Jessie Sapp had 25

[Air Jordan]

Points in a losing effort, the article states that Sapp is the oppsing teams first option to double team and stop him. I think JTIII hit on something here. I think this whole incoming class is under the radar whicih is great. Now we just need to get another big man.

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Do you have a link to the article?

[Air Jordan]

georgetown.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=394003

There you go, dont know how much of the article you can read without a subscription

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Thanks!

[Bahstin]

I caught the first half of the New England Class B Championship featuring Tilton's Alfred Aboya last weekend. I am completely basing all my thought on these few minutes of play, which I realize is not fair, but we are not missing out on anything. He got a couple of rebounds on the defensive end, but his 7-foot teammate got almost all of them. I think he only touched the ball once or twice on offense. Just didn't seem to dominate the lane like one would expect a major D-I prospect to do.

I don't think he will amount to much.

[SaxaCD]

JT3 still needs to fill our need for rebounding and D, but in his first recruiting class, he certainly has looked after some of the other deficiencies pretty well -- he's bringing in a guy considered one of the best shooters in the class in Thornton (and our offense all year has produced a ton of open looks from long range, the team has just been very spotty in knocking them down); a guy who can take it to the hole hard in Sapp, so that opponents will be forced to respect the drive-by, thus freeing up other players for spot-up shots or back-door cuts when the D pinches; and versatility and depth with Spann and Egerson -- one a tall guy who can handle reasonably well and defend, the other a guy said to have a very mature body already who can bring some toughness to the team.

It's way too early to tell how they will pan out, but I do like the direction. Now get us another Zo or Ewing and we'll be all set

[HoyaAlbany]

Is Sapp still waiting to sign his LOI?

[the_way]

I think Patience is a must here. We can't get everything we want on the Christmas list, but we can sure try. With T0hornton and Sapp, we are getting guys who can score AND shoot on a consistent basis. That is something that we haven't had. Sapp, from what I hear, can dribble penetrate as well. That is something we don't have here either. In this current losing slide we have, we have had open shots, we just can't hit them. I think a big man would solidfy this class, but it won't mean we have arrived as program yet. I think 2 more good recruiting classes will put us in the position of competing and not overachieving to get wins.

[SFHoya99]

I think the Providence created a lot of thoughts that big man is our primary need, but I don't think it is.

Granted, we need Hibbs to step up. But if he does, we've got two legitimate C in Green and Hibbs, and three who can play PF in Bowman, Green, and Spann.

Our biggest need was guardplay -- penetration and defense namely, without sacrificing the all-around good shooting we've had (and it has been good if erratic).

Our recruiting class has everything we need with the exception of that one big man -- III did very well.

[Churchwell]

I agree completely and am very pleased with TIII's first class.

Next year have a strong nucleus of underclassmen:
Soph Hibbert 7' 2'' C (and growing?)
Soph Green 6' 9'' PF (and growing, from Post article)
Soph Wallace 6'1'' PG

Frosh Thornton 6'1'' G
Frosh Sapp 6'3'' SG
Frosh Spann 6'7'' SF
Frosh Egerson 6'5'' SG

Add Seniors Bowman and Cook with backup bodies Diaw and Sead and we are young and solid (but a little thin in the middle). I wonder where Cornelio fits in but maybe he was just raw and needed a year of practice under his belt. BTW, not trying to dismiss the contributions of Reed and Crawford - we definitely will need them next year, but I see them more as key role players.

If TIII can add a premier big man from the class of 2006 (freshmen when Green and Hibbs are juniors) then this is a solid program again.

[SFHoya99]

In response to the question, no Sapp has not signed an LOI. He will be able to between April 15 - May 15, but I don't know if he will then.

There's really no reason to believe that he's not coming.

[nychoya3]

In the interviews after his commitment, Sapp was very enthusiastic about his choice, and said that he knew he wanted to be a Hoya for months before, but he just wanted to wait a little while to make sure. He will be here next year, and he will probably start.

[JT3ISGOD]

hopefully JT3 has found someone capable of working with Green

I have seen this guy play and he exceeds the hype

[FromTheBeginning]

You'll never see another PE or Zo - players nowhere near their caliber go straight to the NBA.

[the_way]

FromTheBeginning said:

You'll never see another PE or Zo - players nowhere near their caliber go straight to the NBA.

We aren't necessarily talking about that. Just a guy, 6'8 to 6'9 who doesn't mind mixing it up a bit in the paint and getting rebounds. We don't have anyone who is of Big East caliber like that on this team.

[SFHoya99]

FromTheBeginning said:

You'll never see another PE or Zo - players nowhere near their caliber go straight to the NBA.

Except when they pass the age limit.

[paranoia2]

What we need is a guy just like Darian Townes. Big guy that doesn't need the ball, blocks some shots and hits the glass with a purpose. Where's good ol Moneytrain dollarbills with his guarantees anyway?

[OldHoyafan]

Besides being good shooters ,I hope Thornton and Sapp are good perimeter defenders. After watching Wallace and Reed for a few games now, it is apparrant they do not possess the ability to keep their man from turning the corner and going to the basket, Wallace lacks the foot speed and Reed lacks the height and strength.