We may be close to landing a Juco Point Guard

[JBaker]

I'm just worried about where the scoring is going to come from the 2 & 3 positions next year, particuarly if WW is no more.

TJ, Cam, and Cade.
Add in Willie if he stays.

We REALLY need an Omar Leary-type to come in and spell TMG.
And it looks like West could be that guy, but more talented than Leary.
He admits in the interview that he needs to work on his shooting, but I'd love a guy who makes good passes and plays defense.

 

[campbest]

Distributor and defensive presence it looks like.

Actually appears to be your protypical Bruce Pearl PG, I'm sure that is why UT was after him so hard.

 

[seniorsooner]

I agree. I'd still like to add a big SG. Kid doesn't have to be a stud on offense, but it'd be nice if he could play defense, and maybe get to the rim. The Ellis kid that went to IU, or a more defensive minded Detrick is kind of what I'm thinking.

As was mentioned above, this move might also be a big of backup in case TMG does depart. Not your typical backup pg signing.

If Michigan, Indiana and UCLA are really showing interest in him it is a bit odd that he would want to come here and back up TMG for the next 3 years.

 

[seniorsooner]

TJ, Cam, and Cade.
Add in Willie if he stays.

We REALLY need an Omar Leary-type to come in and spell TMG.
And it looks like West could be that guy, but more talented than Leary.
He admits in the interview that he needs to work on his shooting, but I'd love a guy who makes good passes and plays defense.

I'm sorry but after this season I am done counting on true freshmen to produce anything. I'm not saying they won't, but I'm not going to count on it. That leaves us with Cade and Pledger as wing scorers and to me that's a dicey proposition.

 

[luckyc1423]

does anyone know why he signed with tennessee and is not at tennessee? We dont need a guy with issues...

 

[MsProudSooner]

If he signed with Tennessee, why didn't he go there?

 

[Sooner23]

does anyone know why he signed with tennessee and is not at tennessee? We dont need a guy with issues...

From what I've read, it was a grades/eligibility deal. Once he got to Tennessee and was enrolled and all that jazz, the NCAA came back and said that he wasn't eligible right before the season started. So instead of leaving, he stayed at Tennessee and went to school there for a year. Then he decided to leave and go the juco route.

 

[JESUSISMASTER31]

I'm just worried about where the scoring is going to come from the 2 & 3 positions next year, particuarly if WW is no more.

I'm a little concerned about that as well, but in all honesty I'm thinking a little more of what we are going to do down low. Seeing what everyone is saying about Gallon doesn't doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence about him returning next season. So that leaves us with Fitzgerald who has looked promising at times this year, and Hardrick (assuming Hardrick doesn't transfer). Hardrick hasn't played at all this year so I have no clue what to think or expect from him.

 

[luckyc1423]

From what I've read, it was a grades/eligibility deal. Once he got to Tennessee and was enrolled and all that jazz, the NCAA came back and said that he wasn't eligible right before the season started. So instead of leaving, he stayed at Tennessee and went to school there for a year. Then he decided to leave and go the juco route.

This doesnt make sense to me...If he stayed for a year at tennessee that should have made him elegible for the following year to play ball there correct? Why would he leave then?

I dont think we need this guy AT ALL. I believe this would be a huge mistake...to me if we are going after him this tells me one of two things 1) Capel has no idea who is wanting to come here so he is going after alot of people 2) TMG and WW may be gone so we need a point guard

Look guys, TMG and this kid playing together would make our lineup extreamly small...and if this kid is the backup to tmg he will get no playing time...capel has proven he is willing to play his starters almost the whole game

If we are going after a guard I believe it needs to be a tall guard that can both rebound and block some guards shots... (austin johnson type)

 

[seniorsooner]

Not to discount any of the on court issues you reference, but I'm not overly concerned with why he's not going back to Tennessee. There are thousands of examples of players signing with a college, end up going to a JUCO, and then not going back to that same college. It happens.

 

[luckyc1423]

I'm a little concerned about that as well, but in all honesty I'm thinking a little more of what we are going to do down low. Seeing what everyone is saying about Gallon doesn't doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence about him returning next season. So that leaves us with Fitzgerald who has looked promising at times this year, and Hardrick (assuming Hardrick doesn't transfer). Hardrick hasn't played at all this year so I have no clue what to think or expect from him.

If we are all worried about counting on freshman for scoring you have to look two years ahead and sign these scorers two years ahead...I say it is safe to say you need atleast 3 scorers to be good.

So in two years we have these players hopefully for sure

1) tmg (junior) - great scorer
2) clark (sophmore) - I am sure he will be a great scorer

Then who else?
3) Fitz
4) Pledger
5) TJ Taylor

I mean we will more than likely loose gallon. Fitz is not a #1 option on offense. And TJ will be more of a distributor.....
We need to sign another great scorer this year, to have him ready in two years!
Thats only 5 players that I would look to be productive! We have to sign scorers and rebounders and defenders this year to get them ready for their sophmore campaign...or everyone will still be mad in two years saying we are going to have to rely on freshman...

 

[MNsooner]

I think we absolutely need to have a back-up pg who is ready to come in next year and give TMG a rest. Especially if we can get a guy with some experience and upside. I feel like Taylor will be a good player by the time it is all said and done, but not many freshman are going to be ready immediately step into that role.

 

[campbest]

Guess I just don't see the problem with this possible signing from a personnel standpoint...playing TMG 35+ minutes a game is not in our best interest. WE HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS TO GIVE, relax.

If West's description is accurate, he would be a back-up PG who distrubtes the ball (i.e. good ball movement, which we seriously lack right now) and plays above average defense (not too hot in this area either).

 

[billyball]

Why would it?

Would we be recruiting another pg if TMG was staying?

 

[campbest]

If we are all worried about counting on freshman for scoring you have to look two years ahead and sign these scorers two years ahead...I say it is safe to say you need atleast 3 scorers to be good.

So in two years we have these players hopefully for sure

1) tmg (junior) - great scorer
2) clark (sophmore) - I am sure he will be a great scorer

Then who else?
3) Fitz
4) Pledger
5) TJ Taylor

I mean we will more than likely loose gallon. Fitz is not a #1 option on offense. And TJ will be more of a distributor.....
We need to sign another great scorer this year, to have him ready in two years!
Thats only 5 players that I would look to be productive! We have to sign scorers and rebounders and defenders this year to get them ready for their sophmore campaign...or everyone will still be mad in two years saying we are going to have to rely on freshman...

Have you watched TJ play?

Gets to the well pretty good right now.

 

[AdaSooner]

If we are all worried about counting on freshman for scoring you have to look two years ahead and sign these scorers two years ahead...I say it is safe to say you need atleast 3 scorers to be good.

So in two years we have these players hopefully for sure

1) tmg (junior) - great scorer
2) clark (sophmore) - I am sure he will be a great scorer

Then who else?
3) Fitz
4) Pledger
5) TJ Taylor

I mean we will more than likely loose gallon. Fitz is not a #1 option on offense. And TJ will be more of a distributor.....
We need to sign another great scorer this year, to have him ready in two years!
Thats only 5 players that I would look to be productive! We have to sign scorers and rebounders and defenders this year to get them ready for their sophmore campaign...or everyone will still be mad in two years saying we are going to have to rely on freshman...

I agree that we're in trouble if Tiny leaves. Fitz is not someone we can count on to score a lot of points. At the same time, I don't recall anyone making him out to be a great scorer.

T. J. Taylor is more of a scorer than a distributor, though. He averaged 27.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals as a junior last year. Doesn't mean those averages will translate to college, because we all know that is rarely the case with kids straight out of high school. But it does suggest that he is more than capable of being a scorer. Clark is a player who can score as well. He averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals last year. I haven't seen an update lately on what they're doing as seniors, but I'm fairly sure they're both having good seasons.

Here's the problem we're facing now with signing "another great scorer this year." There simply aren't many options left at the high school or JUCO levels. We all know that Jones, Ross and a few others have been mentioned as possibilities in the last few weeks. But if our coaches strike out with the top players on their list, they will have no choice but to scramble to sign the best players available, regardless of position.

If OU goes into next season with the players and recruits on our roster now, we'll have very little depth, even if everyone but Willie comes back. I don't want to see TMG forced to play 40 minutes again. I also wouldn't want to rely entirely on Fitz and a couple of unproven post players to fill the spot opposite of Tiny. If for some reason Tiny and TMG don't return, you take what you can get and hope for the best. It's not like OU is holding a pat hand and is in a position to play those cards as our coaches see fit.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Would we be recruiting another pg if TMG was staying?

Absolutely we would...and should.

 

[Seymore Cox]

You have to look at the other backup options a PG. One was Miller and OU decided not to go after, the other is Taylor and we don't know if he can do the job.

 

[BanjoCharley]

Man I want a 6'10" point who is fast, can distribute like crazy, and can score at will from the 3. He also needs to be able to bang and block shots and it would help if he could sing the Star Spangled Banner.

Folks face reality. Recruiting is winding down. Many of the really good players are off the board. We are in a sellers market and will have to take what we can get. With luck and hard work that will be a really good player. More than likely we will be plugging holes as best we can.

 

[luckyc1423]

Something is very odd about him not still being at Tennessee....look at this quote about him paying all the money...he pays the money but still not there?

[

Daniel West] had the option of remaining in school and becoming eligible next fall, but in order to do that West would have to pay his own way as an out-of-state student. A decision that comes with a $25,000 price tag.

The decision is in, and West and his family have decided that the chance to play at Tennessee is worth the sacrifice they're making.

"I'm coming back to school," West told us on Saturday. "Really, that was always my plan. I never thought about going anywhere else. I love Tennessee and I'm ready to do whatever I need to get.

"My parents and I talked everything over, and it's going to be a big sacrifice for my family, but it's what I want to do. I don't want to be any place but Tennessee."