[Cracked Sidewalks] New Recruit for Marquette

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

New Recruit for Marquette

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (Henry Sugar)

In a somewhat strange development, it appears that Marquette has received a commitment from another player.  The new player is Liam McMorrow, who is a 7', 260lb transfer from Durham College in Canada.  But not only has McMorrow committed to Marquette, but he's already on Marquette's campus and checked into Humphrey.  In fact, as confirmed by Mark Miller, McMorrow has started practicing with the guys at the AL (link has more info).



So what do we know about Liam McMorrow?  He's big and he's a bit of a project.   According to Mark Miller, McMorrow will have to sit out a year due to the transfer.  He'll end up in the same class as Otule and will have three years of eligibility.  In the MUScoop discussion thread, poster MU Chi_IL found a number of links on the internet about McMorrow.

Liam McMorrow, a six-foot-eleven newcomer, will help that defensive goal.  Displaying good hands for the basketball and a soft shooting touch around the basket, he shouldn’t be limited to just a defensive role either. from the Durham College Chronicle

In one game, he pulled down 18 rebounds.  In another game, he sank the two winning free throws, despite a season average of 55%.  Finally, poster Pakuni found a youtube clip of McMorrow that really doesn't show a whole lot.



Color us floored (is that a color?).  Not only did this guy fly under the radar, but he made it all the way to campus without so much as a peep.  Have to hand it to Buzz for his stealth recruiting.



Personally, I'm a big fan of this signing despite the fact that he's still raw.  Frankly, any legitimate big man these days is probably a one and done and they're signing with a school like Duke/UNC/Kansas.  It's worthwhile to take 1-2 guys per year that have potential because of the hope that they'll pan out.  Some of the best big men in the Big East, such as Aaron Gray and Roy Hibbert, were considered projects that developed.  Plus, given that McMorrow will have a transfer year to work with Dale Layer and Tony Benford, there's a better chance of realizing his potential.  Both assistant coaches have worked and developed quality big men in the past, unlike the previous coaching staff.



Here is how the classes now look according to the MUScoop Scholarship Table.  There is only one spot available, and all belief is that it will go to fill the need of PG.  Hopefully, another Canadian named Junior Cadougan, who was on campus visiting this week, will be that final scholarship slot.



Finally, because no Friday is complete without a random topic, please be careful.  There are ninja in the woods!

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/06/new-recruit-for-marquette.html

[ToddRosiakSays]

MU signs Canadian 7-footer

Written by: Todd Rosiak


After weeks and weeks of behind-the-scenes legwork and wrangling, the Marquette Golden Eagles have added a fourth and final player to their 2008-'09 recruiting class -- and he's a big one.

Liam McMorrow, a 7-foot, 260-pound center from Toronto, Ontario joins Joe Fulce, Jimmy Butler and Chris Otule as a member of coach Buzz Williams' first recruiting class at MU.

Unlike those three, McMorrow will sit out this coming season as a redshirt. But considering his lack of organized basketball experience -- one season at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario -- Williams is hopeful that 15 months' worth of work on the court and in the weight room will help get the big man up to speed in time to make an impact in the 2009-'10 season.

"With one scholarship (for 2008-'09), I think it's important as it relates to our team that we use it for someone that can immediately help us, or something that is going to be able to step in the following year when we lose four seniors, and have the opportunity to help us," said Williams. "In relation to when I took the job, there wasn't really a lot of good players as far as being able to make an immediate impact. So my focus almost shifted to, ‘What can we do?'

"Liam, in essence, is a member of the 2009 recruiting class. The benefit is he gets to be here for a year, take part in every practice as a redshirt, do all the strength stuff, and then he's going to have three years left."

McMorrow, who's already on campus and will begin attending summer school on Monday, grew up as a hockey fan in his native Canada. One of his older brothers, Sean, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2000 and spent most of his career playing for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.

McMorrow himself played both hockey and lacrosse competitively as a youngster, but basketball only recreationally until his ever-increasing height started gaining him some notice as he headed into college. After averaging 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in 20 league games for Durham last season, McMorrow set his sights on bringing his game to the United States.

"Pretty much I was looking to come somewhere in the United States to go to Division I for next year; I just wasn't sure where, really," he said. "I was training at a gym near my house and my personal trainer was helping me out with that, contacting a few schools and seeing if we could go for some workouts or if they could come see me, stuff like that. It just turned out that he called someone at Marquette."

Williams -- who'd specifically asked the few staff members he had in place shortly after his hiring in April to follow any and all leads with regard to prospects -- got the lead on McMorrow from staff member Brad Autry and was understandably intrigued.

He also just so happened to have a former player of his from New Orleans, Jamie McNeilly, living near McMorrow in the Toronto area.

"Obviously, people are interested in a 7-footer, and it was a good coincidence that Coach Buzz had coached someone that lived like pretty much in my neighborhood and was in town at the time, that could actually see what level I was at," said McMorrow. "He was right in my neck of the woods so he took me to a little run he was having with a couple other guys that played in Europe and stuff, and he just reported back to Coach on where I was at, and everything's come from there, pretty much."

The ensuing weeks were spent trying to determine what exactly MU needed to do to get McMorrow transferred and qualified rather than what he'd accomplished as a player, making the recruitment process a strange one for Williams.

"There's really not a way to equate it because it's just completely different," said Williams, who lauded the behind-the-scenes efforts of deputy athletic director Mike Broeker, compliance director Danielle Josetti and academic coordinator Adrienne Trice. "I don't know that it was an extremely long process, but we had to get to the bottom of it, and because he's an international student it makes the situation different. There was a lot of stuff. We were as efficient in the process as we could possibly be.

"So it's not your typical recruitment because we're not having home visits, we're not going to watch him play at his school or an AAU tournament. There was none of that. Our phone conversations weren't, ‘Hey man, you know about Syracuse and UConn and what about AAU.' They were, ‘What about this? What about that?' I talked to his coaches, but they're not excited about losing a 7-footer. They're not going to help."

And while the process was a drawn-out one, time was also of the essence, in order to prevent other interested schools from swooping in and stealing McMorrow away from MU. McMorrow said he'd heard from Purdue, Ohio State, UTEP and Valparaiso while things played out.

"I told (athletic director) Steve Cottingham we have to stay on this every single day," Williams said. "We can't let him go until the fall because if we do, we're opening up a whole new realm in this. We're the ones doing all the work at Marquette, as it relates to him getting in school, getting his visa, all those things. We're not going to do all this work and then have someone else go in there and try to sign him. The timing of it was more important than anything else."

Now that he's in the fold, the challenge for McMorrow will be to catch up as best he can to a group of players that has, quite literally, a lifetime's worth of basketball experience. Keeping that in mind, Williams said he'd be as reasonable as he could be with his expectations for McMorrow.

"I don't know that I'm really patient in any aspect of my life. The key is to just make sure that every single day we exhaust every opportunity that we have as a program and as a staff for Liam as a player, to make sure that he's as good as he can possibly be over the next four years," said Williams. "The other thing I think that's important in this is I think Liam is going to be able to help Dwight Burke and our other post players because now they're going to have to compete every day against a 7-foot kid every day in practice."

As far as McMorrow's physical tools, Williams said his hockey background should actually serve him well on the basketball court.

"His brother's a professional hockey player; (Liam) spent a lot of time in hockey growing up. He's got great feet just because he's been a skater," he said. "He's a very mobile player for his size. He hasn't lifted a lot of weights but he's got a very good body for his size. I think over those next 15 months his development will be critical.

"So now he steps in and we've got a sophomore who's 7 feet, and we've got Chris Otule, who's a sophomore who's 6-11. That definitely increases our interior depth and it gives us something that I think you have to have in order to win in the Big East."

McMorrow will wear No. 55.



http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2008/06/27/mu-signs-canadian-7-footer.aspx

[Rockmic87]

Seems like a waste of a scholarship that could have been used towards a higher caliber athlete.  .....I'm not counting on this guy being better then Mike Kinisella!

[GoMarquetteSays]

Canadian 7-Footer Liam McMorrow Added To Roster
         

The Marquette University men's basketball program has announced the addition of Canadian import Liam McMorrow, who has signed a scholarship agreement, head coach Buzz Williams announced.
         

http://onlyfans.cstv.com/schools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062708aaa.html
         

[mosarsour]

I think it's nice to have a couple bigs around to defend some of these centers in the Big East. Our one glaring weakness last season was a lack of size in out front court. So what if he's "a project", so was Ousmane Barro and I didn't mind how he turned out. We'll see how he turns out. But having a 7 footer on your roster is NEVER a bad thing.

[4everwarriors]

Translation:  This guy's a stiff.

[muwarrior87]

this guy played hockey and lacrosse, two sports where having good foot work are key. He's big, really big, almost hits his head on the elevators, and is put together really well. He's got some pretty good hands from the short 15 second clip that's out there of him and I think that once he is locked in the D1 bball mindset he will prove to be quite an asset for us down low.

[tower912]

Look, if he turns out to be a mixture of Mike Kinsella with good feet and Chris Grimm, he will still be able to contribute, and this will still be a decent scholarship.   You can always find a use for a 7 footer.     10 minutes a game to spell Otule and Mbakwe is all we need a year from now.   

[MUfan12]

Wild, crazy thought on Liam. Couldn't his lack of basketball experience also be a positive?

He hasn't had people kissing his ass telling him how good he is, nor has he had the chance to really develop any bad habits. Two of the things responsible for guys not panning out at the college level.

Just a thought...

[mviale]

walking away from the koolaid - I dont feel good about this decision. a rookie mistake possibly or maybe Buzz just doesnt have any real takers. 

[Daniel]

It just seems that with most things in life, experience is a positive.  We know Barro struggled some because of his lack of bball experience.  But, as many have said, what the heck do we know?  Buzz and the coaches are close to the situation, and I am sure want the best team they can field.  they must see something in this kid, and I will have to trust thier opinion for now.

[ATWizJr]

mods - censoring?

[bilsu]

Barro struggled because he had no jump shot. You would think in four years the coaches could have taught him to shoot a 10' jumper. I really believe this was more of a reflection on the coaching staff than on Barro. They could not teach Merritt to stop driving with his spin move. He had numerous travels in his senior year, because every defense was ready for him. All he had to do was take a 10' jump shot every now and then to keep the defense honest.

[mviale]

just being honest - Buzz has walked on water since coming on board, but this one looks like a crean move.

[Pardner]

If this was a TC recruit, we would have said he paniced due to his late signing record.  Buzz is trying to fill the void of experience for Year 2 obviously.  We can see Buzz and crew can recruit...but on this "secret signee" that he kept under wraps, we'll see if he is any good at spotting and developing potential.  If he signs Cadougan in the next week or so as rumored, he'll have wrapped up a great start and filled his voids to avoid a drop off.  Texas Rangers and the Canadian Mounties meet the Wisconsin State Patrol.

By closing out early, the staff can get a head start on the others by going all out for 2010 for four and five stars--and with the JUCO's and transfers, MU can still offer playing time out into the future.  Well played, but McMorrow is a ? mark for me.  Obviously, his raw talent was too much to pass on for the Buzzman.  He must see something in him not to wait.

[mviale]

well I guess a 7 foot niv berkowitz is better than a 6 foot niv berkowitz.

[tower912]

The kid must be somewhat athletic, based on his hockey and lax experience.  Short on basketball experience, but long on size and 15 months to get taught by the coaching staff.   This will be a litmus test of sorts to see if our coaches can actually develop bigs.   Again, if he is Chris Grimm and Mike Kinsella with good feet, this is NOT a wasted schollie.  If he develops into Ooze, plus 2 inches, 20 lbs, with a set of hands, this is not a wasted schollie.   If he turns into Richard Shaw, this is not a wasted scholarship.   If he is better than Rod Grosse and Roman Mueller, this is not a wasted scholarship. If his only skill is defense, rebounding, and running the floor, this is not a wasted scholarship.  YOU CAN'T WASTE A SCHOLARSHIP ON A REASONABLY ATHLETIC 7 FOOTER!!!!!  He may never be KG, or Shaq, or Ewing.  But if he is a 7 ft Copa, that is OK. There is always room for a 7 foot banger. 

[Murffieus]

Barro struggled because he had no jump shot. You would think in four years the coaches could have taught him to shoot a 10' jumper. I really believe this was more of a reflection on the coaching staff than on Barro. They could not teach Merritt to stop driving with his spin move. He had numerous travels in his senior year, because every defense was ready for him. All he had to do was take a 10' jump shot every now and then to keep the defense honest.

Merritt's "spin move" wasn't the problem as in most cases it was the right hing to do off the wide post.

However it was the execution of that spin move that needed repair. His biggest mistake is that he didn't get his head around fast enough to get his eyes focused on the target ahead of releasing the ball.

At any rate, you are correct in that it was a coaching problem.

[mu_hilltopper]

Liam needs some wiki love.

http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/liam_mcmorrow

As does Dwight.

http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/dwight_buycks

[nola03]

The kid must be somewhat athletic, based on his hockey and lax experience. 

If he turns into Richard Shaw, this is not a wasted scholarship.    

The saving grace may be his soft hands from playing those sports. Ooze had soccer in his background and that was easy to see with his gallop downcourt and even easier to see when the ball would slip through his hands.

Also, if he turns into another Shaw why do you feel it wouldn't be a wasted scholarship? To me, that would be the epitome of a wasted scholarship. Buzz was being mentioned with a lot of high level prospects for 2009 and he pulled out of those races to pick up a kid who's only played 20 games in his life. It seems a strange move. Granted, he may have just picked up a package deal (his second package along with the Tyler Threesome) in getting Cadougan but the timing seems awfully suspect.

[MUCrew]

The saving grace may be his soft hands from playing those sports. Ooze had soccer in his background and that was easy to see with his gallop downcourt and even easier to see when the ball would slip through his hands.

Also, if he turns into another Shaw why do you feel it wouldn't be a wasted scholarship? To me, that would be the epitome of a wasted scholarship. Buzz was being mentioned with a lot of high level prospects for 2009 and he pulled out of those races to pick up a kid who's only played 20 games in his life. It seems a strange move. Granted, he may have just picked up a package deal (his second package along with the Tyler Threesome) in getting Cadougan but the timing seems awfully suspect.

Yeah I don't know about this either.  I thought we were banking this scholarship for the next season.  I do like the idea that he's gigantic and that he'll help out at practices, but the fact that he's a project kinda worries me.  It will be interesting to see what his work ethic is like and if it pays off next year.  I'm still trusting that Buzz is doing the right thing. 

Speaking of scholarships....wouldn't that leave us with 2 or 3 available for the '09 class now?

[Mike the Red]

You guys are killin' me.

Every team has a last man on the bench; if that is the ONLY thing McMorrow does in the three years he is on the team, then this would still be a very good use of a scholarship.

I would love, to recruit an intelligent, seven foot, young man who has played sports for much of his life even if he has limited basketball knowledge, every year.

Most of the time, that type of player ends up having a situational role at best, but once in a while you can strike gold. And the impact can be far greater with a center than a 6'2'' combo guard.

I am one of those who is still not sold on Buzz, but at least here I agree with this decision.

[tower912]

Even if he is a project, he is a 7ft, 260 lb project.   He isn't a 6'8", 160 lb project, he isn't a project picked up in the middle of the school year from Israel.    If his career averages at MU are 12-15 minutes a game, 4 pts, 7 boards, and 1.5 blocks, it was still worth it.  Was Chris Grimm worth the schollie?   Yes!   He never turned into Paul Davis Jr, but he was a contributor on occasion, a useful practice player, and taught others on the team how to attack a 7 footer.   TC just signed a 7 ft project out of JUCO and is ecstatic.   He should be, since he could never do it at MU.   Lets accept that sometimes, with your last schollie, you take a flyer on a really big project.

[nola03]

Lets accept that sometimes, with your last schollie, you take a flyer on a really big project.

Not intending to be an ass but I don't think that is clear thinking.

We didn't have to use the scholarship. It wasn't a "last" scholarship. It didn't expire by July 1. People were praising the decisions to accept commits from Maymom and Buycks in part because we had the room to do so even though one may not qualify out of high school and one may run into trouble with JC credits transferring to MU. In some sense, Maymon is a flier. In some sense, Buycks is a flier. In the end, both will probably be fine.

But now we have McMorrow who is a true flier. Buzz' 2009 class so far is three fliers and one strong prospect. What happens if Maymon doesn't qualify? What happens if the Indian Hills JC credits don't transfer? What happens if even after a year of practice McMorrow can't play more then five minutes? All of a sudden April 2009 may be a really ugly time to be an MU fan if the doomsday plays out.

There's no question Maymon and Buycks have the talent but they aren't sure fire locks to be at MU. Knowing that possibility exists of not qualifying I'm sure there's a good majority of MU fans who were hoping all of Buzz' hard work to get in with the class of 2009 would pan out with elite prospects who were locks to get in to MU.

Taking a commit from an unknown 4 days before July for the coming season allows for this type of discussion.

[Pakuni]

Buycks in part because we had the room to do so even though one may not qualify out of high school and one may run into trouble with JC credits transferring to MU.

Really? What are you basing this on? When has Marquette ever had trouble getting JUCO credits to transfer, especially out of a program (in this case, Indian Hills) that exists almost solely to qualify former non-qualifiers?

I'm curious as to what Nola believes might have been a better use for the scholarship? Hold out hope for the one or two 2009 big men MU with which was involved (i.e. Shawn Kemp)? Ignore the dire need for a big and pursue a more highly regarded wing or backcourt player? 
WWND?
I think we're all willing to admit that McMorrow is a huge project who may never pan out. But there's logic and reasoning behind taking that risk.
Regardless, what would you have done if you were in Buzz's shoes?