Recruiting 2019

[VUGrad1314]

But are these players good? Hopefully he's got some diamonds in the rough here but they don't look too inspiring. I don't think we were competing with anybody noteworthy for them either. I really hope he's not filling spots just to fill spots and is actually thinking about making a competitive team.

[vufan75]

Post-Trib article by Michael Osipoff on the new 2019 recruits.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-spt-mens-basketball-valparaiso-st-040819-story,amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

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[valpotx]

Yes, let's corner the market on the Viking nations! 

[VUBBFan]

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1115004975388614656

[JD24]

But are these players good? Hopefully he's got some diamonds in the rough here but they don't look too inspiring. I don't think we were competing with anybody noteworthy for them either. I really hope he's not filling spots just to fill spots and is actually thinking about making a competitive team.

Ya think?

[elephtheria47]

Ben looks good, real good. He has yet to miss a shot from the clips I've seen of him.

[JD24]

Krikke played in the Bio-Steel game last week and played 13mins. 6 rebounds and 1-3 for 3 points. He made his only 3 pointer.

Highlights I can find of him are all from a year ago. He's a little awkward in movement which may work in his favor since he isn't where most people think he's going to be when he's shooting as a for instance. His outside shot is also kind of funky but it apparently goes in which is all that counts. He appears a bit slow afoot on video but I thought Alec Peters looked the same all the way through his Valpo career.

[humbleopinion]

It seems that we may be returning to the recruiting philosophy that Scott Drew employed twenty years ago -- head to international locales to find under-recruited players.  None of these players had come to the US to play for a prep high school, so they wouldn't have gained as much attention.  I like the idea of developing a core of players who are eager to play for Valpo, who believe that they can work together to get Valpo to the NCAA tournament.   

[4throwfan]

Humble, I almost would take that a step further, and say that I'd rather watch some foreign players who want to be here, and come in 10th, rather than watch local players who don't want to be here, and come in 9th.

[M]

What local players do we have that don't want to be here? Unless local means kids from the US....I totally agree though I'd rather watch kids who want to play at Valpo, who play the game right, and who enjoy and promote the experience of being a VU student athlete and I'll live with whatever the results are then watch what I've seen the last year or two.

[crusader05]

I interpreted local to mean just from the US not like local to the Valpo area.

[vu72]

I guess what I'm seeing so far is a big who can actually run the floor and score beyond three feet.  As for the PG, if he can avoid turnovers he can be a HUGE improvement.  He is a legit scorer with that mind set.  If he can hit a high level think what that will do for the other guys.  Gone are the 28, 31, 30 types. 

The Foreign players have pretty much universally played well, particularly those with lot of high level international experience.  I'l struggling to remember the last bust and I'm sure there have been some.  Sorolla among them.

[GoldenCrusader87]

Remember Samuel Haanpaa? Loved him. Came from Finland before playing at a prep school in San Antonio. 6'7" rangy shooter. Only stayed 2 years but had some big moments. Averaged 11 a game. Some fun players on that team. Bouchie (who sadly passed away I believe), Diebler, Huff, Urule, Little, Lloyd, Calum, McPherson, and Rogers. Fun group. 

[FWalum]

Bouchie (who sadly passed away I believe)

The Life and Death of Bryan Bouchie

[valpo64]

Quite a story...thanks for sharing it

[FWalum]

As was mentioned elsewhere, North Pole Hoops has Krikke listed at 6' 9" This article about the Canadian U17 team from last summer lists him at 6' 8" so it seems that the 6' 7" height that has been mainly reported could be a little short. I like what I have seen in the "highlights" so if he is closer to the 6' 9" height that makes it all the more impressive.  Also interesting that he evidently played with Charles Bediako.

[vufan75]

Interesting last 2 years stats on 2019 recruit Ben Krikke. Great stat lines both years per tweets by Michael Osipoff of the Post-Trib. Considering our needs going forward outstanding stats for scoring avg, 2 point and 3 point shooting %, rebounding, and FT shooting %. All areas we have struggled with in recent years. Biggest question I have is what was the level of competition that Krikke played against to get these #'s. But at a glance looks like a solid player.

Per Osipoff tweets.....
"Some additional details on #Valparaiso commit Ben Krikke, from his Jasper Place coach/athletic director Matt Burrows:
As a junior, Krikke averaged 32 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 64.4 percent (186-289) on 2s, 44.4 percent (24-54) on 3s and 84.3 percent (102-121) on FTs."

"As a senior (in fewer minutes because of blowout wins), Krikke averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 67.0 percent (189-282) on 2s, 35.7 percent (40-112) on 3s and 82.5 percent (85-103) on FTs." #Valparaiso



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[VUGrad1314]

Those numbers are REALLY GOOD I'm on board with this signing!

[FieldGoodie05]

Interesting last 2 years stats on 2019 recruit Ben Krikke. Great stat lines both years per tweets by Michael Osipoff of the Post-Trib. Considering our needs going forward outstanding stats for scoring avg, 2 point and 3 point shooting %, rebounding, and FT shooting %. All areas we have struggled with in recent years. Biggest question I have is what was the level of competition that Krikke played against to get these #'s. But at a glance looks like a solid player.

Per Osipoff tweets.....
"Some additional details on #Valparaiso commit Ben Krikke, from his Jasper Place coach/athletic director Matt Burrows:
As a junior, Krikke averaged 32 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 64.4 percent (186-289) on 2s, 44.4 percent (24-54) on 3s and 84.3 percent (102-121) on FTs."

"As a senior (in fewer minutes because of blowout wins), Krikke averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 67.0 percent (189-282) on 2s, 35.7 percent (40-112) on 3s and 82.5 percent (85-103) on FTs." #Valparaiso



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Maybe I looked at the wrong reel, isn't he extraordinarily slow of foot?

[FieldGoodie05]

Interesting last 2 years stats on 2019 recruit Ben Krikke. Great stat lines both years per tweets by Michael Osipoff of the Post-Trib. Considering our needs going forward outstanding stats for scoring avg, 2 point and 3 point shooting %, rebounding, and FT shooting %. All areas we have struggled with in recent years. Biggest question I have is what was the level of competition that Krikke played against to get these #'s. But at a glance looks like a solid player.

Per Osipoff tweets.....
"Some additional details on #Valparaiso commit Ben Krikke, from his Jasper Place coach/athletic director Matt Burrows:
As a junior, Krikke averaged 32 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 64.4 percent (186-289) on 2s, 44.4 percent (24-54) on 3s and 84.3 percent (102-121) on FTs."

"As a senior (in fewer minutes because of blowout wins), Krikke averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 67.0 percent (189-282) on 2s, 35.7 percent (40-112) on 3s and 82.5 percent (85-103) on FTs." #Valparaiso



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Maybe I looked at the wrong reel, isn't he extraordinarily slow of foot?

Hadn't seen this one
https://youtu.be/2tKAxHRiCXY

[vufan75]

Nice workout. If Krikke has half the work ethic of AP, he will be ok. If he can give us a strong defensive presence and rebound initially I'll take it. Hit the weights and grow into that frame! If he can put up numbers that are1/2 or > than AP did I think we will all be happy after 4 years. He may need to work on his quickness some but all in all a nice prospect with size.

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[VULB#62]

Can he shoot the tre?  If so, he looks like our next  Rowdie.

He executes at a quick rate — not big man ponderous.

[JD24]

Interesting last 2 years stats on 2019 recruit Ben Krikke. Great stat lines both years per tweets by Michael Osipoff of the Post-Trib. Considering our needs going forward outstanding stats for scoring avg, 2 point and 3 point shooting %, rebounding, and FT shooting %. All areas we have struggled with in recent years. Biggest question I have is what was the level of competition that Krikke played against to get these #'s. But at a glance looks like a solid player. Per Osipoff tweets..... "Some additional details on #Valparaiso commit Ben Krikke, from his Jasper Place coach/athletic director Matt Burrows: As a junior, Krikke averaged 32 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 64.4 percent (186-289) on 2s, 44.4 percent (24-54) on 3s and 84.3 percent (102-121) on FTs." "As a senior (in fewer minutes because of blowout wins), Krikke averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds. Shot 67.0 percent (189-282) on 2s, 35.7 percent (40-112) on 3s and 82.5 percent (85-103) on FTs." #Valparaiso Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Maybe I looked at the wrong reel, isn't he extraordinarily slow of foot?

Hadn't seen this one https://youtu.be/2tKAxHRiCXY

I thought and, at this point still think, he looked slow afoot in his highlights which were from last season. The workout I don't think tells you anything. We need to see him vs. his peers and not vs. air.

[vufan75]

44.4% and 35.7% from 3 his junior and senior years respectively. Strong #'s for a 6-9 PF type guy!

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[wh]

Hadn't seen this one
https://youtu.be/2tKAxHRiCXY

How in the world did you find a 15 minute workout video?  lol. Enjoyed every minute. Very impressive player!  BTW, to an earlier point someone made, I don't care if he played against the equivalent of Lake Station and Whiting, those jr/sr scoring stats are very impressive.