Juco guard Giovanni McLean visiting this week

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OUHoops

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This is touched on in the "pending targets" post but thought it deserved its own thread.

Averaged 16.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists last season at Westchester Community College this season. Also shot 43 percent from three-point range (73-for-167). More stats here

Guy from the New York Post (@NYPost_Brazille) who tweeted about the visit said St. Johns and Fordham were also involved. There could be more interest, but I haven't researched it yet.

Listed at 6-1, 205. Kinda looks like a taller version of Tommy Mason-Griffin build-wise.

These highlights are from two years ago so...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmz_M-BzH84[/ame]

And some Rucker Park highlights?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKxHZWTGgvY[/ame]
 
Like to see that 3 point percentage. A lot of things won't translate from JUCO to D1, but the Arc is the same distance, and this guy will be able to knock down wide open 3s which is a big deal, especially in our offense.
 
sperry said:
Like to see that 3 point percentage. A lot of things won't translate from JUCO to D1, but the Arc is the same distance, and this guy will be able to knock down wide open 3s which is a big deal, especially in our offense.
Click to expand...

Agree especially for a backup PG. You don't need to come in and be a difference maker, but control the offense, where the ball moves among many hands, be able to break a press, and hit a three at a good percentage. You do those and I would be estatic
 
sperry said:
Like to see that 3 point percentage. A lot of things won't translate from JUCO to D1, but the Arc is the same distance, and this guy will be able to knock down wide open 3s which is a big deal, especially in our offense.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. If he can shoot anywhere close to 43% from three and continue to dish out assists at a nice rate, I like his chances of being successful in OU's offense. Looks like this kid may be the insurance policy we need at the point next season.
 
OU should have several minutes to offer a recruit. I hope Kruger can land a good player.
 
I liked his clip at Rucker Park. He's got some game. He can hit the jump shot from deep which is a little more diversified than Woodard's outside set shot. Is he backup to Walker or vice versa?
 
SoonerTraveler said:
Giovanni McLean ...


http://newsok.com/oklahoma-basketball-juco-guard-set-to-visit-sooners-on-wednesday/article/4303153


High School - 2010 Article:
http://nypost.com/2010/07/01/bronx-regional-product-standing-out-on-streetball-circuit/
Click to expand...

Gotta appreciate a young man who is trying to better himself anyway he can. I like kids with a streetballer background. They're usually tougher than the average player who had everything handed to him on a silver platter.

The first thing I thought of after reading the NYpost article is that he'll fit in nicely with Cousins and Hield. They have a little streetballer in them, too.
 
AdaSooner said:
Gotta appreciate a young man who is trying to better himself anyway he can. I like kids with a streetballer background. They're usually tougher than the average player who had everything handed to him on a silver platter.

The first thing I thought of after reading the NYpost article is that he'll fit in nicely with Cousins and Hield. They have a little streetballer in them, too.
Click to expand...

Toughness is a very underrated trait. We need more of it on the roster.
 
usedtobe1 said:
I liked his clip at Rucker Park. He's got some game. He can hit the jump shot from deep which is a little more diversified than Woodard's outside set shot. Is he backup to Walker or vice versa?
Click to expand...

I just watched the Rucker Park video for the first time. Man, you're right, "Gio" has got some game! He's not lacking for confidence, that's for sure.

If he comes to OU, I predict the competition for playing time this fall will be intense. I see that as a good thing.

The more I see of "Gio," the more I want to see him in a Sooner uni this fall!
 
SoonerTraveler said:
Toughness is a very underrated trait. We need more of it on the roster.
Click to expand...

Right after Cousins, Buddy, and Hornbeak finished their 1st season here, many got down on Cousins. Some even thought he would be the odd man out once we signed Woodard & Booker. I cautioned everyone to not count Cousins out, because NY kids who make it out of the city, are usually hard workers, and very tough. I fully expected Cousins to fight hard and earn himself a spot, which he did.

Watching the Rucker Park video made me think about guys like Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Pearl Washington, Mark Jackson, Kenny Smith, etc....

All of those guys had different games, but the common denominator is they all competed hard. Those NY boys will come at you, and I see the same mentality in Cousins.

Hopefully if we get this kid he will be the same way.
 
jmizzy4ou said:
Right after Cousins, Buddy, and Hornbeak finished their 1st season here, many got down on Cousins. Some even thought he would be the odd man out once we signed Woodard & Booker. I cautioned everyone to not count Cousins out, because NY kids who make it out of the city, are usually hard workers, and very tough. I fully expected Cousins to fight hard and earn himself a spot, which he did.

Watching the Rucker Park video made me think about guys like Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Pearl Washington, Mark Jackson, Kenny Smith, etc....

All of those guys had different games, but the common denominator is they all competed hard. Those NY boys will come at you, and I see the same mentality in Cousins.

Hopefully if we get this kid he will be the same way.
Click to expand...

You weren't the only one who cautioned some of the posters here about giving up on Cousins. I liked enough of what I saw in him to think that he could be pretty good someday. Looks like we were right! ;)

You're right, there is a common denominator here that could give McLean an edge in competing for playing time. I like what I have seen of him so far.
 
So who is the highest priority at backup PG: Dinjiyl Walker or Giovanni McLean? Maybe it's the 1st one to pull the trigger. Who would the staff prefer if they have a choice?
 
jmizzy4ou said:
Right after Cousins, Buddy, and Hornbeak finished their 1st season here, many got down on Cousins. Some even thought he would be the odd man out once we signed Woodard & Booker. I cautioned everyone to not count Cousins out, because NY kids who make it out of the city, are usually hard workers, and very tough. I fully expected Cousins to fight hard and earn himself a spot, which he did.

Watching the Rucker Park video made me think about guys like Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Pearl Washington, Mark Jackson, Kenny Smith, etc....

All of those guys had different games, but the common denominator is they all competed hard. Those NY boys will come at you, and I see the same mentality in Cousins.

Hopefully if we get this kid he will be the same way.
Click to expand...

You are exactly right! He had some rough spots during his freshman year but you could see the potential. For me, I think he exceeded the potential his second year and I think he'll only get better.
 
FWIW, and it's not much, but I followed him with the @ouhoops account on twitter and he immediately followed back. Same with Doolittle.

You can follow him here: @Young_Bull4
 
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