Dominic Martinelli offered/accepted?

[Ghost96]

My son is a senior at Glenbrook South and is friends with this kid. 6'4", averaged 26 points per game for a very good GBS team. My son just showed me his Instagram that shows a post by Dominic with NU's logo, the word "Committed" and a photo of him playing in a GBS game.

According to my son - smart kid with a great work ethic. Doesn't blow you away with his athleticism but he grinds and does the little things. 26 points per game at a big high school shows he's got some talent.

Perhaps a Walk On. I'm not really sure. But the Instagram post is real.

Article on the kid.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/subu...0200309-wm5ulo3exfbmxknknxybjprhku-story.html

 

[catsattackfor3]

Walk on. Surprised he passed up on scholarship offers, tough being a walk on

 

[Sec_112]

Preferred walk on.

Schmidt gave him an offer to UMKC. Northern Michigan (I believe) gave him a full scholly. TCU was also talking preferred walk on.

I'm REALLY stunned there wasn't a 12th or 13th scholarship somewhere for him in the country. UIC didn't even sniff?!?!? You don't want a good kid who is 1st team all state with a 4.0 at the end of your bench at worst. Com' on!!

This is a good kid to get - especially as a walk on. He's not the greatest athlete. That's probably why he didn't get the offers. But he completely knows how to find his shot in an offense. I wouldn't be stunned if he's a contributor in his last two years.

 

[rwhitney014]

Preferred walk on.

Schmidt gave him an offer to UMKC. Northern Michigan (I believe) gave him a full scholly. TCU was also talking preferred walk on.

I'm REALLY stunned there wasn't a 12th or 13th scholarship somewhere for him in the country. UIC didn't even sniff?!?!? You don't want a good kid who is 1st team all state with a 4.0 at the end of your bench at worst. Com' on!!

This is a good kid to get - especially as a walk on. He's not the greatest athlete. That's probably why he didn't get the offers. But he completely knows how to find his shot in an offense. I wouldn't be stunned if he's a contributor in his last two years.

Max Strus 2.0!

 

[nu greek]

We are fortunate to have him as a PWO. I am shocked Moser didn't offer him a full ride. He would thrive at Loyola, De Paul, Valpo, Bradley, UIC. He plays with tons of heart and a sweet shot.

 

[corbi2961]

Max Strus 2.0!

Strus is a really good athlete. This kid does not compare athletically to Strus but I wouldn't bet against him. My guess is that Martinelli ends up being a multi year spot contributor at NU before his career is over.

 

[Max_Power]

We are fortunate to have him as a PWO. I am shocked Moser didn't offer him a full ride. He would thrive at Loyola, De Paul, Valpo, Bradley, UIC. He plays with tons of heart and a sweet shot.

Prior to Phil Ralston coming over from Geneva to coach at GBS, this was not a program anyone was looking at for talent. In Ralson's first year (2017-2018) the team went 9-19 and 0-10 in conference. The next year (2018-2019) they went 24-9 but only 4-6 in conference. This year they went 29-5 and 9-1 in conference (OT road loss to Evanston). Last year they had a group of really athletic seniors with Will King (playing D3 at Colby) and Jimmy McMahon. Dom was part of a big three but this year he was the star but its hard for kids who break out as seniors who play in a system program to get attention even when they are making a lot of noise. That said, the Tribune and the Suntimes did an admiral job of trying to get the word out with multiple articles over the year.

I will confess I am a GBS alum and my youngest is still at GBS. I am also the proud dad of a NU '20 grad who finished up his degree winter quarter and just moved back to Evanston where a pretty large and growing group of NU seniors are isolating together and trying to have a fun end of college. These kids are taking this seriously and its nice to see.

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Prior to Phil Ralston coming over from Geneva to coach at GBS, this was not a program anyone was looking at for talent. In Ralson's first year (2017-2018) the team went 9-19 and 0-10 in conference. The next year (2018-2019) they went 24-9 but only 4-6 in conference. This year they went 29-5 and 9-1 in conference (OT road loss to Evanston). Last year they had a group of really athletic seniors with Will King (playing D3 at Colby) and Jimmy McMahon. Dom was part of a big three but this year he was the star but its hard for kids who break out as seniors who play in a system program to get attention even when they are making a lot of noise. That said, the Tribune and the Suntimes did an admiral job of trying to get the word out with multiple articles over the year.

I will confess I am a GBS alum and my youngest is still at GBS. I am also the proud dad of a NU '20 grad who finished up his degree winter quarter and just moved back to Evanston where a pretty large and growing group of NU seniors are isolating together and trying to have a fun end of college. These kids are taking this seriously and its nice to see.

Is his brother the one that missed the free throws in that Evanston game? Had to be heartbreaking for the kid. Dom scored a ton of points against ETHS, shocked that did not get him an offer from Loyola, they need a new Clayton Custer!

Edited to add that I just looked up some of the bios of the Loyola recruits from Chicago, they've really stepped it up. Lucas Williamson led Whitney Young in scoring, and Tom Welch from Naperville was legit. I guess going to the Final Four will do that . . .

 

[NURoseBowl]

Is his brother the one that missed the free throws in that Evanston game? Had to be heartbreaking for the kid. Dom scored a ton of points against ETHS, shocked that did not get him an offer from Loyola, they need a new Clayton Custer!

Edited to add that I just looked up some of the bios of the Loyola recruits from Chicago, they've really stepped it up. Lucas Williamson led Whitney Young in scoring, and Tom Welch from Naperville was legit. I guess going to the Final Four will do that . . .

Interesting comp there, 7th Circuit. Could see some similarities there, though I would guess that Custer was a bit better shooter, perhaps. Would you buy that?

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Interesting comp there, 7th Circuit. Could see some similarities there, though I would guess that Custer was a bit better shooter, perhaps. Would you buy that?

Clayton Custer was a better shooter and also more athletic. Don't forget, he originally started at Iowa State so he got a P5 scholarship, he dropped down a level to get playing time. He was a very good college player.

 

[torque-cat]

My son is a senior at Glenbrook South and is friends with this kid. 6'4", averaged 26 points per game for a very good GBS team. My son just showed me his Instagram that shows a post by Dominic with NU's logo, the word "Committed" and a photo of him playing in a GBS game.

According to my son - smart kid with a great work ethic. Doesn't blow you away with his athleticism but he grinds and does the little things. 26 points per game at a big high school shows he's got some talent.

Perhaps a Walk On. I'm not really sure. But the Instagram post is real.

Article on the kid.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/subu...0200309-wm5ulo3exfbmxknknxybjprhku-story.html

At risk of a default white boy comparison, the first thing I thought of when watching Dom's video is that he has a little Luke Doncic in him. The way he drives, finishes, moves, feel for the defense and to a bit lesser extent how he handles the ball and passes. Not an elite athlete (I'd say a half notch below Miller Kopp as an athletic comparison), but he's fluid, has good size for a guard, seems to have great touch. I can totally see why we'd be reticent to offer him a scholarship and yet super excited to bring him on as a PWO and not surprised if he turns into a very good player. He seems to be a natural scorer which we always desperately need. That said, I am surprised mid-majors weren't all over this kid, he seems exactly like the type who ends up being a study as an upperclassmen coming out of nowhere.

 

[Sec_112]

We are fortunate to have him as a PWO. I am shocked Moser didn't offer him a full ride. He would thrive at Loyola, De Paul, Valpo, Bradley, UIC. He plays with tons of heart and a sweet shot.

I said it already, but allow me to say it again. It's MIND BLOWING that NIU, UIC, Milwaukee, SIU, ISU ... programs of this level ... really didn't show an interest. (But it's also something I cosider when I wonder why the kid didn't get much interest.) I really want to ask these programs, "You really don't want to take a flyer on a 4.0 kid who is a high school scoring machine?!?!" At worst, he's the 12th guy with a good attitude and good grades.

From a scholarship level, I can understand places like Loyola, DePaul and Valpo passing on him. I don't agree with it. But if I squint, I can see it.

But the other programs .. dumb, dumb, and dumb.

Both Martinelli and NU have a great opportunity. I bet it works out for both.

 

[TheC]

I said it already, but allow me to say it again. It's MIND BLOWING that NIU, UIC, Milwaukee, SIU, ISU ... programs of this level ... really didn't show an interest. (But it's also something I cosider when I wonder why the kid didn't get much interest.) I really want to ask these programs, "You really don't want to take a flyer on a 4.0 kid who is a high school scoring machine?!?!" At worst, he's the 12th guy with a good attitude and good grades.

From a scholarship level, I can understand places like Loyola, DePaul and Valpo passing on him. I don't agree with it. But if I squint, I can see it.

But the other programs .. dumb, dumb, and dumb.

Both Martinelli and NU have a great opportunity. I bet it works out for both.

I know nothing about this kid so this is pure speculation, but is it possible this kid never had any interest in a program like that. All things being equal, if you could go to Northwestern, or one of these schools, you'd probably pick NU. This may not have been a basketball decision. He would rather pay his way and go to a top university rather than take the scholarship to go to a smaller, non-elite school. Those programs may have already known that about this kid and so didn't bother recruiting him. Again.... just speculation.

 

[catsattackfor3]

I said it already, but allow me to say it again. It's MIND BLOWING that NIU, UIC, Milwaukee, SIU, ISU ... programs of this level ... really didn't show an interest. (But it's also something I cosider when I wonder why the kid didn't get much interest.) I really want to ask these programs, "You really don't want to take a flyer on a 4.0 kid who is a high school scoring machine?!?!" At worst, he's the 12th guy with a good attitude and good grades.

From a scholarship level, I can understand places like Loyola, DePaul and Valpo passing on him. I don't agree with it. But if I squint, I can see it.

But the other programs .. dumb, dumb, and dumb.

Both Martinelli and NU have a great opportunity. I bet it works out for both.

Many college coaches flat out do not think the kid is athletic enough for their conference nor do they feel he can score at his size like he did in high school. Before everyone says they are wrong they may be. But that is the scouting report. Remember in recruiting it is all in the hands of the recruiters and they like what they like. You cannot make someone like your game and if they are wrong then its their *** on the line. Taking a player as a walk on is low risk, giving a scholarship is major investment one in which many weren't willing to do for the reasons mentioned.

 

[Max_Power]

Many college coaches flat out do not think the kid is athletic enough for their conference nor do they feel he can score at his size like he did in high school. Before everyone says they are wrong they may be. But that is the scouting report. Remember in recruiting it is all in the hands of the recruiters and they like what they like. You cannot make someone like your game and if they are wrong then its their *** on the line. Taking a player as a walk on is low risk, giving a scholarship is major investment one in which many weren't willing to do for the reasons mentioned.

I think this is accurate.

 

[Max_Power]

Is his brother the one that missed the free throws in that Evanston game? Had to be heartbreaking for the kid. Dom scored a ton of points against ETHS, shocked that did not get him an offer from Loyola, they need a new Clayton Custer!

Edited to add that I just looked up some of the bios of the Loyola recruits from Chicago, they've really stepped it up. Lucas Williamson led Whitney Young in scoring, and Tom Welch from Naperville was legit. I guess going to the Final Four will do that . . .

Yes, his little brother missed the free throws. Little at 6'6.

You are also correct about Loyola recruiting. Had the rumors about Collins been true, I still believe Phillips would have taken a hard look at Moser.

 

[loyolacat]

I think for players like Dominic the pandemic is a game changer...He was probably on a lot of schools lists to watch in AAU action this summer....and now? A lot of the summer AAU tournaments are the big evaluation events...For kids who maybe had questions about their game or physical ability the summer was a chance for coaches to see how serious those suspected limitations were...or if the kids had overcome them.....
but lots of times these walk ons play a critical part by providing quality practice for the team
Custer was no where near 6'4....smaller than they said as well....he was a tremendous decision maker..great defender, tenacious and super nice kid.his shooting actually fell off his senior year.

 

[catsattackfor3]

Yes, his little brother missed the free throws. Little at 6'6.

You are also correct about Loyola recruiting. Had the rumors about Collins been true, I still believe Phillips would have taken a hard look at Moser.

My thoughts on Moser's name being floated for job is this. He seems like a nice guy and that run at Loyola was magical. But in almost 30 years as a D1 coach as both an assistant and a Head Coach the guy has been to the NCAA tourney 1 time! I mean that was unbelievable but it seems as though he caught lightening in a bottle. It wasn't like his program was building to it, it came out of no where. I think he is perfect for Loyola and I do not think he would be on my list for a long term solution of a coach.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Yes, his little brother missed the free throws. Little at 6'6.

You are also correct about Loyola recruiting. Had the rumors about Collins been true, I still believe Phillips would have taken a hard look at Moser.

Would have been dumb. If Collins leaves this year, you hire PBS and land PBJ and Max Christie, and we are on our way.

 

[rwhitney014]

Strus is a really good athlete. This kid does not compare athletically to Strus but I wouldn't bet against him. My guess is that Martinelli ends up being a multi year spot contributor at NU before his career is over.

C'mon, corbi, just let me enjoy my facile comparison for a kid I hadn't heard of till yesterday. We've got Luka Doncic comps flying around here on him. I love it.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

Prior to Phil Ralston coming over from Geneva to coach at GBS, this was not a program anyone was looking at for talent. In Ralson's first year (2017-2018) the team went 9-19 and 0-10 in conference. The next year (2018-2019) they went 24-9 but only 4-6 in conference. This year they went 29-5 and 9-1 in conference (OT road loss to Evanston). Last year they had a group of really athletic seniors with Will King (playing D3 at Colby) and Jimmy McMahon. Dom was part of a big three but this year he was the star but its hard for kids who break out as seniors who play in a system program to get attention even when they are making a lot of noise. That said, the Tribune and the Suntimes did an admiral job of trying to get the word out with multiple articles over the year.

I will confess I am a GBS alum and my youngest is still at GBS. I am also the proud dad of a NU '20 grad who finished up his degree winter quarter and just moved back to Evanston where a pretty large and growing group of NU seniors are isolating together and trying to have a fun end of college. These kids are taking this seriously and its nice to see.

Glad they are having some success at South. I know they haven't had great success over the years.

I have a soft spot for them as I attended the old combined Glenbrook as a freshman and then attended South the year it opened when I was a sophomore. We only had freshman and sophomores at the school that year, so we played our sophomore games with a Friday night varsity-style atmosphere that confused our opponents, who wondered why sophomore games were such a big deal.

I was the sophomore student basketball manager for the team that year, which basically consisted of keeping track of the uniforms, putting game lineups on the scoreboard (we inserted letters into slots to spell out the names of the players — relatively sophisticated for the time), keeping stats, cleaning basketballs, and whatever else came along, so I guess I was the school's first student basketball manager. Two ninth-graders also served as managers that year. I remember voting for the school colors and selecting the school nickname (today's students are lucky it's Titans as there were some weird choices). I actually voted for purple and white — NU colors — but blue and gold won. The Titan Dome was really considered something at that time

Moved to Pa. after sophomore year, which ended my short GBS sports career.

 

[Katatonic]

I'd gladly trade a bit of athleticism for someone who just has that shooting stroke.

Can't see DM not being at least as athletic as Craig Moore or (for a taller comparison), Coble.

Can see him coming off the bench to bring some pop to the O.

 

[NJCat]

Can't see DM not being at least as athletic as (for a taller comparison), Coble.

.

Seriously????

 

[Ghost96]

@lou v : at the request of my son (who attends GBS, is friends with DM and as a lifelong NU fan (thanks to yours truly) is completely stoked about his commitment) we would love if you posted a Q&A with Dominic. My son says he's a really nice kid who kept his head down throughout HS, avoided the party scene and just focused on academics & hoops. Whether or not he is B1G caliber athletically (I'm not qualified to judge), sounds like exactly the type of person we want representing our University. Anyway, considering the abundance of spare time these days, if you could fill some of it with a story about our local high school legend turned NU PWO, we'd be grateful. Thanks in advance!

 

[Max_Power]

Glad they are having some success at South. I know they haven't had great success over the years.

I have a soft spot for them as I attended the old combined Glenbrook as a freshman and then attended South the year it opened when I was a sophomore. We only had freshman and sophomores at the school that year, so we played our sophomore games with a Friday night varsity-style atmosphere that confused our opponents, who wondered why sophomore games were such a big deal.

I was the sophomore student basketball manager for the team that year, which basically consisted of keeping track of the uniforms, putting game lineups on the scoreboard (we inserted letters into slots to spell out the names of the players — relatively sophisticated for the time), keeping stats, cleaning basketballs, and whatever else came along, so I guess I was the school's first student basketball manager. Two ninth-graders also served as managers that year. I remember voting for the school colors and selecting the school nickname (today's students are lucky it's Titans as there were some weird choices). I actually voted for purple and white — NU colors — but blue and gold won. The Titan Dome was really considered something at that time

Moved to Pa. after sophomore year, which ended my short GBS sports career.

The Titan Dome still stands. I walk by it with my dogs every day.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0887384,-87.8537878,830m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

[willycat]

I know nothing about this kid so this is pure speculation, but is it possible this kid never had any interest in a program like that. All things being equal, if you could go to Northwestern, or one of these schools, you'd probably pick NU. This may not have been a basketball decision. He would rather pay his way and go to a top university rather than take the scholarship to go to a smaller, non-elite school. Those programs may have already known that about this kid and so didn't bother recruiting him. Again.... just speculation.

Am I right in thinking that a "Preferred Walk-on" is guaranteed a scholarship somewhere down the line? If not what does one get? Team meals? Training with staff? Help from tutors? Travel to away games? Anything else?

 

[Ghost96]

I don’t think there are any guarantees for a scholarship. I do think PWOs come with an expectation that if they put in the work, they will be more than just a body in practice.

I will be interested to see if DM redshirts. From an athletic perspective he absolutely should. But can you imagine a fifth NU year if you’re paying rack rate? If he does RS, might be an indication that he expects a scholarship down the road (or that he’ll grad transfer and play his final season elsewhere).

 

[NUCat320]

I was the sophomore student basketball manager for the team that year, which basically consisted of keeping track of the uniforms, putting game lineups on the scoreboard (we inserted letters into slots to spell out the names of the players — relatively sophisticated for the time), keeping stats, cleaning basketballs, and whatever else came along, so I guess I was the school's first student basketball manager. Two ninth-graders also served as managers that year. I remember voting for the school colors and selecting the school nickname (today's students are lucky it's Titans as there were some weird choices). I actually voted for purple and white — NU colors — but blue and gold won. The Titan Dome was really considered something at that time.

GBS ‘98 here. Do you remember any of the options?? Titans is relatively esoteric, tho fun to yell. (And the fight song is an all-time great.)

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Am I right in thinking that a "Preferred Walk-on" is guaranteed a scholarship somewhere down the line? If not what does one get? Team meals? Training with staff? Help from tutors? Travel to away games? Anything else?

I think most importantly it gets you help with admissions. Remember that scandal with Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman? Part of that scandal was parents paying coaches to identify their kids as preferred athletes.