LJ Figueroa NY Post Piece

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paultzman

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Entire piece
https://nypost.com/2018/04/28/st-johns-new-guard-excels-at-lighting-it-up/

“The commitment altered the program’s thinking this offseason, according to sources. Rather than needing to replace forward Tariq Owens, who transferred to Texas Tech, the plan was to keep Marvin Clark II at power forward instead of moving him to small forward. Clark would play alongside South Carolina sit-out transfer Sedee Keita, a 6-foot-9 forward. The staff is still open to adding another immediately eligible forward if the proper fit is out there, but rather than looking for a starting-caliber player, the Johnnies are more in search of a reserve.”
 
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Encouraging piece. I have been wondering why there wasn't more competition for LJF, but the article clears that up. The fact that he was able to exit JUCO in one year is a good sign and I hope we have something solid in place to keep him eligible. To be fair, that has not been a problem with this staff.

Glad they are still looking for a big and I have always been okay with it being a reserve. IMO, we need 8-10 minutes from a player that enjoys living in the paint.
 
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Nice article. Sounds like staff (I assume Matt) did a great job of swooping in and getting LJ before the bigger vultures started circling. Expect he will be able to step right in and replace scoring we got from Ahmed. However, we will miss Ahmed's rebounding, especially his offensive rebounding. He and Owens were our best offensive rebounders. Would love to see us get a big who can come off the bench and give us some low post scoring and offensive rebounding. Of course, bigger issue is whether Shamorie returns. We'll see how things shake out over the next several weeks.
 
Nice article and very excited about LJ. There is a hidden nugget in the article though that I think has become a major problem for us in roster building - the line about not seeking a starting caliber big now but just a reserve. Why? Why aren't we just trying to land the best possible player who will come here? I assume the answer will be that we don't offer enough minutes now to attract a starting caliber player. That seems completely bizarre to me and where we seem to hit a wall whenever we are close to turning a corner. The best programs are able to convince multiple star players that they can co-exist and that there will be opportunity for all. Look at UK - Cal, as big of a fraud as i think he is, is a master at this - somehow convinces 6-7 five star kids a year that they can all co-exist. And we can't convince one more starter caliber player to join us when we were below .500 last year? Anyway, end rant.
 
I understand the new plan, but hopefully it truly is a product of LJ being that good and not of our complete inability to recruit a starter quality big. But the staff still isn't off the hook: There are tons of potential big bodies who had low numbers if backup is the direction they are going.
 
[quote="L J S A" post=283054]I understand the new plan, but hopefully it truly is a product of LJ being that good and not of our complete inability to recruit a starter quality big. But the staff still isn't off the hook: There are tons of potential big bodies who had low numbers if backup is the direction they are going.[/quote] Exactly what I was thinking. lol
 
[quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=283051]Nice article and very excited about LJ. There is a hidden nugget in the article though that I think has become a major problem for us in roster building - the line about not seeking a starting caliber big now but just a reserve. Why? Why aren't we just trying to land the best possible player who will come here? I assume the answer will be that we don't offer enough minutes now to attract a starting caliber player. That seems completely bizarre to me and where we seem to hit a wall whenever we are close to turning a corner. The best programs are able to convince multiple star players that they can co-exist and that there will be opportunity for all. Look at UK - Cal, as big of a fraud as i think he is, is a master at this - somehow convinces 6-7 five star kids a year that they can all co-exist. And we can't convince one more starter caliber player to join us when we were below .500 last year? Anyway, end rant.[/quote]

Are you really comapring us to Kentucky? Cal sends plenty of kids to the NBA, that's the bottom line. Guarantee it's not easy to convince a grad transfer to come to a losing team and be a bench player.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=283037]Nice article. Sounds like staff (I assume Matt) did a great job of swooping in and getting LJ before the bigger vultures started circling. Expect he will be able to step right in and replace scoring we got from Ahmed. However, we will miss Ahmed's rebounding, especially his offensive rebounding. He and Owens were our best offensive rebounders. Would love to see us get a big who can come off the bench and give us some low post scoring and offensive rebounding. Of course, bigger issue is whether Shamorie returns. We'll see how things shake out over the next several weeks.[/quote]
The way we boarded last season calling Owens and Ahmed our two best offensive rebounders is like calling them the two tallest midgets (OK vertically challenged people). ;) :)
 
Didn't mean to compare us to UK - though off topic, i would say that "UK sends kids to the NBA" thing is a complete con job by them, considering 98% of them are lottery picks before they arrive on campus.

The point I was trying to make, poorly i'm sure (and i'm sure poorly again now), is that I'm always hearing about how we don't have room for guys, this position is too crowded, there are no minutes available, etc etc, which seems odd to me when we aren't a winning program. I completely reject the notion that this roster can't create major opportunity for one more starting caliber big man at this point, and staff earns its money by convincing someone of that fact.
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=283032]Encouraging piece. I have been wondering why there wasn't more competition for LJF, but the article clears that up. The fact that he was able to exit JUCO in one year is a good sign and I hope we have something solid in place to keep him eligible. To be fair, that has not been a problem with this staff.

Glad they are still looking for a big and I have always been okay with it being a reserve. IMO, we need 8-10 minutes from a player that enjoys living in the paint.[/quote]

Great piece. An unbelievable ‘early Christmas present’. Hoping Shamorie returns, because he and LJ will be an explosive tandem, unsettling rival defensive schemes. He should relieve the pressure on Ponds and open up the court.
Separately, are we pursuing Abdul Lewis at all?
The guy is an absolutely perfect fit.
Thinking we could give him 20 minutes / game easy.
The guy eats rebounds.
 
It is mind boggling to read the comments of the nay sayers and Anti Mullin Crew that give so little credit to Mullin and the Staff for getting a diamond in the Rough player like Figueroa but, bemoan the over abused view that we have no Big Man . Next year we have Keita at 6’8” and 240 pounds to pair with Clark , Simon, Figueroa, and potential BE Player of the Year and National Player of the Year , Shamorie Ponds ! Shamorie , Justin, Marvin and Figueroa could average individually from the mid teens to the Mid 20’s in Scoring . And , Keita , who has been dismissed by many Amateurs , was a highly recruited Player by Martin at SCarolina. He could easily contribute more than Owens in the Paint . Also , Dixon , a known quality at SG or PG , is certain to play major minutes as is Trimble as a designated 3 shooter . The Off Whining and Moaning is a worn out tune and those singing it , need a hiatus . Most Posters know who that group consist of .
 
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As someone who stated before Figueroa came into view that I believed an Ahmed replacement was the biggest need I am hopeful. Again, until Lovett went down the team didn't even start Owens. The plan is play small and play fast. Clark at the three is hard to envision, just because a guy can hit threes does not make him able to play the three. He would struggle there defensively and he does not have the ability to drive the basket and finish.

I like the lineup a lot. A backup big man would be a nice bonus but if Ponds comes back this is a very interesting team.
 
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[quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=283063]Sorry, he is a starting caliber player and we can only take on an end of the bench reserve apparently.[/quote]

You referring to Lewis, Windy City?
Hear you, but there’s plenty of minutes to go around. Keita will need rest and so will Clark so that both can be sharp.
It’s not like we are deep at the 4/5 slots!
Plenty of PT to go around in the paint—but you’re probably right.
 
I am not going to jump on negative poster ,you can not fault those who have been losing faith over 3 yrs withe the record and loses we have complied.I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL AT TIMES BUT HAVE STOOD BY THE SATFF AND GIVING THEM 4 YRS TO DO SOMETHING . hopefully this is the yr we make a jump but to say those posters need a hiatus is going to far .All opinions are worthy of debate As far as LJ being a diamond in the rough that is a stretch in far he was an awesome player whocan do it all, It is just fortunate
that staff was on top of him ,he can become a star who will play at the next level
 
[quote="usguard" post=283068]I am not going to jump on negative poster ,you can not fault those who have been losing faith over 3 yrs withe the record and loses we have complied.I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL AT TIMES BUT HAVE STOOD BY THE SATFF AND GIVING THEM 4 YRS TO DO SOMETHING . hopefully this is the yr we make a jump but to say those posters need a hiatus is going to far .All opinions are worthy of debate As far as LJ being a diamond in the rough that is a stretch in far he was an awesome player whocan do it all, It is just fortunate
that staff was on top of him ,he can become a star who will play at the next level[/quote]

Agree usguard, LJ an incredible and surprising gift to get at all let alone this late in the cycle. We need to play some defense but we’ll be an explosive offense...if Ponds returns.
 
Referring to Figueroa as a Diamond in the Rough is a high compliment to our Staff. Sure, he was a known quality Player but, apparently only a few , like Mullin and Matt knew he was going to be eligible this soon . They got him in a nano second and even many of the self proclaimed insiders were surprised we landed him . Just giving a littie credit , instead of criticism to this staff is way overdue for the Players continuing and those comimg in New this year and next . It’s not difficult .
 
Guys, not trying to be negative. Everything I'm hearing about Figueroa is positive, sounds like a terrific signing. A great job by the staff there, no question about it.

My original comment was in reaction to the line in the article how we seem to just be looking for a front court reserve now, and not a starting caliber big. That simply seems misguided to me.

We're adding Keita, I understand that. But this idea that we are just "set" now with Clark as our starting 4, is interesting considering he averaged 4.7 boards in 30 minutes last year and seemed like more of a perimeter guy. We were 335th out of 351 D1 teams in rebounding margin last year. Again, I don't mean this as a knock on Clark, who I happen to love - love his attitude, leadership, he's a quality shooter, etc. etc. My point is only that I still think we are one starting caliber big man short. That's it, not trying to be super negative.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=283073]Referring to Figueroa as a Diamond in the Rough is a high compliment to our Staff. Sure, he was a known quality Player but, apparently only a few , like Mullin and Matt knew he was going to be eligible this soon . They got him in a nano second and even many of the self proclaimed insiders were surprised we landed him . Just giving a littie credit , instead of criticism to this staff is way overdue for the Players continuing and those comimg in New this year and next . It’s not difficult .[/quote]
Matt knew the story on LJ, not Mullin. He had a relationship with his representative so to speak.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=283064]It is mind boggling to read the comments of the nay sayers and Anti Mullin Crew that give so little credit to Mullin and the Staff for getting a diamond in the Rough player like Figueroa but, bemoan the over abused view that we have no Big Man . Next year we have Keita at 6’8” and 240 pounds to pair with Clark , Simon, Figueroa, and potential BE Player of the Year and National Player of the Year , Shamorie Ponds ! Shamorie , Justin, Marvin and Figueroa could average individually from the mid teens to the Mid 20’s in Scoring . And , Keita , who has been dismissed by many Amateurs , was a highly recruited Player by Martin at SCarolina. He could easily contribute more than Owens in the Paint . Also , Dixon , a known quality at SG or PG , is certain to play major minutes as is Trimble as a designated 3 shooter . The Off Whining and Moaning is a worn out tune and those singing it , need a hiatus . Most Posters know who that group consist of .[/quote]

I'm far from a Mullin hater myself, in fact I'm pretty optimistic. However, we're one Keita injuy away from being in the danger zone again.
 
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