Carmelo Betancourt '11

[rustyshackleford]

Puerto Rican PG now at Montrose who III apparently just stopped by to watch.

5'10 or 5'11 but supposedly has some game (Lavin is coming to visit and even sweaty gary put down the chicken wings to get a look) and gets a jon wall comparison in this post:
insidepuertoricobasketball.blogspot.com/2010/09/gerogetown-coach-jt3-stops-by-to-see.html

Maybe our resident PR bball expert can weigh in w/a more detailed scouting report and how he'd fit in.

[hoyaboya]

UVA recruiting Betancourt as well according to UVA message boards. Apparently he impressed quite a bit in Jordan Brand international game this past spring.

[dreamhoya]

may be a bit more talented than J-Wall

personally, i'm all for a team made up of different cultures...

[RDF]

Nothing says "Hey fans we're addressing our needs" like going after a 5'9 guard with "intangibles".

Do Trenton Hillier and Kayode Vann have eligibility left--or Dean Berry maybe-except I think Berry looked more impressive then this guy.

[Highsmith]

The original post says JTIII just stopped by to watch--here's hoping that's where this thread ends. Seemed like a good kid in the interview, but he's about as far down the list of our needs as you can get.

[hoyaboya]

Oct 3, 2010 8:02:45 GMT -5 Highsmith said:

The original post says JTIII just stopped by to watch--here's hoping that's where this thread ends. Seemed like a good kid in the interview, but he's about as far down the list of our needs as you can get.

The link suggested that Betancourt was taking an unofficial to Georgetown and playing with the team. Seems like the Hoyas are more than a little bit interested.

[MCIGuy]

Oct 3, 2010 10:04:23 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Oct 3, 2010 8:02:45 GMT -5 Highsmith said:

The original post says JTIII just stopped by to watch--here's hoping that's where this thread ends. Seemed like a good kid in the interview, but he's about as far down the list of our needs as you can get.

The link suggested that Betancourt was taking an unofficial to Georgetown and playing with the team. Seems like the Hoyas are more than a little bit interested.

Then the Hoyas would also be a "little bit dumb" since another guard, especially an unheraled one (again) is not what the Hoyas need. Over the last few years we have gotten numerous "reports" about the Hoyas being interested in unranked players whom don't seem to address a need. But most of those reports in the end didn't mean much.

[prhoya]

Oct 2, 2010 13:18:33 GMT -5 rustyshackleford said:

Puerto Rican PG now at Montrose who III apparently just stopped by to watch.

5'10 or 5'11 but supposedly has some game (Lavin is coming to visit and even sweaty gary put down the chicken wings to get a look) and gets a jon wall comparison in this post:
insidepuertoricobasketball.blogspot.com/2010/09/gerogetown-coach-jt3-stops-by-to-see.html

Maybe our resident PR bball expert can weigh in w/a more detailed scouting report and how he'd fit in.

Carmelo made his name playing for the Puerto Rico team at the 2009 FIBA-Americas U-16 tournament. He averaged 18 pts, 3 rbs, 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals.

Last year, as a junior, Carmelo was the point guard for Colegio Adianez, a local high school always in the hunt for the State Championship. He was invited to represent PR in the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic (International) and was one of the starters.

Following the tournament, Montrose and St. Benedict’s extended invitations to Carmelo. Looking for better competition and greater exposure, Carmelo transferred to Montrose Christian. I hear he’s giving Ty Johnson some hard workouts.

U.S. scouts and college coaches compare his game to fellow Puerto Rican and Dallas Mav J.J. Barea. Carmelo looks up to Steve Nash, the Heat’s Carlos Arroyo (also from P.R.), J.J. Barea and other similar players. He’s a hard working, fearless 5'11' floor leader with very good basketball I.Q., quickness, handle, passing ability, shot and defense. One facet of his game that Wallace lacked is penetration. He’s stated that he’s looking forward to improving his all-around game.

Carmelo follows in the steps of other excellent, but relatively short Puerto Rican guards who had great college careers, like NBA'ers Barea, Arroyo, KSU's Denis Clemente, UTEP's Filiberto Rivera, and UM's All-BE Freshman/All-ACC Guillermo Díaz, who left early and was drafted by the Clippers.

Top programs like Memphis, Villanova, UM, St. John’s, UVa and Georgetown are interested. I'm guessing more will get involved this season.

As for how he would fit in, I’ll leave that to JT3 and staff. But, if his shot is as good as JW’s, added to all the qualities stated above and great penetration skills, then grab him as soon as possible.

[prhoya]

Oct 3, 2010 0:57:25 GMT -5 RDF said:

Nothing says "Hey fans we're addressing our needs" like going after a 5'9 guard with "intangibles".

Do Trenton Hillier and Kayode Vann have eligibility left--or Dean Berry maybe-except I think Berry looked more impressive then this guy.

It's 5'11". Intangibles? At this point, I don't think so.

You've got the wrong walk-ons. It should be Wallace. BTW, KV was a great Yates player...

[prhoya]

Oct 3, 2010 11:15:18 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Then the Hoyas would also be a "little bit dumb" since another guard, especially an unheraled one (again) is not what the Hoyas need.

So you know what JT3 needs? I'll leave that to JT3 and staff.

"Unheralded"? Or did you mean under the radar?

[prhoya]

Oct 3, 2010 10:04:23 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Oct 3, 2010 8:02:45 GMT -5 Highsmith said:

The original post says JTIII just stopped by to watch--here's hoping that's where this thread ends. Seemed like a good kid in the interview, but he's about as far down the list of our needs as you can get.

The link suggested that Betancourt was taking an unofficial to Georgetown and playing with the team. Seems like the Hoyas are more than a little bit interested.

I'm leaving this one for last:
www.primerahora.com/georgetown_mira_hacia_puerto_rico-377995.html

Hoyaboya, you're right. Who needs a translation?

[RDF]

Oct 3, 2010 13:27:23 GMT -5 prhoya said:

Oct 3, 2010 0:57:25 GMT -5 RDF said:

Nothing says "Hey fans we're addressing our needs" like going after a 5'9 guard with "intangibles".

Do Trenton Hillier and Kayode Vann have eligibility left--or Dean Berry maybe-except I think Berry looked more impressive then this guy.

It's 5'11". Intangibles? At this point, I don't think so.

You've got the wrong walk-ons. It should be Wallace. BTW, KV was a great Yates player...

Sure--and Chris Wright is also 6'1--but good to know a guy who was dressing for Georgetown tore it up at Yates--wow that's really impressive--did Chip Simms have game too?

Wallace was a scholarship athlete at Georgetown. He might have come in as a walk on--but he ended up on scholarship rather quickly-and he's exception to rule. If you want to master having great non scholarship players--then coach in the Ivy League. If goal of program is to compete at highest level--then recruiting matters and knowing what works/doesn't work is even more important. System or not--bigger roster has worked for III at Georgetown and smaller roster hasnt'. Facts are there-if you want to debate it--and this "I dont' look at positions/size, I look at players who make plays"--great but obviously not too much because the roster that has made plays for Georgetown was full of guys who were big, skilled, interchangeable, and versatile.

I know "TTS" or TRUST THE STAFF--this is said so many times by people who continue to support programs that fall short/fail to address areas of weakness.

I'll trust things a lot more when program operates like it did when III took over and not this recycled Pops of '90s, Esherick-ian approach to recruiting.

[prhoya]

Oct 3, 2010 13:47:26 GMT -5 RDF said:

Sure--and Chris Wright is also 6'1--but good to know a guy who was dressing for Georgetown tore it up at Yates--wow that's really impressive--did Chip Simms have game too?

Wallace was a scholarship athlete at Georgetown. He might have come in as a walk on--but he ended up on scholarship rather quickly-and he's exception to rule. If you want to master having great non scholarship players--then coach in the Ivy League. If goal of program is to compete at highest level--then recruiting matters and knowing what works/doesn't work is even more important. System or not--bigger roster has worked for III at Georgetown and smaller roster hasnt'. Facts are there-if you want to debate it--and this "I dont' look at positions/size, I look at players who make plays"--great but obviously not too much because the roster that has made plays for Georgetown was full of guys who were big, skilled, interchangeable, and versatile.

Have you measured Carmelo because you seem so sure?

Yes, CS was a great Yates player! Thanks for the historical references. Actually Simms was better than KV. Not BE caliber...

So Wallace can be the only exception to the rule? We played the best ball with Wallace. I would take him again, regardless of his height. Carmelo would not walk-on. He's looking for a scholarship.

I know it doesn't fit your recruiting pattern and needs, but maybe JT3 sees something in Carmelo that he wants on the team.

[MCIGuy]

Oct 3, 2010 13:28:36 GMT -5 prhoya said:

Oct 3, 2010 11:15:18 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Then the Hoyas would also be a "little bit dumb" since another guard, especially an unheraled one (again) is not what the Hoyas need.

So you know what JT3 needs? I'll leave that to JT3 and staff.

"Unheralded"? Or did you mean under the radar?

With the team lacking in size going into next seson, if III hadn't already taken care of any more of his team's "needs" at the guard spot with his recruitment of Jabril then he is an idiot for going after Jabril in the first place. And I don't think III is an idiot. What I do believe is that the Hoyas can't waste another schollie on a guard unless the guard is more of a sure thing.

Why don't you tell me what you think a 5'11 guard whom hardly anyone has heard of will bring to the table compared to what the Hoyas will be returning next season.

[prhoya]

Oct 3, 2010 15:17:01 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

And I don't think III is an idiot. What I do believe is that the Hoyas can't waste another schollie on a guard unless the guard is more of a sure thing.

Why don't you tell me what you think a 5'11 guard whom hardly anyone has heard of will bring to the table compared to what the Hoyas will be returning next season.

Obviously, JT3 has seen something that you haven't. As for the last part, read above. Who's "hardly anyone"? Again, you're exaggerating. He was under the radar because he was playing in Puerto Rico until this summer, but not anymore, esp. playing for Montrose. He made his name internationally in 2009. Read the article. JT3 knew about him and visited him in PR in late March (before the Jordan Classic).

[newporthoya]

Am I missing something because the last I saw we had two PGs on the roster and one of them will be gone by the time Carmelo is on campus. I have seen our team when Chris hits the bench and having two young true PGs seems like a good idea to me. I dont want Jason or Vee running our team for long periods of time.

[RDF]

I'm sure Carmelo will play a lot of PG too--since Tyrone Johnson left his HS to play at Montrose and get more "attention" to make All Star games so he'll give up rock to the diminutive little sprite who is a combo of Wallace, and insert other praise we've heard due to his success in a crappy 2nd rate All Star game that took place in front of a Crappy All Star game with better talent--Jordan Brand game--Regional/International Games are awful--and make the National game look great--and that game is awful.

Trawick as a 6'4 player--who some were lying saying he was 6'6 when being recruited he's not--he's 6'4 and now this guy is on the radar--when will have on roster guys who are capable guards in Clark, Starks, Sanford--that is assuming this coach and his staff can develop players outside of frontcourt players--specifically C's and PF--which is the argument used against them in recruiting by a lot of schools--so doing this would just sell that more to schools who use negative recruiting.

Believe it when I see it--but if this program has 2 signees of a 6'4 tweener and a 5'9-5'11 guard who has limited athleticism but is scrappy and reminds the coach of his 6'1-6'2 walk on who was a lights out shooter---then don't be surprised when the roster has serious makeover due to guys leaving--which is more proof of lack of developing players/utilizing the roster. Don't recruit people if you never plan on playing them, or it takes them 45 years to figure out the nuances of the system.

[alleninxis]

Jabril said himself he's 6'5. I don't know where 6'6 came from.

But I don't know how he's a tweener, either. 2 guard all the way.


In regards to Carmelo, I don't see the need. Not in this class. We have enough guards, and it appears there's reason for optimism around James Robinson for the 2012 class.

There's nothing wrong with stopping by to see the kid, at least keep in touch if something unfolds in the spring where he could potentially be an option. But as of now? no need.

[DFW HOYA]

Oct 3, 2010 13:47:26 GMT -5 RDF said:

I know "TTS" or TRUST THE STAFF--this is said so many times by people who continue to support programs that fall short/fail to address areas of weakness.

I'll trust things a lot more when program operates like it did when III took over and not this recycled Pops of '90s, Esherick-ian approach to recruiting.

Since I am a dues-paying member in the TTS Club (largely because I'm not a coach and I assume they know more than I do on such matters), I'm not worrying all that much about recruiting. Coach Thompson has been much more successful with player development. The classes he fully recruited (Hibbert, Green, and Crawford were recruited before he arrived) had its ups and downs but the growth in players always mattered more to me than the name or the number of stars he carried with him.

I don't think JT III can go back to those 2005 days you suggest anyway, largely because 1) Georgetown is no longer an underdog among recruits; and 2) the original staff of Burke, Johnson, and Broadus was a group that worked off each other's strengths and two (Burke, Broadus) knew DC up, down, and sideways and Johnson was from the Baltimore area. Hunter, Brennan, and Kirby don't have those ties yet and that takes time, whether we like it or not.

Of course, that practice facility was around the corner five years ago. For those recruits that care about such things, and many do, I don't think they see it around the corner in 2010.

[RDF]

Oct 3, 2010 19:10:30 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Oct 3, 2010 13:47:26 GMT -5 RDF said:

I know "TTS" or TRUST THE STAFF--this is said so many times by people who continue to support programs that fall short/fail to address areas of weakness. I'll trust things a lot more when program operates like it did when III took over and not this recycled Pops of '90s, Esherick-ian approach to recruiting.

DFW HOYA wrote:
Since I am a dues-paying member in the TTS Club (largely because I'm not a coach and I assume they know more than I do on such matters), I'm not worrying all that much about recruiting. Coach Thompson has been much more successful with player development. The classes he fully recruited (Hibbert, Green, and Crawford were recruited before he arrived) had its ups and downs but the growth in players always mattered more to me than the name or the number of stars he carried with him.

I don't think JT III can go back to those 2005 days you suggest anyway, largely because 1) Georgetown is no longer an underdog among recruits; and 2) the original staff of Burke, Johnson, and Broadus was a group that worked off each other's strengths and two (Burke, Broadus) knew DC up, down, and sideways and Johnson was from the Baltimore area. Hunter, Brennan, and Kirby don't have those ties yet and that takes time, whether we like it or not.

Of course, that practice facility was around the corner five years ago. For those recruits that care about such things, and many do, I don't think they see it around the corner in 2010.

Why is it that coaching is the only profession in America that people seem to "not have any knowledge of" and can't comprehend? It's about leadership and good leaders know how to delegate and put people in position to succeed. III's proven he can do this--with a certain formula and yet he's gone away from that. Why? Why won't he recruit to get back to that approach that was successful? If they sign this small kid, then I hope he is Jon Wallace--but while III's at it-please look for next Green, Hibbert, PE JR, etc...and quit trying to act like basketball is inventing the wheel. The worst leadership in the world are people who make things more difficult then it has to be--and it's to get more credit/make them look smarter.

If you want to be successful--you get talented, hard working people, develop them, and let them shine--and don't be afraid to let them shine. You don't force an approach on them--you let them use their abilities and are there when needed to help. It's how many of you have been/are successful in work, it's how most of us are--but why must it change when it comes to sports?

I know one thing--I love my father but if he ever meddled in my job and made it harder for me, I don't give a rip if he helped me land it--he'd hear about it and be told to stay the hell out of the way. When talking recruiting--coach's dad hurt a lot more then a lack of facilities-as for some reason they think they can win this fight and you can't. Getting "courtesy" listings is worse then not getting players--it's a waste of time and schools use so much against Georgetown to negative recruit already.

Love the program but having fans say "Wow-how did Sam Thompson go to Ohio State when they have......." or "why did Christmas go to Cuse....they have......" good teams get a lot of good prospects. Georgetown was--but now they have tough time selling spots that they'll have playing time available.