Everyone is signed except the 7 footer who committed a few weeks ago.Originally Posted by U-Ute
Everyone is signed except the 7 footer who committed a few weeks ago.
Lahat Thioune?
Man my phone doesn’t like his name.
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Next signing period is in April --?
What's the story on Lahat? I can't find much about him. Is he another LK diamond in the rough?
In any case I hope someone can find a way to make a few sandwiches for him without violating NCAA rules. 6'11", 205 lbs. Wow.
Last edited by LA Ute; 04-11-2018 at 03:36 PM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Given the stellar class we are bringing in this year, what do you see happening with Jokl, Popoola and Caldwell? I had totally forgotten about Caldwell and Pop until I saw the wazzu game. Pop can’t even get in a game.
I have no inside info, but I'll be shocked if Jokl is still on the team next year. He was clearly a miss and just isn't a contributor at this level. I think he leaves and Thioune takes his spot.
I also think at least one of Caldwell and Pop will see the handwriting and look for more playing time elsewhere. I think Utah will then look for another grad transfer or maybe an overseas project to fill that scholarship.
This is all just pure, irresponsible speculation on my part.
Jokl is a nice young man, (had a chance to talk with him at length once), but just not hard nosed enough to play the 5 at this level. Might be OK in Europe.
Pop & Caldwell are both good athletes, but not very good basketball players---Pop can't go right (his off hand) & Caldwell has a horrible shot---that magically goes in some times.
Pop could use a year at a JC to get some playing time---Caldwell needs a shot doctor.
Larry stopped by to visit top 100 2018 point guard James akinjo today. He was committed to uconn but was recently released from his LOI.
I am not sure what to make of this latest news of Larry visiting Akinjo. We have Gaskin and Jones coming in already with Barefield slated to return at PG. I can understand if Larry doesn't feel completely confident in Barefield as the lead guard for next year but it seems like we have already recruited to that need. Am I missing something?
Isn't Gaskin a SG? I thought Jones was the only pure PG on the roster for next year?
FWIW...it seems both Gaskin and Jones are classified as SG.
http://www.verbalcommits.com/schools/utah
That makes more sense then. Thanks.
The good thing is that Larry and company are essentially playing with house money here. If he commits, awesome. The talent level has been increased as has the competition for playing time. If he doesn't commit, you have a borderline top-75 prospect coming at that position in 2019 and you thrive next year with an already deep guard line.
As for positions, this staff has been successful with a pg/combo guard backcourt (Wright/Taylor 2013-2015), two combo guards (Taylor/Bonam 2015-2016, Bonam/PVD/Zamora/Barefield 2016-2017), and a pg/combo (Bibbins/Barefield/PVD 2017-2018).
Just looking at our rosters as a whole year to year, the staff has done a pretty good job of just taking what they have and playing to the players strengths as opposed to forcing them into a system. Basically, I don't know that it matters if Jones or Gaskin are true points or not. I think the coaches will put them where they need to be to win.
Great post. I think the general move toward "positionless basketball" applies. It's been some time in the making, from the days of GGFFC, or 12345. For the past 10-15 years we see lineups of GGGFF far more often, and when the game starts it's all about breaking down defenses and finding shots, and less about fitting into positions.
On offense this year, Rawson is more of a SG than PVD is... because the 3 game is his strength. (Just as he found the ball fake this year, I hope Rawson keeps working on this game, starts playing his size a little more, develops a back-to-the-basket game he can go to. Whether it's in Europe, or Latin America, or wherever, if he keeps developing, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rawson find the end of an NBA bench somewhere down the road.)
These incoming guards are athletic enough to play D1 ball, but who knows how well they can facilitate and shoot. Delon was a natural PG at 6-5, and Taylor played well off the ball at 5-10. But if need be Taylor could facilitate the offense and Delon could do everything (except the long game).
The extreme example of facilitators not fitting the mold is Joe Ingles. If he can handle the ball, Timmy Allen might be that kind of player. Who knows.
And he is now committed to Georgetown. I considered him a "Playing with house money" type recruit anyway.
Not a bad morning for Georgetown. And another name that Ute fans should recognize.
Another Doutrive coming to the PAC-12. This one to...Arizona.
https://247sports.com/Article/Devona...zona-117107720
Devonaire will be at AZ, Deschon Winston at Cal, and Devonte Doutrive at Utah. All three went to Birmingham High in Van Nuys, not far from my home. I used to drive by it on the way to work every day.
Barf."The whole atmosphere," [Devonaire’s stepfather Laurian Watkins ] added about Arizona. "You can tell when you walk in there that it was a program of prestige and after meeting with the staff and counselors, it was something we could support as parents."
Doutrive, a standout at Van Nuys (Calif.) Birmingham, started an official visit with Arizona on Thursday. Doutrive informed the staff of his decision before he left campus.
"It seemed to fit his personality," Watkins said.
Watkins also noted that he's been impressed with Sean Miller, not only for how he recruited Doutrive, but for how he handled the drama surrounding Arizona during the season.
"Sean was just a straight forward guy," Watkins said. "He showed a lot of character. He handled the investigation stuff with class. It takes a lot to step away from the team, so you don’t create a further distraction, for someone to do that, it’s selfless. That’s what my boy are about, selfless, and that' how they play. They were so straight forward with us."
Last edited by LA Ute; 04-10-2018 at 05:53 AM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Per Bill, Charles Jones has been named first team all-american NJCAA.
When someone says Miller is a straightforward guy, I believe him.
Miller probably walks in, hands the kid a check, and says, “it is what it is.”
and if if that kid was mine, I’d take the check and ask where do I sign as a recruit.
Lahat Thioune implies on twitter that he has signed his letter of intent. Since this puts us over the scholarship limit, I am wondering if the athletic department will release a statement welcoming him and giving well wishes to the player(s) who will be transferring.
Enter updated My Cousin Vinny quote: "What the hell is a Utes?!"
Utah makes it official.
Seeley announces he’s out.
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Bummer.
Not that surprising. I would think he would go the JC route and play as a sophomore. I can't imagine he would want to sit another year.
Novak Topalovic is visiting this weekend. I think he would be a really nice addition.
He’s a grad transfer, right? Kinda odd for a 7-footer to be in that situation. But I know little about him.
Last edited by LA Ute; 04-15-2018 at 08:49 AM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
I think he wants to try his hand at something better than the big sky. His stats have been pretty consistent over the last two years and I think he would be a nice platoon partner with Jayce.
Does chasing another big imply the staff doesn't expect Jayce to be able to step in as the main man next season? Or does it say more about Lahat's readiness for next season? Not sure what to read into this development.
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