Levi Stockard

[Aircraftcarrier]

Does anyone know if he is visiting MU this weekend?

[Herman Cain]

Does anyone know if he is visiting MU this weekend?

We need to get him here soon....

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/6341688/57bf1a2e842eb257002210f2

Levi is a top priority.

[wadesworld]

We need to get him here soon....

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/6341688/57bf1a2e842eb257002210f2

Levi is a top priority.

If by "top priority" you mean "backup plan," then I agree with this analysis.

[Herman Cain]

If by "top priority" you mean "backup plan," then I agree with this analysis.

This kid is extremely agile and has incredible footwork. A stone wall of muscle and quick reflexes.  I think his upside is enormous  and that is why he is on the priority list. So do Xavier , K State, Texas A and M and others. 

With a year of Training from Todd this kid could be 275 of lean muscle.

[brandx]

This kid is extremely agile and has incredible footwork. A stone wall of muscle and quick reflexes.  I think his upside is enormous  and that is why he is on the priority list. So do Xavier , K State, Texas A and M and others. 

With a year of Training from Todd this kid could be 275 of lean muscle.

Not to disparage Todd in any way at all, but all major college teams have their own Todd Smith.

[Herman Cain]

Not to disparage Todd in any way at all, but all major college teams have their own Todd Smith.

Todd is better .

[cheebs09]

Todd is better .

Everything I've heard is very good, but we have been overmatched physically recently in the Big East. It may be that they just couldn't put it down n the muscle due to their frames, but I now hesitate assuming anyone can just put on muscle to get to a Big a East level. Wojo seems to be correcting that with this class. Also, it sounds like Hauser came in stronger than expected.

[muwarrior69]

We have a football team?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We need to get him here soon....

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/6341688/57bf1a2e842eb257002210f2

Levi is a top priority.

So are you saying that Stockard should be valued above Tillman, Nwora, Cain, French, and Epperson? Or are all of them top priorities? IMHO, Stockard has great potential and I would love to have him, but I'd place him sixth on my wish list. We're only gonna sign four max this fall and we already have two who have lined up to volunteer.

[4everwarriors]

From what I'm seein', the cat should concentrate on football. Could be da next Ted Hendricks, ai na?

[Galway Eagle]

Everything I've heard is very good, but we have been overmatched physically recently in the Big East. It may be that they just couldn't put it down n the muscle due to their frames, but I now hesitate assuming anyone can just put on muscle to get to a Big a East level. Wojo seems to be correcting that with this class. Also, it sounds like Hauser came in stronger than expected.

This we've been trying to play ACC style players in the Big East. I wonder how much input a coach has in Todds strategy, could be Wojo made some tweeks he shouldn't have

[wadesworld]

We had a bunch of 18 and 19 year old kids.  Not many guys enter college at 6'6", 220 lbs.  Jimmy Butler wasn't exactly a jacked up kid when he got to Marquette, and he even had a year at a JUCO under him.  For a lot of college basketball players, their freshman year is their first year in a (real) weight training program.

Carter, Hank, Cheatham, Heldt, and Sacar (see: Wojo's first recruiting class) all have the frame to be Big East bodies.

[Herman Cain]

We had a bunch of 18 and 19 year old kids.  Not many guys enter college at 6'6", 220 lbs.  Jimmy Butler wasn't exactly a jacked up kid when he got to Marquette, and he even had a year at a JUCO under him.  For a lot of college basketball players, their freshman year is their first year in a (real) weight training program.

Carter, Hank, Cheatham, Heldt, and Sacar (see: Wojo's first recruiting class) all have the frame to be Big East bodies.

Matt Heldt is a great example of what we do with a kid in our strength and conditioning program. He came in as a puffy pasty soft marshmellow and now the kid is lean and has the muscle mass.

Sacar is an absolute beast now after a year pounding iron. Haanif is significantly bigger as well. Even a guy like Rowsey is getting stronger.

We have even made progress with the beanpole guys like JJJ and Sandy. I think JJJ is around 205 now.  It is hard to put muscle on those kind of guys.

One of the guys who has benefited heavily is Luke , with all his injuries, the strength and conditioning really helped him get ready to play and this year he is finally getting some more mass.

Sam did hard work this summer and is a much different body. He will only get better with time in that regard.

Last year we got pushed around because we were running a lot of freshman and remember they took  time out of the strength program to go to Europe.

One of the things I like about Theo John is he has a very good baseline to build off of an Ike Eke has incredible shoulder span so his potential is very good .

I really have great respect for the whole training staff at MU they are first tier.

[cheebs09]

We had a bunch of 18 and 19 year old kids.  Not many guys enter college at 6'6", 220 lbs.  Jimmy Butler wasn't exactly a jacked up kid when he got to Marquette, and he even had a year at a JUCO under him.  For a lot of college basketball players, their freshman year is their first year in a (real) weight training program.

Carter, Hank, Cheatham, Heldt, and Sacar (see: Wojo's first recruiting class) all have the frame to be Big East bodies.

I agree. I was thinking more of guys like JJJ, Duane, and Sandy. Sandy has put on some muscle, but still overmatched physically. JJJ took a big step last year, but I don't see him being a physical wing that we have had in the past. Juan Anderson was a guy that we hoped would get stronger once getting to college. He did, but still locked the strength he needed.

You're right, the guards will be much stronger thanks to this last class, and now he's getting the big guys to go with it. With some patience, I think we will have a fun ride in the next few years.

[wadesworld]

I agree. I was thinking more of guys like JJJ, Duane, and Sandy. Sandy has put on some muscle, but still overmatched physically. JJJ took a big step last year, but I don't see him being a physical wing that we have had in the past. Juan Anderson was a guy that we hoped would get stronger once getting to college. He did, but still locked the strength he needed.

You're right, the guards will be much stronger thanks to this last class, and now he's getting the big guys to go with it. With some patience, I think we will have a fun ride in the next few years.

Agreed, and I think that just further proves the point that Wojo hasn't suddenly come to some epiphany that he can't just recruit some skinny "ACC" kids and now realizes that the Big East is a "man's game."  All those guys you listed who are overmatched physically were Buzz recruits, a guy that everyone credits with getting tough, physical players on his teams.

My point is that Wojo isn't going to stop looking at guys like Haanif Cheatham because as a junior in high school he's a lean kid and now we're only interested in 17 year olds who are already physical specimen.  Wojo sees we need multiple bigs going into next year, and he's addressing the need.  Nothing more, nothing less.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

So are you saying that Stockard should be valued above Tillman, Nwora, Cain, French, and Epperson? Or are all of them top priorities? IMHO, Stockard has great potential and I would love to have him, but I'd place him sixth on my wish list. We're only gonna sign four max this fall and we already have two who have lined up to volunteer.

Every single kid whose name is mentioned becomes a top priority must get for him. MUNY would have us sign 16-18 new kids every year. 

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Agreed, and I think that just further proves the point that Wojo hasn't suddenly come to some epiphany that he can't just recruit some skinny "ACC" kids and now realizes that the Big East is a "man's game."  All those guys you listed who are overmatched physically were Buzz recruits, a guy that everyone credits with getting tough, physical players on his teams.

My point is that Wojo isn't going to stop looking at guys like Haanif Cheatham because as a junior in high school he's a lean kid and now we're only interested in 17 year olds who are already physical specimen.  Wojo sees we need multiple bigs going into next year, and he's addressing the need.  Nothing more, nothing less.

I think we lost a lot in this area from the tone of the group of upperclassman that were there when Buzz left.  Of all the players with the crazy workout mindset MU has had, I wouldn't put Gardner, Wilson & Mayo on that list.  It wasn't the same as Lazar, then Jimmy/Jae/DJO whipping everyone into shape.

I also wonder if Todd changed strategy/focus a bit with a new coach as well - but cant prove anything there.

Hopefully we start to see progress and get much stronger this year-- our defense and rebounding depend on it.

[Loose Cannon]

Matt Heldt is a great example of what we do with a kid in our strength and conditioning program. He came in as a puffy pasty soft marshmellow and now the kid is lean and has the muscle mass.

Sacar is an absolute beast now after a year pounding iron. Haanif is significantly bigger as well. Even a guy like Rowsey is getting stronger.

We have even made progress with the beanpole guys like JJJ and Sandy. I think JJJ is around 205 now.  It is hard to put muscle on those kind of guys.

One of the guys who has benefited heavily is Luke , with all his injuries, the strength and conditioning really helped him get ready to play and this year he is finally getting some more mass.

Sam did hard work this summer and is a much different body. He will only get better with time in that regard.

Last year we got pushed around because we were running a lot of freshman and remember they took  time out of the strength program to go to Europe.

One of the things I like about Theo John is he has a very good baseline to build off of an Ike Eke has incredible shoulder span so his potential is very good .

I really have great respect for the whole training staff at MU they are first tier.

Just curious, are these your First hand observations or things you read?  Last year Sacar was listed at 205 and this year he is listed at 205.  I read he was in the weight room a lot this summer, is the roster incorrect?

[Herman Cain]

So are you saying that Stockard should be valued above Tillman, Nwora, Cain, French, and Epperson? Or are all of them top priorities? IMHO, Stockard has great potential and I would love to have him, but I'd place him sixth on my wish list. We're only gonna sign four max this fall and we already have two who have lined up to volunteer.

I am not saying Stockard is above Tillman etc . I think all our prospects bring different skill sets to the table.  Recruiting is very competitive, So If any of the 6 say yes I am delighted. Ideally we want one more big and one 3. I am looking at Nwora as a 3 with a great shot and Cain as a slashing 3. Tillman super soft hands great offensive threat inside, French a man amongst boys with length and real basketball pedigree. Epperson is a rim protecting 5 who could possibly even redshirt which would be a big benefit. As I mentioned Stockard has incredible agility for guy his size. That is why I am so intrigued, that kind of agility and footwork simply cannot be taught. God Given.

I have already reconciled the fact that French is highly sought after and if we can't close on him we may have to deal with him on one of several big East teams.  However, I would prefer not to see Stockard go to Xavier or DePaul especially after we were one of the early guys after him. 

[Herman Cain]

Just curious, are these your First hand observations or things you read?  Last year Sacar was listed at 205 and this year he is listed at 205.  I read he was in the weight room a lot this summer, is the roster incorrect?

These are my first hand observations.

[cheebs09]

Agreed, and I think that just further proves the point that Wojo hasn't suddenly come to some epiphany that he can't just recruit some skinny "ACC" kids and now realizes that the Big East is a "man's game."  All those guys you listed who are overmatched physically were Buzz recruits, a guy that everyone credits with getting tough, physical players on his teams.

My point is that Wojo isn't going to stop looking at guys like Haanif Cheatham because as a junior in high school he's a lean kid and now we're only interested in 17 year olds who are already physical specimen.  Wojo sees we need multiple bigs going into next year, and he's addressing the need.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Good point. I do fall into the trap of forgetting this past freshman class was Wojo's first full class.

I totally agree with the thought that the upperclassmen on Buzz's last team weren't nearly the leaders Buzz had on his earlier teams and that caused a huge negative impact.

[Loose Cannon]

These are my first hand observations.

Thanks

[Dawson Rental]

This kid is extremely agile and has incredible footwork. A stone wall of muscle and quick reflexes.  I think his upside is enormous  and that is why he is on the priority list. So do Xavier , K State, Texas A and M and others. 

With a year of Training from Todd this kid could be 275 of lean muscle.

You're unbelievable.  You've only known that this kid even exists for what? a day? and now he's a top priority.  Because you've seen a YouTube video of him playing football?  And we know Todd Smith is going to turn this kid into an All-American.  Why?  Because any prospect who has never stepped on campus is sure to be the savior of MU basketball.

What is guaranteed to be a result of Todd Smith working with this kid for a year?  The kid will rise to the top - of your list - of kids who should self select themselves to transfer out so that Wojo can offer a scholarship to the next HS kid you just learned existed (or formally highly rated recruit who is transferring from another school) that you have instantly fallen in love with.  You are the prototypical the grass is always greener guy.  Again recruits are not an end in themselves, they are a means to an end which is wins on the floor which at a school like MU usually comes from finding guys who stay in the program for four years and develop into a cohesive team.

[LAMUfan]

Sacar is an absolute beast now after a year pounding iron.

Not trying to make fun of you, but I read this and hear Ted Cruz talking about strength training and it amuses me.  Keep pounding and putting the orange sphere into the hoops.   

[4everwarriors]

Murray, did ya down yo smart pills dis mornin'? First coherent paragraph ya put together in years, hey?