(04-12-2021 09:17 AM)Anders Wrote:  

(04-11-2021 11:31 AM)Anders Wrote:  

(04-11-2021 10:12 AM)Purple Wrote:  What a dream 5-star get this would be. I'm sure By is in contact, but I wonder what the odds are for him choosing the Dukes. Has family ties to UGA, so I would think they are chasing him hard.... https://247sports.com/Player/Walker-Kessler-46047954/

He has a ton of eyes on him including UNC trying to convince him to stay. Would be a dream get.

Maybe he listened to Jim Boeheim:
"Why Walker Kessler would leave there is beyond me,” Boeheim said. “He’s going to get the ball 25 times a game there. It’s just wounded pride. That’s crazy.”

a simplified way of looking at the team. we are losing, in importance and ability

Lewis
Jacobs
Christmas
Harvey
Taylor
Mensah

In return, we are getting

transfer - Takal Molson
Transfer - Charles Falden
Freshman - McConnell
Freshman - Stinson
Freshman - Savage
Player to be named
Player to be named

are we better? Lewis is a huge loss and while I liked Jacobs, he and Christmas can be replaced. Overall, we look to be deeper in talent, but will be be better? Given what Coach B did on short notice, you have to trust in him.

It seems like Byington's first choices were Cam Holden and Chico Carter, but both fell through. The fallback options are Molson and Falden. As Mettlen mentioned, it would seem to make sense that JMU has to add at least one post player at this point. Right now, this is obviously a very small team. Amadi was bothered by length last season and is an undersized post player.

The teams mentioned as comps playing 4 out and 1 in are not comparable teams to JMU (Baylor, Texas and Villanova) and all have a number of big players on their rosters.

Kessler, the UNC guy, was rumored to be going to Gonzaga when he initially entered the portal. Gonzaga is in the running for the top recruit in the country in Chet Holmgren, a 7-footer from Minn.

IMO JMU must sign at least one big man (6’8” or taller) out of the two remaining available scholarships. Still wish we could sign Demari Monsanto out of ETSU, but he’s likely got stars in his eyes and will go to Wake Forest and play for Forbes (the HC who originally signed him to play for ETSU).

Edit: As predicted.

https://www.bloggersodear.com/2021/4/10/...basketball

(04-11-2021 10:17 AM)Purple Wrote:  ECU big in the portal. The Pirates have 5 players in the portal. Looks like their hoops program is going the way of their football program.... https://247sports.com/Player/Edra-Luster-46083636/

Big dude, but sounds like a project. Only plays 7 or 8 minutes a game and averages less than a point per game on 33% from the field, 44% from the line.

A guy that size (7'/245) should be able to back his way in and get high percentage shots with relative ease against mid-majors.

THIS is the guy By should be courting! Joel Soriano is looking for a winning team. He is stuck at 2-12 Fordham and wants a new, exciting home and a team with upward mobility. He is also a 6' 11"/250-pound power forward, a 3-star in high school who has grown two inches and gained 60 pounds in his two years in college. He averaged 10.4 points a game for Fordham in 20-21, 54% from the field and snagged 9 reebs, averaging 27 minutes a game.

Pretty awesome! By should be camping on this kid's doorstep.... https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...el-soriano

JMU is in the mix for Ga Southern transfer Zack Bryant, a 6'2 scoring guard. Coach Byington recruited Bryant to Ga Southern as a transfer from UAB, but never actually coached him as he sat out due to transfer rules during Mark's last year in Statesboro. He does come with some potential red flags, as he was kicked off the team at UAB, but he is an effective scorer and a dynamic athlete. Looks like JMU is up against Rick Pitino and others for his services. He will be committing soon, per reports.

A couple of transfer big men to keep an eye on that JMU is showing interest in:

James Jean-Marie
6'8, 230
from Hawaii
averaged 22.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 54% from the field last year for the Rainbow Warriors

EJ Anosike
6'7, 245
from Tennessee, originally from Sacred Heart
hardly played for the Vols, but averaged 18.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 48% from the field in his final season at Sacred Heart

The two transfers I see JMU still mentioned on are Zack Bryant a PG transfer from Georgia Southern who was recruited by Coach By and a Juco who is 6’7”. The Juco is announcing his commitment on 4/24 and Bryant’s decision is supposedly imminent. What I’m not sure of is with the two recent commits of these guys are still possibilities to land at JMU. Honestly I think there is as much chance that JMU brings in more guards and wings than a 6’8” big. I just think there are that many guys with that size that fit the style of play at the mid major level so as silly as fans may think this strategy is it would surprise me to see more guards who can handle shoot and defend.

I’d argue that our size really didn’t inhibit us last year as much as our speed and versatility hampered the opposition. That was Byington in a short Covid season without a full roster of guys that fit his style. For as much as people worry about Amadi inside against more traditional bigs the opposition can not handle Amadi and the guy undersized and all still managed to come away with key rebounds at the end of games and key blocked shots. Amadi after a full off season and Byington a year in with more quick rangy guys is a better formula than adding a stiff or project who has size.

Just damn! Joel Soriano is awesome. Still a little raw, but there is clearly NBA potential in this kid. Not quite polished yet, but is extremely good with his back to the basket, loves the jump hook, has a nasty streak, can handle the ball, and may not be finished growing. PLEASE, By, sign this kid up!.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5e0iz49Tc

(04-12-2021 06:47 PM)Purple Wrote:  Just damn! Joel Soriano is awesome. Still a little raw, but there is clearly NBA potential for this kid. Not quite polished yet, but is extremely good with his back to the basket, loves the jump hook, has a nasty streak, can handle the ball, and may not be finished growing. PLEASE, By, sign this kid up!.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5e0iz49Tc

Would love to have him, but short of Coach By having an inside connection, we aren't beating out this collection of schools. We would literally stand out as the one team that doesn't belong.

Soriano has heard from Oklahoma St., St. Johns, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Creighton, Virginia Tech, Penn State, VCU, and South Carolina. So far he has had in-depth conversations with Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, St. Johns, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Creighton.

(04-12-2021 06:23 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(04-11-2021 10:17 AM)Purple Wrote:  ECU big in the portal. The Pirates have 5 players in the portal. Looks like their hoops program is going the way of their football program.... https://247sports.com/Player/Edra-Luster-46083636/

Big dude, but sounds like a project. Only plays 7 or 8 minutes a game and averages less than a point per game on 33% from the field, 44% from the line.

A guy that size (7'/245) should be able to back his way in and get high percentage shots with relative ease against mid-majors.

Sounds like Mensah who contributed very little this season.

(04-12-2021 07:02 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(04-12-2021 06:47 PM)Purple Wrote:  Just damn! Joel Soriano is awesome. Still a little raw, but there is clearly NBA potential for this kid. Not quite polished yet, but is extremely good with his back to the basket, loves the jump hook, has a nasty streak, can handle the ball, and may not be finished growing. PLEASE, By, sign this kid up!.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5e0iz49Tc

Would love to have him, but short of Coach By having an inside connection, we aren't beating out this collection of schools. We would literally stand out as the one team that doesn't belong.

Soriano has heard from Oklahoma St., St. Johns, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Creighton, Virginia Tech, Penn State, VCU, and South Carolina. So far he has had in-depth conversations with Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, St. Johns, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Creighton.

You are probably right, but if "he has had in-depth conversations" with Creighton and St. John's, he would be mightily impressed with just a single visit to JMU. Just get him to visit and I think it could sway him.

(04-12-2021 06:38 PM)STEELCITYBALL3R Wrote:  JMU is in the mix for Ga Southern transfer Zack Bryant, a 6'2 scoring guard. Coach Byington recruited Bryant to Ga Southern as a transfer from UAB, but never actually coached him as he sat out due to transfer rules during Mark's last year in Statesboro. He does come with some potential red flags, as he was kicked off the team at UAB, but he is an effective scorer and a dynamic athlete. Looks like JMU is up against Rick Pitino and others for his services. He will be committing soon, per reports.

A couple of transfer big men to keep an eye on that JMU is showing interest in:

James Jean-Marie
6'8, 230
from Hawaii
averaged 22.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 54% from the field last year for the Rainbow Warriors

EJ Anosike
6'7, 245
from Tennessee, originally from Sacred Heart
hardly played for the Vols, but averaged 18.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 48% from the field in his final season at Sacred Heart

I like the Jean-Marie clips- kind of reminds me of a grad transfer from Odu who played at Mason his last year a few years back. Fwiw the Only tweet from Anosike since transferring from Tennessee is a re-tweet of Molson’s commitment to JMU.

(04-12-2021 06:38 PM)STEELCITYBALL3R Wrote:  JMU is in the mix for Ga Southern transfer Zack Bryant, a 6'2 scoring guard. Coach Byington recruited Bryant to Ga Southern as a transfer from UAB, but never actually coached him as he sat out due to transfer rules during Mark's last year in Statesboro. He does come with some potential red flags, as he was kicked off the team at UAB, but he is an effective scorer and a dynamic athlete. Looks like JMU is up against Rick Pitino and others for his services. He will be committing soon, per reports.

A couple of transfer big men to keep an eye on that JMU is showing interest in:

James Jean-Marie
6'8, 230
from Hawaii
averaged 22.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 54% from the field last year for the Rainbow Warriors

EJ Anosike
6'7, 245
from Tennessee, originally from Sacred Heart
hardly played for the Vols, but averaged 18.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 48% from the field in his final season at Sacred Heart

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

The guy from Hawaii is looking for his 5th school. According to his Hawaii bio he hit 2 JUCOs and U. San Diego before Hawaii.

(04-12-2021 06:38 PM)STEELCITYBALL3R Wrote:  JMU is in the mix for Ga Southern transfer Zack Bryant, a 6'2 scoring guard. Coach Byington recruited Bryant to Ga Southern as a transfer from UAB, but never actually coached him as he sat out due to transfer rules during Mark's last year in Statesboro. He does come with some potential red flags, as he was kicked off the team at UAB, but he is an effective scorer and a dynamic athlete. Looks like JMU is up against Rick Pitino and others for his services. He will be committing soon, per reports.

A couple of transfer big men to keep an eye on that JMU is showing interest in:

James Jean-Marie
6'8, 230
from Hawaii
averaged 22.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 54% from the field last year for the Rainbow Warriors

EJ Anosike
6'7, 245
from Tennessee, originally from Sacred Heart
hardly played for the Vols, but averaged 18.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 48% from the field in his final season at Sacred Heart

with the mentioned retweet I did the Google journey on Anosike. Looking for a big that is a realistic "get" for us, I would be more than fine with him. Not a big vertical but uses his body to get space. Soft finisher around the rim, but he does finish and has a knack for rebounding and mentions that as his "go-to" value as a player. I hope the retweet means we have an inside track.

(04-12-2021 10:53 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  a simplified way of looking at the team. we are losing, in importance and ability

Lewis
Jacobs
Christmas
Harvey
Taylor
Mensah

In return, we are getting

transfer - Takal Molson
Transfer - Charles Falden
Freshman - McConnell
Freshman - Stinson
Freshman - Savage
Player to be named
Player to be named

are we better? Lewis is a huge loss and while I liked Jacobs, he and Christmas can be replaced. Overall, we look to be deeper in talent, but will be be better? Given what Coach B did on short notice, you have to trust in him.

What will make this team better, is improving it's glaring weakness - frontcourt.

(04-13-2021 07:36 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  

(04-12-2021 06:38 PM)STEELCITYBALL3R Wrote:  JMU is in the mix for Ga Southern transfer Zack Bryant, a 6'2 scoring guard. Coach Byington recruited Bryant to Ga Southern as a transfer from UAB, but never actually coached him as he sat out due to transfer rules during Mark's last year in Statesboro. He does come with some potential red flags, as he was kicked off the team at UAB, but he is an effective scorer and a dynamic athlete. Looks like JMU is up against Rick Pitino and others for his services. He will be committing soon, per reports.

A couple of transfer big men to keep an eye on that JMU is showing interest in:

James Jean-Marie
6'8, 230
from Hawaii
averaged 22.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 54% from the field last year for the Rainbow Warriors

EJ Anosike
6'7, 245
from Tennessee, originally from Sacred Heart
hardly played for the Vols, but averaged 18.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per 40 minutes and shot 48% from the field in his final season at Sacred Heart

with the mentioned retweet I did the Google journey on Anosike. Looking for a big that is a realistic "get" for us, I would be more than fine with him. Not a big vertical but uses his body to get space. Soft finisher around the rim, but he does finish and has a knack for rebounding and mentions that as his "go-to" value as a player. I hope the retweet means we have an inside track.

Body type and stats looks a little like Wilson. I like players like that but can he defend or is he slow footed?

I like EJ watching his highlight reel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX7Pujtvsgw

Theres no reason he cant average a double double at JMU

(04-13-2021 11:17 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  I like EJ watching his highlight reel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX7Pujtvsgw

Theres no reason he cant average a double double at JMU

Yeah quicker, longer, and more Wiley than Wilson - no offense to DJ - but more of a fit for the Byington system.

(04-13-2021 11:17 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  I like EJ watching his highlight reel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX7Pujtvsgw

Theres no reason he cant average a double double at JMU

He and Ahmadi would be a great duo to watch switch in and out. He has a high motor and doesn’t look clunky in the paint like some big men.