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Post by longtimelionfan on Feb 24, 2015 12:50:39 GMT -5
Looking at their continuing stats and play from afar this year, Brown and Tutu continue to look like excellent players. I hope the Lions are able to land both as that would provide them with two new quick scoring point guards (a huge need) and with good class separation as Brown would come in as junior and Tutu as a freshman. Adding them to already committed Jocko along with current redshirt transfer Haney looks like a good foundational recruiting class.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Feb 24, 2015 21:59:07 GMT -5
Longtime noted this recruit:
Brandon Brown PG 5’11” 165 So Phoenix College
2014-15 Stats: FG 45.4%; 3-pt 31.2%; FT 75.0%; PPG 20.1 Team record: 24-5 (as of Feb 24)
Phoenix College was DII Men’s Basketball National Champions last season.
Could not find a scouts report out of high school.
Looks like a very competitive player in DII ball; can he adjust to DI play right away if we land him?
Coming from a winning team as a leader there.
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Post by slblions08 on Mar 2, 2015 14:21:58 GMT -5
With this depressing season almost in the book, I was meandering through verbal commits and it still shows Tutu, Brown and another Juco DeShawn Robinson as on our radar for next year. They say 2 stars but then if you look through the other teams that are recruiting Brown and Robinson and its basically low major squads. Tutu seems like the only one that fits "mid major" profile.
I wonder if Dunlap still thinks the WCC is a low major conference? Honestly wondering here, because the recruiting is on a Rodney Tention type level. I also wonder if Dunlap is a self-sabotaging himself. I could see him being the guy who thinks he is the smartest guy in the room by a mile and will try really hard to prove it and so he'll do the farthest thing from everyone else.
We warned by a couple members of this board that the guy in charge of recruiting, Patrick Sandle, was disappointing at Pitt. I thought based on his Crenshaw H.S background that he'd automatically fit into LA but I guess not everyone is Kevin Ollie.
What I'm hoping might happen is that somewhere at a Pac-12 school there is a graduating senior that wants to play one more year of college ball and get an MBA or something at LMU. Pepperdine was the benefactor of this when they got Brendan Lane from UCLA last year, and if I remember correctly we also had a guy a few years ago. Or maybe a Big West squad like UC Irvine or Santa Barbara wants to come here and see what its like. An older guy like that might be able to handle Dunlap for a year.
So we know there are two spots left, but it could be up to four if Payne leaves for greener pastures...and my other sneaky pick to leave, Mr. Siame who might want to head out to Europe where he can get better training and coaching and cash in on his youth before it gets too late for him.
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Post by railbird on Mar 3, 2015 2:12:29 GMT -5
never thought we could get a worse coach than Rodney Tention but we did. So stupid dumping Max, he had USC and Providence current starting pg coming in. This guy mofo's Payne off the team? Need to cut bait with Dunlap asap.
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Post by kdub00 on Mar 6, 2015 14:26:00 GMT -5
In the LA Times today, there's a feature about Lorne Currie, the 2-Guard at Fairfax. It says that we have offered. Having reffed him a few times, I think he is WCC material and can be a contributor early. With Tutu taking a scholarship, is our offer to Currie still on the table www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-lorne-currie-sondheimer-20150306-story.htmlI've always thought Akil Reese Hall from Westchester would be a sleeper offer. Having sat out most of his Senior Year, not too many offers have come in, but the kid can definitely contribute early as well
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 6, 2015 19:44:27 GMT -5
Lorne Currie 6’3” 175 SG Scouts Grade 79 3-star
ESPN Analyst Updated 02/13/2015
Strengths: Currie is an evolving scoring guard who is gifted as a scorer and facilitator. He has a solid frame with a nice combination of strength and length. His ball handling skills are phenomenal. He has a slick crossover, a hesitation dribble, stop-and-go, etc. He gets separation utilizing is quickness, burst, and skill. His pivot work while penetrating and looking for ways to score is flawless. If he doesn't get a good look at the basket, he will find an open teammate.
Weaknesses: Currie has many ways to improve his overall game. First and foremost is his energy level. He often disappears during games and overall he doesn't play real hard, especially on the defensive end. Secondly, he needs to improve his jump shot to keep his productive dribble/drive game open. He gets good lift on his shot, but his follow through is inconsistent.
Bottom Line: Currie has become one of the fastest rising prospects in the west with his ability to score, facilitate, and create scoring opportunities off the dribble.
From the LA Times article, it looks like he had academic issues and had to sit out a year but now has his act together. His dad is a school principal, which is a good sign.
I’m impressed with his videos – there are more if you go to You Tube and enter his name.
Akil Reese 6’2” 155 SG Scouts Grade 68 2-star
ESPN Analyst Updated 01/26/2015
Strengths: Reese is slowly becoming a player at both ends. He has ideal length for the combo-guard slot and he is still very young. He has solid ball skills, especially in the open court and the athleticism to explode to the rim. His jump shot is playable out to the 3-point line, but his release needs to quicken.
Weaknesses: Reese has many of the physical traits (length, bounce, etc.) that scouts look for in a particular prospect. However, he needs to continue to polish his playmaking skills in the half court set and cut down on turnovers. In addition, in the open court he needs to do a better job of advancing the ball to open teammates.
Bottom Line: Reese's high school is very deep and as a result it is difficult to sometimes to evaluate their players because of massive substitutions. However, look for Reese to have a breakout season for the Comets and attract some Division 1 attention.
Reese’s list of schools is long (HIS list not the schools lists) include Portland, Saint Mary’s, USD, USC and UC Santa Barbara among others.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 6, 2015 21:24:38 GMT -5
Someone recognized Currie's skills early on.
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Post by slblions08 on Mar 16, 2015 23:21:01 GMT -5
Well, now I count 3 scholarships available to be used to find somebody to fill our roster. Consider this literally a blank slate to work with.
I was kinda looking at who is left on our decimated roster and sorta came up with this. First, I want to preface that if Dunlap was looking at a 5-year window to win us to go deep in the NCAA tourney (the words of others on this message board, not mine!) then essentially these will be the recruits that take us in a winner-take-all WCC title game against the 'Zags. Essentially whomever comes on board this year will be part of "the process" or whatever his book that he hawks on his blog.
Future Core: PG Munis Tutu, 4 SF Steven Haney, 3 PF Petr Herman, 3
So we know Tutu is the big part of the plan. He will play defense and orchestrate the offense by passing to our scorers/shooters (cough). Haney comes in with 3 years of eligibility left and is probably entrenched at SF or somewhere on the wings. Max Good had his adopted children, and I have a feeling Haney will become Dunlap's son. Next, we have the enigma Herman who has supposed NBA talent in a scared mind. Who knows if he ever gets healthy with that knee. It's a little odd because today's ACL surgery techniques makes recovery so much easier. Maybe he didn't get proper care in Europe? It is important to note that Herman is described by Dunlap as a forward, not a center. The way he's so soft in the paint suggests forward as well. Anyhow, consider these the core players who will be expected to lead us to a WCC title game.
Role Players: G Matt Hayes, 2 PF Adom Jacko, 2
Now I have read the rumor that Hayes is the next transfer, but we don't know and I don't want to speculate especially with guarddad on board. For now I'll assume Hayes still has two years here. However, thanks to Dunlap's terrible usage of him, his future is as a role player off the bench, maybe a faux-Munis Tutu. Jacko really fits none of the Dunlap propaganda, so I'm intrigued. Maybe he envisions him as a wild shot blocker with more size than Wyatt? Anyhow, Jacko only has two years with us, so here's here to fill in the gaps. Most likely a bench guy both years unless Mornar is the other victim of Dunlap's regime.
Bench Guys: SF Devin Wyatt, 3 SF Joshua Spiers, 3 PG Simon Krajcovic, 3
Dunlap has admitted to whiffing on Krajcovic because he went out and recruited another young PG to play instead of him. And since he doesn't bring anything to the table offensively, there's no way they can share the floor. Also, think about how sparingly he played. I could see Krajcovic being shipped back to europe...maybe. Wyatt brings nothing to the table offensively and looked lost out there. I actually thought he was a redshirt candidate. Could he become a 3 and D type of player? Maybe. Spiers also got some minutes and looked way over matched. The good news is that both Wyatt and Spiers are 18-19 years old, so predictably they are wet behind the ears. Krajcovic is old enough to grab a drink. He is what he is. Here is the problem though. With Haney probably set at SF, only one of Spiers or Wyatt will get the playing time to develop. In other words, only 1 of these 3 will hit as impact players.
Vets: David Humphries, 1 Marin Mornar, 1
We are not sure of Mornar is the last exile. I don't think he's going to leave because he has developed, he will be a senior, and we know Dunlap sure loves his European/Aussie white guys..err..I mean.. "skilled players" with "high basketball IQ" that "just know how to play basketball." However, with next year, barring a Hank and Bo redux, will be another wash-year. Mornar's role will be to score points, grab rebounds, block shot and get that degree. However, he has no future role at LMU anymore. Time sure flies.
Likewise, Humphries finally came out of his shell late in the season. But once again, as a 24 year old Senior he has no future with the program, other than to put live bodies out on the roster. I would have liked to see another year from Humphries as he could be a good glue guy, but instead his "glue guy"-ness will be wasted.
So after this long drawn out examination, it's clear than that Dunlap will basically need to fill all positions with his guys. Notably we'll need a shooting guard and a center that will project to be starters on the WCC champion squad. We'll also need to fill in the position lost by the third transfer.
So I haven't followed a ton of high school basketball this year, but I was wondering if there are any players that play those positions (SG, C, something else) that might be showing interest in LMU?
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Post by ironlion on Mar 16, 2015 23:49:45 GMT -5
I doubt Wyatt will be back. Hearing rumors Simon will be gone as well.
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Post by thx4leavinjimlynam on Mar 17, 2015 18:45:53 GMT -5
With the news of Wyatt's transfer, do we now have four (4) scholarships to give?
I am counting nine players currently under scholarship: Mornar, Herman Humphries, Jocko Haney, Spiers Tutu, Krajovic Hayes
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Post by ALioninWinter on Mar 17, 2015 20:09:34 GMT -5
Well, we've heard rumors of both Simon and Matt also leaving. That would give us 6 open scholarships. Maybe CMD can use his personality skills to convince some of Kentucky's underclassmen to transfer.
Seriously, I would imagine CMD is/will be pursuing international players. Let's just hope he has a valid game plan hidden under the covers.
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Post by slblions08 on Mar 17, 2015 20:18:14 GMT -5
I got a great idea Mike. Sign Mitch Kupchak's kid a 6-6 PF out of Brentwood. Then tell everyone that Kupchak will attend all his games.
That, or use your Australian connections to sign Thon Maker. Then everyone will be begging to show up from all over the country to get in a Derek Fisher defensive stance for you.
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Post by craft on Mar 17, 2015 21:59:34 GMT -5
I got a great idea Mike. Sign Mitch Kupchak's kid a 6-6 PF out of Brentwood. Then tell everyone that Kupchak will attend all his games. That, or use your Australian connections to sign Thon Maker. Then everyone will be begging to show up from all over the country to get in a Derek Fisher defensive stance for you. LOL
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Post by husky on Mar 18, 2015 10:46:21 GMT -5
Winter, I really hope any rumor you heard about Matt transferring is wrong. He is one of our few bright lights on the horizon. Who would we be left to do the scoring besides Haney? Plus it would indicate Dunlap couldn't hold onto his own recruits.
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Post by ALioninWinter on Mar 18, 2015 11:40:57 GMT -5
I agree. I'm not hoping he leaves. I've just heard some rumblings. If Guarddad is still around, maybe he can comment.
I didn't think CMD handled Matt well in games. I don't know about practices.
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