Greg W Enters Portal

[SLYFOXX1968]

I don’t get it.  All these guys leaving.  At what point does CMA accept responsibility?
Maybe he isn’t the kind old fatherly guy we have been led to believe.

I don't see any correlation with him being a fatherly figure.  These were not his recruits.  

Greg and Marcellus could have left in April of 19 when CMA was hired.  And then we would have recruited more McGriff's than Julian's and likely had a horrible year 1.  They stuck around and gave it a shot and now they are entering the last or last 2 years of their college tenure depending on their ambitions beyond and want to try something else.  I thank them for the past 2 years under CMA.  I wish them luck elsewhere.  And for CMA he can go out and recruit with 2 above 500 years under his belt and not 1 or 2 disaster years as he started his time at SJU.

A level headed post...not many of them these days. You would think we lost Artest, Mullin, Jackson, and Jason Williams the last 2 weeks. 
     Losing these guys would have been terrible and worse .  But , it would really have been bad if Walter the Truth Berry had joined them and left .   I’m sure it was a oversight and I’m not trying to be nudge but , I had to include Walter in the group you mentioned ,   The Mull Berrys  were the 2 best Redmen players of the last 50 years and arguably the 2 best ever !  

 

[Alex9045]

I see GWill's departure, and most of the others, as less of a lack of loyalty and more of a lack of faith in the staff and prospects for the team next season. I don't care what they say publicly. Same as I felt when Tariq Owens left. 

What are you talking about? These guys are leaving SJU because they want to play more and become focal points on offense. Which also helps their future earning potential as basketball players. Same reason Owens left, he was like the 5th or 6th option on a perimeter focused team. Moore is probably the only exception.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

• AlexSTJ post=429390

I see GWill's departure, and most of the others, as less of a lack of loyalty and more of a lack of faith in the staff and prospects for the team next season. I don't care what they say publicly. Same as I felt when Tariq Owens left. 

What are you talking about? These guys are leaving SJU because they want to play more and become focal points on offense. Which also helps their future earning potential as basketball players. Same reason Owens left, he was like the 5th or 6th option on a perimeter focused team. Moore is probably the only exception.

Owens while making a good decision, certainly didn’t leave to be more of a focal part of an offense.

 

[redmen4life]

Several reason these kids are leaving:

1. don't have to sit a year. play immediately.
2. they don't believe CMA's system is going to make them any better.
3. covid year in nyc was tough. perhaps want to be closer to family, warmer climates, new environements, etc
4. want more certainty that they'll make the NCAA tourney

i think all of those are fair reasons to want to leave.  ultimately though, i think the fact you don't have to sit out a year, is worth taking advantage of. 

gwill, earl, and roberts gave us 3 years of outstanding representation.  they each gave us great moments. i'm proud they wore the uni. 

i wish them luck.

now CMA and staff have to earn that paycheck.
 

 

[beast of the east]

• AlexSTJ post=429390

I see GWill's departure, and most of the others, as less of a lack of loyalty and more of a lack of faith in the staff and prospects for the team next season. I don't care what they say publicly. Same as I felt when Tariq Owens left. 

What are you talking about? These guys are leaving SJU because they want to play more and become focal points on offense. Which also helps their future earning potential as basketball players. Same reason Owens left, he was like the 5th or 6th option on a perimeter focused team. Moore is probably the only exception.

Owens while making a good decision, certainly didn’t leave to be more of a focal part of an offense.

Maybe Tarik didn't, but his dad Renard sure did.

 

[Alex9045]

• AlexSTJ post=429390

I see GWill's departure, and most of the others, as less of a lack of loyalty and more of a lack of faith in the staff and prospects for the team next season. I don't care what they say publicly. Same as I felt when Tariq Owens left. 

What are you talking about? These guys are leaving SJU because they want to play more and become focal points on offense. Which also helps their future earning potential as basketball players. Same reason Owens left, he was like the 5th or 6th option on a perimeter focused team. Moore is probably the only exception.

Owens while making a good decision, certainly didn’t leave to be more of a focal part of an offense.

You are correct. He was a focal point on defense for Tech and became a much more efficient player. Which eventually helped him land an NBA gig.

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

Losing Williams and Earlington hurts .  No other way to explain it . In CMA ‘s system a lot of guys get significant minutes .  I would think as Players experienced in Anderson’s style that would have continued next season . Maybe I’m wrong but , I think they would have been the performing Vets every team needs .  And , unless CMA promised Smith the starting SG spot , I don’t understand GWill leaving .     Many here and obviously Anderson thinks WUSU is going to be a big contributor to the team . I have reservations .   He was still making the same mistakes trying to inbound the ball at seasons end as he did in the Butler game .  And , he did take a lot of very obvious charges in the lane where it looked like he wanted a first down and not a basket . That didn’t change over the course of the year either . Maybe he will learn but , if Williams was miffed that Wusu was getting his minutes that’s a Anderson issue to solve . Wusu was getting a lot of minutes in key games down the stretch and GWill was on the Bench . Many attributed that to back problems but , maybe not .  I didn’t count them but , as end of season games were played , a lot of posters here were screaming “ get Wusu out of the game .”  Especially after a blatant miscue or poor shot selection or a wild drive to the basket . Let alone the botched inbounding against Butler that was one of our worst losses .  Losing Williams as a St John’s student , along with Caraher , is blow too . Both were instrumental in creating a Scholarship Program that transcends their BB contributions . 2 Good kids who went beyond BB fundamentals .  

 

[austour]

Here is his response to a fan wishing him well today.......


  [attachment=2046]gregsr.png[/attachment]
 

A lot of fans like them, and like the interaction with them, not my cup of tea though. 

The last line makes it sound like he was not totally on board with Greg's decision, not that this matters. 

 

[Jack Williams]

Here is his response to a fan wishing him well today.......


  [attachment=2046]gregsr.png[/attachment]

 

A lot of fans like them, and like the interaction with them, not my cup of tea though. 

The last line makes it sound like he was not totally on board with Greg's decision, not that this matters. 

Greg Sr was a huge fan of Mike A. I think he wanted Greg to stick it out here. But the idea that you can go anywhere without having to sit out is so tempting for these kids 

 

[austour]

I see GWill's departure, and most of the others, as less of a lack of loyalty and more of a lack of faith in the staff and prospects for the team next season. I don't care what they say publicly. Same as I felt when Tariq Owens left. 

I will bet that none of them wind up at a higher level basketball program like Tariq did.

and play major minutes on any higher level Final Four type program like Tariq did
 

You may be right but you don't know what they are looking for.  I will say that both these kids committed to STJ as teens 3-3 1/2 years ago.  A lot has changes since then for the team and likely to them as men.  Their goals as HS seniors might be quite different than their goals today.

They might want to start and be the man at a lower division program, they may want to be a contributor off the bench at a big time program, they may want to get closer to home, they may want to get further from home, they may want to get the hell out of Jamaica, they may want to experience a big time college campus.  Hell, as 21 year old men they may not even know what they want but just know they aren't getting it where they are.  So they are looking for another better job, for lack of a better term, though many of us equate scholarships to pay (is that an attempt to buy their "loyalty").

This isn't happening because there has been a quantum shift in attitudes of young people today, even if it is true.  This is happening solely because the system has been changed from one of indentured servitude to one that has swung, way too far in my opinion, to the other side of the pendulum. 

Things are changing too fast, the NCAA is ill prepared for the ramifications.

 

[MJDinkins]

Cam Mack's mom was a bit much. Rod Odom's dad was a bit much where he posted, but his kid didn't even come here so no big deal. Those are the only two off the top of my head I've ever even made a negative note of. I don't have any issue whatsoever with either Owens' or Williams' dad.

Right now our best-looking member should be charming Kadary Richmond's mom. But since I'm here, it'll have to be the No. 2 guy on the list. Monte seems to have classic features, but Maher has the height and I heard Dinkins is a sharp dresser. So talk amongst yourselves and formulate a plan of attack.

Maybe, we can form a four-man group and I use my snazzy style and swag, Maher uses his height to intimidate, Monte uses his exemplary features, and you ride shotgun to adequately compliment our features to snag a recruit.  

 

[Knight]

I think Duke and Greg’s best chance to start on a competitive team are at SJU.  

 

[GardenCity62]

If Earlington and Williams step down to a league like the Maac they will shine. If they go to a league comparable to the big east they will perform just as they did at SJU.

 

[room112]

Personally I think this just proves the challenge a coach like CMA will have with recruiting and retaining kids. Specifically his intention of playing 10 kids, and with a serious focus on defense. Individuals don't always get to shine in his system like they might expect they should. Unfortunately this is just how the college game has evolved, where kids are rarely looking to just play a role. 

It's going to take a certain type of kid to want to come here and buy into the team environment. 

 

[paultzman]

NM

 

[L J S A]

I think Duke and Greg’s best chance to start on a competitive team are at SJU.  

I think it was Making Plays who said CMA is about personal responsibility, so once you are in portal he's not welcoming you back.

Greg would have started as a starter. Whether he finished season as starter remained to be seen.

I believe Earlington would have started and gotten all the minutes he could handle if he was willing to be an undersized center. He wants to play on the outside, though. Maybe he thinks he's an NBA player. I think he's Japan-level player if his career continues post-college.

 

[JohnnyFan]

I agree that Duke is not going to find an increase in playing time at a comparable level.  However, the idea that Greg was going to be behind Wusu and Pinzon is just not so.  His experience, shooting ability and defense puts him well ahead of both. 

Also, I am seeing suggestions of Iona and "taking a step down" for Greg.  I think some posters are going to be surprised about where he lands.  It's probably due to his injuries, but Greg is one of the more underrated (by our fans) Johnnies in awhile.  

 

[RipDumaine 132]

GWill to announce at 3. Post said bye NY hello sunshine.  Guess U of F

 

[monte]

I see GWill's departure, and most of the others, as less of a lack of loyalty and more of a lack of faith in the staff and prospects for the team next season. I don't care what they say publicly. Same as I felt when Tariq Owens left. 

What are you talking about? These guys are leaving SJU because they want to play more and become focal points on offense. Which also helps their future earning potential as basketball players. Same reason Owens left, he was like the 5th or 6th option on a perimeter focused team. Moore is probably the only exception.

Get back to me next season after we see how many of the kids who left are:
A) actually the focal point of the offense on their new teams, and;
B )  how many more minutes they play as opposed to how many they would have played had they stayed 

Thats what I'm talking about! 

 

 

[redmannorth]

GWill to announce at 3. Post said bye NY hello sunshine.  Guess U of F

very disappointed he left. I can’t stress it enough. We all liked him in every respect, both as a student, as an athlete, as a team leader, as an example to his teammates , especially with his initiative with the scholarship this season, and he comes from a great loving and supportive family. And of course we all liked his supportive dads posts. He was the ideal student athlete if there ever was one. 
i have great memories of Greg and wish his health would have been better at SJU and that he would have played more and perhaps he would still be here. I can only wish him the very best of success in all of his future endeavours, both during and after college. 
i hope for his sake he makes a very good selection of his future school. So sorry to see this classy kid depart.