Not the fan of Richard kent but he was advocating for this guy and I tend to agree with him here. He's just a piece in the puzzle.
BB Recruiting Darren Buchanan Jr. has committed to Rutgers Basketball
- Thread starter Richie O
- Start date
Apparently it's reported that chose us over Miss state and others were after him.
He’s also a kid pikiell went after in high school, he’s a pikiell guy. Love it
And a portal 2G who can score and shoot.
The vast majority of $$ available for portal kids after adding Buchanan have to go to TWO players: A rim-protecting center who can rebound and defend (scoring not necessary), and a 2G with some length 6'4" at least who can score, shoot the 3 and at least willing to defend - a 2G who has a chance to lead RU in scoring at 14-16 ppg.
I have no issue with Buchanan - I might have preferred Okereke, as they are roughly similar types players ... roughly. Some differences:
1) Level of play. Okereke played for Cornell, in the Ivy League. Buchanan played in the A-10 at GW - a much higher level of conference play.
2) 3-point shooting: Okereke was a 32% 3-point shooter last season on 17-53. Buchanan had a poor 3-point shooting year last year, just 7-40 ... but was 33% as a freshman at 10-31. Which is real? If last year, that is a problem - but he was injured a lot last year, so hopefully his freshman year is more representative.
3) Rebounding: Buchanan is clearly a better rebounder: Playing in the A-10, over 61 games he has averaged 0ver 6 rpg ... probably played PF for GW. Okereke averaged only 4.6 rpg in hius Junior season his best by far as a collegian.
4) Position: Hmmm ... both kind of play PF - but sort of a stretch 4-ish. Buchanan has good ball handling skills and from clips looks like he may be able to play a little WF defensively. Maybe Okereke could also. I would say either player have some similarities to Grant - but I presume either would start along side Grant, not supplant Grant.
5) Eligibility: Buchanan has 2 years left, Okereke has 1.
I only make the comparison because Okereke had been talked about a little. Clearly Okereke is no longer an option, if he ever was one - because he and Buchannan basically would expect to play the same rol eat RU.
I say a solid pick-up. He was certainly a player that seemed worth adding IMO.
Now RU has to GET that scoring 2G and rim-protecting center.
If you follow along on the premium board, you'll see we broke down that it's not even that much.
We need more than two very good players to be remotely competitive. I’m sorry but JMike can’t start
It's a shame, I tell you. Here's his highlight reel. I believe most 50+ year old men on the board here could be making these layups:
(at least those 50 year old guys in good shape!)
For a team that’s had major struggles making layups thru the years - give me someone who can!!
Last time we brought in a former Pike target was Yeboah I believe and that was a phenomenal pickup.
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What about our ability to make free throws and shoot the 3 ball? He fits the Pike model!
This has a Lathan Somerville feel to me. A 4 that doesnt have a perimeter game and isnt a shot blocker.
Long way to go with filling out the roster. While I get the overall disappointment for fans and negative outlook for the program, I don't get the people who feel the need to shit on a transfer over and over again who they probably have never even seen play.
Geez ... I see something totally different in that highlight and analysis reel.
1) He is a pure WF, not PF - though yes, some weaknesses.
2) he is athletic - both quick, excellent elevation, and moves laterally well offensively.
3) He has a good handle on the ball: Both dribble-driving and passing.
4) He moves well, both with and without the ball: Seems to be in the right spot on offense often, getting wide open looks at the baseline, under the basket and at the 3-point line.
5) He appears to post up well, especially when mached up against smaller players - and he seems to be covered by WF or Guards a lot - leading to my inference he is a WF.
I will admit his mid-range game other than post up is ... not obviously a skill. And since he shot just 7-40 from 3-point range last year (10-30 the year before), he obviously MUST do a lot of work on that. If he could get back to 33% 3-point shooting he did as a frosh, he would have a chanced to average in double-digits for RU. Remember, he averaged 15+ ppg as a freshman for a 15-17 GW team in the A-10, before having injury issues as a Sophomore that reduced his scoring to just under 11 ppg ... in the A-10, which is a legitimate mid-major (even high-mid-major) non-P5 conference ... his stats and performance, while we do not know if they are translatable to the BIg 10, have a much better shot of doing so than Acuff's MAC performance, or even Derkakcks NEC performance - or Okereke's Ivy league performance (another player RU was rumored to be involved with who plays the same role as Buchanan).
I see him as more of a slasher 3 than a stretch 4.
Are we going to go another year of having multiple rotation players not being 3 point threats?
This is 2025
My friend @NickRU714 probably concurs
This is 2025
My friend @NickRU714 probably concurs
Grant, Buchanan and Nwuli all seem pretty similar in size and skill. Like the athlete and size and grit, but who’s scoring and shooting the ball?? Next portal adds are critical. Better add a senior scoring guard who can shoot the 3 ball and a center that can score
Not including the freshman (because who knows?), we have zero on roster currently.
Maybe 1/2 a threat to be generous with Davis.
He shot a little better to end the season but takes under 2 a game.
Needs to take a lot more if he's our shooting threat most of the time on the floor.
We have 5 non freshman on roster and none can shoot. If the 5 average 16 MPH we already have 40% of rotation minutes with non shooters. Already too high.
We don’t have a Power 4 starting player on the roster. Arguably Grant and Buchanan( benefit of the doubt) are bench players. We have larger problems then shooting but I agree a huge problem currently.
He played well as a freshman. This past year he battled injuries. Fans need to give him a chance. I hope the staff brings in a shooter at the 2 who can defend and a defensive presence at the 5.
Our roster isn’t even close to set yet..what are we going breaking down numbers already? Lol
I mean if his ankle is fine now, he clearly has some value. You don’t score 16 and 7 as a freshman in the A-10 without some ability. He’s not a difference maker in the big ten but can be a piece. Clearly need more but in isolation doesn’t seem like a terrible pick up
Imagine Ogbole logging 30 minutes a game...and getting paid $400,000+ for his services!
It’d be wild to see how much money these kids are getting, soon enough it will all be public knowledge I’d think. Transparency in NIL
You’re on a roll with your posts bud. You sure you graduated from RU?
You sound like you’re on the wrong school board.
GO RU
I mean even you as a 40ish yr old can accomplish at least 1/50th of what is in his highlight vid against A10 schools.
Lol. Troll alert.
GO RU
Certainly not the same position or role as Lathan. Better perimeter skills handling the rock and passing and a better defender. Better character guy.
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Miss St. seems to like big physical guys upfront so I take something from that. Buchanan looks to be 225-230 lbs.
Dylan Harper was hurt for much of the season. Did Pike strike out on him?
If it's one thing we should know by now it's that it doesn't matter what conference they're coming from it's can they play.? Now the jury remains out on that part.
Agreed. We need to add 5-6 guys, getting a kid like this with upside is ideal, plus he’s a high character kid and I think that’s important to most of us.
