(05-07-2021 05:16 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(05-07-2021 10:13 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Just tossing this out. Hartford (America East Conference) is downsizing from D-I to eventually D-III over the next few years.

This is very messy for the school and its program (staff, players, etc.). Nevertheless, some D-I and D-II coaches may keep an eye out for possible transfers.

Once again, Bob Simon has extensive recruiting experience against programs in the MAAC, America East, Patriot, etc.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...vision-iii

Because of the 2020/1 'free year' there might be a few players who are interesting to other D-I programs. Looks like 2021/2 will be the last 'usual' year for the school.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...ts/_/id/42

I'd go for this center from Hartford who is now transferring.

https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/...47297?s=20

The kid picked the wrong Michigan directional school.

https://verbalcommits.com/players/miroslav-stafl

I think he is more of a forward than center.

EMU’s HC Stan Heath has stated that the men’s bb program will be turned into a winning program this season. His confidence appears to be justified.

EMU appears to be right on target to attain his goal, as in only one month of recruitment, Heath has recruited outstanding transfers and freshmen that will hopefully transform EMU into a potential powerhouse.

After the roster is complete, the team will get together on campus in mid-June, and learn HC Heath’s pro offensive and defensive systems, and later implement it playing in non-conference play.

EMU may be a force in the MAC to be reckoned with.

(05-23-2021 04:36 AM)Miggy Wrote:  EMU’s HC Stan Heath has stated that the men’s bb program will be turned into winning program this season. His confidence appears to be justified.

EMU appears to be right on target to attain his goal, as in only one month of recruitment, Heath has recruited outstanding transfer and freshmen alike, that will transforming EMU into a potential powerhouse.

Finishing recruitment by hopefully obtaining commits from Omar Zeigler, Jr., Jason Baker, and Marko Milivojevic would result in EMU having, in my view, one the nation’s best recruiting classes of both transfers and freshmen alike. A recruits number of stars is irrelevant.

After the roster is complete, the team will get together on campus in mid-June, and ultimately learn HC Heath’s pro offensive and defensive systems, and later gain experience playing in non-conference play.

Then EMU will be in a position to be a force to be reckoned with, and will be able to set it’s sights on winning the MAC, and beyond.

I agree those should be his top 3 targets.

(05-23-2021 04:36 AM)Miggy Wrote:  EMU’s HC Stan Heath has stated that the men’s bb program will be turned into winning program this season. His confidence appears to be justified.

EMU appears to be right on target to attain his goal, as in only one month of recruitment, Heath has recruited outstanding transfer and freshmen alike, that will transforming EMU into a potential powerhouse.

Finishing recruitment by hopefully obtaining commits from Omar Zeigler, Jr., Jason Baker, and Marko Milivojevic would result in EMU having, in my view, one the nation’s best recruiting classes of both transfers and freshmen alike. A recruits number of stars is irrelevant.

After the roster is complete, the team will get together on campus in mid-June, and ultimately learn HC Heath’s pro offensive and defensive systems, and later gain experience playing in non-conference play.

Then EMU will be in a position to be a force to be reckoned with, and will be able to set it’s sights on winning the MAC, and beyond.

I'm drinking decaf coffee this morning. Our poster?

I think Heath will be a successful coach but it will take time for the talent level to get where it needs to be.

Freshmen don't win a ton of games unless their names are Cunningham, Mobley, etc.

We might win a few games, even if we are outmanned early in the season, because opponents (and fans, too!!) won't have a clue as to what to expect.

When EMU’s HC Heath said he expected EMU to “win” this season, he also said he expected that EMU would sign guards that are equivalent to guards who play on Power 5 teams. Suspect that he knew who he had transfers in mind that he ultimately received verbal commits from.

EMU has some transfers (non-freshmen) who have experience and appear to be impactful players who have demonstrated both the ability to score, and demonstrated a high bb IQ’s in making decisions.

As transfer James Scott has averaged 20 points against the nation’s top 50 teams throughout his career. I’m his only start as a freshman, he scored 33 points against Stetson, and in his sophomore season, averaged 17.3 ppg, , and this last season at Portland State averaged 15.7 ppg this past year in conference play.

Rising sophomore Kevin-David Rice averaged 25.7 ppg at a JUCO last season. Even stepping up to a higher-level program at EMU, his 37 percent shoiting on 3-point is impressive, and EMU is also loaded with decent three point shooters including Scott, McBride, Golson, and Jihad.

I consider Luca S. an impactful player, and don’t consider Luca S. a true freshman as he’s played at a high level abroad, and scored at a high level shooting three’s and going to the hoop against good competition Believe it won’t take him long to adopt to college ball.

Scott, Luca S., And Rice, are all excellent getting to the rim. Golson is also an exceptional dunker shooting 72 percent at the rim.

Freshman Randle should develop into an excellent defender and rebounder.

Do believe EMU will also have quality depth at various positions.

In his first season at Kent State, it only took HC Heath to install a new system and seven games or so before turning KSU into a winner, that eventually went to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

So, I believe HC Heath’s optimism for this season is well founded.

Heath took over a big winner at Kent and took them to the next step. This is a total 100% rebuild.

I'm kind of 'old school' on frosh. They are better seen (on the bench) waiting to come in then in the starting lineup. The frosh are prospects but far from blue chippers who would be expected to start this year.

Heath did pick up some good transfer talent so this year won't be a total losing effort. This is, of course, to the liberal transfer rules which are invaluable for a school like EMU facing a rebuild.

(05-23-2021 11:16 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Heath took over a big winner at Kent and took them to the next step. This is a total 100% rebuild.

I'm kind of 'old school' on frosh. They are better seen (on the bench) waiting to come in then in the starting lineup. The frosh are prospects but far from blue chippers who would be expected to start this year.

Heath did pick up some good transfer talent so this year won't be a total losing effort. This is, of course, to the liberal transfer rules which are invaluable for a school like EMU facing a rebuild.

I side with Heath in being able to turn EMU into a winning team this season. At KSU, Heath started a freshman named Antonio Gates at Kent State and he led KSU in scoring at 16 ppg. .shows the type of impact players Heath immediately attracts.

EMU has a few transfers and freshmen who can do that this season. It’s a rebuild with hopefully better players.

At MSU Heath also put in a new system at KSU, and KSU stats went through the roof. Two point shooting went from 45 percent to 51 percent. He’ll have plenty of time to get the team to gel before starting the season. Just hope the three freshmen commit.

We can re-visit after season commences.

(05-23-2021 11:16 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Heath took over a big winner at Kent and took them to the next step. This is a total 100% rebuild.

I'm kind of 'old school' on frosh. They are better seen (on the bench) waiting to come in then in the starting lineup. The frosh are prospects but far from blue chippers who would be expected to start this year.

Heath did pick up some good transfer talent so this year won't be a total losing effort. This is, of course, to the liberal transfer rules which are invaluable for a school like EMU facing a rebuild.

Bobby Knight once the best about freshmen is they are freshmen and the worst thing about freshmen is they are freshmen.

First, Antonio Gates was not a freshman at Kent St. He attended Michigan State for a year, but left because they would not allow him to dual sport. So he transferred to EMU and played a year here. But we got a new coach who ran off most of the existing players including Antonio Gates (what a mistake!!). Somehow, he ended up at Kent St when Stan Heath went over there (assuming since they both were at Michigan State at the same time, might have known each other). Anyway, I think Gates was technically a junior at Kent St.

Second, I am indeed pleased with Coach Heath’s recruiting class, to the point of surprise actually. But I don’t think this is the best recruiting class in wasthenaw county, let alone the nation. So I don’t want to go overboard on this.

Thanks for correction.

My previous central point is that freshman sometimes start and play well. As you point out, Gates did that at EMU, not Kent State. As a classified Junior he played his second year of college ball at Kent State.

UPDATE MAY 28, 2021:

With verbal commitment from Mo Njie, EMU now has 11 scholarships filled consisting of returnees and verbal commits. and two open spots remaining to be filled: open to be filled.

EMU’s recruitment to date of transfers and freshmen has been excellent to date.

The 11 filled scholarships are:

Scott
Luca S.
Rice
McBride
Clements
Ballard
Golson
Jihad
Binelli
Randle
Njie

EMU’s Okongo and Spottsville don’t count against EMU’s 13 scholarships.

from an objective non emu fan perspective I'd say it's a work in progress but looks like heath wants to build around luka at pg-really good prospect- with some veteran shooting guards, scott and rice, check. golson fills one interior position with an athletic guy who can finish around the rim. i'd say luka will be exciting and inconsistent, and if he stays healthy he will need to surmount the freshman wall about 2/3 of the way into the season when lots of good frosh who are playing big minutes tend to slump. but if he can hold up you got a couple capable scoring weapons on the wings. depth is questionable but could be a pretty good MAC backcourt. frontcourt has 1 guy in golson? if okongo is back and is healthy and improves, maybe 2? heath and the staff still have work to do. I wouldn't see EMU as a winning team yet, but heath has a short term and long term plan for a perimeter oriented core which looks like it might work. add an impact frontcourt player and another solid backup guard and EMU will have more success. i also like ziegler but he has had an emu offer for a while and hasn't signed so I'd consider it more likely than not that he goes elsewhere, but good luck.

EMU should have no difficulty having a very good win-loss record this season in conference play, as EMU should have the firepower to average 75 or more ppg, and to hold opponents to averaging than 70 ppg or less. .

EMU has rebuilt it’s roster by adding transfers like Scott and Rice, and also has a good returnee in McBride, who’s a good jump shooter. Scott and Rice can also get to the hoop and the foul-line. Can see EMU having the potential to shoot 50 percent plus on two’s, and 37 percent plus on three’s in conference play.

EMU should be able to couple better shooting with a far better up-tempo offensive pro system. The result should see EMU increasing it’s points scored per game.

Although turnovers and personal fouls may slightly increase, with EMU playing a pro offense system, by EMU adding experienced high bb IQ transfers, I’m hopeful EMU can win both the turnover and personal foul battle with opponents.

Do hope EMU’s interior defenders are taught to give ground, defend the crease, and force e opponents to take bad shots, and know when a bad shot is being taken so the defender does not foul the shooter.

Defensively, with Njie added to the roster, along with Randle and transfers Golson and Jihad, as well as returnee Okongo, opponents will hopefully not average more than 70 ppg. And by EMU playing an in your face, ball hawking, man to man pressure defense, conference opponents will hopefully shoot a low three-point percentage.

EMU still has two scholarship openings to add other good players.

I like Randle and would love Baker but both of them are 200 pounds or less. Long term great prospects but both need some work in the weight room. I'm not sure why Zeigler has signed yet unless he is a non-qualifier. As Steve has pointed out you need to keep some scholarships for 2022. This is where the remaining two or three scholarships if you want to use them could be used for one or two grad transfers ie one and done.

Pomo, good post, but do think EMU has some quality depth upfront, but we’ll have to wait to see.

Do think Randle could be big help inside. Can defend the rim. Needs to learn how to defend inside without fouling. Very good shot-blocker. Takes points off of opponent’s box score.

(05-24-2021 05:29 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I like Randle’s shot-blocking skill.

With three-remaining open scholarships, still needs a hybrid SF-PF, an experienced PG, and a Center.

(05-24-2021 06:43 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(05-24-2021 05:29 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I like Randle and would love Baker but both of them are 200 pounds or less. Long term great prospects but both need some work in the weight room. I'm not sure why Zeigler has signed yet unless he is a non-qualifier. As Steve has pointed out you need to keep some scholarships for 2022. This is where the remaining two or three scholarships if you want to use them could be used for one or two grad transfers ie one and done.

EMU has enough girth. Need long quick players to defend the 3-Ball and
Provide weak side help, but agree both need to get stronger.
Emu

EMU needs Zeigler big-time. Since he may read this board, you might want to consider deleting part about him possibly being unqualified.

Get your facts straight I am asking the question whether he is qualified which may explain why he isn't signed yet with anyone.. Do you have answer to that question? I have asked the same question about various football and basketball recruits over the years and no one on this board has ever asked me to delete it. It's a fair question.

By the,way it's great to talk about prospects but until they sign mutually binding LOIs before June 1 I believe they are just that prospects.

I agree with Pomo, Ziegler does not seem that interested in EMU.

Nonetheless, EMU has a strong and deep backcourt with McBride, Scott, Spottsville, Rice, and Luka (assuming Luka actually comes to campus since I don’t see a Twitter statement yet). With Golson, Binelli, Ballard, Okongo, and Jihad, the frontcourt is at least deep- which in the MAC you can get away with. EMU will definitely compete for the MAC with this roster, just don’t think they can win it without a true small forward or a solid starter at center. We’ll see...

Also, EMU has 12 scholarships occupied with 4 leaving after this year (Binelli, Scott, Spottsville,and Okongo). So if they give out a couple more schollies this year, should still have 3 available to give for next years recruiting class.

(05-24-2021 07:25 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(05-24-2021 06:43 AM)Miggy Wrote:  

(05-24-2021 05:29 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I like Randle and his shot-blocking.

EMU has enough girth. Need long quick players to defend the 3-ball and
provide weakside help, but agree both need to get stronge.

EMU needs Zeigler big-time. Since he may read this board, you might want to consider deleting part about him possibly being unqualified.

Get your facts straight I am asking the question whether he is qualified which may explain why he isn't signed yet with anyone.. Do you have answer to that question? I have asked the same question about various football and basketball recruits over the years and no one on this board has ever asked me to delete it. It's a fair question.

Believe Zeigler suffered a major injury. I love his game as well.

Don’t believe a player’s academics should even be mentioned when there’s nothing nothing to indicate thT the player may be academically ineligible.

Nor is it relevant that one signing period has passed and a subsequent signing period is not upon us. No big deal if he didn’t sign in prior period. Lot’s of players wait to see if they receive more offers.

(05-24-2021 07:28 AM)emu79 Wrote:  By the,way it's great to talk about prospects but until they sign mutually binding LOIs before June 1 I believe they are just that prospects.

Lot of rhetoric not much 'Googling':

BTW, this NCAA 2021 CHANGE makes sense since I believe recruits can not visit campus until June 1.

Maybe there is a recruit who thinka EMU is in Kalamazoo. Yes, I heard that one, "Is EMU in Kalamazoo."

FYI: https://www.ncsasports.org/blog/2020/04/...2C%202021.

National Letter of Intent 2020-2021 Updates
"On January 15, 2021, the NLI announced new signing dates for Division 1 football and basketball. Signing dates for both sports have been extended to August 1, 2021.

The Division 1 Basketball Regular Signing Period, originally scheduled between April 14-May 19, 2021 was extended until August 1, 2021

The Division 1 Football Regular Signing Period, originally scheduled between February 3-April 1, 2021 was also extended until August 1, 2021

The Regular Signing Period for all other D1/D2 sports has not changed, and ends on August 1 "

This has broad ramifications for both FB and MBB/WBB. If I was an unsigned recruit wouldn't I want to wait until after May 31 so I could have an official visit before signing???

And If a recruits has signed a LOI both he and the school are MUTUALLY bound to each other as the signing takes place WITHING the NCAA designated signing period.

This now begs the question, how many scholarships does EMU MBB have (is it 3 or 4 per our Heath caller)? How many, IF ANY, does CC have? In the olden days there were recruits who couldn't find Ypsilanti on a Rand McNally map. (Hint: It's near Ann Arbor. Hint2: Ann Arbor is about 35 miles west of downtown Detroit.)