2008 incoming freshman class

M

MissouHorn

25+ Posts
Who do we have coming in next year? Will Matt Hill and anyone else that didnt play this past season get any playing time? Is this Dogus Balbay the real deal? We definitely need to improve upon our depth. That was our one true shortcoming.
 
We have J'Covan Brown coming in and maybe (probably not) Evans. It is possible we could get the kid that was committed to Indiana. Matt Hill will play next year and I expect will be solid. Dogus will miss the first 10 games due NCAA violations but he is the real deal. He is an insane athlete. Doesn't shoot well but can leap and is a good ball handler. Absolutely great athlete and he is the person I am most excited to watch next year. I think he is gonna be awesome.
 
J'Covan Brown is the only committed player thus far. We're still after Tyreke Evans, Devin Ebanks (decommit from IU), Jeff Taylor (SF from New Mexico), and possibly Scotty Hopson (from Kentucky). Evans, Ebanks, and Hopson are all in the top 12-15 players in the country. Taylor is supposedly underrated due to a lack of AAU participation.

The scholarship numbers are a bit uncertain. Depends on who ends up declaring for the NBA. Right now, JD Lewis's scholarship is the only one that will open up and it's supposed to go to Brown.

A month ago, I was really worried about DJ declaring and leaving a gaping hole at PG. I'm not as optimistic about Balbay as some are. PG who can't shoot worries me a lot. But Justin Mason's play down the stretch was really encouraging and, if we start the season with a lineup of:

PG - Mason
SG - Abrams
SF - James
PF - Atchley
C - Pittman

I'd feel pretty good with this lineup. The way Pittman played in the Tourney, I really think he needs to start next year. That would leave Chapman, Wangmene, and Hill as frontcourt backups. Brown and Balbay as backcourt reserves. Plus, of course, Harrison Smith and whoever is recruited to fill Augustin's spot.

This roster looks a lot better to me now than a month ago, due to what I see as significant growth by Pittman and Chapman. I'm not sure what I think of Wangmene's game and what Matt Hill will bring next year. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised. From this perspective, I think a SF with a bit of size to replace James is pretty important for the following class (Jordan Hamilton?).
 
Exactly. He can always become a better shooter but he does the things that can't be taught. He has natural gifts and I think he is gonna do some great things next year.
 
Did Balbay work out with the team all year? Also, I kept hearing that Matt Hill was looking so good he would be starting/playing or whatever. Is he likely already at Atchley's level, or is that too much to say?
 
as far as point guards who can't shoot, i think it's safe to say that tj ford is the very clear exception to the rule. if you're saying that balbay is tj ford-good in terms of floor vision, speed, quickness, leadership, and ability to finish around the rim...fine, i'm anxious to see him in action. there are plenty of guys who played that position that struggled because they couldn't shoot. let's just agree that we're having to speculate about balbay, since he hasn't played a game yet in college and will have sat for a year w/o action by next season.

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College basketball frequently has point guards who can't shoot, but do well in running teams. The exception for TJ is that he was drafted in the top 10 due to his exceptional quickness, handles and domination in a college game.

Rumeal Robinson and Curtis Jerrels are two in conference that come to mind. Mason has the potential to be one. If Eaton played smarter, he would be one.

Balbay has the athleticism to be a good/great defender and the experience of running teams (internationally). There is a lot to look forward to next season, especially the impact of Balbay and Brown.
 
Is there a chance anyone uses a redshirt next year? James, Atchley, Pittman, Johnson, Wangmene, Chapman, Hill...definitely not enough minutes to go around. Who gets left out?

Any chance Harrison sees the floor if DJ comes back?
 
It's a fairly standard suspension for these European kids who play for clubs that sponsor a pro team. They don't get paid, but they suit up and sit on the bench.

It's a remarkable bit of hypocrisy brought to you by the same group that authorizes college guys to play with pros in the summer, as long as admission isn't charged...
 
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