K-State adds James Watson and Jeremy Jones

[thebigabd]

Jeremy Jones, Seward County, 6-foot-2 sophomore — One of the nation's top junior-college recruits. Went to the same high school in Chicago as Bulls guard Derrick Rose. Led the Jayhawk Conference in scoring at over 18 per game and was the Jayhawk West Player of the Year.

James Watson (6'8'' 225), from Stringtown, OK, has also picked KSU out of Cowley County CC. He went to Washington State out of high school, and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds per game as a freshman there. Averaged 10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game at Cowley last season.

These guys join Omari Lawrence (St. Johns transfer, redshirted in juco last year), Angel Rodriguez, Adrian Diaz (6'11'' center), and Thomas Gipson (6'7'' 250 power forward) in the 2011 recruiting class.

 

[BigTime]

Jeremy Jones, Seward County, 6-foot-2 sophomore — One of the nation's top junior-college recruits. Went to the same high school in Chicago as Bulls guard Derrick Rose. Led the Jayhawk Conference in scoring at over 18 per game and was the Jayhawk West Player of the Year.

James Watson (6'8'' 225), from Stringtown, OK, has also picked KSU out of Cowley County CC. He went to Washington State out of high school, and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds per game as a freshman there. Averaged 10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game at Cowley last season.

These guys join Omari Lawrence (St. Johns transfer, redshirted in juco last year), Angel Rodriguez, Adrian Diaz (6'11'' center), and Thomas Gipson (6'7'' 250 power forward) in the 2011 recruiting class.

I'm very interested to see what Gipson can do at this level. I think Frank can turn him into an absolute monster.. He is nowhere near 6-7 though (6-5 imo)...

 

[WTSooner]

I really, really wish OU had gone after Jones harder. I wory about our guard play. Jones would have helped.

 

[BigTime]

I really, really wish OU had gone after Jones harder. I wory about our guard play. Jones would have helped.

Here's an interesting quote that I received a few weeks ago regarding Jeremy Jones (same source who told me that Goff wouldn't make it):

Jones from Seward is quick and can score but can really play out of control. Someone close to his JC coach says he is a headache as well.

 

[WTSooner]

Here's an interesting quote that I received a few weeks ago regarding Jeremy Jones (same source who told me that Goff wouldn't make it):

Well. If he is a headache, nevermind. We don't need those.

The point stands though, I think upgrading our SG position is the next big thing for LK to do. :clap

 

[BigTime]

Well. If he is a headache, nevermind. We don't need those.

The point stands though, I think upgrading our SG position is the next big thing for LK to do. :clap

Oh yeah. I agree there. His biggest recruiting job though may be just making Calvin and Steve better players. I really think that both of them can be much better than they have shown. Calvin showed some flashes at the end of last year (especially the KU game).

 

[WTSooner]

Oh yeah. I agree there. His biggest recruiting job though may be just making Calvin and Steve better players. I really think that both of them can be much better than they have shown. Calvin showed some flashes at the end of last year (especially the KU game).

Agreed. I had VERY high hopes for Pledger when he signed. I'm hoping a better offensive game plan will help him to play to his potential.

 

[scrybe]

Agreed. I had VERY high hopes for Pledger when he signed. I'm hoping a better offensive game plan will help him to play to his potential.

I did too, WT (had high hopes for Pledger). But you gotta admit he's shown flashes that he CAN be the type of player so many of us thought we were getting when he signed on. I mean, how many kids ever even sniff a 38-point game. When SP's shot is falling and he shows up prepared to play, the kid can be scary good. Just wish it happened on a more consistent basis.

 

[cowboysooner]

WT, I see Pledger getting better. I mean there is no question that we saw improvement from year one to year two. He definately showed flashes last year. With another good offseason, improved competition to drive him, I think there is a good chance that we will see a better and more consistent Pledger. No crystal ball, just think there is good reason to expect improvement. I think we can all agree a really good pledger would mean a lot to improved play by the team next year.

The increased competition across all positions and the rosters increased experiance should make us more competitive next year. We'll see.

 

[sperry]

Isn't C.J. Washington from "Stringtown, OK" as well? That would mean two D1 players came out of Stringtown, OK, Pop. 396, in two years.

 

[WTSooner]

WT, I see Pledger getting better. I mean there is no question that we saw improvement from year one to year two.

Oh, I agree. His numbers were much better than I "remember" his play being.

That said, I expected a much higher 3 point shooting percentage. If he can increase that, and play better D, we'll have a really nice SG on our hands.

 

[thebigabd]

Isn't C.J. Washington from "Stringtown, OK" as well? That would mean two D1 players came out of Stringtown, OK, Pop. 396, in two years.

Tyrus Mcgee is from Stringtown and is going to ISU. He averaged over 20 per game on the same team as this guy going to KSU.

 

[sperry]

Tyrus Mcgee is from Stringtown and is going to ISU. He averaged over 20 per game on the same team as this guy going to KSU.

That is insane. They've put out 3 high D1 players in just a couple years? I'm from Norman, a town of 100,000, and I'm not sure we've had 3 D1 players in the last decade. The only ones I can think of are Hardrick, Kellen McCoy who played JUCO ball and then played at Weber St. for two years, and Geoff Peck who went to Vandy but never even played (he might have been a walk-on).

Then, you have this town of 396 put out 3 D1 players in a period of two years.

 

[colston15]

That is insane. They've put out 3 high D1 players in just a couple years? I'm from Norman, a town of 100,000, and I'm not sure we've had 3 D1 players in the last decade. The only ones I can think of are Hardrick, Kellen McCoy who played JUCO ball and then played at Weber St. for two years, and Geoff Peck who went to Vandy but never even played (he might have been a walk-on).

Then, you have this town of 396 put out 3 D1 players in a period of two years.

Ian Boylan played at CS-Northridge.

 

[Tony]

I was wondering when it was exactly the Boylan brothers were there. Did Terrence Boyd ever play a D-1 game? I suppose he could count.

But yeah, that is incredible about Stringtown.

 

[sperry]

I was wondering when it was exactly the Boylan brothers were there. Did Terrence Boyd ever play a D-1 game? I suppose he could count.

But yeah, that is incredible about Stringtown.

The Boylan brothers were there in the late 90s, so more than decade ago.


Boyd definitely didn't play fresh out of high school, but he was in the class with Hardrick and Orton, so if he went to a JUCO than he would be starting this year. That being said, I think he was just a wash out.

 

[sys]

and loses nick russell, with one more transfer to go to get down to 13.


although watson hasn't signed yet afaik, so maybe there's a slight chance he doesn't make it and there are no more transfers.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

I'm sure those 3 guys are really from Stringtown

 

[DFWHoopster]

and loses nick russell, with one more transfer to go to get down to 13.

although watson hasn't signed yet afaik, so maybe there's a slight chance he doesn't make it and there are no more transfers.

I'm surprised that Russell didn't fare better. I thought he looked like a promising player his freshman year.

Gipson can be a Jamelle Cornley (Penn State)/ Joseph Jones (A&M)/ DeJuan Blair (Pitt) type player by the time he is a junior. I love players like that- wish Baylor would add some to their mix.

In college basketball, guys like that are difference makers because the picks they set create open looks for teammates and are just absolute menaces on the boards.

I fear guys like him- although I think his athleticism isn't on the level of a guy like Blair. But Blair was a dominant top 10 college basketball player. Blair's second leap was incredibly quick like Barkley.

 

[AdaSooner]

Agreed. I had VERY high hopes for Pledger when he signed. I'm hoping a better offensive game plan will help him to play to his potential.

Sure hope you're right, WT. Heck, I'm the one who made the bold prediction that Pledger would become the "best three point shooter in OU history." So far, those flashes of brilliance scrybe alluded to are the only thing I can point to as evidence that I was not totally out of my mind when I made that statement. :facepalm

I'm hoping that in LK's structured offense with more set plays and screens to get shooters like Steven open for good shots, he'll get squared up and be more consistent in his release. I still believe that he has the potential to be a really good player.