2013 America East Recruiting Thread

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Looks pretty raw from highlights- but good upside potential and right amount of athleticism for AE.

Cameroon produces very good AE players- Germain Mopa Njila was from Cameroon as well.

[mainejeff]

Originally Posted by JHG722

Hell, he passed on Bucknell, Princeton, and William & Mary too. Damn. What a waste.

Yeah, what a waste that someone made their own individual choice on where they thought that they would be the happiest.

Thank god that there are a few left out there that haven't turned into minions.

[Quickdraw62]

In regard to the Nyama commit at SB, I see the opposite of a "raw" player. That word to me implies that a player needs work on fundamentals, and/or learning the game and how it is played. I see nothing like that in the Jr year film. This player appears to have a very good grasp of how to play, his footwork is very good, he uses ball fakes well, and seems to have an idea on the defensive end of the floor. He is listed as a SG where I have looked, but either way he'll be a wing player, capable of guarding both the 2 and 3 positions. Somewhat of a surprise in that I hadn't seen him listed as an AE recruit, but at 19 years old already, and having international experience, he should be able to contribute early....
What schools in the AE are still without '13 verbals? It seems like this year there are more early verbals than in past years; is it just me or does that seem to be the case?

[The Magic Man]

I talked with Nyama yesterday, he told me that Pikiell personally flew out to Germany to talk with his parents.

He was also at the homecoming football game as well. Said it was the first football game he had ever seen live.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by Quickdraw62

In regard to the Nyama commit at SB, I see the opposite of a "raw" player. That word to me implies that a player needs work on fundamentals, and/or learning the game and how it is played. I see nothing like that in the Jr year film. This player appears to have a very good grasp of how to play, his footwork is very good, he uses ball fakes well, and seems to have an idea on the defensive end of the floor. He is listed as a SG where I have looked, but either way he'll be a wing player, capable of guarding both the 2 and 3 positions. Somewhat of a surprise in that I hadn't seen him listed as an AE recruit, but at 19 years old already, and having international experience, he should be able to contribute early....
What schools in the AE are still without '13 verbals? It seems like this year there are more early verbals than in past years; is it just me or does that seem to be the case?

Maybe "raw" isn't the right description if that's how you might interpret it- because I agree he certainly looks like he knows how to play and understands the game- but his skills need refinement from what I saw. In the video he looks to be out of control driving the hoop a couple times and he dribbles really high/awkward. If he dribbles like that at D1 level he'll be running back the other way. Jump shot doesn't appear like it is super consistent from outside either. That's all I meant by raw, because he looks like a nice player just his skills could use some refinement. Holderness is one of the weaker prep schools as well, so tough to say based on this.


As for other AE offers, maybe some of the coaches noticed similar things I noticed in the highlight videos. Doesn't mean he won't be a nice player in AE, or even a great player- who knows. But to answer the question specifically, found a link that said UNH offered- says he had offers from Stony Brook, UNH, CCSU, and Robert Morris:

http://www.europeanprospects.com/inf...n-players-usa/

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by Quickdraw62

What schools in the AE are still without '13 verbals? It seems like this year there are more early verbals than in past years; is it just me or does that seem to be the case?

I haven't seen anything on:

UNH
Maine
Hartford
UMBC

Unless I've missed it.

Second observation- It's way less- in fact it's less across the board in all college basketball. Under Lonergan, Vermont always had a commitment in July/August. Now, it's been September last two years under Becker. Of course that could have more to do with numbers of scholarships available, but generally speaking it's taking longer.

I read an article about it over summer- basically the rule changes allowing more contact by coaches have made the process take longer for parents/kids to make a decision- to meet coaches, kids to take visits, kids like the attention, tweeting "cutting their list" and all that crap etc. Here's the article:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...o-the-opposite

[oceandogs]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

As for other AE offers, maybe some of the coaches noticed similar things I noticed in the highlight videos. Doesn't mean he won't be a nice player in AE, or even a great player- who knows. But to answer the question specifically, found a link that said UNH offered- says he had offers from Stony Brook, UNH, CCSU, and Robert Morris:

http://www.europeanprospects.com/inf...n-players-usa/

For whatever it's worth he said a couple weeks ago on twitter that he had 12 D1 offers and someone on the st. bonaventure board said they had offered.

[Quickdraw62]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

Maybe "raw" isn't the right description if that's how you might interpret it- because I agree he certainly looks like he knows how to play and understands the game- but his skills need refinement from what I saw. In the video he looks to be out of control driving the hoop a couple times and he dribbles really high/awkward. If he dribbles like that at D1 level he'll be running back the other way. Jump shot doesn't appear like it is super consistent from outside either. That's all I meant by raw, because he looks like a nice player just his skills could use some refinement. Holderness is one of the weaker prep schools as well, so tough to say based on this.


As for other AE offers, maybe some of the coaches noticed similar things I noticed in the highlight videos. Doesn't mean he won't be a nice player in AE, or even a great player- who knows. But to answer the question specifically, found a link that said UNH offered- says he had offers from Stony Brook, UNH, CCSU, and Robert Morris:

http://www.europeanprospects.com/inf...n-players-usa/

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially when it comes to high school players. I don't see an out of control player at all, and all high school players need additional refinement of their skills. I think it's a pretty good commit for SB as they continue to add talent, time will tell as to how good any player will be ultimately. Something tells me that if this same player was going to UVM, your opinion would be slightly different...his inside/outside skills in the little bit of tape I've seen show an ability to score in a variety of ways. Biggest assets may be his age/experience/college ready body.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by Quickdraw62

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially when it comes to high school players. I don't see an out of control player at all, and all high school players need additional refinement of their skills. I think it's a pretty good commit for SB as they continue to add talent, time will tell as to how good any player will be ultimately. Something tells me that if this same player was going to UVM, your opinion would be slightly different...his inside/outside skills in the little bit of tape I've seen show an ability to score in a variety of ways. Biggest assets may be his age/experience/college ready body.

Not at all, it's just an honest assessment based on what I see in the video.

I'm certainly complimentary when I see a kid I like - Warney and Puriefoy for SBU come to mind- those two impressed me. Kids like Nyama and say, Scott King the other kid they got from Holderness- less so. Just using some examples. On the opposite end, I don't think a late addition like Taggart was a huge signing just because he came to UVM- he's a Vermont kid that has some good fundamentals and upside, we'll see what type of career he has.

With only two scholarships to give, I would hope from what I've seen from this kid (Nyama) he wouldn't be someone UVM would offer a scholarship to-especially considering Harold/Kilpatrick/Steidl at the wings- unless it was a late signing due to transfer. Now, if he were part of the big class of 2014 recruiting class where we need like 6 or 7 kids, I'd feel much differently.

At the end of the day, it's HS video and none of these kids have played in college and in many cases the most hyped recruits don't always equate to being the best players.

[ccd494]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

I haven't seen anything on:

Maine

You know those F-1 visas take a while to process...

[oceandogs]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

Not at all, it's just an honest assessment based on what I see in the video.

I'm certainly complimentary when I see a kid I like - Warney and Puriefoy for SBU come to mind- those two impressed me. Kids like Nyama and say, Scott King the other kid they got from Holderness- less so. Just using some examples. On the opposite end, I don't think a late addition like Taggart was a huge signing just because he came to UVM- he's a Vermont kid that has some good fundamentals and upside, we'll see what type of career he has.

With only two scholarships to give, I would hope from what I've seen from this kid (Nyama) he wouldn't be someone UVM would offer a scholarship to-especially considering Harold/Kilpatrick/Steidl at the wings- unless it was a late signing due to transfer. Now, if he were part of the big class of 2014 recruiting class where we need like 6 or 7 kids, I'd feel much differently.

At the end of the day, it's HS video and none of these kids have played in college and in many cases the most hyped recruits don't always equate to being the best players.

Come on, both Nyama and King had an A10 offer on the table when they committed to Stony Brook. I hardly think they were reaches on Stony Brook's part.

Out of curiosity, how would you compare Steidl to Nyama?

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by oceandogs

Come on, both Nyama and King had an A10 offer on the table when they committed to Stony Brook. I hardly think they were reaches on Stony Brook's part.

Out of curiosity, how would you compare Steidl to Nyama?

LoL....It's alright adding an under the radar guy- there's nothing wrong with that. Kid plays in New England in the NEPSAC- it's not like coaches couldn't find him. He was lightly recruited but there's nothing wrong with that.

He told an SBU paper he chose SBU over Robert Morris, Central Connecticut State, and UNH. Does not mention St. Bonaventure- which I think he would if he held a legit offer from them.

http://www.sbstatesman.com/mens-bask...iting-class786

As for Steidl or Nyama, I like Steidl better for us because he'll fit our system better- Nyama seems more of a "slasher". Steidl will be a better player in our structured offensive system. Stedl is a better shooter and taller, also he's 16 right now and not 19 - more upside. Going from 16-18 is a huge jump.

[The Magic Man]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

LoL....It's alright adding an under the radar guy- there's nothing wrong with that. Kid plays in New England in the NEPSAC- it's not like coaches couldn't find him. He was lightly recruited but there's nothing wrong with that.

He told an SBU paper he chose SBU over Robert Morris, Central Connecticut State, and UNH. Does not mention St. Bonaventure- which I think he would if he held a legit offer from them.

http://www.sbstatesman.com/mens-bask...iting-class786

As for Steidl or Nyama, I like Steidl better for us because he'll fit our system better- Nyama seems more of a "slasher". Steidl will be a better player in our structured offensive system. Stedl is a better shooter and taller, also he's 16 right now and not 19 - more upside. Going from 16-18 is a huge jump.

I actually wrote that article. I just texted Nyama asking him about St. Bonaventure, he told me they offered. I'm probably going to try to get that updated in the article now. It was an oversight on my part.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

St. Bonaventure offering or not doesn't really change anything- its St. Bonaventure. D1 coaches are all over the NEPSAC and don't miss much. They guys at NERR had nothing on him until he announced. It's great that Pikiell flew to Germany and made this kid a priority if he feels like he is going to be a great fit. I feel like Steidl was under recruited as well and we got a steal and great fit.

Anyways, just because I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw in highlight videos- relative to other recruits at SBU and elsewhere in AE- doesn't really seem like it should get anyone's panties in such bunch. Not ever recruit is going to look amazing, despite what SBU fans might feel.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by The Magic Man

I actually wrote that article. I just texted Nyama asking him about St. Bonaventure, he told me they offered. I'm probably going to try to get that updated in the article now. It was an oversight on my part.

Lol- yeah, you might want to put that in there- not that it changes much, but St. Bonaventure is still in A10 albeit low on the totem pole.