Recruiting: 2018

[NativeCheesehead]

That's also the bane of these AAU programs. If shoe company A sponsers both an AAU program and State School U, and the coach of the AAU program steers a recruit toward State School U, that coach will receive a bonus in next year's sponsorship check. It's a kickback that's perfectly within both law and NCAA rules.

[bbtds]

I think you can make the case that Alec, Rowdy, Tevonn, others have benefited from getting playing time as a freshman and sophomore, and that served them well in their development and became better players from the experience they gained.

As will Micah Bradford, Derrik Smits and Jay Sorolla benefit greatly from their freshmen starting exposure.

[bbtds]

https://www.twitter.com/deman3320/status/779764681363849216

Have we heard anything new from TH South's DeAvion Washington as far as his Valpo offer? Is he expected to go to a higher level school? He is listed by Verbal Commits as a 2 star recruit. I remembered seeing this story around the end of year about his TH South team getting upset by class A power Linton-Stockton in a Terre Haute area tournament.

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/first-financial-wabash-valley-classic-linton-knocks-off-terre-haute/article_b0806536-cca1-11e6-9eb6-3fce172bf91d.html

"That was a really good team we played tonight," Hart said later. "I'm a huge Jaylen Minnett fan, and De'Avion Washington is probably the most improved player there — and he was good to begin with."

Minnett had 25 points, four assists and even two big blocked shots in the fourth quarter to lead the Braves, and Washington scored 12. Jevan McCoskey had nine early points, and Brown got in foul trouble, but hung around to score five of his seven points in overtime.

"I told [the Braves after the game] that games like this build character," coach Maynard Lewis of the Braves said, "and losses like this are tough. What's important is how are they going to come back [today].




If you think free throws aren't important think again. Both teams could have won this game in regulation if they had made their last minute free throws.

But Linton put together a 22-9 run at that point, taking a 54-50 lead with 3:43 left in regulation time and could have salted the game away except for missing three free throws in the last minute. Two of the misses came with 7.5 seconds left, and South sent the game into overtime by hitting one of two from the line at 1.6.

[VU2014]

One of the kids that we are in on recruiting 2018 SG 6'5 Justin Hardy St Charles East is taking his second visit to the Green Bay this weekend... just a heads up. I have a family friend who has a son who plays for St Charles East so I've been keeping tabs on their games and Hardy is a impressive. Much improved 3pt shot this season and he's only a JR. He took an unofficial to valpo last summer.

https://twitter.com/WolvesILL/status/834776323822387201

https://twitter.com/WolvesILL/status/760134405268594688

[vu72]

I think visiting Valpo in August beats visiting GB in February!

[VU2014]

Some interesting names that Valpo could involved in the process. Walter Ellis and Deavion Washington are key targets.

Adrian Nelson is a 6-4 SG out of Pickerington, OH. Currently unranked by major scouting services (still only a JR).
Currently has offers from: Detroit, Air Force, and Stony Brook.

https://twitter.com/VCCOhioWarriors/status/809886781189607424
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmUorCY6YIc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxZC-aOgZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eU_U5LzbZs


My favorite 2018 recruit I've heard about so far is Logan Logan Swackhammer (awesome name: I could see Todd Ickow having fun with this name lol). Just from the "highlights" I've seen kid looks like he can ball, a high motor and a very smart kid with a 4.2 GPA.
He's a 6-2 PG based out of Chillicothe, OH.
Current offers are: Urbana and St. Leo.
Showing interest: Valpo, Colgate, and Stony Brook.
He took a visit to Valpo back in November. I believe he was at the Trinity (IL) game. Not are greatest showing.... We were still working out the kinks in the Offense/Defense being the 2nd game of the year and we took it east against a non D1 school but whatever.

Picture of him at the ARC: https://www.instagram.com/p/BM3ijwpga_l/
Have to check out the Hudl page. I was really impressed with his handles and shot making ability. Looked really good to me at least.

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4926914/logan-swackhammer

One thing to note in this interview is that he said he'd like to play around the North Carolina area, because has family in the area. Could have been an off handed comment but maybe a deciding factor next year where he choses to go to school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_39yMsfcE

Another one of Logan's teammates came on the visit: Cameron Brooks-Harris - 6'7/F-G
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMWX3G9An9-/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6xQh66vg1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8r1kjaDb3I

https://twitter.com/PocketCityBball/status/778400480586194944
Mekhi Lairy
Positions: PG
Height & Weight: 5'8" 135lbs
Class of: 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw8wPNglbOg

https://twitter.com/KyleNeddenriep/status/791101824711352320
Jeffrey Reynolds  6'6" 170lbs. SF, Greenwood, IN

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4760002/jeffrey-reynolds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIHBhoy0fcY&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqu7IcIedjc

[VU2014]

Walter Ellis is visiting April 19th.

https://twitter.com/INBBallSource/status/849713230746456066

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4153447/walter-ellis

[covufan]

Walter Ellis is visiting April 19th.

https://twitter.com/INBBallSource/status/849713230746456066

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4153447/walter-ellis

I think our coaches will be visiting Adam Amin's former broadcast partner's home.

[M]

Walter can really put up points and would be a real nice get. He has quite a few offers and I will be pleasantly surprised if or coaches can lure him here.

[FieldGoodie05]

Walter can really put up points and would be a real nice get. He has quite a few offers and I will be pleasantly surprised if or coaches can lure him here.

I'd also be surprised, the lure of major offers is quite enticing at his age.  I can't say many demonstrate the foresight of Alec Peters.  It's a rare gift to have parents and a family support structure that keeps the ego out of the decision making process.

[valpopal]

[tweet]849829951457153025[/tweet]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EYlJiaD5o

[VU2014]

[tweet]849829951457153025[/tweet]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EYlJiaD5o

That kid is built like a 7ft tank. Interesting if he were to come to Valpo. 3 7footers? Maybe they are just doing due diligence or maybe they may just preparing for potential transfer. 

[valpotx]

TCU has positioned themselves well for the future, with their recent NIT title.  Dixon has that program on the upswing, for the first time since 1998.

[SanityLost17]

[tweet]849829951457153025[/tweet]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EYlJiaD5o

That kid is built like a 7ft tank. Interesting if he were to come to Valpo. 3 7footers? Maybe they are just doing due diligence or maybe they may just preparing for potential transfer.

Didn't somebody post somewhere that Smits could graduate after next season?  If he has a breakout year next year I wouldn't blame him for leaving and playing high major ball somewhere for a few years.   Maybe his breakout year isn't until his junior year.  Either way, I could see him leaving eventually on good terms with fans and coaches.   

[FieldGoodie05]

[tweet]849829951457153025[/tweet]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EYlJiaD5o

That kid is built like a 7ft tank. Interesting if he were to come to Valpo. 3 7footers? Maybe they are just doing due diligence or maybe they may just preparing for potential transfer.

Didn't somebody post somewhere that Smits could graduate after next season?  If he has a breakout year next year I wouldn't blame him for leaving and playing high major ball somewhere for a few years.   Maybe his breakout year isn't until his junior year.  Either way, I could see him leaving eventually on good terms with fans and coaches.

I'd predict he'd transfer for playing time at a smaller school before a P6 bench warmer.  I like his upside, but he is too slow afoot for P6 starter at this point.

[VU2014]

[tweet]849829951457153025[/tweet]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EYlJiaD5o

That kid is built like a 7ft tank. Interesting if he were to come to Valpo. 3 7footers? Maybe they are just doing due diligence or maybe they may just preparing for potential transfer.

Didn't somebody post somewhere that Smits could graduate after next season?  If he has a breakout year next year I wouldn't blame him for leaving and playing high major ball somewhere for a few years.   Maybe his breakout year isn't until his junior year.  Either way, I could see him leaving eventually on good terms with fans and coaches.

I'd predict he'd transfer for playing time at a smaller school before a P6 bench warmer.  I like his upside, but he is too slow afoot for P6 starter at this point.

Agreed. Smits really struggled against more athletic bigs this season. Doesn't mean he can't be played against more athletic lineups but he needs to be quicker at identifying opposing teams plays and knowing be in better position on defense. He was out of position a lot last year. For some reason he tended to drift away from the paint on offense, which him in horrible position to rebound the ball.

I'm going to give last year a bit of a mulligan but I am expecting next year will tell a lot about Smits potential. This is a BIG offseason for him. He'll be fully healthy and can really hit the weight room and battle with Jay and Coach Gore in the post. There is a lot of potential with Derrik. You can see flashes of it with some of his post moves. He just needs to learn to absorb contact and learn to battle a little more in the post.

[FWalum]

I think that Derrik and Jay have tremendous potential.  I just want to see an attitude change in both of our bigs.  They seem to rely so much on their physical attributes that they (Derrik in particular) take it for granted that they can get a shot off or get the rebound over another player. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY! There should be no talk of finesse, I want to see them try and rip the rim off of the backboard every time they make a post move.  I want them to block out so completely that the ball will hit the floor before it is recovered.  I want to see snarls on their faces and their forearms and biceps rippling with definition.  For some reason last year both of them played soft, I don't think any of our opponents were intimidated by them... and they NEED TO BE INTIMIDATED on both ends of the floor.

[VU2014]

With all the MVC possibly adding Valpo, Murray State and Belmont, I thought this was interesting. Belmont is recruiting the same recruit Valpo is: SG Walter Ellis. He's suppose to be coming in for a visit on April 19.
https://twitter.com/INBBallSource/status/849766654414385152

[M]

In home, I'm pretty sure, means they are going to visit him.

[valpo64]

Something to keep in mind...there are always more and it's  always easier to recruit competent smaller backcourt or mid size front court personnel than good "big"  men.  In my opinion if a big man along the lines of AP is available, we should jump at the opportunity.  Guys in the 6-3 to 6-5 range are always around...guys like Alec are rare birds.  Let's go for "Big Bru".

[covufan]

Something to keep in mind...there are always more and it's  always easier to recruit competent smaller backcourt or mid size front court personnel than good "big"  men.  In my opinion if a big man along the lines of AP is available, we should jump at the opportunity.  Guys in the 6-3 to 6-5 range are always around...guys like Alec are rare birds.  Let's go for "Big Bru".

What was it Frank Layden used to say "Can't coach 7' "

[cornonthe]

Something to keep in mind...there are always more and it's  always easier to recruit competent smaller backcourt or mid size front court personnel than good "big"  men.  In my opinion if a big man along the lines of AP is available, we should jump at the opportunity.  Guys in the 6-3 to 6-5 range are always around...guys like Alec are rare birds.  Let's go for "Big Bru".

What was it Frank Layden used to say "Can't coach 7' "

I thought it was teach, not coach..."You can't teach seven feet tall!!!"

[VU2014]

According to Scout.com Valpo is showing interest in:

-in Jimmy Beane (18') SF 6'5" 185lbs. Clay HS, South Bend, IN. (really wish his last name was Beame instead of Beane)

-Aaron Henry (18') G/SF 6'6" 205lbs. Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN.
https://indiana.rivals.com/news/three-star-in-state-forward-aaron-henry-has-big-ten-big-east-interest
https://twitter.com/ScoutingINBoys/status/851253876326100992

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YCbj53FA2I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFfQtBAV2-A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jk_gVlWAfc

[valpo64]

 Even if Smits graduates early, he needs to get playing time experience, not sitting on the bench even if it is at a P-5 team.  I would think that his practice time with "J" and sharing of playing time here would be more valuable for him in the long run.

[covufan]

Something to keep in mind...there are always more and it's  always easier to recruit competent smaller backcourt or mid size front court personnel than good "big"  men.  In my opinion if a big man along the lines of AP is available, we should jump at the opportunity.  Guys in the 6-3 to 6-5 range are always around...guys like Alec are rare birds.  Let's go for "Big Bru".

What was it Frank Layden used to say "Can't coach 7' "

I thought it was teach, not coach..."You can't teach seven feet tall!!!"

I've also seen "You can't coach height" or "You can't teach height".  Also attributed to Red Auerbach.  Who really knows???