Recruiting: 2023

[Valpo Joe]

From Wikipedia

The tallest team
Valpo's "World's Tallest Team" was actually a collection of teams that gained Valparaiso national recognition during World War II and began in 1942 when a pair of Michigan City, Indiana brothers, Don and Wally Warnke, joined Valpo when their high school coach, Loren Ellis, was hired as head coach.[6][7] At 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, the Warnke brothers were ineligible to be drafted into the service. Ellis found several other tall players, including Milt Schoon. Valparaiso did well with the Warnke brothers before Wally was able to enlist and fight in World War II. In 1943, his brother, Don, stayed and was joined by a group of newcomers, including Schoon, Bob Dillie, John Janisch and Alvin Schmidt, as they finished with 17 wins, including a win over No. 1 DePaul in which Schoon held George Mikan to nine points.[6]

Warnke would graduate following the season, but would return as an assistant coach and later the head coach after Ellis left. In the 1944–45 season. The team won its first 11 games, including a program-defining victory over Long Island at Madison Square Garden. Despite finishing 21–3 on the season, the Crusaders were held out of the National Invitation Tournament, with their spot likely going to Midwest powers DePaul and/or Bowling Green.[6]

The iconic photograph of Valparaiso's players standing outside Madison Square Garden is displayed just outside the Athletics-Recreation Center court to this day. The team was inducted into the Valparaiso University Hall of Fame in 2004.[6][7]

[justducky]

With Bamba now gone to Wichita State, have we narrowed our primary focus list down to senior shooting guards?

[valpotx]

We were big and athletic for just about every year that I was on campus from the 1999-2000 to 2003-2004 seasons.  You can knock the conference that we were in at the time, but we beat strong programs during those years, outside of conference.

[wh]

With 9 scholarships to fill and getting a late start, I assumed the end result would be a patchwork quilt of veteran players out of an already picked over transfer portal. To the contrary, the staff scoured prep school rosters all over the country and came up with 5 brand new players. Add in a talented JC player and 2 first year players from the portal, and we have a team with which the coaching staff can build a new foundation. This is intentional and strategic - short term pain for long term gain. I like it.

[historyman]

From Wikipedia

The tallest team
Valpo's "World's Tallest Team" was actually a collection of teams that gained Valparaiso national recognition during World War II and began in 1942 when a pair of Michigan City, Indiana brothers, Don and Wally Warnke, joined Valpo when their high school coach, Loren Ellis, was hired as head coach.[6][7] At 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, the Warnke brothers were ineligible to be drafted into the service. Ellis found several other tall players, including Milt Schoon. Valparaiso did well with the Warnke brothers before Wally was able to enlist and fight in World War II. In 1943, his brother, Don, stayed and was joined by a group of newcomers, including Schoon, Bob Dillie, John Janisch and Alvin Schmidt, as they finished with 17 wins, including a win over No. 1 DePaul in which Schoon held George Mikan to nine points.[6]

Warnke would graduate following the season, but would return as an assistant coach and later the head coach after Ellis left. In the 1944–45 season. The team won its first 11 games, including a program-defining victory over Long Island at Madison Square Garden. Despite finishing 21–3 on the season, the Crusaders were held out of the National Invitation Tournament, with their spot likely going to Midwest powers DePaul and/or Bowling Green.[6]

The iconic photograph of Valparaiso's players standing outside Madison Square Garden is displayed just outside the Athletics-Recreation Center court to this day. The team was inducted into the Valparaiso University Hall of Fame in 2004.[6][7]

[valpopal]

[tweet]1677681942538469377[/tweet]

[VU2014]

Another Don Bosco Prep offer:

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1678195687639470080?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

[wh]

Another Don Bosco Prep offer:

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1678195687639470080?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

This says academic scholarship. Is he a walk-on, or is this unrelated to men's bb?

[VU2014]

Another Don Bosco Prep offer:

https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1678195687639470080?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

This says academic scholarship. Is he a walk-on, or is this unrelated to men's bb?

Good catch. Possible walk-on

[David81]

Great Victory Bell interview with Jahari Williamson, who decided to stick with VU after meeting with Coach Powell.

Even if we have no idea right now how this team will perform this year, it appears that VU is attracting some high-caliber young men to the program. I'm happy to take that as a start.

[wh]

Great Victory Bell interview with Jahari Williamson, who decided to stick with VU after meeting with Coach Powell.

Even if we have no idea right now how this team will perform this year, it appears that VU is attracting some high-caliber young men to the program. I'm happy to take that as a start.

Another outstanding article by Paul. 

[JD24]

Another Don Bosco Prep offer: https://twitter.com/donboscohoops/status/1678195687639470080?s=46&t=cNk7taMAYtxNl1Q0_O79Gw

This says academic scholarship. Is he a walk-on, or is this unrelated to men's bb?

Good catch. Possible walk-on

He was in the HS program so likely walk on at best.

[JD24]

Here is a new walk on and its from the Valpo family. Nice story:

https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2023-24/22195/from-gridiron-to-hardwood-anthony-sciarroni-joins-valpo-mens-basketball-program-as-walk-on/

[justducky]

Here is a new walk on and its from the Valpo family. Nice story:

https://www.valpoathletics.com/mbasketball/news/2023-24/22195/from-gridiron-to-hardwood-anthony-sciarroni-joins-valpo-mens-basketball-program-as-walk-on/

We could be involved in some blowouts this season  with only 12 scholarship players, so it might be a good year to be a walk on.

[RS]

Another walk-on announced today. Luke Carroll 6'4 235 lb guard from Westfield Indiana.  Junior College transfer from Lake Land College. First team all County as a senior in High School

[VUBBFan]

https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/1691844487318774154

[VUBBFan]

https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/1691847837858910707

[JD24]

Roger's first move is pretty obvious in installing the "confuse them with numbers" offense with 3 players wearing #5.