Eric Bossi caught up with Northwestern target Patrick Baldwin Jr., the No. 3 player in the 2021 class.
Highland Shootout: Patrick Baldwin Jr. breaks down recruitment
Highland Shootout: Patrick Baldwin Jr. breaks down recruitment
NU still in hunt for 2021 5-star phenom Patrick Baldwin Jr.
- Thread starter lou v
- Start date
It's a long shot, I know, but certainly the best chance we will likely ever have to get a top 5 player. I think the biggest challenge would be convincing him that he has a chance to compete with the best teams in the country. It would certainly be a very competitive lineup if our younger players progress as hoped with Nance (Sr.), Beran (Jr.), Young (4th year) and Nicholson (So.) as our big guys, Kopp (Sr.), Baldwin, Audige (4th year) and Gaines (5th year) as our wings and Berry (So.), Bouie (Jr.) and Greer (Sr.) as our point guards. Along with any other blue chip recruits in Baldwin's class (which I am guessing we would get if he committed). Given how painful the past couple of seasons have been, it's nice to dream.
"Player development and the players around me, I think those are the two most important things to me. I think academics will always take care of itself and I will always have the opportunity to go back and get my degree. I just think for those years in college that player development and the players around me matter."
This part is not great for NU.
This part is not great for NU.
"Player development and the players around me, I think those are the two most important things to me. I think academics will always take care of itself and I will always have the opportunity to go back and get my degree. I just think for those years in college that player development and the players around me matter."
We don't have the greatest track record on developing players post 2014.
But his dad knows CC. So I am sure the young man has heard, from a very knowledgeable source, if it's a good place for him to develop.
The really painful part about this is that we know if he came, there would be a good chance we could land another really high profile guy. Ugh. Back to reality now
We don't have the greatest track record on developing players post 2014.
But his dad knows CC. So I am sure the young man has heard, from a very knowledgeable source, if it's a good place for him to develop.
The really painful part about this is that we know if he came, there would be a good chance we could land another really high profile guy. Ugh. Back to reality now
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I don't know. As I said in my post, the roster should be very competitive in two years (Beran and Bouie have the potential to be all-conference type players by then and Nance has the size and skill set to develop into a very good player) and Collins has coached a lot of elite players. I have questioned his ability to develop less than elite players but he certainly had a hand in helping get a lot of kids at Duke to the pro's. Certainly, Baldwin, Sr. knows better than anyone (for good or bad) so I hope they have a great relationship.
Is the thesis that the elite schools like Kansas, Duke, Louisville and Kentucky know how to develop players? I'd need to see more proof of that. Seems like a lot of good players sit and, with some of the schools, transfer. The elite players move on to the pros.
I'd argue that between Collins' experience with the Olympics and James' experience in the NBA, NU is ok in regards to the elites.
Reading the piece and what he said about his dad, it's difficult for me to want him to go anywhere other than U-W Milwaukee.
I'd argue that between Collins' experience with the Olympics and James' experience in the NBA, NU is ok in regards to the elites.
Reading the piece and what he said about his dad, it's difficult for me to want him to go anywhere other than U-W Milwaukee.
How do we sell that? "Hey, we have a goofy record in player development, but so does Louisville"?
Like you I loved what he said about this dad. Maybe I should stop giving my Mrs. grief about rom-coms. There is the theory that if you are good the NBA will find you. Ja Morant is the poster boy for that. But I'd guess the evidence points more towards mid major players being undervalued in the draft. And the draft is where PBJ is going.
I thought so too at first, but it’s possible the thinking is that he could play at NU for a year or two and then return later for a full degree when he’s ready for the next chapter of his career? I don’t really know what the general NCAA policy is around that.
I hate to say it, but this sounds like a guy who wants to be part of a Fab 5 kind of a class somewhere, shine for a year, and then move on to the NBA. Unless he can convince a bunch of his buddies to all go to Evanston, I'm not holding my breath on this one.
I would still call NU a longshot with the competition they're facing, but several sources have told me that they are a legit contender for Baldwin. Here's why:
- Family ties. He grew up around the program. He's tight with Coach Collins. His dad played and coached there, etc.
- Max Christie, another five-star 2021 whose mother played for NU, is still out there. NU is pitching them both to come to NU, change the program and become legends. (Bryce Hopkins was part of the original pitch, too, but he committed to Louisville.)
- They have top-notch facilities on par with the big boys (minus the trophy cases and banners).
- In two years, NU could be pretty damn good, when Kopp and Nance will be seniors, and Buie, Young and Beran will be juniors. We haven't seen them yet, but Berry and Nicholson will be sophomores. That's a pretty strong roster. Not by Duke and Kentucky standards, but, with a stud like Baldwin and/or Christie, they could make some serious noise.
A number of years ago, when his dad was giving a pregame spiel in the N Club room, I poured him out some soft-serve ice cream. So I figure we're a lock.
Thanks for this, Lou. Agree, the Max Christie element makes this interesting and arguably more of a potential reality. He's literally in NU's backyard in the NW Chicago suburbs.
The idea of Baldwin and Christie, with the better of Buie/Berry, Nance/Beran and Young/Jones/Nicholson rounding out the starting 5... you have to think is a contender in the Big Ten.
Reading the piece and what he said about his dad, it's difficult for me to want him to go anywhere other than U-W Milwaukee.
As a NU fan first and foremost, as well as a season ticket holder for a Horizon League school, I wouldn’t mind this for Plan B.
As a NU fan first and foremost, as well as a season ticket holder for a Horizon League school, I wouldn’t mind this for Plan B.
Buie and Christie at guard with Berry and Audige off the bench. Baldwin and Beran on the wings with Kopp and Nance to boot. Any one of Nicholson, Young, Jones or Nance in the middle. So many options. A great mix of seasoned veterans and cock sure pups. Multiple scorers on the floor at any given time. Serious competition for minutes and quality depth when needed.
What is there not to like about that roster and the immediate opportunity to play a key “go to” role. That’s how elite talents develop quickly. That’s what the League is looking for in wing talents. Young guys who have either freakish tools/potential or proven results beating quality opponents with exceptional versatility. Both Baldwin and Christie fall in the latter category. They need what Collins and the current players can do for them. Plenty good enough to make a deep run. Still with the door wide open to fill key roles critical to their player development.
GOUNUII
Seems (not surprisingly) that PBJ wants to play w/ some of the other recruits he has gotten to know (how tight is he w/ Christie?) and for a team ready to make a deep run in the Tourney, if not to the FF.
But he also places importance in his family getting to see him play.
A long shot, but odds can get better if the 'Cats manage to win a few more games and are competitive the rest of way (difficult to ask for more considering the injury situation) and if Christie or another top flight recruit commits.
While the pull of playing for a blue-blood (UK, Dook, etc.) is strong, in the grand scheme of things, you're just one of the many blue-chip players those schools recruit/get.
If PBJ and say, Christie, decide to come to Evanston - there should be plenty media hype from one of the largest media markets in the country and once the team starts making noise in the B1G and beyond, the national press would be all over it (like the Rose Bowl season) and they would go down as absolute legends for the program and for Chicago-land collegiate BB.
But if not for the 'Cats, would love to see him play for pops.
But he also places importance in his family getting to see him play.
A long shot, but odds can get better if the 'Cats manage to win a few more games and are competitive the rest of way (difficult to ask for more considering the injury situation) and if Christie or another top flight recruit commits.
While the pull of playing for a blue-blood (UK, Dook, etc.) is strong, in the grand scheme of things, you're just one of the many blue-chip players those schools recruit/get.
If PBJ and say, Christie, decide to come to Evanston - there should be plenty media hype from one of the largest media markets in the country and once the team starts making noise in the B1G and beyond, the national press would be all over it (like the Rose Bowl season) and they would go down as absolute legends for the program and for Chicago-land collegiate BB.
But if not for the 'Cats, would love to see him play for pops.
This is a great point and I don't know that I've seen in articulated in regards to Baldwin and Christie.
If they come to NU there would be media hype out of this market, and a type of hype different than that for players in Kansas, Louisville or Durham.
They'd get the five star bball hype....but they'd also get the savior, high academic hype.
If you're an elite brand that means something.
If you want to see Baldwin play at Welsh Ryan he will be here February 8 when his team plays Evanston Township High School as part of a triple header.
Sure not. It’s the comedic takes around here that give me pause about the sanity of the Board members.
Still just an opinion. Not a prediction, not a read. If the admin isn’t going to support doing what it takes to field a competitive team, then they should stop spending like a B1G MBB and use that money in better plays.
I don't know the detailed history of U of C, but it's a choice they made. And they are still pretty competitive in D III and I hear academics.