2018 recruiting class wishlist

[scru]

Since Teddy got the ball rolling with his article today, thought I'd start a thread on 2018 recruiting "wish list". I'm going to start with an assumption of four scholarships, although as it currently stands, we'd have five available. I still believe CCC brings in one more player this cycle who will play beyond 2017, whether a transfer or current HS senior.

We're losing (that we know of) one lead guard, one wing, and one combo big. Our depth chart for 2018/19 currently looks like (years remaining):

LG: I Brown (2), Ash (1)
Wings: Law (1), AG (3 or 4)
PF: Falzon (2), Rap (3)
C: Pardon (1), Benson (2)

The big unknown here is my assumed addition of one player this cycle that plays beyond 2017. That spot could dramatically change the needs.

Next issue is that there are zero offers out to 2018 centers that Rivals DB is aware of. Really makes me hope that CCC has something up his sleeve in this spring cycle.

Given this picture, my wishlist is (rivals rankings for 2018):

LG: Ayo Dosunmu (22) - I really like David Duke and agree with those that believe he may be the better player currently, but I think landing top Chicago talent will help NU to truly become Chicago's B1G Team and create greater area interest going forward.

Wing: Talen Horton-Tucker (146) - seems his stock is on the rise, has the Baldwin connection, and like Ayo, would help NU with local area interest.

Wing: Cormac Ryan (63) - following Teddy's lead here and it would be awesome if he got the ball rolling with an early commit.

PF: Pete Nance (39) - also a player with rising stock and from the little I've been able to read on him, seems like NU could be a good fit for him.


Obviously this is a high bar and completely unprecedented for NU. As Teddy wrote, CMac would be our highest ranked recruit to date out of HS, so for CCC and Co to land 2 others even higher ranked than CMac would be an incredible accomplishment. Have I gone entirely Cat Crazy, or do you think this is feasible?

 

[GOUNUII]

Since Teddy got the ball rolling with his article today, thought I'd start a thread on 2018 recruiting "wish list". I'm going to start with an assumption of four scholarships, although as it currently stands, we'd have five available. I still believe CCC brings in one more player this cycle who will play beyond 2017, whether a transfer or current HS senior.

We're losing (that we know of) one lead guard, one wing, and one combo big. Our depth chart for 2018/19 currently looks like (years remaining):

LG: I Brown (2), Ash (1)
Wings: Law (1), AG (3 or 4)
PF: Falzon (2), Rap (3)
C: Pardon (1), Benson (2)

The big unknown here is my assumed addition of one player this cycle that plays beyond 2017. That spot could dramatically change the needs.

Next issue is that there are zero offers out to 2018 centers that Rivals DB is aware of. Really makes me hope that CCC has something up his sleeve in this spring cycle.

Given this picture, my wishlist is (rivals rankings for 2018):

LG: Ayo Dosunmu (22) - I really like David Duke and agree with those that believe he may be the better player currently, but I think landing top Chicago talent will help NU to truly become Chicago's B1G Team and create greater area interest going forward.

Wing: Talen Horton-Tucker (146) - seems his stock is on the rise, has the Baldwin connection, and like Ayo, would help NU with local area interest.

Wing: Cormac Ryan (63) - following Teddy's lead here and it would be awesome if he got the ball rolling with an early commit.

PF: Pete Nance (39) - also a player with rising stock and from the little I've been able to read on him, seems like NU could be a good fit for him.


Obviously this is a high bar and completely unprecedented for NU. As Teddy wrote, CMac would be our highest ranked recruit to date out of HS, so for CCC and Co to land 2 others even higher ranked than CMac would be an incredible accomplishment. Have I gone entirely Cat Crazy, or do you think this is feasible?

Not going Cat Crazy at all. Getting Ryan early would be a huge boost to the chances of landing other top prospects. It would be another important step in changing the perception of the program. I like our chances with Nance as well. Like Ryan, Nance and his family aren't chasing the notoriety. They understand that great opportunities find you when you have the goods. Were the Cats to land Ryan and Nance early, say in the next month or so, the sky would be the limit on how well they could finish. I like taking another guard and a Vic Law replacement....assuming we have 4 schollies for 2018. Two guards and two forwards. That leaves a center to be addressed in 2019 when Benson is a senior. Would rather get one in 2018, but don't see that happening unless new names emerge this summer ... which would not surprise me if Collins already has 2 big name commits going into the summer evaluation period.

GOUNUII

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

This type of thread gets me so excited about northwestern basketball. Taking a step back I realize how amazing being a fan of this program is.

 

[Sec.112]

... Next issue is that there are zero offers out to 2018 centers that Rivals DB is aware of. Really makes me hope that CCC has something up his sleeve in this spring cycle ...

I couldn't agree more. Verbal Commits paints a similar picture - 10 prospects 6-6 and under, two at 6-8, two at 6-9.

A few months ago, someone out here asked what NU needs to do to be more like Wisconsin. For me the answer is easy - size, size and size. This team needs juuuuuust tad more size.

But going forward, NU needs those 4 & 5 positions to have one player at 6-8+, another at 6-10+ and another rotational guy off the bench at a similar size.

 

[mickbula]

I saw THorton-Tucker play in person in Peoria for the state championship. He was really talented and athletic. I am just wondering where he will play for us. He pretty much did just about everything for Simeon. He brought the ball up the court and seemed like a point guard- yet he also had a presence inside and under the hoop. At 6'5" I guess he'd be a guard for us- but he's got some serious muscle to him. I can see him being a shut-down the opposition star guard defensively. Kind of like Law is, but for more shutting down the opponents' point guard. If we face another version of Maryland's Melo, THT would be able to stop them. He would be a great get for us!

 

[Hungry Jack]

I saw THorton-Tucker play in person in Peoria for the state championship. He was really talented and athletic. I am just wondering where he will play for us. He pretty much did just about everything for Simeon. He brought the ball up the court and seemed like a point guard- yet he also had a presence inside and under the hoop. At 6'5" I guess he'd be a guard for us- but he's got some serious muscle to him. I can see him being a shut-down the opposition star guard defensively. Kind of like Law is, but for more shutting down the opponents' point guard. If we face another version of Maryland's Melo, THT would be able to stop them. He would be a great get for us!

Built like Sanjay. Moves like Lindsey.

 

[scru]

I saw THorton-Tucker play in person in Peoria for the state championship. He was really talented and athletic. I am just wondering where he will play for us. He pretty much did just about everything for Simeon. He brought the ball up the court and seemed like a point guard- yet he also had a presence inside and under the hoop. At 6'5" I guess he'd be a guard for us- but he's got some serious muscle to him. I can see him being a shut-down the opposition star guard defensively. Kind of like Law is, but for more shutting down the opponents' point guard. If we face another version of Maryland's Melo, THT would be able to stop them. He would be a great get for us!

I think he's a great fit for the wing position in CCC's system. He's clearly got the athleticism for it, may need to continue working on his shooting, but which player doesn't? I think the key attributes for being a successful wing in this system are as follows (ranked):

1. Athleticism, enabling tough on ball defense and rebounding, transition game
2. Shooting Range, ability to hit the open 3
3. Length, more arm length than height, supports attribute 1
4. Ball Handling, primarily around the perimeter and in transition, ability to drive is nice to have
5. Finishing at the Rim, primarily in transition

In my view of the system, the wings are key for enabling the transition game through their D, rebounding, speed up the court, and ability to finish at the rim. In the half court game, the wings need to enable good perimeter ball movement and space the floor with their 3 pt shooting.

I think Anthony Gaines fits this criteria very well, and am excited to see him contribute this season. THT seems like an equally good fit for the position and someone who could really develop in this system.