Phillip Nolan

[marquette20]

I know we have no more scholarships, but according to ESPN, we are the leaders for him.

Article:
Recruiting update: Recruiting has picked up for the athletic post player, who's one of the top unsigned big men still available. He visited Clemson early, but Memphis, Marquette, Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee have all joined the competition for his services and it looks like Marquette could be the leader at this point.

Anymore insight on the kid?

[Goose]

I would take Nolan in heartbeat. Think he has very good upside potential. Aside from being all he actually is skilled and tall.

[bamamarquettefan]

Rank   Name   Ht
102   Phillip Nolan   6'10"
104   T.J. Taylor (2010 ranking)   6'3"
108   Steve Taylor   6'7"
137   Jamal Ferguson   6'3"
324   Aaron Durley   6'9"

Gosh, based on Rivals that would be an awfully good and balanced class, and I don't see how we don't sign up a 6'10" player who is ranked so much higher than Otule and Gardner were.  If he progresses anything like they have, you'd think he could be a huge impact player.

Rivals doesn't actually put the numbers by players after their top 150, but they do seem to continue to list the 3 stars in order when you watch how they move, so they do have Durley really low right now.  While they don't technically have any of them in the top 100, to get a 6-10 true power forward, a 6-3 point guard, a 6-7 guy who can hit from beyond the arc, and a 6-3 guy who looks like a rock gets me pretty excited.  I just hope Durley is doing well, but it certainly sounds like he hasn't progressed while being on his high school bench.

[Les Nessman]

What have you heard about Durley aside from him being on the bench during the HS season, which has been talked to death? Has he struggled to get back into game shape or something for his AAU team?

[brewcity77]

When did Steve Taylor drop out of the top-100? I haven't seen him out of anyone's top-100 at all before now.

[MU82]

If you really can get Nolan, you find a way to make the numbers work.

This is what's known as a pleasant problem to have.

[4everwarriors]

So, is it 3 or 4 players now who are gonna leave the program?

[wadesworld]

Rank   Name   Ht
102   Phillip Nolan   6'10"
104   T.J. Taylor (2010 ranking)   6'3"
108   Steve Taylor   6'7"
137   Jamal Ferguson   6'3"
324   Aaron Durley   6'9"

Gosh, based on Rivals that would be an awfully good and balanced class, and I don't see how we don't sign up a 6'10" player who is ranked so much higher than Otule and Gardner were.  If he progresses anything like they have, you'd think he could be a huge impact player.

Rivals doesn't actually put the numbers by players after their top 150, but they do seem to continue to list the 3 stars in order when you watch how they move, so they do have Durley really low right now.  While they don't technically have any of them in the top 100, to get a 6-10 true power forward, a 6-3 point guard, a 6-7 guy who can hit from beyond the arc, and a 6-3 guy who looks like a rock gets me pretty excited.  I just hope Durley is doing well, but it certainly sounds like he hasn't progressed while being on his high school bench.

The biggest problem is that he is nowhere near a true power forward.  He is a 6'10" wannabe shooting guard.  He's also like 6'10" and 200 lbs, which may help to explain why he wants to be a shooting guard.  I watched his full game at Brookfield Central, in which he was the tallest player on the court by (at least) 4" and I would be shocked if he shot less than 3x the amount of 3 pointers as he did 2 pointers, let alone shots on the block.  The only 2 field goals he made inside the arc were dunks on fast breaks.  The one time I saw him actually post someone up down low he got stuffed big time from behind.

If it were me, I would pass on this kid.  If we're going to have available scholarships, see if we can't get one of the transfers being thrown around or save it for Kendrick Nunn.

[Tugg Speedman]

The biggest problem is that he is nowhere near a true power forward.  He is a 6'10" wannabe shooting guard.  He's also like 6'10" and 200 lbs, which may help to explain why he wants to be a shooting guard.  I watched his full game at Brookfield Central, in which he was the tallest player on the court by (at least) 4" and I would be shocked if he shot less than 3x the amount of 3 pointers as he did 2 pointers, let alone shots on the block.  The only 2 field goals he made inside the arc were dunks on fast breaks.  The one time I saw him actually post someone up down low he got stuffed big time from behind.

If it were me, I would pass on this kid.  If we're going to have available scholarships, see if we can't get one of the transfers being thrown around or save it for Kendrick Nunn.

This sounds like a description of Novak when he was coming out of High School.

[nyg]

When did Steve Taylor drop out of the top-100? I haven't seen him out of anyone's top-100 at all before now.

That is his Rivals ranking.  I just checked also. 

[brewcity77]

So, is it 3 or 4 players now who are gonna leave the program?

Sounds like Nolan, Hood, Nunn, and Lockett incoming. Get another forward and we have a great start on a full-fledged B-team. Maybe Benford can get his HC gig as our second squad to double our chances of getting a NC.

[wadesworld]

This sounds like a description of Novak when he was coming out of High School.

But Novak was always a knock down 3 point shooter.  Nolan does not knock down the outside shot at a high clip.  His shot is not even comparable to Novak's.

[Earl Tatum]

Rodney Hood

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The biggest problem is that he is nowhere near a true power forward.  He is a 6'10" wannabe shooting guard.  He's also like 6'10" and 200 lbs, which may help to explain why he wants to be a shooting guard.  I watched his full game at Brookfield Central, in which he was the tallest player on the court by (at least) 4" and I would be shocked if he shot less than 3x the amount of 3 pointers as he did 2 pointers, let alone shots on the block.  The only 2 field goals he made inside the arc were dunks on fast breaks.  The one time I saw him actually post someone up down low he got stuffed big time from behind.

If it were me, I would pass on this kid.  If we're going to have available scholarships, see if we can't get one of the transfers being thrown around or save it for Kendrick Nunn.

Actually, this sounds a bit like Jae.

Obviously Jae's game was pretty well rounded, but his best/favorite offensive weapon was the trailing 3pter.

Not something I want a 610" dude doing in HS games, but at the college level, it can be effective.

[esotericmindguy]

The biggest problem is that he is nowhere near a true power forward.  He is a 6'10" wannabe shooting guard.  He's also like 6'10" and 200 lbs, which may help to explain why he wants to be a shooting guard.  I watched his full game at Brookfield Central, in which he was the tallest player on the court by (at least) 4" and I would be shocked if he shot less than 3x the amount of 3 pointers as he did 2 pointers, let alone shots on the block.  The only 2 field goals he made inside the arc were dunks on fast breaks.  The one time I saw him actually post someone up down low he got stuffed big time from behind.

If it were me, I would pass on this kid.  If we're going to have available scholarships, see if we can't get one of the transfers being thrown around or save it for Kendrick Nunn.

Oh sure Clemson, Memphis, Marquette, Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee want him but what do they know. Wadesworld saw him play a game once! Pass!

[wadesworld]

Actually, this sounds a bit like Jae.

Obviously Jae's game was pretty well rounded, but his best/favorite offensive weapon was the trailing 3pter.

Not something I want a 610" dude doing in HS games, but at the college level, it can be effective.

Nolan's outside shot attempts were not trailing 3s. He was hanging out on the perimeter the entire game I saw. And his 3 point shooting was not highly efficient. He's 6'10" and 205 lbs. Crowder is 6'6" and 235 lbs. crowder averaged 8 rebounds per game as an undersized 4 against other Big East 4s. I'd be shocked if Nolan averaged 1/2 that many rebounds against kids who were giving up at least 4" on almost a nightly basis in the WIAA. Again, in my opionion he's a pass. Would much rather have Juan Anderson on the court as he at least will get after it on the boards as much as he can.

[MUfan12]

Let him go JUCO and grow up a little bit, then take a look at him in two years. MU is on much better players than him, especially with limited room at the inn.

[wadesworld]

Oh sure Clemson, Memphis, Marquette, Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee want him but what do they know. Wadesworld saw him play a game once! Pass!

Ok. Solid input.  Never claimed to know more than any of them. Just saying what I saw. And have only heard the exact same things. What is a 6'10" guy who stands on the perimeter and is a below average perimeter shooter going to do for us? He was the 3rd best (if that) player on Riverside, and BC had 1 better player than him. None of them are being recruited by high major schools. He had the most potential based on his height, but he has a long, long way to go.

Here's a question for you since you know it all: Who do we cut to make room for him? Keep in mind, we are already oversigned by 1 assuming OTule gets his 6th year. So what player this year is out to get Nolan in, and then what player is out the following year to get Wilson and Burton in? And if we're making room for 2 more, what about Kendrick Nunn instead of Nolan? Much more of a high major recruit who seems just as interested in MU. Enlighten me. Who's out?

[wadesworld]

Let him go JUCO and grow up a little bit, then take a look at him in two years. MU is on much better players than him, especially with limited room at the inn.

Well put. Wouldn't mind that at all if he's up for it.

[MUfan12]

Well put. Wouldn't mind that at all if he's up for it.

He might not have a choice. He's a longshot to qualify.

There's some baggage there, I'm glad MU backed off.

[Dawson Rental]

He might not have a choice. He's a longshot to qualify.

There's some baggage there, I'm glad MU backed off.

I'm not sure how, "it looks like Marquette could be the leader at this point", indicates that MU has backed off.

[Goose]

I hope we do not back off. He is a skilled big man and I think is perfectly suited for Buzz's style of play. Everybody has comments on his baggage and that always cracks me up. If he had real baggage nobody would be recruiting him.

[MU82]

I want all the good players we can get, but if wadesworld is right, I'm saying pass now, also. I haven't seen him, so I'll defer to others.

Unless a guy is a Novak-quality shooter -- and there aren't many of them -- I've never really liked 6-10 guys who just hang around the perimeter waiting for passes. I want my 6-10 guys to be the opposite of soft.

If he's really a stud, or at least a stud-in-making as the number of suitors seem to suggest, yes, we'd have room for him.

So, in other words ... oh hell, I don't know what I'm saying on this one!

[MUfan12]

I'm not sure how, "it looks like Marquette could be the leader at this point", indicates that MU has backed off.

It indicates that ESPN really doesn't know what they're talking about on this one.

[Freeport Warrior]

Ok. Solid input.  Never claimed to know more than any of them. Just saying what I saw.

I was at the same game and agree with much of what wadesworld is saying. I was blown away that he was playing a large portion of the game on the outside -- a ton of it buried in the corners looking for a kickout. He did not have a great shot that game. All that said, with the right conditioning and coaching, I think he could be a pretty nice player. He has great body control, very fluid. He looks to have good hands. And you can't teach height like that. Put a few pounds on him and I think he could be Ousmae Borro-quality by soph year. I'm no scout, but I would probably take him over what I've seen from Juan Anderson, considering he's 3 inches taller.