Interview with Tai on his visit
- Thread starter dpwhite
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@Brian Fonseca thank you for the update. Did you get sense of what factors are most important to Strickland?
Losing Tai would hurt worse than losing Alvarado since we would lose him in conference. If we are to beat these programs in the standings we need to beat them for players. I guess we find out in 2 weeks
He could not have been playing if he wasn't going to classes. This isn't North Carolina or Kentucky.
The biggest thing for him as far as I can tell is how teams utilize guards. He loved how Pikiell used Geo/Corey and gave them freedom to operate on offense. For what it's worth, he said the same thing about Minnesota's offense with Nate Mason. Another important thing is relationship with the coaching staff. As far as Rutgers goes, he and his dad are huge fans of Karl Hobbs and Pikiell seems to be doing a good job creating a relationship with them as well.
^ Its well known he takes almost primarily online courses.
If Strickland doesnt bite, what/who is the backup plan. I really want this kid. I thik the NYC link, the fathers knowing eachother, and the fact he noted the dad feels very comfortable around the staff is big.
If Strickland doesnt bite, what/who is the backup plan. I really want this kid. I thik the NYC link, the fathers knowing eachother, and the fact he noted the dad feels very comfortable around the staff is big.
JUCO guard Devonte Bandoo was mentioned as another guard we were looking at:
https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/watching-juco-guard-devonte-bandoo-tonight.141377/
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We are up the creek if Strickland doesn’t commit - esp if Sanders doesn’t return. I’m pretty pessimistic on both. Hope I’m wrong.
Kind of depends on the prof doesn't it? While it has been a long time, I seem to recall a few classes where it it was made clear at the outset of the semester - "Here is the course syllabus, along with the required reading, I don't take attendance, there will be a mid-term, and a final, and two papers - the dates are listed ... OK let's begin"
- - it was entirely possible to attend just the first day, the mid-term and the final, turn in the papers - and get an A.
Given the rigors of the schedule of a basketball season, a selection of on-line classes and select classes like above might be a wise choice if your academic major will accommodate it - and if you have the discipline to independently do your work.
People just don;t realize how prevalent online classes are. My son, while at school had a job as a videographer. He basically sat in an office while a wall mounted camera recorded the professor. Every 1:20 he would take the video and upload it so the students in the online sections could then watch at their convenience. Tests were online and given in centralized locations. Great job because he got to study for 1:19 and work for 1 minute.
Also, his current girlfriend is getting her masters in engineering from a school ranked a litter higher than Rutgers. She is doing it 100% via online videotaped classes. She has not been to campus this semester once.
Head scratcher as he is not a primary ball handler, correct? We have a lot of guards at this point.
Dear Lord with the drama...and I don’t know how you can read that article and come away being pessimistic, to be honest, but OK.
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Kind of a combo guard but does/can play lead guard. Watched some game film on him, he has some lead guard skills, but I would say more of a combo guard than a true point.
There are at least 2 names that are alternatives beyond Strickland and Bandoo and while they haven't been mentioned (person I know has confirmed they are legitimate alternatives), they are options that can help RU in backcourt....while I'm confident Strickland may ultimately pick RU, it would be foolish to make a guess or such a bold statement that is 100% inaccurate.....All I can say is there are legitimate options, but Strickland checks the most boxes right now, especially as a 4 year player....
There is absolutely very little that RU fans can find a reason to complain about since the 1st day of the B1G tournament after beating Minnesota.....they stepped up their play, the backcourt specifically showed the fans they can play at a high level, and we impressed recruits around the region....on top of that, we have not 1 but 2 scholarships now available to add to the improvement of the roster since Friday and the one player that visited this weekend in Strickland, had a strong visit that gives a lot of confidence he's a significant upgrade over the departing players in Mensah and Bullock.
This also includes a key target in Ismael Massoud for 2019, being on campus again earlier this month, a consensus Top 100 player at the SF position, whose brother also secured an offer from Ash and the football program, as a big time recruit.
We've come a long way from the "woe is me"....just my opinion or as much as I can put here, without adding more names or possibilities....I'm pretty bullish on the programs next 2-3 years for a LOT of reasons....and the ultimate compliment of everything, is we now have a legitimate trigger man at QB in football, that will get things going there. So those unofficial visits for both football and basketball on game days in September/October, all tie together for recruiting....
Rutgers, Wisconsin, Minnesota - all respectable academic institutions - while the basketball opportunity is a huge driver of the decision making process ... Tai has received a life long message about the value of properly & credibly gaining his degree - from those around him - especially his father - Rod - who left DePaul without having completed his degree.
See the following video of Rod under going his oral review to obtain his degree through the University Without Walls program at Northeaster Illinois University. Rod discusses the many college athletes that he has observed & counseled who neglected the educational opportunities before them - and ended up without credentials.
another interesting connection to the the NY area - Rod grew up with Kyrie Irving's father - has known him since they were in the 3rd grade - and Rod is Kyrie's godfather. - interesting story & also discussion of Rod's kids & how he encourages academics - pick this up at 16:00 mark - interesting discussion
See the following video of Rod under going his oral review to obtain his degree through the University Without Walls program at Northeaster Illinois University. Rod discusses the many college athletes that he has observed & counseled who neglected the educational opportunities before them - and ended up without credentials.
another interesting connection to the the NY area - Rod grew up with Kyrie Irving's father - has known him since they were in the 3rd grade - and Rod is Kyrie's godfather. - interesting story & also discussion of Rod's kids & how he encourages academics - pick this up at 16:00 mark - interesting discussion
Today’s 18-22 year olds love videos, online learning. My friend, a HS teacher, talked about a former student telling her he makes “how to” learning videos, and sells them. Said young people don’t want to read, more interested in viewing a video.
Thanks for insight, Mad. It seems like there are a lot of combo guards these days. It just seems like the team is in need of a primary ball handler. Unless Pikiell could see Bandoo playing a third guard position with his size. Even then, seems like the roster is pretty full there.
Agree, I am sure everyone here knows that I have been pushing for a true point guard for many years.
Productive learning -
The basics of the following were laid out in the 1940's - the percentages and combinations may be debated but the fundamentals are generally accepted - sort of the expanded version of see one - do one - teach one.
You can obtain full degrees strictly online at RU now. You would be wrong. I graduated within the last 5 years. There was plenty of options for a blended courseload.
It also depends on the college and undergraduate vs. graduate. For undergraduate, arts and sciences has online options, but SEBS/Cook, engineering and others do not or very little. Until the experience can be improved, most undergrad courses can still not be offered online effectively, although that may change. At the graduate level, there are more opportunities for online degrees, because Rutgers and other universities want to attract working professionals, but that wouldn’t be applicable to this discussion.