I don’t understand all the hype around McConnell, he seems like he will be more of a non factor at least early on in his career
Aundre Hyatt taking an official visit, still weighing 18 vs 19
- Thread starter kcg88
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I don’t understand all the hype around McConnell, he seems like he will be more of a non factor at least early on in his career
McConnell's an intriguing piece on paper. Tall, ball handling guard who can play the 1-3 spots, distribute, and shoot... and is apparently a gym rat and willing defender. As a freshman, I'd look for him to take whatever minutes Baker doesn't use at the 1... but Pike has talked about him also having potential a the 2 and 3, so he might see time there if he performs well.
As a sophomore, he'll have his work cut out for him with Young being eligible and crowding the field at guard. If he hasn't been able to get his feet under him or get traction by the end of his soph season, he might look to transfer... or alternately, if he's staked a claim for minutes by that point, it might force someone like Kiss or Young to go the grad transfer route. Lots of unanswered questions right now that will resolve into a clearer picture by the end of this year.
I agree with Degaz. We take Aundre whether he can play this coming season or not. All 11 scholarship players who are signed at this point (Young is our 12th). As for scholarships for 2019 you don't worry about that now. If all 13 guys return and contribute that is great. If something opens up that is great as well.
Myles could've played plenty of games at the end and we maintained his redshirt..so highly doubt pikiell follows that strategy
I can’t tell you how important Hyatt being here next year...Hyatt signing would be the final Piece and closes the first phase of building the Rutgers basketball roster
We would be booked for the class of 2019...and 6 of the 13 kids on the 2019-2020, year 4 under Coach P, would be 4 star players
He then could take that ...andthat’s quite a noticeable roster upgrade...and bring it to the class of 2020 and have a shot to land the class that puts us to the next level...
And he would have almost a year to make that sell....I can’t stress what an advantage that is....
Coach P and Rutgers basketball has some juice on the recruiting trail and it’s has traction
This really could happen...Hyatt would be the next piece ....
We would be booked for the class of 2019...and 6 of the 13 kids on the 2019-2020, year 4 under Coach P, would be 4 star players
He then could take that ...andthat’s quite a noticeable roster upgrade...and bring it to the class of 2020 and have a shot to land the class that puts us to the next level...
And he would have almost a year to make that sell....I can’t stress what an advantage that is....
Coach P and Rutgers basketball has some juice on the recruiting trail and it’s has traction
This really could happen...Hyatt would be the next piece ....
If Hyatt is injured and has little chance of playing next year (I don't know this to be the case, just speculating), he would be CRAZY to not reclassify to 2018. If he's not playing, what would be the point of prepping for another year? He might as well get into a college program where he can be properly rehabbed.
This may inure to our benefit, because other teams might be reluctant to take up a roster spot in 2018-19 for a kid who would redshirt and not be able to play until 2019-20.
And I agree with Shack above - it would be HUGE if Pike could land Hyatt. HUGE. :pray:
This may inure to our benefit, because other teams might be reluctant to take up a roster spot in 2018-19 for a kid who would redshirt and not be able to play until 2019-20.
And I agree with Shack above - it would be HUGE if Pike could land Hyatt. HUGE. :pray:
I think that if Hyatt is strong on RU it’s ‘18, either as player or R-shirt. No reason to prep it seems except to continue search process.
He's a shooter. We can use all the shooters we can get.
He's a Geo clone only taller.
If he is as good at it as Wisconsin's Bo Ryan was, we'll be in great shape!
Big Official starting Today. Let's hope for the best!
He can dance....and we need to also!
MO
2 step, quick step and a Bosa Nova
a Victor Sylvester & Rudy Valentino
You should seen me movin' across the floor
Hand me down my tuxedo
Next week I'm coming back for more!
If we get Hyatt and not a post grad guard, McConnell is probably going to have to play 10 minutes a game this year, as a back up to Geo.
All dependent on why he's not playing now. If it's an injury, how serious is it.
It's a non-factor in his recruitment IMO....he doesn't have to reclassify back to 2018, which means he could arrive somewhere next summer. If you treat him like a 2019 recruit, it's a win-win...you get the player one year ahead of time. It's much easier if you reduce the meat-market mindset of his availability for 2018-19....the growth of the program is expected 19-20 and 20-21.....
FWIW, another crystal ball prediction for Hyatt to RU today
Trying not to get my hopes up but it would be huge if he signs. I’m just glad the weather is cooperating for his visit. Even with the heat it should be a nice weekend to be on campus.
Just thinking.... this is a big three days for Pike and staff to reel in a big time recruit and adept shooter.
Having Hyatt on board whether it's 18 or 19 is a game changer for us. Momentum seems to be leaning our way. Pike has been relentless but this is a major challenge to land this kid. We like Pike!!
Having Hyatt on board whether it's 18 or 19 is a game changer for us. Momentum seems to be leaning our way. Pike has been relentless but this is a major challenge to land this kid. We like Pike!!
He would definitely be a good pickup.
If he comes in 2018 and redshirts, as has been mentioned as a possibility, is he still a game changer for RU?
Wouldn’t any reasonable fan say even with the talent we have brought in, we are young, so 2019 or 2020 is more realistic for us to really turn the corner in a big way? I would say redshirting doesn’t change his importance either way
Russ ...it’s the final piece for making over the roster for this staff...the team will be set for the next two years (except for a transfer out)
With a Hyatt signing, this team will have 6 of its 13 scholarship players being 4 star recruits ...while that is somewhat of a typical number for a mid level big ten/acc program (especially when most of the players aren’t cracking the top 75), this is territory for this program for the last 20 years that has only been touched “twice”...once briefly under Kevin bannon and a short period under Fred hill
The difference here is this staff has a full year and change to now focus on upgrading the roster in the class of 2020. Bannon and hill eras quickly had a lot of transfer out, so there was a constant backfill need...here, this feels like the type of kids here will stick and the recruits kids are here for the challenge
This feels so much different ...so getting Hyatt is the final “transformative piece” in the first step of rebuilding this program ..which is a full roster of talent that can be developed into a program with legit hopes of someday making the NCAA.
Disagree. What if its an injury that will take over two years for him to recover from, and he won't ever recover 100%?
My own opinion is RU hasnt recruited a legitimate SF in almost a decade...we had JR Inman but that goes back almost to i cant even remember....we landed (fortunately) Jonathan Mitchell off a transfer back to the tristate area from Florida.
The SF is pretty solid now without Hyatt but it's mostly swingman Peter Kise who is really a hybrid SG/SF.....Issa Thiam, who is a 6'10" shooter but a developmental player that is coming into his junior season and Ron Harper Jr....Harper is to me the perfect candidate to develop into a big time SF, he has range and guard skills.
If Hyatt was a 2019 recruit, I'd be happy to land him...if he's 2018 and he sits the whole season as a redshirt, you still have him in the program vs trying to continue to recruit a player at that position.
The weakest part of the roster ( in my opinion) has been the lack of a two-way (offense and defense) shooting Small Forward. Harper would be Step 1, if you land Hyatt, its insursnce down the road to have the ability to play either Harper, Thiam or Hyatt at the stretch 4 position, while the other can play the 3.
RU has not had depth that could develop...this is a rebuild that should end the streak of losing seasons in a year or two, and set up the program to sustain steps forward. That can't happen, if you have a gaping hole at SF...
Hmmm.
I think he would definitely be a good pickup and continues the talent upgrade that the staff is doing but I don't see Hyatt as a "game changer" or “transformative piece” to an already good Rutgers recruiting class and roster.
Now if we were talking about Xavier Foster being a game changer/transformative piece, then I'd be there with ya.
What exactly is the source on this injury? Hyatt was named player of the year in his High School division in 2018 and from googling around I don't see any source stating he's currently hurt.
I disagree. We are talking different things. 5 stars are game changers on a different level. We are just trying to make the tournament. Hyatt is a game changer with that goal in mind.
And there’s the bucket of cold water from Russ!!! Usually Russ waits until after the commitment to RU to poopoo the player
No.. Russ is one of the best posters we have here. Never heard him trash any Rutgers players or recruits.. he doesn't seem to be a fan of Corey but his criticism of Corey was on point.
I'd be happy to take Hyatt as a 2019 commitment.
Given that, I'd be equally (more?) happy to take him as a 2018 commitment that redshirts - because then we still get him as a 2019 player, but we get year of our own S&C and practice under his belt to let him hit the ground running.
If his reclassification is simply to get a year of practice, S&C, and acclimation to a new environment, and he always intended to start playing in 2019.... then sign me up.
And bringing him in for 2019 allows us to devote almost full recruiting attention to 2020 and beyond.
Given that, I'd be equally (more?) happy to take him as a 2018 commitment that redshirts - because then we still get him as a 2019 player, but we get year of our own S&C and practice under his belt to let him hit the ground running.
If his reclassification is simply to get a year of practice, S&C, and acclimation to a new environment, and he always intended to start playing in 2019.... then sign me up.
And bringing him in for 2019 allows us to devote almost full recruiting attention to 2020 and beyond.
The difference is, Russ isn't a "Rutgers fan" per se - he's a recruiting insider/reporter. He doesn't wear scarlet colored glasses, and isn't invested in the program like the rest of us are. When he makes critiques of players, he makes them from a place with wider perspective. He's not here to blow smoke or to crap on the program, because there isn't a vested interest either way. He makes evaluations for far more players than just those coming to Rutgers.
The writer on another website that predicted Hyatt to RU is a Kentucky beat writer. He probably doesn't have any special insight but is just reading tea leaves from afar.
Russ is a breath of fresh air on these boards. All unbiased information.
Love Russ’ insights for what they are: objective. I don’t want to be told we’ve got 12 superstars on the roster when that’s not the case
Russ sees these guys in person and talks to coaches. Most of the rest of us just see highlight videos. It's perfectly okay to disagree with him while still very much appreciating what he brings.
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