Why do I get the feeling that LSU & Trent always seem to be recruiting their second choice players instead of ever getting a high profile recruit. Didn't Morgan committ after we lost a higher rated New Orleans area player to a school in Texas? Now Gathers is going to Baylor so once again we are scrambling for fillins. I didnt expect a lot from Hamilton because usually transfers are just players looking for more playing time at a different school. He has been a pleasent suprise except against good to better teams. Ole Miss totally shut him down, disappointing. O'bryant being a 5 star I did expect much more from him. He shoulda walked in here & took over this team. He looks like he is gonna be good but its gonna take time.. not playing up to his size at all.. Freshmen can play guys, if they are good it shows up right away. (kentucky) We need a recruiter that can sell playing time to one of these all star kids. We are one outstanding player away. we got enough program players please please bring in a impact player to LSU. JUCO players are good but usually are not impact players (MT was a exception). Alabama use to bring in JUCO players every year that could jump & play defense but it finally caught up with that coach & he is outa work now. I just feel we need a scorer that everyone else can feed off of.. when is the last time we have had a 30 point game from someone? Thompson Im thinkin. Dale Brown had a little luck with JUCO players, Glen Hansen & Eddie Pabxxx but he had more misses than hits. I'm just sayin
Malik Morgan is the second or third highest rated prospect in Louisiana, depending on the service. Javan Felix is ranked ahead of him in some, and not in others. We need depth down low, so yeah losing Gathers hurts, but imo, Morgan fits our needs better than Felix. I think we need more help at the 2 than the 1. We need some depth there, but Hickey seems to be a fine PG. JOB was a 4 star, and I don't really understand the disappointment. He didn't have a superstar game against Ole Miss, but he shot better than anyone else on the team and added a bunch of rebounds. I didn't watch much LSU bball until the Alabama game, but after watching every game since, I think KingEmeritus is pretty dead on a couple posts up. We need depth at PG, more size and more consistent shooting at the 2, and depth down low. The depth at PG is probably already on the team, Morgan could be the answer at the 2, and that really only leaves the post as a concern. The 2011 class was a good class, especially considering how bad the team was the two years previous. The team has improved from 2-14 to 3-13 to now having a chance to go 9-7 in league play. There is actually talent on the team now, they're just not complete. I think if we can add a solid 3, 4, or 5 player in this class, this team can be a tournament team next year. Maybe even without it.
I agree with everything you said about we need more athletic players, but I think Defense wins games in all sports. If you can hold the other team to only one shot and you get the Defensive rebound it make's you a much better team. That is why I think having a big front line make your team better. I think next year Stringer and Hickey will be much better. All we need is depth at the two Guard Positions and recruit a SF who is 6'-9" and athletic. :geaux:
TGer'nLHornLand, you've probably already touched on this in this thread, but what do you think the strategy is, as of today? With two top rated PFs in Louisiana for the 2013 class (Jarrell Martin and Brian Bridgewater), and the #4 (Moses Kingsley, New Albany, MS) and #5 (Austin Nichols, Memphis, TN) Cs in the nation interested in LSU, how do we approach these next two classes? We obviously need depth down low, but is there anybody we legitimately have a shot at for this year's class? What can we do THIS year?
The frustrating thing for me and hoops fans that follow LSU hoops recruiting is, well, it's hard to know. Trent plays his recruiting strategy and prospects very close to the vest. What we do know, publicly, is that our prospects largely consist of wings. Shane Hammink is a versatile 1-2-3 guard who could really provide some interesting depth at those positions and be a solid pick up long-term. Shavon Coleman, a Juco AA at Howard College in TX, is a former Rivals top 150 from LA, who is more of a 2/3/4 that is likely an interesting counterpoint to Ralston Turner, perhaps a little thicker and could play bigger. I think either of these kids would be nice pick ups. Largely because they have talent, and they establish depth. While everyone's very hard up for post players, we have to remember that you can survive at the college level with good guard play and shooters, sometimes despite the lack of bigs. It's pretty hard to do the opposite (good big men, with crappy guards). But, the post position is a position of need, given the graduation of Warren and White. Here, I think what we also surmise, is that Trent is personally on the road looking at Juco bigs. The names thrown around are Orlando Sanchez (kid out of Monroe College in NY), and Jason Carter (Juco formerly at Alabama, but hurt knee). I personally think that both of these kids are unlikely to be Trent's main target. Sanchez appears to be interested in staying in the NE. There certainly are JUCO kids, big men, left unsigned. All I can do is hope that when April rolls around, some big man is wise enough to say, look at what Trent and Brent Scott have done with Justin Hamilton--and well, he can learn alot playing against him in practice and backing him up. This is an opportunity to play with Johnny O'Bryant for a couple of years, as well, so you have some quality 4/5 who can keep you from getting doubled all the time. It seems like a compelling scenario for a prospective big, just need to sell it now. HOT OFF THE PRESS: Here's what everyone is hoping for... Iowa State Basketball Recruiting: Norvel Pelle to officially visit | Cyclone Fanatic Norvel Pelle is at least talking to Trent and LSU. He holds an offer. This obviously would be huge for LSU and Trent. And, well, I hope Pelle sees what LSU did with Justin Hamilton (who of course hails from Iowa State, where Pelle is considering). Oddly, of course, Pelle is another St. John's decommit. If he talks to Gathers, that's probably not a good thing... but at the same time, at 6'9", 215, Pelle is a true big and well, Trent has only put about 8 of his big men into the NBA post... C'Mon Pelle!
While I see your point, LSU has made a living in the past 10 years with great college big men and below average guards. Darrel Mitchell played way over his head & much taller than his size in 2006, but we were clearly led by the NBA talents of Glen Davis and Tyrus Thomas. Jaime Lloreda and Brandon Bass led LSU to the 2004 NIT and the 2005 NCAAs as well.
Norvel Pelle now that is what I am talking about an athletic SF. Boy, if we get him 2013 NCAA Tournament here we come.
Good job Tigers against Kentucky, I actually saw a very focused team out there. I was proud of the way they represented LSU.
