Next seaon's surprise

[wh]

It was only a year ago this month that Darien Walker arrived on the scene and transformed from the guy no one had ever heard of to an absolute stud. 

! No longer available

Any guesses as to next season's big transformation?

[vufan7501]

Shane Hammink....I am hoping he blossoms and steps up at Valpo. Would be a nice thing and take some defensive pressure off Alec.

[vu72]

It was only a year ago this month that Darien Walker arrived on the scene and transformed from the guy no one had ever heard of to an absolute stud. 

! No longer available

Any guesses as to next season's big transformation?

I agree totally.  Valpo's ability to find players is completely off the charts.  Gone are the days of Chris Halvorsen and what we have now are guys like Darien and Tevonn.  My guess is a bunch of Bigs would love to have Tevonn on their team. His upside is massive and his transition to college starter was pretty much seamless.

I agree that Shane Hammink will most likely be a very pleasant surprise, if you can actually call him that.  Wasn't it Paul Oren who thought that if he had been eligible last year that he would have started?

[classof2014]

To me somebody with the potential for biggest surprise would be from Max Joseph or Nick Davidson; somebody who was for the most part on the bench but has a big role on this team. Last season there were a lot more unknowns than this season.

Last season there were a lot of big surprises.

1.) Darien Walker, coming out of nowhere to be a big scoring threat
2.) Tevonn Walker, arguably the best freshman in the Horizon League
3.) David Skara, with signs that he can be the next Ryan Broekhoff
4.) EVN, one of the most versatile 6' 7" players in a Valpo uniform
5.) Vashil, having the best defensive season in Valpo history
6.) Alec, taking that next step into an elite player in college basketball

[wh]

It was only a year ago this month that Darien Walker arrived on the scene and transformed from the guy no one had ever heard of to an absolute stud. 

! No longer available

Any guesses as to next season's big transformation?

As an aside this video is a reminder of the monster-sized player combinations we used and will continue to have available:

Vashil 6-10
Alec 6-9
EVN 6-9 (per Luke Gore)
David 6-8
Darien 6-3

I clearly remember that CSU game. As talented as they were they couldn't match our size and physicality. It's amazing to think how completely Bryce has changed the identity of Valpo basketball.

[vu72]

It was only a year ago this month that Darien Walker arrived on the scene and transformed from the guy no one had ever heard of to an absolute stud. 

! No longer available

Any guesses as to next season's big transformation?

As an aside this video is a reminder of the monster-sized player combinations we used and will continue to have available:

Vashil 6-10
Alec 6-9
EVN 6-9 (per Luke Gore)
David 6-8
Darien 6-3

I clearly remember that CSU game. As talented as they were they couldn't match our size and physicality. It's amazing to think how completely Bryce has changed the identity of Valpo basketball.

Not to mention the two freshman coming in!  Oh, if Darien is 6'3" (not doubting) the Shane is a legit 6'8".

Check out the roster picture of the two of them standing side by side!

http://valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/#.VYtON_lViko

[wh]

I'm not sure it would qualify as a surprise, but I look to see Tevonn have a breakout year this coming season. He is an amazing talent. 

! No longer available

[a3uge]

Vashil surprised me more than anyone last season. He ended with an 88.5 dRtg, one of the best defensive ratings in Horizon League history and the biggest reason the Crusaders had a defensive identity last year. But not only was his defense the best in the league, he actually was 2nd on the team on offensive rating and offensive win shares. In 2014, he was last on the team in pts scored per 40, and had a pretty low offensive rating just above 100. His PER went from 8th to 2nd. He had an amazing turnaround, and much credit is due to Bryce and the staff for turning a raw athletic big man into one of the best players in the league.


Picking the biggest surprise for next year is kind of weird - had to predict a surprise and have it still be a surprise. I would be surprised if Hammink made a significant impact next year, as well as Max Joseph, Lexus, and Davidson. Everyone else has potential to be 1st or 2nd team.

[vu72]

Vashil surprised me more than anyone last season. He ended with an 88.5 dRtg, one of the best defensive ratings in Horizon League history and the biggest reason the Crusaders had a defensive identity last year. But not only was his defense the best in the league, he actually was 2nd on the team on offensive rating and offensive win shares. In 2014, he was last on the team in pts scored per 40, and had a pretty low offensive rating just above 100. His PER went from 8th to 2nd. He had an amazing turnaround, and much credit is due to Bryce and the staff for turning a raw athletic big man into one of the best players in the league.


Picking the biggest surprise for next year is kind of weird - had to predict a surprise and have it still be a surprise. I would be surprised if Hammink made a significant impact next year, as well as Max Joseph, Lexus, and Davidson. Everyone else has potential to be 1st or 2nd team.

I'll be surprised if Shane isn't a complete stud.  This video is three years old.  He looks like a left handed Alec Peters, maybe quicker.

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?type=agc511&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-001&p=shane+hammink

[classof2014]

If Vashil is indeed coming back that will be by far the biggest surprise.

[wh]

If the Vashil rumor is completely baseless I would like to think that either pgmado or chef would have put it to bed by now. The fact that neither has chimed in gives me hope that there could be something to it - at least to the extent that an appeal is in process.

[wh]

If the Vashil rumor is completely baseless I would like to think that either pgmado or chef would have put it to bed by now. The fact that neither has chimed in gives me hope that there could be something to it - at least to the extent that an appeal is in process.

[valpopal]

[tweet]614792055169093632[/tweet]

[vu72]

[tweet]614792055169093632[/tweet]

Well, unless he thinks the Defensive Player of the Year is insignificant, Vashil is back!  My apologies to whoever posted it first and I had serious doubts!! 

[Valpofan00]

[tweet]614792055169093632[/tweet]

Well, unless he thinks the Defensive Player of the Year is insignificant, Vashil is back!  My apologies to whoever posted it first and I had serious doubts!! 

We still don't know for sure if Vashil is eligible for next year correct?

[Pgmado]

If the Vashil rumor is completely baseless I would like to think that either pgmado or chef would have put it to bed by now. The fact that neither has chimed in gives me hope that there could be something to it - at least to the extent that an appeal is in process.

Best I can do for you.

http://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/valparaiso-university/more-vashil/article_696e9c24-1cdc-11e5-a214-ff0a72a2ecd2.html

[vu72]

[tweet]614792055169093632[/tweet]

Well, unless he thinks the Defensive Player of the Year is insignificant, Vashil is back!  My apologies to whoever posted it first and I had serious doubts!! 

We still don't know for sure if Vashil is eligible for next year correct?

That is correct.  Per Paul Oren's article in The Times the issue is really who will NOT be on scholarship if he is back.  His analysis is spot on and the possibilities all have some degree of risk.  The logical choice is Relvao who could be stashed at a JUCO but then could change his mind and go somewhere else.

http://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/valparaiso-university/more-vashil/article_696e9c24-1cdc-11e5-a214-ff0a72a2ecd2.html

[nkvu]

Is there something that would prevent Vashil coming back for his last year as a walk on?  I mention this only because Xavier's center from last year Steinbock did this. Steinbocks younger brother was a walk on and since Steinbock had graduated he came back as a grad student while Xavier gave his scholarship to the younger brother.  The reported reason was that the undergrad tuition was twice what the grad tuition would be so it was a significant saving to the family.  If Vashil did come back as a walk on would he have to pay the full cost or could he accept some form of financial aide?  Could someone educate me on this?

[oklahomamick]

I was reflecting on Vashil's dunks and blocks.  I even youtube them and it got me excited again.  A dunk right before half against Green Bay in championship game led to another video of Skara's dunk against Green Bay.  It wasn't so much the dunks, it was the great Valpo atmosphere at the ARC that really got me excited.  And to think no more....

[wh]

I was reflecting on Vashil's dunks and blocks.  I even youtube them and it got me excited again.  A dunk right before half against Green Bay in championship game led to another video of Skara's dunk against Green Bay.  It wasn't so much the dunks, it was the great Valpo atmosphere at the ARC that really got me excited.  And to think no more....

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm still flabbergasted by the decision to move the tournament from home court of the conference champion to a "neutral" court in the most dangerous city in the country. 

[vu72]

I was reflecting on Vashil's dunks and blocks.  I even youtube them and it got me excited again.  A dunk right before half against Green Bay in championship game led to another video of Skara's dunk against Green Bay.  It wasn't so much the dunks, it was the great Valpo atmosphere at the ARC that really got me excited.  And to think no more....

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm still flabbergasted by the decision to move the tournament from home court of the conference champion to a "neutral" court in the most dangerous city in the country. 

[/b]

Yeah, I know.  TV is pretty boring now so last night I watched the Horizon League Championship game.  I know its hard to imagine, but I do have it recorded.  Two things hit me--first, the crowd was on fire and clearly that won't be the case unless the camera focuses on 500 fans (maybe).  The second thing that hit me was the prospects for this coming season.  Guys, to refresh your memory, we beat a fully stocked Green Bay team with Tevonn, Darien and Vashil on the bench for most of the game.  In addition Alec had a terrible game, one of his worst of the season.  Still, it wasn't really a contest. Buckle your seat belts...

[covufan]

If the Vashil rumor is completely baseless I would like to think that either pgmado or chef would have put it to bed by now. The fact that neither has chimed in gives me hope that there could be something to it - at least to the extent that an appeal is in process.

Best I can do for you.

http://www.nwitimes.com/blogs/sports/valparaiso-university/more-vashil/article_696e9c24-1cdc-11e5-a214-ff0a72a2ecd2.html

Thanks.  I realized that the sounds of silence coming from the ARC may have had to do with the scholarship situation - especially if Vashil is able to come back.  I had not thought of Smits/Relvao possibly paying for their own way for one season, nor Vashil to some other program, nor EV to another program, etc.  If memory serves, some of the bigger programs many years ago would send a player to prep school for one year, then on to the big school.  I'm thinking Oak Hill Academy, or Spike Albrecht at Northfield, or Mitch McGary at Brewster Academy.  I'm wondering if LaLumiere qualifies for an extra year of prep school.  My recollection is that some schools would somehow get the player into the prep school, then magically the player would commit again that next season.  The downside is that Smits, while able to afford such a move, might improve and be courted by bigger schools the following year. 

I don't envy the coaching staff/AD staff in trying to find a landing spot for one player, but if we get Vashil for one more year - great!

[valporun]

If I recall, I think Valpo did this with Moussa Gueye, before he committed to Alabama?

[justducky]

The second thing that hit me was the prospects for this coming season.  Guys, to refresh your memory, we beat a fully stocked Green Bay team with Tevonn, Darien and Vashil on the bench for most of the game.  In addition Alec had a terrible game, one of his worst of the season.  Still, it wasn't really a contest. Buckle your seat belts...

Lets look at this from a slightly different angle. Imagine that a senior level Ryan Broekhoff was transferring in with immediate eligibility. Given our experience, depth, potential for scoring, and overall defensive strengths just how much would such an addition improve our 15-16 potential?

I would suspect that all of our 15-16 HL losses will occur because we are limited to playing only 5 players at a time. 

[oklahomamick]

our team and our defense was good last year because we had a rim protector.  Vashil does a lot of little things that help us win games.