2017 Toledo Basketball Recruit, Mount Vernon, NY High School Big Man, Greg Calixte was named 1 of 7 Finalists for the 2017 Mr. Basketball awarded by the New York Basketball Coaches Association. The award was ultimately given to University of Minnesota Point Guard Signee, Isaiah Washington who averaged 26 points per game this season. The 6-8, 230lb Calixte averaged 14 point and 9 rebounds per game this season in leading his team to a Class AA New York State Title. Besides Toledo, he has been offered by 11 other Mid Majors.

(03-31-2017 02:29 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  2017 Toledo Basketball Recruit, Mount Vernon, NY High School Big Man, Greg Calixte was named 1 of 7 Finalists for the 2017 Mr. Basketball awarded by the New York Basketball Coaches Association. The award was ultimately given to University of Minnesota Point Guard Signee, Isaiah Washington who averaged 26 points per game this season. The 6-8, 230lb Calixte averaged 14 point and 9 rebounds per game this season in leading his team to a Class AA New York State Title. Besides Toledo, he has been offered by 11 other Mid Majors.

He'd be a great get, no question.

He just signed his Letter of Intent with George Mason, eliminating another Big Man candidate from the Rocket's 2017 Recruiting Class. I'm not sure if there are any other Big Man Options for this Class other than what was previously discussed on this Board, i.e. Mark Donnal.

(04-12-2017 03:57 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  He just signed his Letter of Intent with George Mason, eliminating another Big Man candidate from the Rocket's 2017 Recruiting Class. I'm not sure if there are any other Big Man Options for this Class other than what was previously discussed on this Board, i.e. Mark Donnal.

There's a lot of transfer and juco prospects still looking

(04-12-2017 03:57 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  He just signed his Letter of Intent with George Mason, eliminating another Big Man candidate from the Rocket's 2017 Recruiting Class. I'm not sure if there are any other Big Man Options for this Class other than what was previously discussed on this Board, i.e. Mark Donnal.

Well, that's disappointing news. I've resigned myself to accepting that our inside game is going to be marginal for the next couple seasons. Hopefully the perimeter play makes up for it.

The recent NCAA tourney proved you need a big man, or two.

No meat, no go.

Akron played Gonzaga (not in the tourney, during the season), and did ok. Couple of 300 pounders going at it inside. Johnson pushed Taylor around, imagine what someone like him (and there are some decent big guys in the MAC (except for Toledo)) will do to Luke and Adway.

Unless they find a stud, they are a 500 team next year.

Certainly donnal is a possibility. Bragg the Kansas transfer from Cleveland might be an option, but he would sit a year. I'm sure coach k realizes the team is short a big for next season.

Donnal might be the worst thing for us. He hasn't bulked up during his time at UM. He doesn't play in the post, he hangs out around the three point line looking to jack threes. When he has to play in the post, he gets pushed around like a little kid. That's why he was pushed to bench during his time at UM.

David Bell OSU Transfer is not going to join his 2 high school teammates at UT he is transferring to Jacksonville probably not a big loss.

(04-12-2017 03:57 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  He just signed his Letter of Intent with George Mason, eliminating another Big Man candidate from the Rocket's 2017 Recruiting Class. I'm not sure if there are any other Big Man Options for this Class other than what was previously discussed on this Board, i.e. Mark Donnal.

A10 over the MAC, no mystery here!

(04-12-2017 08:37 PM)utpotts Wrote:  Donnal might be the worst thing for us. He hasn't bulked up during his time at UM. He doesn't play in the post, he hangs out around the three point line looking to jack threes. When he has to play in the post, he gets pushed around like a little kid. That's why he was pushed to bench during his time at UM.

I've never really been impressed by Donnal, dating back to his high school days. I always thought him signing with Michigan was overrated. He sat the pine and then was forced out of a program he's been a part of for four years because he wasn't good enough.

Can't believe this but he's visiting big-time programs like Creighton, Vanderbilt, and Clemson in the near future...which also means Toledo doesn't stand a damn chance.

(04-12-2017 09:45 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(04-12-2017 08:37 PM)utpotts Wrote:  Donnal might be the worst thing for us. He hasn't bulked up during his time at UM. He doesn't play in the post, he hangs out around the three point line looking to jack threes. When he has to play in the post, he gets pushed around like a little kid. That's why he was pushed to bench during his time at UM.

I've never really been impressed by Donnal, dating back to his high school days. I always thought him signing with Michigan was overrated. He sat the pine and then was forced out of a program he's been a part of for four years because he wasn't good enough.

Can't believe this but he's visiting big-time programs like Creighton, Vanderbilt, and Clemson in the near future...which also means Toledo doesn't stand a damn chance.

Why would Creighton, Vanderbilt, and Clemson, let alone UToledo want such an underachieving prospect like Donnal?

Donnal would be a great get for UT. He averaged 8 and 4 going 20 minutes per game his Junior year for an NCAA tournament team. He was supplanted this year by two studs who are both testing the NBA Draft waters this spring.

Despite his physical shortcomings (which would be far less exposed in the MAC), Donnal had an exceptionally efficient year shooting the ball in the Ann Arbor: 61% FG, 50% 3 FG, 78% FT. If Taylor (6 ppg at Marquette) and Weatherspoon (3 ppg at OSU) can come in and be double digit scorers for the Rockets, Donnal can definitely be a solid contributor for us next season.

(04-12-2017 10:54 PM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  Donnal would be a great get for UT. He averaged 8 and 4 going 20 minutes per game his Junior year for an NCAA tournament team. He was supplanted this year by two studs who are both testing the NBA Draft waters this spring.

Despite his physical shortcomings (which would be far less exposed in the MAC), Donnal had an exceptionally efficient year shooting the ball in the Ann Arbor: 61% FG, 50% 3 FG, 78% FT. If Taylor (6 ppg at Marquette) and Weatherspoon (3 ppg at OSU) can come in and be double digit scorers for the Rockets, Donnal can definitely be a solid contributor for us next season.

I lean more toward this opinion. Donnal is a pretty good shooter and he knows how to play the high post pick n roll and cover big guys. True, he's no bruiser or technician of position in the post, but he couldn't play worse post defense than taylor and he would be an upgrade defending the 2 man game and extending his d to the 3 point line which taylor was unwilling to do (btw, i loved stevie taylor, he was a cool guy, did those special big man things like play mean of the defensive boards, pass well and had moves on the block). Donnal also is vocal on the court and has spent 4 years in a high IQ system at michigan. he won't be a star at anything-but he will bring a winning attitude and be the closest thing to a complete big man defender on the roster-even with his limitations. plus, he will knock down open shots and force the other team to play him out to the 3 point line which will open up the lane some for slashers like fletcher, jackson and rose and make some space for lobs to adway. he's a short term fix more than foundation, but it's april and signing season has begun. regardless, there's bigger programs who see similar value in him and it will be a challenge for coach k to get him.

didn't see much in the OSU transfer, so glad he found another home. think the kansas kid could make a splash-he has shown productivity in his limited minutes.

Mark Donnal says he is down to Creighton, Vanderbilt and Clemson and will be visiting each of the schools in the coming weeks. He also said he received offers from several Mid Majors and other Big Ten Schools but that he didn't want to have to face Michigan next season. He thinks the 3 schools that he will be visiting offer the best opportunity for him.

One would think Donnel would want to play in front of his family in Toledo for a season, I guess not, although they did see him do limited minutes at UM.

(04-13-2017 02:01 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  Mark Donnal says he is down to Creighton, Vanderbilt and Clemson and will be visiting each of the schools in the coming weeks. He also said he received offers from several Mid Majors and other Big Ten Schools but that he didn't want to have to face Michigan next season. He thinks the 3 schools that he will be visiting offer the best opportunity for him.

Always thought he was a MAC level recruit.

(04-13-2017 08:36 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 02:01 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  Mark Donnal says he is down to Creighton, Vanderbilt and Clemson and will be visiting each of the schools in the coming weeks. He also said he received offers from several Mid Majors and other Big Ten Schools but that he didn't want to have to face Michigan next season. He thinks the 3 schools that he will be visiting offer the best opportunity for him.

Always thought he was a MAC level recruit.

Agreed that is why I thought he was a lock for coming here. typical case of a guy thinking he is better that he really is.

(04-15-2017 10:54 AM)rocketpaul Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 08:36 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 02:01 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  Mark Donnal says he is down to Creighton, Vanderbilt and Clemson and will be visiting each of the schools in the coming weeks. He also said he received offers from several Mid Majors and other Big Ten Schools but that he didn't want to have to face Michigan next season. He thinks the 3 schools that he will be visiting offer the best opportunity for him.

Always thought he was a MAC level recruit.

Agreed that is why I thought he was a lock for coming here. typical case of a guy thinking he is better that he really is.

These comments about Donnel make the MAC-UT fans look like putzzes IMO. They could be congratulating a local product for a successful college career, instead they're coming off stood up for the prom.

"A guy thinking he is better than he really is?" You know, he ACTUALLY GOT the four years at UM, so he apparently is that good. You think if he'd gone to Toledo he's be heading to the NBA right now? Have a more valuable degree?

Reality check: people paid millions to know, felt he was that good for four years. He was recruited to a team the same year as TWO McDonald All-Americans. He played close to home. He won a B12 championship, regular season and tournament. Got to go to the NCAAs. He'll get his grad school paid for by playing basketball.

Here he would have accomplished what that he didn't accomplish there? Been nice if he'd been recruited here and came here but regardless, everything he's done is to be congratulated.

High road people, it's a different direction than the one being taken.

(04-15-2017 11:41 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(04-15-2017 10:54 AM)rocketpaul Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 08:36 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 02:01 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  Mark Donnal says he is down to Creighton, Vanderbilt and Clemson and will be visiting each of the schools in the coming weeks. He also said he received offers from several Mid Majors and other Big Ten Schools but that he didn't want to have to face Michigan next season. He thinks the 3 schools that he will be visiting offer the best opportunity for him.

Always thought he was a MAC level recruit.

Agreed that is why I thought he was a lock for coming here. typical case of a guy thinking he is better that he really is.

These comments about Donnel make the MAC-UT fans look like putzzes IMO. They could be congratulating a local product for a successful college career, instead they're coming off stood up for the prom.

"A guy thinking he is better than he really is?" You know, he ACTUALLY GOT the four years at UM, so he apparently is that good. You think if he'd gone to Toledo he's be heading to the NBA right now? Have a more valuable degree?

Reality check: people paid millions to know, felt he was that good for four years. He was recruited to a team the same year as TWO McDonald All-Americans. He played close to home. He won a B12 championship, regular season and tournament. Got to go to the NCAAs. He'll get his grad school paid for by playing basketball.

Here he would have accomplished what that he didn't accomplish there? Been nice if he'd been recruited here and came here but regardless, everything he's done is to be congratulated.

High road people, it's a different direction than the one being taken.

Still overrated.