Nojel Eastern to the transfer portal
- Thread starter ParisCat_rivals
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I’d imagine it would depend heavily on whether he is immediately eligible or would have to sit a year. If immediately eligible, I think CCC would be foolish not to pursue him as a one-year guy who could compete with Gaines/Audige for a starting spot before ushering in what will hopefully be a banner 2021 class.
Purdue’s Rivals site seemed to suggest because he is not a grad transfer he’d have to sit out. Don’t know if that’s true, but if it is the case, I think you probably pass? But curious what others think.
Purdue’s Rivals site seemed to suggest because he is not a grad transfer he’d have to sit out. Don’t know if that’s true, but if it is the case, I think you probably pass? But curious what others think.
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I don't think he would qualify academically. That was the rap out of HS. He was told by NU to hit certain academic marks to get an offer, and he chose to go in a different direction.
I also don't see how he would fill a need. Either immediately or in the grand scheme. He is an offensive liability beyond 5 feet from the basket. A strange but true quality for a point guard.
GOUNUII
I think this is a pass. In Purdue's game against Northwestern last year he didn't even score! I would rather the minutes go to the young guys like Berry.
When you only have 10 scholarship players (like the Cats in 2020-21) why would you pass on a 1 year player (assuming he is a Grad Transfer)?
He became such a different player at Purdue than he was as a HS player.
In HS he was a defensive stud because he was a man amongst boys, but ran the offense....and I mean really well...unbelievably unselfish (alliteration) for a boy his age....and he sacrificed his scoring to involve his teammates. Saw that his frosh year at Purdue and then more and more of a defensive specialist.
I don't get it.
I think the admissions issue was that he was unwilling to add some classes he needed to be considered. Don't know that he had poor grades/test score. Regardless, the young man is smart.
But, if DePaul has a scholly, way easier to go to DePaul. Also, Loyola has recruited like crazy...could go to Loyola.
In HS he was a defensive stud because he was a man amongst boys, but ran the offense....and I mean really well...unbelievably unselfish (alliteration) for a boy his age....and he sacrificed his scoring to involve his teammates. Saw that his frosh year at Purdue and then more and more of a defensive specialist.
I don't get it.
I think the admissions issue was that he was unwilling to add some classes he needed to be considered. Don't know that he had poor grades/test score. Regardless, the young man is smart.
But, if DePaul has a scholly, way easier to go to DePaul. Also, Loyola has recruited like crazy...could go to Loyola.
He's a defensive stud. Really, really good. Unfortunately, offensively, other than the occasional score after hitting a smaller opponent with his butt, he gives you nothing.
He looked so damn good his SO year. With Edwards and Cline, he did not have much pressure to score. That all changed dramatically last year.
He would be foolish to consider NU. He fits much better in a team where he does not feel pressure to do more than defend and be a good passer.
He looked so damn good his SO year. With Edwards and Cline, he did not have much pressure to score. That all changed dramatically last year.
He would be foolish to consider NU. He fits much better in a team where he does not feel pressure to do more than defend and be a good passer.
I think this is probably right, and the fact that haywood liked it only confirms that.
Still, as it stands, NU has only 10 scholarship players for the upcoming season. And basically five guys that played together for any meaningful length of time in actual games last season (Buie, Kopp, Nance, Beran, Young). Audige has not seen actual time outside of practice. Gaines played in 10 games. Greer got spot minutes.
Eastern doesn't really fill a "need," I agree, but NU could use a veteran presence nonetheless. If he is immediately eligible, wants to be close to home and comes in knowing that he may only get ~20 mins a game and will be counted on to bring the young guys along, I don't see how CCC could turn him away. Unless, of course, grades.
NU is a team that struggles to score consistently. Adding Eastern would be a big mistake.
Eastern was a starter on a decent Big Ten team. NU does not have a roster full of guys would would start on decent Big Ten teams. If a scholly is available, it would be a good idea to use it to bring in a player who started on a decent Big Ten team, regardless of whether he fills a need or not.
Depth is good.
Proven starters in the Big Ten on your roster is good.
Depth is good.
Proven starters in the Big Ten on your roster is good.
Can you imagine a lineup with Eastern and Gaines, plus our height and length inside? Most opponents would struggle to score consistently as well.
In theory, you could play them with Kopp, Nance, and Buie, all three of whom have shown they can score. I don't know. Eastern would not be a perfect fit, but to quote a Mike Singletary rant from many years back ... I want winners.
Maybe it's just me, but having an 11th scholarship player who started at Purdue to provide some depth and keep players like Kopp and Audige fresh would probably help, not hurt, the scoring effort.
I get what you're saying, but if Eastern is a one-year player in 2020-21, he's not taking a roster spot from anyone else.
Exactly. You’d rather have Greer out there off the bench? Eastern isn’t perfect, but he’s good.
Do you think Eastern would want to transfer to NU to come off the bench? Hell, he can do that at Purdue. I would rather give the guard minutes next year to Gaines, Boo, Berry, Audige, and even 2 minutes to Greer.
he also could shoot in high school. I thought he was a top 25 player in the country at the end of his junior year.
he started having trouble at the line and even started shooting with the wrong hand as a senior.
I think he has the yips shooting.
I would take Eastern if we could get him. He is talented and a proven D1 player. While all three can score and I am excited to see them in the future, scoring consistently has not been a strength of NU.
Buie is very streaky. Nance came on late and if he plays next season like he did towards the end (with off season improvements) I could see NU scoring pretty well while he's on the court.
Kopp can't be the primary offensive on a NU tourney team. So solid and finding the flow of an offense and scoring from there but lacks the ability to create scoring opportunities with the ball in his hands. Great catch and shoot player and would be an amazing 2nd-3rd scoring option. Think when buie was hot having kopp as an additional weapon to kick it out to.
I was under the impression McClung only had one year of eligibility remaining. He had initially applied for the NBA draft but pulled back and ultimately decided to transfer from Georgetown for his senior season.
Even at NU, he's a spot duty player, and I'm not sure why he'd transfer for that role here unless he just wants to be close to home. Just some perspective: He's 56% at the line and 19% from three over his career. If we had a lottery-pick player who can generate points when needed, maybe it would make sense to have him on the floor more. But teams would be playing 5 on 4 when we had possession. Defensive players like him are more valuable as rim protectors.
Yeah, a guy like that definitely wouldn’t add value at NU. Good thing the board decided he was a firm pass. Wonder why Michigan thought he was worth a scholly?
(Side note: he must not be that smart after all if he committed a day after putting his name in the transfer portal. Sure makes it pretty clear Howard was tampering with guys already on a conference foe’s roster. That’s not gonna win him any favors among his colleagues...)
So now a guy considering leaving early for the NBA is a spot duty player at NU? Either he way over values himself or NU has got much better!