Dinjiyl Walker - Juco Combo Guard

[WTSooner]

Sure, back in the fall, they wanted both Buford and Cunningham. They missed on Cunningham and immediately started evaluating Goodman and recruiting Allen. Goodman got away and they still want Allen. All of these players fit what Kruger is trying to build. There is no use waiting till next year if they can get a player like they want now.

The Walker deal doesn't have anything to do with Allen. Jelon left and Kruger needs a backup point guard.

You may not want to answer this publicly, and that is fine, but if you assume we missed on Cunningham (has he signed?), we did miss on Goodman, and IF we miss on Allen, is there a backup to that, or do we wait?

And for the record, I haven't written off Allen. I still think we have a solid shot.

 

[CoachTalk]

havent heard how the allen visit went yet. but Walker is coming in mid week for an official visit.

 

[CoachTalk]

Cunningham hasnt signed yet.. We will this week. IU leads

 

[KBaden145]

You may not want to answer this publicly, and that is fine, but if you assume we missed on Cunningham (has he signed?), we did miss on Goodman, and IF we miss on Allen, is there a backup to that, or do we wait?



And for the record, I haven't written off Allen. I still think we have a solid shot.

Cunningham hasn't signed yet but it's Bradley or Indiana. Id say the pecking order was Cunningham then Goodman then Allen. Does that make sense? I'd be surprised if we didn't sign Allen. Thoughts? Coach? Gary?


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[CoachTalk]

Cunningham hasn't signed yet but it's Bradley or Indiana. Id say the pecking order was Cunningham then Goodman then Allen. Does that make sense? I'd be surprised if we didn't sign Allen. Thoughts? Coach? Gary?


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I think we sign Allen, but like its been talked about... KS can offer tons of PT early and often, just came from NBA, etc...

Houston just getting in the race helps us!

I think he wants to be close to home.

 

[garyeb2]

You may not want to answer this publicly, and that is fine, but if you assume we missed on Cunningham (has he signed?), we did miss on Goodman, and IF we miss on Allen, is there a backup to that, or do we wait?

And for the record, I haven't written off Allen. I still think we have a solid shot.

I got the impression that we moved on from Cunningham weeks ago. There wasn't a high interest on coming to OU on his part. The way it was explained to me was that either Buford or Cunningham was a MUST have. After Buford committed, Cunningham was still recruited because as I was told "he fits with what we are trying to do."

It is the same with Allen. He fits with what they are trying to do and there is no cinch a better player could be signed next year. Now, with Hornbeak gone, Allen handles the ball in the half court and defends well enough that he could help out some in the #3 guard slot.

Last week, before the visit, confidence was very high that we would end up signing Allen. I have heard of no backup plan.

 

[AdaSooner]

I got the impression that we moved on from Cunningham weeks ago. There wasn't a high interest on coming to OU on his part. The way it was explained to me was that either Buford or Cunningham was a MUST have. After Buford committed, Cunningham was still recruited because as I was told "he fits with what we are trying to do."

It is the same with Allen. He fits with what they are trying to do and there is no cinch a better player could be signed next year. Now, with Hornbeak gone, Allen handles the ball in the half court and defends well enough that he could help out some in the #3 guard slot.

Last week, before the visit, confidence was very high that we would end up signing Allen. I have heard of no backup plan.

Gary, I hope what you heard about Allen turns out to be correct. Our coaches are not the only ones who sees him as a good fit for OU's up tempo offense and the trapping defense we play. The tools appear to be there, he just needs time to adjust to the college game and to develop his skills with the help of some good coaching.

Sure would be nice to get some good news for a change!

 

[usedtobe1]

I just have some general recruiting questions.

• I understand Dinjiyl Walker is the backup plan for Jelon. Is there a Plan B if we don't sign him? I assume not. I read something about he wasn't scheduling another official visit until he finished his OU visit, which implied he expected the OU visit to go so well that he hoped he wouldn't have to schedule another visit.

• Are D'Angelo Allen and Dante Buford competing for the same minutes at the same spot? Gary mentions Allen as a 3. He isn't going to beat out Buddy. I assume Dante can play both the 3 and maybe the 4 like Cam did. Is Allen thick enough to play in the post at 185-195 lbs?

• Is there any evidence that OU is trying to recruit either of the U of Houston transfers? Other than wishful thinking......

• By losing Savon Goodman, does that mean Lattin or McNease will have to play big minutes in the post? We can't rely on just Spangler and Bennett. It would be great to have a freshman handle the 5 and let Ryan slide over to the 4.

 

[KBaden145]

I'll take a shot at one. Allen and Buford have different body types. Both are long and athletic but Buford is thinker and a more physical player. A 4 who in time and with skill develop, could play some 3. Allen is more of a lengthy wing. It's possible in time if he gains some bulk he could play a 4 like Cam with the right match-up. Allen won't be coming to help inside. He'll help as a perimeter defender and he definitely won't beat out any of our starters. He'd get minutes next year just not ahead of any of main returning rotation.


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[Stikboy]

I remember one of the insiders coming here before last signing date saying don't be surprised if we get Buford and Cunningham. Then someone said Buford might scare Cunningham away. It's a shame about Cunningham because it seems like he might have been leaning to us at one point. I guess it doesn't really matter now. Hopefully we can wrap D angelo and a good backup PG up....

 

[garyeb2]

I'll take a shot at one. Allen and Buford have different body types. Both are long and athletic but Buford is thinker and a more physical player. A 4 who in time and with skill develop, could play some 3. Allen is more of a lengthy wing. It's possible in time if he gains some bulk he could play a 4 like Cam with the right match-up. Allen won't be coming to help inside. He'll help as a perimeter defender and he definitely won't beat out any of our starters. He'd get minutes next year just not ahead of any of main returning rotation.


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I think you nailed it.

 

[WTSooner]

I'll take a shot at one. Allen and Buford have different body types. Both are long and athletic but Buford is thinker and a more physical player. A 4 who in time and with skill develop, could play some 3. Allen is more of a lengthy wing. It's possible in time if he gains some bulk he could play a 4 like Cam with the right match-up. Allen won't be coming to help inside. He'll help as a perimeter defender and he definitely won't beat out any of our starters. He'd get minutes next year just not ahead of any of main returning rotation.


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That is my understanding.

Not sure why Allen is getting pegged as a D first, limited offense guy though. I'm not saying he is the most skilled of players on offense right now, but he has some skills, and I really haven't read much on him that describes him as a lock down defender. Being long doesn't automatically qualify him as such. LK might can turn him into one though.

 

[usedtobe1]

It's tough for me to see where Allen gets many minutes. Woodard has the point (hopefully Walker backs him up but he might be a decent wing, too). Isiah and Buddy have the 2/3 wing spots, with Booker backing them up as an outside shooter who also plays some D. I think even Buford could slide over if they go really big. I can see Allen in there if they need some more length and quickness on D, but it seems like a deep position with a lot of competition.

Is Buford too thick for the 3? He seems to be the most highly touted of the bunch so I expect him to get his minutes somewhere.

I'm not sure any of these combinations help us much in the frontcourt where we really need the help..... besides a backup PG.

 

[WTSooner]

I'm not sure any of these combinations help us much in the frontcourt where we really need the help..... besides a backup PG.

We brought in Buford, Lattin, and McNease for the frontcourt. Bennett should also be improved. There is nobody available that can play the 5, that would be better than what we have. Spangler isn't going to get many (if any) minutes at the 4. Buford should be the starting 4.

As for Allen and getting minutes, he would be in direct competition with Booker and whatever other guard we sign for bench minutes at the 3. There might not be a ton of minutes for him, but in a way, we need the insurance. We'd be pretty light if we simply replaced Hornbeak with, say, that JUCO combo-guard, and didn't add anybody else. The beauty of adding a guy like Allen is that in a pinch (ie, injuries to post guys), he could play the 4 in small lineup.

 

[KBaden145]

Allen surely won't a 'lock down' guy right away. I don't think a single person with any clue has used that term. I believe, as with our other signees, he'll help more defensively at first. I think all of the new guys will be limited offensively at first whether it be because of their skill development or because we return so many good offensive players.


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[CoachTalk]

He'll get mins. Jelon left. Booker assumes a bigger role. Allen steps into bookers (role-mins wise).
You can't ever have enough quality guys.

 

[KBaden145]

You can't ever have enough quality guys.

Very true!


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[WTSooner]

Allen surely won't a 'lock down' guy right away. I don't think a single person with any clue has used that term.

You used the term perimeter defensive stopper. Is that really all that different than lock down?

To be fair you said he'd "develop" into that, but still.

The guy isn't ranked where he is b/c of defense.

P.S. - Why don't you respond to PM's?

 

[KBaden145]

You used the term perimeter defensive stopper. Is that really all that different than lock down?

To be fair you said he'd "develop" into that, but still.

The guy isn't ranked where he is b/c of defense.

P.S. - Why don't you respond to PM's?

Dude, I'm sorry. I always stay on the forum and never check my PMs. I'm on it.


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[usedtobe1]

He'll get mins. Jelon left. Booker assumes a bigger role. Allen steps into bookers (role-mins wise).
You can't ever have enough quality guys.

Where will he get his minutes? Do the math. Jelon left but he was playing point rotating with Woodard, not the wing. You didn't see both Woodard and Jelon on the court at the same time very often. Jelon only averaged 18 minutes/game and most of that was at point where I assume Walker will play (hopefully).

We only have 80 minutes a game for the wing players. Allen won't be playing point and probably not much at the 4. Cousins and Buddy will each get 25-30 minutes/game (they averaged 62 minutes this year). You said Booker will assume a bigger role and it won't be at point. Will he get 10-15 minutes? (he averaged 14 minutes this year) That doesn't leave much for a 4th wing player. Especially during conference play when they quit experimenting with rotations and go to an 8-9 player rotation.

JMHO.