Vee Sanford '09

[lexkyhoya]

6'3 guard from Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington, KY)

basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=80816&sport=2

A friend of mine is an assistant coach for Vee's team and told me yesterday that Georgetown is showing substantial interest as of late. He assured me that although Vee isn't currently in the top 150, he will be very soon. He said Vee has really come into his own as of late and Kentucky just recently made an offer to him. He said he is a true 2 guard but can play the point also which he does for them... said he can create his own shot, but can flat out shoot. I will keep everyone posted as I hear more. I haven't seen him play but will be making a new found effort to see him in the next couple of weeks.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

class of 2009

[HeartAttackHoya]

Kentucky wants to sign him and have him go to prep school for a year..Kid looks like Kevin Braswell.

If it's for '09 would REALLY think it would have to be a serviceable big man

[RBHoya]

Dig his hairdoo

vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/888/736048.jpg


"Sanford has received scholarship offers from UK, Miami of Ohio and Bradley. He is also receiving serious interest from Notre Dame, Nebraska, Saint Louis, VCU, Marshall, SMU and South Florida."

Kentucky as mentioned wants him to prep a year and come on in 2010 because they don't have a spot for him the next year.

Not so sure that it HAS TO BE a big man if it's an '09 prospect. We had interest in a guy like Triche as well who was a combo guard. Obviously if there was a great center out there who we could land, that's perfect. But most of the available big guys out there at this point are either not really that good/not good enough to contribute immediately, academic risks, or out of our reach (Cousins, Favors, etc). Not to say that there isn't ANYONE out there who could fit for us, but the options are probably very few at this point. And there's probably a case to be made that even if it's not a big man we could use to have one more contributor on next year's team regardless of position. If Summers and Monroe bolt, we'd be left with only 8 scholarship players (including Nikita and Sims, both largely unproven). Also if we end up starting both Wright and Clark, we'll have no ballhandlers off the bench, and if one of 'em gets hurt we'll have only 1 guy who could play point. Overall, while I certainly don't think an additional guard is an imperative for next year, if a player is good and capable of helping us, I don't have a problem with offering. And while I really know nothing about Sanford, it's not unheard of for a recruit to have a really strong senior year and go on to become a really good college player.


Edit to say that maybe he is an Omar Wattad type recruit... somebody who isn't necessarily ever going to be all-conference and may never even be a starter but who will stay 4 years and be content to play a role off the bench, sort of a nice player to round out the roster with but not a star. Comes from a place we don't typically recruit from as well... Not saying it will ever get to that point but I could see III looking for some more guys like that and since our other two (Omar and Nikita) will be juniors next year, maybe III is ready to take on another similar player. With only 8 scholarship players right now plus quite a few early entry candidates, and only one player coming in next year, it's not as if we're really in a scholarship crunch. And shooters are always welcome, especially if they can handle the ball.

Again just speculating, but it doesn't seem far-fetched or anything.

[SFHoya99]

Depending on your view of Austin as a secondary ballhandler, I could see interest in an '09 guard.

[SirSaxa]

I don't understand why everyone doesn't see a serious need for a guard next year.

this year, we have a three guard rotation. Jessie, Chris, Jason.
Jessie is a senior and will graduate.
We need someone to take his place.
Next year there is no guard committed to GU, only Hollis Thompson 6'6, more of a 2/3.
Rivers transfered out and has not been replaced.
We need another guard. Now.

In no way does that impact our need for a 4/5, which is also critical.

[hoyarooter]

I don't totally dispute this, but the fact is that Austin Freeman is a guard, regardless of what position he plays.

[SirSaxa]

Dec 21, 2008 2:57:10 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

I don't totally dispute this, but the fact is that Austin Freeman is a guard, regardless of what position he plays.

You are correct that we can call Freeman a guard, and maybe he could fill in with some minutes at the 2G.... if he weren't needed so desperately at the SF this year, and even more so next year if we lose Monroe and/or Summers.

Last year the team had four guards -- not including Freeman
Wallace, Sapp, Rivers, Wright. All 4 were in the rotation when Wright was healthy.

This year, we have three guards and we are going to lose one to graduation.

In the frontcourt, Freeman is playing SF for the second year in a row.
Everyone is concerned about the lack of depth in the frontcourt as it is, and saying we desperately need help at the 4/5. If we lose Summers and/or Monroe, we will be extremely shorthanded. Even if both stay, it is highly unlikely that Freeman...then a Jr. 3 year starter at SF, will be seeing a lot of minutes at the 2G.

Next year, rather than the 4 guards we had last year, or the three guards we have his year, we will have only 2 guards... real, full-time guards. Remember, our guards need to handle the ball like PGs. Sapp, Wright and Clark can all do that. Can Freeman? We haven't seen him do that.

Next year we will have only two of those guys - Clark and Wright. An injury? foul trouble? Or just a breather so they aren't playing 40 minutes/game. Anything can happen and we will be in a really dire situation. Markel Starks doesn't come in for another year after that... Fall, 2010. We need another guard in 2009.

[Deleted]

There are 4 players who could play some time at the shooting guard position next year: Clark, Freeman, Wattad and possibly Thompson. From what I have read, Clark didn't get much playing time as a PG in High school. And he was picked pretty cleanly by the MSM PG on one play on Saturday. I would prefer a Point guard in 09 versus another shooting guard who could put in some time at the PG position.

[jkhoya12]

I sincerely doubt we can nab a PG from the 09 class. At this point, it's likely coming down to Andre Marhold, Vee, or no one. I don't have an issue with either one. Keep in mind that if we have Hollis bulk up he could see minutes at the 4. He's 6'7 pushing 6'8 and if Dajuan Blair can play the 5 in the big east I could see a bulkier hollis playing the 4.

[Deleted]

Blair is 265 LB while Hollis is currently listed at 180 lbs. I don't see him playing the 4 anytime soon. But we are veering off topic. The team could use another guard in 09. If Sanford is an option, the coaching staff should look at him.

[dense]

I say we sign someone if he wants to come because we need players more than anything, we don't have that many ships being used. The only thing I'd be unhappy with is that if he cant shoot regardless of what position he plays. If he can really stroke it than take him. I'll take another gamble like Omar if it pays off like he has.

[idhoya]

Hollis will never smell the 4 at GU. Marhold and Vee would solve the 3/4 and 1/2 problems. Austin is a 2. Out of neccessity he's a 3. Hollis comes in and gets major run at the 2/3.

[idhoya]

With that hairdo he looks like Dennis Scott in 1990.

[jkhoya12]

I will bet that if Dajuan leaves after this year that Hollis will spend some time at the 4. He will obviously have to bulk up even if he's playing the 3 so for him to hit 210 by next year isn't out of the question. Plus he is more than used to playing as a 4 on high school teams having watched him many a game.

[daytonahoya31]

hollis is never playing the four. He's not a four. You should erase yourself of that particular thought.

[RBHoya]

Dec 22, 2008 3:13:30 GMT -5 daytonahoya31 said:

hollis is never playing the four. He's not a four. You should erase yourself of that particular thought.

I don't think it's an ideal situation at all, but if DaJuan and Greg leave after this year we're going to have to do some play some guys out of position.

There have been a couple of times even this year when we've had one big guy and 4 guards on the floor. In that scenario either Austin or Omar was "the 4", if you want to be technical about it. If our only big guys next year are Julian and Henry (and maybe 1 other big guy we dig up from somewhere), we're probably going to have to play very small, and somebody is going to have to guard the opposing teams 4 man. Could be 6'4 and bulky Austin Freeman, could be 6'7 and skinny Hollis Thompson. But the bottom line is, if we have some defections (which are certainly possible) we're going to have to play guys out of position for certain, and even though Hollis is naturally closer to a 2 than he is a 4, he might be forced to play out of position.

Other guys playing the 4 in the Big East this year: Antonio Pena, Dasean Butler, Lazar Hayward, Paul Harris, Robert Mitchell (SHU), etc. For the most part the average Big East starter at the 4 spot is not that much bigger than Hollis (usually a bit heavier but not taller). So the idea that he might have to spend some time guarding these guys isn't crazy. Offensively, I don't think what 2 vs. 3 vs. 4 is nearly important as anybody makes it out to be--in fact, I dont think it's very important at all on our team.

[hoyalove4ever]

I would be happy with another quality player at any position for 2009.

[DudeSlade]

Dec 22, 2008 8:45:14 GMT -5 hoyalove4ever said:

I would be happy with another quality player at any position for 2009.

Agreed. We are staring at possibly only 8 scholarshipped players next year. Another bench player (even for just 5 minutes of PT his frosh year) would be worth it, if he can develop and contribute more down the line.

[tpk3]

kentucky/nebraska were watching him ths past weekend. gave a long list of schools and we were not on it FWIW. played pretty well despite a bad knee