Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

What is Nigel James' 3-pt shooting percentage on the season? I didn't see any stats on the Long Island Lutheran site.

Don't introduce facts into a feelings fight....

[Lennys Tap]

I could be wrong on this, but as far as I am aware it does not seem Shaka is even prioritizing bringing in a point guard in the class of 2026. If that is right, then I think Shaka's level of concern for that position going forward is about as close to zero as possible.

???

He'll still have Sean, Tre and Nigel - all with a year's more experience, maturity and knowledge of the system. We should be much stronger at the position in two years than we will be next year. Stronger equals less concern, simple logic.

[tower912]

Read it again.
 ...about as close to zero as possible....

[Jay Bee]

???

He'll still have Sean, Tre and Nigel

...maybe

[Lennys Tap]

Don't introduce facts into a feelings fight....

He asked a question. He didn't introduce any facts at all.

[rocky_warrior]

Read it again.
 ...about as close to zero as possible....

I've said it before... Many treat MUScoop as a write only website.

I know a few people from college that did that with notebooks too. 

[BCHoopster]

I remember a point guard that could not shoot at all, think is name was Dean Menninger, by his senior year he was not bad.  All three of these point guards will improve there shot.  Not sure Norman will be that one or Sean Jones either, but would Shaka start a freshman who is playing big time basketball right now? It will be interesting.

[Zog from Margo]

Still wondering why people are saying James is a poor shooter.

I thought Sean Jones' shooting was improving before the injury.

[MuMark]

Still wondering why people are saying James is a poor shooter.

I thought Sean Jones' shooting was improving before the injury.

He has struggled from 3 in AAU and so far this year but according to the 247 scouting report shot it well from 3 during his last high school season.

As Shaka has mentioned.....3 point shooting is a volatile stat......all we have to do is look at Jop to remind us....
He shot 40% as a sophomore......35.5 last season and only 30% so far this year.

Anyway......here is how 247 describes James
Offensively, he's added noticeably more burst to his attack in recent years. He plays with pace in the open floor, has a quick first-step in the half-court, and a tight handle that he can breakdown defenders with. James is capable of getting all the way to the rim, but also very adept at creating space for his pull-up game. His three-point shooting showed signs of growth during the high school season, when he knocked down 44% of his attempts, but was inconsistent during the recent EYBL regular season at just 16%.

[Zog from Margo]

He has struggled from 3 in AAU and so far this year but according to the 247 scouting report shot it well from 3 during his last high school season.

As Shaka has mentioned.....3 point shooting is a volatile stat......all we have to do is look at Jop to remind us....
He shot 40% as a sophomore......35.5 last season and only 30% so far this year.

Anyway......here is how 247 describes James
Offensively, he's added noticeably more burst to his attack in recent years. He plays with pace in the open floor, has a quick first-step in the half-court, and a tight handle that he can breakdown defenders with. James is capable of getting all the way to the rim, but also very adept at creating space for his pull-up game. His three-point shooting showed signs of growth during the high school season, when he knocked down 44% of his attempts, but was inconsistent during the recent EYBL regular season at just 16%.

Thanks. I appreciate the information.

[Lennys Tap]

I remember a point guard that could not shoot at all, think is name was Dean Menninger, by his senior year he was not bad.  All three of these point guards will improve there shot.  Not sure Norman will be that one or Sean Jones either, but would Shaka start a freshman who is playing big time basketball right now? It will be interesting.

Assume you mean Dean Memminger, and you're right that he wasn't a good shooter from the outside. Of course there was no 3 point line then so it didn't really matter. A midrange game did, however, and Dean had a great one. In addition, he got to the basket really well.
Our offense today is predicated on making 3s and lay ups, so an outside shot is essential for a guard in our current system.

[Lennys Tap]

Read it again.
 ...about as close to zero as possible....

Read all the back and forths between us in this thread..it should all become clear to you..

[Hards Alumni]

Maybe I'm mistaken then, but I was under the impression that was why Phillips reclassified back to the 2025 class. Figured Shaka swayed him with the "wouldn't you rather practice against NBA athletes to-be rather than high schoolers" line, so he'd still end up in the 2026 class but be even better with a year of college development under his belt.

I wouldn't mind seeing him on the floor right away at all, but five incoming freshmen is a lot. They and Al Amadou will all be on the bench competing for very limited minutes. So it simply makes sense to me that Shaka will redshirt someone, and Phillips seems the likeliest choice given his original reclass. But who knows for sure.

No.  He's a highly regarded recruit.  He will not be red shirting lol.

[TedBaxter]

Is Alex Egbuonu (2026) on an unofficial
Visit today.

Vaughn Karvala had 35 and 14 in a win over Franklin tonight.

[GoldenEagles03]

Is Alex Egbuonu (2026) on an unofficial
Visit today.

Vaughn Karvala had 35 and 14 in a win over Franklin tonight.

https://x.com/PanthersHoops/status/1875002675559105005?t=qZM1dylhEjK4V9KgXUTafA&s=19

[duanewade]

Once again get Vaughn Karvala!  This kid has talent oozing out of his ears and will be a NBA prospect someday!  Don't let him get out of Wisconsin and especially don't let him go to Becky.  He's a Marquette/Shaka type of athlete through and through who is very athletic, with very long arms, a deflection machine and can score in any number of ways.  A future star for us!

[mileskishnish72]

BC & Lenny, I know it's been a while but his name was Meminger.

[tower912]

MU was Kavala's first D1 offer back in June.

[marqfan22]

Is Alex Egbuonu (2026) on an unofficial
Visit today.

Vaughn Karvala had 35 and 14 in a win over Franklin tonight.

Egbuonu was scheduled to do an unofficial today. Hope it happened

[Lennys Tap]

BC & Lenny, I know it's been a while but his name was Meminger.

LOL. Of course you're right - BC had "nn" which I mistakenly changed to "mm"instead of "m". My bad.

[K1 Lover]

Once again get Vaughn Karvala!  This kid has talent oozing out of his ears and will be a NBA prospect someday!  Don't let him get out of Wisconsin and especially don't let him go to Becky.  He's a Marquette/Shaka type of athlete through and through who is very athletic, with very long arms, a deflection machine and can score in any number of ways.  A future star for us!

At this point I'd be extremely shocked if he didn't commit to MU. The stars are practically aligned.

[JTJ3]

Karvala is really good.  So are Ethan Johnston and Alex Egbuono.  Im good with whichever of the three chooses to commit as the wing in that class, and I fully believe whoever it is will be the best college player of the three since theyll be developing in Shakas program.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://x.com/PanthersHoops/status/1875002675559105005?t=3-w1kvFjYji5Hnittflw2A&s=19

A deflection and an EGB

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Karvala is really good.  So are Ethan Johnston and Alex Egbuono.  Im good with whichever of the three chooses to commit as the wing in that class, and I fully believe whoever it is will be the best college player of the three since theyll be developing in Shakas program.

Just one? I'd gladly take all three!

Then again, I'd take any of Shaka's top 7 or 8 targets. Will be fun to see who Shaka lands.

[Pepe Sylvia]

I don't think I've ever fallen in love with highlight reels of a recruit as much as I have for Vaughn Karvala. Need that guy in blue and gold. Hell, at this point I think I'll still root for the kid if he chooses elsewhere.