Excellent article by Marquette Wire on Al Amadou. Very well researched. Young man has quite a story.
https://marquettewire.org/4079194/sports/al-amadou-2017-finding-on-court-leads-to-opportunity-to-play-division-i-basketball/
nice article hermie-looks like we're getting a good one inside and out.
"With Amadou's commitment to the Golden Eagles, Smart has secured a key piece for his backcourt in the coming years."
Wat
Quote from: Jay Bee on August 24, 2022, 08:59:23 PM
"With Amadou's commitment to the Golden Eagles, Smart has secured a key piece for his backcourt in the coming years."
Wat
Culture!
Thanks for posting, 9-9-9.
Loved this:
"To just have my name on the jersey, I know it's not mine but it's still cool to me," Amadou remarked.
Ben Steele also has an article on Al up: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2022/08/25/marquette-2023-basketball-recruit-al-amadou-fits-shaka-smarts-mold/7879398001/
He definitely fits what appears to be Coach Smart's mold. Long, athletic, big upside. Eventually, he, too, is going to have rassle with a UConn/Seton Hall style big.
It's not likely that MU jumps back into the top 25 anytime soon. We all know that. I'm going to enjoy seeing them play this year. The guards are young and they will develop. And there are outstanding guards ready to take over in two years. And play like tournament players. We'll wait and see. I see good things. Good things are coming. The bigger players are here for a year or two. Prosper and Oso will be dynamic. Ben Gold, we hope is special, and then you have Keeyan Itejere. And it's not a bad situation if your guards have a green light and hit shots. Al is coming and others will follow. When the big boys join in the other guys follow. Kids grow up quickly. Enjoy it and never back down. Give Smart 2 years and he will put a fresh coat of paint on MU and get us back to where we thought we were: relevant. Few teams have played in as many tournaments as Marquette. That was a long long time ago. Right. MU beat Nova twice last year. When was the last time Nova lost at home? I'm getting tired and I'm not a google guy. But don't be discouraged. The program is astounding. And when you sit in Fiserv you will enjoy everything about it.
2 years to judge...culture!
Quote from: oilcan on August 25, 2022, 08:20:55 PM
It's not likely that MU jumps back into the top 25 anytime soon.
Plenty of folks said similar this time last year. I'm gonna stay optimistic because ... why not?
Quote from: Jay Bee on August 24, 2022, 08:59:23 PM
"With Amadou's commitment to the Golden Eagles, Smart has secured a key piece for his backcourt in the coming years."
Wat
6'9" PF gonna be a key to our backcourt - lol
Ben Steele with an Amadou update:
Marquette's Oso Ighodaro developed into one of the country's best big men. Can he show freshman Al Amadou the way? (https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2023/11/14/marquettes-oso-ighodaro-teaching-freshman-al-amadou/71563490007/)
Great article. The circle of life. Oso graduated in 3 years with a degree in finance and is now working on his MBA.
Quote from: tower912 on November 14, 2023, 07:46:49 AM
Great article. The circle of life. Oso graduated in 3 years with a degree in finance and is now working on his MBA.
He should be working on his mid-range jumper, not his MBA
Quote from: Uncle Rico on November 14, 2023, 07:50:07 AM
He should be working on his mid-range jumper, not his MBA
And he should be getting his instead of mentoring the young guys.
Seriously, great kid, all you want in a leader on your basketball team. I hope he is able to impart some of his soul on the young guys as well as some of his game.
Brett Favre didn't mentor 12 and now Brett has a brand new volleyball facility while all 12 has is a dark hut and bad wheel.
Wait, is he still an item with Mallory? Could be livin' large like Kelce, aina?
With Oso leaving at end of year, we will be thin in the front court. I wonder if Shaka will go to the portal for a big man.
Quote from: MUbiz on November 14, 2023, 11:09:29 AM
With Oso leaving at end of year, we will be thin in the front court. I wonder if Shaka will go to the portal for a big man.
Given his history, I'd imagine that he's expecting Amadou and Hamilton can handle it - with maybe a bit of Gold mixed in.
Quote from: MUbiz on November 14, 2023, 11:09:29 AM
With Oso leaving at end of year, we will be thin in the front court. I wonder if Shaka will go to the portal for a big man.
I know Oso said he expects not to return next season, but where's he gonna go? Oso May crack an NBA roster at some point but he's probably never playing major minutes and he's now "old" for nba draft standards. Maybe he'd rather just get on with life and go play overseas or chase his dream in G league, but I wouldn't couldn't him out of returning next season just yet.
Quote from: MUbiz on November 14, 2023, 11:09:29 AM
With Oso leaving at end of year, we will be thin in the front court. I wonder if Shaka will go to the portal for a big man.
No worries. We have plenty of big men.
Quote from: MUbiz on November 14, 2023, 11:09:29 AM
With Oso leaving at end of year, we will be thin in the front court. I wonder if Shaka will go to the portal for a big man.
Gold, Amadou, Hamilton and Parham. Shaka has been preparing for this.
Shaka said Cade's trajectory is a rocket ship. I think he fully expects him to be a big contributor next season.
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on November 14, 2023, 11:28:02 AM
I know Oso said he expects not to return next season, but where's he gonna go? Oso May crack an NBA roster at some point but he's probably never playing major minutes and he's now "old" for nba draft standards. Maybe he'd rather just get on with life and go play overseas or chase his dream in G league, but I wouldn't couldn't him out of returning next season just yet.
I would take Oso at his word.
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on November 14, 2023, 11:28:02 AM
I know Oso said he expects not to return next season, but where's he gonna go? Oso May crack an NBA roster at some point but he's probably never playing major minutes and he's now "old" for nba draft standards. Maybe he'd rather just get on with life and go play overseas or chase his dream in G league, but I wouldn't couldn't him out of returning next season just yet.
He is certainly on some draft boards.
https://www.tankathon.com/big_board # 30
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10090255-2024-nba-mock-draft-top-60-prospect-projections #38
https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/bestavailable/_/position/ovr/page/2 #30
You get the idea.
Quote from: Nukem2 on November 14, 2023, 01:04:24 PM
Gold, Amadou, Hamilton and Parham. Shaka has been preparing for this.
Not to mention Jop and Owens can play the 4. Plenty of frontcourt options.
Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on November 14, 2023, 02:02:52 PM
Not to mention Jop and Owens can play the 4. Plenty of frontcourt options.
Yup, the options will be there, they will just either be not as good or inexperienced.
Benny and Jop should start at the 5&4 barring something unforeseen, if Ben develops the way many think he will.
I'm not as bullish because I don't love his lack of quickness/speed, but we will see.
I'd say scoop was partially right on OMax, and it seems we could be right on chase.
Hopefully Ben follows suit.
I bet Shaka has very high hopes for the owens/parham combo, so Royce should be able at the 4/5. Then there's Caedin and Al who will have this entire year to develop in the shadows.
More than anything, I think Shaka needs to find a scorer. Size no matta imo. Can be a guard, wing, or big.
If Kam and TyKo leave with Oso, or eventually when they all leave, Jop will be the main guy that can go and get 20.
I'm sure someone will sprout as a bucket getter, but Shaka needs to reload with a shotmaker/bucket getter.
Those guys are usually fairly evident from the jump, and Shaka told us that both Kam and Jop can fill it up from day 1.
He hasn't really said that about anyone else on the current roster
Chase.
I am still surprised after 4 years at MU and supposedly the guru of shooting coaches in Nevada Smith that he has not developed any real shot, sure he wants to play in the next level but how can he without that!
Quote from: BCHoopster on November 14, 2023, 02:14:13 PM
I am still surprised after 4 years at MU and supposedly the guru of shooting coaches in Nevada Smith that he has not developed any real shot, sure he wants to play in the next level but how can he without that!
Pretty Easily. An NBA team will give him 2 million dollars and 1-2 years to figure it out because he is 6'10" and does everything else. Every NBA team has a shooting coach that thinks of themselves they are larger Gurus than anyone on MUs staff.
Also our top ten offense largely Nevada, Shaka, and some Ben McCollum adoptions.
Quote from: The Lens on November 14, 2023, 01:07:05 PM
Shaka said Cade's trajectory is a rocket surgeon. I think he fully expects him to be a big contributor next season.
shaka speakin my lingo man! we are pretty tight!
Quote from: rocket surgeon on November 14, 2023, 04:28:26 PM
shaka speakin my lingo man! we are pretty tight!
Maybe until he shaves his head bald again.
I am very confident that MU will not be lacking athletic, talented basketball players regardless of who returns. Not foolish enough to think Shaka will not miss on a recruit or two but have no doubt there will be 8-9 top level players on the roster.