SJU's Luis in the Portal
- Thread starter Halldan1
- Start date
Time to make a splash… payback for Kadary!!
After the way it ended on Saturday, with him on the bench and Pitino’s postgame comments, can’t say I’m surprised.
Not sure it’s that. This is pro free agency. I’m sure if the could anti-up they’d keep him - why wouldn’t they want to? But despite what’s posted here I’ve never bought they can compete with the $$ of the big boys.
Oh, I meant the ending influenced his decision to enter the portal, not Pitino. No question money is a factor in everything college hoops related now, but I can’t help but think the way things ended(that was a pretty ugly ending to what was a fairytale season for him and the johnnies)helped make up his mind. Maybe I’m wrong.
You may be right. Like I said was interesting they announced today that Zuby was locked up. I don’t think his price tag would be any less than Luis. Maybe the kid and Pitino have an issue, but seems unlikely IMO given where that kid came from and what he turned into under Pitino. Maybe Pitino doesn’t want to break the bank for him based on what else they can get for the same dollars.
Or maybe they can’t just compete at the upper levels when it comes to $$, which is what I think for all BE schools save for maybe Uconn.
Creighton is regarded as having very strong NIL, yet they lost Nembhard and Kaluma in back to back years to the portal. I always chalked that up to them either not being able to pay or wanting to pay, because why would Mac want to lose Nembard who has been one of the best PGs in college basketball the last two years. And what PG (or wing like Kaluma) wouldn’t want to play in Creighton’s offensive system. It is a guards/forwards dream.
I think it will take time for schools to fully understand and accept the market prices of players. Those that hire GMs are likely to get there first.
Trouble in paradise there. Don’t think it’s a money issue.
If I remember there was something McDermott said in the locker room which was offensive, and think they both left right after that, which was after a elite eight run.
Jalen’s an expert on taking cash, that’s for sure.
The famous “plantation” quote:
"Guys, we got to stick together," McDermott says. "We need both feet in. I need everybody to stay on the plantation. I can't have anybody leave the plantation."
The plantation comment. But they left in different years; and I don’t know if either had anything to do with Mac’s comments.
as long as their gms make good assumptions which is hardly a given.
Word was he was having issues with the bounce pass so Pitino sent him packing.
Speaking of pitino what happend to the perfection of Richmonds jumper he spoke of?
We sound like someone with a house and property in utter disrepair mocking our neighbor for having one weed in the perfectly manicured lawn in front of his newly renovated Mcmansion.
The spin from SJU fans would be great.
"Actually RJ wasn't our best player last year, Zuby was."
"RJ was always going to leave."
"Pitino made him who he was and he can make (insert portal player here) just as good, probably better honestly"
If he stays in college, he wants to compete in a championship. He has the creds to go anywhere to do that. No more loyalty, for most coaches and players.
Slicky --maybe-just maybe --got a jump on the portal . Joson Sanon and now Bryce.Hopkins. He may have had a plan.
His GM Matt Abdelmassih is one of the best in the business. St. John’s grad who was an ace recruiter for Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State a decade ago.
He has them in place to land 2 more studs who are not even in portal yet.
Silas Demry visiting Pitino tomorrow. He seems like a tough get with a Kentucky hot and heavy for him. He also is looking at UCONN
Interesting.
If RJ Luis told you during the end of season interview that he wants to turn pro and go through the combine/draft process, but will leave open the possibility of returning to college, do you:
Wait until the end of May for him to decide, structure your whole offseason and NIL funds on the possibility he might return, and if he comes back hope you can win out a bidding war even if you are highly confident he stays (assuming he doesn’t turn pro);
Or
Wish him well and go about building your roster with (hopefully) suitable replacements, since it is pretty hard to replace a kid like that with one player
I'm skeptical that Hopkins can play 32 minutes a game at the pace Pitino demands & still hold up for the entire season.
It's a legitimate risk IMO and one that only medical professionals and people close to the situation probably know the full extent of.
I don't know if that's more of a risk than holding out a spot for Luis and banking you can get him with the $$ he'll command if he returns to college, even if he doesn't turn pro.
