The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Supposed to - no. Want to...... Gueye is still selling himself. We Definitely want him and Negron. Better cross your fingers that we hold on to Zack Bryant. He'll blow up big time if he doesn't sign with us in Nov. We definitely want Hollingsworth and WKU may be trying to keep him home. There's a reason Bennett is playing in prep school, trouble qualifying to play d1. Gueye is likely down to us and the other schools he OV'd. Everybody trying to lock him up before Pitino offers.

10/6/2016 - 2017 PF Alex Reese (6-9, 235, 4★) | Overall Rank: 56 | Position Rank: 14 committed to Alabama.

10/6/2016 - 2017 PG Herb Jones (6-5, 180, 3.5★) | Position Rank: 52 committed to Alabama. - Per Link - See more at: http://verbalcommits.com/schools/alabama...AGA3q.dpuf

Herb Jones and Alex Reese committed to Bama

(10-06-2016 07:52 PM)jaymay2525 Wrote:  Herb Jones and Alex Reese committed to Bama

Galin Smith likely doing the same this afternoon.

Focus on Gueye and Negron at this point.

(10-07-2016 09:18 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(10-06-2016 07:52 PM)jaymay2525 Wrote:  Herb Jones and Alex Reese committed to Bama

Galin Smith likely doing the same this afternoon.

Focus on Gueye and Negron at this point.

And what happens if we don't get either? Are we done?

(10-07-2016 09:24 AM)blazerball25 Wrote:  

(10-07-2016 09:18 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(10-06-2016 07:52 PM)jaymay2525 Wrote:  Herb Jones and Alex Reese committed to Bama

Galin Smith likely doing the same this afternoon.

Focus on Gueye and Negron at this point.

And what happens if we don't get either? Are we done?

Also looking at Iran Bennett and Que Hollingsworth. Not sure beyond that. Maybe start looking at some Jucos or transfers?

I honestly thought we'd see more success with the in-state guys given our success the last two years and retaining Ehsan for relationship purposes. CUSA is a huge albatross. Hopefully we can get a basketball practice facility soon to give Ehsan another tool to use.

I was really excited about this potential recruiting class about a month ago, but everything has kind of fallen apart. Hopefully we can end up with Gueye and/or Negron, and make the best of it.

(10-07-2016 09:24 AM)blazerball25 Wrote:  

(10-07-2016 09:18 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(10-06-2016 07:52 PM)jaymay2525 Wrote:  Herb Jones and Alex Reese committed to Bama

Galin Smith likely doing the same this afternoon.

Focus on Gueye and Negron at this point.

And what happens if we don't get either? Are we done?

Likely would be for the early period.

IMO anyone we are getting this recruiting season is icing on the cake. This is a new staff that has been going up against much larger schools and unfortunately haven't won a battle with them yet. Yes Rob has lots of experience recruiting but the others not as much on this level. Also, keep in mind for many of these guys we missed on Haase and Wulburn were their closest connections and many of them mentioned it.

We've lost:

Herb - Bama
Reese - Bama
Garrison - UNC/Others
Jamal - Memphis
Grant - Houston

We cooled off on:

Joiner - UTEP
Christon - La Tech

Still after:

Gueye
Negron
Hollingsworth

Signing 2-3 this year would be fantastic even it's Bryant and a couple of JUCOs. Signing just one isn't the end of the world either.

I will say it puts more pressure to replace Lee and Cokley on 2018.

A strong season with some success in the NCAA tournament combined with the excitement of football returning and it's new facility would put a lot more arrows in our quiver for next recruiting season.

Here's the thing: We lost out to some stiff competition. After today, we will have lost 3 guys to UA; we were close on 2 of them. Let's face it - they averaged over 13,000 fans a game last season and have the SEC Network. The best thing that could have happened for us is UA landed some of their top national recruits and not having room for Reese & G. Smith. We lost another top guy to Memphis. Their program isn't what it used to be, but it's not a big deal we lost a guy to them. There are other examples but bottom line is we already have a roster construction to compete for the CUSA title the next 2 seasons.

We will likely have open roster spots available this spring/summer after what should be another NCAA tournament appearance. This will allow us to pick up some late talent during the annual coaching carousel. It's not ideal but I believe it will all play itself out.

This makes the 2018 recruiting class even more crucial. We will have another handful of scholarships to give and plenty of playing time available with the departure of Lee, Cokley, Norton, & Sullivan.

If we make the NCAA tournament, I believe Lee or Cokley will have a good enough season to forgo their senior season. That would be good, but God forbid we lose them to grad transfer.

(10-07-2016 10:21 AM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  If we make the NCAA tournament, I believe Lee or Cokley will have a good enough season to forgo their senior season. That would be good, but God forbid we lose them to grad transfer.

I'd lean more towards them staying no matter what to be 4 year guys with a group they have grown up with through college. The fact that we haven't been losing guys to the transfer market will pay dividends if they are in that position at the end of the season. IMO I can't imagine a scenario where either would be close to ready. If you can't go in the first or second round it's too risky these days.

I wouldn't sleep on the importance of this class. Losing 5 guys is no joke. One of the big reasons we've seen the success we've had over the last 2 years is quality depth. We'll need decent replacements to fill the depth gap and groom for the future.

We lose:

Tosin (need to sign a back to the basket big)
Hak (Javien Williams can replace)
Dirk (Lavendar can replace)
Tyler (not a big loss in terms of minutes/production)
Watts (Zach Bryant replaces)

I would say the biggest hole to fill is Tosin's role as a back to the basket big with some size. Depending on Smallwood's development, we may can use him as our 5 man but that doesn't really suit his game. I'm not worried about putting a solid starting 5 on the court next year, but most of the personnel losses will cause depth issues if we don't sign quality replacements.

(10-07-2016 10:41 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(10-07-2016 10:21 AM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  If we make the NCAA tournament, I believe Lee or Cokley will have a good enough season to forgo their senior season. That would be good, but God forbid we lose them to grad transfer.

I'd lean more towards them staying no matter what to be 4 year guys with a group they have grown up with through college. The fact that we haven't been losing guys to the transfer market will pay dividends if they are in that position at the end of the season. IMO I can't imagine a scenario where either would be close to ready. If you can't go in the first or second round it's too risky these days.

This group of players seems really close and tight knit. I would be shocked if anybody left for reasons other than playing time.

I think playing time was probably one of the most difficult recruiting hurdles that hasn't been mentioned too. We have a lot of upperclassmen the next two years, and I don't think we could promise a lot of playing time anywhere. We will see how things play out in the coming months, but I'm not terribly surprised or concerned about our recruiting right now. If we have issues with 2018, then there is a problem.

(10-07-2016 10:21 AM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  If we make the NCAA tournament, I believe Lee or Cokley will have a good enough season to forgo their senior season. That would be good, but God forbid we lose them to grad transfer.

They're both on track to graduate in three years? That's impressive.

(10-07-2016 01:10 PM)58-56 Wrote:  

(10-07-2016 10:21 AM)BlazeNBham Wrote:  If we make the NCAA tournament, I believe Lee or Cokley will have a good enough season to forgo their senior season. That would be good, but God forbid we lose them to grad transfer.

They're both on track to graduate in three years? That's impressive.

"If" they're on track to grad in 3 yrs.

Makhtar Gueye cuts his list to six schools
http://www.phenomhoopreport.com/news_art...id=1555437

(10-07-2016 09:18 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(10-06-2016 07:52 PM)jaymay2525 Wrote:  Herb Jones and Alex Reese committed to Bama

Galin Smith likely doing the same this afternoon.

Focus on Gueye and Negron at this point.

He committed to Bama today

Hopefully, it will take an exceptional ballplayer to crack our lineup and get any PT for the next 2 years.

Per a Rutgers' paid Scout article Gueye is committing Thursday or Friday.

Coming from some one who has watched him closely for months, I have zero clue what he is going to do.

He reportedly had a very good visit at Rutgers and connected with one of their current players who is from Senegal.

Despite the 6 team he listed as his final schools Friday I believe it will come down to us, DePaul, and Rutgers.

Word is we are still to expect Negron and Hollingsworth at Hoops On The Green.