Looked at short videos(only short and maybe old) on both players. I would take Samson George. Even though he was an Iona commit, he looks like someone we could use. He seems to have very good strength, quickness and athletic ability and great instincts. The only disclaimer: I don't know the level of competition he played against at First Love. Unless it was ridiculously poor, Pitt should offer.
The Efretuei kid did not look the part to me. He seems to lack strength and quickness.
I believe there is a 6-10 Russian (Lenny Kulokovskiy) at about Efreteui's skill level that played on the team that Peace did.
Should George sign with Pitt, we would have 12 players including 3 seniors. I would leave the last scholarship open in order to have 4 to give in 2018. I would replace Milligan but only with a grad transfer point guard. If someone terrific became available late (someone better than any likely Pitt 2018 recruit), I would decide to use the open scholarship.
Sign George and we are (more or less) set for 2017-2018.
Lots of nuances to all of this, lots of variables. Certainly not ideal to overload in one class like this for the reasons some note in this thread.
But, I think we all recognize that there is a much higher level of transiency in the game today and there almost assuredly will be movement with the kids coming in for the fall that shakes up the roster over time.
In that context - the practical reality that Stallings has very little room for error, or time so to prove himself. There is a point where the mindset of holding spots to try to get better players in the next class becomes a bit of a roll of the dice.
The 2018 kids will come to campus at the start of his third season. If things go as expected this year with the team taking some big lumps, if that third season goes badly, it is at the point where the math becomes doable, painful for sure, but doable, to give him the ax. Almost assuredly if he does not have a big fourth year under that very likely scenario he would get canned.
And, the honest assessment is even if this crew gets it stuff together and becomes a lot more effective at closing on recruits, the simple reality of what we are seeing in this class is they will be pulling a couple top 75 to 125ish kids, who probably are not going to walk on campus and be kids who can be the difference in winning ACC games as underclassman, the will be guys who need at least a year to become good starters - Stallings fourth season.
Unless they pull a SERIOUS rabbit out of the hat, we aren't seeing any top 25ish type kids who would be plug and play difference makers in Stallings third season, and even if there is one they can pull in, he most assuredly won't be excluded if they happen to have four other kids committed, they would take that kid and nudge someone out.
All of that being said, watching this kids video, I can't honestly say that I see enough to think he is a safe bet to be a good ACC player. BUT, I can honesty say we have most assuredly seen worse big men brought into the program.
In the context of the massive void in the post in the program right now, that functionally THIS class is going to make or break Stallings, and that more so today than ever IF things happen to turn around enough that he will be more than three, four years, spots are very likely to open up naturally, there really is no downside to taking the kid.
Finally, I suspect that he stays a 2018 kid, he will be recruited much more actively by major programs.
