Recruiting evaluation to date
May 22, 2015 20:14:02 GMT -6
Fanforever, gbbrl97, and 1 more like this
Post by thetulsawarrior on May 22, 2015 20:14:02 GMT -6
Since the dust seems to have settled on the Nix coaching change and at least four new recruits are on board I think it’s fair to ask this question. How does the revamped recruiting class compare to the one that left with Wardle and Company’s departure? This is intended not to knock those who bailed on GB but rather an evaluation of where the Nix are heading into the future.
Antoine Pittman looked like an immediate impact player for Green Bay and an ideal Darner type player. The problem was he had no prior relationship with the new Nix coach. The new staff did pick up JUCO Charles Cooper who has 30 pounds on Pittman and several years of college ball under his belt. Pittman will be good for Bradley University but Cooper looks to have a bigger impact in 2015-16. Will Cooper make up for Pittman and GB transfer Daeshon Francis? We’ll see. (Sure wish Francis would have stayed on board)
Joel Okafor seemed to be Green Bay’s point guard of the future. He’s an athletic true point who appears to be a late riser who is working on his offensive game. Anthony and Avery Brown should offer a unique chemistry and more backcourt depth.
Wardle signed a project big man in Julian Torres, a 6-9, 240 pounder who opted out of his GB LOI in favor of Illinois-Chicago. It will be a few years to assess the defection. Darner has at least a year to find a true post space eater type. Returning players Kenneth Lowe and Karem Kanter have the role covered. Does anyone know what’s up with Henry Uwadiae?
JUCO recruit, Jamar Hurdle is listed at 6-7. His physical build is closer to graduated Greg Mays and Alonzo McKinnie than Torres. Hurdle will clearly help more in the coming season than anything we would have seen from Torres.
To date, on paper the transition from Wardle’s recruits to Darner’s looks to be a draw at worst. For immediate impact I’d favor Darner’s group. The reliance on two JUCO recruits is pragmatism. It does present an overload junior dominated team in the coming season. That buys time to build relationships with high school and prep players. As the transition goes into year two I think we may see one or two additional transfers or JUCO players to help even the classes out.
Antoine Pittman looked like an immediate impact player for Green Bay and an ideal Darner type player. The problem was he had no prior relationship with the new Nix coach. The new staff did pick up JUCO Charles Cooper who has 30 pounds on Pittman and several years of college ball under his belt. Pittman will be good for Bradley University but Cooper looks to have a bigger impact in 2015-16. Will Cooper make up for Pittman and GB transfer Daeshon Francis? We’ll see. (Sure wish Francis would have stayed on board)
Joel Okafor seemed to be Green Bay’s point guard of the future. He’s an athletic true point who appears to be a late riser who is working on his offensive game. Anthony and Avery Brown should offer a unique chemistry and more backcourt depth.
Wardle signed a project big man in Julian Torres, a 6-9, 240 pounder who opted out of his GB LOI in favor of Illinois-Chicago. It will be a few years to assess the defection. Darner has at least a year to find a true post space eater type. Returning players Kenneth Lowe and Karem Kanter have the role covered. Does anyone know what’s up with Henry Uwadiae?
JUCO recruit, Jamar Hurdle is listed at 6-7. His physical build is closer to graduated Greg Mays and Alonzo McKinnie than Torres. Hurdle will clearly help more in the coming season than anything we would have seen from Torres.
To date, on paper the transition from Wardle’s recruits to Darner’s looks to be a draw at worst. For immediate impact I’d favor Darner’s group. The reliance on two JUCO recruits is pragmatism. It does present an overload junior dominated team in the coming season. That buys time to build relationships with high school and prep players. As the transition goes into year two I think we may see one or two additional transfers or JUCO players to help even the classes out.