2022-2023 Recruiting

[fredthefalcon]

I missed this offer from 10 days ago. 6'2" PG Jacob Meyer out of Covington, KY just across the river from Cinci. Offers of interest from Miami and W. W. Ky. Also has offers from N. Ky and IUPUI but shows "No Interest" on Verbal Commits. That is unusual at this point unless you are soon to decide.

[fredthefalcon]

Another reported offer 6'5" Joey Hart out of Linton, Indiana. We might be late to the party on this guy as he is reported to have 18 Division I offers including GW, UCF, Toledo, Loyola, Miami, Ball State, Wichita St, Wright St., Evansville, Drake, and NW among others.

[BGSU33]

What are the chances Lightfoot starts this season? What are the chances he plays 20mpg? Highest rated recruit, and I'll guess he comes off the bench and plays around 10mpg maximum. Meanwhile Curtis, Metheny, Mills, and Ayers play much more. Just my guess.

Interesting question. The obvious answer would be play the best player(s). But as well all know too well, that doesn't always happen. I haven't seen Lightfoot play live yet, but he certainly sounds like a talent and it made me start thinking about a situation similar to this when I was a student assistant with the team. I clearly remember the start of a season when Jim Larranaga had a returning veteran PG named Mike Swanson. He was what I would describe as your typical experienced, smart, hard-working, coaches trusted him, try-hard PG, but he was limited in what he could do on both ends of the court. That same year BG recruited and brought in a young, raw (but talented) PG out of Columbus, Ohio. The two of them would battle in practice, and it quickly became clear on day one that one guy had reached his ceiling and the other was just beginning to scratch it. Still, Larranaga gave Swanson every chance to earn and win the job (which I agreed with) and even started him the first few games. But it became abundantly clear - to everyone - that Swanson wasn't the #1 option at PG. A few games into the season, Larranaga made the call to start his freshman (which I also agreed with) and the rest is history. That young PG for BG would go on to win the MAC Freshman of the Year award that year. And a few years later he would win the MAC Player of the Year award en route to being drafted #4 overall in the first round of the NBA Draft. He of course was Antonio Daniels.

The point to all of that was how Larranaga recognized the talent he had, even if he was a young, inexperienced player. He brought him around somewhat slowly at the start, letting him adjust and get his feet wet. But he wasn't going to let AD's youth and inexperience keep him seated next to him on the bench. Larranaga knew he had to cut him loose, and he did. Not all coaches do that. That Daniels/Larranaga scenario also reminds me of what Dave Clawson did with Matt Johnson. Clawson gave veteran Matt Schiltz every opportunity to win the #1 job in camp and even started him in the opener vs Tulsa and let him play a couple series before he made the change to Johnson, and the rest was history. It's sometimes a tough decision to make, but if it's the one that should be made, then it needs to be made. I have no idea if Lightfoot fits into that mold or not. But if he does, he needs to be out there. Especially in this day and age of guys transferring all over the place. You can't expect or count on guys being around for 3-4 years any more. It's a year-to-year game nowadays. If your best player just so happens to be one of your youngest, you better play him regardless.

[fredthefalcon]

Another reported offer 6'5" Joey Hart out of Linton, Indiana. We might be late to the party on this guy as he is reported to have 18 Division I offers including GW, UCF, Toledo, Loyola, Miami, Ball State, Wichita St, Wright St., Evansville, Drake, and NW among others.

Party did start without us as he cut his list to 4 with BG watching from the front porch. Turdledo is one of the 4 left. Also lost out on Lowery who signed with Towson.

[fredthefalcon]

7 footer Potter chose Miami. List is getting shorter.

[fredthefalcon]

Austin Ball had a variety of offers and chose George Mason.

[OptionQB]

c/o 2025 offer out to Jagger Hutchins who lists himself as a 6-7 SG/Wing ... Plays at Lima Senior

From a buddy "more accurately is on the roster . . . only a frosh last year but barely played. I've seen him in a few scrimmages and AAU and don't get the offer"

[fredthefalcon]

c/o 2025 offer out to Jagger Hutchins who lists himself as a 6-7 SG/Wing ... Plays at Lima Senior

From a buddy "more accurately is on the roster . . . only a frosh last year but barely played. I've seen him in a few scrimmages and AAU and don't get the offer"

Funny thing is I saw yesterday that BG offered 2025 6'5" Jekel Cotton SF also out of Lima Senior.

[Diemilkweed]

c/o 2025 offer out to Jagger Hutchins who lists himself as a 6-7 SG/Wing ... Plays at Lima Senior

From a buddy "more accurately is on the roster . . . only a frosh last year but barely played. I've seen him in a few scrimmages and AAU and don't get the offer"

Funny thing is I saw yesterday that BG offered 2025 6'5" Jekel Cotton SF also out of Lima Senior.

A 6'7" wing would be really nice on the undersized roster if he can develop. Watch us take him and turn him into a PF like with Turner.

Also, makes me wonder if we actually really like one of those guys and are offering the other as a favor.

[BleedOrange]

c/o 2025 offer out to Jagger Hutchins who lists himself as a 6-7 SG/Wing ... Plays at Lima Senior

From a buddy "more accurately is on the roster . . . only a frosh last year but barely played. I've seen him in a few scrimmages and AAU and don't get the offer"

Funny thing is I saw yesterday that BG offered 2025 6'5" Jekel Cotton SF also out of Lima Senior.

A 6'7" wing would be really nice on the undersized roster if he can develop. Watch us take him and turn him into a PF like with Turner.

Also, makes me wonder if we actually really like one of those guys and are offering the other as a favor.

Heh? The roster is NOT undersized.

[Flipper]

No..it isn't. One of the taller teams we've had in recent memory

[Diemilkweed]

How many guards under 6' are we planning to play? How many wings under 6'5"? How many bigs under 6'8"?

We are so used to being miniscule that this roster looks big. It's only big by comparison.

If some of the moving pieces fall into place then maybe it's fairly average sized for a college bball team.

[BleedOrange]

How many guards under 6' are we planning to play? How many wings under 6'5"? How many bigs under 6'8"?

We are so used to being miniscule that this roster looks big. It's only big by comparison.

If some of the moving pieces fall into place then maybe it's fairly average sized for a college bball team.

Depth

Lightfoot 6-0, Metheny, 5-10
Curtis 6-4, Mills 6-3, McComb 6-3
Turner 6-7, Ayers 6-5
Agee 6-8, ONeal 6-7, Towns 6-9
Felt 6-9, Etim 6-9, Diarra 6-11

[Diemilkweed]

If we actually play Turner at the 3 instead of him at the 4 and Curtis at the 3 and Mills at the 2 I would be quite happy.

[BleedOrange]

If we actually play Turner at the 3 instead of him at the 4 and Curtis at the 3 and Mills at the 2 I would be quite happy.

Well, Felt and Agee seems VERY impressive. My starting lineup gives us length like Akron and Toledo has had.

Anyhoo, it comes down to total minutes and who closes games out. Often, when games are tight late, lineups get smaller for better ball-control and shooting. Shrug.