7'1" Assane Diouf

[ChasRC69]

You can teach positioning, rebounding, footwork, shooting dynamics, defense, etc. You can't teach 7'1". Also, he doesn't have to play a minute his freshman year. Redshirt him his freshman year so he's, in effect, a 2019, as redshirting Johnson has made him, in effect, a class 2018 instead of 2017. According to Pike, Johnson has made great strides, both physically and basketball wise during his redshirt year.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

I'll take a Stretch 4 or a Mobile Center, like Mo Wagner, that can step out and make shots before I take a big 7'1 low post Center.

 

[Russ Wood]

Yes. The game has changed and the lumbering 7’ center is becoming a thing of the past. There are some exceptions and Purdue had success with Haas but that was a strong team around him. I think Purdue might have gotten by Texas Tech with him but would have lost to Nova anyway.

I wouldn't say that Diouf lumbers when he moves. I just happened to be walking by the court that his Colorado Hawks 16U team was playing on when I noticed this big man moving up the court smoothly (this was last April in Atlanta btw). That was enough to make me sit down and watch half of his team's game.

Diouf has great size and length and he moves well, including laterally. He moved quickly and smoothly across the lane to a new post up position as the ball changed sides of the court. He caught the ball cleanly when it was passed to him. His offensive repertoire is not very deep. Not much much skill or finesse but wasn't exactly a big man who was powerfully dominant.

Mostly jump hooks or power into the lane for a 5-foot jumper. I did see him grab a long rebound and knock down a jump shot from the free throw line. Didn't see much pop from a standstill. Court awareness was average but he probably hasn't been playing the game too long. His motor wasn't bad but he doesn't exactly bring energy.

Having said all that, I liked him because he was a 2019 kid so he had some time. But moving up to 2018 he's a great candidate for a redshirt.

 

[soundcrib]

So the only options are Marvin Bagley or Assane Diouf? There's no in between?

Here's some bigs who played well as freshmen in the Big Ten over the past few seasons:

Matt Haarms, Purdue - 3 stars
Jack Nunge, Iowa - 3 stars
Mike Watkins, Penn State - 4 stars
Luke Garza, Iowa - 4 stars
Michael Finke, Illinois - 3 stars
Moritz Wagner, Michigan - 4 stars (low playing time his freshman year but that was more about the talent UM had)
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin - 3 stars
Bruno Fernando, Maryland - 4 stars

Just about every other program in the conference is getting 3- or 4-star big men who can be good players as freshmen.

Why didn’t ours?

 

[higgins3]

Something about this player I will pass on. If you are 7 1 and not grabbing 7-8 per gamerebounds at your position, i see you play like your 6 4.

 

[RUJMM78]

The necessity to keep recruiting project type players has been a losing strategy at Rutgers.It might work at lower levels of competition but not in a power conference.

 

[NightKnight]

A 7' 17 year old typically has not have enough time being BIG to get used to how his body moves and works on the basketball court. I would take him in a New York minute. Next year he will be a totally different play and the year after that even more so. I remember a 7' kid out of Cambridge, MA by the name of Patrick Ewing who had no offense what-so-ever. Even if he does get to superstar status, a 7'1" guy can contribute on this level. Same can't be said for all you 6'5" shorties out there.