Watched several minutes of Gach's team against Findlay Prep, as well as a highlight reel (of the team, not just Gach). My observations:
I'm highly suspect of his future as a PG, seeing he doesn't even play PG on his own team. Listed as a small forward. Maybe he's done stuff outside of his team where he has shown some ability as a PG, but the starting PG on Gach's team was more than adequate, but far from spectacular.
I doubt he's 6-7. 6-7 kids tower over most of their HS competition, and this kid does not. I have questions about his athleticism. Doesn't have a quick enough of an elevator to be effective inside and doesn't explode in the open floor or in space. Didn't even jump center against Findlay. Was stationed back toward his basket on FTs instead of lining up for rebounds (or to pass the ball inbounds or receive it after a make). Is that really what you do with a PG? Maybe his coach is an idiot, maybe his team is loaded -- I'll walk back that statement if true -- but this guy is a perimeter player. He's not going to be a threat to take minutes from any legitimate frontcourt player.
He is a good shooter (the clear and obvious strength of his game), but can he elevate to get his shot off and become a jump shooter instead of a set shooter? If he can do that, he could be a real benefit (who isn't that can shoot the 3?), but the competition will force him to become more of a jump shooter.
Gach's future is as a 2 with Utah. Maybe he could develop skills to be a point. But I didn't see anything in the video I saw to indicate that PG is his natural position.
One more thing about the clips that struck me as odd -- the dunk of his in the team highlight video I saw, his team was a little too exuberant over the play. Like it was a rare occurrence. Now maybe it was a big play in a tight game, I don't know. It wasn't a spectacular dunk by any stretch, just a breakaway basic one-handed jam with no one at the rim. But 4-star kids who are 6-7 should be dunking pretty frequently at the HS level. It shouldn't be a HUGE deal when they do. But the reaction was more of awe than ho-hum. All the more reason for me to have a bit of a jaundiced eye when I see what's listed out there about him.
I have the same thoughts re: his ability to play PG. I think that's more of a recruiting pitch than anything else. IMO Gach is a versatile, long wing who will be able to play 1-3 (mainly 2-3). Agree that shooting is his strong suite, but I think he has a wide array of talents (vision, defense, etc).
There's not a ton of valuable film on the kid, so I watch those with a grain of salt. But a D1 assistant coach in the state (not at the U) who's watched him play told me months ago that this kid is really, really good.
I'm not getting my hopes up, but he would be a great cherry on top of an already stacked class.
It is still sobering that with our best recruiting class in years, we are probably only 7th or so in the Pac 12.
Pac-12 in updated (6/1) @247Sports 2018 basketball team recruiting rankings
4) Oregon
6) UCLA
10) ASU
18) USC
21) Arizona
28) Stanford
34) Utah
35) Washington
40) Cal
82) OSU
84) Colorado
143) WSU
#Utah moves from 46 to 34 with 4-star.
Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong service, but I don't think that ranking includes Charles Jones (because he's a JC). It definitely doesn't include Hendrix. In any case, Utah has always outperformed it's recruiting rankings and projections since joining the PAC 12. I will take this group playing under Larry in the top 4 (if not next year then definitely over the next four years).
I think the above was a jumbled way of saying that I believe that Utah has one of the best coaches in the conference and appears to be closing the talent gap with the top programs, which bodes well for the future.
And several schools got several top 50 recruits who may be the type who make a big difference.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/...-for-recovery/
“To me there is no dishonor in being wrong and learning. There is dishonor in willful ignorance and there is dishonor in disrespect.” James Hatch, former Navy Seal and current Yale student.
I took a quick look at the schedules played by PAC schools os far and I really do not see any top notch wins. A number of close losses to some good teams and some head scratching losses.
UCLA loses to Liberty by 15 (at home).
???
Does Alford last the season?
Alford fired.
One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have.
--Albert Einstein
The fact that life evolved out of nearly nothing, some 10 billion years after the universe evolved out of literally nothing, is a fact so staggering that I would be mad to attempt words to do it justice.
--Richard Dawkins
Be kind to all, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
--Philo
I have to admit I am very slightly jealous of UCLA fans right now. The New Coach Sweepstakes is exciting, and our relationship with our current squeeze is messy, to say the least.