Recruiting: 2023

[vu72]

My guess is that Roger keeps the last scholarship in his hip pocket available for the mid-year transfer/stray 4*.

[tiny707]

I think the last scholarship can only
be used for a grad transfer if we need one for McNair?

[vu72]

I think the last scholarship can only
be used for a grad transfer if we need one for McNair?

Given the glut of underclassmen, I doubt very seriously that all will want to stay after this year as playing time becomes more clear and the reality that these guys are going to be around for a few more year, thus, time to transfer.  Your point is valid however as if everybody does stay there is only one left for McNair.

[VULB#62]

https://twitter.com/spoon4x_/status/1668728215676788742

I think this kid may be the "boom" some of you were looking for!

This is the one signee that I see upside with a move to the next level. Kudos to Coach Powell on this signing. That doesn't mean I don't think the other guys can play just that what I see out of them I have no idea if they can play.

It's now official.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2022-23/22166/sherman-weatherspoon-iv-joins-valpo-mens-basketball-program/

[wh]

I love the new graphics designs on these announcements.

https://twitter.com/RogerPowellJr/status/1674040615900774400?s=20

[valpopal]

I love the new graphics designs on these announcements.

[tweet]1674040615900774400[/tweet]?s=20

As a visual artist, I think this would be fine without the peeking dog and the brown smudges in the corners (and the redundant diagonal yellow flag in an upper corner), which create an annoying distraction from the center focus and throw off the symmetry of the imagery.

[vu72]

I just came across this 20 minute video of Lual Manyang doing a workout.  Watch his use of the left hand.  Would love to have a basketball guy like FWAlum give us an opinion on his potential.

Remember, this video was taken November 30, 2020!!  Going on THREE years ago!  We may have something great here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn9uF3XX1IM

[VULB#62]

Pretty agile feet and decent ambidextrous ball handling/dribbling skill for a young big.

[FWalum]

Videos like this are very hard to glean information from. I will say it is pretty impressive and not nearly as raw as I maybe would have expected. l would expect him to have great potential. However, it is not hard to be impressive with absolutely no resistance or defense. All of that training was for someone playing the 4 with no back to the basket drills (which are generally missing from today's player workouts. Think Kevin van Wijk.). Would have been a lot more informative if the coach applied some minimal interference so he would have had to make some forced direction and dribble movements so we could get a better idea of his left hand skills. Would love to see what he is doing on the court today. Excited to see the current product!

[crusader05]

Another Boom post a day after Don Bosco tweeted about Lucas Scroggins taking his official visit to Valpo this weekend.

[valpopal]

Another Boom post a day after Don Bosco tweeted about Lucas Scroggins taking his official visit to Valpo this weekend.

Interesting, since Verbal Commits and others have listed Scroggins as a 2024 recruit, but Bosco lists him as a 2023 recruit, which seems more reliable. As a member of the 2023 class, I believe he would be the final piece to this season's puzzle, which would be truly puzzling since I don't believe the team would have any seniors, though a couple with junior status could be academic seniors in the upcoming year. For some reason, Verbal Commits also doesn't even have Kaspar Sepp's name on their board.

[VUBBFan]

Things keep happening
https://twitter.com/TVBOren/status/1676717857567281152

[valpopal]

Another Boom post a day after Don Bosco tweeted about Lucas Scroggins taking his official visit to Valpo this weekend.

Interesting, since Verbal Commits and others have listed Scroggins as a 2024 recruit, but Bosco lists him as a 2023 recruit, which seems more reliable. As a member of the 2023 class, I believe he would be the final piece to this season's puzzle, which would be truly puzzling since I don't believe the team would have any seniors, though a couple with junior status could be academic seniors in the upcoming year. For some reason, Verbal Commits also doesn't even have Kaspar Sepp's name on their board.

I am hearing Scroggins is committed. Waiting for the official announcement.

[valpotx]

Good luck to Bamba, as you can't fault him, but I have to believe he would get less playing time at a school like Wichita State versus Valpo

[VULB#62]

Well, the commit part is now out there. Next comes the signing and official VU release. .......and Paul's story. But still one more slot to fill for the 23-24 season.

https://twitter.com/TVBOren/status/1677073404606971904?s=20

[wh]

This team is huge.

Schwieger 6-10
Manyang 6-10
Palm 6-10
Scroggins 6-9
Ajiboye 6-8
Sepp 6-7
Edwards 6-6

All long and athletic (and inexperienced).

[valpopal]

This team is huge.

Schwieger 6-10
Manyang 6-10
Palm 6-10
Scroggins 6-9
Ajiboye 6-8
Edwards 6-6

All long and athletic (and inexperienced).

Add Kaspar Sepp at 6'7"

[wh]

This team is huge.

Schwieger 6-10
Manyang 6-10
Palm 6-10
Scroggins 6-9
Ajiboye 6-8
Edwards 6-6

All long and athletic (and inexperienced).

Add Kaspar Sepp at 6'7"

Good catch. I edited him in.

[vu84v2]

I assume that Coach Powell and his staff will look to develop a system that includes aggressive (in your face, physical) defense. Long, athletic players would seem to fit this system very well (especially in the MVC). Lots of player development will be needed (and that will take some time), but I think we have the right coach and staff in place to make such a system successful.

[VULB#62]

This team is huge.

Schwieger 6-10
Manyang 6-10
Palm 6-10
Scroggins 6-9
Ajiboye 6-8
Edwards 6-6

All long and athletic (and inexperienced).

Add Kaspar Sepp at 6'7"

Good catch. I edited him in.

So ........  They can run.  They are quick footed/agile. Even the bigs seem to be decent ball handlers. They can leap. Assuming coachability (cuz that is high on Roger's priority list), the only really big characteristic that none of us really knows at this point is scoring ability/shooting accuracy, right?

Which brings me to my question:  With an emphasis on 'athletic,' going back (or even way back) can anyone recall a Valpo team's roster composition quite like this one? What I mean is does this team remind us of any previous teams? If so, which one(s)?  Just curious cuz I don't have the knowledge........
 

[vu72]

Which brings me to my question:  With an emphasis on 'athletic,' going back (or even way back) can anyone recall a Valpo team's roster composition quite like this one? What I mean is does this team remind us of any previous teams? If so, which one(s)?  Just curious cuz I don't have the knowledge........
 

I don' think there are many.

One possibility:

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/2003-04/

[VULB#62]

There are some familiar names there. Wish I had seen them play.

[wh]

Which brings me to my question:  With an emphasis on 'athletic,' going back (or even way back) can anyone recall a Valpo team's roster composition quite like this one? What I mean is does this team remind us of any previous teams? If so, which one(s)?  Just curious cuz I don't have the knowledge........

I don' think there are many.

One possibility:

http://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/2003-04/

Another possibility 2015-16

https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/roster/2015-16/

8 of 13 payers 6-7 or taller with athleticism
Derrick 7-1
Vashil 6-10
Alec 6-9
David 6-8
E. Victor 6-8
Jubril 6-7
Shane 6-7
Levingston 6-7

Notably, Roger was an assistant on the 2015-16 team and recruited some of those guys.

Similarities in where players came from:
'15-16/'23-24
Canada 2/2
Other foreign 3/3
Illinois 6/3
Indiana 1/1
Other states 1/3

(Bosco 1/2 - Bosco connection disappeared when Roger left and suddenly reappears in spades when Roger returns)

[VULB#62]

Wow, that puts 23-24 among some illustrious company.  No one has brought up the 97-98 team yet. Good bb players but not as big or athletic?

[AB]

Stating obvious here, but complete 180 on the recruiting strategy from the last staff to this one. As I said before, this could mirror the Indiana State strategy post Greg Lansing. Build with youth, more exciting style, actually organized offensive system, some blowout losses , but you can see the potential is there, just need game experience. I hope with the years team, we see them more ready to play from the start and not just go through the motions.