Grad transfer all-star team

[Sean Miller Fan]

As we know, most of the best HS and JC players are signed or committed and the ones still left have already been recruited for several years. Not only that, but there has been very little coaching movement so far so its not like there will be a ton of guys asking out of LOI's. Capel may be able to pluck 1 or 2 of these guys but I wouldn't count on it. Stallings took a ton of blame for not bringing in any new players and allowing Kitchart, Manigault, and Clark to come. That was one thing I didn't blame him for and I think you'll see how difficult it is to recruit HS players in a new situation like this (hope I'm wrong).

However, assuming Capel can keep most of the good players, I think you will see him go hard after the top grad transfers. Not the low-level ones like Boykins, not the mid-tier ones like Maia, ANO, Smith, but the top-tier ones like Louisville gets. There's not a ton of these guys out there but enough where I think Capel is going to come in and basically say we have a new team, new program, he's putting something special together and they are going to shock the world and make the NCAAT next year. More than anything, that would just be recruiting-speak but this team is only a few players away from at least having a chance to be respectable.

Lets assume Stewart is gone but everyone else comes back

PG - Grad transfer
SG - Carr/Ellison
SF - JWF/Ellison
PF - Luther/Stevenson
C - Grad Transfer/Brown

Depending on the level of the PG and C grad transfers. For example, Elijah Freeman (Oregon) and Al Freeman (NC State) made big contributions this year. If Pitt were to get 2 players of that caliber and perhaps 1-2 middle tier grad transfers, we could actually be pretty good next year.

I have low expectations for next year and I am not predicting this will happen but it would not surprise me if Capel decides that instead of being patient with a slow build if he goes right after the upper grad transfers and tries to win right away

 

[joeydavid]

The most important addition needs to be a true point guard who can play immediately.

 

[DT_PITT]

As we know, most of the best HS and JC players are signed or committed and the ones still left have already been recruited for several years. Not only that, but there has been very little coaching movement so far so its not like there will be a ton of guys asking out of LOI's. Capel may be able to pluck 1 or 2 of these guys but I wouldn't count on it. Stallings took a ton of blame for not bringing in any new players and allowing Kitchart, Manigault, and Clark to come. That was one thing I didn't blame him for and I think you'll see how difficult it is to recruit HS players in a new situation like this (hope I'm wrong).

However, assuming Capel can keep most of the good players, I think you will see him go hard after the top grad transfers. Not the low-level ones like Boykins, not the mid-tier ones like Maia, ANO, Smith, but the top-tier ones like Louisville gets. There's not a ton of these guys out there but enough where I think Capel is going to come in and basically say we have a new team, new program, he's putting something special together and they are going to shock the world and make the NCAAT next year. More than anything, that would just be recruiting-speak but this team is only a few players away from at least having a chance to be respectable.

Lets assume Stewart is gone but everyone else comes back

PG - Grad transfer
SG - Carr/Ellison
SF - JWF/Ellison
PF - Luther/Stevenson
C - Grad Transfer/Brown

Depending on the level of the PG and C grad transfers. For example, Elijah Freeman (Oregon) and Al Freeman (NC State) made big contributions this year. If Pitt were to get 2 players of that caliber and perhaps 1-2 middle tier grad transfers, we could actually be pretty good next year.

I have low expectations for next year and I am not predicting this will happen but it would not surprise me if Capel decides that instead of being patient with a slow build if he goes right after the upper grad transfers and tries to win right away

Does anyone know of any grad transfer PG possibilities?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

As we know, most of the best HS and JC players are signed or committed and the ones still left have already been recruited for several years. Not only that, but there has been very little coaching movement so far so its not like there will be a ton of guys asking out of LOI's. Capel may be able to pluck 1 or 2 of these guys but I wouldn't count on it. Stallings took a ton of blame for not bringing in any new players and allowing Kitchart, Manigault, and Clark to come. That was one thing I didn't blame him for and I think you'll see how difficult it is to recruit HS players in a new situation like this (hope I'm wrong).

However, assuming Capel can keep most of the good players, I think you will see him go hard after the top grad transfers. Not the low-level ones like Boykins, not the mid-tier ones like Maia, ANO, Smith, but the top-tier ones like Louisville gets. There's not a ton of these guys out there but enough where I think Capel is going to come in and basically say we have a new team, new program, he's putting something special together and they are going to shock the world and make the NCAAT next year. More than anything, that would just be recruiting-speak but this team is only a few players away from at least having a chance to be respectable.

Lets assume Stewart is gone but everyone else comes back

PG - Grad transfer
SG - Carr/Ellison
SF - JWF/Ellison
PF - Luther/Stevenson
C - Grad Transfer/Brown

Depending on the level of the PG and C grad transfers. For example, Elijah Freeman (Oregon) and Al Freeman (NC State) made big contributions this year. If Pitt were to get 2 players of that caliber and perhaps 1-2 middle tier grad transfers, we could actually be pretty good next year.

I have low expectations for next year and I am not predicting this will happen but it would not surprise me if Capel decides that instead of being patient with a slow build if he goes right after the upper grad transfers and tries to win right away

Does anyone know of any grad transfer PG possibilities?

Clayton Custer from Loyola can. His BFF Ben Richardson is done but with what they have done, its hard to imagine him leaving for any place, especially Pitt

 

[DT_PITT]

Clayton Custer from Loyola can. His BFF Ben Richardson is done but with what they have done, its hard to imagine him leaving for any place, especially Pitt

Tonight I believe anything is possible.

 

[HOF Coach]

The most important addition needs to be a true point guard who can play immediately.

BINGO!

Not only to penetrate and create offense for PITT, but to also be able to stop penetration on defense to disrupt the opponent's offensive timing.

 

[BFo8]

Justin Coleman from Samford can play, and supposedly is looking to grad transfer. Was decent at Alabama as well.

Another one of interest would be Isaiah Wright of San Diego who started his career at Utah. I don’t think he’s stated his intentions yet, but with the coaching upheaval they’re going through I’d be very surprised if he stayed.

 

[JD1976]

Does anyone know of any grad transfer PG possibilities?

The most sought after at this point appears to be Ryan Taylor of Evansville. He averaged 21ppg this year in the Missouri Valley. He will have a ton of offers and it would seem he will end up with a Power 5 program with strong NCAA chances.

A few others that I have seen out there with at least some Power 5 interest:

Aaron Calixte (Maine). Averaged 17ppg. Arizona supposedly reached out

Justin Coleman (Samford). 13.5ppg, 6.6apg

Mike Cunningham (USC Upstate). 13.7ppg

 

[BFo8]

Not a grad transfer but Malachi Flynn has announced he’s leaving Washington St.

6’1” point guard averaged 16-3-4 last year, will have to sit a year but has the potential to be one of the best PG’s in the country.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

It will be interesting to see the route JC takes in trying to recruit freshman and transfers or grad transfers . A 7 yr contract suggest freshman should be prioritized .

 

[thebadby2]

As we know, most of the best HS and JC players are signed or committed and the ones still left have already been recruited for several years. Not only that, but there has been very little coaching movement so far so its not like there will be a ton of guys asking out of LOI's. Capel may be able to pluck 1 or 2 of these guys but I wouldn't count on it. Stallings took a ton of blame for not bringing in any new players and allowing Kitchart, Manigault, and Clark to come. That was one thing I didn't blame him for and I think you'll see how difficult it is to recruit HS players in a new situation like this (hope I'm wrong).

However, assuming Capel can keep most of the good players, I think you will see him go hard after the top grad transfers. Not the low-level ones like Boykins, not the mid-tier ones like Maia, ANO, Smith, but the top-tier ones like Louisville gets. There's not a ton of these guys out there but enough where I think Capel is going to come in and basically say we have a new team, new program, he's putting something special together and they are going to shock the world and make the NCAAT next year. More than anything, that would just be recruiting-speak but this team is only a few players away from at least having a chance to be respectable.

Lets assume Stewart is gone but everyone else comes back

PG - Grad transfer
SG - Carr/Ellison
SF - JWF/Ellison
PF - Luther/Stevenson
C - Grad Transfer/Brown

Depending on the level of the PG and C grad transfers. For example, Elijah Freeman (Oregon) and Al Freeman (NC State) made big contributions this year. If Pitt were to get 2 players of that caliber and perhaps 1-2 middle tier grad transfers, we could actually be pretty good next year.

I have low expectations for next year and I am not predicting this will happen but it would not surprise me if Capel decides that instead of being patient with a slow build if he goes right after the upper grad transfers and tries to win right away

The problem with that idea is the best grad trannies are usually looking for a strong, NCAA tournament-bound program that's missing their particular skill set, like Cam did with UNC. That;s the reason they leave their programs in the first place--for more exposure and a better opportunity at postseason success.

Now JUCO transfers, they're a different story. If there are any really good ones left, I hope Capel goes balls out after them. No more Milligans, Haughtons or Nixs, but actual D1 level players.

 

[dukedevilz]

The most sought after at this point appears to be Ryan Taylor of Evansville. He averaged 21ppg this year in the Missouri Valley. He will have a ton of offers and it would seem he will end up with a Power 5 program with strong NCAA chances.

A few others that I have seen out there with at least some Power 5 interest:

Aaron Calixte (Maine). Averaged 17ppg. Arizona supposedly reached out

Justin Coleman (Samford). 13.5ppg, 6.6apg

Mike Cunningham (USC Upstate). 13.7ppg

The transfer list is growing each day. There will be some more good ones come out in the next few weeks. I think the cream of the crop thus far would include Aaron Calixte (Maine), Ryan Taylor (Evansville), Evan Boudreaux (Dartmouth), Tariq Owens (St.John's), and Keyshawn Woods (Wake Forest). I would expect all of those guys to play for top 25-50 type programs. Certainly Capel is very capable recruiter. I expect him to go after 2+ grad transfers. Samford has 3 pretty solid grad transfers that are all on the market. Would be a pretty solid coup to get 2 or 3 of them to commit together.

Point Guards:
Joseph Chartouny, Fordham (12.2 ppg, 5.6 reb, 4.6 ast, 37.1 fg%, 28.4% 3-pt)
Kory Holden, South Carolina (2017 stats at Delaware: 17.7 ppg, 3.0 reb, 4.2 ast, 39.4% fg, 38.8% 3-pt)
Justin Coleman, Samford (13.5 ppg, 2.8 reb, 6.6 ast, 43.6% fg, 37.3% 3-pt)
Christen Cunningham, Samford (2017 stats: 11.4 ppg, 2.8 reb, 6.3 ast, 2.2 turnovers, 42.2% fg, 35.4% 3-pt)

Shooting Guards:
Nat Dixon, Chatanooga (13.8 ppg, 4.6 reb, 1.9 ast, 43.6% fg, 39.5% 3-pt)
Miles Reynolds, Pacific (13.3 ppg, 2.6 reb, 2.8 ast, 41.3% fg, 37.7% 3-pt)
Dion Wiley, Maryland (5.8 ppg, 1.8 reb, 0.7 ast, 41.8% fg, 36.7% 3-pt)

Bigs:
Novak Topalovic, Idaho Sate (10.7 ppg, 6.8 reb, 1.1 blk, 52.8% fg)
Wyatt Walker, Samford (2017 Stats: 12.9 ppg, 9.7 reb, 1.5 ast, 0.9 blk, 58.6% fg)
Tory Miller-Stewart, Colorado (2017 stats: 5.6 ppg, 4.0 reb, 15.8 minutes, 53.7% fg)
Michael Finke, Illinois (9.8 ppg, 4.6 reb, 1.1 ast, 49.1% fg)

 

[Thee Jackie Treehorn]

The problem with that idea is the best grad trannies are usually looking for a strong, NCAA tournament-bound program that's missing their particular skill set, like Cam did with UNC.

I would like to see this "grad tranny" phrase catch on.

 

[KennyTheKangaroo]

I would like that oginue guard from Montana. He torched the hell out of pitt early in the season. he was a junior.

 

[below0w]

Haven't seen his name mentioned yet, but Ehab Amin from Texas A&M Corpus Christi is worthy of consideration. He was injured last season, but in 16-17 he led the nation in steals and filled up the stat sheet: 16.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 3.4 SPG, 2.8 TOPG, 46% FG, 29% 3FG, 72% FT. He's a 6'4 guard and he's had some success in international competition, seems like a smart kid too.

 

[JRPITT]

The most important addition needs to be a true point guard who can play immediately.

A good transfer center too. If he could get both; it would accelerate improvement for next season and buy some time to get good recruits for the long haul.

 

[Cap pitt]

Why does Pitt need a head coach? You guys got it handled

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Tariq Owens from St. John's I'd like to have. Musselman already put in a call this week about his services.

 

[Pitt79]

I would like to see this "grad tranny" phrase catch on.

Eventually Grad Transgenders will be transferring to the UConn women's program

They'll be winning games like 240-33!

And it might help Title IX compliance!

 

[Pitt79]

Why does Pitt need a head coach? You guys got it handled

He has to come here and read this to get his marching orders!

 

[Cap pitt]

He has to come here and read this to get his marching orders!

I guess