Willie Atwood- 2014 JUCO PF

[MUfan12]

According to JUCOrecruiting. com- "Auburn and Baylor will be in tonight to watch DeVaughn Purcell of Eastern Ok. Marquette will be in to see Willie Atwood."

https://twitter.com/JucoRecruiting/status/434026852349267968

6-8, 215. More info here- http://www.jucorecruiting.com/willie-atwood-recruitment-heating/

[nyg]

Now that would be a real "Willie Warrior"

[MU_MM08]

Certainly won't be a shortage of available playing time at the 4/5 next year with the departure of Otule, Davante, and Jamil.

I for one, am in favor of finding a 4/5 through JUCO. Would bring a slight bit of balance to the junior class (class of 1 right now), and more experience in the post, which will be in desperate need of next year with Fischer not eligible till midway throw next year.

[willie warrior]

Certainly won't be a shortage of available playing time at the 4/5 next year with the departure of Otule, Davante, and Jamil.

I for one, am in favor of finding a 4/5 through JUCO. Would bring a slight bit of balance to the junior class (class of 1 right now), and more experience in the post, which will be in desperate need of next year with Fischer not eligible till midway throw next year.

Then we will be over schollies by two if Harris signs. Who goes?

[MU_MM08]

Then we will be over schollies by two if Harris signs. Who goes?

Good question. And I am not going to speculate on transfers/Harris' status on signing, but we know Buzz does not stop recruiting and many different scenarios could play out once April is here...

[Newsdreams]

4ever what do you think about this dude, would like to see that name in the jumbotron?

[GGGG]

Good question. And I am not going to speculate on transfers/Harris' status on signing, but we know Buzz does not stop recruiting and many different scenarios could play out once April is here...

Exactly.  There are always needs for contingency plans.

[ATVSandKARATE]

I'm counting on Derrick Wilson to be Buzzcut

[esotericmindguy]

Contingency plans? These are huge decisions for 18,19,20 year old kids. If buzz signs them for "contingency plans", that's unethical. I don't believe Buzz to be unethical, he knows who is staying and who is going right now. Maybe Hunt doesn't know what he's talking about and Buzz just likes to watch JUCO basketball.

[4everwarriors]

Willie "Hardwood" Atwood would be an asset to any men's team.

[GGGG]

Contingency plans? These are huge decisions for 18,19,20 year old kids. If buzz signs them for "contingency plans", that's unethical. I don't believe Buzz to be unethical, he knows who is staying and who is going right now. Maybe Hunt doesn't know what he's talking about and Buzz just likes to watch JUCO basketball.

By "contingency plans" I mean that that is why he is still out looking at potential '14 prospects.  MU can't sign anyone until April 16 anyway.  Plenty of time to figure out who might be leaving.

And no I don't think Buzz "knows who is staying or who is going."  He may have an idea...but Vander was a surprise last year.  McKay was a surprise this year.  Making sure you have other options out there is a smart idea.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Iowa Hawkeyes are all over this kid. 

[BCHoopster]

Iowa Hawkeyes are all over this kid. 

Nothing against Garrett but MU already has 3 point guards next year, even if 1 leaves, you still have 2, do not need Garrett and you have NN coming in the following year, now this kid is more
interesting has he has size, if Iowa likes him so would I.

[jsheim]

I have a general juco question.
Are players like Jae Crowder rare? Was he an unusually gifted pickup. Can we expect that type of impact from the juco ranks? Or was he just a one-off?

I just don't know how much "interest" or "faith" I should put into reports of Juco players. The McKay thing made me question all the good vibe I had for juco players that Jae brought.

[MarsupialMadness]

I have a general juco question.
Are players like Jae Crowder rare? Was he an unusually gifted pickup. Can we expect that type of impact from the juco ranks? Or was he just a one-off?

I just don't know how much "interest" or "faith" I should put into reports of Juco players. The McKay thing made me question all the good vibe I had for juco players that Jae brought.

He was JUCO POY, so that makes him one of a kind as far as JUCO transfers.  You can't expect many to live up to that.

[GGGG]

I have a general juco question.
Are players like Jae Crowder rare? Was he an unusually gifted pickup. Can we expect that type of impact from the juco ranks? Or was he just a one-off?

I just don't know how much "interest" or "faith" I should put into reports of Juco players. The McKay thing made me question all the good vibe I had for juco players that Jae brought.

Well it wasn't just Jae.  It was Jimmy Butler and DJO too.

I don't know how "unusually gifted" any of them were.  Is it rare for a school to get two JUCO recruits to the NBA in as many years?  I would think so.

[Wojo'sMojo]

I'm counting on Derrick Wilson to be Buzzcut
[/quot

I would be absolutely ecstatic if this happened!! But it won't. I think Steve Taylor and possibly JJJ transfer after thinking about it. A top 40 recruit doesn't come to play 1 minute in a game where the guy starting in front of him cant hit a shot to save his life. I used to think he would stay but I changed my mind. I also think this is Mayos last year...

[brandx]

I have a general juco question.
Are players like Jae Crowder rare? Was he an unusually gifted pickup. Can we expect that type of impact from the juco ranks? Or was he just a one-off?

I just don't know how much "interest" or "faith" I should put into reports of Juco players. The McKay thing made me question all the good vibe I had for juco players that Jae brought.

No, it is not rare. There are many former Jucus in the NBA

[MarsupialMadness]

This is an excerpt from ESPN article from 2011, which mentions Jae and DJO:

For every junior college player who experiences high-level success with a Division I program, there are hundreds of others who don't.

Glance at the NJCAA's list of first-team All-Americans the last few seasons, and it's difficult to find players who went on to make significant contributions to teams from BCS leagues. Crowder, Johnson-Odom and Ricardo Ratliffe (Missouri) were solid in 2010. Casey Mitchell was part of West Virginia's Final Four squad the year before, and Derwin Kitchen arrived at Florida State in 2008.

There are always exceptions but, for the most part, teams that contend for league titles feature very few -- if any -- junior college players in their rotation.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7176910/programs-rely-junior-college-transfers-succeed-season-college-basketball


IMO - they obviously already have a skill set, and they are more developed than incoming freshman, so they clearly have the ability to make an impact right away.  Combine that with an opportunity to succeed at Marquette, with Buzz... that's why we have had great recent success with JUCO's

[esotericmindguy]

By "contingency plans" I mean that that is why he is still out looking at potential '14 prospects.  MU can't sign anyone until April 16 anyway.  Plenty of time to figure out who might be leaving.

And no I don't think Buzz "knows who is staying or who is going."  He may have an idea...but Vander was a surprise last year.  McKay was a surprise this year.  Making sure you have other options out there is a smart idea.

When do players typically announce transfer? Right after season or end of school year?

[Archies Bat]

When do players typically announce transfer? Right after season or end of school year?

Vander, Jake and Juan all announce right after the season ended (Vander may have been a week or two later).  If they are leaving, the sooner the better for them, to find another school, and for the team, to find a repalcement.

[marquette20]

DJO and Jimmy are special JUCOs too since they were qualifiers out of high school but chose JUCO due to the lack of options at the D1 level.

[Tugg Speedman]

Willie "Hardwood" Atwood would be an asset to any men's team.

If we land him and Austin Grandstaff, should Buzz hire Ron Jeremy or Peter North as an assistant? 

[MarquetteDano]

If we land him and Austin Grandstaff, should Buzz hire Ron Jeremy or Peter North as an assistant?  

I do like the thought of Homer announcing  "Grandstaff to Atwood.  Ahem."

[77ncaachamps]

I'm happy to see we're back on the JUCO train of success!