- According to Adam Zagoria over on the Twitter, (who you should follow) and confirmed by Rivals, Ryan Boatright will attend West Virginia in 2011. This sucks for many reasons, including the fact that I desperately wanted him like a school boy. And also the fact that he was really good: #11 PG in the class according to Rivals, #48 overall, and the #2 non-committed PG behind Quinn Cook. I don't know what exactly happened, but I know the Gophers were at least showing some interest at some point, but either they or he decided they weren't interested because the Gophers aren't on his official list and he's not listed as having received an offer.
Doesn't make it hurt any less. It's like that girl you were secretly in love with in high school. You know, she never reciprocated, but you guys were really good friends so you always thought you had a chance, and then that one time she picked you to be her physics partner and you got to go over to her house and eat dinner and it was magical, and then your physics project was kick ass and you're feeling really good about things and then she goes to prom with some dumb soccer player from a neighboring school. Or something.
- Sliding into first is dumb enough, but to slide into first and then somehow miss the base? I gotta say, I've never seen that before. Leave it to Gardner to take sliding into first into a whole new stratosphere of dumb.
- Speaking of dumb, at what point do we get to leave this whole Brett Favre dong pic thing alone? Come on, who hasn't done something similar? I've texted pictures of my junk to at least seven people, five of whom didn't ask for it and four of whom were women. So big deal, right? He's just like a big kid out there, remember? So to him it's probably not even sexual, it's just a funny picture of a funny body part. You can't talk about his youthful kidlikeness and boyish exuberance and then expect him to act like an adult when it comes to being responsible in regards to pictures of his crank.
By the way, did you hear those pictures were actually supposed to be going to his wife? They were intercepted. Seriously though, how do we even know that's his schlong? Other than the fact that it's throwing an interception in one of the pictures?
I can do this all night.
- Back to Ryan Boatright for a second. With WVU also picking up Tommie McCune, that means that is the second recruit Huggy Bear has ganked from Tubby. I don't think I like this matchup. I feel like Huggins is going to get his man every time.
- The name I most often hear from people with an opinion but haven't really thought about who the next Gopher football coach should be is Tony Dungy. Thank god he finally put that rumor to bed today, which is weird because he also put that rumor to bed back in September, and now we can move on to more wild speculation. Or, more accurately, less wild speculation such as Mike Leach, who admitted he would be interested in the job if he was contacted. Couple things. One, how fun would it be to watch that Texas Tech offense come to Minnesota? Answer: legendary. Second, I highly doubt they would hire someone here at the U who had been fired for locking a player in the closet. Although based on the reason (kid couldn't play after a concussion) I'd say the Twins should maybe look into him as a bench coach.
Serious write-up on Leach as a possibility can be found here from The Daily Gopher. It's a lot of words so I'm going to assume it's good.
- Good recap on that midnight madness thing right here. I think my favorite part is that Ralph Sampson not only participated in the 3-point contest, and was one of only three contestants, but that he almost beat Devoe Joseph, losing only 9-11. He's always had the confidence to take the shot, but I only remember him hitting one big one against Purdue. If he's truly added that to his arsenal, and added it without taking away anything inside or becoming one of those 6-11 dandies who flit about the three-point line all game, he's going to be unstoppable.
- There's a reason Cliff Lee has such a reputation as an incredible playoff pitcher.
- Also Chris Johnson sucks.
Showing posts with label Ryan Boatright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Boatright. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Gopher Hoops Recruiting Update
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I'm going to take a look at Gopher Basketball recruiting tonight. After they missed out on Jesperson, Tre Demps, and Uthoff, I relaized I didn't even know if I should be worried or not. How many other offers were out? Were they close on anybody? Seriously, I'm not even sure how many scholarships they have for sure (I think it's 3 for 2011, assuming Mbakwe ends up sticking around). So let's take a look together.
I am taking these "offer lists" from Rivals.com. No doubt they have inaccuracies as all recruiting sites do, but they are the one I have a membership to. The alternative would be to come through all the major sites to try to get the most up-to-date and accurate info, but seriously, I'm not a journalist I'm just bored and own a computer. So if you want to be more thorough, either do it yourself or go the the Gopher Hole. They have tons of info over there if you're willing to look for it.
I am not. And away we go:
As I said, according to Rivals the Gophers have offers out for 2011 to these players:
- Joe Coleman - 6-3 SG - Hopkins, MN - #32 SG/#111 overall. Might as well start with Coleman since as a home town boy he seems to be at the top of the "must get" list. He's really jumped up in the rankings this year, and it would behoove Tubby to get him to declare as early as possible before more attractive programs get him on their radar. Right now his other offers are from mid-tier programs, with Iowa State probably the tops, but there's no doubt other teams are starting to take notice since he's basically lit it up every time he's had a chance against top competition.
He's a "natural scorer" and a good athlete who has an improving jump shot, and would be an absolutely terrific addition to the team for 2011 and would be huge to keep the perception up that Tubby "has the borders locked down." Losing out on Coleman wouldn't be a disaster, but it would certainly shake the foundation, and there would have to be a seriously strong class to keep it from being a major disappointment.
- Josh Oglesby - 6-5 SG- Cedar Rapids, IA NR/NR - Other than Coleman this is the kid I keep hearing the most about, mainly because he's local-ish and mainly because the Gophers seem to be looking pretty good for him. He's a combo guard who sounds like he's more SG than PG, but supposedly he has pretty incredible range and is solid with the ball - like a more athletic Blake Hoffarber. The big wrinkle here is that Iowa just offered him, and there are some who think he's been waiting for that offer. Either way, there's midwestern teams involved here including Northern Iowa, so I'd say he's a longshot to be a Gopher at best.
- Naadir Tharpe - 5-11 PG - Wolfeboro, NH - #109 overall - He's not ranked as a PG on Rivals, but ESPN has him as their #8 point guard, and he had some good things to say about Tubby and the Gophers in this article at the Gopher Hole. I don't know what's going on with my former crush Ryan Boatright since Rivals doesn't list the Gophers as in his consideration set yet GopherIllustrated keeps covering him and Tubby keeps watching him, but if things don't work out with him I'll be just fine with Tharpe. I think I've been pretty clear that I love me a nice traditional point guard, and Tharpe fits the bill. In a story on ESPN.com they mention his phenomenal court vision and trademark playmaking skills. Yes please.
- Amir Williams - 6-9 C - Beverly Hills, MI - #3 C/#43 overall - He's a highly rated center from Michigan, which means the Gophers chances of landing him are extremely slim, but I'm including him because he still has the Gophers in consideration and it would be pretty freakin' sweet to actually land him. Of course by in consideration that means they are one of 19 teams he's still considering. Yes, 19. Gotta love those odds.
- Malcolm Brogdon - 6-5 SG - Norcross, GA - #35SG/#115 overall - The next highest ranked player on the list and another wing, I'd peg the Gophers' chances at landing Brogdon at fairly decent since I like Tubby's chances in Georgia. He's described as smooth and calm on the court and more of a shooter than an athlete, and as such sounds to me rather Devoe Joseph-y; as such, I 'm a big fan. However he recently landed an offer from Notre Dame, and when asked what he liked about the Irish he mentioned that the coach said he could "Come in and just play my game. I wouldn't really be put under any type of rules like a lot of college coaches do." If that's what he's looking for, stringent Tubby has no shot.
- Tommie McCune - 6-7 PF - Saginaw, MI - #29PF/#149 overall - The last of the Rivals Top 150 holding an offer from the Gophers, McCune is another Michigan kid so I don't know why Tubby is wasting his time. I mean, everything sounds good: athletic, range out to 20 feet, good rebounder, but if he's a Michigan kid he won't get out of the state unless Izzo doesn't want him. Although I guess with the way that program is going getting their leftovers might now be the worst thing in the world.
- Devin Coleman - 6-3 SG - Wynnewood, PA - NR/NR - A poor man's Rodney Williams, Coleman is described as an incredible athlete who can get to the rim whenever he wants, but isn't exactly known for his jump shot - which all sounds awfully familiar. At one point he was favoring Iowa, but recently he has said that Iowa seems awfully far from home and he might prefer some place like Rutgers (which doesn't exactly bode well for the Twin Cities). Although if your choices are Iowa or Rutgers, Minneapolis has got to look awfully good.
- Shelby Moats - 6-8 PF - Waconia, MN - NR/NR - Behind Joe Coleman and the two PGs I've mentioned Moats is my next biggest wish. Maybe not all that highly rated right now, but some of his descriptors turn me on: strong, good outside shot, cerebral, 4.0 GPA, textbook perfect left-handed shot. Drool. Apparently he's not that great an athlete and most of his offers come from smarty pants smaller schools (Ivy Leaguers, Bucknell, Lehigh, Holy Cross, etc.) but he sounds like the kind of player who takes a school like that to the next level and makes them a Cinderella threat. Why couldn't he help do that at the Barn?
So there's your update. I know there are probably other guys on the radar or whatever, and I will try to do a better job keeping up with all those rumors, but for now here's what you get. I don't have time to chase down every single link right now. Maybe you should go do it and stop being such a jerk all the time.
I am taking these "offer lists" from Rivals.com. No doubt they have inaccuracies as all recruiting sites do, but they are the one I have a membership to. The alternative would be to come through all the major sites to try to get the most up-to-date and accurate info, but seriously, I'm not a journalist I'm just bored and own a computer. So if you want to be more thorough, either do it yourself or go the the Gopher Hole. They have tons of info over there if you're willing to look for it.
I am not. And away we go:
As I said, according to Rivals the Gophers have offers out for 2011 to these players:
- Joe Coleman - 6-3 SG - Hopkins, MN - #32 SG/#111 overall. Might as well start with Coleman since as a home town boy he seems to be at the top of the "must get" list. He's really jumped up in the rankings this year, and it would behoove Tubby to get him to declare as early as possible before more attractive programs get him on their radar. Right now his other offers are from mid-tier programs, with Iowa State probably the tops, but there's no doubt other teams are starting to take notice since he's basically lit it up every time he's had a chance against top competition.
He's a "natural scorer" and a good athlete who has an improving jump shot, and would be an absolutely terrific addition to the team for 2011 and would be huge to keep the perception up that Tubby "has the borders locked down." Losing out on Coleman wouldn't be a disaster, but it would certainly shake the foundation, and there would have to be a seriously strong class to keep it from being a major disappointment.
- Josh Oglesby - 6-5 SG- Cedar Rapids, IA NR/NR - Other than Coleman this is the kid I keep hearing the most about, mainly because he's local-ish and mainly because the Gophers seem to be looking pretty good for him. He's a combo guard who sounds like he's more SG than PG, but supposedly he has pretty incredible range and is solid with the ball - like a more athletic Blake Hoffarber. The big wrinkle here is that Iowa just offered him, and there are some who think he's been waiting for that offer. Either way, there's midwestern teams involved here including Northern Iowa, so I'd say he's a longshot to be a Gopher at best.
- Naadir Tharpe - 5-11 PG - Wolfeboro, NH - #109 overall - He's not ranked as a PG on Rivals, but ESPN has him as their #8 point guard, and he had some good things to say about Tubby and the Gophers in this article at the Gopher Hole. I don't know what's going on with my former crush Ryan Boatright since Rivals doesn't list the Gophers as in his consideration set yet GopherIllustrated keeps covering him and Tubby keeps watching him, but if things don't work out with him I'll be just fine with Tharpe. I think I've been pretty clear that I love me a nice traditional point guard, and Tharpe fits the bill. In a story on ESPN.com they mention his phenomenal court vision and trademark playmaking skills. Yes please.
- Amir Williams - 6-9 C - Beverly Hills, MI - #3 C/#43 overall - He's a highly rated center from Michigan, which means the Gophers chances of landing him are extremely slim, but I'm including him because he still has the Gophers in consideration and it would be pretty freakin' sweet to actually land him. Of course by in consideration that means they are one of 19 teams he's still considering. Yes, 19. Gotta love those odds.
- Malcolm Brogdon - 6-5 SG - Norcross, GA - #35SG/#115 overall - The next highest ranked player on the list and another wing, I'd peg the Gophers' chances at landing Brogdon at fairly decent since I like Tubby's chances in Georgia. He's described as smooth and calm on the court and more of a shooter than an athlete, and as such sounds to me rather Devoe Joseph-y; as such, I 'm a big fan. However he recently landed an offer from Notre Dame, and when asked what he liked about the Irish he mentioned that the coach said he could "Come in and just play my game. I wouldn't really be put under any type of rules like a lot of college coaches do." If that's what he's looking for, stringent Tubby has no shot.
- Tommie McCune - 6-7 PF - Saginaw, MI - #29PF/#149 overall - The last of the Rivals Top 150 holding an offer from the Gophers, McCune is another Michigan kid so I don't know why Tubby is wasting his time. I mean, everything sounds good: athletic, range out to 20 feet, good rebounder, but if he's a Michigan kid he won't get out of the state unless Izzo doesn't want him. Although I guess with the way that program is going getting their leftovers might now be the worst thing in the world.
- Devin Coleman - 6-3 SG - Wynnewood, PA - NR/NR - A poor man's Rodney Williams, Coleman is described as an incredible athlete who can get to the rim whenever he wants, but isn't exactly known for his jump shot - which all sounds awfully familiar. At one point he was favoring Iowa, but recently he has said that Iowa seems awfully far from home and he might prefer some place like Rutgers (which doesn't exactly bode well for the Twin Cities). Although if your choices are Iowa or Rutgers, Minneapolis has got to look awfully good.
- Shelby Moats - 6-8 PF - Waconia, MN - NR/NR - Behind Joe Coleman and the two PGs I've mentioned Moats is my next biggest wish. Maybe not all that highly rated right now, but some of his descriptors turn me on: strong, good outside shot, cerebral, 4.0 GPA, textbook perfect left-handed shot. Drool. Apparently he's not that great an athlete and most of his offers come from smarty pants smaller schools (Ivy Leaguers, Bucknell, Lehigh, Holy Cross, etc.) but he sounds like the kind of player who takes a school like that to the next level and makes them a Cinderella threat. Why couldn't he help do that at the Barn?
So there's your update. I know there are probably other guys on the radar or whatever, and I will try to do a better job keeping up with all those rumors, but for now here's what you get. I don't have time to chase down every single link right now. Maybe you should go do it and stop being such a jerk all the time.
Monday, May 24, 2010
I Want Ryan Boatright
Who is Ryan Boatright? you are probably asking yourself, and up until yesterday I didn't know either. But now that I know, I'm jazzed.
Boatright is a class of 2011 point guard from Illinois who is ranked by Rivals as the #90 overall prospect and #16 point guard for the class, and who the Gophers and Tubby Smith are looking at. He doesn't have an offer yet, but he doesn't have an offer from anybody because schools are still waiting on his ACT Score according to one article (not that it's been bad, just that it hasn't come back yet.) Of course, another article says he has offers from Wake and Miami, so who the hell knows, but I know that I want him.
He's described as lightning quick with a crisp shooting stroke. His passing is rated as "outstanding", with shooting, handling, and rebounding all rated as "good." He led the U.S. Under 17 Junior National Team in scoring at 19.6 points per game this April in a tournament in Germany. His ball-handling is described as elite and impressive. He's said to have a good feel for the game. He can score in bunches. He can shoot. He's an excellent defender. He once delivered a baby while driving a city bus after the driver had a heart attack, fighting off a mugger the whole time - and then giving the driving a tracheotomy with a ball point pen. He's everything I always knew I always wanted.
Boatright has been on the national radar for a long time, having committed to USC as a 14-year old. Huge shocker here, but he has backed out of that commitment and is now hearing from West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas State, and Wake Forest along with the Gophers, with it sounding like Kentucky and K-State are in the lead right now, but not by much. Heady competition for his services, but Tubby has pulled things like this off before. Not so much this year. Or last year. But the year before that was pretty good. Do it again.
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