Hasn't played for overtime elite in 3 or so years, no? What's unfair?
OK, it's unfair to assume he's not interested in improving himself academically number 1, and number 2, as far as your last comment needing bigger guards - he's 6'5".
nmstatesports.com
Its amazing how everyone, including the mods, immediately reacted like this kid was nothing but a down the bench addition - older, taller guard with these kind of offers? - I'm guessing the staff is looking at him as a starter, and I'm guessing we are done at guard also. Time to look at 4's and 5's. I don't think the other kids we are currently looking to are good enough - time to look at GOOD, and big, Euros.Some good programs went after him.
NM State Lands Promising Young Talent Lewis Duarte - New Mexico State University Athletics
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On Wednesday afternoon, one of the final men's basketball roster spots has been filled with an impressive mix of size, explosiveness and athleticism
Half the kids we recruit wouldn't meet Rutgers standards as just students. I don't love Pike, but he doesn't deserve to be knocked for this.
Yaxel Lendaborg couldn't have played for NMSU three years ago because of academics
I'm not assuming anything, just saying the kid didn't seem to want to study years ago and hasn't had to in the time since. Honestly not sure how he'll be eligible here if he wasn't his last college stop.
A lot of good programs went after Baye FallSome good programs went after him.
NM State Lands Promising Young Talent Lewis Duarte - New Mexico State University Athletics
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On Wednesday afternoon, one of the final men's basketball roster spots has been filled with an impressive mix of size, explosiveness and athleticism
The only positive is his size as a two guard who hopefully can make 3 pointers.Its rather obvious that the futue roster right now has too many guards and not enough front court players.
Just stop.You're comparing a 1 in 50 mistakenly rated kid to your non expert rating of a short video clip and an evaluation done by a professional staff.
You say you're not assuming anything and then you go on to assume he hasn't done anything to improve himself academically simply because he hasn't had to in the last couple of years, and he kinda does look 6'5".
Maturity alone could help him, but I've seen nothing that says he's been taking classes, ect.
4 years ago and yet he went to lowly New Mexico State and he never playedSome good programs went after him.
NM State Lands Promising Young Talent Lewis Duarte - New Mexico State University Athletics
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On Wednesday afternoon, one of the final men's basketball roster spots has been filled with an impressive mix of size, explosiveness and athleticism
You actually think the staff hasn't seen this kid play live and is making their decision based on a 1 minute video. For God's sake, they saw him play in high school. They recruited him.
No I'm not, and very few here think I am. He's a good player who had significant offers and got lost because of academics. Why would anyone think this kid would go from having offers from Illinois and South Carolina three years ago to being a bench player at Rutgers. That's just f%$king stupid.
@Bob Chaewsky_rivals please keep me honest I think are actually coach and and are around competitive aau circles correct? So you actually know basketball unlike those who on here who peaked in grammar school rec with 4 pt a game averages.
Academic issues but it took 4 years to find his way back to college..ok
Likely starter. And I'm not saying everyone is dumb at all, but their is a lot of over reaction. It is kind of expected though. When the staff has been a failure at most things in recent years you kinda don't trust any of their decision making.
academics are no longer a thing in major conferences
I doubt it’s a risk considering that was 4 years ago. Clearly Pike must know he’s eligible. If not, wholly crap. I’m not remotely confident this kid can contribute, but we have no context whatsoever of the price tag to assess the pick up. If he’s practically free this is brilliant. If we’re paying more than the frosh rate not so much. But then, based on the current juncture Pike must know he needs to add at least 2-3 guys at the frosh rate max, yes? We’re not buying more than a cap of 4 productive portal players unless there are more departures in which case we have more spots. At the end of the day, most of the better frosh are already signed so this pick up seems pretty solid to me with the very limited context we have.
Of course they have their evaluation and that's why they are taking him. We have one of the few staffs in America still together from when he was in high school, luckily I guess. Hope he finds success here, as I said, lottery ticket, nothing wrong w him as Jones replacement on roster, probably an upgrade.
Appreciate your input and would never insult you like you did
Wow, that is some glass half full thinking right there. So we have this $9-10Mil NIL budget (we should still have a lot remaining at the moment) and you already have this guy as a starter? With the bulk of our budget remaining there is no chance we’ll bring in a player with college experience who is more proven to be one of our starting five? I get your criticisms that we don’t know much about him and negative overreactions, but doesn’t the same thing apply that you don’t know much about him either and you have him as a starter? I am assuming that the current roster building plan is to bring in someone more established (at least I hope) who has proven experience at the college level to start and Duarte will have some sort of role off the bench. I would like to think GM Rob Sullivan is still searching for pieces to comprise our starting five, some may be here now but some are not here yet.
I have no problem with bringing this kid in, but if he got $500K, its ridiculous
That would be some high level grifting skills right there if he got that much. Hopefully he’s low six figures since it seems like everyone gets at least that much. Pike may be becoming in an easy mark for overseas guys making substantially less money, and then upgrading to our program who is in dire straits with a coach who is in desperation mode on a hot seat. There is substantially more money to be made here at the D1 level for some of these “pro players from pro leagues”, I don’t blame them, but hope that Pike and the program are not becoming an easy mark. We had Zrno and Badalau, hopefully this guy proves he belongs in the Big 10.
