SJU Offseason Thread (portal and recruiting discussions)

Sounds about right.
We really need to see if Prey and/or Lefty take a leap into Year 2. Because I think some are still considering them unknowns.
I choose to remember Prey's baseline dunk vs. Arkansas as his awakening.

Prey and Lefty both looked pretty comfortable for most of the season IMO. Prey is tough and doesn't back down easy. He's got some game on offensive too. Lefty was very composed and calm every time he came into the game. Neither of these guys looked overwhelmed last year and would expect a solid jump from both. Honestly, same from Vince and Ayo too.
 
IAN JACKSON IS THE PERFECT POINT GUARD FOR ST. JOHN’S.

When the position of PG comes to mind, traditionally people think, great court vision, great handle, great passer, very good defender, good or at least adequate shooter. Well traditional doesn’t really cut it anymore as the great point guards of today must have the vision, handle and passing but must be a prolific scorer when called upon to do so.

Most recently, consider Mr. Clayton of Florida. Does Florida win without his scoring ability? His three point shooting threat alone brought defenders all the way out and opened up lanes for his bigs and for his penetration. Those who watched the Gators realize that none of their bigs forwards) were super talented or could create their own offense, it was their opponents focus on Clayton much of the time that made them look better then they are.

Think back to this year’s Johnny’s team. Kadary’s strengths were his size, handle and penetration. If Kadary had a legit long range outside shot where defenders would actually have to guard him more out there, how much more open would Zuby have been inside and how many more opportunities would Kadary have had to penetrate?

As for Ian, when given the opportunity he has shown to be a great passer, knows the game and gives us that prolific scorer that will open up the court more for others and with Pitino’s direction may go on to be one of the best point guards the school has ever known.

Yup, the days of the Frank Alagia prototype point guards are long gone. The required skill set is greater and I firmly believe we have the right guy for the job.
 
Seton Hall is so effing screwed.
I think a lot of teams, perhaps ourselves included at the PG position, went into portal season thinking it would be similar to last year with a seemingly endless supply of competent players available to pursue if missing on your top targets. That just hasn't been the case this year with the Covid guys pretty much all aging out.

Last year we were able to pivot to Deivon Smith at this point in the cycle. This year's Deivon Smith is Dylan Darling
 
I think a lot of teams, perhaps ourselves included at the PG position, went into portal season thinking it would be similar to last year with a seemingly endless supply of competent players available to pursue if missing on your top targets. That just hasn't been the case this year with the Covid guys pretty much all aging out.

Last year we were able to pivot to Deivon Smith at this point in the cycle. This year's Deivon Smith is Dylan Darling
Yeah which is why Sanon/Bryce committing quickly was imperative + having Sellers basically locked up from the get-go.

If you're a team like Seton Hall with okay money and only five guys, wtf are you doing now?
 
Yeah which is why Sanon/Bryce committing quickly was imperative + having Sellers basically locked up from the get-go.

If you're a team like Seton Hall with okay money and only five guys, wtf are you doing now?
Yeah I am at a lost with them, either Sha is playing 3-D chess and knows something we all don't or yikes...

I mean they just lost Scotty Middleton to Tulane and Dual to McNeese. So it could mean 3 things right:

1)Sha made it clear he was recruiting over them and they should probably go elsewhere
2)He wanted them back but they didn't want to be back with that program or
3)Their was mutual interest but the NIL was better at McNeese and Tulane.

If no. 1, fine. But the results so far are not good.

2 & 3 suggest something much worse...
 
Yeah I am at a lost with them, either Sha is playing 3-D chess and knows something we all don't or yikes...

I mean they just lost Scotty Middleton to Tulane and Dual to McNeese. So it could mean 3 things right:

1)Sha made it clear he was recruiting over them and they should probably go elsewhere
2)He wanted them back but they didn't want to be back with that program or
3)Their was mutual interest but the NIL was better at McNeese and Tulane.

If no. 1, fine. But the results so far are not good.

2 & 3 suggest something much worse...
And their reported budget is 6 mill. if Rodney Rice is going for 3m, and other teams (like us) still have plenty of leftover money, what are they even hypothetically saving money for + who can they outbid?

They had a lot of early visits and none of them committed, except for Bud. Seems like Sha just totally misread the market and/or SHU is being way too conservative to wait on the court ruling with the settlement.
 
Yeah I am at a lost with them, either Sha is playing 3-D chess and knows something we all don't or yikes...

I mean they just lost Scotty Middleton to Tulane and Dual to McNeese. So it could mean 3 things right:

1)Sha made it clear he was recruiting over them and they should probably go elsewhere
2)He wanted them back but they didn't want to be back with that program or
3)Their was mutual interest but the NIL was better at McNeese and Tulane.

If no. 1, fine. But the results so far are not good.

2 & 3 suggest something much worse...
There was word on the discord a couple weeks ago that some guys were steering clear of the Hall due to concerns over if they would actually get paid. Haven't heard many details about it since but that type of thing has been out there and probably why they only have 5 dudes, none of them particularly good.

Their fans also seem worried that Budd might end up decommitting which would be objectively hilarious at this point.
 
There was word on the discord a couple weeks ago that some guys were steering clear of the Hall due to concerns over if they would actually get paid. Haven't heard many details about it since but that type of thing has been out there and probably why they only have 5 dudes, none of them particularly good.

Their fans also seem worried that Budd might end up decommitting which would be objectively hilarious at this point.
Not that I want Budd on this team, but getting him would be even more hilarious.
 
under ten assists is awful, some good games a single player can have ten. A truly good point guard like Bobby Hurley averages 7-9 APG


Yes , good Post . But , we had KR and Wilcher hampered by foul trouble for major time in the game .
What did KR play ? 17 -18 minutes ?

Smith didn’t have a good game either with Assists . Where were the Assists going to come from ?

We might have had more Assists if Scott shot better than 1-10 or , RJ 3-17 .





Zuby had that big 1 st half but, they started pushing him around with a lot of bumping near the Basket ., that didn’t get called enough .

Not having Wilcher and KR in the game at Crunch time was a big part of losing that game to Arkansas .

I think we win going away with both of them in there Vs Arkansas . Alas , the Officials took that chance away from us .
 
There was word on the discord a couple weeks ago that some guys were steering clear of the Hall due to concerns over if they would actually get paid. Haven't heard many details about it since but that type of thing has been out there and probably why they only have 5 dudes, none of them particularly good.

Their fans also seem worried that Budd might end up decommitting which would be objectively hilarious at this point.
With the system the way it is, it wouldn't surprise me if a team gets gutted like this and has to piece together walk-ons and Euro players. Unexpected portal entries can spiral quickly. For the sake of Big East strength, I hope that's not what's playing out in South Orange. Sha is probably relieved that portal entries end today.
 
Prey and Lefty both looked pretty comfortable for most of the season IMO. Prey is tough and doesn't back down easy. He's got some game on offensive too. Lefty was very composed and calm every time he came into the game. Neither of these guys looked overwhelmed last year and would expect a solid jump from both. Honestly, same from Vince and Ayo too.

I'm also Bullish on Lefty, but Prey specifically could be one of the best backups in the country next season. If he is allowed to play the 5 that unlocks so much potential for the 2025-26 team.

If Zuby sits and we play 6'8 Mitchell, 6'7 Hopkins and 6'10 Prey, that's a lot of height and rebounding.
 
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