Recruiting 2019

[valpopal]

[tweet]1019698000082464769[/tweet]

Don't know anything about these kids, but if the competition is IUPUI and UWM, I'm not enthused.  We need to aim higher.

Chris Burnell from Rockford East has been a varsity standout since Freshman year. I have followed his growth the last three years. He's a top kid with a good attitude.

These two are 6'3" and 6'4": with all the guards and small forwards we have on roster, I'm still thinking a bigger player like 6'10" Skogman, if possible, would be a better priority.

[VUGrad1314]

I'm sure this is all just due diligence. Or perhaps they believe someone on the roster now might transfer and they want to be ready with contingencies if it happens.

[VU2014]

[tweet]1019698000082464769[/tweet]

Don't know anything about these kids, but if the competition is IUPUI and UWM, I'm not enthused.  We need to aim higher.

Chris Burnell from Rockford East has been a varsity standout since Freshman year. I have followed his growth the last three years. He's a top kid with a good attitude.

These two are 6'3" and 6'4": with all the guards and small forwards we have on roster, I'm still thinking a bigger player like 6'10" Skogman, if possible, would be a better priority.

We might be out of the skogman sweepstakes with his recruitment blowing up

[VUBBFan]

https://twitter.com/griffnmoore/status/1054889872241102848

[VU2014]

This one is surprising. Illinois showed interest earlier in his recruitment but I heard they pretty much stopped showing interest last year during his junior HS season. One of the reasons he originally decommitted from Illinois State was because a handful of P5 schools including the Illini start to show interest. It's pretty clear he wants to play for a P5 right now. I just don't see him at being a fit for a lot of P5s because of his size and a few pieces of his game that aren't fully developed like his ball handling. He's very athletic but he's a bit of tweener for that level. I just don't see him getting the playing time development he needs to improve his game at a P5 school right now. I just think he's a better fit for mid-majors where he'll get to play earlier on in his CBB career.

[IrishDawg]

This one is a surprising. Illinois showed interest earlier in his recruitment but I heard they pretty much stopped showing interest last year during his junior HS season. One of the reasons he originally decommitted from Illinois State was because a handful of P5 schools including the Illini start to show interest. It's pretty clear he wants to play for a P5 right now. I just don't see him at being a fit for a lot of P5s because of his size and a few pieces of his game that aren't fully developed like his ball handling. He's very athletic but he's a bit of tweener for that level. I just don't see him getting the playing time development he needs to improve his game at a P5 school right now. I just think he's a better fit for mid-majors where he'll get to play earlier on in his CBB career.

As you said, it's pretty clear he wants to be at a P5 program.  If that's the case, his best bet is to wait until the spring, because that's when teams get a little more willing to reach on a guy.  Going to watch the Illini's scrimmage also doesn't mean that an offer has or will be conveyed to him.  Illinois has been striking out a lot on their 2019 recruiting so far though, so it's possible that one could be coming his way.

[wh]

Cornell has offered my HS senior granddaughter an amazing academic financial package to go there. Upon learning that she had submitted her application, I asked her how serious she was about going there. She replied that she has already decided on Notre Dame. She just wants to be able to tell her friends she could have gone to an Ivy League school had she wanted to. Sounded to me like a bunch of nonsense; then again, I'm not an 18-year-old kid trying to impress my friends.

Moral of the story - Don't give up on Chris yet. After all, he is the same age as my granddaughter.

[FieldGoodie05]

Cornell has offered my HS senior granddaughter an amazing academic financial package to go there. Upon learning that she had submitted her application, I asked her how serious she was about going there. She replied that she has already decided on Notre Dame. She just wants to be able to tell her friends she could have gone to an Ivy League school had she wanted to. Sounded to me like a bunch of nonsense; then again, I'm not an 18-year-old kid trying to impress my friends.

Moral of the story - Don't give up on Chris yet. After all, he is the same age as my granddaughter.

Thanks for sharing WH, great real world example that we can all relate to.  I did the same thing with Miami of Ohio / Western Michigan (football) but knew I was outclassed and chose to come to VU.  Though I was hardly a highly rate recruit such as the likes of the 2019 class we are recruiting.  I am glad to see we are setting our sights high!  Skogman and Payton would be great pickups.  I'm even excited for a potential rim protector / rebounder in the Canadian recruit (if we actually offered him).

[valpo84]

Did you say Chris Lofton or Chris Payton?

[VU2014]

Rumor is that Illinois State jumped into Bediako's recruitment.

[VUBBFan]

Sounds like we will be officially eliminated by Alex on Friday

https://twitter.com/HemenwayAlex/status/1057340319770075136

[VU2014]

My $ is on Clemson.

[FieldGoodie05]

My $ is on Clemson.

Hope he goes to the school of his dreams.  And then reconsiders his decision and transfers to VU during our year of rebuild.

[VU2014]

Bediako putting up some nice offensive numbers.

https://twitter.com/OntarioSBA/status/1057631274246914048

[VUBBFan]

Alex Hememway officially committed to Clemson.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1058463932191596544

[vu72]

Alex Hememway officially committed to Clemson.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1058463932191596544

As an Indiana kid, he'll not be very comfortable in the deep south.  Valpo in two? 

[valpolaw]

His video seemed to be a bit much to me. Seems a bit self centered but what do I know.

[VU2014]

His video seemed to be a bit much to me. Seems a bit self centered but what do I know.

I spend way too much time following CBB twitter and these announcement videos get pretty annoying but this one is one of the more humbled ones. I've seen kids committing to non-d1 schools have these type of videos lol.

As an Indiana kid, he'll not be very comfortable in the deep south.  Valpo in two? 

I actually think he could do well there if he is able to get enough minutes to crack a rotation. I don't think he'll get the playing time he'd get at mid-major early on but we'll see. I really wanted the Valpo coaches to make a full court press on him in recruitment. I think he's going to be a heck of a CBB player. It always felt like Clemson was going to be the landing spot. His dad is friends with the Clemson head coach and once Marty Simmons got fired from evansville and joined the staff as an assistant it felt like it sealed the deal. I'm not sure I see him as a transfer candidate down the road unless the Clemson HC leaves at some point in the next 4 years.

[VU2014]

Illinois is still flirting with Chris Payton. If they offer it's probably game over for Valpo and other mid-majors in on his recruitment.

https://twitter.com/DPiper247/status/1058506389222514688

Bediako would look pretty as the big man of the future at Valpo.

https://twitter.com/RidleyAthletics/status/1058441146576318465

#4
https://twitter.com/MikeYagmin/status/1058742228326203392

[VU2014]

David Skogman is coming in for a 2nd visit! A positive sign. This may be his official visit. He's tagging along with a 2021 recruit.

David's recruitment has blown up the last few months. He's getting high major interest.

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/1061046538607226880

[IrishDawg]

David Skogman is coming in for a 2nd visit! A positive sign. This may be his official visit. He's tagging along with a 2021 recruit.

David's recruitment has blown up the last few months. He's getting high major interest.

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/1061046538607226880

What's even more positive about it is that if Bediako is considering Valpo, he may be more inclined to pick them now if he thinks there is competition for that scholarship. Always good to have options.

[FieldGoodie05]

David Skogman is coming in for a 2nd visit! A positive sign. This may be his official visit. He's tagging along with a 2021 recruit.

David's recruitment has blown up the last few months. He's getting high major interest.

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/1061046538607226880

What's even more positive about it is that if Bediako is considering Valpo, he may be more inclined to pick them now if he thinks there is competition for that scholarship. Always good to have options.

If we land Bediako or Skogman this guy would be happy.  We sooooo badly need size that can make a difference.

I'm hoping the undersized players of Concordia made the aggressive Mileek foul way too frequently.  I'm still unsure he knows how to use his body without decimating the opponent.  Still a Terry Tate (Office Linebacker) in him...

[VU2014]

Something to keep in mind is that the "early signing period" ends on November 14. His visit just so happens to be right before the end of the signing period so maybe that's a positive sign if he's looking to make his commitment before the HS basketball season gets in full swing.

[FieldGoodie05]

David Skogman is coming in for a 2nd visit! A positive sign. This may be his official visit. He's tagging along with a 2021 recruit.

David's recruitment has blown up the last few months. He's getting high major interest.

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/1061046538607226880

Anyone else previously think we were out of the hunt for Mr Skogman's services?  Of the three remaining offers I thought he was the least likely and only Bediako was active.

[VU2014]

David Skogman is coming in for a 2nd visit! A positive sign. This may be his official visit. He's tagging along with a 2021 recruit.

David's recruitment has blown up the last few months. He's getting high major interest.

https://twitter.com/WisBBYearbook/status/1061046538607226880

Anyone else previously think we were out of the hunt for Mr Skogman's services?  Of the three remaining offers I thought he was the least likely and only Bediako was active.

It felt like a bit of long shot given the teams involved but we've defied the odds in the past with landing guys like AP. And that worked out pretty well for all parties. He'd certainly get the opportunity to play early in his career here compared to some of the other schools on his offer list. Hopefully he's built a strong relationship with the coaching staff.