Ow. I liked Brown.
Dang, Boeheim has 3 kids who played HS hoops in VA last year (those two, plus Mintz at Oak Hill). I didn’t realize that.
Goodman, on the Field of 68’s ACC preview pod speculated that Boeheim wants to set up Red Autry for the next year or two with these young guys and then retire. Didn’t Autry’s kid just transfer (edit - I mean commit) somewhere?** Glad that connection (City Rocks) didn’t sway Elijah.
** GW
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Lol if their era works out as well for us as Simms’s era did no one, outside of this board, is going to even remember those two are form central VA
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He was HS class of 2017, correct? So, essentially we had Dre (6’8), Diakite (6’9), and Huff (7’1) already in the fold, playing their first, second, and first years, respectively, in 2017-2018, at the same time Bennett was trying to go with fewer “two big” lineups.
I’m sure the kid doesn’t see it that way, but I guess it was logical on UVa’s part, particularly with Bennett bringing in another combo guard-forward in Key (also 6’8) the following summer.
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I know Indiana U of PA is a great D2 team, but people are really drawing those conclusions off of an exhibition game?
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Exactly. And similarly we didn’t pass over Taylor just because. We landed a better player at the same slot and then backed off (or he moved on.
Whichever way it went directionally).
Brown probably has a little more reasonable gripe. But I wouldn’t even consider trading him for Dunn. Pretty sure Dunn is bigger and obviously has way more offensive upside.
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George Mason or George Washington I think
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Yeah, just saw GW. Where Chris Caputo (Larranaga’s long-time assistant) just got the job. Interesting he didn’t commit to Cuse, though maybe he chose to either (a) get away from Dad’s shadow, or (b) go get a little more PT.
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Maliq Brown could end up being an awesome defender and we might wish we had him in the packline. Now whether he ever figures out how to meaningfully contribute on the offensive end at the ACC level is a wide open question, and probably why we went in a different direction.
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Yeah Simms was 2017. Was the year they only had one scholarship for the early period. They wanted a guard, which ended up Marco Anthony. Can’t confirm for sure but have heard they told Simms they’d have room for him in the spring if he wanted to redshirt. They actually offered a forward that July, a bouncy Atkins type I can’t remember his name now from WV who went to Florida. Told him the same, had to wait to sign and redshirt. Ended up snagging Badocchi in spring with the same plan.
Bennett recruiting is complicated haha Players have to fit, not just in skill set but into the roster plan spacing etc. But it does lead to hard feelings sometimes. Locals expect to be recruited by the hometown team regardless, and TB will just never operate that way.
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He could be. Probably more likely than not that he is. But unless he grew he’s still smaller than Mamadi, Akil, and Darion. IIRC that lack of size was why we passed on him. If he was actually 6’8 I think we would’ve offered and he’d be a Hoo.
But as for the wishing we had him piece, it’ll probably work out like Mamadi and Simms if all of these guys are ‘hits’. The one year Simms was still in school and Mamadi was gone we could’ve used him. Similarly, the one year Dunn is already in the pros and Brown is still in school we’ll wish we had him. But the three years before that we’ll all agree TB made the right choice (again this is assuming both guys reach their potential)
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I don’t really care about losing him and I know this is a loaded question, but (offer aside) to what level was Justin Taylor ‘recruited’
I think it was Chase Johnson: Chase Johnson, Huntington Expression Prep, Power Forward
Ended up transferring to Dayton, was starting his RS JR year there and had a good couple of games, but left the team for health reasons. Apparently he had a bunch of concussions at Florida and was dealing with post-concussive syndrome at Dayton.
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Door was open for him until McKneely committed. But there’s no comparison as to which was pursued more heavily. Bennett was doing regular zoom calls with the McKneelys, while Taylor mostly heard from Williford. Gotta remember it was all during the long dead period, nothing in-person.
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Cuse looked average and struggled vs a d2 team the first half. Thats just a coach who knows the kids gassing up players he knows vs a d2 team.
I do like Benny Williams. Team Takeover kid. Would be a nice 4 man to pair with traudt in the portal.
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Cuse was down 7 and then started full court pressing and went on a 16-0 run in 4 minutes to take control … ugly memories … ugh.
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I watched a little bit of this Syracuse scrimmage, and was it my imagination or did Syracuse play man-to-man the entire time and not the 2-3 zone?
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Not your imagination. They did play some 2-3 as well but played a lot of man to man.
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I think they often break out the man in their scrimmages. Vague memory