SJU Transfer Targets/Possibilities

[MakingPlays]

Reading up on McNeill: didn’t play for a year and 8 months When he transferred from cal to SMU. Had a shooting hand injury that limited him early on. Also his coach praised his defense Both steals and deflections. Sounds very confident in himself and I like what I read 

Averaged 11 PPG in the Pac 12... not bad.  Also a decent 3 pointer shooter, which is needed.  Seems like injuries and play style wasn't a fit for hit at SMU.  It's always hard when you get have set back at a new place, I can see why he wants a fresh start somewhere when he's 100% healthy.

 

[Notanalum]

I agree. I’m confident that the staff will address the on ball defense w a transfer that can guard 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Looking at McNeil's stats in his two years at Cal, I'd love to see us sign him up. Looks like he can hit the three. He scored 21 against us in 2018-2019 in a game Shamorie went for 32 and we won by 3. 

 

[MCNPA]

Reading up on McNeill: didn’t play for a year and 8 months When he transferred from cal to SMU. Had a shooting hand injury that limited him early on. Also his coach praised his defense Both steals and deflections. Sounds very confident in himself and I like what I read 

Averaged 11 PPG in the Pac 12... not bad.  Also a decent 3 pointer shooter, which is needed.  Seems like injuries and play style wasn't a fit for hit at SMU.  It's always hard when you get have set back at a new place, I can see why he wants a fresh start somewhere when he's 100% healthy.

2 years ago dropped 23pt and 7 steals on UCLA as a freshman.  Good shooter and aggressive defender.  I’m guessing 2-years eligibility as this past year shouldn’t count.  Sounds like a kid that could work well for us and seems to have the tools but was slowed by injury early and transfer sit-out.  Seems talented. 
 

 

[MCNPA]

McNeil #1 for Cal.  Yeah he’d more than work here.  No idea interest on his end but good player.  Would love to add him.  He’d push to start easily and can play point too. Adding him to my wish-list. 

https://pac-12.com/videos/extended-...cal-overtime-behind-kris-wilkes-double-double

 

[MainMan]

[URL][URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v[/URL]=lUI7YpXpquM[/url]

 

[Sjugrad13]

Julian is getting ready to test the NBA waters. 

 

[MakingPlays]

Julian is getting ready to test the NBA waters. 

You heard something?

 

[Jack Williams]

Julian is getting ready to test the NBA waters. 

You heard something?

I have no inside info but Julian posted on Instagram with the caption “What’s Next” and he is liking every comment from people saying “NBA” or “the league” 

there’s a couple comments from desperate Johnnies fans saying “tournament run” and “BE POY” but he is not liking any of those comments for what it is worth. 

So there’s my deep dive on that 

 

[MCNPA]

I’m sure Julian will look into it and he should.  That said, he isn’t an NBA’er right now.  Needs to learn to create separation and if he can’t he’s gotta get more automatic when guarded.  He’s a savy player and will only get better but not NBA at this point.  His brother is a little better athlete which helps but both should continue to hone their craft, unless aiming at Europe, Asia etc. 

 

[MakingPlays]

Julian is getting ready to test the NBA waters. 

You heard something?

I have no inside info but Julian posted on Instagram with the caption “What’s Next” and he is liking every comment from people saying “NBA” or “the league” 

there’s a couple comments from desperate Johnnies fans saying “tournament run” and “BE POY” but he is not liking any of those comments for what it is worth. 

So there’s my deep dive on that 

Ah ok I see that.  Also, his brother and teammates are all saying "Pro" and "League" and he's liking all those comments so, I'm pretty sure he's going to announce he's testing the waters like his brother.  I'm not going to lie, it's always 50/50 when they enter their name, because even if they aren't ready and on any mock drafts, if seen some kids just get caught up in the hype and keep their name in.  And I'm worried if his brother stays in, his brother will convince him to stay as well even if he isn't ready.

 

[bamafan]

McNeil #1 for Cal.  Yeah he’d more than work here.  No idea interest on his end but good player.  Would love to add him.  He’d push to start easily and can play point too. Adding him to my wish-list. 

https://pac-12.com/videos/extended-...cal-overtime-behind-kris-wilkes-double-double


He did state he wants to go somewhere he can play his game and that he "wants the ball in his hands". Hard to see that with Posh but maybe he can be convinced.
 

 

[L J S A]

 And I'm worried if his brother stays in, his brother will convince him to stay as well even if he isn't ready.

His brother does seem to like to do the talking for the both of them. 

 

[MakingPlays]

 And I'm worried if his brother stays in, his brother will convince him to stay as well even if he isn't ready.

His brother does seem to like to do the talking for the both of them. 

Yes he does, that's what kinda makes me nervous if Justin decides to stay in draft or even if he stays at Pitt and tries to pull his brother there with him for a year, he was pretty vocal in it being tough without each other and them wanting to make a decision together this off-season, whatever that means.  Everybody was assuming that meant Justin would be open to coming to St. John's and join Julian, however it's pretty clear Justin isn't the one that does the following.

 

[L J S A]

Per Lieberman:

North Dakota transfer Tyree Ihenacho (@tyree2shifty) has heard from the following schools: Montana, Pacific, St. John's, Drake, SIU, UNI, Western Michigan, Northeastern, Ball State, JMU, Colgate. Freshman of the year in the Summit League. He averaged 8.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.1 APR.

 

[MakingPlays]

Per Lieberman:

North Dakota transfer Tyree Ihenacho (@tyree2shifty) has heard from the following schools: Montana, Pacific, St. John's, Drake, SIU, UNI, Western Michigan, Northeastern, Ball State, JMU, Colgate. Freshman of the year in the Summit League. He averaged 8.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.1 APR.

I think one of the staff's priority for one of the scholarships is very clear, they want a 2 guard that is really good defensively and can shoot the 3 ball.  All of these guards name that are coming up are all averaging almost 2 SPG and all shooting over 35% from three.  
 

 

[MCNPA]

“He did state he wants to go somewhere he can play his game and that he "wants the ball in his hands". Hard to see that with Posh but maybe he can be convinced.”

I think this team works very well with two ball-dominant guards.  Looked great with Posh and Rasheem, but Rash can’t shoot.  Lots of the best college teams have basically two combo-types ala  Felton/McCants or Napier/Boatright.  

Posh would likely not be effected much by another guy who wants the ball but can also score it.  Many on this board are convinced that GWill is the obvious guy, but I think we need more and regardless he’s a senior. 
this is why I’d love a kid like Tyson Walker or Mitchell.  These are the types of kid we need to land to move up. 

 

[rehobie]

As for Julian going to the league,  he is not ready.
His only skill that is NBA ready is shooting.
He is not quick,  so he would have difficulty defending.  He could beat very few off the dribble.  His passing is sub par,  far too many turnovers,  and foot speed?

 

[lawmanfan]

 And I'm worried if his brother stays in, his brother will convince him to stay as well even if he isn't ready.

His brother does seem to like to do the talking for the both of them. 

Yes he does, that's what kinda makes me nervous if Justin decides to stay in draft or even if he stays at Pitt and tries to pull his brother there with him for a year, he was pretty vocal in it being tough without each other and them wanting to make a decision together this off-season, whatever that means.  Everybody was assuming that meant Justin would be open to coming to St. John's and join Julian, however it's pretty clear Justin isn't the one that does the following.

 

Justin talks a lot and Julian is quiet, but it's pretty clear that Julian makes his own decisions.  The parents have done a terrific job with those two, including giving them the space to grow and make independent decisions.

As I've posted before, I think Justin tests the NBA waters and leaves while Julian tests the NBA waters and comes back.  Justin's stock may never be higher and the Pitt program is imploding, so the incentives line up for him.  Julian still needs to add some tools to his toolkit and I think that's what the pros will tell him, plus he's the leader of a rising program to return to and make some noise with.

IMHO they both need another year (Justin to work on his shooting, and Julian to work on his drive) and ultimately Julian may be a better NBA prospect as a 2 guard. Justin seems like a tweener to me unless he improves his shot.  But I wouldn't bet against either of them.

 

[IDRAFT]

Is the "free transfer" every year or something a player will only have available once in their career? If they are unlimited I suspect that the only reason to keep SJU season tickets is as a donation, or if you just enjoy watching basketball with no regard to the success of the teams involved. So if they are unlimited no need to read on.

But if it's the latter wouldn't it make sense for non-elite programs to target freshman and sophmore transfers and not spend so much recruiting time on high school players? This would give you a chance within a few years of actually having a roster of experienced players who have played in your system. Bringing in players who continuously play their junior and senior years somewhere else seems counterproductive to success. An SJU coach has not recruited a four year player since Amar. As of now without mentioning names there is a shot we could end that dubious streak next year. On the other hand bringing in one-year senior rentals for anything more than to plug a hole doesn't seem like a good formula to me either. Not just experience, but experience within a program has value.

Trying to figure out how SJU ever finds any success in this new system. Finding lower ranked players and coaching them up is not going to accomplish anything for SJU except to be a farm team for the teams that end up playing in the tournament. So when it comes to high school guys forget about potential - if they can't make an immediate impact don't bother with them. Lose the JUCO coaches phone numbers too. There are pages and pages (and pages and pages) of posts here from multiple posters how the real benefit of a JUCO comes in his second year due to the adjustment to D1. I agree! That would mean if a team has any interest in a JUCO they might as well let some less aware program handle the adjustment year. Like SJU just did with Cole and Moore. 

And sure, this is not only a SJU problem, but losing four underclassmen a year is a problem and I'm looking at this from a SJU perspective. The players SJU has lost played real minutes and made real accomplishments this year. The idea that they will not improve and would not have accomplished even more next year flies in the face of coaching players up being a recipe for success, as you just coached them up to help someone else.

The rules have changed. I'm not anti-player so I'm not against it. But the programs that adapt to the changes are going to be the winning programs and the ones that do not are going to be left behind until they realize the full ramifications and adjust to the new order of things.