Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

6'9" Desmond Rorie

http://toledoblade.com/article/20101006 ... 1/SPORTS06

"Jehvon and I have planned since our freshman year to stay together, but the BG coaches said they wanted me for me," Rorie said. "They didn't offer to me just to try and get Jehvon, and that was important to me."

And from his HS Coach:

"He can do some stuff facing the basket, but we basically use him on the low block with his back to the basket. He's a really good shot-blocker, and best of all is he's still growing. He might be a 7-footer by the time he gets to college.
"I think he has as much upside as any big man in the state of Ohio."

This guy sounds like he has a TON of upside. Kudos to the coaching staff of looking beyond the stats and looking more at the potential of someone who could be a force in the paint.

drumstix2388 wrote:This guy sounds like he has a TON of upside. Kudos to the coaching staff of looking beyond the stats and looking more at the potential of someone who could be a force in the paint.

I hope this works out. But remember, Otis Polk came in with similar physical attributes and H.S. statistics. He never really reached his potential. There are reasons these physical specimens fall to a mid-major program. Some work out and most don't. Lets hope we struck gold with this one.

Nate Thurmond worked out ok!

If this guy turns into Otis Polk I will be plenty happy.

He only weighs 220...he might be able to turn into one of Otis' legs at that weight.

Ha. Yeah but he has a year or so to bulk up.

Globetrotter wrote:If this guy turns into Otis Polk I will be plenty happy.

Really? Just wondering what he accomplished that plesed you so much? Was it him being out of shape for his first two years here? Or, the fact he could never stay on the floor and out of foul trouble and averaged more fouls than points?

Rollo83 wrote:

Globetrotter wrote:If this guy turns into Otis Polk I will be plenty happy.

Really? Just wondering what he accomplished that plesed you so much? Was it him being out of shape for his first two years here? Or, the fact he could never stay on the floor and out of foul trouble and averaged more fouls than points?

Otis worked his butt off (literally) to get into better shape for the good of the team. Otis is our all-time leader in blocked shots, averaged double-figures scoring last season, lead the team in rebounding, and is playing professionally in Europe.

Would I be happy if someone came in and did all those things by the time they graduated? Yeah... Hell yeah I would.

ZiggyZoomba wrote:Otis worked his butt off (literally) to get into better shape for the good of the team. Otis is our all-time leader in blocked shots, averaged double-figures scoring last season, lead the team in rebounding, and is playing professionally in Europe.

Would I be happy if someone came in and did all those things by the time they graduated? Yeah... Hell yeah I would.

+1

+2

In a lot of programs a kid like Otis would have been given a year to improve his conditioning and mature a little. We didn't have that luxury so he got thrown into the mix as a true fr. It would have been interesting to see what he could have done as a 5th yr sr.

+3
Otis was a quality worker on the court. He did his best and represented BGSU very well.

Not every player gets their jersey retired or makes the Hall of Fame.

+4

You could tell when Coach Jackson got the opportunity to work with Otis and the vast improvement made from his Freshman to Sophomore years. We definitely saw improvement in Otis from his freshman through his senior year.

Otis came in as a project and turned into the best defensive post player in the MAC. He never developed a truly great offensive game, but still averaged double digit scoring as a senior.

He struggled with foul trouble, but lots of shot blocking specialists do.

The guy came in and busted his ass from the time he was a freshman and went from an out of shape big guy to somebody who could actually play. Sorry if you wanted/expected him to develop into a star, but I'd say he got the very most out of his talents, and I don't see how you can ever fault a kid that does that.

Polk was one of my favorite players to watch. He hustled, and worked, and was a damn good defensive player. I'd say I'd be quite happy if any big kid we recruit becomes Otis Polk.

Certainly not debating that Otis was a good guy or that he represented BG well. I am commenting on his on-the-court skills. He was a below average MAC center. Yes, his size was a tease and it always set an expectation for him that he never was able to live up to.

His offensive game never really developed. He didn't ever finish at the rim consistently, was a liability from the free throw line and as much as he was a shot blocker, that didn't do us any good when he spent half the game on the bench in foul trouble...and fouled out down the stretch of many games.

I know he worked to get in better shape as an upperclassman, but still an below average player in terms of production. Sorry, but I hope that the next guy in the pivot for the Falcons can give us more in terms of on-court production.