Losing ET was a tough, tough blow. So many things went right for SHU and until about 7-10 days ago, all signs were pointing to SHU. But time to move on.
First, on our two current commits. Coming into the cycle, SHU was after Long, Farakkhan and Posh at PG. They chose to prioritize Long and landed their top guy at PG so good job there. Once they read the tea leaves on Maddox (much faster than I did), they closed on their plan B guy at the 2-guard spot in Dimingus Stevens. FWIW, a BC coach told me he thinks Stevens is better than Maddox, but I won't go there. He's a solid low-end 4-star guy and a good get.
Staff then swung and missed on two top targets in Elijah Taylor and Earl Timberlake. What is nice, is unlike most years, the staff already locked up two of the targets close to the top of their list before these two went elsewhere.
Where does that leave us? A solid C+ class. We don't have the headline guy yet that you want to see, but we do have two guys who figure to be 4 year contributors and potential big time players as they develop. The class is disappointing so far, but also not a complete failure.
Where do we go from here? Obviously, 4-star, top 50 wing Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe has to be who you go all in on and they will roll out the red carpet next week on his OV. With how good MAM is playing this year, I could see him blowing up though. SHUs best hope is to try and wrap him up early and speed up his timeline. I don't have great sources here, but the one guy I speak with who is local says he's heard SHU thinks they are in a good spot.
Outside of MAM, who else is left? One is rapidly rising local center Josh Gray. SHU hosted him for an unofficial this fall and will likely host him for an official at some point,but I don't get the sense SHU is in a great spot with him, although I have no sources. Donte Houston remains uncommitted and SHU remains an option, but they don't seem to be pursuing him heavily. Same deal with Akeem Odusipe, although SHU is after him more than Houston. FWIW, I have heard Houston has grade concerns.
The other two options are Darius Miles, originally from the DMV now playing in Florida, and Darlinstone Dubar, both are wings with upside.
Without MAM committing to SHU, this class can't really rise above a B- in my mind and would be a disappointment. Landing MAM puts this class about where you would have hoped and around a B+/A-. One top 50 kid with 2-3 solid top 150 kids behind them. I see SHU going after a sit-out transfer as they traditionally do as well.
Overall, losing Earl was a big time blow and you can't say this cycle is going as planned. However, it is also not a complete disaster as the staff got their top PG target and a plan B SG. If they can close MAM, it is still a very good class. Without MAM, an absolute disappointment but a disappointment that will still produce a couple of solid players for SHU.
First, on our two current commits. Coming into the cycle, SHU was after Long, Farakkhan and Posh at PG. They chose to prioritize Long and landed their top guy at PG so good job there. Once they read the tea leaves on Maddox (much faster than I did), they closed on their plan B guy at the 2-guard spot in Dimingus Stevens. FWIW, a BC coach told me he thinks Stevens is better than Maddox, but I won't go there. He's a solid low-end 4-star guy and a good get.
Staff then swung and missed on two top targets in Elijah Taylor and Earl Timberlake. What is nice, is unlike most years, the staff already locked up two of the targets close to the top of their list before these two went elsewhere.
Where does that leave us? A solid C+ class. We don't have the headline guy yet that you want to see, but we do have two guys who figure to be 4 year contributors and potential big time players as they develop. The class is disappointing so far, but also not a complete failure.
Where do we go from here? Obviously, 4-star, top 50 wing Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe has to be who you go all in on and they will roll out the red carpet next week on his OV. With how good MAM is playing this year, I could see him blowing up though. SHUs best hope is to try and wrap him up early and speed up his timeline. I don't have great sources here, but the one guy I speak with who is local says he's heard SHU thinks they are in a good spot.
Outside of MAM, who else is left? One is rapidly rising local center Josh Gray. SHU hosted him for an unofficial this fall and will likely host him for an official at some point,but I don't get the sense SHU is in a great spot with him, although I have no sources. Donte Houston remains uncommitted and SHU remains an option, but they don't seem to be pursuing him heavily. Same deal with Akeem Odusipe, although SHU is after him more than Houston. FWIW, I have heard Houston has grade concerns.
The other two options are Darius Miles, originally from the DMV now playing in Florida, and Darlinstone Dubar, both are wings with upside.
Without MAM committing to SHU, this class can't really rise above a B- in my mind and would be a disappointment. Landing MAM puts this class about where you would have hoped and around a B+/A-. One top 50 kid with 2-3 solid top 150 kids behind them. I see SHU going after a sit-out transfer as they traditionally do as well.
Overall, losing Earl was a big time blow and you can't say this cycle is going as planned. However, it is also not a complete disaster as the staff got their top PG target and a plan B SG. If they can close MAM, it is still a very good class. Without MAM, an absolute disappointment but a disappointment that will still produce a couple of solid players for SHU.
