Mens' Basketball Recruiting (2015-16)

i think it will be
1. Blakeney/Gray
2. Hornsby/Patterson
3. Q/Epps
4. Simmons/Bridgewater
5. Mickey/Victor

could also see
1. Q
2. Newman
3. Simmons
4. Mickey
5. Victor

I dont think the frontcourt will be any weaker than this season because--
-simmons should be able to replace martin
-victor is a beast (at least compared to M&M)
-malone, robertson, epps and bridgewater should improve.
-blakeney may provide a reliable PG that drive and dish--that makes the frontcourt better.

lets hope lsu also gets newman and that victor can play in the fall (ncaa appeal pending).

if mickey leaves, obviously, the tigers will rely more on the 4 2nd-tier post players or go small

1. Blakeney/Gray
2. Hornsby/Patterson
3. Q
4. Simmons
5. Victor (hopefully) or Malone/Robertson

with Mickey, the team definitely has the ability to reach the FF, but its all about chemistry, leadership (Mickey, Hornsby and Q would be better leaders) and toughness.

 

Can Blakeny play the point?

 

I think Antonio Blakeney is a GUARD; and that Patterson is more POINT GUARD then GUARD...
Malik Newman is a COMBO GUARD...

 

yep, my bad.

a little concerned about newman wanting to play PG if he is considered the top wing in the country though.

 

I just hope whoever we have at guard learns to feed the monsters inside first on every possession unless there's an obvious lane to the basket for them to drive.

The Pelicans drive me nuts. Tyreke isn't a natural point with Holiday out, but still, I can't tell you how often the Pelicans go minutes of game action without ever throwing Anthony Davis the ball. That dude should get the ball every time down the floor. Same thing with Mickey and Simmons next year. Feed the bigs. Please!

 

but lsu's front court had no post moves. it would've been best to get it to them through penetration but gray was the only one that can break the D down.

 

Yeah, but it would involve movement and very few front courts had the size to match up with us. Heck, it may have forced M&M to develop a post game as the season went on. It always seemed they wanted space, but none of them had a for sure jumper from very far from the basket. It was feast or famine with their jumpers. Well, really feast or famine with the team as a whole.

 

JORDAN MICKEY declares for NBA DRAFT too...
So, I repeat: right now, LSU is too weak in the paint!!!

OK, BEN SIMMONS can replace JARELL MARTIN;
OK, CRAIG VICTOR could be a beast, but he will only be available from December;
OK, ROBINSON- MALONE- EPPS could grow, but right now they have played very little ;

SO, I'm worried:
LSU has recruited the best prospect in the class 2015 (SIMMONS);
And another prospect among the top fifteen (BLAKENEY);
And really LSU play between October and December (for about 8-10 games)
with only SIMMONS, BRIDGEWATER, MALONE, ROBINSON, EPPS into the paint?
OK SIMMONS (who however, also for his future in the NBA, will be working more on his external-skills than internal-skills)
BUT Malone; Bridgewater; Robinson; Epps totaled TOGETHER (adding their averages) only 4.9 points and 5.5 rebounds por game...

Too little for a team that could target the FINAL FOUR; if only it will add another (decent) player into the paint!!!!

So, right now, the team is this:

*** STARTING FIVE ***
5 Josh Gray G 6-1 182 SR 1993
XX Antonio Blakeney G 6-4 170 FR 1996
55 Tim Quarterman G 6-6 187 JR 1994
XX Ben Simmons F 6-9 225 FR 1996
XX Craig Victor F 6-7 205 SO 1995 *** ONLY FROM DECEMBER 2015 ***

*** BENCH ***
15 Jalyn Patterson G 6-0 173 SO 1995
4 Keith Hornsby G 6-4 210 SR 1992
21 Aaron Epps F 6-9 203 SO 1996
20 Brian Bridgewater F 6-4 265 JR 1993
22 Darcy Malone C 7-0 245 JR 1995
3 Elbert Robinson III C 7-1 301 SO 1994

*** FILLER ***
10 Henry Shortess G 5-9 156 JR 1995
24 Carlton Speight G 6-4 200 SO 1996
45 Brandon Eddlestone F 6-8 245 JR 1995

COACH Johnny Jones

 

The word going around the rumor mill is that its down to us and UK for Newman. Also a lot has to do with the Harrison twins and weather they leave. It seems that he has figured that 6'3 SG don't last long in the NBA. Newman said that Ben and AB have been his ear the whole Micky D's trip with a simple message we need a PG and you can be that guy to come in and run the show and get out. Newman has also made it clear that's what he wants to do...

 

Finally here is the news that I expected !!!
RAY KASONGO