Spring Addition
John Hugley Season ending stats
24 ppg
13.4 rpg
4.6 assist per game
41% 3 point shooter
Statistically for a Pf / Center, John Hugley had a season for the ages. His numbers across the board were beyond dominant as he broke the single season all time points record, the single game assist record, and the single game points record all in the same year. He was unanimously named the player of the year as he was unstoppable most of the season scoring, rebounding, and passing his senior season.
Stylistically, John Hugley is needed in so many ways. Hugley is a physical bruiser that will rebound. He plays bully ball on both ends and I have said previously he has a lot of Chevy Troutman characteristics with his body, wingspan, and craftiness under the hoop. While being extremely physical could lead to some foul problems in the ACC, this team needs someone that can command and control the paint, push players out of the paint, pass from the paint and finish in the paint. As a large bonus Hugley can shoot very well for a big man from 3 point range.
John Hugley has an ACC level body right now. His conditioning, which has been a huge problem in the past is also far better now than in any point in his career. He has worked very hard and his numbers show it. His impact at Pitt will be felt and significant from day 1.
His high school coach, Chet Mason, is on record recently stating that Big John is one of the Top 25 best players in the entire country right now in Chet’s opinion. Statistically, Hugley had at worst a Top 25-50 Nationally rated performance his senior year. His passing ability for a big man at this stage is ridiculously Elite and much needed.
Femi Odukale Final Season Stats
17.5 ppg
8 rpg
9 assist per game
2.7 steals per game
59% Fg percentage
39% 3 point shooter
82% foul shooter
Like John Hugley, Odukale had one of the best senior seasons in the entire country in every single facet of the game while breaking the schools all-time single season assist record. Most players only dream about having a triple double 1 time in their entire career. Odukale was close to averaging a triple double for the entire season against Elite competition as he consistently beat the brakes right off the opposing teams defense.
For months Jeff Capel single handily pushed in all the chips to land this player much like he did with RJ Davis who he lost to North Carolina. There was no 1A choice and that includes Jalen Warley, this “was” the top choice made specifically by Jeff Capel. With what had backfired previously with RJ Davis and Capel going “all in” now came to fruition with Odukale.
Odukale is oozing with potential and is a complete stat sheet stuffer. A 6’5 athlete with a 6’11 wingspan that is versatile and plays the game at a ferocious pace. He is the primary disrupter on defense off the full court press and the trap and forces a lot of turnovers with his wingspan and speed while pushing the transition offense. He was the driving and consistent catalyst on offense all season long with his Elite level vision and passing for Springfield. As a surprise and major bonus, he shot just under 40% from 3 with his rapidly improving jump shot which he has worked very hard on.
He is already 19 years old and is much more seasoned and ready to play significant minutes early. I fully expect Odukale to make a significant impact next year and he has an NBA body right now.
It should also be noted that Odukale lives in the gym. He is relentless with trying to improve and like a typical New Yorker, plays with a moxy and swagger with a major chip on his shoulder for being under rated. He has and plays with a major junkyard dog old school nastiness and attitude that Jeff Capel loves.
“Early” Player comparison- Denzel Valentine Michigan State
My early prediction for next season is that Hugley, Odukale, and Horton will be significant contributors and Amadasun and Collier will be minor contributors. I expect Amadasun and Collier to help more on defense and on the glass with limited roles. Collier is still quite raw on offense and shooting after this season at Westtown but he will help with our press defense and substantially help in our 2-3 zone defense as Westtown plays a lot of 2-3 zone with traps.
I also think even with Will Jeffress likely coming to Pitt and with Jeffress shot making improvement “this” season, Jeffress is also behind Hugley, Odukale, and Horton at this time in terms of early impact. And while that is not a slight to Jeffress but rather, I am saying that Capel has hit a home run with these 3 players on next years team.
Last year there was quite a bit of debate about the 2019 recruiting class when I called the class “underrated”. Some people chose to throw in the towel after a meaningless all star game last year on our 2019 recruiting class. At seasons end, Justin Champagnie as a true freshman led the team in points and rebounds and Karim Coulibaly was starting to raise his level of play significantly as the season finished. Ill give Drumgoole a pass as a freshmen for the time he missed with the foot injury. The season prior Xavier Johnson, a true freshman, led the team in scoring.
I believe this 2020 class coming in currently (including Horton in 2020) is without question the best recruiting class with talent to date under Jeff Capel and Im not sure it’s even close. Jeff Capel has praised Horton all season long as arguably our best player and I think we have 2 studs in Hugley and Odukale coming in. Collier and Amadasun have more than enough “potential” and athletic ability to develop in time.
In closing, this team needs a lot of help and we are getting it next year. In my opinion, getting Odukale is absolutely huge. A majority of the players Jeff Capel has recruited have proven to be underrated whether they chose Pitt or another team and many of these players have risen in the final rankings over time (Grad Transfer roster fill-in players like Murphy and Hamilton do not count).
This trio of Horton-Odukale-Hugley should have everyone beyond ecstatic. Add Jeffress and the gland slam class for 2020 is completed. Then add in 5 star guard Rodney Gallagher and we are moving up significantly in the standings and rankings in the future.
This 2019-2020 season did not finish like many had hoped because of a severe lack of team depth, 3 point shooting, and team rebounding along with a lack of upperclassmen leaders. Next year I believe we are taking a significant step forward because of the new additions and the new additions ability to fix our biggest team weaknesses. I also think it is very possible at least 2 of these players either start or see major minutes while all 3 have significant contributions. I also expect Ithiel Horton to be a major weapon on offense. And I believe Horton is going to prove he is a very deadly outside shooter from 3 starting in game 1 next year.
Exciting times are ahead…
John Hugley Season ending stats
24 ppg
13.4 rpg
4.6 assist per game
41% 3 point shooter
Statistically for a Pf / Center, John Hugley had a season for the ages. His numbers across the board were beyond dominant as he broke the single season all time points record, the single game assist record, and the single game points record all in the same year. He was unanimously named the player of the year as he was unstoppable most of the season scoring, rebounding, and passing his senior season.
Stylistically, John Hugley is needed in so many ways. Hugley is a physical bruiser that will rebound. He plays bully ball on both ends and I have said previously he has a lot of Chevy Troutman characteristics with his body, wingspan, and craftiness under the hoop. While being extremely physical could lead to some foul problems in the ACC, this team needs someone that can command and control the paint, push players out of the paint, pass from the paint and finish in the paint. As a large bonus Hugley can shoot very well for a big man from 3 point range.
John Hugley has an ACC level body right now. His conditioning, which has been a huge problem in the past is also far better now than in any point in his career. He has worked very hard and his numbers show it. His impact at Pitt will be felt and significant from day 1.
His high school coach, Chet Mason, is on record recently stating that Big John is one of the Top 25 best players in the entire country right now in Chet’s opinion. Statistically, Hugley had at worst a Top 25-50 Nationally rated performance his senior year. His passing ability for a big man at this stage is ridiculously Elite and much needed.
Femi Odukale Final Season Stats
17.5 ppg
8 rpg
9 assist per game
2.7 steals per game
59% Fg percentage
39% 3 point shooter
82% foul shooter
Like John Hugley, Odukale had one of the best senior seasons in the entire country in every single facet of the game while breaking the schools all-time single season assist record. Most players only dream about having a triple double 1 time in their entire career. Odukale was close to averaging a triple double for the entire season against Elite competition as he consistently beat the brakes right off the opposing teams defense.
For months Jeff Capel single handily pushed in all the chips to land this player much like he did with RJ Davis who he lost to North Carolina. There was no 1A choice and that includes Jalen Warley, this “was” the top choice made specifically by Jeff Capel. With what had backfired previously with RJ Davis and Capel going “all in” now came to fruition with Odukale.
Odukale is oozing with potential and is a complete stat sheet stuffer. A 6’5 athlete with a 6’11 wingspan that is versatile and plays the game at a ferocious pace. He is the primary disrupter on defense off the full court press and the trap and forces a lot of turnovers with his wingspan and speed while pushing the transition offense. He was the driving and consistent catalyst on offense all season long with his Elite level vision and passing for Springfield. As a surprise and major bonus, he shot just under 40% from 3 with his rapidly improving jump shot which he has worked very hard on.
He is already 19 years old and is much more seasoned and ready to play significant minutes early. I fully expect Odukale to make a significant impact next year and he has an NBA body right now.
It should also be noted that Odukale lives in the gym. He is relentless with trying to improve and like a typical New Yorker, plays with a moxy and swagger with a major chip on his shoulder for being under rated. He has and plays with a major junkyard dog old school nastiness and attitude that Jeff Capel loves.
“Early” Player comparison- Denzel Valentine Michigan State
My early prediction for next season is that Hugley, Odukale, and Horton will be significant contributors and Amadasun and Collier will be minor contributors. I expect Amadasun and Collier to help more on defense and on the glass with limited roles. Collier is still quite raw on offense and shooting after this season at Westtown but he will help with our press defense and substantially help in our 2-3 zone defense as Westtown plays a lot of 2-3 zone with traps.
I also think even with Will Jeffress likely coming to Pitt and with Jeffress shot making improvement “this” season, Jeffress is also behind Hugley, Odukale, and Horton at this time in terms of early impact. And while that is not a slight to Jeffress but rather, I am saying that Capel has hit a home run with these 3 players on next years team.
Last year there was quite a bit of debate about the 2019 recruiting class when I called the class “underrated”. Some people chose to throw in the towel after a meaningless all star game last year on our 2019 recruiting class. At seasons end, Justin Champagnie as a true freshman led the team in points and rebounds and Karim Coulibaly was starting to raise his level of play significantly as the season finished. Ill give Drumgoole a pass as a freshmen for the time he missed with the foot injury. The season prior Xavier Johnson, a true freshman, led the team in scoring.
I believe this 2020 class coming in currently (including Horton in 2020) is without question the best recruiting class with talent to date under Jeff Capel and Im not sure it’s even close. Jeff Capel has praised Horton all season long as arguably our best player and I think we have 2 studs in Hugley and Odukale coming in. Collier and Amadasun have more than enough “potential” and athletic ability to develop in time.
In closing, this team needs a lot of help and we are getting it next year. In my opinion, getting Odukale is absolutely huge. A majority of the players Jeff Capel has recruited have proven to be underrated whether they chose Pitt or another team and many of these players have risen in the final rankings over time (Grad Transfer roster fill-in players like Murphy and Hamilton do not count).
This trio of Horton-Odukale-Hugley should have everyone beyond ecstatic. Add Jeffress and the gland slam class for 2020 is completed. Then add in 5 star guard Rodney Gallagher and we are moving up significantly in the standings and rankings in the future.
This 2019-2020 season did not finish like many had hoped because of a severe lack of team depth, 3 point shooting, and team rebounding along with a lack of upperclassmen leaders. Next year I believe we are taking a significant step forward because of the new additions and the new additions ability to fix our biggest team weaknesses. I also think it is very possible at least 2 of these players either start or see major minutes while all 3 have significant contributions. I also expect Ithiel Horton to be a major weapon on offense. And I believe Horton is going to prove he is a very deadly outside shooter from 3 starting in game 1 next year.
Exciting times are ahead…
