Per Mark Miller... Matt Heldt just committed to MU

[keefe]

Reading that Vadger board, all I can say is, "What a bunch of arrogant pricks."

I was thinking the same thing. They have no perspective at all. Provincial doesn't begin to describe the in-bred insularity

[MDMU04]

A lot! A WHOLE lot

Nice insightful comment. Keep up the great work.

[raul]

A talented big from WI. who wants to play for MU. It doesn't get better than that. Congrats to mojo wojo

[THRILLHO]

Very interesting pickup. Looks like a kid who kept improving and is on his way up the rankings.

This is a definite change in recruiting style -- Buzz didn't go after kids like this period. I'm not sure whether it is totally about style of play, or whether there was an aspect of not wasting effort with players that looked more like UW recruits. I am happy for the commit and to get guys who can shoot, but have a little bit of concern over sustainability of this style of play if it means we are regularly going after the same kids as UW (and the kind of kids they have a track record with). As good as Wisconsin high school kids have been the last few years it may be been fine now but if the well goes dry for a spell we may see some intense competition for recruits who can shoot.

[Blackhat]

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!!!





If we're doing this traditional transition this is a good pick up.   Gonna struggle on D but like his offensive potential a lot.

[willie warrior]

Novak was highly rated out of high school, top 65 in the country.  Florida, Illinois, etc were recruiting him.  I would be thrilled if this kid was anywhere close to Novak.  Welcome aboard.

The only other 6'10" guy on the planet that shoots like Novak is Durant.

[BCHoopster]

Fisher and Heldt will probably be more offensive than O'Tule and Gardner.  Different types of players but both the past MU players had issues.  Heldt is a perfect back-up and in 3 years might
have the ability to start.   The recruiting of Wojo reminds me a little bit of Kevin O'Neal first year getting Key, Logeterman and MacIlvane.  Recruit the state first then make connections out of
state the 2nd and third year.  A lot easier to recruit in your backdoor.  Have to get on kids when they are frosh and sophs.  It sounds that the next few years are soft on Division 1 kids, so he will have to recruit out of state.  True test, Duke went everywhere in the country, not sure you can do that at MU.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Very interesting pickup. Looks like a kid who kept improving and is on his way up the rankings.

This is a definite change in recruiting style -- Buzz didn't go after kids like this period. I'm not sure whether it is totally about style of play, or whether there was an aspect of not wasting effort with players that looked more like UW recruits. I am happy for the commit and to get guys who can shoot, but have a little bit of concern over sustainability of this style of play if it means we are regularly going after the same kids as UW (and the kind of kids they have a track record with). As good as Wisconsin high school kids have been the last few years it may be been fine now but if the well goes dry for a spell we may see some intense competition for recruits who can shoot.

Let's not forget, he got Carlino from Indiana and Levin from the Chicago area. He's gotten some non-WI kids. I think Wojo will be just fine.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Based on no inside information, strictly opinion, I think our last three 2015 schollies will end up going to:

Haaniff Cheatham 6-5 180 4S SG (FL)
Matt Ryan 6-6 197 3S SF (NY)
Henry Ellenson 6-10 247 5S PF (WI)

With Noskowiak, Heldt, and Levin also coming in, that would make a hella good 2015 crop.

[kmwtrucks]

Matt Ryan cut us from his list I think.  In RE to Heldt.  Lets say he falls right at the 100 mark in rankings that would put him Apprx the 15th rated Center.  Look at it that way.  We got a commitment from the 15 best Center in the country.  There are so few good Center's that very few end up in the Top 100.  All other positions put 20-25 in the top 100.   

[GGGG]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Cheatham and both Ellensons.

[Dawson Rental]

He was considering Davidson until Wojo came on the scene

http://www.postcrescent.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2014/07/01/neenahs-matt-heldt-commits-marquette/11929933/

Davidson...Davidson...isn't that the team that should have beaten us in the first round the year that we got to the elite eight?

[Dawson Rental]

Very interesting pickup. Looks like a kid who kept improving and is on his way up the rankings.

This is a definite change in recruiting style -- Buzz didn't go after kids like this period. I'm not sure whether it is totally about style of play, or whether there was an aspect of not wasting effort with players that looked more like UW recruits. I am happy for the commit and to get guys who can shoot, but have a little bit of concern over sustainability of this style of play if it means we are regularly going after the same kids as UW (and the kind of kids they have a track record with). As good as Wisconsin high school kids have been the last few years it may be been fine now but if the well goes dry for a spell we may see some intense competition for recruits who can shoot.

I think that Wojo is more intelligent than to let that become a problem.  Don't you?

[Dawson Rental]

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!!!


If we're doing this traditional transition this is a good pick up.   Gonna struggle on D but like his offensive potential a lot.

"traditional transition"  really?

Yes, Marquette is building toward a team that would make Aldolph Rupp proud.

Heldt is a fantastic pickup, period.  No qualifiers necessary.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Very interesting pickup. Looks like a kid who kept improving and is on his way up the rankings.

This is a definite change in recruiting style -- Buzz didn't go after kids like this period. I'm not sure whether it is totally about style of play, or whether there was an aspect of not wasting effort with players that looked more like UW recruits. I am happy for the commit and to get guys who can shoot, but have a little bit of concern over sustainability of this style of play if it means we are regularly going after the same kids as UW (and the kind of kids they have a track record with). As good as Wisconsin high school kids have been the last few years it may be been fine now but if the well goes dry for a spell we may see some intense competition for recruits who can shoot.

The funny part about it is Buzz would bitch (mostly in private, but enough people who knew him shared with me) about his teams not being able to shoot.  Well, duh, it's because he didn't recruit enough shooters.

As far as Wisconsin having lean years in HS talent, it's going to happen but not a big deal.  Wojo's net (like Buzz, Crean, etc) is cast wider than just Wisconsin and Illinois.

[Tums Festival]

Matt Ryan cut us from his list I think.  In RE to Heldt.  Lets say he falls right at the 100 mark in rankings that would put him Apprx the 15th rated Center.  Look at it that way.  We got a commitment from the 15 best Center in the country.  There are so few good Center's that very few end up in the Top 100.  All other positions put 20-25 in the top 100.   

Found this from a couple weeks ago. No mention of Marquette.

http://zagsblog.com/recruiting/notre-dame-duke-carolina-michigan-in-hunt-for-matt-ryan/

[NersEllenson]

Don't know a lot about this kid....but on the surface....getting a high 3 star/low 4 star "big" is something MU has struggled with over and over and over.  We should be happy with Wojo being able to get a commit from this kid.  I think part of the concern some have, is - are we going to become "Traditional U," and in so becoming - lose some of mystique of Marquette's best teams typically being composed of black kids from urban areas, tough backgrounds...who became true warriors...and were incredibly fun to watch.

And the truth of the matter is, generally speaking, black kids tend to be better basketball players than white kids.  Of course not true in all cases...but we can look to the NBA and see all the proof of that generalization we need.

[Lennys Tap]

Found this from a couple weeks ago. No mention of Marquette.

http://zagsblog.com/recruiting/notre-dame-duke-carolina-michigan-in-hunt-for-matt-ryan/

Marquette isn't in the headline but is mentioned (with Duke, Notre Dame, Carolina, Michigan and "a myriad of others") in the text of the article.

[MtAiryGoldenEagle]

Don't know a lot about this kid....but on the surface....getting a high 3 star/low 4 star "big" is something MU has struggled with over and over and over.  We should be happy with Wojo being able to get a commit from this kid.  I think part of the concern some have, is - are we going to become "Traditional U," and in so becoming - lose some of mystique of Marquette's best teams typically being composed of black kids from urban areas, tough backgrounds...who became true warriors...and were incredibly fun to watch.

And the truth of the matter is, generally speaking, black kids tend to be better basketball players than white kids.  Of course not true in all cases...but we can look to the NBA and see all the proof of that generalization we need.

...always exceptions...

[Skatastrophy]

Don't know a lot about this kid....but on the surface....getting a high 3 star/low 4 star "big" is something MU has struggled with over and over and over.  We should be happy with Wojo being able to get a commit from this kid.  I think part of the concern some have, is - are we going to become "Traditional U," and in so becoming - lose some of mystique of Marquette's best teams typically being composed of black kids from urban areas, tough backgrounds...who became true warriors...and were incredibly fun to watch.

And the truth of the matter is, generally speaking, black kids tend to be better basketball players than white kids.  Of course not true in all cases...but we can look to the NBA and see all the proof of that generalization we need.

The fact that our entire current roster is sticking around tells you all you need to know, imo.

Wojo likes kids that can play, and seems to be a heck of a recruiter

[Tums Festival]

Marquette isn't in the headline but is mentioned (with Duke, Notre Dame, Carolina, Michigan and "a myriad of others") in the text of the article.

Makes it a bit ambiguous. Guess it doesn't really say if we're really still in it or not.

[BCHoopster]

Need a mix of both white and black kids for sure, or better just a bunch of good ballplayers.  Wisco has won that way, but to be elite you need elite players, no matter what color they
are.  Buzz did not recruit those types of kids, it just so happens Wisconsin has a group of good players this year that happen to be white.  Levin and Carlino both can play as well.  Buzz
recruiting basically the backroom places recruited mostly black kids, I think you need a little of both to be successful.

[The Lens]

The funny part about it is Buzz would bitch (mostly in private, but enough people who knew him shared with me) about his teams not being able to shoot.  Well, duh, it's because he didn't recruit enough shooters.

As far as Wisconsin having lean years in HS talent, it's going to happen but not a big deal.  Wojo's net (like Buzz, Crean, etc) is cast wider than just Wisconsin and Illinois.

I think Wojo is going to settle into a nice sweet spot between Bo and Buzz, because when you think about it, that's what Duke has become.  Very athletic but also very skilled and balanced 1-5.  Many different ways to skin that cat.  As long as he ends up in the NCAAs like TC & Buzz, I'm good with it.  I felt both TC and Buzz neglected kids like Heldt.  Grab 1 every year.  KO seemed to be the best at that.  Sometimes you get Amal, sometimes you get Richard Shaw.

[GGGG]

This entire black/white argument is dumb...beyond dumb.

Buzz emphasized different basketball skills than Wojo seems to.  Buzz emphasized getting the ball into the lane and attacking the basket.  If how Duke recruits is any indication, Wojo puts a preference on outside shooting. 

We shouldn't care how the team looks or what kind of balance we have.  I am pretty confident that good basketball coaches don't care.  Just recruit players who can put the ball in the basket and prevent the other team from doing the same and we'll be fine.

[NersEllenson]

...always exceptions...

Nice find...and Greg Kite's creepy mustache.  Epic.  However, was that the 85 Celtics?  So 30 years ago?!  Definitely the exception to the rule.

But...Wisconsin proved last year you can compete at a high level with a lineup of traditionals.