travis Ingram (Hampton), SO 6’4” G Zane Martin, SO 6’7” F Justin Gorham, FR 6’2” G Jeff Prophete
Drexel: SR 6’4” G Major Canady, SO 6'3" G Kari Jonsson (Iceland), RS JR 6'1" G Tramaine Isabell (St. Louis)
Delaware: SO 6'8" F Derrick Woods (St. Peter’s), SO 6’4” SG Ryan Daly (St. Joe’s)
James Madison: SO 6'7" F Gerron Scissum (Alabama A&M)
Northeastern: JR 6'11 F Sajon Ford (not playing), FR 6’4” G Derrick Cook
UNCW: JR 6’0” G JaQuel Richmond (Fayetteville State)

Transfers Eligible Next Year:
Delaware - JR 6'11" F Collin Goss (George Washington)
Towson - JR 6'8" F Nakye Sanders (Duquesne), SO 6’4” G Brian Fobbs (JUCO), SO 6’2” G Tobias Howard (JUCO/Western Kentucky)
Charleston - JR 6'9 F Sam Miller (Dayton)
Northeastern - JR 6'1" G Jordan Roland (George Washington)
Wilmington - JR 6'6 F Jeantal Cylla (Florida Atlantic), Grad 6’8” F Shawn O’Connell (Georgia Southern), RFR 6’1” G Ty Gadsden (JUCO)
Drexel - SO 6'8" F James Butler (Navy), RS SO 6’6” F Zach Walton (JUCO), Grad 6’3” G Trevor John (Cal Poly)
Hofstra - SO 6'5" G Tareq Coburn (St. Bonaventure), RS JR 6'10" F Jacquil Taylor (Purdue)

Transfers Who Must Sit a Year:
William & Mary - SR 7’0” C Andy Van Vliet (Wisconsin)
Delaware - SO 6’4” G Nate Darling (UAB), FR 6’7” F Justyn Mutts (High Point)
UNCW - FR 6’8” F Marten Linssen (Valparaiso)
Northeastern - FR 6'6" G Shaquille Walters (Santa Clara)
Hofstra - FR 6'7" F Isaac Kante (Georgia)

Tribe interest:
JR 6’9” C Wyatt Walker (Samford) - commits to NC State
JR 6’8” PF Eli Abaev (Eastern Florida State JUCO) - commits to Austin Peay
GRAD 6’8” PF Aleks Abrams (Cal Poly) - commits to Miami (OH)
GRAD 6’8” Shawn O’Connell (Georgia Southern) - commits to UNCW

May mean something, maybe nothing. Saw that Coach Holmes is following a Canadian recruiting service pushing Central Arkansas grad transfer Otas Iyekekpolor 6’8 220lbs. High academic.

Saw coach Boatner was following Bucknell big man Nate Sestina. I haven't found mention of him transferring, but fits the grad transfer profile. Big kid coming off of an injury. May mean nothing.

(06-04-2018 05:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  May mean something, maybe nothing. Saw that Coach Holmes is following a Canadian recruiting service pushing Central Arkansas grad transfer Otas Iyekekpolor 6’8 220lbs. High academic.

Saw coach Boatner was following Bucknell big man Nate Sestina. I haven't found mention of him transferring, but fits the grad transfer profile. Big kid coming off of an injury. May mean nothing.

Sestina is playing next season at Bucknell, but it's expected he'll then go play professionally or seek a medical waiver 5th year. Apparently Bucknell's administration has not been historically receptive to players and a 5th year, so, it's anticipated he will be on the grad transfer market next spring. He's good enough to grab a P5 spot as a grad transfer. Not sure how he would fit in two seasons, since it would mean only signing one player for 2019, unless the staff is exploring the option of two bigs on the floor together. On the other hand, I'm sure Nate leaving early, IF he somehow got drafted, is in the back of their minds. Even if Sestina had a chance to graduate in 3 years, I saw nothing to indicate he would consider leaving for next season, since this is anticipated to be a big year for him at Bucknell. He'd have two years eligibility, though, if he did graduate early, and it would allow him to complete grad school under scholarship.

Would make sense that we're still exploring all options for a grad transfer big for this season. There is an available schollie.

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Sestina followed Boatner back; no other coaches have recently followed him. He had surgery last month. He tweeted on June 2:
“1 month out of surgery and we’re already walking and at 134 degrees ROM. Besides basketball, comeback season is my favorite”

His surgery was apparently a planned end of season procedure to remove an extra piece of knee cap that he was born with. Not expected to hamper his full health for next season. Interesting that he followed Julian back. If indeed he has the credits to graduate early, maybe he is weighing the prospect of getting two years as a grad transfer, if Bucknell won't give him the option. Would be smart on his part to get grad school fully paid. I did notice he had, also, followed a player agent.

May be following for another reason, and doubt it would happen anyway, but if we somehow finessed him as a two year grad transfer, then just wow......

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Besides, Bucknell plays in the Diamond Head Classic in Waikiki over Christmas, so, a tough destination to give up for your senior year and go somewhere else.

On a scheduling note, I am surprised that we have not found a way to get Bucknell in a basketball home and home, especially with the football arrangement.


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All very good points. But the question is why reach out now? The reason is probably benign, though I find no connection between player and coach to justify contact. Has Sestina earned enough credits to graduate? I doubt the angle is for a 5th year after next season. The need is now, 5th year or not. Bucknell site says he is a geography major. I'm not sure what his career ambitions are after basketball or what graduate major he'd pursue. Hawaii is a great basketball destination, but it doesn't match having fully paid graduate schooling at a top university.
By all accounts he loves Bucknell. But it would be a tough decision if you can get 2 years towards a grad degree and then the chance for pro basketball as opposed to 1 year with no guarantee of another and then the same pro opportunity. I know nothing about Bucknell's returning post players, but I feel confident that he'd get more pro preparation competing against Nate, Andy, & Mehkel

If the goal is this season only, it makes sense. Having 3 inside players for foul trouble and depth would be a significant boost. It would also allow Paul to slide to his more natural 3-4 hybrid slot instead of being in the low block(ever). I'd like to see Nathan and Harvey play more in the paint than outside. In my opinion, the Tribe doesn't need Nathan to be a three point shooter, we need his massive abilities near the basket in both rebounding, defending and scoring. An occasional 3 pointer is a bonus, not an objective. But Nathan made great strides in his free throw shooting, so maybe he can actually hit a decent percentage of 3's. I just think he is so important in the paint to our chances. Any grad transfer that can provide depth and practice efforts is welcome for 18-19.

Sestina is more than depth.

Bucknell, also, has an upcoming August trip to Europe.

Maybe he has already discussed a 5th year option and not been given a commitment to it from their administration. Would imagine their coaching staff needs to know now whether they are filling four slots for 2019, or three. In addition, if his post surgery prognosis has left doubt that he will be 100% for his final year, then maybe he's looking at the option of transferring and using his sit out year to get fully healthy, with two years eligibility to follow, assuming a 6th year waiver granted. We do need post experience and depth to go with Mehkel in the year after Nate and Andy are gone.

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If he transferred and sat out, would he still have 2 years eligibility? He would have to petition the ncaa to get that lost year back, correct? To maximize his eligibility, he needs to graduate this year/summer.
If the coaches are working out these types of moves, then they are playing chess.

Yeah, either Bucknell has to be willing to apply for the medical redshirt year, or a school he transfers to, to get the additional year of eligibility. Agreed, a lot of chances taken if an undergrad transfer, since he would, also, need a 6th year waiver to get two more years after sitting out a year.

Bucknell loses their three, star senior players, and only has one other post player returning. They will drop significantly next season.

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