https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844660542627336201
https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844660872723251201
https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844661041963450368
https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844661441709948928
https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844661736343060481
https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844662302523772929
https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/844662809485082630
Really bummed to see Lexus go. The guy was warrior fighting back from injuries & as Paul said he was a very vocal/emotional leader on the team.
He's a great guy too. He will definitely be missed.
Totally understand him deciding to transfer and trying to get playing time his final year of eligibility. Wish him luck!
Quote from: VU2014 on March 22, 2017, 04:51:35 PM
Really bummed to see Lexus go. The guy was warrior fighting back from injuries & as Paul said he was a very vocal/emotional leader on the team.
He's a great guy too. He will definitely be missed.
Totally understand him deciding to transfer and trying to get playing time his final year of eligibility. Wish him luck!
Good move for him as a graduate transfer. Stinks to lose his production, but Bakari projects to be our starter right? Lexus started losing time to Bradford so would that have trended into 2017/18? I think so...
Paul says (2) scholarships available with Lexus transferring. Has it been made official that Kiser is on scholarship?
Kiser not official...but it sure seems like writing is on the wall.
Not surprising seeing as how all the other guys he came in with are now gone and his PT will be real slim. Best of luck to him.
Quote from: Pgmado on March 22, 2017, 05:07:55 PM
Kiser not official...but it sure seems like writing is on the wall.
Very cool, he appears to be a glue guy and practices extremely hard.
Paul, do you have the ability to notify Verbal Commits that Markus Golder is no longer "medium" but "signed" with VU? Or is that done by an algorithm they have and it doesn't include JUCO?
Just curious.
While I hate to see him leave hopefully he will find a good opportunity for extended pt somewhere else. He seems like a good dude who represented Valpo in a class manner.
Spoke with him just in passing but seemed to be a very upbeat positive kid and a good representative of the team and
University. Will miss smooveLex and his hard passionate play. It's probably best for him but a shame to lose such a class act.
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on March 22, 2017, 05:42:03 PMPaul, do you have the ability to notify Verbal Commits that Markus Golder is no longer "medium" but "signed" with VU? Or is that done by an algorithm they have and it doesn't include JUCO? Just curious.
You must have woke someone up. Golder is now listed as committed and Lexus as transferred.
QuotePaul, do you have the ability to notify Verbal Commits that Markus Golder is no longer "medium" but "signed" with VU? Or is that done by an algorithm they have and it doesn't include JUCO?
Just curious.
Markus hasn't officially signed his letter of intent yet. There are 2 sign periods for NCAA D1 basketball. November 9, 2016 - November 16, 2016. Then there is a later signing period after the Tourney: April 12, 2017. Players are not allowed to sign till the 12th. I wouldn't be too worried about it. He's pretty firmly committed to Valpo.
We will be seeing a bunch of transfers between now and the summer. And most of the remaining HS players will be committing between now and April. Bakari transferred to Valpo in May and Joe Burton didn't transfer to Valpo till right before Fall semester in August. Transfers will generally wait and see how things shake out till after the signing period to see where is the best spots for them to fit and who has scholarships. Sometimes patients is a virtue and pays off.
While I like Lexus and believe he's been a solid person and contributor, I think it might give us a good idea that the transfers must be pretty good.
He will be missed his hard work set a standard , wish him well.
Lexus had a great freshman year. He also played well at the beginning of this year.
Lexus part of Drew's first freshman class. Arguably the best class we have had?
The sense I got watching Lexus Williams play for VU was that he thoroughly enjoys playing the game of basketball. Good for him on getting his degree and I hope some opportunities open up for him in the near future.
I have two responses:
1) I was looking forward to Lexus finally being back to his old form next year. I've always liked his attitude both on the court and from what I know of him in the classroom as well. He seemed to be really smart athlete who models the behavior we would like to expect.
2) If Lexus had decided to move on, he must feel that we will have some good depth at the point. I'm excited to see what Bakari brings to the floor.
This is what I feared would happen to Micah but instead it was Lexus. With Lexus, Micah and Max all fighting for backup minutes, it was clear that one would transfer. Sorry to see him go.
[tweet]844965295315935232[/tweet]
Quote from: vu72 on March 23, 2017, 12:09:10 PM
This is what I feared would happen to Micah but instead it was Lexus. With Lexus, Micah and Max all fighting for backup minutes, it was clear that one would transfer. Sorry to see him go.
Quite a few of us feared the very same.
If given the option between a young athletic, speedy pg for 4-years OR a solid leader and 7/10 pg with one year left I'd have to take the 4-year player that is Micah. Even if Lexus stays, we are rebuilding next year.
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on March 23, 2017, 02:46:16 PM
If given the option between a young athletic, speedy pg for 4-years OR a solid leader and 7/10 pg with one year left I'd have to take the 4-year player that is Micah. Even if Lexus stays, we are rebuilding next year.
After listening to the latest Union Street Hoops podcast, I think next year will be a reload, not a rebuild. Tevonn will be great and it sounds like newcomers Bacari, Joe and Markus are studs. Also look for J, Derrik and Micah to make the big freshmen-to-sophomore jump.
Quote from: EddieCabot on March 23, 2017, 09:42:06 PM
Quote from: FieldGoodie05 on March 23, 2017, 02:46:16 PM
If given the option between a young athletic, speedy pg for 4-years OR a solid leader and 7/10 pg with one year left I'd have to take the 4-year player that is Micah. Even if Lexus stays, we are rebuilding next year.
After listening to the latest Union Street Hoops podcast, I think next year will be a reload, not a rebuild. Tevonn will be great and it sounds like newcomers Bacari, Joe and Markus are studs. Also look for J, Derrik and Micah to make the big freshmen-to-sophomore jump.
I do think next year will be a mix of rebuild/reload. However, with Oakland, NKU, and UIC returning basically everyone and getting some studs back, a reload still might get us 4th place.
Next year could be a pretty good year for the HL. First time in quite a while where we can say that. The winner of the HL tournament might get back to the 11 and 12 line. Oakland/UIC/Valpo/NKU must have good non-con seasons. Obviously Valpo is going to take a step back. We will not be good enough right away to win games against the likes of Alabama/BYU/RI. However, NKU and Oakland will be. They need tough schedules and they need to win a few games. Valpo will need to do better than our counterparts in the HL have done the last few years and at least win all of the games we are supposed to win. This league did us no favors over the last 2 years. We must do better and perform well so that the winner of the HL gets a good seed and a chance at a NCAA victory.
Wasn't there high expectations for the 2015-2016 season?
Quote from: M on March 24, 2017, 10:03:07 AM
Wasn't there high expectations for the 2015-2016 season?
Sure was. I think 30 wins and a trip to Madison Square Garden for the NIT title game met those expectations.
QuoteI do think next year will be a mix of rebuild/reload. However, with Oakland, NKU, and UIC returning basically everyone and getting some studs back, a reload still might get us 4th place
I think if things go right for us we we can be a 2-3rd place team. If Joe and Bakari are as talented as some people think they are then we could contend for a top 3 seed. I think 4th place is reasonable. Lots of new faces as key contributors next season, so it may take sometime to find their chemistry going.
QuoteQuote from: M on Today at 10:03:07 AM
Wasn't there high expectations for the 2015-2016 season?
Sure was. I think 30 wins and a trip to Madison Square Garden for the NIT title game met those expectations.
Not sure 2015-2016 season expectations were met. That team could have done damage in the Big Dance. It was a nice NIT run but sites were set higher and could have been finished better the NCAA Selection Committee could get its head out of it's @$$ and start being fair to MidMajors like Valpo last year, Monmouth the year before and Illinois State this year. They need to reformulate how they chose teams and factor in that P5's won't play good Mids at home.
I was referring to the expectations for the conference not just Valpo.
Does Micah really have a ceiling that much higher than Lexus? He had a nice looking 3-point shot. But needs a lot of strength.
If so, glad for Lexus that he will get a wide choice of places to transfer. Great kid it seems. Hope he finds another "fit" near home, just not UIC.
I also hope Lexus finds a university with a solid graduate program for his studies. He represented Valpo well.
Quote from: crusadermoe on March 26, 2017, 09:00:50 AMDoes Micah really have a ceiling that much higher than Lexus?
I don't think so. I view Micah as 65% version of Jay Harris.
Blows my my mind how down some people can be on a freshman. Not every freshman is a finished product and is going to give much of an impact in their freshman year.
Really? Already talking transferring? Really?
Quote from: VU2014 on March 26, 2017, 01:09:26 PM
Blows my my mind how down some people can be on a freshman. Not every freshman is a finished product and is going to give much of an impact in their freshman year.
Really? Already talking transferring? Really?
Well, his PER of 3.6 is the worst for a regular Valpo player since Cameron Witt in 2009.
FRESHMAN
Nobody is saying he'll be Kay Felder or anything but let's not forget it was his first year and cut him some slack before we start talking about transferring.
Some mighty high expectations around here for what they expect from first year players...
Quote from: VU2014 on March 26, 2017, 01:54:16 PM
FRESHMAN
Nobody is saying he'll be Kay Felder or anything but let's not forget it was his first year and cut him some slack before we start talking about transferring.
Some mighty high expectations around here for what they expect from first year players...
I think a PER above 5 is a reasonable expectation for a freshman that was signed to play significant minutes.
Did anyone even mention Micah transferring?
Wish Lexus the best.
As to the Micah conversation, there's nothing wrong with us having high/higher expectations for a freshman. This isn't high school anymore. You either step up or get replaced and don't play.
If you want to talk about a letdown, let's bring up Derrik Smits.
Quote from: usc4valpo on March 26, 2017, 03:52:10 PM
If you want to talk about a letdown, let's bring up Derrick Smits.
PLEASE, NO "C", :o
Sad to see him leave, but I am glad that he is a Valpo alumni, and hope that he finds another solid mid-major to contribute to next season. I don't see him getting minutes for a Power 5, so his transfer will probably be lateral in program stature. The writing was on the wall that either Micah, Max, or Lexus would have to leave, as Bakari is going to take a lot of minutes.
https://twitter.com/MichaelOsipoff/status/847999071096901632
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/857646294084591617
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/857646441690521600
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/857646691884859393
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/857647350994657281
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/857647667698073600
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/857646126362710016
He would probably be an option off the bench if he went to Wisconsin or Mississippi State.
Didn't realize how instrumental Lexus was to helping bring the best recruiting class to Valpo. Powell brought some good Chicago players into the program.
I hope and could see Lexus being on the VU coaching staff one day.
Hope he can find a landing spot where he would, at the very least, be the #1 option off the bench. Good luck, Lexus!
I had been thinking that Lexus was going to transfer down to a lower Div.1 or even a good Div. 2 to get more playing time. How will playing for Wisconsin help him and the Badgers?
Which level would be most helpful in getting a European contract? Is he good enough for that?
Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't former UIC head coach Howard Moore an assistant at Wisconsin? He would have been at UIC when Lexus played great as a freshman and knows what kind of energy he can bring.
https://twitter.com/McNamaraRivals/status/859401067276140544
I hope that he doesn't go to a Power 5 school. He won't play...
Latest from Mike Osipoff....
[tweet]860182597586079745[/tweet]
Now looking at NM State -- that's a long way from Chicagoland. I hope he finds a mid-west D-I landing spot so his folks can see him play a lot. (Blasphemy Alert) Do you think if we leave the HL, that he might widen his transfer options to include an HL school? UWGB just lost Trevor Anderson to the Badgers.
NMSU follow-up.....
[tweet]861690638311534592[/tweet]
I hope that he goes to NMSU. It will be better for him, as he can probably play significant minutes for them.
if Trevor Anderson got a spot on Wisconsin, I have to assume their is no spot for Lexus now.
Quote from: Chairback on May 08, 2017, 06:45:28 PM
if Trevor Anderson got a spot on Wisconsin, I have to assume their is no spot for Lexus now.
But Anderson is an UG xfer. Lexus, immediately eligible, will fill that slot for next season.
Quote from: VULB#62 on May 08, 2017, 07:31:00 PM
Quote from: Chairback on May 08, 2017, 06:45:28 PM
if Trevor Anderson got a spot on Wisconsin, I have to assume their is no spot for Lexus now.
But Anderson is an UG xfer. Lexus, imediately eligible, will fill that slot for next season.
From Verbal Commits Wisconsin still has two openings for next year and no seniors. I believe that Trevor Anderson will have to sit out one year, but will most likely be a walk-on. Wisconsin has a bunch of walk-ons.
http://www.verbalcommits.com/schools/wisconsin
He's at Boise State today.
[tweet]870311095998742528[/tweet]
Been to NMSU (offer), Wisconsin, Oakland (offer) and might visit Mississippi State after Boise (?).
No news on his Twitter site right now.
Committed to Boise State.
https://twitter.com/happeninghoops/status/872839671562293248
https://twitter.com/boettger_eli/status/872840254906150917
Also confirmed on his own Twitter
Congrats to Lexus... we'll definitely miss his leadership next year. Boise definitely just got one of the good guys.
That makes one former and one "almost" Valpo player xferring to Boise State. Congrats Lexus. :clap: :clap: :clap: Represent yourself (and Valpo) well. Nice jump in competition for him in the Mountain West.
Congrats to him. I think that this was a better choice than pursuing a Power 5 longshot. Boise State is a decent program, and he should get minutes.
Quote from: valpotx on June 09, 2017, 05:53:47 AM
Congrats to him. I think that this was a better choice than pursuing a Power 5 longshot. Boise State is a decent program, and he should get minutes.
Not to be picky, but I doubt he is going to Boise to only "get minutes". He could have stayed at Valpo for that. I'm pretty sure the expectation for Lexus is to be the starter. I would be very surprised if he is only a guy coming off the bench or a role player.
Quote from: vu72 on June 09, 2017, 08:48:49 AM
Quote from: valpotx on June 09, 2017, 05:53:47 AM
Congrats to him. I think that this was a better choice than pursuing a Power 5 longshot. Boise State is a decent program, and he should get minutes.
Not to be picky, but I doubt he is going to Boise to only "get minutes". He could have stayed at Valpo for that. I'm pretty sure the expectation for Lexus is to be the starter. I would be very surprised if he is only a guy coming off the bench or a role player.
Lexus definitely would have played at Valpo but he'd be competing with Bakari (project starter), Micah (who still a question mark but will be given every opportunity to prove himself because he'll only be a Sophomore) and Max is also in play at PG off the bench.
Boise State lost their star PG to some pretty egregious transfer poaching. Lexus will definitely get an opportunity to get minutes and compete for their starting point guard spot.
https://twitter.com/disabato/status/958714094911041537
Disabato: Marist graduate Lexus Williams' leap of faith rewarded Boise State
Pat Disabato
Daily Southtown
January 20, 2018
Lexus Williams could have stayed at Valparaiso .
With one year of eligibility remaining, that would have been the comfortable path to choose. To cap off a college basketball career that was plagued by a pair of serious knee injuries by sticking to the status quo.
Williams, however, wanted something Valparaiso couldn't provide.
"I was looking for a bigger opportunity," Williams said. "I believe I deserved it with everything I had gone through. Most of all, I wanted to win."
The Marist graduate's leap of faith has been rewarded.
......... http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-pat-disabato-column-st-0131-20180130-story.html
Good for Lexus. Love the kid.
Quote from: VULB#62 on January 31, 2018, 08:16:01 PM
Good for Lexus. Love the kid.
I'm happy for Lexus as well. A great kid and also a leader. If he ever wants to get into coaching I'd love to see him join Valpo as Grad Assistant then maybe rise through the ranks to DOB then head coach. High basketball IQ and personable to recruit kids.