According to Verbal Commits, Utah Valley received a commitment from 6' 1" Ben Nakwaasah from Jacksonville JC. He averaged 22.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 3.3 rpg, while shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc (79 threes).

Also had offers from MVSU, Abeline Christian, and D2 West Georgia

Out of high school, UTEP had some interest in him as well.

Nakwaasash didn't play for a successful JC team and (to be honest) his athleticism appears to average at best so that might have effected his recruitment. I still think he could be successful at the WAC level... 22 points per game is nothing to sneeze at at any level.

According to the 2017 Juco Recruiting.Com Top 100 player rankings... NMSU's Tyree Robinson is #34 and Jachai Simmons is #59 and Utah Valley's Ben Nakwaasah is #89.

Also, according Verbal Commits and other info, these are the other JC players on that Top 100 list the WAC is currently recruiting...

Cal State Bakersfield is recruiting #48 Raynere Thornton;

NMSU is recruiting #18 Corey Davis, #38 Chris McNeal, and #77 Vance Johnson;

UT Rio Grande Valley is recruiting #36 Adarius Avery, #53 Tope Arikawe, #58 Montell McRae, and #90 Deishuan Booker;

UM Kansas City is recruiting #95 Anthony Smith.

Nice info. Thanks Pistol. What's GCU doing with their recruiting? Any of the GCU guys have info?

(03-26-2017 02:44 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Nice info. Thanks Pistol. What's GCU doing with their recruiting? Any of the GCU guys have info?

GCU has only two new players so far... 3-star PG Damari Milstead and Euro power forward Alessandro Lever. Both appear to be good pick ups. GCU has a few guys redshirting so I'm not sure if Majerle has that many scholarships to give.

I'd imagine Seattle U will be on that list once we get a new coach in.

(03-26-2017 04:23 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 02:44 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Nice info. Thanks Pistol. What's GCU doing with their recruiting? Any of the GCU guys have info?

GCU has only two new players so far... 3-star PG Damari Milstead and Euro power forward Alessandro Lever. Both appear to be good pick ups. GCU has a few guys redshirting so I'm not sure if Majerle has that many scholarships to give.

Unless a current player or 2 leave GCU is full on scholarships. Kinda thinking Smith will leave.

(03-26-2017 04:35 PM)SeattleVandals Wrote:  I'd imagine Seattle U will be on that list once we get a new coach in.

Any timeline on announcing a new coach?

(03-26-2017 05:22 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 04:35 PM)SeattleVandals Wrote:  I'd imagine Seattle U will be on that list once we get a new coach in.

Any timeline on announcing a new coach?

Nope, no one knows anything. Play by play announcer (and only reliable SU news source now a days) Dave Grosby said he knows nothing, but it is on going, and the one inside source I know said he has no idea and nobody on the team does either. Its all hush hush just like the AD hiring.

(03-26-2017 04:52 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 04:23 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 02:44 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Nice info. Thanks Pistol. What's GCU doing with their recruiting? Any of the GCU guys have info?

GCU has only two new players so far... 3-star PG Damari Milstead and Euro power forward Alessandro Lever. Both appear to be good pick ups. GCU has a few guys redshirting so I'm not sure if Majerle has that many scholarships to give.

Unless a current player or 2 leave GCU is full on scholarships. Kinda thinking Smith will leave.

I wish he would stay, but the only time that he would likely start is his senior season after Keonta has moved on. I really do hope that he stays because frontline depth is going to be super important if we want to go anywhere in any tournament. I'm wondering if GCU puts together an interesting enough schedule to maybe make him stay.

NMSU has to have the #1 recruiting class in the WAC for 2017.

(03-26-2017 06:48 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 04:52 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 04:23 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 02:44 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Nice info. Thanks Pistol. What's GCU doing with their recruiting? Any of the GCU guys have info?

GCU has only two new players so far... 3-star PG Damari Milstead and Euro power forward Alessandro Lever. Both appear to be good pick ups. GCU has a few guys redshirting so I'm not sure if Majerle has that many scholarships to give.

Unless a current player or 2 leave GCU is full on scholarships. Kinda thinking Smith will leave.

I wish he would stay, but the only time that he would likely start is his senior season after Keonta has moved on. I really do hope that he stays because frontline depth is going to be super important if we want to go anywhere in any tournament. I'm wondering if GCU puts together an interesting enough schedule to maybe make him stay.

He hardly got time this year when a depleted post situation Martin played more post minutes than Smith...

(03-26-2017 07:25 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 06:48 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 04:52 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 04:23 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 02:44 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Nice info. Thanks Pistol. What's GCU doing with their recruiting? Any of the GCU guys have info?

GCU has only two new players so far... 3-star PG Damari Milstead and Euro power forward Alessandro Lever. Both appear to be good pick ups. GCU has a few guys redshirting so I'm not sure if Majerle has that many scholarships to give.

Unless a current player or 2 leave GCU is full on scholarships. Kinda thinking Smith will leave.

I wish he would stay, but the only time that he would likely start is his senior season after Keonta has moved on. I really do hope that he stays because frontline depth is going to be super important if we want to go anywhere in any tournament. I'm wondering if GCU puts together an interesting enough schedule to maybe make him stay.

He hardly got time this year when a depleted post situation Martin played more post minutes than Smith...

He lost a lot of his time when Darrion was able to be in the line up. When he was actually able to play a good chunk of minutes, he was able to contribute really well.

I like Kerwin's trash talking but he isn't a scholarship player at the D1 level or at least hasn't proven it yet.

16-17 stats

GP 31
Minutes Per Game 14.5
PPG 4.4
FT% 37%
RPG 3.6
BPG 0.1
Turnovers Per Game 1

Season Highs


Points 12 vs. New Mexico State
Minutes 33 vs. New Mexico State
Field Goals Made 6 vs. Utah Valley
Field Goal Attempts 8 vs. Utah Valley
3-Point Field Goals Made 0 vs. CSU Bakersfield
3-Point Field Goal Attempts 0 vs. CSU Bakersfield
Free Throws Made 4 vs. Cal Poly
Free Throw Attempts 9 vs. Alcorn St.
Rebounds 10 vs. Bakersfield
Assists 1 vs. Bethesda
Blocks 2 vs. New Mexico State
Steals 2 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley

GCU needs post players that can do at least one thing really well.

(03-26-2017 09:48 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  I like Kerwin's trash talking but he isn't a scholarship player at the D1 level or at least hasn't proven it yet.

16-17 stats

GP 31
Minutes Per Game 14.5
PPG 4.4
FT% 37%
RPG 3.6
BPG 0.1
Turnovers Per Game 1

Season Highs


Points 12 vs. New Mexico State
Minutes 33 vs. New Mexico State
Field Goals Made 6 vs. Utah Valley
Field Goal Attempts 8 vs. Utah Valley
3-Point Field Goals Made 0 vs. CSU Bakersfield
3-Point Field Goal Attempts 0 vs. CSU Bakersfield
Free Throws Made 4 vs. Cal Poly
Free Throw Attempts 9 vs. Alcorn St.
Rebounds 10 vs. Bakersfield
Assists 1 vs. Bethesda
Blocks 2 vs. New Mexico State
Steals 2 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley

GCU needs post players that can do at least one thing really well.

Sad to say, Kerwin Smith's stats are not too different than Aggie starter Johnathan Wilkins....

16-17 stats

GP 34/GS 30
Minutes Per Game 18.0
PPG 5.5
FT% 60.5%
RPG 3.0
BPG 0.8
Turnovers Per Game 1.4

NMSU will need an upgrade at the center position if they want to win a game in the NCAA tournament... let alone win the WAC.

(03-25-2017 02:41 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  According to Verbal Commits, Utah Valley received a commitment from 6' 1" Ben Nakwaasah from Jacksonville JC. He averaged 22.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 3.3 rpg, while shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc (79 threes).

It's a low level JUCO though. I remember Utah State signing a kid who averaged like 24 points per game, and he ended up only averaging about 8 points per game in his career at Utah State.

I doubt he'll be able to score 20+ a game at this level, but he might be a solid role player.

First time I saw Kerwin play, I thought "This dude is the future." That was his first game as a true freshman. Not exaggerating when I say I really don't see how his game has progressed in 3 seasons (2 active, 1 RS). I don't know if that is on him or the coaches (or both).

I won't go so far as to say I want to see him gone, because I'm sure he is a nice enough kid. I just wouldn't feel like we would be missing much if he went. Especially if the staff I'd able to bring in a serviceable front court player from JUCO or on grad transfer.

(03-26-2017 11:16 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote:  

(03-25-2017 02:41 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  According to Verbal Commits, Utah Valley received a commitment from 6' 1" Ben Nakwaasah from Jacksonville JC. He averaged 22.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 3.3 rpg, while shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc (79 threes).

It's a low level JUCO though. I remember Utah State signing a kid who averaged like 24 points per game, and he ended up only averaging about 8 points per game in his career at Utah State.

I doubt he'll be able to score 20+ a game at this level, but he might be a solid role player.

I don't know if it is the case with the UVU kid, but you are right about level making a difference. There is some JUCO ball that is absolutely excruciating to watch.

I went to a JUCO Jamboree a couple years ago to look at a player I thought GCU might target. Most of it was bad, bad basketball. Like, I've seen better teams and plsyers at GCU's Summer HS Team Camp.

Not surprising that these national basketball prep academies play and regularly beat JUCO teams. Sure, there are some good ones, but there are also embarrassingly bad ones out there, too.

(03-26-2017 11:41 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(03-26-2017 11:16 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote:  

(03-25-2017 02:41 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  According to Verbal Commits, Utah Valley received a commitment from 6' 1" Ben Nakwaasah from Jacksonville JC. He averaged 22.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 3.3 rpg, while shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc (79 threes).

It's a low level JUCO though. I remember Utah State signing a kid who averaged like 24 points per game, and he ended up only averaging about 8 points per game in his career at Utah State.

I doubt he'll be able to score 20+ a game at this level, but he might be a solid role player.

I don't know if it is the case with the UVU kid, but you are right about level making a difference. There is some JUCO ball that is absolutely excruciating to watch.

I went to a JUCO Jamboree a couple years ago to look at a player I thought GCU might target. Most of it was bad, bad basketball. Like, I've seen better teams and plsyers at GCU's Summer HS Team Camp.

Not surprising that these national basketball prep academies play and regularly beat JUCO teams. Sure, there are some good ones, but there are also embarrassingly bad ones out there, too.

Ben Nakwaasah is ranked #89 among the 2017 top 100 Jucos as per Juco Recruiting. Com. So, some evaluator thinks Nakwaasah is a pretty good player. Two years ago, CSUB's Justin Pride was ranked #37 and Dedrick Basile was #51. So, one can judge what might be Nakwaasah's impact on the WAC.