Recruiting: 2018

[VU2014]

I'd love to see the coaching staff recruit Tim Finke who is one of the best players from the state of Illinois but who had a really bad AAU performance this summer. Before this summer he was being recruited by Illinois, Ohio State, Vandy, and Notre Dame, but his recruitment has complete reset and a lot of those power conference teams have burned that bridge.

247 had him pegged as the 153 best recruit in the nation. He is a obvious Spring signing so the coaches would have time to start working on him in recruitment. He also seems to have the versatility to play SG & SF.

Finke is a central Illinois kid and knows the Peters family. He played for the same AAU program. He could be an absolute steal.
https://twitter.com/Illinois_Irish/status/921017086398300161
https://twitter.com/Illinois_Irish/status/921018579436306432
https://twitter.com/jthompson247/status/921078876335431680
https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/921086032497520641

[bbtds]

There are Finke(s) that are members of Grace Lutheran Church in Champaign. If someone knows one of his parents first names we could look it up. If he has the German last name and knows the Peters family that could mean another high major recruit Lutheran kid. Of course it also may not mean anything too.

[EddieCabot]

There are Finke(s) that are members of Grace Lutheran Church in Champaign. If someone knows one of his parents first names we could look it up. If he has the German last name and knows the Peters family that could mean another high major recruit Lutheran kid. Of course it also may not mean anything too.

Not Lutheran.  http://www.teamfinke.com/About-TeamFinke/Jeff-and-Laura

[VU2014]

Good to hear!
https://twitter.com/HoopReview/status/923392004075036672

[VU2014]

I hope Javon signs in the early signing period, because it sounds like Valpo got an absolute steal in landing a commitment from Javon. He's going to be an exciting player to watch next season.
https://twitter.com/BallisLifeCHI/status/761000109647679488

[VUBBFan]

https://www.prephoops.com/2017/11/mr-basketball-candidate-javon-freeman/

Good article about 2018 commit Javon

[vu72]

https://www.prephoops.com/2017/11/mr-basketball-candidate-javon-freeman/

Good article about 2018 commit Javon

Could you please copy and paste?  Thanks!

[valpo64]

Aren't we getting close to the early signing period?   Does anyone know who our "top" prospects are and the probablility of them signing with us?

[VU2014]

Aren't we getting close to the early signing period?   Does anyone know who our "top" prospects are and the probablility of them signing with us?

As of right now we have 2 scholarships available for the 2018 class. Our only commitment is Javon Freeman-Liberty who is a high ceiling 3-Star Shooting Guard from Chicago. Javon is a big recruit for our program. His uncle is Marcus Liberty who was the Illini great and played in the NBA for a few years. I'm hoping Javon signs in the early period but I haven't heard anything on that front yet.

We have 1 other available scholarship barring any transfers. The only other outstanding offer that we know about it is 2-star South Bend native SG Walter Ellis. Walter is spending his last year of HS at a prep school called the Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. He sounds like a Spring signing recruit.

[VUGrad1314]

Anything new on Shakur Daniel and Xavier Pinson? Did Valpo jump in in any significant way once Pinson reopened his recruitment? I know we were in on him a bit earlier but haven't heard a lot since Also heard a lot of good things about Daniel and then all of a sudden nothing

[valpo64]

I just checked...the early signing period for 2018-19 is November 8-15, so hopefully we  will hear some favorable news soon.

[VU2014]

I just checked...the early signing period for 2018-19 is November 8-15, so hopefully we  will hear some favorable news soon.

Javon seems pretty firmly committed to Valpo if you follow his twitter. I'd be a little nervous if he doesn't sign in the early signing period though.

Anything new on Shakur Daniel and Xavier Pinson? Did Valpo jump in in any significant way once Pinson reopened his recruitment? I know we were in on him a bit earlier but haven't heard a lot since Also heard a lot of good things about Daniel and then all of a sudden nothing

I heard anything about Xavier Pinson or Shakur Daniel. I know the coaching staff is very familiar with Pinson's game. I'm not sure we'll offer. As for Shakur I saw on twitter he was apparently getting interest from High Majors but I don't think any of them have offered yet. I only saw that one mention of Valpo offering. It's curious that it never got picked up by 'Verbal Commits'. It sounds like he's going to be a Spring signing for which ever school he commits to.
https://twitter.com/ARHoopScoop/status/925576873656176640

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/valpocompliance/status/927725276171309057

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/AintuJavon/status/927920153693708289

[FieldGoodie05]

https://twitter.com/AintuJavon/status/927920153693708289

He and teammate Xavier are signing at 11:15AM.

https://www.prephoops.com/2017/11/national-signing-day-times-3/

[wh]

https://twitter.com/AintuJavon/status/927920153693708289

He and teammate Xavier are signing at 11:15AM.

https://www.prephoops.com/2017/11/national-signing-day-times-3/

For those who may be interested, I just looked into my crystal ball and see exciting times ahead for Javon. Signing day tomorrow, back-to-back state championships for WY, All-State honors, and a successful debut in his first official college game as part of next year's Sweet-16 team.

[VU2014]

A big day today for Valpo Basketball! Javon Freeman-Liberty is signing his NLI today at 11:15 AM.

The Chicago Sun-Times came out with their Preps Signing Day Review.

https://www.suntimeshighschoolsports.com/2017/11/07/henricksen-signing-day-primer/

Henricksen: Signing Day review
Joe Henricksen
For Sun-Times Media | @joehoopsreport
Nov. 7 11:38 p.m.

Recruiting breeds drama and storylines while creating intrigue around high school and college basketball. There was no shortage of that when it came to the recruitment of the Class of 2018 in Illinois.

...........

Biggest recruiting steal: Javon Freeman to Valpo

The recruitment of the 6-3 wing from Whitney Young, along with his commitment to coach Matt Lottich and Valparaiso, flew under the radar a bit.

Freeman helped lead the Dolphins to a Class 4A state championship last March and is among the top six senior prospects in Illinois. He's an active and productive player who still possesses a tremendously high ceiling.

........

Best uncommitted prospects: Libertyville's Drew Peterson, Simeon's Xavier Pinson and Conant's Ryan Davis

While Champaign Central's Tim Finke may be the best uncommitted player remaining in the state, the trio of Peterson, Pinson and Davis are the best unsigned seniors locally. Peterson is a versatile 6-7 wing, Pinson a pure point guard and at 6-8 Davis is a wide-bodied big man with skill.



I'd love for Valpo to get involved in Tim Finke and Drew Peterson's recruitment. Peterson is a 2-guard but he is a completely different player then Freeman-Liberty. Both Peterson and Finke could both play the 2 and the 3. I know the VU coaching staff has scouted both Ryan Davis and Xavier Pinson. Davis sounds like a really good player but I don't think he's a roster fit with us having 3 freshman forwards on the roster. The coaches are very familiar with Pinson and know him but we haven't offered so far so it makes you wonder if they think he's just not a fit with the current roster. We'll see I guess.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-mens-basketball-valparaiso-st-1108-20171107-story.html
With Freeman-Liberty in the fold, the Crusaders would have one scholarship left in the Class of 2018, with Montreal natives Joseph and Tevonn Walker seniors this season.

"I told our guys, it's a home run or we're waiting for a transfer," Lottich said.

I think Finke would be that home run. I'm not even sure if they are recruiting him. I know he just took a unofficial visit to GCU last week. Maybe one of those other guys like Peterson is homer. Love that we're not settling though.

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/AintuJavon/status/928353431609331723
https://twitter.com/emandildy/status/928402573794729989

[wh]

https://twitter.com/AintuJavon/status/928353431609331723

He said he wants to be a part of a family. Check. He wants to contribute right away. Check. He wants to win. Double check. I have a feeling we're going to love Javon!

[vu72]

As the title of this thread is Recruiting 2018, I thought it would be OK to point out the newest Women's tennis signee, who just happens to be a Ford model when not playing! Hope you guys don't mind me posting this!   

http://www.presspubs.com/white_bear/sports/local/article_91e33690-6a0a-11e4-9789-afc23aa8dd0d.html

[covufan]

I'd love to see the coaching staff recruit Tim Finke who is one of the best players from the state of Illinois but who had a really bad AAU performance this summer. Before this summer he was being recruited by Illinois, Ohio State, Vandy, and Notre Dame, but his recruitment has complete reset and a lot of those power conference teams have burned that bridge.247 had him pegged as the 153 best recruit in the nation. He is a obvious Spring signing so the coaches would have time to start working on him in recruitment. He also seems to have the versatility to play SG & SF.Finke is a central Illinois kid and knows the Peters family. He played for the same AAU program. He could be an absolute steal.

"I told our guys, it's a home run or we're waiting for a transfer," Lottich said.I think Finke would be that home run. I'm not even sure if they are recruiting him. I know he just took a unofficial visit to GCU last week. Maybe one of those other guys like Peterson is homer. Love that we're not settling though.

Yes, this Finke could be that home run.  Does anyone know that Finke's recruiting really opened up recently and why?

Two of his fathers HS teammates graduated from VU.

[FieldGoodie05]

Tim Finke would be a solid get for VU.  We don't need all world athletes at all positions.  If he has good basketball acumen and can shoot from mid range and three....score!

Can he athletically Guard the college SF though?  Alec had difficulty at the three at times last year.  Is Tim Finke more or less athletic than AP?

[VU2014]

Tim Finke would be a solid get for VU.  We don't need all world athletes at all positions.  If he has good basketball acumen and can shoot from mid range and three....score!

Can he athletically Guard the college SF though?  Alec had difficulty at the three at times last year.  Is Tim Finke more or less athletic than AP?

I think he'd be a sufficient defender at the 3. Finke isn't a stretch 4 like Peters was. From the highlights I've seen of him he's quicker and is more of a ball handler then AP. Finke's bread and butter is his jump shot and he was very streaky this summer and was missing shots in his AAU season this summer and thats what caused his stock to drop.

He was AAU teammates with Javon on Meanstreets this summer. Maybe his poor performance on Meanstreets squad causes him to think he wouldn't be a fit on the same team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1JNk5M-jyk

[wh]

Tim Finke would be a solid get for VU.  We don't need all world athletes at all positions.  If he has good basketball acumen and can shoot from mid range and three....score!

Can he athletically Guard the college SF though?  Alec had difficulty at the three at times last year.  Is Tim Finke more or less athletic than AP?

I think he'd be a sufficient defender at the 3. Finke isn't a stretch 4 like Peters was. From the highlights I've seen of him he's quicker and is more of a ball handler then AP. Finke's bread and butter is his jump shot and he was very streaky this summer and was missing shots in his AAU season this summer and thats what caused his stock to drop.

He was AAU teammates with Javon on Meanstreets this summer. Maybe his poor performance on Meanstreets squad causes him to think he wouldn't be a fit on the same team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1JNk5M-jyk

Unless I missed it, Valpo is not among the 19-25 schools that have offered Fenke. That tells me that not only does Matt not see him as a home run, he doesn't even see him as a single. By the way, 247 Sports shows him as a 3, not 4.

[VU2014]

Unless I missed it, Valpo is not among the 19-25 schools that have offered Fenke. That tells me that not only does Matt not see him as a home run, he doesn't even see him as a single. By the way, 247 Sports shows him as a 3, not 4.

The thing about Finke is that his recruitment completely hit a reset button after the summer. Many mids weren't going to waste their time recruiting him because he was previously thought to be an unattainable recruit because schools like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Illinois were all showing serious interest but after the struggles in AAU they stopped and it hit a bit of a reset. I know Loyola jumped in his recruitment this Fall after the High-Major interest started to drop.

Maybe the Valpo coaching staff just aren't interested or don't think there is a fit. I think the absolute grand-slam recruit for the 2019 class would be Alex Hemenway. He has picked up some offers from High Majors the last months, so I'm not sure if Valpo has realistic shot anymore. I'm hoping the Valpo coaches have built a strong relationship with him. He'd be a program altering player for us.