Guys on Matt’s Radar

Looking ahead to 2019 if we landed Kofi and Gaffney we would actually have the makings of a pretty solid team assuming Simon stays.

PG-Dixon (Jr)
SG-Simon (Sr)
SF-Figueroa (Jr)
PF-Keita (Jr)
C-Cockburn (Fr)

Bench:

SG- Williams (So)
SG- Trimble (Jr)
PG- Gaffney (Fr)
PF-Roberts (So)
PF-Earlington (So)
SG- Eli Wright (Jr)
SF- Caraher (So)
SF- Diakite (So)

Obviously there will probably be some transfers, and kids leaving, but I would roll with this team in 2019 going forward.
 
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[quote="SJU1512" post=281955][quote="Paultzman" post=281914]Pressure on with some very good talent. Taking advantage of this window of opportunity to change perception of program is important.

Personally, I don’t like the Wright commitment, but LJ seems like a good one. I hope they get Burke who can play same point like Dixon, both combo guards. That will help a bit filling Ponds void when he leaves next season. It will also give a kid like Gaffney time to break in at PG if we get him.

Lastly on the absence of big men this cycle, they did whiff on Femi and apparently had a kid from Africa in their sites, but it did not materialize. I too am disappointed in the 2 year drought on bigs. Well the ball is in Mullin’s hands to prove this can work. Sending Keita for pre healing in Lourdes may also be a good idea. :)[/quote]

Would add Paultz that it could be a 2 year drought in bringing in #1 type player(s), which is probably even more of a miss. Lot of positive developments the last few days, especially this most recent one I think, but this type of recruiting is mostly palatable because we (hopefully) have Ponds. Hoped we'd be on a little more solid footing by (almost) year 4 than so reliant on one guy, spectacular as he is.

Thankfully if Ponds is back next season is really looking up, and if it exceeds expectations that can build momentum quickly. Suppose best case is probably Simon returns for senior year and 1-2 premium '19 kids are brought in to replace Ponds (in terms of that level of talent, not position). Year away, important thing is to have a big 21-22+ win and no-doubt NCAA season, but really would be big to ink an impact '19 kid or two in the fall, otherwise there is real potential even with a successful season the scramble next spring could make the last few weeks look like light work.[/quote]
Can’t agree more 15
 
[quote="SJU1512" post=281955]Thankfully if Ponds is back next season is really looking up, and if it exceeds expectations that can build momentum quickly. Suppose best case is probably Simon returns for senior year and 1-2 premium '19 kids are brought in to replace Ponds (in terms of that level of talent, not position). Year away, important thing is to have a big 21-22+ win and no-doubt NCAA season, but really would be big to ink an impact '19 kid or two in the fall, otherwise there is real potential even with a successful season the scramble next spring could make the last few weeks look like light work.[/quote]

^^^^
This!
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=281914]Pressure on with some very good talent. Taking advantage of this window of opportunity to change perception of program is important.

Personally, I don’t like the Wright commitment, but LJ seems like a good one. I hope they get Burke who can play same point like Dixon, both combo guards. That will help a bit filling Ponds void when he leaves next season. It will also give a kid like Gaffney time to break in at PG if we get him.

Lastly on the absence of big men this cycle, they did whiff on Femi and apparently had a kid from Africa in their sites, but it did not materialize. I too am disappointed in the 2 year drought on bigs. Well the ball is in Mullin’s hands to prove this can work. Sending Keita for pre healing in Lourdes may also be a good idea. :)[/quote]

I’m optimistic on EW—thinking his woeful sophomore season due to Howland’s s-l-o-w-d-ow-n ‘O’ sets—certainly a 180 from the helter-skelter run-the-horses game CM calls.
And simply ecstatic over LJF.
We’re weirdly—not ideally/not balanced—better on paper going into 2018-19 than we were last year (following Wilson’s defection).
Hope we get DB as well. Might as well be ‘flush’ with one position!
Here’s hoping for a solid winning season, capped by dancing.
Recruits are attracted to winners.
 
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[quote="redken" post=281918][quote="Logen" post=281907][quote="redken" post=281900][quote="alexander salem" post=281896][quote="redken" post=281895][quote="panther2" post=281878][quote="redken" post=281867]So basically we've written off recruiting any metro-area HS guards for the '19 and '20 classes. And here I thought that building strong ties with local programs and keeping talent at home was supposed to be the backbone of the CM era.[/quote]

While having ties with local schools is good, the staff has to also go for the players they feel may make an impact. How many of you remember how Lavin was destroyed on this board for not recruiting Omar Calhoun and Jon Severe out of Christ The King. Then there were the lies put out by Arbitello that Lavin's staff did not enter his gym. The reason I can say this is a lie is because I went to CTK with Tony Chiles and Rico on a few occasions. I also sat next to Lavin when he watched Adonis play.

At the present time, Matt has established a great relationship with Coach Pollard from Jefferson, the school that blessed us with Shamorie. He has two guards, classes of 20 & 21 that are very good. Jalen Nesmith's father has contacted the staff and let them know that his son is interested in St Johns. He is also class of 20. What I am trying to say is New York is no longer producing stud players year after year.[/quote]
Panther, I always value your opinion and I agree that the NY talent pool isn't as deep as it once was, but I'm not blown away by adding Wright, and the fact that Earlington is our only metro-area recruit (in our less than stellar recruiting class) is very disappointing given the 2018 names that were being talked about at the start of the season. (And if we don't do well this season, all those 2019 names optimistically being bandied about will similarly take it elsewhere.) And the way the staff mishandled Luther Muhammad's recruitment as well as the failure to land a badly needed big man frustrates the hell out of me. For the record, I'm not anti-Mullin (although I'm not happy with some of what I've heard recently), but it's obvious our staff needs a change and/or the addition of another recruiter to go along with Matt. (Time for a Xanax.)[/quote]

How did the staff mishandle Muhammad's recruitment?[/quote]
By telling him he was our primary target but not being able to offer substantial PT because he'd be part of a possible six-man backcourt that included the new additions Dixon and Trimble as well as three returning starters. (At the time, LoVett was still with the team.)[/quote]

Muhammad is a stoned competitor and would not at all be afraid to compete for court time. He picked another school, a great school in a power conference, one with better resources and facilities and offering more of the "college experience."[/quote]
And lots of PT. (We may not be in a power conference, but we are in one that's powerful.)[/quote]

If you say so. Me, I have seen Muhammad play many times, know of him from people close to his "career" and don't believe for a second he would even WANT a promise of PT without earning it. IMO, if Mullin had to promise him PT (which I don't believe and I don't believe Holmann would go there) then I don't want him. We just disagree.
 
[quote="R S O" post=281961]What's with the picture of Coach Mitch? Is he hopefully going back to DOBO or being fired?[/quote]

[attachment=101]93573ABF-3BD4-446B-A337-050B080B200A.jpeg[/attachment]
 
Per Zags-
To clarify St. John’s is at 13 assuming Ponds returns. They’re still in the mix for a few 2018 guys and transfers.
 
[quote="Rob" post=281952]If the guys we already have and the ones coming in do not motivate Trimble to get himself in better shape, I don't know what will. I think he has the potential to be a solid contributor because he can shoot, has good size, is athletic despite the extra baggage, can potentially rebound decent for a guard and seems to know his limitations as a player.[/quote]

A while back, ‘someone’ on this Board said that Clark and Trimble are buddies. Hopefully Marvin can incent Bryan to cut the soft drinks and hit the weights.
 
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[quote="Logen" post=281964][quote="redken" post=281918][quote="Logen" post=281907][quote="redken" post=281900][quote="alexander salem" post=281896][quote="redken" post=281895][quote="panther2" post=281878][quote="redken" post=281867]So basically we've written off recruiting any metro-area HS guards for the '19 and '20 classes. And here I thought that building strong ties with local programs and keeping talent at home was supposed to be the backbone of the CM era.[/quote]

While having ties with local schools is good, the staff has to also go for the players they feel may make an impact. How many of you remember how Lavin was destroyed on this board for not recruiting Omar Calhoun and Jon Severe out of Christ The King. Then there were the lies put out by Arbitello that Lavin's staff did not enter his gym. The reason I can say this is a lie is because I went to CTK with Tony Chiles and Rico on a few occasions. I also sat next to Lavin when he watched Adonis play.

At the present time, Matt has established a great relationship with Coach Pollard from Jefferson, the school that blessed us with Shamorie. He has two guards, classes of 20 & 21 that are very good. Jalen Nesmith's father has contacted the staff and let them know that his son is interested in St Johns. He is also class of 20. What I am trying to say is New York is no longer producing stud players year after year.[/quote]
Panther, I always value your opinion and I agree that the NY talent pool isn't as deep as it once was, but I'm not blown away by adding Wright, and the fact that Earlington is our only metro-area recruit (in our less than stellar recruiting class) is very disappointing given the 2018 names that were being talked about at the start of the season. (And if we don't do well this season, all those 2019 names optimistically being bandied about will similarly take it elsewhere.) And the way the staff mishandled Luther Muhammad's recruitment as well as the failure to land a badly needed big man frustrates the hell out of me. For the record, I'm not anti-Mullin (although I'm not happy with some of what I've heard recently), but it's obvious our staff needs a change and/or the addition of another recruiter to go along with Matt. (Time for a Xanax.)[/quote]

How did the staff mishandle Muhammad's recruitment?[/quote]
By telling him he was our primary target but not being able to offer substantial PT because he'd be part of a possible six-man backcourt that included the new additions Dixon and Trimble as well as three returning starters. (At the time, LoVett was still with the team.)[/quote]

Muhammad is a stoned competitor and would not at all be afraid to compete for court time. He picked another school, a great school in a power conference, one with better resources and facilities and offering more of the "college experience."[/quote]
And lots of PT. (We may not be in a power conference, but we are in one that's powerful.)[/quote]

If you say so. Me, I have seen Muhammad play many times, know of him from people close to his "career" and don't believe for a second he would even WANT a promise of PT without earning it. IMO, if Mullin had to promise him PT (which I don't believe and I don't believe Holmann would go there) then I don't want him. We just disagree.[/quote]
Logen, I defer to you on Muhammad's personality and make up and I certainly value your opinion, but I wasn't suggesting he was looking for a guarantee of PT but rather that he saw that with our having five other guards, including three returning starters, he probably wouldn't get as many minutes as he would at OSU (despite being told he was our No. 1 target). Another factor seems to be his bonding with Holtmann, who, as you know, had been recruiting him for Butler. As for his choosing a super power conference, I don't think either conference is measurably better than the other (championship game notwithstanding), and it's possible that had Holtmann not taken the OSU job, Muhammad would have ended in the BE at Butler. Bottom line: It's speculation on my part, and besides, it doesn't matter at this point. Much to my disappointment and frustration, he's there, not here. (Hope this doesn't sound hostile or snarky. If so, it's unintentional.)
 
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There is still plenty of NYC area talent. The problem is they choose other programs which is partially due to blue bloods coming in last second and partially due to us being mostly irrelevant for the better part of 30 years. We just cannot close the deal with them. Moses Brown, Isaiah Briscoe, etc...they're out there but they almost always leave. A lot of it has to do with our mostly irrelevance, however it does seem that NYC area recruits are especially more apt to leave the area than recruits from other areas.
 
I for one am very happy with the turn of events. We have always had good luck with Juco and Matt seems to find people who are talented, but a square peg in a round hole on the waiver wire (transfer market). I have been very critical of Mullin in the past, but believe he should be applauded when he adds this much talent.

Also, I think we are being hard on Trimble. A freshman coming in and we expect him to be a world beater in the best conference in the land. It takes a special talent to do that. Let's see how he performs this year. Remember the 2011 class of seniors? They weren't world beaters freshman year either.

Finally, I am happy I am not Paultzman. A good friend and Robert Morris Alum was sure Duchon was coming to St John's and I was thinking about giving everyone the good news. Sometimes it's best to leave that to the pros! :D
 
[quote="MJDinkins" post=281945][quote="Paul Massell" post=281942]Figueroa has and unusually soft looking stroke. Just an observation that some of his highlights when shooting looks unusually soft touch. I don't know if that is a good thing or just a quirk but the form looks good. I hope he adds some muscle weight and works his footwork before the season.[/quote]

I also watched a bit of one of his JUCO games a few nights ago on You Tube. He seems unselfish, too. While most of his teammates was shot hunting, he was playing more team ball.

He also seemed like he could be a decent defender, as seemed like he had a fairly, good concept about playing man.[/quote]

I really like this kid. Needs to pump some iron but Dominican kids are dedicated to the game and it's great to add a Latino in NYC. IF Diakite will not be fit then staff should encourage a transfer to a lower level school and recruit a big with even marginal talent. That seems like the one missing piece for next season.
2019 will be all about Kofi.......period!
 
[quote="sjc88" post=281947]With no scholarships left (pending further defections?) I assume this is what we go in to the summer with. Of course, let's wait to see who shows up in October, eligible and ready to play. The elusive big doesn't look like its happening. What I wouldn't give for Tyrone Grant now. :)[/quote]
Problem is, he's 41. :(
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=281965][quote="R S O" post=281961]What's with the picture of Coach Mitch? Is he hopefully going back to DOBO or being fired?[/quote]

[attachment=101]93573ABF-3BD4-446B-A337-050B080B200A.jpeg[/attachment][/quote]

Good to work from home at times like this. I burst out laughing when I saw the pic, and it may have even been close to a girly giggle.
 
LJF's looking good!
Especially like the duplicate #1 Uniforms (DC's also)--will cause confusion in opposing players keening to their coach's direction to "stop #1!"
"Which one, coach?!!?"
Joking.
But Figgy is the reason for my 'optimism' for next season.
 
[quote="RedStormRising2" post=281972]
Also, I think we are being hard on Trimble. A freshman coming in and we expect him to be a world beater in the best conference in the land. It takes a special talent to do that. Let's see how he performs this year. Remember the 2011 class of seniors? They weren't world beaters freshman year either.
[/quote]

Agreed. He had some good moments for a freshman. I hope he sticks for 4 years. We need 4 year guys.
 
[quote="Paul Massell" post=281980][quote="RedStormRising2" post=281972]
Also, I think we are being hard on Trimble. A freshman coming in and we expect him to be a world beater in the best conference in the land. It takes a special talent to do that. Let's see how he performs this year. Remember the 2011 class of seniors? They weren't world beaters freshman year either.
[/quote]

Agreed. He had some good moments for a freshman. I hope he sticks for 4 years. We need 4 year guys.[/quote]
Think most of the heat on Trimble was for not being in good shape. Look at his HS highlights, he was in much better condition. Agree that he can be a good player for us.
 
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