Serbian big man to visit?

[Pakuni]

http://www.boyshoopscout.com/Marquetteov.html

Sasa Borovnjak, a  6'9" 230 lb senior power forward from Fletcher, NC's Veritas Christian Academy woke up early this morning to make it to his teams' 6AM open gym. By 7:30 AM the Serbian native had secured himself an offer of
an official visit to Marquette University  during their midnight madness in October. 
Head coach, Buzz Williams had made the trip to the Tar Heel state after hearing their was a high level power forward still available. Sasa's high
school head coach, John Jordan said Williams was quite impressed. "Coach Williams really liked Sasa's skill level and felt he was a tough match up. He saw that Sasa can take a big man outside and eat him up or can post a smaller
opponent at will.
He told me he also liked the fact that Sasa could make plays and think at the 4 spot. He went on to say that they had signed 3 top players for the '09 class and had a solid 7 foot Canadian transfer at the 5. He felt the missing piece was a thinking 4 man and he felt he may have solved the puzzle with Sasa."

Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons had ranked the Marquette '09 recruiting class in his top 5 nationally (Source ESPN).
Ironically he has one of Borovnjak's rival suitors, NC State ranked #6. When Jordan was asked how today's events  play into Sasa's view on NC State he had this to say. "Sasa is still very interested in NC State but today the
Marquette head coach made Sasa his priority and was on our campus for a 6AM workout. Marquette is a pre-season top 15 team right now and will have all the marbles in place to build on whatever success they have this coming
season. NC State is obviously in a different place, at least for this coming season. Their recruiting class for next year is very strong as well. I feel either school would be a great place for Sasa but we are looking to do something
in the November signing period. As for now, my advice to Sasa is to take a look, but a quick look, at everybody and  line up his officials. Last week I do not think he would have taken any officials and would have probably verbaled
right away if the offer had come from Raleigh, now it would be a little tougher for him to walk away from a program already on the top without at least taking a closer look.  While it was just a first meeting, he was very impressed with Coach Williams and his interest in how Sasa would fit into their program and adapt to a new setting. The fact that Marquette is only 45 minutes from a major Serbian population and he has a cousin who has signed with a Chicago school also favor Marquette. Right now all we have from NC State is an assistant coach who loves him and some respect from the NC State team. Until Coach Lowe arrives and makes his own personal decision we have to
behave as if there is nothing on the table from the Pack because there is not.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Buzz was in NC earlier this summer to watch him as well.

[bma725]

Buzz was in NC earlier this summer to watch him as well.

Buzz was in NC watching Keith Dewitt who ended up committing to Missouri, not Borovnjak.

[muarmy81]

Let's stay focused on Snaer...

[Pakuni]

Let's stay focused on Snaer...

Let's not.
Obviously Snaer is the priroty, but it's good to have backup options. Snaer would be a great get, but Buzz shouldn't count on it.
One of the best, most accurate criticisms of the prior coach was that when he lost out on a priority recruit, he panicked and gave out the scholie to anyone who would take it.

[tower912]

Although if we could get both......    Reading this, it appears that Buzz projects Maymon as a 3.     This would put him in competition with EWilliams.    I count EWilliams, Maymon, Fulce, Butler, Buycks as 2/3's.    And apparently, Buzz thinks this guy can be one of his 'outs' on a 4 out-1 in set.

[bma725]

Although if we could get both......    Reading this, it appears that Buzz projects Maymon as a 3.     This would put him in competition with EWilliams.    I count EWilliams, Maymon, Fulce, Butler, Buycks as 2/3's.    And apparently, Buzz thinks this guy can be one of his 'outs' on a 4 out-1 in set.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but when they mention the 3 players in this class and McMorrow, I get the impression that he implied the 3 played different positions.  That would mean he was either talking about Buycks, or he is thinking that Erik Williams will play the 2.

[coach85]

If either commits, I guess that's the end of Jamil Wilson and MU?

[Pakuni]

Although if we could get both......    Reading this, it appears that Buzz projects Maymon as a 3.     This would put him in competition with EWilliams.    I count EWilliams, Maymon, Fulce, Butler, Buycks as 2/3's.    And apparently, Buzz thinks this guy can be one of his 'outs' on a 4 out-1 in set.

I think Buycks is more of a 1/2 than 2/3.
Williams right now probably is more of a 3 who could develop into a 2 and Maymon a 4 who could develop into a 3.

[Pakuni]

If either commits, I guess that's the end of Jamil Wilson and MU?

I think that ship set sail a long time ago.

[THEGYMBAR]

Not sure that ship has sailed. Might be a surprise here.

[HoopDreams]

Any details on other recruits looking to come for Madness this year? Officials or unofficials? I suppose we will know in the upcoming weeks...hopefully Snaer is a Golden Eagle by then.

[Marquette84]

Let's not.
Obviously Snaer is the priroty, but it's good to have backup options. Snaer would be a great get, but Buzz shouldn't count on it.
One of the best, most accurate criticisms of the prior coach was that when he lost out on a priority recruit, he panicked and gave out the scholie to anyone who would take it.

I don't know that "panic" describes the signing of Tyshawn Taylor (after Iman Shumpert picked Georgia Tech) or Dominic James (after Bobby Frasor picked UNC) or Dwyane Wade (after Desmon Farmer picked USC).

In general, I think you're mixing up second choice recruits with replacements for transferred players. If you examine the busts I think you'll find most were either early commitments (Menard, Bell, Christopherson) or were brought in to replace a player who transferred late in the recruiting season.

[bma725]

If you examine the busts I think you'll find most were either early commitments (Menard, Bell, Christopherson)

Bell was not an early signing. He committed in September of his senior year and was the third player in that class to commit after Dameon Mason and James Matthews. 

[77fan88warrior]

I think that ship set sail a long time ago.

Do we have any evidence? Grades........? Hearsay......?

[jmayer1]

Not sure that ship has sailed. Might be a surprise here.

There has been nothing to indicate MU is still not a serious player for JW.

[bilsu]

I think class here refers to the same grade level. Cadougan,  Williams and Maymon are the same class. Buyckes is a junior and therefore while part of the same recruiting group is not in the same class. I also think (no actual knowledge) that Buzz will over recruit by one. My logic in this is he was already recruiting before Mbakwee jumped ship and the fact that he had promised a scholarship the next year to the walkon that ending up signing with Kentucky. Someone else will not be back next year. The best way for this would to be sign one player now and then concentrate on Wilson for the spring signing period. I would love to have Snaer who could be a one and done or probably a two year player at best. However, assuming the Serbian is a good player, I think a 6'9" 4 might be more important. the signing of either of these players might eliminate Wilson, not because of the scholarship limitations, but because of where Wilson will play. Wilson will play the 3/2 spot. Snaer takes up a two. The Serbian pushes Maymon to the 3. Williams is a 3/2 so what does that leave for Wilson.

[Marquette84]

Bell was not an early signing. He committed in September of his senior year and was the third player in that class to commit after Dameon Mason and James Matthews. 

Bell was most definitely an early commit.

September actually occurs before the beginning of the early signing period--officially, the LOI cannot be signed until November of they player's senior year of HS. 

The late signing period does not start until May of the player's senior year. 

[bma725]

Bell was most definitely an early commit.

September actually occurs before the beginning of the early signing period--officially, the LOI cannot be signed until November of they player's senior year of HS. 

The late signing period does not start until May of the player's senior year. 

Bell was a senior.  Doesn't matter when the signing period is, senior's are not early commits. 

Guys like Christopherson who committed during his sophomore year, Nick Williams who committed before his junior year started, Erik William who committed during his junior year...that's an early commit.  By the time you make it to your senior year, you are no longer an early commit regardless of whether you do it in the spring or fall.

[Marquette84]

Bell was a senior.  Doesn't matter when the signing period is, senior's are not early commits. 

Guys like Christopherson who committed during his sophomore year, Nick Williams who committed before his junior year started, Erik William who committed during his junior year...that's an early commit.  By the time you make it to your senior year, you are no longer an early commit regardless of whether you do it in the spring or fall.

Perhaps you should take this up with the NCAA:
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/nli

Nonetheless, let's leave off the word "early" and simply state that Bell was Crean's priority target for PG that year.  The point I took issue with was the assertion that if Crean didn't land his priority target, he panicked which resulted in all the bad players at MU.

There are two things wrong with that--

First, as often as not, the primary target turned out to be a bust.

Second, the "plan B" often turned out to be a pretty good player in his own right.

It is simply not an "accurate criticism" to say that Crean panicked if he didn't land his first priority.

[bilsu]

I think Crean's mistake was not leaving scholarships unfilled. He often signed a player in the spring that did not work out. He would have been better holding over the scholarship.

[bma725]

Nonetheless, let's leave off the word "early" and simply state that Bell was Crean's priority target for PG that year.  The point I took issue with was the assertion that if Crean didn't land his priority target, he panicked which resulted in all the bad players at MU.

Bell was not the priority PG recruit that year, Crean's priority PG was Drew Lavender in a package deal with Brandon Faust.   Even after Bell committed in early September, Crean pushed for the two of them to make their scheduled official visit in late September, but they committed to Oklahoma before that happened.

That said, you couldn't really call it panic.