Embiid at the Bucks Game

[brewcity77]

Top 3 recruiting class if JoJo signs!

I still think we're around 5th-6th. Kentucky's class is arguably the best in history if they land Wiggins. Florida and Memphis with 2 five-star players each will almost certainly stay ahead. Duke and Kansas both already have stud classes and 2 guys higher than our highest (depending on where Embiid rises to). Depending on who they add either or both could stay ahead of us.

Regardless, it would be one of the best 1-5 plus a 6th man classes in the country and undoubtedly the best Marquette class of my life. I have had Embiid at the top of my wish list for quite awhile now. Hope he picks MU.

[4everwarriors]

Sure hope the Bucks don't go now and trade Mbah a Moute to the Kansas City Kings.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Sure hope the Bucks don't go now and trade Mbah a Moute to the Kansas City Kings.

Sssshhhhh!  Don't go giving them any ideas 

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Not following this at all until a few google searches just now.

Fellow Cameroon native Luc Mbah a Moute of the Milwaukee Bucks has been assisting Embiid in the recruiting process.

"It's really tight between those schools," Mbah a Moute told the Racine Journal-Times. Embiid is new to the workings of major-college basketball. He took up the sport less than two years ago.

"We're going to narrow it down to three schools next week," Mbah a Moute told the Journal-Times. "We'll be looking for an opportunity to play a lot right away. He hasn't played that long and needs to continue his development. And, of course, we're going to look at academics and what these schools can offer him."

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/nov/03/ku-basketball-recruit-joel-embiid-narrow-list-next/

I'm sure I'm not breaking news to anyone who pays more attention than me, but that's a pretty huge deal to live in the same town as close as Mbah seems to be. Seems the Bucks don't mind keeping him around for the next 4 years at least.

Again - I've spent less time on this than others but we've got to be the favorite right now... especially with the top priority being playing time.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Just got word its between Marquette and Kansas. Lets jeep our fingers crossed

Can you provide any context for where this info is coming from?

[Dawson Rental]

He tweeted that he had a great time and "ate 10 cheeseburgers had fun ate cameroonian food"

Anybody know a good Cameroonian restaurant in Lawrence, KS?  Neither do I.

[Benny B]

With Withey's graduation this year and no 2013 bigs yet committed, it appears KU could have immediate minutes for Embiid at the 5 right away.... it all boils down to what they have in three-star freshman Landen Lucas.  That said, I don't think Buzz signs Embiid unless he's 99% that CO is in his final year; in which case, the 5 is definitely wide open at MU.

If it boils down to PT, MU has to have the advantage there.  Even if CO returned, that may at least bode well on the development side (having another, "not-as-experienced-out-of-HS" big to work with).

KU is more "middle of the road" when it comes to development and PT, though... he'll have another body in Lucas to work against in practice, but how much experience will Lucas get this year with Withey playing the bulk of the minutes?  Do you want to be developing two inexperienced bigs against each other in practice, or do you want a seasoned veteran?

Granted CO is not likely to win any national accolades this year, I would still think he would be a better development partner in practice than Lucas.

Which BTW, I know this is rare territory, but if done strictly in Embiid's free time, is there any NCAA rule that says he can't pop over to an NBA practice session or that an NBA player can't show up for a "pick-up" game at the Al once in a while?  In other words, could Embiid enjoy - without jeopardizing eligibility - an occasional visit from and/or an unofficial practice session with his mentor and his friends, Larry, John, Joel, etc.

[brewcity77]

Recently I heard a story about how Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen first competed against each other and had some of their best times during practices while Wade was at Marquette and Allen was with the Bucks. I have little doubt that those unofficial practice sessions already happen on a somewhat regular basis. Regarding Kansas, they don't have true centers, but they do have a lot of power forwards coming in that will all be vying for time. Perry Ellis, Zach Peters, and Jamari Traylor will all compete for time at the 4 and 5. I could see Peters being the primary guy replacing Withey after this year. He's got the frame of a center.

[Bieberhole69]

Recently I heard a story about how Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen first competed against each other and had some of their best times during practices while Wade was at Marquette and Allen was with the Bucks. I have little doubt that those unofficial practice sessions already happen on a somewhat regular basis. Regarding Kansas, they don't have true centers, but they do have a lot of power forwards coming in that will all be vying for time. Perry Ellis, Zach Peters, and Jamari Traylor will all compete for time at the 4 and 5. I could see Peters being the primary guy replacing Withey after this year. He's got the frame of a center.

Danny Manning was a huge part of developing Robinson, Aldrich, the Morris twins and others at Kansas.  He's at Tulsa now, so I'm not sure who is filling his shoes, but that's a big loss for KU.

[NersEllenson]

Recently I heard a story about how Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen first competed against each other and had some of their best times during practices while Wade was at Marquette and Allen was with the Bucks. I have little doubt that those unofficial practice sessions already happen on a somewhat regular basis. Regarding Kansas, they don't have true centers, but they do have a lot of power forwards coming in that will all be vying for time. Perry Ellis, Zach Peters, and Jamari Traylor will all compete for time at the 4 and 5. I could see Peters being the primary guy replacing Withey after this year. He's got the frame of a center.

Just to tack on - there has been a long tradition of Bucks players playing pick up games with MU players during the off season.  Shawn Respert and Glenn Robinson used to come to the Helfaer and play as did a lot of the MU guys back then during the off season.  I had a lot of good runs with Respert, Big Dog, Amal, Dwaine Streeter, Shane Littles, Zach McCall, Hutch, Polonowski between 1994-1997.  Never saw Marty Conlon at The Rec though, which was a major disappointment.

[martyconlonontherun]

  Never saw Marty Conlon at The Rec though, which was a major disappointment.

[Tugg Speedman]

What happened to the rule that if he does not commit on his official visit, he will not?  Since he has not, does that mean he's lost?

How did this theory work out with JJJ?

[tower912]

Saw Tony Smith dunk over Terry Cummings twice in the same game at the Rec Center. 

[ATWizJr]

What happened to the rule that if he does not commit on his official visit, he will not?  Since he has not, does that mean he's lost?

How did this theory work out with JJJ?

How do you know that JJJ did not commit to Buzz during the visit?

[Ellenson Guerrero]

How do you know that JJJ did not commit to Buzz during the visit?

Doesn't change the point being made that you can't draw any inferences from the fact that a player made a visit but hasn't made a public commitment.

[esotericmindguy]

What happened to the rule that if he does not commit on his official visit, he will not?  Since he has not, does that mean he's lost?

How did this theory work out with JJJ?

Let it go, it wasn't funny two weeks ago.

[ATWizJr]

Doesn't change the point being made that you can't draw any inferences from the fact that a player made a visit but hasn't made a public commitment.

Thanks for the help in making my point.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

So your point is that players always commit on one of their visits, we all just don't know about it? I'm pretty sure that is empirically false and doesn't help us any even if it were true.

[Dawson Rental]

How do you know that JJJ did not commit to Buzz during the visit?

JJJ is on the record saying he didn't make up his mind until last week.  Are you calling him a liar?

[ATWizJr]

JJJ is on the record saying he didn't make up his mind until last week.  Are you calling him a liar?

Maybe he was trying to let someone down easy. 

[🏀]

Dakari Johnson reclassified to 2013 from 2014. Both Florida and Kansas chasing him. I'd be awesome for him to commit too Kansas soon to make Embiid's decision really easy.

[JakeBarnes]

Dakari Johnson reclassified to 2013 from 2014. Both Florida and Kansas chasing him. I'd be awesome for him to commit too Kansas soon to make Embiid's decision really easy.

Saw this.  It would make things really interesting if that happened.  Kansas fans seem pretty excited about it and are already talking about how they shouldn't really have to worry about Joel with Dakari reclassifying.  Let's hope the Kansas staff sees it the same way...

[mug644]

I've not seen Embiid play, but I can't help but think it is either quite presumptuous of Mbah a Mboute to expect that someone who has only been playing to just over two years will be given immediate playing time at an upper level school. How many guys with just two years' experience are really ready to contribute--as an all-around player on both offense and defense--on a team that has hopes for a deep run in the tourney.

Maybe he's just that good, despite his inexperience, but it strikes me as rather brash.

If he's that good, get him here! If he's inexperienced, I hope he'll be ready to put in time learning, being ready for future years.

[bilsu]

He is expected to be ranked in top 50 in the next recruiting rankings.

[Benny B]

Dakari Johnson reclassified to 2013 from 2014. Both Florida and Kansas chasing him. I'd be awesome for him to commit too Kansas soon to make Embiid's decision really easy.

Exactly.

Kansas has a gaping hole in the "dominant big man" role starting next year, and with no more on the board prior to yesterday, Christmas just came early for KU... look for them to go hard after Dakari.