Recruiting: 2018

[FieldGoodie05]

2018 recruit of interest Axel (7'0") has disappeared from the Verbal Commits website on the Valpo page.  Wonder where or why?

[covufan]

2018 recruit of interest Axel (7'0") has disappeared from the Verbal Commits website on the Valpo page.  Wonder where or why?

Not sure, either we pulled the offer, or he accepted somewhere in Canada?

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/axel-okongo

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/deman3320/status/854151724751257601
https://twitter.com/CoachWarnerFC/status/854153035899129856

I thought Coach Warner's tweet was pretty telling. Deavion Washington is a really important recruit to our program. He's so underrated right now.

[valpopal]

[tweet]856150444908974080[/tweet]

[VU2014]

One of Valpo's priority recruits for the class of 2018 Deavion Washington is starting to draw interest from larger schools like DePaul, Pitt, & Temple. Something to keep an eye on. He just landed an offer from UNC-Greensboro

https://twitter.com/g3risingstars/status/859365803833135104
https://twitter.com/g3risingstars/status/859361069508288512

[valpotx]

I wouldn't consider DePaul as being larger.  Their quality is below ours

[bigmosmithfan1]

Agreed on quality, but they still are in a 6 or 7-bid Big East with every game on national TV, plus a brand new 10,000+ seat arena opening in the city next year. I would not be shocked if DePaul basketball became a factor again in a hurry.

[valpotx]

People have been saying that for the last 15-20 years

[bigmosmithfan1]

Oh, absolutely. But that was never going to happen while they were still playing 45 minutes from campus in the suburbs. The new arena is two L stops away from DePaul's Loop campus, where a couple thousand students now live and any student majoring in business, communications, law or technology has the majority of their classes. The term "game-changer" gets thrown around a lot, but this sure feels like it.

[VU2014]

Deavion Washington just picked up an offer from Temple.

https://twitter.com/INPrep/status/859942936733253632

[VU2014]

Javon Freeman-Liberty just received an offer from the Valparaiso Coaching Staff

Currently ranked as a 2-star but he's definitely a fast riser. I know Loyola has been all over him in recruiting and recruiting him pretty hard.

Current Offers: Valpo, Loyola-Chicago (first to offer: 10/11/2016), Drake, Toledo

https://twitter.com/AintuJavon/status/870410222057246722

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjjrYtKUDM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82JzUDoTD8Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruN53byPZNA

[wh]

6-4 shooting guard, skilled ball handler, plays up-tempo, likes to get to the rim, doesn't shy away from contact, athletic, likes to dunk, plays against serious competition. If he also wants to play for a dominant program in a supercharged environment in front of family and friends, we have a match made in heaven. Come on over, Javon!

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/870434261584793600

[NativeCheesehead]

Recruits like Liberty and Washington, assuming they continue to develop, have long evaded us. I go back and forth on saying to myself "Go get em, Lottich!" and "The first offer that comes from a major program and we never hear from them again."

This is an important type of recruit. The Drews were never able to consistently bring these guys in. You nab 2 or 3 of these caliber guys in one class, and they stick around and develop, you could really get that next level boost. 

[crusader05]

https://twitter.com/castaneda_x/status/870622637344600064


Just posted 40 minutes ago. Already has an offer from Iowa State

[vu72]

Recruits like Liberty and Washington, assuming they continue to develop, have long evaded us. I go back and forth on saying to myself "Go get em, Lottich!" and "The first offer that comes from a major program and we never hear from them again."

This is an important type of recruit. The Drews were never able to consistently bring these guys in. You nab 2 or 3 of these caliber guys in one class, and they stick around and develop, you could really get that next level boost. 

Not sure what you mean.  We have landed several high major recruits over the years.  Cory Johnson, Brandon Wood, Ben Boggs, Will Bogan, Bobby Capobianco, E. Victor Nickerson, to name a few.  Lottich has continued to get top rated guys with Joe Burton and Bakari Evelyn.  Oh, you meant out of high school...never mind. 

[vu72]

https://twitter.com/castaneda_x/status/870622637344600064


Just posted 40 minutes ago. Already has an offer from Iowa State

This kid will be challenging Alec Peters for the most D1 offers.  I count 9 so far including Valpo.

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/castaneda_x/status/870622637344600064
Just posted 40 minutes ago. Already has an offer from Iowa State

Xavier Castañeda

Year: 2018 (HS JR)
Position: PG
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Chicago, IL
High School: Whitney Young Magnet High School

Current Offers: Valpo, Iowa State, Missouri, Tusla, Kent State, UIC, Miami (OH), Drake

Currently Ranked: 2-star recruit (won't be a 2-star when they update the rankings next Fall)

Plays for the same AAU Team that Jubril use to play for: Meanstreets
https://twitter.com/Tony_Or_Anthony/status/858095815092559873
https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/858091191623143424
https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsIL/status/855260787132289024
https://twitter.com/ChiTribPreps/status/841858132338958336
https://twitter.com/coachSPham/status/841827772603457537

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGfA8J85U1o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xc4LVkVRAk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHVC32RcdUc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttwZPcJrFyA

[M]

Guy I respect a whole lot tells me Freeman would be a real nice get.  Real smooth player, long, makes plays.

[bbtds]

Cory Johnson, Brandon Wood, Ben Boggs, Will Bogan, Bobby Capobianco, E. Victor Nickerson, Joe Burton and Bakari Evelyn

These players all came to Valpo after trying out the majors. How does Valpo get high school seniors to choose Valpo when they get several offers from majors but will most likely end up at a mid-major like Valpo. Players such as Xavier Castañeda, Justin Boyd and DeAvian Washington would be better off in the long run choosing Valpo in the first place.

[covufan]

Cory Johnson, Brandon Wood, Ben Boggs, Will Bogan, Bobby Capobianco, E. Victor Nickerson, Joe Burton and Bakari Evelyn

These players all came to Valpo after trying out the majors. How does Valpo get high school seniors to choose Valpo when they get several offers from majors but will most likely end up at a mid-major like Valpo. Players such as Xavier Castañeda, Justin Boyd and DeAvian Washington would be better off in the long run choosing Valpo in the first place.

Now that we have Alec Peters as an example of someone who turned down other offers to have his whole career at Valpo, I'd use that in recruiting.  He was getting looks from the NBA after his junior year, and has shown that there is a path that doesn't necessarily include the Power conferences. 

[bbtds]

Cory Johnson, Brandon Wood, Ben Boggs, Will Bogan, Bobby Capobianco, E. Victor Nickerson, Joe Burton and Bakari Evelyn

These players all came to Valpo after trying out the majors. How does Valpo get high school seniors to choose Valpo when they get several offers from majors but will most likely end up at a mid-major like Valpo. Players such as Xavier Castañeda, Justin Boyd and DeAvian Washington would be better off in the long run choosing Valpo in the first place.

Now that we have Alexc Peters as an example of someone who turned down other offers to have his whole career at Valpo, I'd use that in recruiting.  He was getting looks from the NBA after his junior year, and has shown that there is a path that doesn't necessarily include the Power conferences. 

[valporun]

Having the opportunity to talk about playing in the Missouri Valley Conference has a lot more push, when these Chicago kids could come to Valpo, and their parents and friends can go to Loyola, Bradley, and Illinois St. for road games, instead of long drives to Green Bay, Detroit, Youngstown, Dayton, or Cleveland. Chicago, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal will be a matter of a few hours over an all day-all night/two-day trip. Plus, the television exposure of the MVC on local cable and satellite plans will get Valpo on tv a bit more in Chicago, especially with a local flavor Loyola-Valpo matchup at Gentile or the ARC.

[vu72]

Having the opportunity to talk about playing in the Missouri Valley Conference has a lot more push, when these Chicago kids could come to Valpo, and their parents and friends can go to Loyola, Bradley, and Illinois St. for road games, instead of long drives to Green Bay, Detroit, Youngstown, Dayton, or Cleveland. Chicago, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal will be a matter of a few hours over an all day-all night/two-day trip. Plus, the television exposure of the MVC on local cable and satellite plans will get Valpo on tv a bit more in Chicago, especially with a local flavor Loyola-Valpo matchup at Gentile or the ARC.

And Valpo continues to draw large numbers of students from not just Chicago but also all over Illinois.  It is much more likely that a Valpo student will have friends studying at Illinois State, Loyola or SIU then Cleveland State, Youngstown State or Green Bay.

[VU2014]

Holy cow. The Juniors beat the Seniors in the Indiana All-Star game (I think a few seniors were missing because they left school after HS graduation but still impressive).

The Juniors were led by Valpo recruit De'Avion Washington. He is a very impressive player.

https://twitter.com/Rick_Sports10/status/872262837045006336
https://twitter.com/TribStarTodd/status/872263129119551491
https://twitter.com/KyleNeddenriep/status/872251201307508736
https://twitter.com/Jon_Blau/status/872247052268445696
https://twitter.com/insidethehall/status/872263172710948864