Why aren't we going after European bigs?

[Blackhat]

Seems the "European skill set"  would fit well with what Wojo is trying to do.

We recruit Swedish soccer players, get some international scouting going.

Heck, nominate a couple MUScoopers to scout Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan.



nc state just landed a 7 footer from Turkey.

Mark Gottfried and N.C. State pulled off what they hope will be a major steal for them in the class of 2016 Monday when they signed Turkish star Omer Yurtseven.

A near seven-footer who plays club ball in his home country for the Fenerbahce Ülker organization. Yurtseven picked State after a recent visit and consideration of Utah and Syracuse.

[JakeBarnes]

Wojo cooled on them

[GooooMarquette]

Maybe MU's private jet doesn't have the range for trans-Atlantic flights.

[KampusFoods]

Canadian ain't good enough for ya?

[Dawson Rental]

Things can be a bit dicey getting bigs from Turkey.  Enes Kanter was declared permanently ineligible at Kentucky before playing due to excess benefits he received while playing for Fenerbahçe, the same guys NC State's guy played for.

[brewcity77]

Not for lack of trying. Marquette was after Przemek Karnowski and Lauri Markkanen, both of whom went elsewhere. I don't think there's a ton of them coming over with high major talent when they are likely able to play professionally over there or declare for the NBA.

[4everwarriors]

Rashad Griffith doesn't have any eligibility left, ai na?

[lurch91]

Wojo would need to schedule a game close to where the kid grew up, so his parents could see him play.....

[Blackhat]

It's time we go back to our Israeli goldmine that Crean founded.

But seriously I'd get an international recruiter on staff.

[Dawson Rental]

It's time we go back to our Israeli goldmine that Crean founded.

But seriously I'd get an international recruiter on staff.

I'm pretty sure that only the four coaches including Wojo can recruit.  Hiring a European specialist seems like quite the luxury.  I'd rather have someone like Stan Johnson who has contacts out West where there are far more players and Marquette hasn't traditionally  had a recruiting presence.

[GGGG]

How many European players make a significant impact at the P6 conference level?  Why would we dedicate 25% of our recruiting staff to a location that doesn't have that much impact?

And Crean to AA is right.  There are so many eligibility issues with these players because they don't share our obsession with amateurism. 

[Blackhat]

Not sure on percentage for impact, that would be an interesting stat though.    I hope we look hard at this though from a strategic outlook as this could put us back in elite conversation.

It has helped somewhat similar schools like St. Mary's and Gonzaga reach higher levels. 

Excerpt from usatoday article on Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd building a foreign pipeline.

Credit Tommy Lloyd's childhood — and the Lloyd family's willingness to open its doors to exchange students — for Gonzaga's current international recruiting pipeline.

Yes, it's a little bit of a stretch. But it's where this story of the Bulldogs' assistant coach begins.

"When I was first starting out, Coach (Mark) Few told me, in this business you've got to find a way to get players," Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports. "He suggested I take a hard look at the international stuff. I had had a bunch of experience; my family had a bunch of exchange students growing up. I'd been to Europe, just had a comfort with the culture."

Lloyd also had played professionally in Australia and Germany. So, in 2001, when Few suggested he look beyond the borders, Lloyd agreed. He speaks no other languages — in Europe, "everybody speaks English and basketball," he said — and takes trips to Europe to watch tournaments and evaluate players. If he likes them, he figures out a way to contact them, and whether they're considering taking the U.S. college route instead of the pros.


"You hear no a lot, but sometimes you hear yes," Lloyd said. "And it's a good thing."

Some of those Yeses — the foreign players Lloyd helped recruit to Gonzaga: Ronny Turiaf, from France; Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk, from Canada; Elias Harris, from Germany. On this year's roster, and among the elite big men in the nation: 7-1 Polish center Przemek Karnowski, and 6-10 Lithuanian power forward Domantas Sabonis, son of the legendary Arvydas Sabonis. The younger Sabonis is second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.3 rpg), behind Karnowski.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Travis?

[WarriorPride68]

Things can be a bit dicey getting bigs from Turkey.  Enes Kanter was declared permanently ineligible at Kentucky before playing due to excess benefits he received while playing for Fenerbahçe, the same guys NC State's guy played for.

Fun (pointless) fact. Enes Kanter brother plays at UWGB

[WarriorFan]

In my experience nearly every country/region has some American guy who played overseas there and stayed due to marriage or employment and runs local basketball camps and youth development.  These guys can funnel talent to a program such links have worked for other schools.  Luol Deng is a great example of this linkage and his former club near London has placed a lot of guys and gals in NCAA.  http://brixtontopcats.org/club/topcats-alumni/

[brandx]

Some of those Yeses — the foreign players Lloyd helped recruit to Gonzaga: Ronny Turiaf, from France; Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk, from Canada; Elias Harris, from Germany. On this year's roster, and among the elite big men in the nation: 7-1 Polish center Przemek Karnowski, and 6-10 Lithuanian power forward Domantas Sabonis, son of the legendary Arvydas Sabonis. The younger Sabonis is second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.3 rpg), behind Karnowski.[/b]

Sabonis is a little different case as he was born in Portland, Ore. He turned down a $600,000 European contract to play at Gonzaga.

Generally, the best young European players become professionals over there. A few do not sign contracts, but play as amateurs. Some of those choose to come to colleges in the States.

[Jay Bee]

Fun (pointless) fact. Enes Kanter brother plays at UWGB

Wardle reeled him in.

Should have gone after Brian instead of settling on Wojo.

[Blackhat]

I see that Harbaugh is taking his international game to another level at Michigan.     Very wise, global society increasing.

"A day after the revelation that Michigan coaches would hold camps in Australia, the world learned Thursday that the Wolverines will also be visiting American Samoa, a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean as part of their expansive outreach efforts."

[Stretchdeltsig]

Wardle reeled him in.

Should have gone after Brian instead of settling on Wojo.

Funny.

[GB Warrior]

All the prior European recruits kept making Polish jokes

[Dawson Rental]

I remember Mike Deane making a bid for a Swedish big man,6' 10" Fredrik Jonzen, in 1998.  MU lost out to Oklahoma State in that case, but during the recruitment Deane learned of another guy from Jonzen's home town, Oluoma Nnamaka.

[THRILLHO]

Wojo would need to schedule a game close to where the kid grew up, so his parents could see him play.....

Is that why we scheduled a game at Georgia?

[copious1218]

Is that why we scheduled a game at Georgia?

Ohhh, a double entendre.  Well played!

[Benny B]

Ask yourself this.... why would a decent Euro big want to go to college?  They have a whole system in place over there that pays these guys to hoop before they're even eligible for military service.  If they're good, they go pro.  If they're great, they go pro for a year and head to the NBA.  If they go to college, they're either running from something or have no where else to go.

In other words, MU with a Euro big is like a high school girl dating a college senior.... he might seem like a real catch to her, but there's a reason he's settling.