|
Post by fryer4three on Apr 17, 2021 12:31:18 GMT -5
6'9 Freshman, averaging 10 ppg and 7 rebounds... seems like a score for coach. Has 4 years of eligibility left if he wants it.
Are we out of scholarships now? Was hoping for a rim protector.. this guy isnt it. Hope we still have another one available.
Alex Seems like a Matthew Night/ Kelli clone... non athletic, wide body, who can shoot the 3.. rebounder who knows how to play. Not sure it fits with our other recruits, but he has talent and that can never hurt.
|
|
|
Post by pumpfake on Apr 17, 2021 12:49:30 GMT -5
He put up excellent numbers for a freshman. He had 5 games with 3 "threes" and was among the top rebounders in the Big West. He's 6'9" so definitely helps with our size. I like it (him).
|
|
|
Post by fryer4three on Apr 17, 2021 12:52:29 GMT -5
He put up excellent numbers for a freshman. He had 5 games with 3 "threes" and was among the top rebounders in the Big West. He's 6'9" so definitely helps with our size. I like it (him). Agreed. He will be a very good player for LMU. Still hope for a rim protector though.. this guy doesnt seem very much a rim protector. Are we out of scholarships now?
|
|
|
Post by ALioninWinter on Apr 17, 2021 13:10:05 GMT -5
We are now out of scholarships unless someone else moves on or a freshman de-commits.
Coach Stan prefers speed over size. Next season’s team should be fun to watch, but they’ll have some issues against quality Power 5 teams that have size. I sure hope everyone practices their shooting over the summer.
|
|
|
Post by fryer4three on Apr 17, 2021 13:20:01 GMT -5
Oh dont get me wrong-- I think this team will be very good next year. One of the best over the past 25 years for certain-- just too much talent not to be. I think we are top 4 in the WCC good. GU, BYU and then us, USF and Santa Clara competing for 3rd and 4th imo. Maybe St Marys if they pull some rabits out of their hats....
I just see us having an immense amount of trouble guarding Timme and Holmgren who will just be so much bigger than us...
|
|
|
Post by ALioninWinter on Apr 17, 2021 14:41:26 GMT -5
Based on what I’ve heard from Coach (and I can’t disagree), having a big and fast post player would be great but there aren’t very many of those players around. Lacking the availability of a Zion Williamson clone, Coach Stan will sacrifice size to get the speed and quickness he wants.
While Markusson gave the Lions a big post presence, he also slowed down the team. We saw throughout the season that the guys often played better with Markusson on the bench and Leaupepe playing post. Coach Stan used the word “plodding” a couple of times last week in his Happy Hour speech. I think that was a bit of a disservice to Markusson but he had a point.
Next year’s team looks to be fast and athletic. Coach should have a ton of offensive schemes that will spread the floor for Scott and others to drive the lane. Having an accomplished PG running the show will help immensely. We should see a faster team and fewer TOs. On defense, rebounding shouldn’t be an issue. Our guys are under-height but not under-strength. We will miss Markusson’s interior presence tho, and that will be noticeable against big, powerful teams. Foul trouble will also be a problem. With only 2 bigs (and both typically having to guard taller players) the Lions will be vulnerable.
|
|
|
Post by ironlion on Apr 17, 2021 15:46:49 GMT -5
I love this commitment- ticks all the box for me. Strong athletic big who can stretch the floor and rebounds. He seems to fit the system Coach Johnson is working on very well. Really excited about our team next year!
|
|
|
Post by LIONS90045 on Apr 17, 2021 15:55:40 GMT -5
I too like this signing. The video above was two years ago when he was in the U18 league so he is bigger and stronger today. For a big, he doesn't seem to have a lot of lift but this in not uncommon for bulky players. In fact, it seems our "little" guys can out leap our "big" guys. Protecting the rim includes keeping opponents away from the rim, which can be done by strong defenders. If he has a back to the basket game, it would be great. Good signing Coach Johnson. Did something happen at Northridge that spurred his transfer?
|
|
|
Post by pumpfake on Apr 17, 2021 16:01:04 GMT -5
Not sure how this will show up but if it doesn't like directly, copy and paste. Excellent highlights of Aleksandre dealing at CSUN.
|
|
|
Post by LIONS90045 on Apr 17, 2021 16:06:51 GMT -5
Good video
|
|
|
Post by slblions08 on Apr 17, 2021 16:14:24 GMT -5
Listed 6-9, but seems a little taller.. maybe he grows an inch?
I agree we seem short on D, and against the trees at BYU, Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga, we struggled. That got us into foul trouble. But that was even with MM.
However, I think Stan watched a lot of the NCAA tourney and you can play D against Gonzaga by keeping them away from the basket for tougher shots and use active hands to make deflections. For example Baylor mostly didn’t play with a lot of height.
While we are short at center, they are long in the wings. I think they’ll be practicing a lot of active hand drills. Keep the opposing bigs away from the basket with strength and make entry passes difficult and guard the 3. That will have to be the way.
|
|
|
Post by pumpfake on Apr 17, 2021 16:18:26 GMT -5
Flip it around and those slower "plodding" bigs will have a tough time guarding us. Cuts both ways. There were a bunch of instances in tourney where bigs got isolated 1 on 1 and via a switch or just a bad matchup and the smaller quicker player blew by them.
|
|
|
Post by LIONS90045 on Apr 17, 2021 16:41:54 GMT -5
From CSUN website:
2020-21 Season (Freshman) Merkviladze played in all 22 games, making 18 starts ... Averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game ... Ranked fifth in the Big West in rebounding average and third in defensive rebounds per game (5.7) ... Shot 43.9 percent from the field ... Made the second-most 3-pointers on the team with 29 ... Finished the year with a 38.2 3-point percentage ... Dished out the third-most assists on the team with 22 ... Averaged 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in Big West play ... Scored in double figures eight times while he grabbed 10 or more rebounds six times ... Recorded three double-doubles ... Posted a double-double in his first career game with 20 points and 12 rebounds vs. Westmont (11/25/20) ... Finished with 16 points and seven rebounds vs. UC Davis (2/6/21) ... Grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds against Hawai'i (2/19/21) ... Scored a season-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting at CSU Bakersfield (2/27/21) ... Recorded back-to-back doubles against UC Riverside, first posting 17 points and 13 rebounds then 13 points and 13 rebounds (3/5/21 - 3/6/21).
Modesto Christian School Spent four seasons on the basketball team and helped the Crusaders win league titles each season ... Earned first-team all-league and all-city honors in his senior season ... Won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs and advanced to the regional semifinals of the CIF State Open Division championship in 2018 ... His team would finish as finalists in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Division I tournament and regional finalists at the CIF State Open Division championship in 2019 ... Competed on the national team for his native Georgia.
Personal Favorites include the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Emma Stone, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lopez, "Grey's Anatomy," "American Idol," "Meet Joe Black," "Ride Along," "21 Jump Street," "22 Jump Street," "The Upside," The Beatles, Aerosmith, Polo G, Gunna, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Ali Gatie, Whitney Houston and John Legend ... Chose CSUN because of the location, the coaching staff and the academic programs ... Lists finishing third place at the European Championship as his greatest sports moment ... Says his parents are his greatest heroes.
Not a bad list of accomplishments for a freshman.
|
|
|
Post by pumpfake on Apr 17, 2021 18:00:32 GMT -5
Apparently, we beat out Washington State, Utah, and Vanderbilt for Alex. 2 Pac 12s and an SEC school. Nice.
|
|
|
Post by lmu2015 on Apr 17, 2021 19:03:40 GMT -5
he gives us a shooter which is huge. We definitely lack size and rim protection which will make our games vs Gonzaga pretty brutal, but we will bring a different level of speed and athleticism from our wings + shooting from our bigs which should also give our opponents a lot of problems. Can't wait for the season to start.
|
|