Watching Jameel McKay

[wadesworld]

I know the mid season transfer eligility rules and they have been discussed here an incredible amount of times, so we don't have to go over those again, but I am trying to remember what McKay's situation was. McKay was a 2 year JUCO player, right? So he was coming into MU with junior status and eligible to play immediately. Since he used a scholarship at MU despite never even being on the roster by the time the regular season kicked off, technically last year would have counted as his junior year's eligibility for the first semester at Marquette, right? And then technically this season, starting when he became eligible at the end of the fall semester, would have been considered McKay's senior season? But he must have been granted a waiver to regain a year of eligibility since he decided to transfer/leave MU's basketball program a couple of days into the official start of practice?

Or is this all wrong and he came in after 1 year of JUCO and had a sophomore eligibility status and used up that year at MU and is now playing his junior year with this season's ISU team?

I believe it's the first scenario.

[GGGG]

Your first scenario is accurate, but he redshirted last year.  No need for a waiver.

[brewcity77]

He played two years at JUCO, and his early commitment allowed Marquette to help guide him through classes that would bring him here in good academic standing. You have five years to complete four years of eligibility, we all know that, and it would seem the sitting out would count as a year of eligibility since he couldn't play until second semester. Pretty sure he'd need a waiver to play another year after this one, but Jay Bee is probably better suited to answer this one.

[wadesworld]

Your first scenario is accurate, but he redshirted last year.  No need for a waiver.

Ahh got it. So had he realized he was the backup center after 2 regular season games he wouldn't have been able to be considered a redshirt and thus would've used the junior year of eligibility unless granted a waiver. That's interesting that he technically was making the decision to sit out a year already so the NCAA allows him to include 1 of those semesters in the 1 year time he has to sit for transferring. I'm surprised an organization as ridiculous as the NCAA is with many things doesn't make him sit his entire redshirt season and then sit an entire transfer season separately.

[Dr. Blackheart]

His waiver was denied this summer...

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/22/iowa-state-forward-jameel-mckay-denied-wavier-eligible-to-play-in-december/

[Nukem2]

Those voices may have been more accurate than Buzz.

Unfortunately, that's probably true.  One of the more bizarre situations in MU history.

[jesmu84]

Pretty sure there was more than one coach involved in his departure.

Can we just all agree that that AAU coach is, at least slightly, scummy?

[PGsHeroes32]

Those voices may have been more accurate than Buzz.

Yeah but were they?

He is a back up with ISU. That is why he is so successful. He is the energizer or spark of the bench on a really strong team that is lacking what he brings.

Again, I would love to have him but he is in his perfect role right now and it looks like it is pretty similar to what Buzz had him in.

[brewcity77]

Can we just all agree that that AAU coach is, at least slightly, scummy?

I'd agree with everything except the "slightly" part

[GGGG]

Yeah but were they?

He is a back up with ISU. That is why he is so successful. He is the energizer or spark of the bench on a really strong team that is lacking what he brings.

Again, I would love to have him but he is in his perfect role right now and it looks like it is pretty similar to what Buzz had him in.

Do you think he regrets the transfer?  I wouldn't.

[PGsHeroes32]

Do you think he regrets the transfer?  I wouldn't.

No but that isn't what we are saying.

He ultimately ended up in the same role and that is clearly the role he strives in.

As Bilas said there is not much meat there but he is a spark off the bench with his shot blocking and energy. He doesn't have much of an individual game either.

[Freeport Warrior]

He ultimately ended up in the same role and that is clearly the role he strives in.

But on a much better team, backing up guys in his mind who are worthy of backing up. Here, Buzz had STJ ahead of him.

[BCHoopster]

But on a much better team, backing up guys in his mind who are worthy of backing up. Here, Buzz had STJ ahead of him.

But on a much better team, backing up guys in his mind who are worthy of backing up. Here, Buzz had STJ ahead of him.
[/quote

He is playing center at ISU, same position he did want to play at MU.  If he knew Fisher was coming to MU maybe he would  have stayed if Buzz moved him to power forward.  He is a very active big man  that I have seen but can he shoot more than a one footer. MU would really have been good on D.

[Nukem2]

Part of the reason he transferred from what I heard was he wants to play in the NBA and did not think playing C at MU would get him there.  Given he lack of offensive skills, I don't think playing at ISU will make any difference.  Either place, he would be a rim protector and energy guy.

[bamamarquettefan]

Yeah, I had him projected to be marquette's top player last year ahead of jamil and davante. But I had people tell me he didn't look that good - too thin etc. I still believe if he had stayed and we hadwe had both Wilson's to give completely different looks at point we would have avoided the lost year.

[cheebs09]

It's tough to tell if Buzz was right or not. We have no idea the jump he made in his red shirt year. He may have improved tremendously.

[Nukem2]

Yeah, I had him projected to be marquette's top player last year ahead of jamil and davante. But I had people tell me he didn't look that good - too thin etc. I still believe if he had stayed and we hadwe had both Wilson's to give completely different looks at point we would have avoided the lost year.

I agree.  He was a beast in the Juco ranks and looks quite similar now.

[wadesworld]

It's tough to tell if Buzz was right or not. We have no idea the jump he made in his red shirt year. He may have improved tremendously.

He's the same player he was in JUCO.  High energy, high effort guy who rebounds like a man possessed and jumps out of the gym.  Finishes close to the rim and not much else.

[tower912]

I think the phrase 'Rodman-type' was bandied about. 

[4everwarriors]

McKay wants to be a broad?

[cheebs09]

He's the same player he was in JUCO.  High energy, high effort guy who rebounds like a man possessed and jumps out of the gym.  Finishes close to the rim and not much else.

Gotcha. Thanks for the rundown. I haven't seen him play this year, but remember him not being super impressive in the Pro-Am. Granted that's not really an environment to make that kind of judgement.

[dgies9156]

Last year, we needed three or four wins we didn't get to even have a shot at the NCAA. Maybe Jameel could have made the difference, but could he have made THAT much difference. The problem last year was we could not shoot from outside and we seemed to lack cohesion as a team. I am not sure Jameel would have changed either.

The fact was that Buzz seemed to have lost the team about this time a year ago. It was tough going anyway without Vander and Todd didn't step up in the way we had hoped he would. Our freshmen were not there, Derrick was almost dared to shoot from anywhere outside eight feet and Duane, who might have made a difference, was red-shirted. Maybe Jameel and Duane could have combined for three or four wins, but that's total speculation.

Let's move on and wish Jameel the best -- just not TOO good!

[MUfan12]

He's the same player he was in JUCO.  High energy, high effort guy who rebounds like a man possessed and jumps out of the gym.  Finishes close to the rim and not much else.

Yep. Great role player, but not a guy to build around. He's helped big time by ISU's talent level.

[Dawson Rental]

People forget that if Jameel stayed, we probably don't get Gabe Levin.

Uh...nevermind.

[PGsHeroes32]

Last year, we needed three or four wins we didn't get to even have a shot at the NCAA. Maybe Jameel could have made the difference, but could he have made THAT much difference. The problem last year was we could not shoot from outside and we seemed to lack cohesion as a team. I am not sure Jameel would have changed either.

The fact was that Buzz seemed to have lost the team about this time a year ago. It was tough going anyway without Vander and Todd didn't step up in the way we had hoped he would. Our freshmen were not there, Derrick was almost dared to shoot from anywhere outside eight feet and Duane, who might have made a difference, was red-shirted. Maybe Jameel and Duane could have combined for three or four wins, but that's total speculation.

Let's move on and wish Jameel the best -- just not TOO good!

Honestly yeah. I think so. We finished 9-9 in conference.

We lost back to back OT thrillers to Prov and SJU. Those would be wins really with any even moderate postivite addition. That right there probably puts us in the tourney 11-7? tough to ignore.

If not. We barely lost to X in first round of the BE tourney so right there.

People forget that while last year was certainly a debacle...we had many, many, many close games that we just couldn't pull out one way or another.

ASU, SDSU, Nova at home etc.. Heck we made the Wisco game close without Mayo.

Sadly, this year is shaping up the same...close but no cigar in many games.