With portal season upon us, it reminds me of something I have often pondered about the 40+ years I have been a MU basketball fan.
How is it MU has never landed a player like Yaxel? A 6'9, 245 specimen who can play inside, outside, run the floor, defend. Not one in 40 years. MU has never had a dynamic, do it all 6'9 beast.
When I say that I would love a 6'9 stretch 4 to play next to Royce, that is what I am talking about. And in a perfect world, I would take two of them over a traditional 5. My dream 9 man rotation features two Yaxel types and a Royce up front.
Maybe someday Shaka breaks that 50 year streak.
The interesting thing about Yaxel is that after JUCO, he signed with St John's under Mike Anderson, and Pitino cut him loose, so he ended up at UAB. Nobody could have foreseen this three years ago. It was covered ad nauseam by the broadcasters. He didn't really get serious about hoops until his teens, so he was obviously a late bloomer. Michigan is fortunate for the Pavia waiver, giving Yaxel one more year.
Thanks for the input muggsy
First of all, all credit to the kid. In my mind, in this case, Yaxel is more of a universal.
Notable 6'9 ish players since I started at MU.
Copa, Downing, Key, Crawford, RJackson, Fitzgerald, Joey, Theo, Royce. I am sure I missed a couple, but if they were impact players or athletic freaks I would have remembered. None are the do it all 4s.
Royce comes close, but he needs to fill out and doesn't have the hops.
Not 40 years, but 50.
Bo Ellis was like 180lbs, but he easily did everything Yaxel did and more.
He wasn't 6'9, but Crowder fits the player you describe.
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 08:24:54 AMFirst of all, all credit to the kid. In my mind, in this case, Yaxel is more of a universal.
Notable 6'9 ish players since I started at MU.
Copa, Downing, Key, Crawford, RJackson, Fitzgerald, Joey, Theo, Royce. I am sure I missed a couple, but if they were impact players or athletic freaks I would have remembered. None are the do it all 4s.
Royce comes close, but he needs to fill out and doesn't have the hops.
Chris Crawford slander here. He was, in fact, a super-athletic, do-it-all four. Not of Lendeborg's quality, but good enough to carve out a solid NBA career before getting bit by the injury bug.
Oso was a dynamic point forward...
Quote from: Pakuni on April 07, 2026, 08:51:40 AMChris Crawford slander here. He was, in fact, a super-athletic, do-it-all four. Not of Lendeborg's quality, but good enough to carve out a solid NBA career before getting bit by the injury bug.
Plus, a dominant baseball pitcher! #Astros
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on April 07, 2026, 08:10:40 AMThe interesting thing about Yaxel is that after JUCO, he signed with St John's under Mike Anderson, and Pitino cut him loose, so he ended up at UAB. Nobody could have foreseen this three years ago. It was covered ad nauseam by the broadcasters. He didn't really get serious about hoops until his teens, so he was obviously a late bloomer. Michigan is fortunate for the Pavia waiver, giving Yaxel one more year.
Late bloomers don't exist. I've been informed that after two or three years of college basketball a player is a known commodity and can't possibly improve
Wait until people hear we checked in on him twice haha
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 07, 2026, 09:34:04 AMLate bloomers don't exist. I've been informed that after two or three years of college basketball a player is a known commodity and can't possibly improve
Guys can improve, but I do think if you don't see signs in those first 2-3 years, you probably know what you have. Jimmy Butler definitely showed signs his sophomore year. Yaxel was a two-time NJCAA All-American then awesome at UAB. I can't think of many players that didn't give you hope after their first couple years and were suddenly starting level players. Maybe Sacar is the closest?
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 07, 2026, 09:34:04 AMLate bloomers don't exist. I've been informed that after two or three years of college basketball a player is a known commodity and can't possibly improve
#FakeNews
Joey and Henry are raging reading this.
Oh wait you said defend... nevermind
How many guys are there who were negative contributors after three years and then exploded in year four? It would seem the exception rather than the rule. It's like hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
Quote from: Zog from Margo on April 07, 2026, 09:55:33 AMHow many guys are there who were negative contributors after three years and then exploded in year four? It would seem the exception rather than the rule. It's like hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
Aday Mara is a decent example. Only 2 years. But wasn't much at UCLA
Quote from: Galway Eagle on April 07, 2026, 09:53:01 AMJoey and Henry are raging reading this.
Oh wait you said defend... nevermind
These were the two who leapt to mind.
Henry was at least as good as Yaxel offensively, and he didn't need 4-5 years to get there. He probably could have been a better defender than he was, but Wojo didn't demand that from his players, especially his stars. Also, Henry was around for only one year after dominating relatively tiny opponents in high school, so he didn't have the time (or coaching) to develop into a better defender.
When Sam was a sophomore, I remember asking those in the know, "So Joey is actually
better than Sam?" And I was assured he was. A high-IQ, all-around offensive player who could handle the ball, pass, shoot and rebound, all at a very high level. But because he mostly went up against far inferior high-schoolers from the middle of Wisconsin, they had no way of knowing he was mentally weak and Charmin soft.
As for tower's question ... Oso was a pretty damn good all-around college big at doing everything except shoot from outside the lane. Jae and Lazar weren't 6-9, but they played much bigger than they were, and either would have given Yaxel a hell of a battle on the court.
Beyond that ... there simply aren't many 6-9 guys who have great offensive and defensive skills. That's why, when someone like Yaxel shows up on the scene, we really take notice ... and start threads like this one. Over the years, a whole lot of programs beyond Marquette wished they found guys like Yaxel.
Quote from: JakeBarnes on April 07, 2026, 10:00:04 AMAday Mara is a decent example. Only 2 years. But wasn't much at UCLA
Is that the exception or the rule? Also, as you note, that was only two years into the process and not three.
Quote from: nyg on April 07, 2026, 08:42:02 AMNot 40 years, but 50.
Bo Ellis was like 180lbs, but he easily did everything Yaxel did and more.
Not at all comparable.
Ellis was a great player but nowhere near the ball handler or outside shooter that Yaxel is.
It was a completely different era.
Quote from: jfp61 on April 07, 2026, 09:46:29 AMWait until people hear we checked in on him twice haha
And? If we are to believe his story about what Kentucky offered and what he is getting paid at Michigan, MU wasn't going to get him.
If true, glad Shaka did his due diligence.
Quote from: JakeBarnes on April 07, 2026, 10:00:04 AMAday Mara is a decent example. Only 2 years. But wasn't much at UCLA
He didn't put up much for counting stats, but his RAPM and BPR were decent as a freshman and very good as a sophomore, especially on the defensive end. His BPR was #157 in the country as a sophomore but he only played 13 mpg, so it didn't really get noticed. But the impact was there.
EDIT: For comparison, Hamilton was #89 out of 93 Big East players. For Clark, he didn't have enough possessions to rank, but if you lower the threshold to 200 possessions he's at #78 out of 112.
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 10:44:10 AMAnd? If we are to believe his story about what Kentucky offered and what he is getting paid at Michigan, MU wasn't going to get him.
If true, glad Shaka did his due diligence.
Yes except the first time was pre UAB
So Shaka recognized talent but he didn't come to MU. And?
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 11:21:47 AMSo Shaka recognized talent but he didn't come to MU. And?
Obvious! Shaka didn't giddyup.
Another who comes to mind is Jamil Wilson. Again, not nearly the quality of Yaxel, but he set himself up for decent NBA career before screwing it up with legal trouble.
6'7. But he was in the neighborhood.
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 11:21:47 AMSo Shaka recognized talent but he didn't come to MU. And?
He didn't pull the trigger when he had a chance, and he went to UAB.
I don't have problems with recruiting misses.
I'm just bring it up because this whole thread is about "How is it MU has never landed a player like Yaxel"
Fair. The question I have is whether it was a recruiting miss or a recruiting mi$$. Did Shaka not offer, or not pay the asking price?
I recall 'I am not paying a transfer more than I am paying Oso' (paraphrasing) back then.
Quote from: SaveOD238 on April 07, 2026, 11:30:45 AMAnother who comes to mind is Jamil Wilson. Again, not nearly the quality of Yaxel, but he set himself up for decent NBA career before screwing it up with legal trouble.
Jamil was a top 40 RSCI guy in high school, yo.
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 08:24:54 AMFirst of all, all credit to the kid. In my mind, in this case, Yaxel is more of a universal.
Notable 6'9 ish players since I started at MU.
Copa, Downing, Key, Crawford, RJackson, Fitzgerald, Joey, Theo, Royce. I am sure I missed a couple, but if they were impact players or athletic freaks I would have remembered. None are the do it all 4s.
Royce comes close, but he needs to fill out and doesn't have the hops.
How can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on April 07, 2026, 11:45:37 AMHow can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.
Because he played against plumbers and dentists
Quote from: muwarrior69 on April 07, 2026, 11:45:37 AMHow can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.
My 40 year window. Never saw the man play at MU. Ergo...
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 11:51:49 AMMy 40 year window. Never saw rhe man play at MU. Ergo...
rhe? What's going on today? Sticky keyboard?!?!?!
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 11:39:08 AMFair. The question I have is whether it was a recruiting miss or a recruiting mi$$.
Probably both.
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 07:37:01 AMWith portal season upon us, it reminds me of something I have often pondered about the 40+ years I have been a MU basketball fan.
How is it MU has never landed a player like Yaxel? A 6'9, 245 specimen who can play inside, outside, run the floor, defend. Not one in 40 years. MU has never had a dynamic, do it all 6'9 beast.
When I say that I would love a 6'9 stretch 4 to play next to Royce, that is what I am talking about. And in a perfect world, I would take two of them over a traditional 5. My dream 9 man rotation features two Yaxel types and a Royce up front.
Maybe someday Shaka breaks that 50 year streak.
Does not Ellen's qualify as one?
Quote from: The Sultan on April 07, 2026, 12:02:27 PMEllen's what?
I think he means Ellenson. Like Rowsey/Ramsey.
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on April 07, 2026, 12:04:39 PMI think he means Ellenson. Like Rowsey/Ramsey.
Ramsey came after Rowsey
Quote from: Uncle Rico on April 07, 2026, 12:05:07 PMRamsey came after Rowsey
I have them in the correct order "Reeker".
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on April 07, 2026, 12:04:39 PMI think he means Ellenson. Like Rowsey/Ramsey.
I know. I just think it's funny.
Quote from: SaveOD238 on April 07, 2026, 11:30:45 AMAnother who comes to mind is Jamil Wilson. Again, not nearly the quality of Yaxel, but he set himself up for decent NBA career before screwing it up with legal trouble.
I'm not sure it was the legal trouble so much as the case itself. Kam has legal trouble and is still in the nba. Jamil either didn't listen or ignored sex ed in high school
Quote from: Galway Eagle on April 07, 2026, 12:31:24 PMI'm not sure it was the legal trouble so much as the case itself. Kam has legal trouble and is still in the nba. Jamil either didn't listen or ignored sex ed in high school
Bold of you to assume Wisconsin teaches proper sexual education in high school.
The Enforcer?
Maurice Lucas?
Tower is 100% accurate. We need a Yaxelish dude that has a myriad of skills. We should have a versatile 6'9 guy, every season, for the foreseeable future. Even when we're long gone. This is the bare minimum of what must be done to get back on track.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on April 07, 2026, 11:45:37 AMHow can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.
Not an inside outside type player. Just an exceptional, strong big man.
If you want to go back to the 70's you start with Larry Bird as the prime example of that type of player. In an era with no 3 point shots the inside/outside tall guy who could also handle the ball was not very common.
Yeah, why hasn't Marquette ever recruited a 6'9 beast that is good at literally everything? They should really try to get players with no flaws in their game. Maybe someone who was widely considered a top 5 player available in the portal, like Yaxel. Why wouldn't they just do that?
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 11:34:02 AM6'7. But he was in the neighborhood.
At the combine, I expect Yaxel to be closer to 6'7" than 6'9".
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on April 07, 2026, 11:25:02 AMObvious! Shaka didn't giddyup.
Which he certainly needs to quickly do.
Quote from: Tha Hound on April 07, 2026, 04:32:17 PMYeah, why hasn't Marquette ever recruited a 6'9 beast that is good at literally everything? They should really try to get players with no flaws in their game. Maybe someone who was widely considered a top 5 player available in the portal, like Yaxel. Why wouldn't they just do that?
We need ballers, Hound. Plural. It's okay to reiterate the importance of finding tier 1 talent on our roster.
Quote from: MuggsyB on April 07, 2026, 05:38:12 PMWe need ballers, Hound. Plural. It's okay to reiterate the importance of finding tier 1 talent on our roster.
No one disagrees with that basic tenet, but there are 20-30 programs looking for the exact same things. Marquette wants to make a splash in the portal, but so does every program with $10M+ in NIL to offer.
Hopefully the staff gets it right. But just wanting them to spend and add talent isn't going to happen in a vacuum.
Quote from: brewcity77 on April 07, 2026, 06:21:13 PMNo one disagrees with that basic tenet, but there are 20-30 programs looking for the exact same things. Marquette wants to make a splash in the portal, but so does every program with $10M+ in NIL to offer.
Hopefully the staff gets it right. But just wanting them to spend and add talent isn't going to happen in a vacuum.
Touche Brew.
Quote from: tower912 on April 07, 2026, 11:39:08 AMFair. The question I have is whether it was a recruiting miss or a recruiting mi$$. Did Shaka not offer, or not pay the asking price?
I recall 'I am not paying a transfer more than I am paying Oso' (paraphrasing) back then.
I don't think the issue was NIL money.
University of Alabama Birmingham ain't rolling in money
Yaxel Foley of the Detroit
Quote from: MuggsyB on April 07, 2026, 05:38:12 PMWe need ballers, Hound. Plural. It's okay to reiterate the importance of finding tier 1 talent on our roster.
Count me among those who think we can and should always compete for top talent.
I'm just having fun with the original post's premise that Shaka should really consider signing the best big men in the nation.
Quote from: Tha Hound on April 07, 2026, 08:46:23 PMCount me among those who think we can and should always compete for top talent.
I'm just having fun with the original post's premise that Shaka should really consider signing the best big men in the nation.
Fair enough. I believe strongly there are a myriad options to compliment Nigel, Royce, and Adrien. Get them and good things will happen..
Quote from: MuggsyB on April 07, 2026, 09:03:53 PMFair enough. I believe strongly there are a myriad options to compliment Nigel, Royce, and Adrien. Get them and good things will happen..
They get plenty of compliments. What they need is an option to complEMent them.
Quote from: Jay Bee on April 07, 2026, 09:11:42 PMThey get plenty of compliments. What they need is an option to complEMent them.
Work on your wit Jay Bee. You're trying too hard.