Big Man On Campus Targets

[Ralph318!]

I can see a situation where we sign 2 players. CRP doesn’t want freshmen, however I think Vince blindsided the Staff.
The NJ prospect is very intriguing. Very athletic, good bounce, good hands, plays with both hands and has good feet. He could develop in practice against Vince if he’s properly advised. He would foul out in 5-10 minutes if relied upon. He needs conditioning. He’s a classic project.
The Iceman could give us a situational substitute because of his height and length alone. He’s intriguing because he is from overseas. That’s a benefit. I’m
If both agree to unofficially commit to 2 years, we would have a solid plan and combination for 2026-2027. That’s a big if.
The other guys are meh.

 

[ghostzapper]

Clingan was RSCI #37. Anyone that had him outside of 40 was just very off. He was very clearly a top 25 player.

I agree that Clingan should not have been rated the 56 rated recruit that he was ranked by ESPN (BTW Iwuchukwu was 21 spots ahead of him that year at 35). It was obvious as soon as Clingan hit the floor as a Freshman, that the rating services severely undervalued him.

I think that is the point though. These rating services are often wrong. I believe you can find value outside the top fifty players (even with bigs) if you are good at finding undervalued talent. I think Pitino and staff have proven at Iona, that they were really good at finding hidden gems.

I remember when we signed Julian Champagnie that the narrative was that he was too lowly rated to be a factor on a Big East roster. You may be right that signing a big outside of the top fifty is folly, but I would not bet against this staff to find someone with talent that others are missing out on.

 

[NCJohnnie]

I agree that Clingan should not have been rated the 56 rated recruit that he was ranked by ESPN (BTW Iwuchukwu was 21 spots ahead of him that year at 35). It was obvious as soon as Clingan hit the floor as a Freshman, that the rating services severely undervalued him.

I think that is the point though. These rating services are often wrong. I believe you can find value outside the top fifty players (even with bigs) if you are good at finding undervalued talent. I think Pitino and staff have proven at Iona that they were really good at finding hidden gems.

I remember when we signed Julian Champagnie that the narrative was that he was too lowly rated to be a factor on a Big East roster. You may be right that signing a big outside of the top fifty is folly, but I would not bet against this staff to find someone with talent that others are missing out on

Although I that didn’t happen with either Vince or Maker to be fair.

 

[Wolfie]

Faye declared for the NBA draft last year also and decided to return to Italy.
I think that he will do the same this year and leverage it to get more euros in his contract.
Don't get me wrong......I would be elated to get a player like him but he is worthy of more than just a few minutes a game if it happened. Easily a 15+ minute player but I am not sure of his academic/English proficiency.
I know he is fluent in French and Italian but have never heard him speak fluent English (a soon to be second language in America)

...third, counting 'New Yawk', lol.

 

[Ralph318!]

I can see a situation where we sign 2 players. CRP doesn’t want freshmen, however I think Vince blindsided the Staff.
The NJ prospect is very intriguing. Very athletic, good bounce, good hands, plays with both hands and has good feet. He could develop in practice against Vince if he’s properly advised. He would foul out in 5-10 minutes if relied upon. He needs conditioning. He’s a classic project.
The Iceman could give us a situational substitute because of his height and length alone. He’s intriguing because he is from overseas. That’s a benefit. I’m
If both agree to unofficially commit to 2 years, we would have a solid plan and combination for 2026-2027. That’s a big if.
The other guys are meh.

I meant playing in practice vs. Zuby. Sorry friends.

 

[ghostzapper]

Although I that didn’t happen with either Vince or Maker to be fair.

Vince (as I referenced) was fairly highly ranked out of High School and was downgraded some, because his career was slowed by health problems. His time here was a mixed bag for sure, but his minutes against Creighton in the Big East Championship Game were probably his best.

Maker was never give an opportunity to play at all, so it was hard to assess much about him, but I think the thought was that he would need time to develop. Like Mohamed Keita before him, Maker was brought in for his size and sometimes it takes a few years to see bigs like that find their way. In the case of Maker we will see if he develops at DePaul or if he was just not talented enough to have an impact at the Big East level.

 

[Blocked by Obekpa]

I get Italian basketball from Italy on my "embellished" Firestick. I've seen all the Italian first division teams. Imran was not a player who got minutes in those games while Momo is a rising star.
The youth and senior teams have scrimmages but they play at a lower level.
Imran was called up to the senior squad ONCE this season but never got in the game against my NAPOLI team.
That's like saying the players on the Westchester Knicks are teammates with guys like Brunson, etc. If they called up due to an injury....they are short term teammates.

I never said he didn't know the senior players.......but he is just not talented enough to play (or get minutes) with Momo.

Rocket, if this is true, then you also know that Amar Alibegovic is a beast now. I don’t know what happened or how, but that kid can play now.

 

[Rocket]

Rocket, if this is true, then you also know that Amar Alibegovic is a beast now. I don’t know what happened or how, but that kid can play now.

I'm not sure I would consider him a beast but at 30 he us now an experienced man whose shot has improved, especially from the 3 point line but remember....we had him as a young player who didn't get the best of coaching and was a 10 minute kid who forced things a lot.
He was a great kid......and the coeds loved him!

 

[lawmanfan]

Have to assume if Maker knew Vince was going to transfer, he would have stayed. Think he could have filled the role we will need this upcoming year from our back up center.

I don't understand the thinking here.

Hopkins and Mitchell are filling the 4 spot. They may both be on the floor at times with Mitchell as a small ball 5 or as a 3 in a big lineup with Zuby.

Zuby is getting 30 minutes a game. Prey is getting the other 10 plus maybe a few at the 4. I don't understand why folks don't think he's a 5. Pitino chose not to play him there last year but he's certainly capable of playing the position at the college level.

Any other 5 that gets added is a "break glass in case of emergency" player. They cannot count on more than 5 minutes a game - maybe.

This isn't an All Star team where someone good is going to say "oh yeah, sign me up for that.". A guy Vince's level (and I liked Vince) didn't want to be here for that.

Think smaller, not bigger I think.

 

[redmanwest]

I don't understand the thinking here.

Hopkins and Mitchell are filling the 4 spot. They may both be on the floor at times with Mitchell as a small ball 5 or as a 3 in a big lineup with Zuby.

Zuby is getting 30 minutes a game. Prey is getting the other 10 plus maybe a few at the 4. I don't understand why folks don't think he's a 5. Pitino chose not to play him there last year but he's certainly capable of playing the position at the college level.

Any other 5 that gets added is a "break glass in case of emergency" player. They cannot count on more than 5 minutes a game - maybe.

This isn't an All Star team where someone good is going to say "oh yeah, sign me up for that.". A guy Vince's level (and I liked Vince) didn't want to be here for that.

Think smaller, not bigger I think.

I liked Vince too (recognizing his limitations but seeing potential improvement), and can't blame him for seeking a better opportunity.

I think Prey is likely to see more than 10 a game. I think (no inside knowledge) the staff seed him as taking a big step up and are as you said looking for an emergency depth guy more than anything else.

I am not sure that the 3, 4,5 designations are hard and fast anymore, except when confronted with one of the few real big 5's you may see. So, I think that the 4/5 guys will all be interchangeable and minutes will flow as games and performance dictate.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

I don't understand the thinking here.

Hopkins and Mitchell are filling the 4 spot. They may both be on the floor at times with Mitchell as a small ball 5 or as a 3 in a big lineup with Zuby.

Zuby is getting 30 minutes a game. Prey is getting the other 10 plus maybe a few at the 4. I don't understand why folks don't think he's a 5. Pitino chose not to play him there last year but he's certainly capable of playing the position at the college level.

Any other 5 that gets added is a "break glass in case of emergency" player. They cannot count on more than 5 minutes a game - maybe.

This isn't an All Star team where someone good is going to say "oh yeah, sign me up for that.". A guy Vince's level (and I liked Vince) didn't want to be here for that.

Think smaller, not bigger I think.

He was talking about Maker tho. As the roster stands there’s a chance for 5 minutes some nights for a 3rd center. Without Vince, that could have been Maker, and maybe that was enough for him as a “freshmen”. With Vince, there was negative minutes available for him.

 

[lawmanfan]

He was talking about Maker tho. As the roster stands there’s a chance for 5 minutes some nights for a 3rd center. Without Vince, that could have been Maker, and maybe that was enough for him as a “freshmen”. With Vince, there was negative minutes available for him.

Yeah my reply wasn't properly targeted to that post. I agree that Maker would have been perfectly suited to what's available, would have been the next step in development for him.

 

[Marillac2]

I agree that Clingan should not have been rated the 56 rated recruit that he was ranked by ESPN (BTW Iwuchukwu was 21 spots ahead of him that year at 35). It was obvious as soon as Clingan hit the floor as a Freshman, that the rating services severely undervalued him.

I think that is the point though. These rating services are often wrong. I believe you can find value outside the top fifty players (even with bigs) if you are good at finding undervalued talent. I think Pitino and staff have proven at Iona, that they were really good at finding hidden gems.

I remember when we signed Julian Champagnie that the narrative was that he was too lowly rated to be a factor on a Big East roster. You may be right that signing a big outside of the top fifty is folly, but I would not bet against this staff to find someone with talent that others are missing out on.

Ranking bigs is very difficult because there is so much projection involved and a lot of them have so much work to do physically before they can contribute. It can take some bigs 3-4 years. That kid Ledee at San Diego State did nothing for 4 years and then was an All-American as a 5th-year senior -- and he was only 6'9.

I think what held the Champagnie brothers back is that they were listed at 6'5 and 6'6 in high school and they were both 6'8 when they got to college. When you see 6'6, you think they are really 6'4 since everyone uses their heights with shoes rounded up to the next inch.

It's a pretty safe rule that non-elite big men won't contribute as freshmen. There will always be exceptions.

 

[Marillac2]

Yeah my reply wasn't properly targeted to that post. I agree that Maker would have been perfectly suited to what's available, would have been the next step in development for him.

Vince unintentionally screwed Maker with his 11th hour transfer. Maker already signed with DePaul.

 

[Silly Donovan]

Perhaps Maker left for DePaul cause he was upset with the St. John’s organization for only playing him 5 minutes the entire season and losing a year of eligibility?

 

[dk423]

Perhaps Maker left for DePaul cause he was upset with the St. John’s organization for only playing him 5 minutes the entire season and losing a year of eligibility?

Or perhaps Rick played him five minutes against DePaul after he caught wind of Maker deciding to use his RS and leave for another program

 

[bamafan]

Or perhaps Rick played him five minutes against DePaul after he caught wind of Maker deciding to use his RS and leave for another program

That would be pretty vindictive and not a good look for Pitino either.

 

[dk423]

That would be pretty vindictive and not a good look for Pitino either.

I think its absolutely insane and not a good look either, but its a strange coincidence don't you think?

 

[dk423]

 

[ptc666]

Vince just wanted to toe the rubber at Citi Field.... Would love to know the story behind his transfer since it seemed like he was part of the core coming back. Either way, I don't think we need another big for this year, unless it is insurance for Bryce. Assuming Bryce is fully healthy then he'll get big time minutes at the 4 alongside Zuby at the 5. Mitchell will split time at the 3 and 4 to give Bryce a break and Prey will split between the 4 and 5 to give Zuby a break and possibly create different looks.

Vince leaving, I think, just gives Prey more opportunity, which I would prefer. Recruiting a big to work into the rotation for the 26 / 27 season makes sense, but I don't think we need another one for this year.