MJ Rice
- Thread starter Pittnerski
- Start date
Ha, I thought on the surface with the timing and everything it seemed like Pitt was in good shape. The guy I normally text for this sort of info said “Not Pitt.” I’d guess Kansas given team Loaded’s history with them.
Would be nice for him to be wrong again.
I haven’t followed it close enough lately. Ideally it would be:
1. Mintz
2. Barlow
3. Some big we haven’t heard of that develops late
4. A transfer
you’d have to think we end up with at least 4 ships
I don't think we are getting Rice. In the end, Im not sure / I really dont think any college will either. I think he will go the pro route. His ov to NC State which was supposed to take place in October didnt happen. I think its Kansas or Oklahoma State on who can fastrack him to the NBA. Kansas is Kansas, OSU is selling Cade Cunningham. as a #1.
I think we have a good chance with Barlow. I am saying "good" but not great because he is going to get more majors coming in. He is one of the Top 5 hottest names right now and his offer sheet has exploded. I think the relationship with Capel is strong, but beating out other powerhouse schools including additional potential blue bloods will prove difficult. He is posting double double in Vegas coming off a strong Peach Jam and EYBL. His National Ranking should rocket higher. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if UNC and others come calling. He obviously should be at the top of our most wanted list. Think RJ Davis here with UNC at the very end when it was Pitt on him very early. We have a "good" chance, certainly not a great chance.
We already have the OV setup with Oweh and wasted little time setting it up in early September. He is a priority recruit. I like his game a lot except for his outside shooting. He is humble, coachable, and played in 2 different peach jam title games. He's a blair kid and a winner. We are on the very short list here. Penn State is in there, his brother goes to PSU, Miami, and maybe Seton Hall or one late addition like a Georgia. We gained a ton of traction with him getting him to visit Pitt officially in the near term. We really need an outside shooter, but Oweh has more than enough talent to take him if we get a player like Barnes in 2023 who we have a very, very good chance of getting in 2023.
Ryan Dunn from New York has also exploded like I said he was going to. He is right in our NY wheelhouse and is a major piece of talent. He is going to continue to rake in offers, but I expect Pitt to be on the final short list. Capel has already built a great relationship with him. 7'0 wingspan, former point guard that grew 7 inches that can pass. Lights out shooter, enormous upside on offense that is just scratching the surface. Virginia is a dangerous team on his list, but they just landed a quality wing.
I think Billups may go NC State or VCU. Those 2 programs have spent the most time recruiting him this summer. I think Pitt is in that top 3-4ish range which is the same thing I said about Sean Jones, but I dont think he is at the top of our wish list. He shouldn't be, he's had a good summer, not a great summer. More potential based on height and wingspan. Closer to Top 150 as opposed to being a legit Top 100 player. Good glue player, but inconsistent on offense and inconsistent as a shooter.
Like I said earlier over a month ago, the homerun class is Mintz-Barlow-Dunn and waiting on a center and see what opens up. But Mintz-Oweh-Barlow is a homerun type class too if we get a shooter like Barnes in 2023.
NY's Ayo is the sleeper. We are hovering in his top 5 with S. Johns, Seton Hall, Auburn, and Alabama lurking. Had a strong peach jam tournament. Very high efficiency player on offense over the summer shooting 68% from the floor as a wing, 2 way player. Not a good shooter from 3 at all but gets after it on defense with good shot selection. Chisom Okpara from NY is also lurking as a wing.
Christ Essandoko is also supposed to visit Pitt officially in the near future. 7 footer, we have recruited him for a while. Good tools to work with, but still quite raw.
NFN, but I'm tired of taking guards who can't shoot the 3. That *is* today's game. You need threats across the perimeter to spread the defense.
I know you already know this but shooting from distance is usually the last thing that comes together for kids. That said, you can find improvement incrementally year on year.
The point being, having a young team means you usually are running out players who haven't had that incremental improvement yet. That's been Pitt lately.
If Nate Santos is the shooter that he was in the Nepsac, we are in decent hands as having a significant outside weapon as he is a big wildcard with a lot of potential. His past injuries are also a wildcard here, but too many people are looking at his national ranking and think he sucks which clearly isnt the case as he was a beast in the powerhouse Nepsac and won the title as a team leader. He hasn't played a summer game in 3 years for anyone to see him and even scout him properly unless they watched the Nepsac.
If Santos lives up to the shooting ability like in the past with what he did in the Nepsac, a player like Oweh makes a lot more sense for now and we can get a 3 point shooter like Barnes in 2023. I really like Dunn and its about mixing and matching with balance. If Oweh could shoot from 3, his National Ranking would be way higher as he is really solid overall except the outside shot where he is limited. I think he can play some with Mintz because he is such a dog on defense, but he could also split some time with Mintz too with a shooter on the floor. I also view Oweh as a 2/3 combo and an undersized wing. He plays bigger than he is and is a true athlete.
We are also in a very good spot with Barnes.
Seems certain now he has decided the college route, at least for one year. Capel seems to have a long, solid relationship with him. We could really use him, would be frustrating to see him go to Kansas but certainly understood.
You wonder what the kid was promised in off the court money , my guess is if the real numbers ever come out what schools boosters are willing to pay the top recruits it will totally expose both college bb and Fb as nothing more than the businesses they are .
When it becomes obvious that schools like Pitt simply cannot compete In securing top talent the closer we are to the formation of super conferences in both bb and Fb . Just like the Pirates Pitt will never have a chance unless the folks holding back the purse strings of the big money boosters have a change of heart .
When coaches are paid millions it won’t be long before super star players are making big time money . I’m all for players getting a piece of the pie , but I’d struggle with the idea of kids pulling down a million bucks to be the Qb or center at Pitt .Realistically and legally how can they limit the money a player makes off the court/ field when they don’t put limitations on the income of the coach or any other employee ?
When it becomes obvious that schools like Pitt simply cannot compete In securing top talent the closer we are to the formation of super conferences in both bb and Fb . Just like the Pirates Pitt will never have a chance unless the folks holding back the purse strings of the big money boosters have a change of heart .
When coaches are paid millions it won’t be long before super star players are making big time money . I’m all for players getting a piece of the pie , but I’d struggle with the idea of kids pulling down a million bucks to be the Qb or center at Pitt .Realistically and legally how can they limit the money a player makes off the court/ field when they don’t put limitations on the income of the coach or any other employee ?
Don't worry. Soon enough, most people are going to realize that all of these $50k, $60k, $70k per year tuitions are a colossal waste of money and start getting their educations online anyway. Once that happens, the major universities will all be on their way out, and so will big-time college athletics. 😉😂🤣
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