Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[GoldenEagles03]

Anyone who says Kolek is the bet true PG in the conference should be banned from the board due to ignorance.  Go watch Collin Gillespie play.

Don't gotta tell me twice. I'll just leave.  This board is a joke.

[The Sultan]

Don't gotta tell me twice. I'll just leave.  This board is a joke.

🙄🙄🙄

[willie warrior]

Don't gotta tell me twice. I'll just leave.  This board is a joke.

No, please don't go because of that guys dumb statement
While Kolek likely was not best pg, he has great upside. He does need to work on his shot and finishing when going to the basket.
Stick around on board for the fun. Never a dull visit to see some of the posts.
So stick around, fun times and better days ahead, we hope.

[jesmu84]

Anyone who says Kolek is the bet true PG in the conference should be banned from the board due to ignorance.  Go watch Collin Gillespie play.

99% of this board only recognizes scoring

[Shooter McGavin]

99% of this board only recognizes scoring

I think 99% recognizes a well rounded basketball player.  Unfortunately to get to the level we all want to be at, we can't have 2 out of 5 players on the floor that are one trick ponies.  Shut that trick down and they can become a liability. 

The great part is Kolek can get better the next two years and be really good.  It was a good start this year.  He's got the court vision and passing down.  Now if he can shoot and make layups with consistency he'll be formidable and he can be a part of a team that gets to the second weekend of the tournament. 

[Pakuni]

99% of this board only recognizes scoring

Remind me ... Is that better or worse than the 1% that thinks the formula for determining the best point guard is googling "assists per game."

Let's compare Kolek to some other Big East PG's in things other than scoring, and then let me know if he's the best PG in the conference, "true" or otherwise.

Player efficiency rating:
Posh Alexander: 22.6
Colin Gillespie: 22.2
RJ Cole: 19.6
Kadary Richmond: 16.0
Al Durham: 14.2
Tyler Kolek: 11.2
Ryan Nembhard: 11.1

Win shares:
Gillespie: 6.0
Cole: 5.1
Alexander: 3.9
Durham: 2.9
Richmond: 2.3
Kolek: 1.6
Nembhard: 1.6

eFG%:
Gillespie: 57.5
Alexander: 52.0
Cole: 48.4
Nembhard: 46.1
Richmond: 43.9
Kolek: 40.0
Durham: 39.8

Turnover rate:
Cole: 11.4
Gillespie: 11.7
Durham: 15.6
Alexander: 16.3
Nembhard: 21.4
Richmond: 21.7
Kolek: 24.6

Box plus-minus:
Gillespie: 9.3
Alexander: 7.4
Cole: 6.5
Richmond: 3.9
Durham: 1.9
Kolek: 1.0
Nembhard: 0.3

[GoldenEagles03]

No, please don't go because of that guys dumb statement
While Kolek likely was not best pg, he has great upside. He does need to work on his shot and finishing when going to the basket.
Stick around on board for the fun. Never a dull visit to see some of the posts.
So stick around, fun times and better days ahead, we hope.

I appreciate it Willie!

Unfortunately a hefty portion of this fanbase has become so spoiled to the point where if the team doesn't make it far enough to where they are not personally "embarrassed" then the players and coach aren't good enough for them. To me that's not what Marquette Basketball is about. This program grinds to go from a "middle class program" to reach the top.

While I recognize Kolek isn't the best PG nor was he close, he lead the league in assists in his 1st real full college season (in the Big East no less). A true PG doesn't need to light up the scoreboard.  They set up their teammates and can score in bunches on occasion. Kolek can do that.

People here love to give up and run people out of town. To me that's spoiled.  I get that the last 7 or 8 years haven't been all that fun, but we have a young core that got us to watch a meaningful game in March in the 1st year of our rebuild.

I'd rather see the bright side and talk about ceilings rather than cry about 1 game and constantly worry about floors.

[Uncle Rico]

Remind me ... Is that better or worse than the 1% that thinks the formula for determining the best point guard is googling "assists per game."

Let's compare Kolek to some other Big East PG's in things other than scoring, and then let me know if he's the best PG in the conference, "true" or otherwise.

Player efficiency rating:
Posh Alexander: 22.6
Colin Gillespie: 22.2
RJ Cole: 19.6
Kadary Richmond: 16.0
Al Durham: 14.2
Tyler Kolek: 11.2
Ryan Nembhard: 11.1

Win shares:
Gillespie: 6.0
Cole: 5.1
Alexander: 3.9
Durham: 2.9
Richmond: 2.3
Kolek: 1.6
Nembhard: 1.6

eFG%:
Gillespie: 57.5
Alexander: 52.0
Cole: 48.4
Nembhard: 46.1
Richmond: 43.9
Kolek: 40.0
Durham: 39.8

Turnover rate:
Cole: 11.4
Gillespie: 11.7
Durham: 15.6
Alexander: 16.3
Nembhard: 21.4
Richmond: 21.7
Kolek: 24.6

Box plus-minus:
Gillespie: 9.3
Alexander: 7.4
Cole: 6.5
Richmond: 3.9
Durham: 1.9
Kolek: 1.0
Nembhard: 0.3

Kolek was not a good player the final 6 weeks.

[MU82]

I appreciate it Willie!

Unfortunately a hefty portion of this fanbase has become so spoiled to the point where if the team doesn't make it far enough to where they are not personally "embarrassed" then the players and coach aren't good enough for them. To me that's not what Marquette Basketball is about. This program grinds to go from a "middle class program" to reach the top.

While I recognize Kolek isn't the best PG nor was he close, he lead the league in assists in his 1st real full college season (in the Big East no less). A true PG doesn't need to light up the scoreboard.  They set up their teammates and can score in bunches on occasion. Kolek can do that.

People here love to give up and run people out of town. To me that's spoiled.  I get that the last 7 or 8 years haven't been all that fun, but we have a young core that got us to watch a meaningful game in March in the 1st year of our rebuild.

I'd rather see the bright side and talk about ceilings rather than cry about 1 game and constantly worry about floors.

I really like your enthusiasm, and I appreciate any Scooper who supports our players, rather than cuts them down -- the way many supposedly grown men now are cutting down Kolek, Lewis, Oso, Elliott, etc. It's one thing to discuss strengths and weaknesses; it's another to say somebody is lazy or doesn't try or is useless. So thanks for speaking up for Kolek.

Respectfully, the problem with the earlier posts was your insistence that Kolek is the best "true" PG in the Big East when not a single Big East coach would choose him as his PG if given the choice of all PGs in the conference, "true PG" or not. Most of today's teams can't afford to give 30+ mpg to a PG who is barely a scoring threat and who also isn't a defensive disruptor.

Thankfully, Tyler has some real strengths. Thankfully, he has an entire offseason now to improve as a scorer and decision-maker. Thankfully, although he can get overmatched by some opponents, he really isn't a bad defender. And thankfully we have both Stevie Mitchell and a talented PG prospect who can push him next season.

I hope you don't leave the board just because you were challenged on a less-than-optimal take. It happens to all of us.

[Fred Garvin]

Tyrell Ward just decommitted from Xavier. 247 had him listed at number 36 overall.From DeMatha High School, Maryland had recruited him,wonder if Haynes had any involvement with him?

[Elonsmusk]

Remind me ... Is that better or worse than the 1% that thinks the formula for determining the best point guard is googling "assists per game."

Let's compare Kolek to some other Big East PG's in things other than scoring, and then let me know if he's the best PG in the conference, "true" or otherwise.

Player efficiency rating:
Posh Alexander: 22.6
Colin Gillespie: 22.2
RJ Cole: 19.6
Kadary Richmond: 16.0
Al Durham: 14.2
Tyler Kolek: 11.2
Ryan Nembhard: 11.1

Win shares:
Gillespie: 6.0
Cole: 5.1
Alexander: 3.9
Durham: 2.9
Richmond: 2.3
Kolek: 1.6
Nembhard: 1.6

eFG%:
Gillespie: 57.5
Alexander: 52.0
Cole: 48.4
Nembhard: 46.1
Richmond: 43.9
Kolek: 40.0
Durham: 39.8

Turnover rate:
Cole: 11.4
Gillespie: 11.7
Durham: 15.6
Alexander: 16.3
Nembhard: 21.4
Richmond: 21.7
Kolek: 24.6

Box plus-minus:
Gillespie: 9.3
Alexander: 7.4
Cole: 6.5
Richmond: 3.9
Durham: 1.9
Kolek: 1.0
Nembhard: 0.3

Who said he's the best PG in the conference?  I mean it's cool to measure him against 5th year Gillespie, 5th year Durham, 4th year RJ Cole.  Oddly we beat Nova twice, one of which Kolek scored 18 with 6 dimes.  We beat St. John's...Posh Alexander didn't exactly go off against us, and Tyler's line was pretty similar.  But yes, Posh is better and at least is a similar apples to apples comparison.

What those of us who are Kolek fans have said is that to suggest we are 3 or 4 on 5 with him out there is absolutely absurd, and that it's his first year at high major ball, and first year playing exclusively as a PG, as a sophomore. 

Kolek had a pretty good first year, and has potential to improve and become a really good PG before his time is done at MU. 

[Uncle Rico]

Tyrell Ward just decommitted from Xavier. 247 had him listed at number 36 overall.From DeMatha High School, Maryland had recruited him,wonder if Haynes had any involvement with him?

At the least, Maryland did offer

[Pakuni]

Who said he's the best PG in the conference?

There's a poster in this thread who called Kolek the best "true" point guard in the conference. What makes a point guard true or not, I have no idea. But if it's Kolek, I'm going to guess it has something to do with poor shooting.

Kolek had a pretty good first year, and has potential to improve and become a really good PG before his time is done at MU.

He didn't. He had a pretty mediocre first year. He was very good at some things, bad at more things.
Overall, his team ranks were:
PER - 9th
TS% - 11th
eFG% - 11th
Assist rate - 1st (and by a mile)
Steal rate - 2nd
TO rate - 3rd (first, i.e. worst, among players in the rotation. Only Ellis and Cameron Brown turned it over more)
Win shares/40 - 9th
BPM - 9th

He was a fantastic distributor - best on the team by far - and created some turnovers on defense. In every other facet of the game, he was one of the worst players on the team.

[nyg]

Is Kolek being recruited again?

As for Tyrell Ward, he is number 26 on Rivals.   MU was not involved with him and did not receive an offer.  Rumor is he is waiting for Maryland to announce new coach and originally the decision was between X, Maryland and VT.  He will be sought after by many schools. 

Another Dematha guy, who I believe his ex high school coach is at VT. 

[wadesworld]

Who said he's the best PG in the conference?  I mean it's cool to measure him against 5th year Gillespie, 5th year Durham, 4th year RJ Cole.  Oddly we beat Nova twice, one of which Kolek scored 18 with 6 dimes.  We beat St. John's...Posh Alexander didn't exactly go off against us, and Tyler's line was pretty similar.  But yes, Posh is better and at least is a similar apples to apples comparison.

What those of us who are Kolek fans have said is that to suggest we are 3 or 4 on 5 with him out there is absolutely absurd, and that it's his first year at high major ball, and first year playing exclusively as a PG, as a sophomore. 

Kolek had a pretty good first year, and has potential to improve and become a really good PG before his time is done at MU.

I mean, that's who Tyler Kolek is playing against. That's who he needs to measure him against. Those are guys we need to beat to be where we want to be.

Kolek needs to improve in a lot of areas if we're going to give him 30+ MPG. Teams figured him out down the stretch of the season and he had no counter. If he's getting those minutes and is largely the same player, he needs to be surrounded by UNC level talent. Unfortunately we're miles away from that kind of talent.

[PointWarrior]

"Now if he can shoot and make layups with consistency"

Seems like a big ask for a D1 PG? 

[Elonsmusk]

I mean, that's who Tyler Kolek is playing against. That's who he needs to measure him against. Those are guys we need to beat to be where we want to be.

Kolek needs to improve in a lot of areas if we're going to give him 30+ MPG. Teams figured him out down the stretch of the season and he had no counter. If he's getting those minutes and is largely the same player, he needs to be surrounded by UNC level talent. Unfortunately we're miles away from that kind of talent.

I get that.  My point is let's see where Kolek is in 3 more years like Gillespie, RJ Cole, Durham.  I mean we did manage to beat Nova twice, Providence once with Kolek at PG.  He's also a much better defender than many think.  Obviously he won't be Collin Gillespie good, as his shooting stroke just isn't nearly as fundamentally sound, but he's got 3 years to work on it.

End of the day he's just one-year ahead of Stevie and Shaka obviously didn't feel comfortable making a switch or even cutting his playing time in half or even a third for that matter.

[BCHoopster]

If Kolek played with better talent around him then averaging 7 points a game would not matter, maybe in 3 years it will be like that.  But next year the talent around him might be a little worse then last year so he needs to up his game on the offensive end.  Had tons of open shots in the pick and roll game and he became very tentative going to the hoop or did not show a mid range game at all. I expect a big jump next year, also has to get some arch on his 3 point shot, the coaches have to break down some of his shooting issues and improve his release

[Pakuni]

I get that.  My point is let's see where Kolek is in 3 more years like Gillespie, RJ Cole, Durham.  I mean we did manage to beat Nova twice, Providence once with Kolek at PG.  He's also a much better defender than many think.  Obviously he won't be Collin Gillespie good, as his shooting stroke just isn't nearly as fundamentally sound, but he's got 3 years to work on it.

We also managed to get blown out by DePaul and lose a first-round tourney game by 32 with Kolek as PG. No, those results aren't all on him, just like the big wins aren't on him.

I don't think anyone here has suggested giving Kolek the ol' Buzz Cut. But he's got some big holes in his game that need to be fixed this offseason if he's going to be a starting PG on a team that hopes to be relevant in March.

[BCHoopster]

No Buzz cut, but would not be surprised if somebody leaves.  Needs to over recruit somebody for sure

[willie warrior]

I mean, that's who Tyler Kolek is playing against. That's who he needs to measure him against. Those are guys we need to beat to be where we want to be.

Kolek needs to improve in a lot of areas if we're going to give him 30+ MPG. Teams figured him out down the stretch of the season and he had no counter. If he's getting those minutes and is largely the same player, he needs to be surrounded by UNC level talent. Unfortunately we're miles away from that kind of talent.

That is Shaks job to bring in that talent. He must start immediately.

[willie warrior]

No Buzz cut, but would not be surprised if somebody leaves.  Needs to over recruit somebody for sure

Shaka needs to over recruit several players if this team is going to become prime time.

[MUINGB]

My son lives just outside Columbus Oh, I asked him to check on Sean Jones.  Gahanna High School. 
Says he is the real deal,,,very quick, sees the floor, good shooter and just outstanding young man.  Thinks he will be the point man at MU next year.  OSU was after him big time.

[Shooter McGavin]

My son lives just outside Columbus Oh, I asked him to check on Sean Jones.  Gahanna High School. 
Says he is the real deal,,,very quick, sees the floor, good shooter and just outstanding young man.  Thinks he will be the point man at MU next year.  OSU was after him big time.

Always like hearing positive reviews of our recruits.  Thanks for posting.

[The Sultan]

I think Jones is going to be very good but I'm not sure how much interest OSU had. My memory is that it was either us or Xavier.