Welcome back LJ Figueroa

It's been a wild, convulsive 'ride' for St' John's, its fans, and the players this off-season, to state the pathetically obvious.
We lost the play-in game to ASU on 3/20, with rumors about players and coaches flying shortly after that.
Matt A bolted to Nebraska on April 1st; Mack decommitted on 4/5.
Rumors about Mullin crested and he stepped down on 4/9.
Havoc ensued, in the middle of a circus search for a new coach, players were left out-of-the-loop, with Simon and Trimble first to jump ship, then Tabor and Manuel opened their commitment process.
This was followed by rumors of discontentment by a host of players from Heron -Williams/Roberts/Keita - Figgy.
Figgy was recruited by Matt and has ties to Mack, so his waffle behavior is understandable even if it does fly in the face of common sense--his best interests.
It seems he's being influenced by Mark Hsu in this process but who knows?
It might be unfair but Hsu seems like a very shady Riverboat character in an old movie.
I hope Figgy stays.
He would absolutely thrive in Iron Mike's system.
But he may leave.
Lets wish him well and move on.
We shall see but I think CMA will right this ship.
 
I mean, I know Western Kentucky has a good team, but does nobody else find it alarming that LJ is considering leaving here to go to a mid major team? Conf USA ranked 15 in SOS. I get it that Western Kentucky historically was a good program. But they haven't made the NCAA tourney since 2012 and 2013 as a 16 seed.
 
[quote="Room112" post=346156]I mean, I know Western Kentucky has a good team, but does nobody else find it alarming that LJ is considering leaving here to go to a mid major team? Conf USA ranked 15 in SOS. I get it that Western Kentucky historically was a good program. But they haven't made the NCAA tourney since 2012 and 2013 as a 16 seed.[/quote]

Yes.
 
[quote="Room112" post=346156]I mean, I know Western Kentucky has a good team, but does nobody else find it alarming that LJ is considering leaving here to go to a mid major team? Conf USA ranked 15 in SOS. I get it that Western Kentucky historically was a good program. But they haven't made the NCAA tourney since 2012 and 2013 as a 16 seed.[/quote]

When it comes to WKU, I think there is a better chance he returns to St. John's. It is some of the other programs that I worry about.
 
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Guessing only, but have to suspect that MA is not sold on Hsu. Perhaps the respective reputations of MA and Hsu conflict.
 
Looking at it from another angle, I think maybe CMA had a conversation with LJ after the presser and practice and during the conversation maybe he told him that since he already had these visits set up to go take them. He knows what he has at St. John's. I'm sure CMA discussed that with him and also discussed LJs role with the team next year. No need to pressure him. Let him see what's out there and he'll hopefully come to the realization that St. John's is his only logical choice.
 
[quote="rawdognyc" post=346209]Looking at it from another angle, I think maybe CMA had a conversation with LJ after the presser and practice and during the conversation maybe he told him that since he already had these visits set up to go take them. He knows what he has at St. John's. I'm sure CMA discussed that with him and also discussed LJs role with the team next year. No need to pressure him. Let him see what's out there and he'll hopefully come to the realization that St. John's is his only logical choice.[/quote]

Nice post, rawdog. Thanks for calming our (my!) nerves. Lol.
 
[quote="Section3" post=346197]Guessing only, but have to suspect that MA is not sold on Hsu. Perhaps the respective reputations of MA and Hsu conflict.[/quote]

If you don't mind me asking, how did Hsu's name start getting linked to CMA in the first place? From the outside looking in, and just knowing how CMA is, Hsu seemed like the opposite of the type of guy CMA would look for. Was Hsu a guy the previous staff was looking at or something? Or a guy that AD liked?

Also, for those that are familar with Hsu... what else does Hsu bring to the table other than some highly rated recruits? Can he actually coach? Does he know how to scout and find players that can fit coaches playstyle? Because Western Kentucky has underachieved year in and year out since Stansbury has been there with his current staff. They by far had the best talent in the C-USA this season and almost every media outlet picked them to make the NCAA tournament and win conference and they didn't even make the NIT and had player issues all season long, one player even quit in the middle of the season. Seems like the type of guys they have been bringing in at Western Kentucky, have nice star ratings, but they also have some character issues and guys that either the coaches can't get them to play team ball or guys that don't want to play team ball. That's the opposite of what CMA is about. He's going to focus team oriented guys that fit his system first and foremost and get the most out of those guys no matter what their star rating is.
 
Hsu was actually linked to STJ before CMA was even an idea. Has NY roots and some say he was interested in joining the staff of a couple of guys that were in the consideration set. Also was a friend or acquaintance of Marillac's, a frequent poster that you now know as that guy on JJ, who was a big booster for him.
 
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[quote="Chicago Days" post=346155]It's been a wild, convulsive 'ride' for St' John's, its fans, and the players this off-season, to state the pathetically obvious.
We lost the play-in game to ASU on 3/20, with rumors about players and coaches flying shortly after that.
Matt A bolted to Nebraska on April 1st; Mack decommitted on 4/5.
Rumors about Mullin crested and he stepped down on 4/9.
Havoc ensued, in the middle of a circus search for a new coach, players were left out-of-the-loop, with Simon and Trimble first to jump ship, then Tabor and Manuel opened their commitment process.
This was followed by rumors of discontentment by a host of players from Heron -Williams/Roberts/Keita - Figgy.
Figgy was recruited by Matt and has ties to Mack, so his waffle behavior is understandable even if it does fly in the face of common sense--his best interests.
It seems he's being influenced by Mark Hsu in this process but who knows?
It might be unfair but Hsu seems like a very shady Riverboat character in an old movie.
I hope Figgy stays.
He would absolutely thrive in Iron Mike's system.
But he may leave.
Lets wish him well and move on.
We shall see but I think CMA will right this ship.[/quote]
 
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[quote="Making Plays" post=346212][quote="Section3" post=346197]Guessing only, but have to suspect that MA is not sold on Hsu. Perhaps the respective reputations of MA and Hsu conflict.[/quote]

If you don't mind me asking, how did Hsu's name start getting linked to CMA in the first place? From the outside looking in, and just knowing how CMA is, Hsu seemed like the opposite of the type of guy CMA would look for. Was Hsu a guy the previous staff was looking at or something? Or a guy that AD liked?

Also, for those that are familar with Hsu... what else does Hsu bring to the table other than some highly rated recruits? Can he actually coach? Does he know how to scout and find players that can fit coaches playstyle? Because Western Kentucky has underachieved year in and year out since Stansbury has been there with his current staff. They by far had the best talent in the C-USA this season and almost every media outlet picked them to make the NCAA tournament and win conference and they didn't even make the NIT and had player issues all season long, one player even quit in the middle of the season. Seems like the type of guys they have been bringing in at Western Kentucky, have nice star ratings, but they also have some character issues and guys that either the coaches can't get them to play team ball or guys that don't want to play team ball. That's the opposite of what CMA is about. He's going to focus team oriented guys that fit his system first and foremost and get the most out of those guys no matter what their star rating is.[/quote]

Is Scotty Thurman considered a good coach and recruiter, outside of Arkansas?
 
[quote="Making Plays" post=346212][quote="Section3" post=346197]Guessing only, but have to suspect that MA is not sold on Hsu. Perhaps the respective reputations of MA and Hsu conflict.[/quote]

If you don't mind me asking, how did Hsu's name start getting linked to CMA in the first place? From the outside looking in, and just knowing how CMA is, Hsu seemed like the opposite of the type of guy CMA would look for. Was Hsu a guy the previous staff was looking at or something? Or a guy that AD liked?

Also, for those that are familar with Hsu... what else does Hsu bring to the table other than some highly rated recruits? Can he actually coach? Does he know how to scout and find players that can fit coaches playstyle? Because Western Kentucky has underachieved year in and year out since Stansbury has been there with his current staff. They by far had the best talent in the C-USA this season and almost every media outlet picked them to make the NCAA tournament and win conference and they didn't even make the NIT and had player issues all season long, one player even quit in the middle of the season. Seems like the type of guys they have been bringing in at Western Kentucky, have nice star ratings, but they also have some character issues and guys that either the coaches can't get them to play team ball or guys that don't want to play team ball. That's the opposite of what CMA is about. He's going to focus team oriented guys that fit his system first and foremost and get the most out of those guys no matter what their star rating is.[/quote
 
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[quote="ErickTheRed" post=346220]Mike Anderson
TJ Cleveland
Scotty Thurman
Andy Boreman
Kareem Reid[/quote]

I don’t know about Thurman, but I think Kareem Reid would be a great choice for DOBO or similar. Bronx kid and knows local contacts and also knows the Razorback way. Would be a good link to both worlds for Mike Anderson to bridge the NYC gap. I know he wants to be here. We shall see what happens.
 
Scotty Thurman was a helluva player, can't speak to his record as an assistant coach. Not thrilled with Hsu though, the more I hear about him.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=346223]Scotty Thurman was a helluva player, can't speak to his record as an assistant coach. Not thrilled with Hsu though, the more I hear about him.[/quote]

Don’t know if Hsu will make it here, but doesn’t seem like a fit for Anderson maybe from what I’ve read. Will be interesting to see what happens.
 
Wouldn't mind Rasheen squeezing his way back in to the conversation. He could hit the ground running on local targets while MA gets up to speed on which schools he needs to target for relationship building.
 
[quote="L J S A" post=346227]Wouldn't mind Rasheen squeezing his way back in to the conversation. He could hit the ground running on local targets while MA gets up to speed on which schools he needs to target for relationship building.[/quote]

I would think there's a list and they're checking it twice. Lol.
Thinking and hoping Mike Cragg is working with Iron Mike on the task.
 
[quote="billthetruth" post=346130][quote="PharmDJohnnie11" post=346125][quote="Paultzman" post=346121]Source: St. John's transfer LJ Figueroa is receiving interest from Western Kentucky, Arkansas, Miami, UConn, Illinois, Dayton, Georgia, UNLV, and Nebraska. #SJUBB
Per Rothstein[/quote]

At this point I'd be pretty surprised if LJ came back. He came to the press conference, met CMA, and even practiced with him on Saturday, and that wasn't enough for him to take his name out of the transfer portal. Now he's setting up visits to other schools. Not a good sign.[/quote]

This has nothing to do about the kids well being, which is quite sad. But not the first time it has happened and I'm sure not the last.[/quote]

lmao 21 is hardly a kid, yeah poor kid.
He's allowing this, no one else, but him.
Guess people will be crying for his well being when he's 23-34, poor poor LJ.
To me he's the main one responsible for this.
 
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