2018 Recruits

[NJCat]

Insidenu did a nice feature on the 4 incoming NU Freshmen. Of the 4, Lathon looks like a stone-cold lock to start the season at PG. NU hasn't had athleticism like his at PG since.....ever. Cannot wait to see him running the show. Imagine having a 6'4" PG who can throw down 2 hand jams..... Kopp also looks like a scorer as well as a shooter. Nance more like a Law-type stat sheet stuffer. Next year NU will have its 5 highest rated recruits in history on the same team. Fun days ahead!

https://www.insidenu.com/2018/2/12/...rdan-lathon-pete-nance-ryan-young-miller-kopp

 

[NJCat]

I hope he is that good! If not,it will be the Jordan Ash show all year!

One thing I can GUARANTEE....the starting point guard will be named Jordan!!! Dang it!!!

 

[MysticCat]

Insidenu did a nice feature on the 4 incoming NU Freshmen. Of the 4, Lathon looks like a stone-cold lock to start the season at PG. NU hasn't had athleticism like his at PG since.....ever. Cannot wait to see him running the show. Imagine having a 6'4" PG who can throw down 2 hand jams..... Kopp also looks like a scorer as well as a shooter. Nance more like a Law-type stat sheet stuffer. Next year NU will have its 5 highest rated recruits in history on the same team. Fun days ahead!

https://www.insidenu.com/2018/2/12/...rdan-lathon-pete-nance-ryan-young-miller-kopp

MT II was a McDonald’s All American.

 

[NJCat]

MT II was a McDonald’s All American.

Michael Juice Thompson, the NU PG, was not a MacDonald's All American. Michael Thompson, the Duke transfer, was.

 

[JournCat]

I'm not sure Law has the dribble to play 2-guard. Maybe Turner can.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

i think we could see a starting line-ups of...

lathon
kopp
law
nance
pardon

or

lathon
kopp
law
gaines
pardon

also wouldn't be surprised to see a 5th year or two

 

[Sec_112]

MT II was a McDonald’s All American.

Details, Mystic ... details.

 

[Sec_112]

Haywood, do you think we'll see either of those starting lineups in game one? Or will it be something we'll see evolve.

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Interesting, you don't see Turner starting at the 4? Nance seems pretty thin for a PF in the Big 10, especially as a freshman.

i think we could see a starting line-ups of...

lathon
kopp
law
nance
pardon

or

lathon
kopp
law
gaines
pardon

also wouldn't be surprised to see a 5th year or two

 

[willycat]

Interesting, you don't see Turner starting at the 4? Nance seems pretty thin for a PF in the Big 10, especially as a freshman.

Thinking that Falzon will start at the 4 spot, if healthy. Agree that Nance will need some added weight and strength and Kopp will get minutes because he's a shooter. Wonder if either he or Turner can handle the off guard because if not, then who? Fifth year transfer?

 

[MysticCat]

Details, Mystic ... details.

fitzphile posted:

“Next year NU will have its five highest rated recruits in history on the same team....”


Not hardly.

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

fitzphile posted:

“Next year NU will have its five highest rated recruits in history on the same team....”


Not hardly.

A transfer isn’t considered a recruit - so who is the “not hardly”?

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Thinking that Falzon will start at the 4 spot, if healthy. Agree that Nance will need some added weight and strength and Kopp will get minutes because he's a shooter. Wonder if either he or Turner can handle the off guard because if not, then who? Fifth year transfer?

Hopefully, Falzon continues to recover, but man he looks like he is still in pain out there and has trouble moving laterally on defense. Rap taught me the hard way about counting too much on guys who are coming back from injury . . .

 

[NUCat320]

i think we could see a starting line-ups of...

lathon
kopp
law
nance
pardon

or

lathon
kopp
law
gaines
pardon

also wouldn't be surprised to see a 5th year or two

My assumption has been that Turner was a likely starter at the two, due to experience and a fair amount of productivity at BC. (Note: I don't know anything.) What have you heard about his performance this year?

 

[FitzFan]

fitzphile posted:

“Next year NU will have its five highest rated recruits in history on the same team....”


Not hardly.

A double negative...so you agree? It looks like the gregarious and jolly fragment of MysticCat's split personality is trying to reach out to us.

 

[hoosboot]

i think we could see a starting line-ups of...

lathon
kopp
law
nance
pardon

or

lathon
kopp
law
gaines
pardon

also wouldn't be surprised to see a 5th year or two

I fear it will be a very long season if we have three frosh starting next year. They are strong recruits, but not the type who appear to be obvious walk in and dominate kind of guys. The adjustment from HS to college is tough for just about any frosh...both physically and mentally.

With that in mind, I'd be shocked to not find Turner starting for a significant portion of the season.

 

[NJCat]

I fear it will be a very long season if we have three frosh starting next year. They are strong recruits, but not the type who appear to be obvious walk in and dominate kind of guys.

Lathon and Kopp, from the highlight tapes, look ready to play from day 1. Both might be better than the Seniors they are replacing. This is a different level of recruit than we are used to seeing at NU, kids that have been playing high level competition and are physically developed and ready to compete.

 

[hoosboot]

Lathon and Kopp, from the highlight tapes, look ready to play from day 1. Both might be better than the Seniors they are replacing. This is a different level of recruit than we are used to seeing at NU, kids that have been playing high level competition and are physically developed and ready to compete.

This strikes me as the backup QB being the favorite player on the team phenomenon. Everyone always talks about the new guys who are coming without remembering how the last new guys came.

BMac has been a fantastic and transformational player for NU, so suggesting that a frosh is going to walk in on day 1 and be better than a four-year starter senior seems like pretty wishful thinking. That's not saying that Lathon isn't going to be a great player for us, but I hope we've all learned our lesson from Falzon and Rap. History says that one of those frosh will be a major difference maker, but that the others will need time to grow. We aren't talking about one and done recruits here.

 

[NJCat]

No way does Lathon start over Ash!

LOL!!!! Quadruple Dang!!!

 

[JournCat]

This strikes me as the backup QB being the favorite player on the team phenomenon. Everyone always talks about the new guys who are coming without remembering how the last new guys came.

BMac has been a fantastic and transformational player for NU, so suggesting that a frosh is going to walk in on day 1 and be better than a four-year starter senior seems like pretty wishful thinking. That's not saying that Lathon isn't going to be a great player for us, but I hope we've all learned our lesson from Falzon and Rap. History says that one of those frosh will be a major difference maker, but that the others will need time to grow. We aren't talking about one and done recruits here.

Could not agree more on Mac's impact. If we retired jerseys at NU, we would retire his. The best-case scenario for next year is his departure forces everyone to get a little better at creating offense and results in a more balanced team that's harder to defend. But we won't easily replace his ability (@Wisconsin last year, the Vandy game, or last Saturday ...) to put a team on his back for a win.

 

[Medill90]

This strikes me as the backup QB being the favorite player on the team phenomenon. Everyone always talks about the new guys who are coming without remembering how the last new guys came.

BMac has been a fantastic and transformational player for NU, so suggesting that a frosh is going to walk in on day 1 and be better than a four-year starter senior seems like pretty wishful thinking. That's not saying that Lathon isn't going to be a great player for us, but I hope we've all learned our lesson from Falzon and Rap. History says that one of those frosh will be a major difference maker, but that the others will need time to grow. We aren't talking about one and done recruits here.

I think this is the argument for no more than two frosh starting....and not every game. The offense requires experience and understanding. Sobo actually played a fair amount, until B Mac settled in.

I do think based on reports that Lathon will start just as B Mac did his frosh year. Unless he demonstrates in the summer that it's just too soon. But it seems like Collins puts the best five out there, regardless.

No one has bit on the bait Haywood threw out there....that we may see a couple fifth year transfers. Sounds like a departure or two. I hope it's not a retirement.

 

[hdhntr1]

MT II was a McDonald’s All American.

Wan't he MT1?

 

[hdhntr1]

Insidenu did a nice feature on the 4 incoming NU Freshmen. Of the 4, Lathon looks like a stone-cold lock to start the season at PG. NU hasn't had athleticism like his at PG since.....ever. Cannot wait to see him running the show. Imagine having a 6'4" PG who can throw down 2 hand jams..... Kopp also looks like a scorer as well as a shooter. Nance more like a Law-type stat sheet stuffer. Next year NU will have its 5 highest rated recruits in history on the same team. Fun days ahead!

https://www.insidenu.com/2018/2/12/...rdan-lathon-pete-nance-ryan-young-miller-kopp

Likely 5 of the highest. Couple other guys come to mind that were here. Esch was pretty high up there Mckinney and I think that back in the 60s had some pretty highly rated guys. And there was Otto Graham. Want to say top 5 recruits since 2000, ok but probably not in history

 

[hdhntr1]

Lathon and Kopp, from the highlight tapes, look ready to play from day 1. Both might be better than the Seniors they are replacing. This is a different level of recruit than we are used to seeing at NU, kids that have been playing high level competition and are physically developed and ready to compete.

Might be better at some point. Hard to say that as true Frosh, If they are, I will happily eat my words.

 

[freewillie07]

I'm not going to say that Lathon as a freshman will be better than BMac as a senior, even if he's having a down year. That's just foolish.

What I will say is Lathon is the type of guard that NU has not had at any point during Collins's tenure. The closest thing is Crawford or Cobb maybe. He's a big, athletic guard who can take you off the dribble, shoot, and create.

My dream for the 2019 class would be Nobal Days (to somewhat mitigate the loss of Pardon) and another combo guard just like Lathon, who could be paired with him in various situations. And then best available wing.

 

[NJCat]

Wan't he MT1?

Yes. MT-I was the Duke transfer, he retired due to a heat condition in 2004. Juice was MT-II and played from 2008-2011. Which is why I corrected poor Mystic.

 

[NJCat]

The offense requires experience and understanding. Sobo actually played a fair amount, until B Mac settled in.

BMac started 30 of 32 games his freshman year, and averaged 33.3 minutes per game. Sobo averaged just 10.9 minutes. BMac settled in pretty quickly (played 35, 34, 34, 38 and 32 minutes in his first 5 games!) and I suspect Lathon will do the same as long as he is healthy. Don't think he committed to NU without believing Collins was handing him the keys to the NU Tesla.

 

[Catreporter]

Billy McKinney was a very underrated player when he came to Northwestern. All-state, yes, but nowhere near an all-American. He was only 6 feet tall and played for a low profile Zion-Benton program. He came off the bench for Tex Winter in the team's first game of his freshman year at Ohio U and hit his first five shots and he started every game after that. He could take over games (and that was BEFORE the three point shot.) Led NU to its only win over Kentucky among other things.

 

[NJCat]

Billy McKinney was a very underrated player when he came to Northwestern. All-state, yes, but nowhere near an all-American. He was only 6 feet tall and played for a low profile Zion-Benton program. He came off the bench for Tex Winter in the team's first game of his freshman year at Ohio U and hit his first five shots and he started every game after that. He could take over games (and that was BEFORE the three point shot.) Led NU to its only win over Kentucky among other things.

Billy McKinney is the best player I have watched play ball at NU. Esch is probably #2 and Shurna #3.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Billy McKinney is the best player I have watched play ball at NU. Esch is probably #2 and Shurna #3.

No Ash? Dang.

 

[NJCat]

No Ash? Dang.

#4.

Double dang!!

 

[NUCat320]

#4.

Double dang!!

It really is terrible that wrassler has turned Ash - who could have been reasonably expected to contribute nothing, and has instead contributed more than nothing - into a punchline.

Ash is no star, but he's better than, say, Mike Capocci or Nick Fruendt, to use two example examples of underclass nonentities who got a bit more time late in their career.

Frankly, Ash is one of the most positive player development stories of the season.

 

[NJCat]

It really is terrible that wrassler has turned Ash - who could have been reasonably expected to contribute nothing, and has instead contributed more than nothing - into a punchline.

Ash is no star, but he's better than, say, Mike Capocci or Nick Fruendt, to use two example examples of underclass nonentities who got a bit more time late in their career.

Frankly, Ash is one of the most positive player development stories of the season.

+1

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

#4.

Double dang!!

Too bad Luol Deng didn’t go to NU, dang Deng!

 

[haywood jahblowme]

i think Turner and Gaines will both play a lot -

but i think Lathon will be PG depending on any 5th year possibilities

i think Kopp is the real deal and will start from day 1. so lets say him and law share the 2 wing spots because i don't think Law doesn't start

thats JL, MK, VL & DP

the 4 spot is a toss-up. could be gaines, could be nance, falzon if healthy, maybe a 5th year

i think turner and ash are first off the bench and then falzon or nance whoever doesn't start

 

[willycat]

i think Turner and Gaines will both play a lot -

but i think Lathon will be PG depending on any 5th year possibilities

i think Kopp is the real deal and will start from day 1. so lets say him and law share the 2 wing spots because i don't think Law doesn't start

thats JL, MK, VL & DP

the 4 spot is a toss-up. could be gaines, could be nance, falzon if healthy, maybe a 5th year

i think turner and ash are first off the bench and then falzon or nance whoever doesn't start

My guess is that Turner starts somewhere and Falzon does as well, if healthy. Any insight on Rap?

 

[willycat]

Billy McKinney was a very underrated player when he came to Northwestern. All-state, yes, but nowhere near an all-American. He was only 6 feet tall and played for a low profile Zion-Benton program. He came off the bench for Tex Winter in the team's first game of his freshman year at Ohio U and hit his first five shots and he started every game after that. He could take over games (and that was BEFORE the three point shot.) Led NU to its only win over Kentucky among other things.

Attended that Kentucky game and sat next to two assistant coaches from a school that would be playing against Kentucky later in the season. To say that they were impressed with Billy would be an big understatement. During our conversations, they asked if McKinney always played like that and the answer was yes.

 

[hdhntr1]

Billy McKinney is the best player I have watched play ball at NU. Esch is probably #2 and Shurna #3.

I actually don't think I ever saw McKinney play. I was done just before he got here and elsewhere in the country watching Fred Snowden's Arizona teams

 

[TheC]

No Ash? Dang.

Don't make me ignore you too!

 

[Medill90]

i think Turner and Gaines will both play a lot -

but i think Lathon will be PG depending on any 5th year possibilities

i think Kopp is the real deal and will start from day 1. so lets say him and law share the 2 wing spots because i don't think Law doesn't start

thats JL, MK, VL & DP

the 4 spot is a toss-up. could be gaines, could be nance, falzon if healthy, maybe a 5th year

i think turner and ash are first off the bench and then falzon or nance whoever doesn't start

In years past, a starting five of what may be next year's bench....

Ash
Gaines
Turner
Ivanaukus
Benson

....would of had us excited