Reik

[sarge.sixpack]

Does anybodyreally think weshould haveoffered this kid a scholarship? It just seems like such a waste at this point in time.
I dohope he improves and can contribute some down the road, but I just don't see it. Am I missing something?

 

[mstateglfr]

Hell yeah we did the right thing. He has been a known top prospect for a few years now and dominated Oden at a summer camp.

The guy tore up his knee and kept playingon it, damaging it more, before having it worked on...he isnt back to where he wasa couple years ago.

Now he is a project and shouldnt be expected to contribute immediately. I assume he played this year(though sparingly) because Sidney wasnt eligible and Bailey was out due to injury.

Size doesnt come along every day. Size + athleticism comes along even less often. The guy hasnt been playing organized ball for more than half a decade or so...give him a couple years and see what happens.

If he develops, then awesome. We just managed to actually develop a project postplayer for the first time in...ever. If he doesnt develop, then he seems to be a very good teammate and player to go up against in the offseason/scrimmages.

 

[DaRealistDawg]

is that we will be releasing him before next year.

 

[ckDOG]

We need post players. A 7'2'' comes along with plenty of upside and you have to gamble on him.

I'm not ready to give up on him either. Next year, if he doesn't improve I'll write him off. But, transitioning from the Sudan to Mississippi in addition to recovery from a majory knee injury are good reasons for an uproductive true freshmen season. Give him one more year, then we can get a better feel.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Hell yeah we did the right thing. He has been a known top prospect for a few years now and dominated Oden at a summer camp.

The guy tore up his knee and kept playingon it, damaging it more, before having it worked on...he isnt back to where he wasa couple years ago.

Now he is a project and shouldnt be expected to contribute immediately. I assume he played this year(though sparingly) because Sidney wasnt eligible and Bailey was out due to injury.

Size doesnt come along every day. Size + athleticism comes along even less often. The guy hasnt been playing organized ball for more than half a decade or so...give him a couple years and see what happens.

If he develops, then awesome. We just managed to actually develop a project postplayer for the first time in...ever. If he doesnt develop, then he seems to be a very good teammate and player to go up against in the offseason/scrimmages.

everyone since hakeem the dreamcame along has been willing to accept "a project".

 

[Sutterkane]

[No message]

 

[mstateglfr]

He would have to get new knees, a vertical, better posture, more strength, lateral quickness,etc etc etc.

But while he may not become that, he could become a servicable SEC center that plays 20 minutes a game and forces other teams to change their offense and defense.

Aaron Gray or Roy Hibbert are perfect examples of a project post player that went from useless - inconsistently decent - excellent.
They were both 7'+ and neither were exactly light on their feet.
Both worked and developed into college players that were able to impact the game even though they were inconsistent as can be to start.

Im not even saying Riek needs to develop into Hibbert in terms of NBA talent. He just matches Hibbert in terms of size, heavy feet, and raw coming into college.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

recruit only phi-slamma-jamma players.

i'd be happy with losing on a weak *** half court shot/tip-in in the national championship game rather than getting some players who are servicable for 20 minutes in an SEC game. :0)

 

[Todd4State]

We have Varnado this year, and then Sidney will start next year. Then MAYBE he can contribute some as a junior if not start. I have my doubts, but who knows?

 

[WestCoastBulldog]

He just looks goofy out there... he seems very uncoordinated. yes he is huge and possibly could be good, he just scares me on the court b/c he looks so lost and uncoordinated.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

because he has very limited knowledge of basketball plays.. it took him almost all this year to learn what a screen was...and it still isnt great.

yes he runs weird..but i think that might get better with more time for his knees to recovery

 

[captaindawg]

but he will occasionally show signs of being a half decent player down the line. He is pretty good at poking the ball away when perimeter players feed the ball into the post and is hell to get around on a high pick. Besides he actually shows some aggression on the court. I'm always amazed at the mob mentality that builds for some of the freshmen. Considering the knee injuries, inexperience and language barrier I'm willing to give the guy a couple of years before we pronounce him a waste.

 

[mstateglfr]

but he will occasionally show signs of being a half decent player down the line. He is pretty good at poking the ball away when perimeter players feed the ball into the post and is hell to get around on a high pick. Besides he actually shows some aggression on the court. I'm always amazed at the mob mentality that builds for some of the freshmen. Considering the knee injuries, inexperience and language barrier I'm willing to give the guy a couple of years before we pronounce him a waste.

Exactly.
We are MSU. We can get some elite recruits, but if we are going to start to compete with the big boys on a consistent basis, we have to go big(figuratively and literally, i guess) and get creative. If that means bringing in a once highly touted project and recouping him then hopefully developing him, then so be it.

Damn, we gave Brian Johnson a scholarship and he was a highly recruitedplayer whohad 2 bad knees. Riek is a highly recruited player with 1 bad knee...we are already ahead of the game comparitively!!

Saint Mary's has a niche with their Aussie assistant and they churn that country for its talent.
Gonzaga has a niche with their 5 or 6Canadian players that are all talented.

Teams that arent UNC, Texas, Duke, etc sometimes need a gimmick or an odd approach to recruiting to play with the big boys.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

[No message]