If you read Byington's quotes in the DNR and listen to his interviews, it clearly seems like he wanted to add playmakers. Rowe's teams lacked that. He has an affinity for guys that are skilled and can push the pace. I get it. The fact that MD and Georgetown wanted Lewis this far out, you know he's really good. One of my favorite JMU teams was the one with Dennis Leonard and Darren McLinton and they made it to the NCAAs before falling to Florida by 2 points after Leonard dribbled off his own shoe, I thought it was. Very entertaining team to watch.

(06-09-2020 05:28 PM)Anders Wrote:  

Offered Daylen Berry, a 6-4 SG from Cary, NC.

His twitter says he has offers from NC A&T, Charleston Southern, UNCW, Winthrop, UNCG
http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/daylen-berry

Committed to Charlotte

https://ncpreps.rivals.com/news/daylen-b...-charlotte

Isiah Folkes chose Charlotte. Looks like our 2021 class is solidified.
Charlotte is putting together a good 2021 recruiting class.

(10-02-2020 04:03 PM)Anders Wrote:  

Isiah Folkes chose Charlotte. Looks like our 2021 class is solidified.
Charlotte is putting together a good 2021 recruiting class.

I think he was a Rowe offer. Don't recall Byington going back in on him, but it does appear Sanchez has put a nice class together.

Andrew McConnell a guard from Georgia is scheduled to announce on Wednesday. Rhode Island, UNCG, and others mentioned along with JMU. 3 star prospect.

Mettlen article with quotes from Byington on how he sees this team playing and what he thinks they are short on roster wise

https://t.co/qG7TFgwAcT?amp=1

I'm excited about our new coach and want to let him do his thing and see where that leads us. His type of lineup does scare me though. Due to the lousy competition in the CAA, my interest will always be more on how we perform OOC (and hopefully post season). I'm just worried we will get slaughtered when we play strong teams. Their big guys will be just as quick as our little guys guarding them. And it's a fact of life that it's easier to make shots from 3 feet away over a small guy than it is to make them from 23 feet shooting over a bigger guy. Just hope his style with floor generals everywhere will lead to Harlem Globetrotter-like layups and backdoors. I've lived too long watching JMU live and die with the 3 (mainly because we've sucked at it).

In a way doesn’t Villanova play this way very successfully?

Andrew McConnell pushed his decision back to Sunday

(10-05-2020 08:54 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Andrew McConnell a guard from Georgia is scheduled to announce on Wednesday. Rhode Island, UNCG, and others mentioned along with JMU. 3 star prospect.

Decision pushed to Sunday. I kind of figured JMU may not have a shot here- small guard and they have one committed already and Rhode Island offered most recently but per Mettlens reporting sounds like we are in the mix here and would be a good get.

(06-05-2020 03:56 PM)Anders Wrote:  Looks like we offered Lucas Taylor, a 6-6 SG from Wake Forest, NC.

Very impressive offer list including Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Xavier, ODU, Providence, USF, etc.
Rivals: https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2...-interests
247: https://247sports.com/Player/Lucas-Taylor-46093802/

Verbal to Clumpson

https://www.verbalcommits.com/players/lucas-taylor

(10-06-2020 07:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-05-2020 08:54 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Andrew McConnell a guard from Georgia is scheduled to announce on Wednesday. Rhode Island, UNCG, and others mentioned along with JMU. 3 star prospect.

Decision pushed to Sunday. I kind of figured JMU may not have a shot here- small guard and they have one committed already and Rhode Island offered most recently but per Mettlens reporting sounds like we are in the mix here and would be a good get.

McConnell to JMU- 3 star guard.

(10-11-2020 04:26 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-06-2020 07:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-05-2020 08:54 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Andrew McConnell a guard from Georgia is scheduled to announce on Wednesday. Rhode Island, UNCG, and others mentioned along with JMU. 3 star prospect.

Decision pushed to Sunday. I kind of figured JMU may not have a shot here- small guard and they have one committed already and Rhode Island offered most recently but per Mettlens reporting sounds like we are in the mix here and would be a good get.

McConnell to JMU- 3 star guard.

In his announcement he said that a major factor was this his mom grew up in the area (not sure if specifically Harrisonburg or Virginia). Happy to have him and interested to see this positionless basketball guard lineup. There were times last year when it felt like Rowe wanted this approach but defense and making shots killed us.

Love see it. Go dukes

(10-11-2020 05:04 PM)Anders Wrote:  

(10-11-2020 04:26 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-06-2020 07:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(10-05-2020 08:54 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Andrew McConnell a guard from Georgia is scheduled to announce on Wednesday. Rhode Island, UNCG, and others mentioned along with JMU. 3 star prospect.

Decision pushed to Sunday. I kind of figured JMU may not have a shot here- small guard and they have one committed already and Rhode Island offered most recently but per Mettlens reporting sounds like we are in the mix here and would be a good get.

McConnell to JMU- 3 star guard.

In his announcement he said that a major factor was this his mom grew up in the area (not sure if specifically Harrisonburg or Virginia). Happy to have him and interested to see this positionless basketball guard lineup. There were times last year when it felt like Rowe wanted this approach but defense and making shots killed us.

Awesome way to start the week. Welcome, Mr. McConnell, to the JMU Family.

I guess that closes up the 2021 signing class -- though, some unknown-at-the-moment attrition could always take place and we sign another in the spring period. Hoping all 3 of these verbals sign next month during the early signing period.

Well done, Coach Byington and staff.

Check out McConnell's video reveal of his verbal to the Dukes at his twitter page... https://twitter.com/andrewrm03pt2

He must have been nervous because he did not answer the question that was asked. He just went right to his choice.

Certainly a step forward for the new staff.

Let's see what happens on the court.

The kid has a nice frame and quick release. He also showed some ability to drive to the basket. These are highlights so I understand they are just a snapshot but I saw some things that are encouraging.

(10-12-2020 10:26 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  The kid has a nice frame and quick release. He also showed some ability to drive to the basket. These are highlights so I understand they are just a snapshot but I saw some things that are encouraging.

Twitter basketball analyst who posts a ton on players in the South (typically NC, SC, GA) had this to say on McConnell

https://twitter.com/JamieShaw5/status/13...74592?s=20