Akolda Manyang

[bgrch1350]

Last year West Virginia signed 4 juco players and they got 18.5 ppg out of them.

Texas Tech signed 2 juco players, and one of them became their leading scorer. Not a good team though. Their second leading scorer is also a juco player. 20+ ppg from juco players.

Baylor had 3 juco players last year and got 22.5 ppg out of them. Good production.

Iowa State has 2 jucos and got 12.5 ppg out of them.

Nowadays jucos typically fill roles, gaps, etc. You can get 3pt shooters out of juco, slashers, rebounders, defenders, role players, older guys, etc. You don't see too many well-rounded juco players that come in and act as your best player or best overall talent.

Mike Neal is a great example... that guy was an awesome 3pt shooter. Couldnt do much else, but he could shoot the lights out. Patillo had a lot out of potential to be good, and could have filled a role. Crazy athlete.

I am sure Manyang will be a good defender, shot blocker, and just be tall. I will be curious to see how he does compared to Anthony Allen from Oklahoma State.

McKay was a top 100 4* recruit. Stop using him as an example.
Texas Tech was dead last in the big 12. Not a good example.
Baylor has done quite well with Jucos. No denying that.

No one has said there isn't any talented juco players. You can pull up the list of top 50 juco players each year recently and more fail than succeed. Its a simple, wait and see approach. Manyang might be a stud or he might be what Allen was for OSU. Who knows.

 

[campbest]

JUCOs fill gaps...if you are banking your program on JUCOs now...in for a lot of trouble.

 

[Eielson]

But prep schools have really taken off in the last 7 years. Capel has done a better job with jucos then Kruger. Washington and patillo are the 2 best we've had under the 2 coaches.

You're going back 10 years. That's your problem. Prep school has taken over the last ten years. Welcome to 2015

I never said Kruger was good at recruiting JUCOs. I agree that our contributions from JUCO players has dropped off since Gray and Everett left. It's not a coincidence that KS left that year, though. I'm not willing to put that all on the prep schools. There's still talent to be found, and some people are simply better than others.

Also, I'd gladly welcome a Grooms or Patillo type player to this team.

 

[usedtobe1]

When does this man enroll? I think he is the key to the season.

I saw where the freshmen football players are supposed to report by June 7th. Summer school begins on June 8th.

 

[bgrch1350]

I never said Kruger was good at recruiting JUCOs. I agree that our contributions from JUCO players has dropped off since Gray and Everett left. It's not a coincidence that KS left that year, though. I'm not willing to put that all on the prep schools. There's still talent to be found, and some people are simply better than others.

Also, I'd gladly welcome a Grooms or Patillo type player to this team.

I gladly welcome AK. I have no problem with adding him to this group. I was having a problem with his recruiting classes being mainly juco kids. (Grooms & Arent), (Elliot, Hamilton, & Avila). Adding Bennett and Walker to those classes didn't bother me.

And adding AK when we have Lattin, Spangler and Buford already on the team is a solid plus in my book b/c if he doesn't pan out we will be just fine. I don't think AK will start over Lattin or Buford during his time here but we will see.

 

[sooner_15]

I gladly welcome AK. I have no problem with adding him to this group. I was having a problem with his recruiting classes being mainly juco kids. (Grooms & Arent), (Elliot, Hamilton, & Avila). Adding Bennett and Walker to those classes didn't bother me.

And adding AK when we have Lattin, Spangler and Buford already on the team is a solid plus in my book b/c if he doesn't pan out we will be just fine. I don't think AK will start over Lattin or Buford during his time here but we will see.

Why wouldn't a 4* 7' center start next year?

 

[Zimwillett]

I gladly welcome AK. I have no problem with adding him to this group. I was having a problem with his recruiting classes being mainly juco kids. (Grooms & Arent), (Elliot, Hamilton, & Avila). Adding Bennett and Walker to those classes didn't bother me.

And adding AK when we have Lattin, Spangler and Buford already on the team is a solid plus in my book b/c if he doesn't pan out we will be just fine. I don't think AK will start over Lattin or Buford during his time here but we will see.

Kruger wasn't left with a lot of other options other than Grooms and Arent when he came on board in April of 2011. It's not like there were a lot of top high school prospects out there that late in the signing period.

Without Grooms, Kruger's 2012 PG rotation would have been Carl Blair, TJ Franklin, and possibly Calvin Newell. His front court rotation was going to be Osby, Fitz, Barry Honore and some smaller "forwards" like CJ Washington, Tyler Neal, and a young Cam Clark. He needed a big body, and unfortunately, Arent was about all that was available.

I don't think it's any accident that Kruger's reliance on JUCOs has steadily declined as he's built the program back up.

 

[usedtobe1]

….. adding AK when we have Lattin, Spangler and Buford already on the team is a solid plus in my book b/c if he doesn't pan out we will be just fine. I don't think AK will start over Lattin or Buford during his time here but we will see.

Don't forget McNeace in that post competition although he will probably be behind AK and Lattin. I visualize Lattin and AK as almost the same player. AK is taller but Lattin is really athletic. I don't think either one will be a big scorer next season. It's great having 3 guys who are 6'9", 6'10", and 7'0". I don't know will win out between Lattin and AK, but both will play a lot.

Spangler will be the smart veteran leader next season.

Buford will be the interesting player next season to me. When I watched his HS tapes, he was a post player. Very athletic and can jump out of the gym. He's strong, too. If I had to bet, I think he will play more post next year than he does wing. He could spell Spangler and we wouldn't be at a size disadvantage with the 3 bigs that we have. I can see other times where Buford is on the floor with Spangler, Lattin/AK while they rest Buddy or Isaiah.

Another battle for a backup wing will be between Buford and Odomes or James. I think Odomes is a steal and will surprise a lot of people so Buford will have a battle on his hands.

I can't wait to hear some summer practice reports. Let the battles begin.

 

[bgrch1350]

Why wouldn't a 4* 7' center start next year?

His name is lattin. That's why. He got quality minutes as a freshman. I think he'll take a huge jump next year.

 

[bgrch1350]

Why wouldn't a 4* 7' center start next year?

Don't forget McNeace in that post competition although he will probably be behind AK and Lattin. I visualize Lattin and AK as almost the same player. AK is taller but Lattin is really athletic. I don't think either one will be a big scorer next season. It's great having 3 guys who are 6'9", 6'10", and 7'0". I don't know will win out between Lattin and AK, but both will play a lot.

Spangler will be the smart veteran leader next season.

Buford will be the interesting player next season to me. When I watched his HS tapes, he was a post player. Very athletic and can jump out of the gym. He's strong, too. If I had to bet, I think he will play more post next year than he does wing. He could spell Spangler and we wouldn't be at a size disadvantage with the 3 bigs that we have. I can see other times where Buford is on the floor with Spangler, Lattin/AK while they rest Buddy or Isaiah.

Another battle for a backup wing will be between Buford and Odomes or James. I think Odomes is a steal and will surprise a lot of people so Buford will have a battle on his hands.

I can't wait to hear some summer practice reports. Let the battles begin.

I think you are dead on.

 

[Eielson]

I don't think AK will start over Lattin or Buford during his time here but we will see.

I'm in agreement there if we want to play Buford at the 4 and Lattin at the 5. If Manyang is the real deal, though, we'll make a spot for him, and push one of them to the 3. Kruger mentioned Lattin potentially playing the 3 eventually, but I"ll believe it when I see it. I wouldn't be shocked to see Buford there, though.

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm in agreement there if we want to play Buford at the 4 and Lattin at the 5. If Manyang is the real deal, though, we'll make a spot for him, and push one of them to the 3. Kruger mentioned Lattin potentially playing the 3 eventually, but I"ll believe it when I see it. I wouldn't be shocked to see Buford there, though.

Buford may swing to the four on occasion, but I've said all along that he will play the three. While nothing is set in stone, that's the position he was recruited to play out of high school.

Not that it really matters. Kruger likes versatile players who can play more than one position. Dante is a lot like Cam Clark in that he can play the three or the four, depending on the match ups.

I think Lattin will likely start to begin the season, along with Spangler and Buford. But, if Manyang is as good as advertised, I don't see him coming off of the bench the entire season. It's a good problem to have, I suppose, and an interesting one now that this year's team will have multiple options for a change.

 

[CMSOONER]

I think Lattin will likely start to begin the season, along with Spangler and Buford. But, if Manyang is as good as advertised, I don't see him coming off of the bench the entire season. It's a good problem to have, I suppose, and an interesting one now that this year's team will have multiple options for a change.

If Lattin, Spangler & Buford start, who sits? Cousins? I don't see that happening. The starters will likely be:

Woodard
Cousins
Hield
Spangler
Lattin/Manyang (Only if Manyang is as advertised)

 

[CoachTalk]

If Lattin, Spangler & Buford start, who sits? Cousins? I don't see that happening. The starters will likely be:

Woodard
Cousins
Hield
Spangler
Lattin/Manyang (Only if Manyang is as advertised)

Wood spang buddy and cousins are automatic. 1 spot open

 

[AdaSooner]

If Lattin, Spangler & Buford start, who sits? Cousins? I don't see that happening. The starters will likely be:

Woodard
Cousins
Hield
Spangler
Lattin/Manyang (Only if Manyang is as advertised)

Yeah, for some reason I forgot about Buddy coming back. :facepalm

I agree with you and CoachTalk that Woodard, Cousins, Hield and Spangler are virtual locks to start next season. That leaves Lattin, Buford, Manyang and Odomes to battle it out for the fifth spot, giving LK the luxury of going with a big lineup or playing small ball. I didn't forget about Walker or James. I just don't think Walker is a legitimate candidate to start, and it's highly unlikely James will be recovered from his injury to the point of competing at a high level his first season. Odomes is another story. I expect him to compete and compete well his freshman season.

If I had to pick the fifth starter out of what I consider the top three candidates (Lattin, Buford and Manyang), I would go with Lattin to begin the season. If it's Buford, he'll likely start at the four. If Buddy had not returned for his senior season, I think Dante would have been the odds-on favorite to start at the three position.

 

[usedtobe1]

If I had to pick the fifth starter out of what I consider the top three candidates (Lattin, Buford and Manyang), I would go with Lattin to begin the season. If it's Buford, he'll likely start at the four. If Buddy had not returned for his senior season, I think Dante would have been the odds-on favorite to start at the three position.

Ada, that's why I guessed Buford will play more post than wing this year. I can't see him being a backup wing all year. I know we would be small but he brings more offense than Lattin or Manyang. He's used to playing the post in HS. Otherwise we get our offense from Buddy and Isaiah. Woodard and Spangler will give us some auxiliary points but aren't "go to" scorers. Neither are Lattin or Manyang.

Buford can play the post as a freshman, and then move to the wing. It's really up for grabs for the 5th starting spot. Kruger will no doubt experiment with a lot of combinations in non-conference games.

Of course we're all just guessing but that makes it fun during the off-season.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Kruger will go 9-10 deep next year. 9 only if he has to use Cousins as the backup point.

I agree that Woodard, Cousins, Hield and Spangler will start. Lattin probably the 5th starter at least at the beginning of the season.

One of the reasons those guys will start is that Kruger will want to retain the defensive level the Sooners reached in 14-15. Also look for more up tempo with the depth that we will have. All of our guys except Cole and the walkons can run the court well. And they will have plenty of backup so they can play with full intensity the full game.

If one or two of the newcomers breaks into the starting 5 we will like the way the 15-16 season goes. Kruger will play the rooks if they can produce. He will even play them if he thinks that they will produce by the end of the season.

 

[CoachTalk]

@rodgerbohn: 7'0 Akolda Manyang should help out immediately at Oklahoma.Made serious strides on offensive end and really competing w/@CoachJohnLucas1.

 

[jerry]

@rodgerbohn: 7'0 Akolda Manyang should help out immediately at Oklahoma.Made serious strides on offensive end and really competing w/@CoachJohnLucas1.

Great news!!

 

[p230]

So Manyang and Lattin are working out with Lucas at the same time?