(05-01-2020 03:18 PM)pvk75 Wrote: Terrific work, Big Red. Imo, a change in team-wide attitude is also needed. A true point guard who can run the team on the floor without taking over a game to impress NBA scouts for themself would also help. If I missed it, my bad, but is there one in the mix? Asking 'cuz you've done the detail work. Hard to analyze with attitude being an ethereal, but any potentials? Existing or incoming?
I don't think they brought one in, although Kaleb Thornton is interesting. He appears to be a real quick, slick passing PG who doesn't look to be a shoot first guy at all. Other than him, I've always felt that Hankerson was exactly the guy you described but was overshadowed by always having to have the ball in German's hand. I mean, it's kinda hard to argue with that. German could handle the ball and he was absolutely your best player. It's a good idea to have the ball in his hand when he can create a shot that most can't.
With that said, I think the guy is Hankerson but Thornton is a very strong possibility. And he's only going to be a sophomore this year (he's a JUCO transfer), so he'll be around for 3 years.
With that said, I don't know if you've noticed, but we won't have any true freshmen on the team next season. The only guys they have brought in have been JUCOs and, with no scholarships left to give out (as far as I can tell), they won't be bringing any in.
And in regards to NIU89's comment up there, I totally agree which is why I was 100% dying for them to bring in Makoui. As of right now, the two tallest guys on the team are Nathan Scott and Justin Lee (both 6'8") and I wouldn't figure either of them to be post players. Lee, I have less of a handle on because he's missed so much time (also why I won't count on him until he actually starts playing every game), but it's pretty clear that Scott is a Levi Bradley type player (but right handed) which is really useful, but he's going to need someone to help on the inside.
The only two players on the roster right now that I think can be that are Chris Johnson and Keenan Cole and we know that Johnson can't shoot a lick so....
They brought in a head scratcher of a guy who played center in JUCO but he's only 6'6" (Chinedu Okanu). I pray that his height is a typo but I don't think it is. Either way, he appears to be about the same guy as Johnson. Strong, hustle, can't shoot (or doesn't shoot much...this may actually be more the issue). In the little video I was able to find, he definitely works hard as he's typically playing against a guy who's taller than he is. In one of the videos, Vincinnes was playing John A. Logan, who was REALLY good last year, and he was often guarding Jamarion Sharp who is 7'2". Obviously he's going to struggle against a guy like that, but Okanu had the strength to push and fight with him and when he wasn't guarding Sharp, he was guarding the starter, Sydney Curry (6'8") who currently has an offers on the table from Ole Miss and Seton Hall. So...
Btw, in that game, Vincinnes won 69-65 and Okanu scored 13 points against those two. Curry scored 5 and Sharp scored 2. In a rematch in the last game either team played this year, Okanu scored 4 points, Curry scored 6 and Sharp (started this time) scored 8. Logan won this one 78-67.
So again, I fully admit I really don't have any clue what I'm talking about, I can only go with what I can find, and what I can find about Okanu is confusing.
I just wish he was a couple inches taller.