We could be in a tough spot with these two next year. They should turn out to be very good college players and we should have them for multiple years unlike Ace and Dylan. But on the other hand if they are on the end of the bench next year, good chance they'll hit the portal at the end of the season. How does Pike find enough playing time for them next year to keep them here?
Dortch and Grant
- Thread starter knight82
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Let’s see who comes back from the current team before thinking about this. Doesn’t one of them play the 3 anyway?
I say play the best 5 and let the chips fall where they may. Our games won and play on the court is what will attract better recruits.
This is flawed sky is falling logic.
How many players have left either football or basketball the last few years after not playing much as a true freshman?
The answer is basically none unless they got the talk because they weren't meeting expectations.
They will play during the OOC portion of the schedule and need to prove they deserve minutes during the B1G portion. No different than any other freshman.
If they turn out to be good college players it is likely, not definite, they will be able to earn minutes in the rotation and have their hands in a few RU wins.
Ace and Dylan aren't averaging over 32-33 minutes. They are also only 2 players. There will be minutes available. If they are among the better defensive players you know they will find their way on the court
This. I'll only add: And then they assess their opportunity to play more significant minutes as sophmores after gaining experience and developing in their initial year. More playing time will open up after Dylan, Ace, and others are gone.
Pike will play them but not the minutes they probably want. But why would they go anywhere. They know ACE and DYLAN are one and dones so they will be rising sophomores with more playing time in 2025-26 . No worries
They know the guys they are coming in with, they'll know well in advance that guys like Mag and Gavin are back too, not sure this is something to worry about.
As far as anybody can tell Dylan Grant is not playing basketball anywhere this season. If someone did not play their senior season of HS and then transferred out after one season of college due to lack of playing time I would question their ability to be a part of a successful team.
Yea the whole premise here doesn’t really make sense. If they are on the end of the bench and playing so little that they feel the need to transfer then I don’t see them generating much interest if they decide to enter the portal after one year.
It also assumes they are incapable of understanding that more minutes should be available following Harper and Bailey’s departure.
You can’t worry about that stuff any more with NIL and transfer portal .
You would think we'd have the edge if Pike and staff want them to stay, as they would already know the system and Ace + Dylan won't be around two seasons from now.
The missing point in this analysis is the impact potential 2025 recruits have on the roster.
Yes Ace and Dylan will be gone.
But aren’t we in contention for more elite recruits in the next cycle?
Or is Ace/Dylan a one and done occurrence in more ways than one?
Yes Ace and Dylan will be gone.
But aren’t we in contention for more elite recruits in the next cycle?
Or is Ace/Dylan a one and done occurrence in more ways than one?
This.
Even if they are still here in 2025 - what’s to say we don’t “recruit over them” (or anyone else) with transfers anyway?
Ace and Dylan will be gone after one year. A lot of minutes will be available so why would they transfer?
People are saying if Clif leaves we need a big time C transfer to start over Lathan.
If that guy is better than Lathan next year - is it feasible to assume he better than Lathan in 2025 as well.
Do we not bring in a transfer C in 2024 if they have multiple years and would block Lathan?
If that guy is better than Lathan next year - is it feasible to assume he better than Lathan in 2025 as well.
Do we not bring in a transfer C in 2024 if they have multiple years and would block Lathan?
I assume we will focus on an upper class transfer with only one year of eligibility but who knows.
Frankly, I've given up on figuring out lineups and minutes next season or future seasons. Let me see who the players are on the roster when practice begins, then I'll take it from there.
Why does everyone think Ace and Dylan will be 100% gone after one year? What happens if one of them struggles? Still gone? No chance they play another year after just missing the Final Four?
I looked on 24/7, but I'm pretty sure the last top-3 recruit to play multiple seasons in college was Andrew Harrison (Class of '14). Historically pretty unlikely
Yes still gone.
They could sit out the year and their draft stock would not be impacted at all.
They could tear an ACL in game 1 and still likely be 1st round draft picks.
If they play all year and “struggle” to the point they aren’t 1st round draft picks - then we likely win under 10 games and HC Pike would have A LOT of explaining.
Worst case scenario for the program is their stock drops that far and they return for another year.
I’ve outlined in other posts the tens of millions of dollars someone would be giving up by delaying a year and returning to college over being a high NBA draft pick.
They might also stay because they see the opportunity to start the following year, or maybe we push one of them out because we think he isn't good enough. Maybe we give one of them enough money to stay. It's a whole new landscape - impossible to predict.
Ace is definitely gone, even after a less than expected season. The NBA draft is about potential, he is going to be in demand with his length and athleticism
You need to hope they are gone. If Pike takes a top 3 kid and turns him into a not one and done say goodbye to the one and done experiment at RU.
why would they leave...there will be plenty of playing time available after ace and dylan leave
You have to re-recruit them every year anyway, so play them if they can make a positive contribution and worry about it in the next offseason.
Doesn't one project as a 3(wing) and the other as more of a 4?
24-25, Players(seasons here) years left.
Guards returning Derek(3rd) 2yrs, JWill(2nd) 2yrs, JMike(2nd) 3yrs
Forwards Mag(5th) 1yr, Oskar(5th) 1yr, Chol(3rd) 3yrs, Gavin(2nd) 3yrs
Bigs Cliff(5th) 1 yr, Wolf(3rd) 2 yrs, Ogbole(2nd) 2yrs
10 possible returns
5 incoming freshman(4 forwards, 1 guard), Pike knows who won't be here otherwise he's not taking 5... There will be at least two returning not here next season. All guards should return just for chemistry and continuity possibly adding a portal guard that can shoot, the front court is where we will lose at least 2, probably 3 for that guard, possibly 4 and add a portal forward/big.
We need some roster management with forwards and bigs to balance class and positions. Pretty sure, Cliff is gone whether grad transfer or NBA again. Best guess for a rotation is Harper, JWill, Derek, JMike, Ace, Mag/Portal Forward, Gavin, Sommerville, rest, Wolf, Ogbole 9/10. Dortch, Grant 11/12. Oscar, Chol 13/14. 1 more is definitely gone.
24-25, Players(seasons here) years left.
Guards returning Derek(3rd) 2yrs, JWill(2nd) 2yrs, JMike(2nd) 3yrs
Forwards Mag(5th) 1yr, Oskar(5th) 1yr, Chol(3rd) 3yrs, Gavin(2nd) 3yrs
Bigs Cliff(5th) 1 yr, Wolf(3rd) 2 yrs, Ogbole(2nd) 2yrs
10 possible returns
5 incoming freshman(4 forwards, 1 guard), Pike knows who won't be here otherwise he's not taking 5... There will be at least two returning not here next season. All guards should return just for chemistry and continuity possibly adding a portal guard that can shoot, the front court is where we will lose at least 2, probably 3 for that guard, possibly 4 and add a portal forward/big.
We need some roster management with forwards and bigs to balance class and positions. Pretty sure, Cliff is gone whether grad transfer or NBA again. Best guess for a rotation is Harper, JWill, Derek, JMike, Ace, Mag/Portal Forward, Gavin, Sommerville, rest, Wolf, Ogbole 9/10. Dortch, Grant 11/12. Oscar, Chol 13/14. 1 more is definitely gone.
I hear your concern, but having too many good players will be a unique problem for us.
This. If they are bummed playing behind Ace and Dylan next year, why would they transfer right when Ace and Dylan clear space for them? It's perfect for them...spend a year, learn the system, and jump in when the one and done's leave.
How do we know these guys won’t pop next year and end up with plenty of playing time?
This. If Dylan or Ace aren't a one and done top lottery pick that's bad news for Rutgers. It means they failed. It will not help land future elite talent
