Re: 2015 Recruiting

by Guest Wed Jan 07, 2015 1:02 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:Well, as they say, "You can't teach size," but I haven't heard of a lot of recruiting activity regarding young Isaiah Robinson.

Up until the last two days, apparently. Bakersfield offered yesterday as wrv posted, and Montana State followed suit today.

by Geezaldinho Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:25 pm

Maybe the coaching staffs read PilotNation.

by NoPoNeighbor Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:10 pm

I say we go for a JUCO big guy AND a HS big guy. We need to replace a lot of depth down low after this season. We are losing three 6'11" guys!

by Guest Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:13 am

NoPoNeighbor wrote:I say we go for a JUCO big guy AND a HS big guy. We need to replace a lot of depth down low after this season. We are losing three 6'11" guys!

Speaking of JUCO big guys...Jarrel Marshall had 27 and 7 last night against a team that's now 16-3. Double-digit points in 15 straight games and now averages 17.7 points and 7.1 rebounds for Palm Beach State.

by DoubleDipper Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:27 am

DeanMurdoch wrote:
NoPoNeighbor wrote:I say we go for a JUCO big guy AND a HS big guy. We need to replace a lot of depth down low after this season. We are losing three 6'11" guys!

Speaking of JUCO big guys...Jarrel Marshall had 27 and 7 last night against a team that's now 16-3. Double-digit points in 15 straight games and now averages 17.7 points and 7.1 rebounds for Palm Beach State.

Even though I've compared him to KB in the past, after watching his tapes I now think his rebounding could be a huge asset and he would probably fill the 4 slot, not the slashing 3, if he were to come to UP.

Bigs are wonderful, but as we've seen from the Pilots WCC opponents, athleticism and the ability to run can often times overcome a size disadvantage.

by NoPoNeighbor Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:50 am

Looks like Connor Clifford has finally received his first official offer, from UTEP.

by DoubleDipper Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:03 pm

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Looks like Connor Clifford has finally received his first reported official offer, from UTEP.

FYP...

by DoubleDipper Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:51 pm

In an earlier post I mentioned that UP commit Chiir Maker and his Newington College (High School) teammates were at the Chiles Center last Thursday night. It turns out the Newington Wyverns are on a 10 game swing through the Northwest playing against local high school teams. From the reports I’ve read, Maker has been very good at creating opportunities under the basket and has shown a very soft touch beyond the arc.

As best I can tell the Wyverns (yes, I too had look up what a Wyvern is) won at least 8 or 9 of the games they played and Maker has been the leading scorer in most of the contests. Saturday night, in their final game before heading to Southern California to see the Lakers vs. Blazers game and spending two days at Disneyland, Newington took on the number 2 ranked high school team in Washington, Rainier Beach, and Maker scored a very impressive 49 points.

I also learned that Maker is one of the “Lost Boys of the Sudan” and has had only 4 years of formal education….all in Australia. Maker’s coach is Rex Nottage, called by some the John Wooden of high school basketball in Australia….in other words, he’s a legend.

Of their tour of the American west, Nottage said, "We want the boys to get the whole experience of American culture……we tour to the USA very two years and in the off-years we go to Asian areas, such as China. As well as good basketball, we want the boys to go to college and experience good camaraderie.”

Maker has graduated from Newington, but will return to Sydney and continue to live in the Newington dorm while studying, working-out, and practicing. Although he’s signed his NLI with UP, he still has some academic hurdles he’ll have to clear before he gains full admittance and is eligible to play basketball. But once he does, what a story it will be….one of the Lost Boys of the Sudan playing NCAA D1 basketball in America!

by **PilotNut** Mon Jan 12, 2015 10:09 am

Wow, great stuff... thanks for the info. A fantastic story, that I hope turns even more exciting with success in the WCC!

I am curious about the academics here... how does one "catch up' to reach American college prep levels that quickly?! Yowza!

by DoubleDipper Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:12 pm

My SOCAL spy says she saw Rev at the Saddleback game this evening.

Saddleback, featuring 7-0/270 Conor Clifford, is now 20-1 on the season.

by NoPoNeighbor Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:50 pm

The three 2015 signees are sure racking up the accolades and high praise over the past few weeks! Russel and Johnson were both just named to the list of nominees for McDonald's All-Americans. Adding a couple of these big-time JUCO guys would make this a pretty formidable recruiting class for the Pilots...

On the radio show this week, Rev mentioned that they are recruiting a player in Florida (obviously referring to Marshall), and that Coach Pfaff would be heading back down there for another visit before too long. He also discussed efforts to bring in a JUCO big man (clearly referring to Clifford, perhaps among other targets).

by DoubleDipper Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:10 pm

Just guessing, but I would have to say that Marshall is the #1 recruiting target and Clifford is #1.1.

The thing is, there are only 3 scholarships available....1 apparently goes to Max, and 1 is David Carr's. If David decides to stay and no one transfers out.....that leaves only 1.

At one time I thought Xubi might consider transferring as his prospects for playing time were not good, but he did fine against SCU and USF on the defensive end (UP's weakest area, IMO), and he loves Portland and is great friends with his roommate, Alec.

So, it would seem to me, that for the good of the team and with very little prospect of playing unless there are a lot of injuries, David should either transfer (he graduates in May with, a year of eligibility remaining) or begin his life outside of basketball. When it comes down to it, if recruits #1 and #1.1 would like to come to UP, he may not have a choice....

by NoPoNeighbor Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:38 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:So, it would seem to me, that for the good of the team and with very little prospect of playing unless there are a lot of injuries, David should either transfer (he graduates in May with, a year of eligibility remaining) or begin his life outside of basketball. When it comes down to it, if recruits #1 and #1.1 would like to come to UP, he may not have a choice....

The BEST case scenario next year for Carr would be a fight with Xubi for 3rd-string point guard (behind Wintering and Johnson). And of course Pressley is a better PG option than either Carr or Xubi, but I could see him assigned to a more traditional SG role next season.

by Guest Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:47 pm

Google tells me that Conor Clifford has an older brother with a very Japanese first name (Takeshi). Is the whole family part Japanese? Wonder if Coach Rev has been getting a chance to speak his second language recently...

by NoPoNeighbor Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:52 pm

According to the Oregonian (http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/4965126751933420940/isaiah-robinson-jefferson-hoops-star-sees-recruitment-heat-up-after-les-schwab-invitational/) Robinson over at Jefferson High now also has offers from Rice and PSU.

by DoubleDipper Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:05 pm

DeanMurdoch wrote:Google tells me that Conor Clifford has an older brother with a very Japanese first name (Takeshi). Is the whole family part Japanese?

The snow and cold keeping you inside in Regina again, Deaner? We've got to work a sign and trade deal to get you to a warmer climate and away from the computer. Razz

Love your tenacity of going after obscure facts....but obscure obscure facts are another thing.....

But you can decide for yourself....that's Conor on the left, brother Takeshi on the right, and sister Alison in the middle....great family!
2015 Recruiting - Page 13 Cliffo10

by DoubleDipper Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:35 pm

Full court press:

Colin Pfaff wrote:Spokane to Miami. Quick trip today....

by Dean Murdoch Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:38 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:Full court press:

Might be necessary -

@PalmBeachMBB wrote:@KrisWatkinsPSB Jarrel Marshall had 20 in the Win... Most heavily recruited '15 in FL?

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:39 pm

He's no longer a secret, that's for sure:

Zach Smart wrote:Mount Vernon product Jarrell "Slim" Marshall now 1 of JUCO's best double-double threats at Palm Beach State

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:42 pm

Rev watched this big guy Friday night:
2015 Recruiting - Page 13 Ve9y6710

Now if the staff could just get 1 and 1.1 to UP for an official visit!! Basketball

by DoubleDipper Mon Feb 02, 2015 10:16 pm

I'm sure there have been others, but I've been told that West Virginia and San Diego St. have been to Saddleback to visit the big guy.

by Dean Murdoch Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:24 am

South Carolina, recently, as well.

Still only the one offer reported (UTEP from last month). Could be more, but with Saddleback, its coach, and Clifford all without active Twitter accounts there could be a lot being kept on the DL.

by NoPoNeighbor Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:40 pm

On this week's radio show, Coach Rev said that David Carr is aiming to play next season. He sounded much more sure of that answer than he has previously when asked about Carr's status. If Carr comes back and remains on scholarship, that leaves only one more 2015 scholarship available (assuming that Max Livingston is still on track to get a scholarship). Yet the coaches seem to be aggressively recruiting both Marshall and Clifford.

Something's gotta give. And the main thing that's gotta give, as far as I'm concerned, is that we desperately need a center and have much less need for a forward or guard. If we really only have one scholarship in play, why continue with the full-on recruiting press for Marshall out of Florida?

by Dean Murdoch Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:09 am

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Something's gotta give. And the main thing that's gotta give, as far as I'm concerned, is that we desperately need a center and have much less need for a forward or guard. If we really only have one scholarship in play, why continue with the full-on recruiting press for Marshall out of Florida?

Jarrel seems to be a monster at the JUCO level. Given the other offers I've seen for him and the fact that the coaching staff keeps flying to FL to see him, you'd have to assume that if the Pilots aren't the front-runners for this guy they've got to be close. While admittedly I haven't seen any tape on him...he seems like the kind of guy that if you can get, you damn well go get him and move other puzzle pieces around as necessary.

As for scholarship numbers...

1) We keep saying that Livingston is going to be on scholarship next year. We have an actual source for that, or was that something that was suggested once on here and then just assumed as fact? The guy's played two minutes in WCC so far.

2) SMC is supposed to have 11 scholarships this year. So between Bright, Carter, Simmons, Jackson, Waldow, Rahon (Boston College transfer sitting out this year), Coleman, Pineau, Naar, Hermanson, Fitzner, and Landale...I count 12 Gaels on scholarship. I'm supposed to believe that one of these is a legitimate walk-on player or recipient of an academic scholarship? Anyway, if the Gaels can get around one scholarship out of necessity due to NCAA sanctions, surely the Pilots can do the same if need be.

by NoPoNeighbor Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:46 am

Terry Cahill wrote:We keep saying that Livingston is going to be on scholarship next year. We have an actual source for that, or was that something that was suggested once on here and then just assumed as fact? The guy's played two minutes in WCC so far.

I distinctly remember hearing Rev (or maybe one of the other coaches) say on the radio that Livingston will get a scholarship next year.