Keeyan Itejere to Marquette

[StillWarriors]

I'm pretty sure you're joking, and it is pretty funny.

When Wojo signed a low 4-star, he was criticized. When he signed a McDonald's AA, it was, "well, he isn't even a 5-star." When he went after 5-stars, it was he was overreaching. When he went after 3-stars or low-4s, he wasn't aiming high enough. And no matter who he signed, it was, "He's such a bad coach it doesn't matter."

That's the price a coach pays for not winning enough -- he gets ripped for everything, real or perceived.

And Shaka is the exciting new kid on the block, so we automatically love everything he does.

Having said all that ...

Put me among the long list of Scoopers thrilled by all of this recruiting action. Shaka has a long history of identifying athletes who can play and who improve over time, and I look forward to seeing our program again become a major factor in the Big East race and in the NCAA tournament.

Welcome to MU, Keeyan.

We Are Marquette!

So true, and very well said.

[JakeBarnes]

More stuff on Keeyan:

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/shaw-s-takeaways-big-shots-tip-off-classic

Keeyan is a next-level type of athlete that does things throughout the course of a game that may be natural to him, but just are not routine for other people. Whether it be hitting his head on the backboard when dunking a ball or blocking a floater at its peak (both of which he did this weekend) his physical gifts can be truly tantalizing.

Itejere committed to Texas after a quick recruiting process last June, but this recruitment was different for the three-star prospect.

"People said this was a quick process, but really when you know what school you want to go to, you know what school you want to go to," Itejere said. "I got a phone call after practice one day and it was coach (Shaka) Smart. We just connected immediately, really unlike any other coach I had ever talked to. That really set things off."

If Itejere is going to make his mark early at Texas, it will be on the defensive end of the floor. Leading up to his final game Itejere averaged 12 rebounds and he added 5.5 blocks to go along with some truly breathtaking displays of athleticism.

[BCHoopster]

Reminds me a little bit of an old MU player,  Larry McNeil, total jumping jack.  It seems Keeyan is more of a modern day player, probably better than Larry, time will
tell.

[willie warrior]

Reminds me a little bit of an old MU player,  Larry McNeil, total jumping jack.  It seems Keeyan is more of a modern day player, probably better than Larry, time will
tell.

Better than McNeil? That is a tall order

[rocky_warrior]

Scholarship table updated -- again:
https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?page=page4655

[keefe]

Christmas in April.  Absolutely incredible. 

The trajectory and optimism regarding MUBB has been completely flipped in the past few weeks.

No kidding. The amount of traction Shaka is getting is huge.

Gotta love the energy and excitement. The future is extremely promising.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Welcome Keeyan!

[f/k/a humanlung]

Jake

He definitely has a system and type of player that fits it. Excitement level is rising big time. Cannot wait until opening night.

Thank you for this post.  After the last seven years, I had forgotten coaches have something called a "system". 

[keefe]

Cannot wait until opening night.

Meat Summit. November. I'm in.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Wow. What an exciting 24 hours! I can't wait to watch this team play!

[keefe]

probably better than Larry

Whoa whoa whoa. McNeill was a Top 5 stud.

If Itejere is half the player McNeill was we will have an All Big East player.

[Goose]

keefe


#donedeal

[keefe]

keefe


#donedeal

Roger Meat Summit

[TSmith34, Inc.]

So...found this blog about Keeyan.

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2021/3/12/22322210/keeyan-itejere-shaka-smart-texas-longhorns-signee-2021

Nice snippet:

So Mo Bamba 2.0? I'm in.

[Herman Cain]

 Welcome aboard Keeyan

You are the Pogo Stick we have been waiting for at MU .

[MUEng92]

Since my last name is one letter off from Keeyan's first name, I look forward to several years of mispronouncing his name.

[MU82]

Welcome aboard Keeyan

You are the Pogo Stick we have been waiting for at MU .

I thought Cain and Oso were the pogo sticks we had been waiting for at MU, nu?

[JakeBarnes]

I thought Cain and Oso were the pogo sticks we had been waiting for at MU, nu?

Need good necks too.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Kind of sounds like what we were hoping Ike Eke would end up being prior to the injury. Former soccer player turned basketball player with elite athleticism that just needed more experience playing the game.

Welcome Mr. Itejere, looking forward to seeing you in blue and gold!

[Jockey]

This team feels like everyone is over 6'3. And the overwhelming group is over 6'5". This team is gonna play big and fast. Feels like a Leonard Hamilton FL State team all of a sudden. Let's hope the defensive effort reaches that.

Good call.

I also love the way he uses the backboard on his shots (a la Timme). 

[NolongerWarriors]

He's the kind of player many here would have gone "eh" at if Wojo had signed him.

But since it's Smart, the reaction is "OMG I can't believe we got him!  He can dunk!"

[1SE]

Love that kind of end-to-end commitment and hustle.

Look how high he is above the rim on that dunk

[4everwarriors]

Meat Summit. November. I'm in.

I'm down with that, hey?

[4everwarriors]

Since my last name is one letter off from Keeyan's first name, I look forward to several years of mispronouncing his name.

Sew ur Keezan, aina?

[Tyler COLEk]

He's the kind of player many here would have gone "eh" at if Wojo had signed him.

But since it's Smart, the reaction is "OMG I can't believe we got him!  He can dunk!"

Wojo STUNK. Please move past this. He was fired, you lost.