For the benefit of those of us that could not get to the open practice…
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More talent on this team than last years squad. Also, sanders played under control.
In college football mode right now.....here is what I observed.
Laurent is springy athletic and a quick leaper....definitely more athletic than what we have seen out of other freshman. Has range, but would not call him a pure shooter. More capable of getting putbacks and dunks than any frosh I've seen in a while at RU. He's coachable and very competitive, which is a good thing. Good late signing by Jordan, credit given to football recruit Pollock, who helped build RU relationship here.
Sanders looks like he could play corner or safety for the football team.....built with athleticism and quickness....jumper was on the money today, played under control. Anyone doubting whether RU makes up the scoring because Mack was lost, is kidding themselves. Sanders will average double figures from day one....if he makes his FT's, Sanders is going to be difficult to stop.
Nigel Johnson is going to be very VERY good for RU after sitting out this year as a transfer in from Kansas State....explosive speed in transition and excellent mid range game. Best signing of a transfer in a long time.
Freeman is a workhorse. He is not Kadeem Jack on offense (it's why Kadeem is in Indiana's training camp with the Pacers), but has significantly more overall game on both ends than Jack. Jack had extreme length and skill sets with the offensive game that is very good....With Freeman, he is a straight up grinder that has more tools (passing//defense/rebounding) than Jack. Consider this an overall upgrade on both ends of the floor, Freeman does significantly more dirty work on both ends of the court.....I think he will be a fan favorite for fans of the game that like the details.
Greg Lewis is a veteran who has improved his shooting range yet again and is a poster child for what redshirting means in college basketball. He will have his best season yet, look for 8 & 8 most nights out of Lewis.
Foreman is improved, still better as a slasher vs shooter, although he knocked down a three. Look stronger and more confident. Still not sure if he is a small forward or a PF. I think he is the wild card of the group that is hardest to diagnose. I can see him playing 22 minutes a night and then I can see him playing less than 12 other nights. I think if Foreman dedicated himself to being elite attacking the glass, he could carve out a long career in Professional Ball.....Not saying he's an NBA player, but has the ability to score around the basket & draw fouls and has good footspeed. If he decided to just attack the glass on both ends and play defense, he'd round out the roster rotation.
Diallo is going to be a player that helps RU....can run the floor, has offensive tools....still very green and young, as he's about 18 months off the ACL he had prior to verballing and redshirting last year. He's more advanced offensively than Greg Lewis, Kadeem Jack and Derrick Randall as underclassman. Significant addition and redshirting him helps his career down the road.
Goode has some range but needs more elevation on jump shot.....stroke is clearly there. I think Dadika and Batie also help in practice, since they are step faster this year vs last year.
Grier is definitely a player that should have some moments for RU, to give Williams a break and take some minutes so Bishop Daniels and Corey get breaks during the game. Decent shot, not smooth....if left open, he will have some impact. Another player like Foreman that if the staff can get Grier to dedicate himself to defense first, while maintaining his ability to be a scoring threat, RU could have another plus defender.
Bishop Daniels appears to be the same player...a little more under control, but still looking for the explosive layup or lower percentage shot at times. He and Sanders will benefit from each other since they like to run and neither is reliant on the other to push the ball up the court. I see double figure scoring for Daniels, because of the attention Sanders will draw and he will not be asked to handle the ball....he is a finisher, not a distributor, so Daniels should be better regardless.
Most significant change from last year is with Mike Williams.....significantly stronger, still uber confident in his ability to make shots as he takes and makes tougher shots....if he avoids taking one less tough shot per game and waits for a better look, his shooting percentage and PPG numbers will go WAY up. I think he has improved the most from March to October based on what I've seen so far....he "gets" it.....
Doorson didn't practice while in street clothes....
I mentioned to someone after the event that once Kwe Parker arrives and Nigel Johnson is eligible next year, with Mike Williams moving into his junior season and with another likely step forward from Sanders, RU projects to have it's best season in a decade next year. I have no idea what the rest of the roster will develop into because we will lose Greg Lewis and Deshawn Freeman will be a senior. But there appears to be some pieces to work with on both ends of the floor.
However, it's a 4 guard tandem that doesn't really require much imagination to see how much scoring potential is there, where there isn't much of a problem with any of the 3 to 4 players handling the ball or shooting and scoring. Goode would be the 5th guard, where he could benefit as a spot up shooter if he keeps working as well. If we can find a JUCO impact player that can bang down low, 2016-17 has a chance to break the streak of lost expectations.
Look for some rumblings very soon on the recruiting trail as well......
Laurent is springy athletic and a quick leaper....definitely more athletic than what we have seen out of other freshman. Has range, but would not call him a pure shooter. More capable of getting putbacks and dunks than any frosh I've seen in a while at RU. He's coachable and very competitive, which is a good thing. Good late signing by Jordan, credit given to football recruit Pollock, who helped build RU relationship here.
Sanders looks like he could play corner or safety for the football team.....built with athleticism and quickness....jumper was on the money today, played under control. Anyone doubting whether RU makes up the scoring because Mack was lost, is kidding themselves. Sanders will average double figures from day one....if he makes his FT's, Sanders is going to be difficult to stop.
Nigel Johnson is going to be very VERY good for RU after sitting out this year as a transfer in from Kansas State....explosive speed in transition and excellent mid range game. Best signing of a transfer in a long time.
Freeman is a workhorse. He is not Kadeem Jack on offense (it's why Kadeem is in Indiana's training camp with the Pacers), but has significantly more overall game on both ends than Jack. Jack had extreme length and skill sets with the offensive game that is very good....With Freeman, he is a straight up grinder that has more tools (passing//defense/rebounding) than Jack. Consider this an overall upgrade on both ends of the floor, Freeman does significantly more dirty work on both ends of the court.....I think he will be a fan favorite for fans of the game that like the details.
Greg Lewis is a veteran who has improved his shooting range yet again and is a poster child for what redshirting means in college basketball. He will have his best season yet, look for 8 & 8 most nights out of Lewis.
Foreman is improved, still better as a slasher vs shooter, although he knocked down a three. Look stronger and more confident. Still not sure if he is a small forward or a PF. I think he is the wild card of the group that is hardest to diagnose. I can see him playing 22 minutes a night and then I can see him playing less than 12 other nights. I think if Foreman dedicated himself to being elite attacking the glass, he could carve out a long career in Professional Ball.....Not saying he's an NBA player, but has the ability to score around the basket & draw fouls and has good footspeed. If he decided to just attack the glass on both ends and play defense, he'd round out the roster rotation.
Diallo is going to be a player that helps RU....can run the floor, has offensive tools....still very green and young, as he's about 18 months off the ACL he had prior to verballing and redshirting last year. He's more advanced offensively than Greg Lewis, Kadeem Jack and Derrick Randall as underclassman. Significant addition and redshirting him helps his career down the road.
Goode has some range but needs more elevation on jump shot.....stroke is clearly there. I think Dadika and Batie also help in practice, since they are step faster this year vs last year.
Grier is definitely a player that should have some moments for RU, to give Williams a break and take some minutes so Bishop Daniels and Corey get breaks during the game. Decent shot, not smooth....if left open, he will have some impact. Another player like Foreman that if the staff can get Grier to dedicate himself to defense first, while maintaining his ability to be a scoring threat, RU could have another plus defender.
Bishop Daniels appears to be the same player...a little more under control, but still looking for the explosive layup or lower percentage shot at times. He and Sanders will benefit from each other since they like to run and neither is reliant on the other to push the ball up the court. I see double figure scoring for Daniels, because of the attention Sanders will draw and he will not be asked to handle the ball....he is a finisher, not a distributor, so Daniels should be better regardless.
Most significant change from last year is with Mike Williams.....significantly stronger, still uber confident in his ability to make shots as he takes and makes tougher shots....if he avoids taking one less tough shot per game and waits for a better look, his shooting percentage and PPG numbers will go WAY up. I think he has improved the most from March to October based on what I've seen so far....he "gets" it.....
Doorson didn't practice while in street clothes....
I mentioned to someone after the event that once Kwe Parker arrives and Nigel Johnson is eligible next year, with Mike Williams moving into his junior season and with another likely step forward from Sanders, RU projects to have it's best season in a decade next year. I have no idea what the rest of the roster will develop into because we will lose Greg Lewis and Deshawn Freeman will be a senior. But there appears to be some pieces to work with on both ends of the floor.
However, it's a 4 guard tandem that doesn't really require much imagination to see how much scoring potential is there, where there isn't much of a problem with any of the 3 to 4 players handling the ball or shooting and scoring. Goode would be the 5th guard, where he could benefit as a spot up shooter if he keeps working as well. If we can find a JUCO impact player that can bang down low, 2016-17 has a chance to break the streak of lost expectations.
Look for some rumblings very soon on the recruiting trail as well......
Hawk - thanks for the write-up.
Several weeks ago you, BK and maybe a couple of others mentioned that RU had lined up some visitors for September and October. Any info or updates on those visitors?
The only info I saw posted was that Jenkins(?) had cancelled after verballing to VCU.
I was impressed with most of the players. Corey Sanders was completely under control. He shot well, made some good passes and played good defense. He is very fast and will give other guards much trouble. He was under control the entire time and never seemed like the guy on u-tube. He seems to have really bought into Eddie's teaching and is a good leader. He also is extremely polite. I think the SHU guy who wondered how long it would be before he gets suspended was a little off base. Our bigs better be ready to catch some of his passes.
Jonathan Laurent and Deshawn Freeman can really get up & down the court. They should benefit from some passes on the break from Corey to get easy baskets. Laurent, Freeman and Foreman and possibly Lewis should get plenty of foul shots as they all seemed good at attacking the glass. Foreman is relentless. I think he is much improved. Lewis seemed stronger in the upper body and seemed to get up higher on blocks and rebounding than in the past. We seem to be much better equipped to play big underneath the basket.
Williams and Sanders and Nigel Johnson were really hitting their 3's. Goode seemed a little off today but I have seen him hit almost every shot in the past. Grier will be good too. Diallo also will be a force on defense and will get put backs and rebounds on offense. Daniels seemed pretty much the same slasher as last year. Hopefully he protects the ball a little better.
Overall it was exciting. This team should have many guys having a chance to start and many seem to be able to play more than one position. Daniels played a lot of point today so I assume we will see quite a bit of that this year. Williams seemed much better to me today too. I think we will have some pleasant surprises this year. I hope I am correct. We definitely are ahead of where we were last year at this point.
Jonathan Laurent and Deshawn Freeman can really get up & down the court. They should benefit from some passes on the break from Corey to get easy baskets. Laurent, Freeman and Foreman and possibly Lewis should get plenty of foul shots as they all seemed good at attacking the glass. Foreman is relentless. I think he is much improved. Lewis seemed stronger in the upper body and seemed to get up higher on blocks and rebounding than in the past. We seem to be much better equipped to play big underneath the basket.
Williams and Sanders and Nigel Johnson were really hitting their 3's. Goode seemed a little off today but I have seen him hit almost every shot in the past. Grier will be good too. Diallo also will be a force on defense and will get put backs and rebounds on offense. Daniels seemed pretty much the same slasher as last year. Hopefully he protects the ball a little better.
Overall it was exciting. This team should have many guys having a chance to start and many seem to be able to play more than one position. Daniels played a lot of point today so I assume we will see quite a bit of that this year. Williams seemed much better to me today too. I think we will have some pleasant surprises this year. I hope I am correct. We definitely are ahead of where we were last year at this point.
Most of the visitors that were here are 2017 and 2018 kids that are considered solid possibilities, but like anything else in recruiting, things change rapidly....Jenkins was a high profile 2016 visitor that was lost to VCU and the JUCO Ahmed that played with RU signee Deshawn Freeman was supposed to visit, but cancelled or postponed and is looking like he is headed elsewhere, but crazier things have happened. Despite all of that, I would look for good news regarding recruiting soon.
I have 100% confidence in this staff on finding pieces right now.....my only concern is finding the ability to get them to defend and use their athleticism to their advantage. I have attended the Open practice for 3 straight years because I am close to campus and the first year practice, Eddie mentioned that RU needed athletes and players that can get up and down the court....we were woefully short on athletes coming out of the Rice fallout and even though Rice recruited a very good starting class, it was a class that lacked athletes with size/speed/strength. Certainly Mack, Jack and the initial class were more skilled offensively (Especially Eli Carter), but footspeed and ability to score in transition hasn't been a staple of RU hoops....either we lack finishers or strength in traffic and are relegated to being a team reliant on jump shooting.
Right now, it's transitioning to a more athletic team that should get easier points by running. The roster is actually being built slowly and somewhat responsibly and because of that, it's a painful process that requires patience. RU hasn't secured 4 straight consistent recruiting classes of contributors in over a decade, where you have a starter or two in each class. Eddie is a couple of pieces away with the 2016 class from securing that and then it becomes a competitive roster where kids have to grind or fight for minutes, vs walking in and getting them instantly.
The rumblings of the recruits that are considering RU for 2016 and 2017 fit that profile....athleticism and upside. It is a starting point to becoming more respectable as a program. The next step is finding out whether they will continue to grind if things don't go their way or if they get pushed around a bit.
I'm quietly confident that the next piece in recruiting makes a lot of sense for the roster and should add value.
I have 100% confidence in this staff on finding pieces right now.....my only concern is finding the ability to get them to defend and use their athleticism to their advantage. I have attended the Open practice for 3 straight years because I am close to campus and the first year practice, Eddie mentioned that RU needed athletes and players that can get up and down the court....we were woefully short on athletes coming out of the Rice fallout and even though Rice recruited a very good starting class, it was a class that lacked athletes with size/speed/strength. Certainly Mack, Jack and the initial class were more skilled offensively (Especially Eli Carter), but footspeed and ability to score in transition hasn't been a staple of RU hoops....either we lack finishers or strength in traffic and are relegated to being a team reliant on jump shooting.
Right now, it's transitioning to a more athletic team that should get easier points by running. The roster is actually being built slowly and somewhat responsibly and because of that, it's a painful process that requires patience. RU hasn't secured 4 straight consistent recruiting classes of contributors in over a decade, where you have a starter or two in each class. Eddie is a couple of pieces away with the 2016 class from securing that and then it becomes a competitive roster where kids have to grind or fight for minutes, vs walking in and getting them instantly.
The rumblings of the recruits that are considering RU for 2016 and 2017 fit that profile....athleticism and upside. It is a starting point to becoming more respectable as a program. The next step is finding out whether they will continue to grind if things don't go their way or if they get pushed around a bit.
I'm quietly confident that the next piece in recruiting makes a lot of sense for the roster and should add value.
Hawk's analysis is spot on. I was excited for the season to start but after the open practice I am really excited. I was impressed with the improvement and confidence from Foreman and Williams. Man I wish Nigel Johnson was eligible to play this year.
nice summary; you touched on pretty much all the salient points.
Mike & DJ both played confidently. Corey was refreshingly pass-first. Lewis has furthered his offensive development; I could see him scoring 15 a few times this year. Freeman is as advertised.
The most pleasant surprise was Laurent. Looks & plays like an upperclassman. His J needs work, but he shows grit & hustle.
I saw ball movement, athleticism, passionate defense & hoops IQ. All of which have been lacking in recent years. We'll have growing pains but this team should compete.
I'm always too busy at the open practice to really watch! I hope all 100 or so in attendance today truly enjoyed their afternoon with Rutgers Basketball!
Hawk - thanks.
Wished I could have attended but between personal commitments and attending all home Met playoff games - I did not have the time...
Sorry to hear about Doorson as he's such a nice kid and I'm very excited for this years' squad....
Wished I could have attended but between personal commitments and attending all home Met playoff games - I did not have the time...
Sorry to hear about Doorson as he's such a nice kid and I'm very excited for this years' squad....
Every time I read things about him, I just get the strong sense that Sanders 'gets it' he seems to have that unique sense of how to cultivate a persona ... all while honing a very sharp understanding of how to play the game (both the game of basketball and the game of visibility) for the maximum payoff in the long run. He is going to be very interesting to watch.
Agree on Laurent. Aggressive, not afraid to take the ball to basket and played with a high motor
Hearing Sanders plays under control is a huge, huge positive.
I think the X factor of this team is the defensive play of DJ foreman. ON defense we have a + in Sanders, a + in WIlliams, A + in Freeman and Lewis. We have a grinder of 50 50 balls in freeman. We know what we get offensively from these players. WHat DJ is able to add to the team defensively I think is the question of whether we have a 14-17 win season.
14-17 seems like a lot, but if Sanders is under control, that is huge. Less turnovers, more possessions, more chances at scoring. Kid is probably practicing his foul shots a ton.
I think the X factor of this team is the defensive play of DJ foreman. ON defense we have a + in Sanders, a + in WIlliams, A + in Freeman and Lewis. We have a grinder of 50 50 balls in freeman. We know what we get offensively from these players. WHat DJ is able to add to the team defensively I think is the question of whether we have a 14-17 win season.
14-17 seems like a lot, but if Sanders is under control, that is huge. Less turnovers, more possessions, more chances at scoring. Kid is probably practicing his foul shots a ton.
Does anyone know why there are multiple references to Sanders playing under control ??
Were there expectations that he would be an "Out of Control" guy just running around the court.
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Not expectations that he would be out of control per se, but that he doesn't look like a freshman out there
Because we aren't often able to recruit certain types of players without some sort of deficiency.
* Mack had good athleticism. Too small.
* Daniels had crazy athleticism. Often out of control.
* Williams was in control. Not much athleticism.
I could go on with the guards we've had over time. Who was the last 6'2 guard who had athleticism, decent size, and played under control?
* Mack had good athleticism. Too small.
* Daniels had crazy athleticism. Often out of control.
* Williams was in control. Not much athleticism.
I could go on with the guards we've had over time. Who was the last 6'2 guard who had athleticism, decent size, and played under control?
Okay, thanks for that. I thought someone saw some tape of him being out of control, because I've watched a lot of his film and never saw any hints that he played out of control.
Hes a freshman with a lot of weight placed on his play. He is also highly athletic and has been known to like to dribble. These kind of things can cause a player to be out of control. Hence Isiah Whitehead last year.
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