Yaxel

[tower912]

6'7.  But he was in the neighborhood.

[jfp61]

So Shaka recognized talent but he didn't come to MU.  And?

He didn't pull the trigger when he had a chance, and he went to UAB.

I don't have problems with recruiting misses.

I'm just bring it up because this whole thread is about "How is it MU has never landed a player like Yaxel"

[tower912]

Fair.  The question I have is whether it was a recruiting miss or a recruiting mi$$.  Did Shaka not offer, or not pay the asking price?
I recall 'I am not paying a transfer more than I am paying Oso' (paraphrasing) back then.

[Jay Bee]

Another who comes to mind is Jamil Wilson.  Again, not nearly the quality of Yaxel, but he set himself up for decent NBA career before screwing it up with legal trouble.

Jamil was a top 40 RSCI guy in high school, yo.

[muwarrior69]

First of all, all credit to the kid.  In my mind, in this case, Yaxel is more of a universal.

Notable 6'9 ish players since I started at MU.
Copa, Downing, Key, Crawford, RJackson, Fitzgerald, Joey, Theo, Royce.  I am sure I missed a couple, but if they were impact players or athletic freaks I would have remembered.  None are the do it all 4s.
Royce comes close, but he needs to fill out and doesn't have the hops.

How can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.

[Uncle Rico]

How can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.

Because he played against plumbers and dentists

[tower912]

How can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.

My 40 year window.  Never saw the man play at MU.   Ergo...

[Jay Bee]

My 40 year window.  Never saw rhe man play at MU.   Ergo...

rhe? What's going on today? Sticky keyboard?!?!?!

[Pakuni]

Fair.  The question I have is whether it was a recruiting miss or a recruiting mi$$.

Probably both.

[willie warrior]

With portal season upon us, it reminds me of something I have often pondered about the 40+ years I have been a MU basketball fan.
How is it MU has never landed a player like Yaxel? A 6'9, 245 specimen who can play inside, outside, run the floor, defend.  Not one in 40 years.  MU has never had a dynamic, do it all 6'9 beast.

When I say that I would love a 6'9 stretch 4 to play next to Royce, that is what I am talking about.  And in a perfect world, I would take two of them over a traditional 5.  My dream 9 man rotation features two Yaxel types and a Royce up front.

Maybe someday Shaka breaks that 50 year streak.

Does not Ellen's qualify as one?

[The Sultan]

Does not Ellen's qualify as one?

Ellen's what?

[Scoop Snoop]

Ellen's what?

I think he means Ellenson. Like Rowsey/Ramsey.

[Uncle Rico]

I think he means Ellenson. Like Rowsey/Ramsey.

Ramsey came after Rowsey

[Scoop Snoop]

Ramsey came after Rowsey

I have them in the correct order "Reeker".

[The Sultan]

I think he means Ellenson. Like Rowsey/Ramsey.

I know. I just think it's funny.

[Jay Bee]

Ramsey came after Rowsey

pawz

[Galway Eagle]

Ellen's what?

Her son

[Galway Eagle]

Another who comes to mind is Jamil Wilson.  Again, not nearly the quality of Yaxel, but he set himself up for decent NBA career before screwing it up with legal trouble.

I'm not sure it was the legal trouble so much as the case itself. Kam has legal trouble and is still in the nba. Jamil either didn't listen or ignored sex ed in high school

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I'm not sure it was the legal trouble so much as the case itself. Kam has legal trouble and is still in the nba. Jamil either didn't listen or ignored sex ed in high school

Bold of you to assume Wisconsin teaches proper sexual education in high school.

[NCMUFan]

The Enforcer?
Maurice Lucas?

[MuggsyB]

Tower is 100% accurate.  We need a Yaxelish dude that has a myriad of skills.  We should have  a versatile 6'9 guy, every season, for the foreseeable future.  Even when we're long gone.  This is the bare minimum of what must be done to get back on track. 

[wisblue]

How can Maurice Lucas not be considered in this discussion.

Not an inside outside type player. Just an exceptional, strong big man.

If you want to go back to the 70's you start with Larry Bird as the prime example of that type of player. In an era with no 3 point shots the inside/outside tall guy who could also handle the ball was not very common.

[Tha Hound]

Yeah, why hasn't Marquette ever recruited a 6'9 beast that is good at literally everything? They should really try to get players with no flaws in their game. Maybe someone who was widely considered a top 5 player available in the portal, like Yaxel. Why wouldn't they just do that?

[Jockey]

6'7.  But he was in the neighborhood.

At the combine, I expect Yaxel to be closer to 6'7" than 6'9".

[willie warrior]

Obvious! Shaka didn't giddyup.

Which he certainly needs to quickly do.