LoVett Finally Honored
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
stjohnschris
Active member
AM New York has a nice piece toward the back in the sports section this morning (Feb 15), praising Marcus and Shamorie and highlighting our strong performance in the BE so far. It's not in the online version, but in print. Nice feature. Positive and optimistic.
we are sju
Active member
If they both come back I think we have a decent shot at the tourney next year. Which probably means one won't be back. Pretty sure Louie Arena is built on an Indian burial ground.
we are sju
Active member
No, it said we are set for the future with those two and emergence of Owens in front-court. Again those Lovett leaving stories have been out there and people on these boards who seem like they have credible sources(i.e. not Baldi) have said they have heard them. That coupled with Lovett's punctuality issues and his nomadic ways prior to showing up here have me nervous. Honestly would be thrilled if we get one more year from him. Might be my favorite player to watch since Hatten so obviously would love 4 years but things just don't go that way for us and hoping for 2.
boo haarvey
Active member
Also, the fact that Matt strongly pursued the kid from South Florida suggests the staff believes there is a good chance that a valuable member of our backcourt may not return.
we are sju
Active member
Unfortunately that is a good point. Especially considering the fact that Simon is coming in.
Agree with you both and think most would be surprised for all of the legitimate reasons mentioned and others. But surprise in a lot ways has become a regular occurrence on this topic.
In addition to that general point it's been alluded to enough by reliable posters, and there have been enough interesting developments, to think it's at least a reasonable possibility.
Difficult to disparage any player's decision to make money playing professionally. You just hope that decision is smart and considerate of long-term earnings, not just what is available at that moment.
With that in mind key question here, from my outside perspective and with no knowledge of any individual circumstances: "is the NBA realistic?"
If it is, staying in college for at least one more year is likely prudent. It's easier to generate NBA prospect momentum this way, playing for winning team, earning individual accolades, getting media coverage, at a level where scouts have no questions about the competition, etc. An international league as an interim step to further develop towards the NBA while also making money seems to be a less probable proposition if you're a borderline case.
If it isn't, then makes even more sense why someone might want to just start getting paid earlier.
With what they've shown the last month in particular, performing in their first year in the Big East in an exceptionally "complete" manner with very little adjustment period, my view is the NBA is realistic for both of our guards. Perhaps not this year, but in the next few. Lovett has NBA speed and Ponds has NBA skills. They are small and need to get stronger but you look at the last few drafts and what's projected this year, especially in the 2nd round obviously, and there are comparables.
So my hope, not just for SJU but hopefully also for them, is that they are here at least one more year to have a go at generating that kind of pro prospect momentum. But again I don't know anything about any individual situations or any other circumstances. Obviously, both staying would be a massive thing for the program as it gives a very enhanced chance at making the tournament next year and perhaps even more importantly helps bridge to what will hopefully be very strong 2018 recruiting.