We need a center

[seels2662]

Now that we have some more spots opening up, its time to go after our absolutely #1 need..a CENTER. Yeah yeah it would be nice to get another shooter and maybe a wing with some length, but we got crippled last year with not enough big men and now we lost the two largest contributors in terms of minutes. Right now its really only Diallo and Doorson sharing minutes at center. What happens if one gets into early foul trouble or worse one gets injured. We will have to throw a 6'7" Freeman out there under the rim for long stretches and people smaller than him at PF. Bottom line we really need that third center.

Now the question is who can we get. I don't think we need a 5th year senior or some guy that will come in and be a major contributor. We can take a HS prospect whos a little raw but has some promise, and give him a few minutes here and there spelling time off of Shaq and Diallo keeping them fresh and out of foul trouble.

Now does anyone have any names of someone that can fit this bill?

 

[Knights 1212]

Could we possibly get involved at this late stage with Thompson from Brewster Academy who previously played at St. Anthony? I know SHU has been working on him for a long time and many think Syracuse has the inside track. Could Hobbs and Pikiell work some magic at this late stage?

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Now that we have some more spots opening up, its time to go after our absolutely #1 need..a CENTER. Yeah yeah it would be nice to get another shooter and maybe a wing with some length, but we got crippled last year with not enough big men and now we lost the two largest contributors in terms of minutes. Right now its really only Diallo and Doorson sharing minutes at center. What happens if one gets into early foul trouble or worse one gets injured. We will have to throw a 6'7" Freeman out there under the rim for long stretches and people smaller than him at PF. Bottom line we really need that third center.

Now the question is who can we get. I don't think we need a 5th year senior or some guy that will come in and be a major contributor. We can take a HS prospect whos a little raw but has some promise, and give him a few minutes here and there spelling time off of Shaq and Diallo keeping them fresh and out of foul trouble.

Now does anyone have any names of someone that can fit this bill?

this guy Rojaye Campbell has been mentioned here. Had a Sb offer, so Pikiell knows him and Rivals shows a Seton Hall offer. 3 Star, 6'9", 230. I'm hesitant to use this word on this board, but Pikiell,said he is looking for guys with "Upside". Could be our Jameel Warney.

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/maple/156725

 

[rufeelinit]

Tough time of year to be shopping for one. Also the game seems to have evolved. While you need quality bigs the traditional center position seems less important.

 

[seels2662]

Tough time of year to be shopping for one. Also the game seems to have evolved. While you need quality bigs the traditional center position seems less important.

I agree the dominant 7 footers seem to be history, but we still need a good big man under there.

I know that we are way late for finding the best centers, but I don't think thats really the need we can get someone who we think can evolve to a productive player in his Junior and Senior year. Right now we need someone for a few minutes here and there, and to have someone to play against in practice.

 

[MCKnight]

The kid Richmond Azrirough ?spell? from Trenton Catholic would fit this bill, 6'9" lot of d1 interest, but looks like he committed to Princeton

 

[TDIrish27]

VTech has a 7 Foot kid looking to transfer. That might be the only way to get one but he'll have to sit a year.

There is a kid from Duquesne who could really help Rutgers looking to leave as a grad transfer.

Name is Gill-----6'7 -6'8 and was a pretty solid if not spectacular player for them.

 

[RUJMM78]

I agree the dominant 7 footers seem to be history, but we still need a good big man under there.

I know that we are way late for finding the best centers, but I don't think thats really the need we can get someone who we think can evolve to a productive player in his Junior and Senior year. Right now we need someone for a few minutes here and there, and to have someone to play against in practice.

The two Rutgers centers are coming off injuries.I would much prefer a fifth year senior that could provide quality minutes versus a project freshmen recruited just to give up fouls.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

We have a laundry list of needs. Center is one of them. If i were to rank our needs in terms of importance centers would not be near the top.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Seels...

Actually, I think we need another POWER FORWARD more than a center for next year...We have Doorson and Diallo at the center...two guys

We have Freeman at the four...and Laurent at the three....Thiam is a high post four

We could use a LOW POST FOUR MAN to replace Foreman....get us a 4th forward...as I am not sold on Diallo playing any four spot.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

But...in reality....WE.......NEED.......EVERYTHING.......

 

[RU-ROCS]

Center is a big need. Foot fractures for 7 footers are sometimes a big problem that lead to chronic issues going forward. I hope that's not the case with Doorson because I like his upside based on his first season here. But, there is no guarantee he'll be back at 100%. If he can;t stay healthy we would be desperate for another center.

 

[78CollegeAve]

Syracuse 6-9 junior C Chinonso Obokoh will graduate and look to transfer per twitter. Tired of sitting on the pine for Jimmy? Sure, come on down.

 

[seels2662]

Seels...

Actually, I think we need another POWER FORWARD more than a center for next year...We have Doorson and Diallo at the center...two guys

We have Freeman at the four...and Laurent at the three....Thiam is a high post four

We could use a LOW POST FOUR MAN to replace Foreman....get us a 4th forward...as I am not sold on Diallo playing any four spot.

I don't mind if its a four, but it has to be a big four that can play minutes at center not a stretch four that will get pushed around by the basket. The only issue with what you are saying is that that type of guy isn't really available since they are gobbled up quickly whereas a project five may be.

 

[ScarletLongIsland_rivals]

Karl Hobbs has a good relationship at Brewster FWIW

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

6'8''-6'10'' athletic, wing span to block shots > 7' center who rebounds and is a low post threat, but not agile

 

[PatrickRU92]

we shouldn't be worried about positions. Sure we can use some size but we need basketball players. Get them on the team, worry about the positions later (as long as we don't sign ten 6'0 guards of course)

 

[G- RUnit]

Can win without a center. We need players period.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

We need a big strong player to rebound, defend and bang.....period. It doesn't matter if you call him a center or a power forward and it's highly unlikely will be able to get one who can score. Who knows what we will get with Doorson and I don't expect much at all from Diallo. Even Greg Lewis would have been fine if we had him for another year. A 5th year senior would be perfect.

 

[Spoons401K]

Could we possibly get involved at this late stage with Thompson from Brewster Academy who previously played at St. Anthony? I know SHU has been working on him for a long time and many think Syracuse has the inside track. Could Hobbs and Pikiell work some magic at this late stage?

I always go back to the quote from Red Auerbach when the Blazers drafted Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan. The GM of Portland said we already have Clyde Drexler so we need a center. Red's response was "so play him at center". My point being is just get good players. Don't worry about the position.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

So center's not important now? We were down to one center most of last year with only Lewis, a senior with a lot of experience under his belt, and all we heard was we had no bodies up front. With Lewis gone, all we have now are two guys returning from foot injuries that have barely played. I know Freeman was out and a power forward too but he's undersized at that (legitimately 6-6 maybe) and is not going to be able to match up with Big Ten centers. I know "we need everything" but we desperately need to get someone with some length and/or bulk for next season.

 

[seels2662]

6'8''-6'10'' athletic, wing span to block shots > 7' center who rebounds and is a low post threat, but not agile

I agree with you GRF, but the athletic 6'10" is not around anymore.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

The kid Richmond Azrirough ?spell? from Trenton Catholic would fit this bill, 6'9" lot of d1 interest, but looks like he committed to Princeton

The odds of him actually being 6'9", as listed in high school, are minimal. I'd bet he's more like 6'7 1/2" if properly measured (see: no sneakers, flat to the scalp). I'll ask my dad as he still goes to a lot of local games down there.

 

[higgins3]

We have a laundry list of needs. Center is one of them. If i were to rank our needs in terms of importance centers would not be near the top.

Who rebounds?

 

[higgins3]

I agree with you GRF, but the athletic 6'10" is not around anymore.

Much more interested in someone who can rebound. Blocking shots?How many shots do you see actually blocked these days?4 per game?Rebounds>blocking shots. Also, like seels said, our chance is very low to pick up someone as you described.

Maybe Kristaps Porzingis wants to transfer for a year?

 

[higgins3]

We need a big strong player to rebound, defend and bang.....period. It doesn't matter if you call him a center or a power forward and it's highly unlikely will be able to get one who can score. Who knows what we will get with Doorson and I don't expect much at all from Diallo. Even Greg Lewis would have been fine if we had him for another year. A 5th year senior would be perfect.

Graduate transfer would be best like many have already said.

Doorson was on four wheels the majority of the year. I saw him three weeks ago walking though free of carriage so that is good.

 

[higgins3]

Seels...

Actually, I think we need another POWER FORWARD more than a center for next year...We have Doorson and Diallo at the center...two guys

We have Freeman at the four...and Laurent at the three....Thiam is a high post four

We could use a LOW POST FOUR MAN to replace Foreman....get us a 4th forward...as I am not sold on Diallo playing any four spot.

Two guys both extremely raw/injured. Diallos game leaves me wondering what he can be.At times I saw positive, but others very raw. Also, game was a tad too slow. Still, I have hope. Just needs to run around with his hands up all practice and work on some drills where he doesn't jump so much on fakes,etc.

 

[RUJMM78]

we shouldn't be worried about positions. Sure we can use some size but we need basketball players. Get them on the team, worry about the positions later (as long as we don't sign ten 6'0 guards of course)

My top priority isn't position but rather ability to score.Just look at Villanova and they had scoring threats at every position which makes defending them very difficult.In contrast Rutgers is easy to defend because there are very few consistent scorers which resulted in Sanders being double teamed or having a taller defender guarding him.

The talent must be upgraded for next season.Rutgers can't have another throw away season with 7-10 wins.Project type recruits will keep Rutgers at the bottom of the B1G.

 

[seels2662]

My top priority isn't position but rather ability to score.Just look at Villanova and they had scoring threats at every position which makes defending them very difficult.In contrast Rutgers is easy to defend because there are very few consistent scorers which resulted in Sanders being double teamed or having a taller defender guarding him.

The talent must be upgraded for next season.Rutgers can't have another throw away season with 7-10 wins.Project type recruits will keep Rutgers at the bottom of the B1G.

Here's the issue with that statement...141 out of the Rivals top 150 are committed and just about all the good players not in the top 150 are as well. There is noone to upgrade with. You have to find pieces that will help. A center that could give us a few minutes now will help.

 

[seels2662]

Just random searching on the internet, anyone know Bourama Sidibe from St. Benedict's? He would fit my criteria.

 

[shields]

Diallo needs to get in weight room.

 

[rufeelinit]

In Ochefu Villanova had a more traditional back to the basket center to keep teams honest and allow space for the other guys to create dish and fire away. Otherwise I thought their lack of size and depth at the center and power forward position would have hurt them. Never happened and shot well enough to win it all.

With regard to doorson and diallo. I thought doorson showed more upside last year than Diallo did this year. Certainly could use another big but I wouldn't expect much based on time of year and uncommitted inventory.

 

[RUJMM78]

Here's the issue with that statement...141 out of the Rivals top 150 are committed and just about all the good players not in the top 150 are as well. There is noone to upgrade with. You have to find pieces that will help. A center that could give us a few minutes now will help.

I understand what you are saying but those comments could have been said for the last 25 years where Rutgers was getting no name recruits.Many of the better players transferred after two years.

 

[78CollegeAve]

RUJMM -- "Rutgers can't have another throw away season with 7-10 wins."

I disagree. Let's say the staff brings in a couple of grad transfers for 16-17 and signs a couple of decent h.s. kids in November. Even if it's a 7-10 win season, the trend line will be positive IF the staff can coach well enough to keep some of the games close and avoid the 40 and 50-point debacles of the Jordan regime.

Year 1 for a staff isn't about the losses. It's about that first recruiting class, off-season S+C for the returnees, running consistent O and D schemes, some close games, no blowouts and showing some development over the course of the season.