2017 Recruiting - Overview thread

[Dundee Hipster]

The loss of Thompson is a weird one. However, basketball bigs are becoming sort of extinct. Like the fullback in football. The Geoffrey Groselle's of the world are a dying breed. Just look at the NBA.

[White&BlueDude]

Let's not fool ourselves here. We still very much need some height and size down low if we are going to compete in this conference.

[Durango Jay]

North Carolina won the national championship with 6-9 Tyler Hansbrough playing the bulk of the minutes at center.

[McKinney's Neighbor]

The loss of Thompson is a weird one. However, basketball bigs are becoming sort of extinct. Like the fullback in football. The Geoffrey Groselle's of the world are a dying breed. Just look at the NBA.

Totally agree with this. Your bigs need to be able to protect the rim, rebound and be versatile on defense. Geoff struggled last year when teams ran 1-5 pick and rolls on him and he couldn't stay in front of the PG without fouling. The days of the big, lumbering, space eater big man are coming to a screeching hault in the pace and space era. Dana has been recruiting versatile guys that can defend multiple positions the past few years and it's paid dividends for him. He was ahead of the curve on this movement.

[Panhandle Jay]

I do agree that traditional 5's are becoming extinct. But Thompson wasn't that. He would have been nice to have. I wonder what happened.

[cujaysfan]

Well - you still need big bodies to defend and at a minimum someone long who can get up to protect the rim.

Say what you will about the traditional post - but Geoff sure showed that a player like that can still be very effective in college basketball. And - it's also a great weapon for pick and roll basketball when you have a PG/penetrator like Mo Watson.

Further - the inside out game sure is effective for setting up shooters in a #LetItFly kind of offense if defenses have to respect/collapse on a post up on the block scorer who can pass out of those double/triple teams.

[T-bone]

Well - you still need big bodies to defend and at a minimum someone long who can get up to protect the rim.

Say what you will about the traditional post - but Geoff sure showed that a player like that can still be very effective in college basketball. And - it's also a great weapon for pick and roll basketball when you have a PG/penetrator like Mo Watson.

Further - the inside out game sure is effective for setting up shooters in a #LetItFly kind of offense if defenses have to respect/collapse on a post up on the block scorer who can pass out of those double/triple teams.

+1

[LJay]

Two years from now with no other changes the Jays will have 7 footer Justin Patton, 6'9 Martin Krampelj and no one else over 6'7. Roll that one around in your bonnet a little bit.

[ictjay]

Two years from now with no other changes the Jays will have 7 footer Justin Patton, 6'9 Martin Krampelj and no one else over 6'7. Roll that one around in your bonnet a little bit.

Exactly. Getting the best athlete is fine and small ball is great in doses. Still need a few 6-6+ bulky boys that have a nose for the ball and can't be pushed around.

[Rasputin]

Mac WAS a big, bruiser himself at one time and I have no doubt he understands this better than most. The player development and recruiting landscape has changed tremendously and you are much more likely to come across kids in the 6'9"-7ft range that are finesse players than traditional big-men and they certainly don't grow on trees. I would much rather see a scholarship go to a traditional big (like a Geoff), than another 6'10" stretch guy or unskilled space eater.