Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[The Sultan]

Has he at high school recruiting?

I think so.  I think it's been better than Buzz's by a long shot.  More consistent than Crean.

He recruiited an All-American and the program's leading scorer out of high school.  Plus the Hauser brothers.  Henry. 

The only local player than he completely missed was Halliburton.  But so did others.

[wadesworld]

Let me guess. Hutch and 4never have never seen this kid play?

Also, Wojo doesn't need no 6'8" playas...he just brought in 3 of them in the class of 2020.

[HutchwasClutch]

He plays for Duane Wilson Sr's AAU program. Connect the dots.

Duane has the power to stop an offer?  Duane has never impressed me as harboring resentment towards MU to steer away a kid who is good.  Quite the opposite. Very classy guy.

[muguru]

Here's my take on it...So Georgia and Florida St have offered as have other High majors. Wojo has not, and Graham himself said Wojo wants to evaluate him further..so I guess what it comes down to, is who is right here and who is wrong?? Are the staffs from Florida St and Georgia's evaluations right and Wojo's wrong, or the other way around?? Honestly, I THINK Wojo's approach with this is that he has offered much more highly rated guys and doesn't want to throw out an offer to Graham, with the possibilty/likelihood that he would accept immediately, and it could have an effect on Wojo's top targets. These things do have a domino effect. That's what recruiting is. Now it's a gamble on Wojo's part admittedly because if he doesn't land his "bigger fish", by the time those kids decide, it's very likely his fallback options(like Graham in this instance) will also be off the board. It seems to be the approach he takes, and whether you agree with it or disagree with it, he's willing to do it. Personally, I'm okay with it.

To me, he's in on enough guys for 2021 at the same size etc that I feel good about the chances he lands at least one. For me, if I'm taking a "fallback" option at a similar size, I'm taking Eric Vander Heijden over Graham anyway. That kid has really grown on me...Athletic and that stroke is so pure.

[The Sultan]

Duane has the power to stop an offer?  Duane has never impressed me as harboring resentment towards MU to steer away a kid who is good.  Quite the opposite. Very classy guy.

You need to pay attention more.  It has been reported here that this is most definitely the case - at least it was at one point.

Look at the Terrence Lewis recruitment for example.

[HutchwasClutch]

You need to pay attention more.  It has been reported here that this is most definitely the case - at least it was at one point.

Look at the Terrence Lewis recruitment for example.

Well if Scoopers are reporting it, no doubt it's gospel then.

[HutchwasClutch]

Let me guess. Hutch and 4never have never seen this kid play?

Also, Wojo doesn't need no 6'8" playas...he just brought in 3 of them in the class of 2020.

And all will return next year. You know this already, right?  All will be as good or better than advertised, right?  And talented 6'8 kids a stone throw from the campus are in abundance, right?

Collect talent and figure it out.

[panda]

Well if Scoopers are reporting it, no doubt it's gospel then.

I'm not sure why MU hasn't offered yet, but I highly, highly doubt that if they do, he'd even seriously consider us. The last kid from the Playground program who has come to MU has been Henry.

Again, feel free to connect the dots.

[HutchwasClutch]

Here's my take on it...So Georgia and Florida St have offered as have other High majors. Wojo has not, and Graham himself said Wojo wants to evaluate him further..so I guess what it comes down to, is who is right here and who is wrong?? Are the staffs from Florida St and Georgia's evaluations right and Wojo's wrong, or the other way around?? Honestly, I THINK Wojo's approach with this is that he has offered much more highly rated guys and doesn't want to throw out an offer to Graham, with the possibilty/likelihood that he would accept immediately, and it could have an effect on Wojo's top targets. These things do have a domino effect. That's what recruiting is. Now it's a gamble on Wojo's part admittedly because if he doesn't land his "bigger fish", by the time those kids decide, it's very likely his fallback options(like Graham in this instance) will also be off the board. It seems to be the approach he takes, and whether you agree with it or disagree with it, he's willing to do it. Personally, I'm okay with it.

To me, he's in on enough guys for 2021 at the same size etc that I feel good about the chances he lands at least one. For me, if I'm taking a "fallback" option at a similar size, I'm taking Eric Vander Heijden over Graham anyway. That kid has really grown on me...Athletic and that stroke is so pure.

Disagree with this approach. That's thinking like a Duke recruiter, big fish are top priority. Our program needs a semblance of pipeline of top local talent. We need to play to home field advantage all that we can because we're not a blue blood.  Take your shots with a few big fish, fine, but telling a kid like this we're evaluating you further, while other very good programs are jumping in, is a bad plan for MU.

[Uncle Rico]

Sigh

[The Sultan]

Well if Scoopers are reporting it, no doubt it's gospel then.

The guy who reported it is pretty well connected.  Knows more than both of us.

[MU82]

Let me see if I've got this straight ...

If Wojo recruits guys that too many other high-majors are in on, he is over-reaching and "wasting our resources." But if Wojo doesn't recruit guys that many other high-majors are in on, he isn't reaching high enough and settling for mediocrity. Is that correct?

Also ...

He has signed two McDonald's AA, another kid who turned out to be a first-team NCAA AA, a pair of brothers whom many Scoopers have elevated to legendary status, and numerous other outstanding players ... but he hasn't been a good recruiter because Haani transferred and Bailey went pro?

Wojo has many shortcomings, and I certainly want more from my coach, but the inclination by some to attack him for everything -- even the stuff he does pretty damn well and arguably better than most coaches -- is pretty amazing.

I agree with Rico:

Sigh.

[Uncle Rico]

A cursory search of James Graham reveals he had two offers before May of this year.  They were from Rutgers and DePaul last September. 

All of the other offers he has received have come since May 5.  That's 20 days.

Unless I'm missing it, 24/7 has no ranking on him, that will change based on offers.  Rivals has his as a 3*. 

Based on offers, he's a rising kid.  Michigan State and Butler have begun sniffing around. 

Take a deep breath.  He's going to get more offers, maybe even from Marquette.

[muguru]

Jake
@jakeweingarten
·
34m
James Graham III is a hot-commodity in the 2021 class and he leads a national recruitment. He went in-depth with @Stockrisers
, broke down several programs.

Michigan State and Butler amongst new schools showing interest. | Story: https://stockrisers.com/2020/05/24/fou

[HutchwasClutch]

A cursory search of James Graham reveals he had two offers before May of this year.  They were from Rutgers and DePaul last September. 

All of the other offers he has received have come since May 5.  That's 20 days.

Unless I'm missing it, 24/7 has no ranking on him, that will change based on offers.  Rivals has his as a 3*. 

Based on offers, he's a rising kid.  Michigan State and Butler have begun sniffing around. 

Take a deep breath.  He's going to get more offers, maybe even from Marquette.

Yeah, maybe we will. But we're not likely to get him, so big effing deal we may finally get around to offering him.

You think being told we're evaluating you further while others are telling him we want you in our program will be forgotten?  You've got to be in early on guys like this. 

[BCHoopster]

I have seen him twice, was not totally impressed with him or Koby Johnson.  Think he has to grow into his body, he is one of those kids that might have taken off
in the AAU circuit.  I am sure Wojo is over recruiting him at this time, but I would bet they are still in contact with him at some level. 

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah, maybe we will. But we're not likely to get him, so big effing deal we may finally get around to offering him.

You think being told we're evaluating you further while others are telling him we want you in our program will be forgotten?  You've got to be in early on guys like this.

If Marquette had offered him last September and he committed with his best ranking being a 3* on rivals, what would your reaction have been?

Marquette, according to 24/7 has 24 offers out for 2021.  What is it about this particular kid that makes him stand out over the other kids currently offered other than geography?  I'm genuinely curious. 

[HutchwasClutch]

If Marquette had offered him last September and he committed with his best ranking being a 3* on rivals, what would your reaction have been?

Marquette, according to 24/7 has 24 offers out for 2021.  What is it about this particular kid that makes him stand out over the other kids currently offered other than geography?  I'm genuinely curious.

Go back and read my posts because I'm not going to repeat the same arguments why kids exactly like this are critical to lifeblood of a non blue blood program like ours. Critical to short and long term both. 

And Wojo has earned zero benefit of doubt in any aspect of running this program. 

[dad's couch]

Recruiting high school players will be highly overrated beginning in January once the NCAA passes its new transfer rule. Without the rule about 700 players have entered the portal. It is easy to expect it will be at least 33 percent higher next off season. Say we don't get any notable kids from the class of 21, we'll have over 1000 kids to try and fill whatever holes we have.

It is going to real interesting to see the new paradigm with free transfers.

[Lennys Tap]

Let me see if I've got this straight ...

If Wojo recruits guys that too many other high-majors are in on, he is over-reaching and "wasting our resources." But if Wojo doesn't recruit guys that many other high-majors are in on, he isn't reaching high enough and settling for mediocrity. Is that correct?

Also ...

He has signed two McDonald's AA, another kid who turned out to be a first-team NCAA AA, a pair of brothers whom many Scoopers have elevated to legendary status, and numerous other outstanding players ... but he hasn't been a good recruiter because Haani transferred and Bailey went pro?

Wojo has many shortcomings, and I certainly want more from my coach, but the inclination by some to attack him for everything -- even the stuff he does pretty damn well and arguably better than most coaches -- is pretty amazing.

I agree with Rico:

Sigh.

I'll concede that Wojo does some "stuff" pretty darn well. No doubt he has recruited some outstanding talent. But he has not produced any outstanding teams. Until/unless he does, the stuff he does well really doesn't matter.

[BCHoopster]

Recruiting high school players will be highly overrated beginning in January once the NCAA passes its new transfer rule. Without the rule about 700 players have entered the portal. It is easy to expect it will be at least 33 percent higher next off season. Say we don't get any notable kids from the class of 21, we'll have over 1000 kids to try and fill whatever holes we have.

It is going to real interesting to see the new paradigm with free transfers.

Transfers are a big part of the recruiting game now,  can fill a gap ASAP.  But you still need to recruit 2 or 3 kids every year as you are going to lose some as well.  It does not matter now as kids come and go all the time.  200 kids want to play pro ball this year with only 60 being drafted.  Bailey is a prime example, where is he going?  The G league, hard time to be a coach.  Carton and Garcia may only be around 1 year, time will tell. 

[muguru]

Recruiting high school players will be highly overrated beginning in January once the NCAA passes its new transfer rule. Without the rule about 700 players have entered the portal. It is easy to expect it will be at least 33 percent higher next off season. Say we don't get any notable kids from the class of 21, we'll have over 1000 kids to try and fill whatever holes we have.

It is going to real interesting to see the new paradigm with free transfers.

I wouldn't state this is a given yet. Read somewhere it is gaining more and more momentum NOT to pass. Already a lot of the top Coaches in CBB have spoken out against it, and right or wrong, that will likely have an effect on the vote.  Then there were these comments(in an Athletic article) from players that WERE eligible to play right away and an interesting one...Sam Hauser. Think everyone will find his comments interesting...

Sam....Even more interesting than the data are the responses I got when I asked players, both graduate transfers cleared to play immediately and those forced to sit out, if they thought immediate eligibility was a good idea. Every one of them hemmed and hawed, turning over the idea in their heads, much like Hauser did when asked his opinion. "I mean, if the rule gets passed, I guess it's good if players have a choice, but honestly, I think it was good for me and could be beneficial for most guys,'' Hauser says. "You have a whole year to get better, get stronger, work on your game, your quickness. That can never hurt you.''

Davion Mitchell(transferred from Auburn to Baylor)..."A lot of people ask me if it was hard sitting out,'' Mitchell says. "I kind of liked it. I mean, it was hard not being able to play on game days, but I wanted to work on my game and get better. It's kind of crazy, how you might able to just go now.''

Sam again...Hauser tried to imagine what it might have felt like being able to play immediately, the benefits and the drawbacks. "I mean, I'd already be done, and I think I would have felt like I just got there,'' he says. "I'm not sure I could have even made my presence felt that quickly.''

Kassius Robertson-That's a sentiment echoed by those who were able to play immediately, the grad transfers. "It's hard as hell,'' Robertson says. New teammates, new systems, new terminology, new practice rhythms — it all takes time. And when you're no longer a freshman, and expected to play immediately, you don't have the luxury of time. "If you're somebody that thinks they can come in and not have to work your ass off completely, you're absolutely out of your mind,'' Robertson says. "It's a huge, huge jump up.''

Christian Keeling..."Grad transfers should play immediately," says Christian Keeling, who left Charleston Southern for North Carolina this season. "You got your degree, so that makes sense. But if you could leave any time you want? I don't know. When something goes wrong, especially how everybody thinks these days they gotta get theirs, I'm not sure it would be such a good idea. It would make it tough on the coaches, but I don't know if it would work like the players think it would either.''

He's the first to admit "it took me a whole lot longer" to grasp Roy Williams' system than he anticipated, and his confidence ebbed and flowed as failed to make the impact he'd hoped.

Lamar Kimble... "It definitely made me a better player, but it took some time,'' Kimble says. "I'm not sure what the right answer is. I know guys are thirsty to play, but I don't know. It could be great, in my opinion, to get that extra year off to get ready.'''

And finally Sam again...with the most interesting part at the end..."There are times I'm like, Why am I even doing this? Who knows when I'm going to be able to play," Sam Hauser says.

The one thing he does know: When the time comes, he'll be ready. "Even if I was able to play immediately, I think I would have sat out,'' he says. "I honestly think it was really good for me.''

[dad's couch]

Al those players would have played if given the option. Maybe Sam if he really wanted to rehab his hip but all would have played.

[muguru]

Al those players would have played if given the option. Maybe Sam if he really wanted to rehab his hip but all would have played.

Not a single one said that though...they all said it was good for them to take the year off.

[Uncle Rico]

One-time blanket waivers are a done deal.  Move along