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Post by LIONS90045 on May 16, 2019 16:30:28 GMT -5
2019 Lions Recruiting Summary
Incoming:
Parker Dortch, F, 6’7” 205, Junior, led Kaskaskia College to NJCCA National Championships.
Jonathan Dos Anjos, F/PF, 6’8”, Freshman: from Victory Rock Prep School in Sarasota FL, Brazilian roots.
Lazar Zivanovic, 6’6”, G, Freshman: member Serbian U16 National team, 6’11” wingspan.
Reilly Seebold, G, Freshman, Dallas, Texas: 3-point sharpshooter, holds Texas HS state career record for 3-pointers.
Lazar Nekic, 6’11”, PF/C, Freshman: Bishop Montgomery HS.
Keli Leaupepe, 6’6”, F, Freshman: from down under (Australia), member Australian Emus team in 2019 U19 World Cup.
Outgoing:
Petr Herman, 6’10”, Center
James Batemon, 6’1”, PG
Cameron Allen, 6’2”, G
Jeffrey McClendon, 6’2”, G
Zafir Williams, 6’6”, F
Donald Gipson, 6’3”, G
My early take is we will be a stronger team next season even without a replacement PG of Batemon's talents.
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Post by slblions08 on May 17, 2019 2:20:55 GMT -5
At the moment our depth kind of looks like this
PG Quintana G Zivanovic
SG Douglas G Seebold G/F Johannson
F Scott SF Apiliev F Leaupepe
F Dortch F Dos Anjos
C Markusson C Bell C Nekic
When you look at like this, only 4 guys come back with significant playing time and one is a sophomore. Bell will do more heavy lifting off the bench. Dortch will be expected to fill-in right away and be a "vet" despite being a newcomer.
Our team is a little deeper, hopefully with more guys to contribute. However, experience will be a shortage. Eli Scott is definitely in need of a bounce back. It's amazing that he will already be a Junior. Douglas will now have to be the guy to replace Batemon. Not having a PG that can penetrate and create is going to be a severe problem offensively. Is DD ready to be that guy in his sophomore year? Is Dunlap going to trust him to take over offensively even when he's struggling at first?
Defensively, it seems as though we've gotten better on the wings and more athletic. Maybe to finally stop the 3 point killer. But losing McClendon up front is going be tough. The WCC has some excellent point guards that we could stick him on.
The roster lends itself to be up-tempo but we'll see how Dunlap evolves or doesn't. It's a team really built for 2020 so it seems as though Dunlap feels he will be back another two seasons at least.
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Post by LIONS90045 on May 17, 2019 10:23:17 GMT -5
Agree we will be young but more athletic with more scoring potential. I still need to see what Keli brings - maybe a Scott-type banger? Aussies are usually tough guys.
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Post by ironlion on May 17, 2019 11:11:44 GMT -5
With so many international recruits the information on them is pretty limited. The recruits I am looking forward to seeing the most are Jonathan Dos Anjos & Lazar Zivanovic. I'm hearing Lazar is expected to play a lot of guard which should be interesting. On paper, I'm giving this recruiting class a B-
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Post by longtimelionfan on May 18, 2019 0:45:42 GMT -5
Iron, why do you say B-?
To me, on paper, this class adds much needed size, length, athleticism, depth and scoring. Again, this is on paper. But, to have a majority of players be interchangeable 6’6” - 6’7” types who can switch all screens and be effectively positionless is forward thinking and a very GSW/Bucks type design. Now, I’m not saying this class can do that, I haven’t seen the play. But that kind of design and being able to find these types of players, if successful, allows the Lions to match-up with anybody in the WCC, especially if Dunlap can get them to play defense like last year’s team. That’s exciting and shows a plan to move up the WCC ranks.
My biggest questions are: (1) Can Lazar Z. really play PG; (2) Can Ivan lean up a bit, get quicker and back-up at PG along with Joe; (3) Do the paper dimensions show-up on the floor and in play? Two 6’6” PG’s who are scoring European veteran players really would be unique and pose match-up problems for all WCC foes. This looks like the biggest, longest, most athletic team of the Dunlap era and in a long time.
That all said, I’d understand a B with all the unknowns. I’m curious why you’re shading it downward with the minus?
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Post by ironlion on May 18, 2019 1:01:28 GMT -5
Jonathan Dos Anjos & Lazar Zivanovic are the only guys who I see having an immediate impact. That is 2 guys out of a 6 man class...that is why I give it a B- But it's all on paper until the hit the floor.
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Post by longtimelionfan on May 18, 2019 12:54:29 GMT -5
Iron, Thanks. I’m adding Dorch to your two as immediate impact players. But, as we both written, this is all “on paper.” Still, it should be an interesting year - lots of change with these players, Gonzaga's group and with the coaches at BYU and USF. Change at top.
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Post by longtimelionfan on May 18, 2019 12:54:46 GMT -5
Iron, Thanks. I’m adding Dorch to your two as immediate impact players. But, as we both written, this is all “on paper.” Still, it should be an interesting year - lots of change with these players, Gonzaga's group and with the coaches at BYU and USF. Change at top.
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Post by lionlife on May 19, 2019 23:18:49 GMT -5
Obviously difficult to judge a recruiting class before the first tip off, but I'm giving us a C- for this. We brought in some guys I'm excited about, but didn't address the point guard position. I don't see Joe as an offensive initiator. Good 2, but not a 1 until he shows the ability to get to the rim, collapse a defense, make creative passes, handle a tough press, etc.
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Post by LIONS90045 on May 20, 2019 9:35:46 GMT -5
Lion - apparently we have one scholly left
Maybe that’s our PG?
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Post by vadlion on May 22, 2019 12:42:25 GMT -5
On Verbal Commits is says we have 1 scholarship spot left. We have 2 offers out to PG in C.J ROberts and Aaron Estrada. Hopefully, we can get 1 of them to sign.
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Post by LIONS90045 on May 22, 2019 16:13:34 GMT -5
Any background info on the Roberts fellow?
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Post by LIONS90045 on May 22, 2019 18:21:19 GMT -5
Roberts seems to be a 3* or 4* talent but can’t decipher the schools he “transferred” from or if he has used any eligibility yet.
My guess with the delay in signing either of these two PGs is academic issues for both.
Maybe Dunlap has another quiet recruit on the radar as well?
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Post by lionlife on May 23, 2019 1:44:03 GMT -5
90045 - I hope so. JB5's ball security is perhaps harder to replace than his scoring.
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Post by ironlion on Jun 8, 2019 12:58:38 GMT -5
2019 class Italian PG Erik Czumbel ('00) will visit Texas San Antonio and Loyola Marymount next week.
Czumbel averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 assists at last FIBA U18 European Championship Division A and has spent the season with Trapani in Italian A2
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