NU offers 2019 Rivals250 guard

lou v

All-Conference
Staff member
Aug 27, 2004
17,521
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Chris Collins was at Gladstone (NJ) Gill St. Bernard’s School to offer 6-4 guard Paul Mulcahy, the No. 141 player in the nation.

If that school sounds familiar, it’s the alma mater of former NU commit and then decommit Jaren Sina.

 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
63
Chris Collins was at Gladstone (NJ) Gill St. Bernard’s School to offer 6-4 guard Paul Mulcahy, the No. 141 player in the nation.

If that school sounds familiar, it’s the alma mater of former NU commit and then decommit Jaren Sina.


Head scratcher offer IMHO.

GOUNUII
 

hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
37,210
1,068
113
Chris Collins was at Gladstone (NJ) Gill St. Bernard’s School to offer 6-4 guard Paul Mulcahy, the No. 141 player in the nation.

If that school sounds familiar, it’s the alma mater of former NU commit and then decommit Jaren Sina.

So maybe this time they will get it right and actually get him here.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
63

Sub par athlete by BIG standards.

Poor shooting fundamentals.

Very good handle and passing skills are redundant to what Lathon was recruited for.

Shows the potential to be high maintenance, low production.

A taller version of Sina? Too much hype. Not enough game.

GOUNUII
 

DaCat

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
25,496
1,878
113
Sub par athlete by BIG standards.

Poor shooting fundamentals.

Very good handle and passing skills are redundant to what Lathon was recruited for.

Shows the potential to be high maintenance, low production.

A taller version of Sina? Too much hype. Not enough game.

GOUNUII

Quit beating around the bush and tell us what you REALLY think! ;)

We are all entitled to our opinions. I guess Collins and his staff see a different player.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
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Quit beating around the bush and tell us what you REALLY think! ;)

We are all entitled to our opinions. I guess Collins and his staff see a different player.

Or they see the very same player and believe this is as good as they can realistically shoot for at this point in the process. History would support this version.
I was obviously reluctant to be specific. Provided some details only at the request of others. Left out others. I take no pleasure in providing a poor scouting report.

GOUNUII
 

catcrazy

Sophomore
Aug 5, 2001
3,775
123
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Why would u say that. We are a little disappointing on the court this year but he is offering because Collins sees potential. It may take a few more years of making the tournament before we reach higher heights in terms of recruiting but Collins has proven thus far to be a good developer of players who have talent that just needs coaching. Most of his players improve not regress. We will never consistently get one and dones but I think that is bad for basketball anyway. I think this year we miss Baldwin more than most people think. I hope Donlon can make his mark. Time will tell.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
63
Why would u say that. We are a little disappointing on the court this year but he is offering because Collins sees potential. It may take a few more years of making the tournament before we reach higher heights in terms of recruiting but Collins has proven thus far to be a good developer of players who have talent that just needs coaching. Most of his players improve not regress. We will never consistently get one and dones but I think that is bad for basketball anyway. I think this year we miss Baldwin more than most people think. I hope Donlon can make his mark. Time will tell.

Why would who say what? One and dones? Where did that come from?

You have no idea why Collins is offering. Need + best available drives a lot of recruiting decisions. Talent? We have at most 7 BIG level talents on the roster. That's including anybody at or above minimum, baseline BIG talent. 3 of them are in their last year. 2 more have just one more year of eligibility. And you're talking about getting to more dances. With who? The 2018 freshmen?

I have said before and will say again. Either you understand that Collins must hit it big in the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes. Or you don't know college basketball. His window of opportunity is already beginning to close. One nice class with huge holes still to fill won't get it done. Sub par athletes who shoot the ball from their hip don't fair well vs the athletes even the likes of Nebraska and PSU are putting on the floor. And heaven forbid we don't get a couple big guys like Pardon in these next 2 classes. Turn out the lights if that doesn't happen.

Northwestern sobriety is a ***** sometimes.

GOUNUII
 

willycat

Junior
Jan 11, 2005
21,448
318
0
Why would who say what? One and dones? Where did that come from?

You have no idea why Collins is offering. Need + best available drives a lot of recruiting decisions. Talent? We have at most 7 BIG level talents on the roster. That's including anybody at or above minimum, baseline BIG talent. 3 of them are in their last year. 2 more have just one more year of eligibility. And you're talking about getting to more dances. With who? The 2018 freshmen?

I have said before and will say again. Either you understand that Collins must hit it big in the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes. Or you don't know college basketball. His window of opportunity is already beginning to close. One nice class with huge holes still to fill won't get it done. Sub par athletes who shoot the ball from their hip don't fair well vs the athletes even the likes of Nebraska and PSU are putting on the floor. And heaven forbid we don't get a couple big guys like Pardon in these next 2 classes. Turn out the lights if that doesn't happen.

Northwestern sobriety is a ***** sometimes.

GOUNUII
Just a reminder that Carmody got 13 years and never made the "Dance". That's all.
 

freewillie07

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2017
5,240
100
33
Why would who say what? One and dones? Where did that come from?

You have no idea why Collins is offering. Need + best available drives a lot of recruiting decisions. Talent? We have at most 7 BIG level talents on the roster. That's including anybody at or above minimum, baseline BIG talent. 3 of them are in their last year. 2 more have just one more year of eligibility. And you're talking about getting to more dances. With who? The 2018 freshmen?

I have said before and will say again. Either you understand that Collins must hit it big in the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes. Or you don't know college basketball. His window of opportunity is already beginning to close. One nice class with huge holes still to fill won't get it done. Sub par athletes who shoot the ball from their hip don't fair well vs the athletes even the likes of Nebraska and PSU are putting on the floor. And heaven forbid we don't get a couple big guys like Pardon in these next 2 classes. Turn out the lights if that doesn't happen.

Northwestern sobriety is a ***** sometimes.

GOUNUII

I agree with you. The 2018 class is a solid foundation but to get to that next level NU needs to get similar players in the coming years. Need an entire roster of Big Ten baseline talent, which doesn’t seem to exist with this year’s team.

This offer is fine only if you frame it in the context of looking for a player who can safely run the offense as Lathon’s backup. You mention his ballhandling — quite frankly this has been sorely lacking on NU for the last several years, BMac excluded. Only this year have Ash and Law showed they can even bring the ball up the court.

Teams that have truly “made it” don’t offer backups, though.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
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I agree with you. The 2018 class is a solid foundation but to get to that next level NU needs to get similar players in the coming years. Need an entire roster of Big Ten baseline talent, which doesn’t seem to exist with this year’s team.

This offer is fine only if you frame it in the context of looking for a player who can safely run the offense as Lathon’s backup. You mention his ballhandling — quite frankly this has been sorely lacking on NU for the last several years, BMac excluded. Only this year have Ash and Law showed they can even bring the ball up the court.

Teams that have truly “made it” don’t offer backups, though.

A power 5 backup is a fair projection. Maybe an A10 starter in the right situation.

GOUNUII
 

Walker Fan

Freshman
Feb 16, 2015
751
88
0
I don’t think we can make overarching negative generalizations about a high school junior. Every report that I have read has Mulcahy as a rising junior who has a number of offers including Seton Hall, Rutgers, SMU, NU and other teams showing high interest like Villanova and Maryland. Villanova is one of the top 3 programs in the nation over the past 5 years.

At 6’5”, he is not Jaren Sina who was 6’1” and never clicked in college. I saw him play at Seton Hall and his game never fit. Bottom line is Collins has hit on Law, McIntosh, Lindsey, Skelly, Pardon, Falzon (injuries irrespective), Benson, Gaines and the jury is still out on Turner, Brown, Rap and Ash who has developed his game after his sophomore year. The misses are Vasser. And then there is the talented 4 man class of 2018-2019. So 8 solid Big 10 level recruiting hits, 1 miss and 4 undecided due to lack of playing time and injury. Much better than ever seen at NU.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
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I don’t think we can make overarching negative generalizations about a high school junior. Every report that I have read has Mulcahy as a rising junior who has a number of offers including Seton Hall, Rutgers, SMU, NU and other teams showing high interest like Villanova and Maryland. Villanova is one of the top 3 programs in the nation over the past 5 years.

At 6’5”, he is not Jaren Sina who was 6’1” and never clicked in college. I saw him play at Seton Hall and his game never fit. Bottom line is Collins has hit on Law, McIntosh, Lindsey, Skelly, Pardon, Falzon (injuries irrespective), Benson, Gaines and the jury is still out on Turner, Brown, Rap and Ash who has developed his game after his sophomore year. The misses are Vasser. And then there is the talented 4 man class of 2018-2019. So 8 solid Big 10 level recruiting hits, 1 miss and 4 undecided due to lack of playing time and injury. Much better than ever seen at NU.

A few clarifications and comments.

1. There are no overarching negative generalizations in my film evaluation of Mulcahy. Everything I reluctantly shared with the board was vey specific.
2. Other offers and interests is one of the most misleading "indicators" you could choose to rely on. Other programs including elite ones often target a crafty ball handler/passer who fits a specific need in their system and in relation to the rest of their roster. I go to that indicator only after seeing enough film to assess what the prospect projects to in relation to Collins' needs.
3. Your 8-1-4 assessment is very generous. The jury is not out on any of the 4 you mention. Turner is a very solid BIG player/starter. Brown and Ash have shown momentary flashes of either offense or defense as any MAC level player would in the BIG. Rap has a very, very long way to go for us to ever know for sure. I wish him the best.
4. I've been a big fan of Gaines since I first saw him play. Benson is and will be what he has been. A down the bench BIG center who can give you some minutes.
5. Couldn't agree more with the much better than ever seen at NU comment. But without very strong recruiting classes in 2019 and 2020, filled largely with players that have even more skills than B-Mac and Lindsey and Law and Pardon, we will soon slip back into the pack ... far removed from any more NCAA tourneys.

GOUNUII
 

DaCat

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
25,496
1,878
113
I vouch for GOUNUII, it's usually good to get a perspective through another lens than the usual rose-colored ones that fans like to use. That said, I trust Collins and the staff on this one.
 

Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
0
Sub par athlete by BIG standards.

Poor shooting fundamentals.

Very good handle and passing skills are redundant to what Lathon was recruited for.

Shows the potential to be high maintenance, low production.

A taller version of Sina? Too much hype. Not enough game.

GOUNUII

No on the poor shooting fundamentals. He's got to adjust his release point a bit but that's a small fix. Contrast that with Shurna who shot at 3 o'clock for for four years, went to NBA summer league and was getting blocked by guys a half-foot shorter, then, finally, changed his shot.

Kid has nice hops and is a pass-first player.

What the tape doesn't show is defense and defensive grit. If the coaches see live a kid committed to tough defense, what his tape shows on offense rounds out a decent player.
 
Jun 18, 2005
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I vouch for GOUNUII, it's usually good to get a perspective through another lens than the usual rose-colored ones that fans like to use. That said, I trust Collins and the staff on this one.

Great post.

Good discourse requires multiple and sometimes differing views. I think GOUNUII presented an argument in a manner that can drive conversation, not derail it. I may not argee with all the takes, but I'm able to appreciate the different point of view.
 
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GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
63
I think these two comments are absolutely unnecessary. Unless you know the kid personally, calling him high matentaince is wrong.

I didn't call him high maintenance. I said he showed the potential for it. And he did. A standard part of any in the business prospect evaluation. Something a coach would have to investigate further to get a better, more reliable read.

Now ... that being said ... actually calling him high maintenance would be both wrong and unnecessary. On that we can agree.

Let's let this play out. Nobody bats 1000 on prospect evaluations.

GOUNUII
 
Aug 31, 2001
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I didn't call him high maintenance. I said he showed the potential for it. And he did. A standard part of any in the business prospect evaluation. Something a coach would have to investigate further to get a better, more reliable read.

Now ... that being said ... actually calling him high maintenance would be both wrong and unnecessary. On that we can agree.

Let's let this play out. Nobody bats 1000 on prospect evaluations.

GOUNUII

What makes you think he has the potential to be high-maintenance?
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
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What makes you think he has the potential to be high-maintenance?

The film. May only be a maturity issue. Something that will pass with time. May be a self awareness issue. Many of these kids need to be humbled. May be nothing at all. I just saw a little too much "look at me" to ignore it completely.

BTW ... I use high maintenance broadly in describing athletes. It means only that they will require more than an average amount of help in dealing with the mental/emotional demands of playing a team game at a high level. Lindsey has been high maintenance at times. Pardon and Law and B-Mac not so much.

GOUNUII
 

scru

Redshirt
Sep 4, 2005
2,388
8
0
A few clarifications and comments.

1. There are no overarching negative generalizations in my film evaluation of Mulcahy. Everything I reluctantly shared with the board was vey specific.
2. Other offers and interests is one of the most misleading "indicators" you could choose to rely on. Other programs including elite ones often target a crafty ball handler/passer who fits a specific need in their system and in relation to the rest of their roster. I go to that indicator only after seeing enough film to assess what the prospect projects to in relation to Collins' needs.
3. Your 8-1-4 assessment is very generous. The jury is not out on any of the 4 you mention. Turner is a very solid BIG player/starter. Brown and Ash have shown momentary flashes of either offense or defense as any MAC level player would in the BIG. Rap has a very, very long way to go for us to ever know for sure. I wish him the best.
4. I've been a big fan of Gaines since I first saw him play. Benson is and will be what he has been. A down the bench BIG center who can give you some minutes.
5. Couldn't agree more with the much better than ever seen at NU comment. But without very strong recruiting classes in 2019 and 2020, filled largely with players that have even more skills than B-Mac and Lindsey and Law and Pardon, we will soon slip back into the pack ... far removed from any more NCAA tourneys.

GOUNUII

When you refer to B1G level talent, do you really mean B1G starter / core 5 level talent? There are plenty of bench guys around the league comparable to ours. I think the issue is the lack of All-B1G level talent at the top of the roster who can carry a team and take over games. Swanigan, Marylands PG last year, Happ, etc. I think thats what we're missing. The end of the bench is pretty irrelevant in basketball. Thoughts?
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
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When you refer to B1G level talent, do you really mean B1G starter / core 5 level talent? There are plenty of bench guys around the league comparable to ours. I think the issue is the lack of All-B1G level talent at the top of the roster who can carry a team and take over games. Swanigan, Marylands PG last year, Happ, etc. I think thats what we're missing. The end of the bench is pretty irrelevant in basketball. Thoughts?

I’m referring to players you can win with at this level of competition. And yes .. it would be great to have a dominant “ best player on the floor “ type player. That makes everything easier for us and harder on the competition. They also typically make their teammates far more effective.

We need to be able to go 8 or 9 deep in players you can win with. Because we don’t have the air craft carrier. And our next best struggle too often for various reasons.

GOUNUII
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
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When you refer to B1G level talent, do you really mean B1G starter / core 5 level talent? There are plenty of bench guys around the league comparable to ours. I think the issue is the lack of All-B1G level talent at the top of the roster who can carry a team and take over games. Swanigan, Marylands PG last year, Happ, etc. I think thats what we're missing. The end of the bench is pretty irrelevant in basketball. Thoughts?
I'm making no assumptions and I have watched no film, but I hope that NU's offers for the class of 2019 - nearly nine months from the signing period - are guys considered A-listers and potential All-B1G players.

Nance and Lathon were June commits. Kopp was September. Young, probably considered a project with the ceiling of the others but not the floor, was a late August commit.

While @GOUNUII and CCC disagree on this prospect's relative floor and perhaps ceiling, I think it's safe to say that a program won't ascend by offering potential non-rotation guys in January.

So, I tend to agree with the importance of the bench - lots of teams play six or seven in March. But I sure hope NU isn't offering solid practice guys right now. (I don't think they are.)
 

NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,326
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But I sure hope NU isn't offering solid practice guys right now. (I don't think they are.)
R-E-L-A-X.

This kid is rated 92+ by 247, and would be one of NU's highest rated recruits ever aside from the top three in the Class of 2018. To conclude NU is offering "practice guys" now is just absurd. Their current offer list is players who have offers from Kansas and Duke among many others. Mulcahy is the lowest rated but still stands head and shoulders above the high school ratings of McIntosh, Lindsey, Brown, Ash and Vassar........
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
0
R-E-L-A-X.

This kid is rated 92+ by 247, and would be one of NU's highest rated recruits ever aside from the top three in the Class of 2018. To conclude NU is offering "practice guys" now is just absurd. Their current offer list is players who have offers from Kansas and Duke among many others. Mulcahy is the lowest rated but still stands head and shoulders above the high school ratings of McIntosh, Lindsey, Brown, Ash and Vassar........
You relax, bro. You're terrible at reading. I wrote that NU certainly doesn't see him as a bench guy, and that I have watched no film.
 

Figrating

Redshirt
Dec 19, 2007
3,568
30
0
GOU has a keen eye, but so does CCC, and if CCC goes to the trouble he did, there's got to be something about this recruit that he wants.

Believe in CCC? Then hope with all your heart this kid signs.

Hey, Paul - we got a BRAND NEW ARENA! Lakeviews! HOT chiquitas ( a tradition!) (with a few lit majors)! Sign today!
 

mikewebb68

Senior
Oct 24, 2009
9,811
501
113
A power 5 backup is a fair projection. Maybe an A10 starter in the right situation.

GOUNUII

I truly hope this guy commits and makes you eat your words in a few years. CCC believes he is a excellent player or he would not made the offer but GOUNUII thinks he's an A10 starter in the right situation. No offense, but I think I'll side with the guy who took us to the Dance in just four years here.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
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I truly hope this guy commits and makes you eat your words in a few years. CCC believes he is a excellent player or he would not made the offer but GOUNUII thinks he's an A10 starter in the right situation. No offense, but I think I'll side with the guy who took us to the Dance in just four years here.

I hope for the same thing 68. And yes. I'll eat my words ... happily. In the meantime ...

Remember D. Cohill? Top 60 4 star recruit with high major offers, including NU, at this same time last year. I offered the same opinion then as I did now with Mulcahy. An opinion that definitely went against the grain of his offers and elite ranking. And when the dust settled Cohill ended up at Dayton ... in the A-10. Like I said before in this thread, I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming CCC's evaluation is all that different than mine. That isn't necessarily the case. In Cohill's case we ended up on the same page...might even have been there together all along.

GOUNUII
 

Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
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I hope for the same thing 68. And yes. I'll eat my words ... happily. In the meantime ...

Remember D. Cohill? Top 60 4 star recruit with high major offers, including NU, at this same time last year. I offered the same opinion then as I did now with Mulcahy. An opinion that definitely went against the grain of his offers and elite ranking. And when the dust settled Cohill ended up at Dayton ... in the A-10. Like I said before in this thread, I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming CCC's evaluation is all that different than mine. That isn't necessarily the case. In Cohill's case we ended up on the same page...might even have been there together all along.

GOUNUII

It's an interesting point. Collins offered Drew Peterson and Finke as well, and then backed away from those offers (along with other schools). So the argument can be made both ways. But if you're not in early on a kid like Kopp or Talen Horton Tucker before they blow up, you have zero chance of getting them at the end.

I'll just make the point again...the tapes never show defense and defense is half the game. NU has a kid right now...Gaines....whose tape might classify him as a lesser conference guard....but based on his D he's headed for the NBA.