A couple of years ago, Marquette made a big push to get a first team JUCO All-American named God'sgift Achiuwa, a 6-8, 230 lb. forward from Erie CC. His JUCO coach was selling him as a can't miss future NBA'er. Here is his JUCO writeup:
At Erie C.C.: Earned first team NJCAA All-America honors as a sophomore in 2010-11 after leading Erie Community College to a 28-4 record and a fourth place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament ... also earned NJCAA Region III Player of the Year and Region III Tournament Most Valuable Player honors ... finished the season ranked ninth in the NJCAA in scoring (22.3 points per game), 10th in rebounding (11.7) and 17th in blocks (2.2) ... shot 56.0 percent from field and 36.7 percent from 3-point range.
We lost out to St Johns in Lavin's first recruiting class. He was their starting center for Lavin's first year, then he redshirted last year. This year he is in a group of three guys just outside the top 8 who still manage to get around 9 minutes a game.
Just think how we'd all be salivating if we were getting someone like that for next year. A cautionary tale of a recruit "savior" not being all that he could have been.
I'd still take him as a transfer. If nothing else I like the idea of a Catholic school having a front line of God's Gift, Diamond, and Luke.
You are assuming that his development would have taken the exact same arc under a different coach. I am not saying that Buzz is better than Lavin. I am saying that different coaches can get different things out of kids. We will never know, but what if God'sgift was one of those kids that respond exceedingly well to Buzz's coaching style?
Quote from: frozena pizza on February 27, 2014, 08:18:31 AM
I'd still take him as a transfer. If nothing else I like the idea of a Catholic school having a front line of God's Gift, Diamond, and Luke.
He couldn't transfer within the BE though.
Quote from: The Sultan of Slurpery on February 27, 2014, 09:18:28 AM
He couldn't transfer within the BE though.
Plus he has already exhausted his D1 eligibility with 2 years at a JUCO and three years at St. John's including the redshirt.
Or we could say how we missed out on Embiid......
Yeah, not everyone pans out but when they do they can truly make your team special. I want as many pulls on the slot machine as possible.
True. What a waste to see God'sgift rotting away on the bench.
Quote from: tower912 on February 27, 2014, 08:26:22 AM
You are assuming that his development would have taken the exact same arc under a different coach. I am not saying that Buzz is better than Lavin. I am saying that different coaches can get different things out of kids. We will never know, but what if God'sgift was one of those kids that respond exceedingly well to Buzz's coaching style?
What Tower? Who is better, Buzz or Lavin?