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Post by commissioner on Nov 20, 2013 19:36:49 GMT -6
I've posted a listing of all Horizon early signees here: udtitanbasketball.freeforums.net/thread/222/horizon-early-signing-period-lois. A couple thoughts: 1. Youngstown State, in particular, has been getting noticeably better recruits the last 3 or 4 years. 2. Overall, I would say this was a down year for the Horizon. No players the quality of some of the guys Butler was bringing in their last year or two; no Ray McCallums; no Junior Lomombas or Alec Peters, even. Of course, mid-majors are rarely bringing in the players with lots of fan fare, so we'll see. They have to find guys who are overlooked. And these are not complete classes for many schools - the evaluation could change a lot in the late signing period in spring, and in seeing how some of these players do here in their senior years. 3. At this point I'd say Wright State may have the best class. Detroit signed just 2 players but they are really good. I'd probably go with YSU #3. |
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Post by commissioner on Nov 21, 2013 12:27:29 GMT -6
Wright State signed Joe Thomasson in the early period. He had offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Purdue, Dayton, Creighton, Eastern Kentucky, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, St. Bonaventure, UTEP, Ball State, and Wright State. I would consider that a pretty big pick up even if you do not. Read more: wrightstate.proboards.com/thread/2338/joe-thomasson-wright-state#ixzz2lIddw38aDoesn't seem like a fair criticism, since in my summary of WSU's class - which I call the league's best - I of course include Thomasson, beginning, "5. Joe Thomasson, 6-3 SG, Dayton (State Fair CC, Kansas). This is potentially a big pick up ..." Not to nit pick, I've seen nothing giving him offers from Alabama, Ariz. St., or Cincinnati. I specifically noted, though, that Missouri and Oklahoma State wanted him. Read more: udtitanbasketball.freeforums.net/thread/222/horizon-early-signing-period-lois#ixzz2lJ0avjLn |
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Post by kevinudm on Nov 22, 2013 10:09:40 GMT -6
Detroit's class is not overwhelming, but it's a marked improvement over previous years. Two quality in-state players inked during the early signing period. For far too long UDM has relied on JUCOs, transfers and whoever remained after the early signing period; and too many players from out-of-state with no ties to southeast Michigan. This marks a serious start and I look forward to seeing how the full class rounds out.
I'm surprised that Oakland had zero early signees. Their bench is thin this year and Bader and Mondy are seniors. Are the recent issues there (resignation of university prez and women's basketball coach; allegations against Duke Mondy and Dante Williams) having a negative recruiting impact? Regardless, Kampe is a competent coach and I suspect that he'll find a way to bring in the talent he needs.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2013 10:52:53 GMT -6
To be honest with you commissioner, I thought the HL was doing a pretty good job of upgrading in the recruiting department. Over the past couple years or so, the Horizon has been getting more 2.5-3-star recruits than ever before, not including Butler. Granted, some of these players are of the overlooked kinds or ones that are late bloomers, but nevertheless, we're getting them.
In the early period, UIC signed Tai Odiase, who, even at this point is better than any big man we have on the roster. He is a talent that has a great upside. His drawback, per scouts, was his lack of a face-up offensive game. He wasn't used as the primary option on his team and thus had to settle for putbacks and the occasional post pass. He has been working on his offense and Howard Moore and his staff, I believe, will help improve his offensive skill set. UIC is still in the hunt for players who are actually being wooed by high-major programs. You can go "Verbal Commits" and check out the recruit list for UIC.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 26, 2013 18:24:30 GMT -6
Maybe. We'll have to see who signs who in the spring, and of course who develops- you really only know how good a class is in retrospect. I'd agree the league has done better "over the past couple years or so" but I think this year has not been as good, just based on the early signings. Big DWSU is probably right that Thomasson is the best single recruit this year, so far. Odiase is a good signing. I don't think Odiase is going to be a top flight player - but he could be. He's got the tools. At a minimum he'll still be a solid mid-major big guy who can rebound and clog the middle. As to UIC being "in the hunt," we'll just have to see who they actually bag.
I tentatively rate the classes (just based on early signing) as
1. Wright State
2. Detroit
3. Youngstown State
4. Green Bay
5. Cleveland State
6. UIC
7. Valparaiso
8. Milwaukee
9. Oakland
But that's pretty tentative. I won't argue with anyone who thinks I overrate the Detroit signees a bit, based on familiarity. The only spots I'm at all confident on are 1, 8, and 9. Not until we see spring and summer signings will we really know who's got the best class.
We could use a Sweet 16 run from our NCAA entry this year. That would help. :-)
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