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Per twitter, Howland and McCray went to see Kasongo this weekend in Toronto and today took a private jet to see him again in Idaho... This guy is obviously a HUGE priority for us on many levels- with our obvious need for an impact big man, his connection to Malik Newman, plus Newman's desire for us to sign another post player. Getting those two to sign on for next year would expedite the rebuilding process tremendously, IMO.
So any news on who leads with kasongo?
247 say its us
If we get Newman and Kasongo and hold onto Tookie and Spoon we have got to have a top 10 class. Howland's very last signing class at UCLA was ranked #1 in the country. Man did we ever land a whale in Howland! We are incredibly lucky right now. Timing is EVERYTHING in life. Not even a week after we get Howland, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona St. and St. John's all have their HC spot open up. Bama too. This decision to fire Ray and Hire Howland has leapfrogged MSU all the way to a top 25 program again and it's a decision that will have a lasting hugely positive effect on the basketball program for twenty years. What a fantastic week for MSU basketball!Quote:
Originally Posted by messageboardsuperhero
Add Kasongo & Malik we finish 18 or 19 with or without Tookie in the class.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
ETA: this is according to 24/7
Tookie is rated higher than kasongoQuote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
Considering our coaches are flying all around North America to have two in-person visits with him in as many days, you have to feel like Howland and co. like our chances.
Damn you're even more wooly than I am, ha.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
Yes I am. Howland is the real ****ing deal boys. We landed a whale!Quote:
Originally Posted by messageboardsuperhero
And BTW, Howland and the staff locked up Weatherspoon for good a few days ago when they were visiting him and Malik in Jackson.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
Seems weatherspoon is becoming the forgotten guy in this class. I love this kid and think he will be a great player for usQuote:
Originally Posted by messageboardsuperhero
Awesome! I'm a little worried about Tookie though.Quote:
Originally Posted by messageboardsuperhero
Me too. More worried about us dropping him than him dropping us. I think it will be a mistake thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
PG has the more immediate upgrade effect for us. Tookie and Newman elevate our team offensively drastically. Spoon can hopefully get space because of them and play a Devin Booker type role for us. But Spoon will be playing the 2 or 3 and he's most likely not immediately an upgrade over Sword or Thomas that played the 2 or 3 last year. That's why Spoon isn't talked about as much as Newman (obviously) or Tookie. Those two will immediately add 10-15 extra points a night. Maybe more but we'll see how fast Howland really wants to play.Quote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
HUGE MISTAKE!! I'd be PISSED!! Please don't let that happenQuote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
We'll see what happens with Tookie.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
You still feel good about Newman?
Yep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacksondevildog
Can you expand further?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
No decision has been made on our side or his. We're not sure he's going to be apart of the class & right now he's not sure he wants to be.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
I really want tookie, but I wonder if it's a Tyler Russell situation. Howland predicates his teams on tough, man-to-man defense. I wonder how well ready and tookie will fit bc they're so undersized.
I don't buy that at all. Brown may be a little short for what Howland likes, but Darren Collison came into UCLA at 6' flat weighing 150 soaking wet and that turned out ok. I have no idea what Howland is thinking about Brown- but IMO, the "Howland fit" is more about having a tough guy mentality than being a certain size.Quote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Not calling you out specifically, but I've done a lot of research on Howland in the past week and it amazes me how so many people at UCLA and around the country have tried to pigeon hole him as boring or stubborn. I'm sure he has been stubborn at times, but there aren't many coaches in the country who have successfully adapted to different situations and circumstances throughout their career like Howland has. Luckily for us, he waited to adapt at the end of his UCLA tenure after it was already too late... Now sitting out two years, reflecting on his career, and traveling to other programs to study them- I believe Howland when he says he thinks he can do his best job ever here.
That's not to say I think he'll ever take us to three straight final fours, but he can win and win big here.
Tookie isn't undersized for Howland. Darren Collison right now today in the NBA is 6'0 175lbs. Tookie is listed as 5'11 180lbs. He's already thicker than an NBA player that Howland raised.Quote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Tookie isn't 5'11".
I certainly hope he's in the class, and my feelings on his potential are documented. But I trust Howland, whatever he feels is best.
I certainly want Tookie. We need to bring in a PG in this class besides Malik IMO unless Howland believes he can pull another elite CG/PG in the 2016 class to fill Malik's likely freshly vacated spot. Otherwise, we're looking at Ready being a Sr -- Malik being gone -- and us breaking in a true freshman or JUCO as backup PG. I'd rather have experience in the spot even if you redshirt that guy this year. Unless the next guy is elite as well. So, all that being said, I'll trust whatever Howland wants to do -- but I think passing on Tookie would be a mistake. Let's get him here -- make room -- and we can make the numbers work out in the future.
Kobi Simmons would be that elite CG we're targeting for the 2016 class.Quote:
Originally Posted by engie
Simmons is a stud. I have a feeling our 2016 class is going to be loaded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifyouonlyknew
Its Howland's decision, not mine, but as I've said numerous times I don't see how it can make sense to turn Tookie away and keep Dunlap when pretty much everything points to Tookie being the better player. Size is an issue for both so that's not a differentiator.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by maroonmania
If he can land Simmons, Howland can do whatever he wants right now in my opinion... But Tookie feels like an Isaiah Canaan-type that we'll kick ourselves about letting go to me...
Dunlap played for Jackson tigers, Malik's AAU team. Can't risk ruining any connections.Quote:
Originally Posted by maroonmania
Simmons, kegler, simonds, and a big man... This should be our goalQuote:
Originally Posted by engie
Daniels looks to be odd man out then is my guessQuote:
Originally Posted by Raytoraid83
Gotta be 2 if we sign kasongo and MalikQuote:
Originally Posted by Dawg61
James Banks is the big man we're targeting right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Also of note, UM took a Juco PG yesterday. Their website people say it has nothing to do with Newman though, and their coaches still like their chances... We'll see. They had been telling Newman all along that he'd be their starting PG next season if he were to sign.
Howland, Johnny Jones and Caliapari battle for Malik. Ole Miss is out.Quote:
Originally Posted by messageboardsuperhero
Josh LangfordQuote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Mario Kegler
James Banks
Braxton Blackwell
Kobi Simmons
That is our goal.
That's a pretty damn good goal.
Yep, if we sign both then its likely one frontcout player and one backcourt player will need to move on. Could be any 2 though I guess. For example, could be that Ndoye moves on and we keep one of Daniels and Zuppardo. Right now it seems that Daniels, Houston, Black and Zuppardo are sort of a logjam at the 4 position though Daniels plays the 3 some as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by msstate7
Sounds awesome but I'll believe it when I see it. You have to beat out UConn, Duke, UK, KU etc. for those type of guys.Quote:
Originally Posted by C222