Transfers

[FieldGoodie05]

strong rebounding which is BADLY needed on last years team.

Agreed but I think we will see continued improvement from our twin towers.  As freshman they averaged a combined 8.6 points and 6.6 boards, last year it was up to 12.4 points and 7 boards.  This year I would expect around 15-20 points and 10-12 boards and their senior year?  Perhaps what we had hoped for from the beginning.

They need to nearly double their rebounding YOY? Boy I hope that's realistic but I'm not holding out much hope.  Rebounding is want and b-ball IQ/positioning.  I'd have thought by their soph years we'd have seen real rebounding numbers but not so much.

[SanityLost17]

1 -  Bakari / Sackey / Stallings
2 - JFL / Bradford / Gordon
3 - Robinson / Golder / Kiser
4 - Fazekus / McMilllan
5 - Smits / Sorolla

Depth chart 2 years from now if nobody transfers.  Everybody seems to think all 13 have talent.   There is not enough playing time for everyone.

Stallings = Walk-On
Sackey = Unproven, all we know is that he is quick
Gordon = Not great stats at SH but was great in HS
Sorolla = I thought he had a better freshman year than sophomore year
Kiser =  Has the work ethic and drive but lots of people ahead of him with more natural ability 
McMillan = Everyone sees potential but will it actually come together 
Bradford = Practice All-Star but yet to show off consistency in games     

I think everyone else is a no-brainer for playing time (Bakari/JFL/Robinson/Golder/Fazekus/Smits).  That leaves playing time for MAYBE 4 more guys if we go 10 deep.

A few of these guys are going to ride the pine.   The question is, who is it going to be?   

[justducky]

There is some potentially very nice and impactful depth options on this roster.

In regards to the 2019-20 season the above sentence may be the understatement of the decade.    And----      We are still sitting on another scholarship. 

[valpopal]

1 -  Bakari / Sackey / Stallings
2 - JFL / Bradford / Gordon
3 - Robinson / Golder / Kiser
4 - Fazekus / McMilllan
5 - Smits / Sorolla

Depth chart 2 years from now if nobody transfers.  Everybody seems to think all 13 have talent.   There is not enough playing time for everyone.

Stallings = Walk-On
Sackey = Unproven, all we know is that he is quick
Gordon = Not great stats at SH but was great in HS
Sorolla = I thought he had a better freshman year than sophomore year
Kiser =  Has the work ethic and drive but lots of people ahead of him with more natural ability 
McMillan = Everyone sees potential but will it actually come together 
Bradford = Practice All-Star but yet to show off consistency in games     

I think everyone else is a no-brainer for playing time (Bakari/JFL/Robinson/Golder/Fazekus/Smits).  That leaves playing time for MAYBE 4 more guys if we go 10 deep.

A few of these guys are going to ride the pine.   The question is, who is it going to be?

Shouldn't transfer Steven Helm (son of a faculty member) be added to the depth chart as a walk-on also. He should be returned from his Mormon mission by then. Shot 47% from the 3-point line and led the nation with more than 94% from the foul line at Carroll College.

[FieldGoodie05]

1 -  Bakari / Sackey / Stallings
2 - JFL / Bradford / Gordon
3 - Robinson / Golder / Kiser
4 - Fazekus / McMilllan
5 - Smits / Sorolla

Depth chart 2 years from now if nobody transfers.  Everybody seems to think all 13 have talent.   There is not enough playing time for everyone.

Stallings = Walk-On
Sackey = Unproven, all we know is that he is quick
Gordon = Not great stats at SH but was great in HS
Sorolla = I thought he had a better freshman year than sophomore year
Kiser =  Has the work ethic and drive but lots of people ahead of him with more natural ability 
McMillan = Everyone sees potential but will it actually come together 
Bradford = Practice All-Star but yet to show off consistency in games     

I think everyone else is a no-brainer for playing time (Bakari/JFL/Robinson/Golder/Fazekus/Smits).  That leaves playing time for MAYBE 4 more guys if we go 10 deep.

A few of these guys are going to ride the pine.   The question is, who is it going to be?

Shouldn't transfer Steven Helm (son of a faculty member) be added to the depth chart as a walk-on also. He should be returned from his Mormon mission by then. Shot 47% from the 3-point line and led the nation with more than 94% from the foul line at Carroll College.

His two-year mission would start between now and the fall.  So he's back for 2020/21 season right?  That would make him available for the 3rd year.  Which might be good timing for him because we graduate 2/3 of our team the season prior...

[VU2014]

His two-year mission would start between now and the fall.  So he's back for 2020/21 season right?  That would make him available for the 3rd year.  Which might be good timing for him because we graduate 2/3 of our team the season prior...

I'm not sure how much we'll rely on Helm when it comes to on the court minutes but I think he has the chance be an important role on this team from a leadership perspective. He may even play some significant minutes as a backup PG. He should be physically mature by the time he returns from his mission. You could probably expect a significant amount of rust when he gets back.

The Coaching staff is recruiting HS Point Guards pretty hard for that 2020 class after Bakari and Bradford graduate. It makes sense to want to space the PG scholarship players out every 2 years or so. By the time a freshman PG comes in, Sackey will be a Junior and hopefully a impact starter by that time.

I'm also not sure how much run Langston will get this season in terms of playing time. He looks appears to be very athletic and a good finisher around the rim but I'm not sure about his other skills. I'm sure he'll get some playing time early on against some of the non-D1s or low majors like UCR & SIUE if we take care of business in the 1st half and blow them out to get the young guys some playing time. He still could be a very valuable member of the team going up against the starters in practice. Kiser's freshman year he went up against AP in practice and it no doubt made him a better player. It will be fun to see his development. He's definitely not your average walk-on.

[VU2014]

A good article in the Post-Trib

https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/1015643702826557443

Nick's pick: Chicago Kenwood graduate Nick Robinson transfers to Valparaiso from St. Joseph's
Michael Osipoff
Post-Tribune
July 6, 2018

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-spt-mens-basketball-valparaiso-nick-robinson-st-0708-story.html

[FieldGoodie05]

A good article in the Post-Trib

https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/1015643702826557443

Nick's pick: Chicago Kenwood graduate Nick Robinson transfers to Valparaiso from St. Joseph's
Michael Osipoff
Post-Tribune
July 6, 2018

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-spt-mens-basketball-valparaiso-nick-robinson-st-0708-story.html

Glad to have him on board as a "Sit one, Play two" addition.  Gives us less juniors in the mega class.

[valpopal]

Robinson's Thursday and Friday visit/signing was scheduled perfectly since deadline to add second-semester summer classes was Friday at 5 p.m. Good to see he'll be on campus with his teammates.

[VU2014]

There was a interesting little nugget included at the end of the article where Michael mentions that Valpo is looking to add a grad transfer with the last scholarship. What position do you think the coaching staff is looking to add?

[justducky]

There was interesting little nugget included at the end of the article where Michael mentions that the Valpo is looking add a grad transfer with the last scholarship. What position do you think the coaching staff is looking to add?

I combed the transfer list looking for the remaining immediately eligible seniors. Lets say about 15 are left and some carry some baggage or injury questions. None look to be absolute game changers for 18-19 but a few could certainly help. Most are guards. Might Major Canady a SG from Drexel be one of our top targets?

[vu72]

I doubt we can find anybody at this late stage.  Obviously, a 4 would be highly sought after.  My guess is we sit on it for a mid-semester transfer.

[VU2014]

I heard a name of a grad-transfer combo guard that could be headed our way a few days ago: Deion Lavender. He played his first year of CBB at SIU, then transfer to UAB and played 2 years there and then was set to transfer to a D2 school named Maryville. Rivals ranked him as 3 star coming out of HS. He didn't put up big numbers at UAB but he seems like a solid veteran depth guy who could contribute. He was considered a Top 10-15 recruit out of IL his senior year. His UAB teammate transferred to Drake as a grad-transfer.

Stats: https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/deion-lavender-1.html

Height: 6-4
Weight: 192
Hometown: Alton, IL

#5 Deion Lavender
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB8f4Bb7ocE

High School Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhVrGG6RG4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_ZXeUYrY8

Why he left SIU: start at 1:45 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJxiy-ku0lg

[VUGrad1314]

Would much rather have Justin Roberts (DePaul transfer PG sit 1 play 3) if he's still an option even if that creates\exacerbates a log jam on the roster. Get the most talent you can and let the cream rise to the top.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4278558/justin-roberts

[vu72]

How about this guy!

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/djery-baptiste

Verbals commits says immediately eligible and leaving Vanderbilt.  A 4 star by ESPN.  Might Bryce do us a favor?

[wh]

Two veteran players 'no longer part' of UAB basketball program

Updated on Feb 15, 2018 at 10:32 AM CST

https://www.google.com/amp/s/articles.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/02/two_veterans_players_no_longer.amp

I hope the coaching staff thinks long and hard before adding a role player who quit on his former team only a few months ago and who would be playing on his third team in 4 years.

[VU2014]

Two veteran players 'no longer part' of UAB basketball program

Updated on Feb 15, 2018 at 10:32 AM CST

https://www.google.com/amp/s/articles.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/02/two_veterans_players_no_longer.amp

I hope the coaching staff thinks long and hard before adding a role player who quit on his former team only a few months ago and who would be playing on his third team in 4 years.

It could be a case that he's received some pretty bad advice. It appears it was a poor decision to leave SIU, but they had an astonishing 5 transfers in one offseason when he left. He saw his role diminish from his sophomore year to his Junior year at UAB. But I agree it's a bit of red flag to see a guy transfer 3 times. The Coaches would need to get him on campus and sit down with him and see if he's a fit.

[VUGrad1314]

How about this guy! http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/djery-baptiste Verbals commits says immediately eligible and leaving Vanderbilt.  A 4 star by ESPN.  Might Bryce do us a favor?

Brilliant! Here are his numbers.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/3911624/djery-baptiste

This would be like getting another Vashil, or everything we want Sorolla to be. It would also create an interesting and versatile frontcourt if we could pair Smits and this guy together. Still plenty of minutes for Sorolla and he can go against backups where he'd be better suited and can get his confidence up. 40 minutes of having a legitimate rim protector would be nice. And he'd help us prepare for our series with Vandy. Is it hyperbolic for me to say that a guy like this could be the missing piece of a potential deep tournament run?

[justducky]

But I agree it's a bit of red flag to see a guy transfer 3 times. The Coaches would need to get him on campus and sit down with him and see if he's a fit.

I'll pass.

[vu72]

But I agree it's a bit of red flag to see a guy transfer 3 times. The Coaches would need to get him on campus and sit down with him and see if he's a fit.

I'll pass.

Two words:  Brandon Wood.   It certainly can work out well if you find a kid like Brandon.

[VUGrad1314]

Not a grad transfer, but perhaps a long-term solution for depth at the 4?

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4277938/greg-eboigbodin

http://verbalcommits.com/players/greg-eboigbodin

[VUGrad1314]

Since I remember seeing his name pop up somewhere in this thread I'll pass this along: Adonis De la Rosa to Illinois

https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1013865415833997313

[EddieCabot]

But I agree it's a bit of red flag to see a guy transfer 3 times. The Coaches would need to get him on campus and sit down with him and see if he's a fit.

I'll pass.

Two words:  Brandon Wood.   It certainly can work out well if you find a kid like Brandon.

Good point.  Those teams with Wood and Johnson were high-powered and exciting to watch!

[VU2014]

It's official.

https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/1016329118919651329

Nick Robinson Signs Agreement to Join Valpo Men's Basketball Program
MONDAY, JULY 9, 2018

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2018-19/18297/nick-robinson-signs-agreement-to-join-valpo-mens-basketball-program/

[wh]

It's official.

https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/1016329118919651329

Nick Robinson Signs Agreement to Join Valpo Men's Basketball Program
MONDAY, JULY 9, 2018

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2018-19/18297/nick-robinson-signs-agreement-to-join-valpo-mens-basketball-program/

The state of Indiana loves its basketball (myself included), but I think no more so than the city of Chicago and the burbs. High quality coaching, highly competitive basketball played at a high level, history and tradition, love and respect for the game - everything IN has.  LaVonte Dority, Keith Carter, Jubril Adekoya and Lexus Williams all left their marks on Valpo basketball as great players and great role models. Now it's Javon's and Nick's turn to make their mark, and I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation.