Derek Simpson…

[RUtrumpet92]

I'm late to this thread.

1 - There's no preseason after Nov 6th. There is non-conference play but every game will count when it comes tournament resume time.

2 - I still haven't watched us play. But from the box scores and what I have read, Simpson will be a very nice piece for us. Clearly the 1st guard off the bench right now. He will benefit from film study to go over what he missed today and grow - as long as he has the right attitude. I have no reason to doubt that he does, from what I've heard.

 

[RutgersSam]

Derek and Gavin Griffiths are going to be a lethal scoring combo starting next year...

Question.. how many years of eligibility does Cam have?

 

[Rhuarc]

Derek and Gavin Griffiths are going to be a lethal scoring combo starting next year...

Question.. how many years of eligibility does Cam have?

One more year after this year.

 

[RutgersSam]

One more year after this year.

Thanks!

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Thanks!

Perfect. Sweet 16 team if not more.

 

[RutgersSam]

Perfect. Sweet 16 team if not more.

Well, losing Caleb and Cliff, we'll have big defensive holes to fill.

 

[LOU-RU85]

I trust my eyes. You can just see "IT" with Simpson and Woolfolk.

The same way I knew Jaden Jones had issues with court awareness on offense and defense after watching him in a few games.

THe same way I knew Jalen Miller was a ball hawk on defense that would help the team after watching him a few games last year.

You know I remember seeing Jalen’s highlights and thinking he does not play defense and really needed to work on it. I just thought he was being lazy but it carried through to here.

 

[imoapie]

I was very disappointed that he missed a bunch of people and he doesn’t see the court while driving.

Cliff is 7 foot and ran the court. I know he drew the foul and scored the 2 points, but the ball has to be given to Cliff

late in 1st half Cliff sprinted down court and had his man posted. We had a player on the wing so with 2 passes Cliff has his guy deep. Simpson didn’t see it.

Agree, there were a couple of drives that were easy passes that were forced instead.

 

[RUDead]

I was very disappointed that he missed a bunch of people and he doesn’t see the court while driving.

Cliff is 7 foot and ran the court. I know he drew the foul and scored the 2 points, but the ball has to be given to Cliff

late in 1st half Cliff sprinted down court and had his man posted. We had a player on the wing so with 2 passes Cliff has his guy deep. Simpson didn’t see it.

Very disappointed? LOL

He's a true frosh that has played three games. He's going to be awesome and everyone can see it. But I guess since people are praising him, you need to take the other side of the argument because that's what you do.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

He's a true frosh that has played three games. He's going to be awesome and everyone can see it. But I guess since people are praising him, you need to take the other side of the argument because that's what you do.

Sorry. I love him knocking down his free throws. There were a bunch of things I saw today that concerned me as a guy who could be expected to play 20-25+ minutes right now.

Yes he has a 3 game career. Yes he has a ton of ability. Yes he will most likely have an excellent career here. I just have concerns, at least over the next 3 week stretch, about parts of his game right now.

There is a good chance our season will end up being dictated by what happens in the next 3 weeks.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Actually the stretch is 11/30 thru 12/19, but Temple is important

 

[satnom]

I can see DS starting for us before end of year. He’s that good and fearless.

GO RU

 

[RUHouston]

Well, losing Caleb and Cliff, we'll have big defensive holes to fill.

Wolf shows promise as a Frosh - football player mentality not afraid to bang…

 

[Unionst]

I can see DS starting for us before end of year. He’s that good and fearless.

GO RU

Hope not, that would mean we have injuries.

 

[Plum Street]

I think we got a real steal with this kid.

South Jersey basketball (outside of Camden) doesn’t put out a ton of high caliber D1 talent (compared to hs football).

Simpson could have played in Philly or a North Jersey powerhouse but decided to stay with Lenape and probably went a bit under the radar because of that.

I don’t know if there are many steals in the situation you describe. A lot of basketball recruiting is pretty much through AAU ball. So it doesn’t matter much where the kid plays high school
Maybe he was under recruited for other reasons if he was

 

[knights1212]

We should not be expecting that Simpson will be perfect from day one. Several posters said our recruiting was not good last fall when we signed Simpson and Woolfolk. I saw Simpson play against Elizabeth and knew he was legit. Others criticized Woolfolk when he had hardly played high school basketball. Some said we would take a big step back this year. I trust Pikiell and know that he and his assistants are always working hard. i trust them and they keep finding under the radar recruits. It would be nice if some would not be so critical of our recruits and our present players.

 

[Joey Bacala]

It’s only two games against weak competition but Cam, Simpson, and Woolfolk have easily exceeded my expectations. Cam fills a stat sheet and does SO much more than shoot well, Simpson looks like a do-it-all guard with athleticism and extreme confidence, and Woolfolk has the strength, agility and footwork of a seasoned player, along with passing skills and a jump hook.

Last year, at this time, we were inserting Hyatt, who looked lost, and a grossly over-rated Jaden Jones, while struggling to beat weak competition and even losing to Lafayette. This year, the newcomers are contributing to blowing weak teams out of the RAC.

Don’t forget we were subbing Ralphie too yikes

 

[fluoxetine]

That's what lots of folks call the games before conference games begin.

No, no they do not.

 

[satnom]

Hope not, that would mean we have injuries.

Actually, that would mean he earned it.

GO RU

 

[willisneverrana43]

No, no they do not.

Yes, yes they do. But it doesn’t much matter that you don’t know that. You can spend as much of your time beside the point as you like.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Actually, that would mean he earned it.

GO RU

Who could you possibly see Simpson starting over when there is Mulcahy, Spencer and McConnell there ??

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Who could you possibly see Simpson starting over when there is Mulcahy, Spencer and McConnell there ??

4 gaurds.....not what i am expecting. i think our best 6 are those 4 and cliff

 

[Eagleton96]

In his third college game he played 34 minutes, took 11 shots and scored 16 points. When the O was struggling against a team playing pressure D he forced the issue and it worked more often than not. Every one of us would have signed up for this preseason. If he came in as a 4 star recruit every one of us would be saying he’s coming along well.

He needs to improve his A/TO ratio and can a couple more shots. But it was his THIRD GAME.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

4 gaurds.....not what i am expecting. i think our best 6 are those 4 and cliff

That would be a terrible rebounding team. IMO, it can be done if the other team is already playing 4 guards.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

This kid is impressive. Im not saying he’ll be better than geo however he came more ready day 1 than geo. Like most frosh, they slowly work their way in and grow confidence as the season wears on.

Simpson seems to have come in and acted like an upperclassmen. Kid just plays with an unbelievable amount of confidence and swagger. Has some serious speed and bounce too

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

That would be a terrible rebounding team. IMO, it can be done if the other team is already playing 4 guards.

Caleb defensive rebounds better than Mag, but not Hyatt. You are right as Simpson Spencer and Paul probably doesnt cut it.

 

[ScarletR30]

I've only watched the highlights of the first two games, though the highlight video for last night's game was over 20 minutes. Everything looks good.

But it's preseason, and we're playing bad teams. We won't even start to learn what type of team this is until the Miami game and as we move through December into 2023.

UMass Lowell is not a bad team. They will compete at the top of the American East that is always a strong low major.

Temple is also a kenpom top 100 team coming off a win against nova. They will be a challenge in a (most likely) dead arena in CT

 

[rubjk]

In his third college game he played 34 minutes, took 11 shots and scored 16 points. When the O was struggling against a team playing pressure D he forced the issue and it worked more often than not. Every one of us would have signed up for this preseason. If he came in as a 4 star recruit every one of us would be saying he’s coming along well.

He needs to improve his A/TO ratio and can a couple more shots. But it was his THIRD GAME.

He had 2 turnovers today.

 

[satnom]

Who could you possibly see Simpson starting over when there is Mulcahy, Spencer and McConnell there ??

I see Spencer and Simpson as the guards in two guard set up and Spencer, Simpson and McConnell/Mulcahy in a three guard set up.

These are good problems to have.

GO RU

 

[Eagleton96]

He had 2 turnovers today.

And 2 assists which is low for a guard in 34 mins.

 

[bac2therac]

Sorry. I love him knocking down his free throws. There were a bunch of things I saw today that concerned me as a guy who could be expected to play 20-25+ minutes right now.

Yes he has a 3 game career. Yes he has a ton of ability. Yes he will most likely have an excellent career here. I just have concerns, at least over the next 3 week stretch, about parts of his game right now.

There is a good chance our season will end up being dictated by what happens in the next 3 weeks.

Dont be worried...he is a freshmen with 3 game experience. He still thinks he can dunk from 15 feet out. Those kind of mistakes will be corrected

 

[shields]

Al McGuire line. Best thing about a freshman is that he becomes a sophomore.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Dont be worried...he is a freshmen with 3 game experience. He still thinks he can dunk from 15 feet out. Those kind of mistakes will be corrected

Agreed. A lot of good film review will come out of UM Lowell.

 

[S_Janowski]

I don’t know if there are many steals in the situation you describe. A lot of basketball recruiting is pretty much through AAU ball. So it doesn’t matter much where the kid plays high school
Maybe he was under recruited for other reasons if he was

True but he also played AAU ball in South Jersey.

I’m sure if he wanted to he could have went to a private/prep school and played AAU in Philly or North Jersey which would have probably led to some better offers.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Dont be worried...he is a freshmen with 3 game experience. He still thinks he can dunk from 15 feet out. Those kind of mistakes will be corrected

I am worried for the stretch thru 12/19. That is a huge stretch for us.

 

[bac2therac]

I am worried for the stretch thru 12/19. That is a huge stretch for us.

Thats not on Derek Simpson

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Thats not on Derek Simpson

Not sure what you mean. He has far exceeded my expecations. Like most/all freshman there is a lot he needs to work on. He is by far a finished product.

Cliff has a ton to work on as a college player. Twice he had the ball in the low post with the defender on his left hip. Instead of a simple drop step which would have resulted in an easy basket he went the wrong way in to the lane and in to help.

 

[bac2therac]

Not sure what you mean. He has far exceeded my expecations. Like most/all freshman there is a lot he needs to work on. He is by far a finished product.

Cliff has a ton to work on as a college player. Twice he had the ball in the low post with the defender on his left hip. Instead of a simple drop step which would have resulted in an easy basket he went the wrong way in to the lane and in to help.

More concerned with a few of his defensive lapses

 

[Nycrusupporter]

I don’t know if there are many steals in the situation you describe. A lot of basketball recruiting is pretty much through AAU ball. So it doesn’t matter much where the kid plays high school
Maybe he was under recruited for other reasons if he was

Derek took a big jump from his junior to his senior year. People here get too obsessed about ratings, but most of those ratings are generated from sophomore and junior performances when they are being most heavily recruited. Some players just develop later.

 

[zebnatto]

I think a huge leap in expectation has happened over these first three games and now criticisms that would not have been in view a week ago come into play. Kid looks good. We have to stay tempered.