We watched Latham for an entire season

[RU677381]

Did he always pass the ball when he was double teamed, or did he try to score himself?
Did he take three point shots with a percentage of around 10%?
Did he ever look for an open teammate?
Was he a rim protector or was he consistently lost on defense?

The bottom line….not a good teammate, but worse, a selfish one.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Talented Big with NBA draft spot sometime during course of college career

 

[superfan01]

Did he always pass the ball when he was double teamed, or did he try to score himself?
Did he take three point shots with a percentage of around 10%?
Did he ever look for an open teammate?
Was he a rim protector or was he consistently lost on defense?

The bottom line….not a good teammate, but worse, a selfish one.

He was just a freshman. This is a loss for Rutgers.

 

[Mr Magoo]

If the money he wants is true, we have to let him walk. He was, however, one of the only players we had left with any B1G talent.

 

[RedTeam1994]

He was just a freshman. This is a loss for Rutgers.

Agree it’s a loss

but is it worth anyhwhere NEAR $1mil to avoid?

IMHO that is the question

 

[RU_03]

We shouldn't pay 7 figures for a sophomore year Lathan. A senior level after he learns all of these lessons on some other teams and someone else's NIL money? Perhaps. Sucks, but this is the world we live in...

 

[RUChow]

Did he always pass the ball when he was double teamed, or did he try to score himself?
Did he take three point shots with a percentage of around 10%?
Did he ever look for an open teammate?
Was he a rim protector or was he consistently lost on defense?

The bottom line….not a good teammate, but worse, a selfish one.

He was going to get a lot better, How do you know he wasn't a good teammate? Do you have some inside info? You can't judge him as a teammate just by watching him play or by his facial expressions. And there weren't many guys on this team I would rather have him kick the ball out to than shoot himself. Pikiel deserves a lot of the blame for that anyway. Agreed, he was not a good defensive player.

 

[mjjoyce51]

Agree it’s a loss

but is it worth anyhwhere NEAR $1mil to avoid?

IMHO that is the question

$1M this year could be the same as $500K last year with school contributions now in play.

 

[RedTeam1994]

$1M this year could be the same as $500K last year with school contributions now in play.

Do we know how much $ RU has? I have no idea but from what I read on the board it ranges from virtually nothing to a lot. What is it?

Also did Lathan have ANY intention on returning to RU - or was his plan to play with Dylan and Ace (build up his value as a big) and move on? If that was the plan all along … again what is RU to do ?

Believe me, I would like to have kept him but my gut says it was never gonna happen all along

 

[Jerseylegends]

Did he always pass the ball when he was double teamed, or did he try to score himself?
Did he take three point shots with a percentage of around 10%?
Did he ever look for an open teammate?
Was he a rim protector or was he consistently lost on defense?

The bottom line….not a good teammate, but worse, a selfish one.

I don't think it's as big a loss as some but the way you guys don't know the difference from these players to the guy at your bank, you probably know your bank guy better than these players, yet you call them selfish or locker room cancers. Even the reporters, how do you know? Because their teammates don't seem to think so. Guys calling mawot msg a locker room cancer. Lol thats when I know everyone is full of 💩 saying things just to say them. I know for a fact mag is one of the most humble and hard working teammates anyone could ask for.

 

[S_Janowski]

He was just a freshman. This is a loss for Rutgers.

It’s not really a loss unless he actually decides that he wants to play defense and rebound.

For every 10-14pt game he will have, he will easily give that many points or more up on the other end.

This kid didn’t even play in a defensive ready position. Most of the time his hands were at his side in the lane on defense.

And when he did try to play defense, it was usually just him reaching in for steals and picking up dumb fouls.

 

[RU677381]

He was going to get a lot better, How do you know he wasn't a good teammate? Do you have some inside info? You can't judge him as a teammate just by watching him play or by his facial expressions. And there weren't many guys on this team I would rather have him kick the ball out to than shoot himself. Pikiel deserves a lot of the blame for that anyway. Agreed, he was not a good defensive player.

Easy to know he was not a good teammate. On the fingers of one hand you can count the number of assists he got by passing out of a double team.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Do we know how much $ RU has? I have no idea but from what I read on the board it ranges from virtually nothing to a lot. What is it?

Also did Lathan have ANY intention on returning to RU - or was his plan to play with Dylan and Ace (build up his value as a big) and move on? If that was the plan all along … again what is RU to do ?

Believe me, I would like to have kept him but my gut says it was never gonna happen all along

Steve Politi reported we have between $4 M and $4.5 M. Anyone who thinks Lathan is worth allocating 20-25% of our entire resource pool is a fool.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

We shouldn't pay 7 figures for a sophomore year Lathan. A senior level after he learns all of these lessons on some other teams and someone else's NIL money? Perhaps. Sucks, but this is the world we live in...

There will never be a "senior year" Lathan at RU with how landscape has changed

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Steve Politi reported we have between $4 M and $4.5 M. Anyone who thinks Lathan is worth allocating 20-25% of our entire resource pool is a fool.

May not be worth it, probably not, but shows RU right now just farm program for schools that can splash the cash.

 

[cRURah]

This is a glaring illustration of RU’s inability to compete in the current era of college basketball. All these criticisms of Sommerville are intended to make us feel better about losing him. Read the same stuff about Cliff a year ago. We are really in a sad state of affairs.

There is no way, coach wanted Sommerville to leave after the freshman year he had. If he had the money, he would have paid him what will turn out to be market value, probably close
to a mill. Fact is, we are Walmart shoppers in a Neiman Marcus world. From here on out, do not expect to retain any good player with eligibility remaining. RU is now a one and done school for our best players moving on for much bigger paydays.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Lathan actually has negative value to a RU team looking to be defensive team and connected on both sides of the floor.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

This is a glaring illustration of RU’s inability to compete in the current era of college basketball. All these criticisms of Sommerville are intended to make us feel better about losing him. Read the same stuff about Cliff a year ago. We are really in a sad state of affairs.

There is no way, coach wanted Sommerville to leave after the freshman year he had. If he had the money, he would have paid him what will turn out to be market value, probably close
to a mill. Fact is, we are Walmart shoppers in a Neiman Marcus world. From here on out, do not expect to retain any good player with eligibility remaining. RU is now a one and done school for our best players moving on for much bigger paydays.

100%. And it sucks 😕

 

[RUChow]

Steve Politi reported we have between $4 M and $4.5 M. Anyone who thinks Lathan is worth allocating 20-25% of our entire resource pool is a fool.

Unfortunately, that's the market. Latham or the Supreme Cooks of the world for 3/4 of what Latham will get?

 

[RUChow]

Easy to know he was not a good teammate. On the fingers of one hand you can count the number of assists he got by passing out of a double team.

Really questionnable take. His passing out from the post may contribute to his not being a great player, but not to his being a bad teammate. Being a "bad teammate" is more about the locker room and off the court stuff.

 

[RUskoolie]

He played like a kid who was focused on his stats over everything else. I wanted to keep him because Pike can coach defense and the kid can score but at the end of the day he's a 6-10 kid who doesn't play like it and he would score 10 but allow 14. Not sure how that's helpful.

 

[RUJMM78]

Did he always pass the ball when he was double teamed, or did he try to score himself?
Did he take three point shots with a percentage of around 10%?
Did he ever look for an open teammate?
Was he a rim protector or was he consistently lost on defense?

The bottom line….not a good teammate, but worse, a selfish one.

He was far more talented than most other players on the roster.Rutgers isn't in a position choosing among power conference talented players.The best that can be said is they are projects that might get better in 3-4 years but with the transfer portal won't stay that long.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Unfortunately, that's the market. Latham or the Supreme Cooks of the world for 3/4 of what Latham will get?

Lathan isn’t worth $1M to our team. We would be able to get 2 forwards for $500k each that help more than him. Of this much I’m certain.

I am not familiar with Cook’s game at all.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

He was far more talented than most other players on the roster.Rutgers isn't in a position choosing among power conference talented players.The best that can be said is they are projects that might get better in 3-4 years but with the transfer portal won't stay that long.

Let’s see what happens before you conclude that Lathan will be point blank better than everyone on our roster as a sophomore. We have $4-$4.5 M to work with.

 

[NickRU714]

Talented Big with NBA draft spot sometime during course of college career

What does “NBA draft spot” mean?

 

[S_Janowski]

This is a glaring illustration of RU’s inability to compete in the current era of college basketball. All these criticisms of Sommerville are intended to make us feel better about losing him. Read the same stuff about Cliff a year ago. We are really in a sad state of affairs.

There is no way, coach wanted Sommerville to leave after the freshman year he had. If he had the money, he would have paid him what will turn out to be market value, probably close
to a mill. Fact is, we are Walmart shoppers in a Neiman Marcus world. From here on out, do not expect to retain any good player with eligibility remaining. RU is now a one and done school for our best players moving on for much bigger paydays.

Not really (bold part).

This kid had glaring deficiencies on the defensive end and showed little to no improvement over the season.

Do we have NIL shortcomings? Absolutely.

But Sommerville isn’t a good fit for the style we are going to push for in the next 1/2 years as Pikiell fights to retain his job.

We’re better off spending the money on 2 players who are a much better fit.

 

[cRURah]

Not really (bold part).

This kid had glaring deficiencies on the defensive end and showed little to no improvement over the season.

Do we have NIL shortcomings? Absolutely.

But Sommerville isn’t a good fit for the style we are going to push for in the next 1/2 years as Pikiell fights to retain his job.

We’re better off spending the money on 2 players who are a much better fit.

simple question and don’t factor in the money - do you think pike is happy to see him go?

 

[Ridge 22]

Lathan was a freshman 4, playing the 5 spot, without the skills or body for either. He was a defensive turnstile and an offensive black hole. Passing was simply never a consideration, regardless of how poor the shot attempt. A bad fit with little payoff. And a player who dictated terms to a wussey (sp??) coach, which derailed the season. And left after a season anyways.

Pike did that.

 

[S_Janowski]

simple question and don’t factor in the money - do you think pike is happy to see him go?

If I had to guess he’s probably annoyed he interfered with bringing in another big man and then left after one year.

For the money he’s probably asking for and considering he’s not a great fit for the style we are headed back to - no I don’t think Pikiell is that upset.

 

[dbegleiter]

Lathan isn’t worth $1M to our team. We would be able to get 2 forwards for $500k each that help more than him. Of this much I’m certain.

I am not familiar with Cook’s game at all.

Why are you certain?

 

[Hondo77]

Unfortunately, that's the market. Latham or the Supreme Cooks of the world for 3/4 of what Latham will get?

Maybe let’s see what he gets before we say that’s the market.

 

[Shelby65]

Talented Big with NBA draft spot sometime during course of college career

Another absurd, clueless viewpoint. He would score no more than you in an NBA game. Slow as can be, too short for his skills, can’t shoot or defend.

Or do mean Nepalese Basketball Association ?

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Another absurd, clueless viewpoint. He would score no more than you in an NBA game. Slow as can be, too short for his skills, can’t shoot or defend.

Or do mean Nepalese Basketball Association ?

We'll see.

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Another absurd, clueless viewpoint. He would score no more than you in an NBA game. Slow as can be, too short for his skills, can’t shoot or defend.

Or do mean Nepalese Basketball Association ?

He can shoot. His free throw prowess alone is truly remarkable. Love his soft touch. He's like a ballerina.

 

[ImBadRU]

He has a low ceiling

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

He can shoot. His free throw prowess alone is truly remarkable. Love his soft touch. He's like a ballerina.

And he doesn't fit as a four or five, can't take an opening tip, can't rebound well, doesn't put effort in to play solid defense. Then add in locker room cancer and he's the perfect player for you to drool over.

 

[Shelby65]

He can shoot. His free throw prowess alone is truly remarkable. Love his soft touch. He's like a ballerina.

Congrats. You skyrocketed up the Cluelessness leaderboard, tied for #1 with Idiot Al of La Mancha. Your opinion on this may be even more ridiculous than anything he says, but his volume is unmatched. He’s an idiocy compiler and you it seems are a one-hit wonder.

 

[Shelby65]

He has a low ceiling

Easy to know he was not a good teammate. On the fingers of one hand you can count the number of assists he got by passing out of a double team.

On the hand of someone with no fingers, actually.

 

[rutgersal]

This is a glaring illustration of RU’s inability to compete in the current era of college basketball. All these criticisms of Sommerville are intended to make us feel better about losing him. Read the same stuff about Cliff a year ago. We are really in a sad state of affairs.

There is no way, coach wanted Sommerville to leave after the freshman year he had. If he had the money, he would have paid him what will turn out to be market value, probably close
to a mill. Fact is, we are Walmart shoppers in a Neiman Marcus world. From here on out, do not expect to retain any good player with eligibility remaining. RU is now a one and done school for our best players moving on for much bigger paydays.

The hope was that he would have gotten a lot better, especially on the defensive end. Now he can go develop somewhere else.

Our recruits are not ready to go, save for Dylan and Ace. Most of our recruits are like Lathan, a raw recruit, who provided some offense but no defense. He has to be developed and should have come off the bench. Cliff should have been our Center.

 

[Mr Magoo]

The bottom line is we had one 1 B1G starter a week ago. We now have zero.