Hoops BBall Recruiting (2006-7)

On Rivals, Thornton now lists LSU as his only 'High Interest Team'. It also says that we have offered him. I think he's ours to lose.

 

Yeah, I saw that on Rivals, which would seem to suggest good things. But, I also read on Rivals that Marcus Thornton was being looked at hard by Kansas, and Bill Self himself. Kansas just doesn't have a schollie to give at this point, unless and until their players make the call as to whether to go pro. So, Marcus Thornton does have an offer from LSU, but it's the only one he has at this point. Let's hope he feels the love from LSU, his hometown, and decides to commit soon after the season given the offer in hand. What's interesting is that his JUCO team has like 6 or so kids from LA, and another decent Fr LA guard, Fred Savoie, who apparently went the JUCO route.

Doing a little research on M.T., it appears he's really a scorer and averaging a 27 ppg clip at Kilgore as of January. That also breaks down into a 50% shooting FG%, 37% 3 point FG%, and a 85 FT%. He's also averaged over 7 boards a game, and about 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Not sure if he can play the point, but these numbers would suggest he's a dependable scorer who can score in multiple ways.

Also, rated the 14th best JUCO prospect by Van Coleman. Q'Thornton in contrast rates as the 24th best JUCO...

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stories/110806acm.html

:geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU NEEDS YOU MARCUS. LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL.

 

So, perhaps Brady et al has learned their lesson and won't put all of their recruiting eggs in one basket this year. The Advocate today reports that LSU may be in the mix with one of the better unsigned high school senior PGs, a 6 ft speedy PG from Miami... Javi Gonzalez.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/6246391.html?index=17&c=y

This could be a good sign and a good pick up in the "fills a need" sense. We need more speed on the perimeter, and I think we sorely lack a guy that can push the tempo, break down a d with the dribble. Nikita Johnson has given the staff some inroads into FL, as Ray Shipman is also from FL. From the film available, the kid has a nice shot, decent quickness and handles. I'm in favor of rushin' this kid. Javi, you don't KNOW how badly you're needed here. Perhaps Shaq' can put in the good word... they're just down the street from each other.

Here's some of the news on this kid, who has had a very nice senior season.

http://washingtonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=647003

Here's the Rivals' scouting report as of December last year:

Javi is a talented offensive player. He has the ball handling skills and quickness to consistently create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He also shoots it well from three. Quick of foot, he does need to get stronger to get it done on the defensive side of the ball on the high-major level.

:geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. PACK THE PMAC FOR THIS TEAM.

 

I got excited for five seconds and when I checked out this kid on scout, they have him going to N.C. State as of today.

 

Ouch. That commitment happened today. :sob:

Oh well. I think everyone who saw the Advocate article was happy for a second anyway...

 

It's only a verbal.

Still, I'd rather a true PG than Thornton at this point, 27 PPG or no.

 

We just need a guard at this point. Too late to get picky about it being a PG or a SG. I'd gladly take Thornton.

 

um, no.

we need a 1. if we don't get a 1, don't waste the scholarship on YET ANOTHER TWEENER.

 

It sucks that after all this time Brady is just now realizing we need a point guard.

 

Which is why he needs to be fired, among countless other reasons.