Texas A&M transfer wants to come to Marquette?

[Canadian Dimes]

One recruiting report from one summer camp does not a recruit make. I like DW, I think he can be a very good PG for us, but I'm not sold that he's ever going to be a great starter. He has shown zero acumen for scoring the basketball. I'm not going to say ratings are the be-all, end-all, but he's looked like a solid backup point that can defend and calm things down, but won't light the world on fire.

Branch, on the other hand, is a RSCI #52 player that was ranked top-100 by every major scouting service. That doesn't guarantee he'll be a stud by any means, but with Junior graduating after next year, I don't see any reason Buzz wouldn't want to give him an opportunity.

Also...a lot of rumors as to why Branch left. Sounds like it was a lot more than PT. Not that college players smoking marijuana is something that would shock or disturb most, but maybe a lack of control by Gillispie over his program. Can't imagine his health issues are instilling much confidence, either.

http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=2013516&forum_id=7

From a poster there: "Jamal's best buddy said he has expressed concern over lack of off court discipline for a few weeks. Apparently was offered weed by other players at a party, and when he mentioned it to Kennedy he was blown off. That was sometime around Thanksgiving. That rumor is directly from the horse's mouth"

Who knows the veracity to a random message board poster, but I don't get the impression that Branch is just a problem child who will be disruptive.

One recruiting report from one summer camp does not a recruit make.


are you referring to DWilson or branch?   

What has branch done that would cause anyone to state he is better than Wislosn or Junior for that matter.  cause if you are basing it solely on RSCI than Junior was in about the same range .

Also no one is saying DWilson is or has to be the be all end all at PG for MU in 2013 and 2014.  All i am saying is  DWilson was rather highly regarded and has shown to me heretofore that by his Junior year will be at a minimum searvice able.   

personally i dont beleive branch will be here.  i may be wrong but everything Mu has done to this point indicates the lone available scholly is going to a shooter....hopefully Nunn.

If someone leaves that clearly opens another spot and i would have no issue with another PG.  But no ones leaving at Semester and unless we take the scholie given to the walkon- if that is even doable branch would have to pay his way for the spring semester

[Golden Avalanche]

Who knows? Maybe he likes our style of play. Maybe he likes that Buzz isn't afraid to suspend guys. Maybe he sees a good chance at playing time with DJO and Junior leaving in the next two years. Maybe he knows and has a good rapport with Buzz. Maybe Buzz reached out when he heard Branch was transferring. Maybe Billy Gillispie recommended his former assistant as a good mentor.

There are a thousand reasons he might want to come here, none of which most of us would know. That doesn't mean the interest isn't valid.

Firstly, Gillespie has nothing to do with this.

Secondly, I think my point was missed. If young Branch had some concerns over off-the-court discipline in College Station, I don't think he'll find it any different in Milwaukee.

[brewcity77]

@ CD -- First, RSCI is far more than one recruiting report, so I'd think the answer to your first question would be self-evident. Second, if Branch transfers in, it means he will be using a schollie the second half of this year (currently vacant) and a scholarship in 2012-13, which would require someone currently on the roster to make way. It would have no bearing on Nunn or any other 2013 recruits. Either way, if Branch comes, he can come now and no one else has to leave until after Spring. But if he came, it would mean we knew someone was leaving after the season.

@ GA -- All I'm saying is we don't know his reasons for leaving or why he seems to like Marquette. But just because we don't know doesn't mean the interest isn't there, regardless of the reason.

[bamamarquettefan]

Apparently his dad is under the impression that he can't transfer to a Big 12 or SEC team, because Texas A&M is changing conferences. That would obviously narrow his options significantly.

Boy, if they would just add the "can't follow your coach to Maryland" clause that I believe is in most releases, then that could really help narrow it too.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Firstly, Gillespie has nothing to do with this.

Secondly, I think my point was missed. If young Branch had some concerns over off-the-court discipline in College Station, I don't think he'll find it any different in Milwaukee.

my read on the discipline was that there wasn't enough discipline being doled out by the A&M staff and dudes were getting away with stuff that branch didn't care for.

[National Champs]

my read on the discipline was that there wasn't enough discipline being doled out by the A&M staff and dudes were getting away with stuff that branch didn't care for.

Good thing for us, MU doesn't have a track record for letting student athletes get away with anything.

[Dawson Rental]

I'd say we have to get this kid.  Then we'd have Jamil, Jamal, Jamail and Jamal all on the same team!!  Buzz would have to come up with code names.

Jamail is already known as "Mellow", Buzz even referred to him that way in his last press conference.

[Dawson Rental]

What about this kid? What's close to Toronto?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7420764/missouri-tigers-say-kadeem-green-plans-transfer

Class of 2010, 6'8" and 200 lbs. in HS.  Rated a 89 from ESPN out of HS, and as the 62nd best power forward.

[National Champs]

Anyone have insider?

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/features/rumors?date=20120104&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2ffeatures%2frumors%3fdate%3d20120104#6249

[Biggworm]

Anyone have insider?

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/features/rumors?date=20120104&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2ffeatures%2frumors%3fdate%3d20120104#6249

"Last week we wrote about the decision of Texas A&M freshman Jamal Branch to transfer, and now Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com reports that the freshman guard would like to join Marquette.

The only question is whether Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles have a mutual interest in the 6-foot-3 point guard.

Branch averaged 4.2 points in 18.6 minutes per game during his short-lived 11-game career with the Aggies. Ranked the No. 51 recruit in the class of 2011 by ESPNU, one has to believe there will be plenty of interest in Branch, whether from Marquette or elsewhere."


Nothing new...

[MattyWarrior]

Nothing new on insider,same article as yesterday about Branch.

[brewcity77]

Saw this tweet this morning:

@LennRobbins: Jamal Branch leaning towards Johnnies over AZ, MD, Marquette, UCLA

He's visiting St. John's this weekend. I sincerely hope MU can get him in for a visit, but I think Maryland will be very, very tough to beat. Mark Turgeon was the coach he originally committed to at A&M.

[Golden Avalanche]

Saw this tweet this morning:

@LennRobbins: Jamal Branch leaning towards Johnnies over AZ, MD, Marquette, UCLA

He's visiting St. John's this weekend. I sincerely hope MU can get him in for a visit, but I think Maryland will be very, very tough to beat. Mark Turgeon was the coach he originally committed to at A&M.

Makes you wonder how the story shifted from Branch wanting MU badly in mid-week to now the Johnnies leading for him. Hmm.......

[ATWizJr]

Makes you wonder how the story shifted from Branch wanting MU badly in mid-week to now the Johnnies leading for him. Hmm.......

We must not be hot on him?

[brewcity77]

Makes you wonder how the story shifted from Branch wanting MU badly in mid-week to now the Johnnies leading for him. Hmm.......

Well, SJU still has tons of PT and scholarships available, we don't. Or it could just be an assumption because he's visiting there first. We'll probably know a lot more in a week or two. If I were betting, though, I'd say Maryland.