Update on Jakub Kusmieruk

[TahoeSkin]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to give you guys a couple of updates.

First, I’ve updated the 2007 and 2008 Recruiting Lists, and I’ve added 2009. Let me know if there are any changes you feel should be made.

Second, I received a few emails from one of Jakub Kusmieruk’s High School coaches, Anthony Macri, that I thought you might find interesting. As most of you know, Jakub Kusmieruk is a 7'4, 280 lb. center from John Carroll High School in Bel Air, MD that Georgetown is actively scouting. While it was previously listed that Jakub was Class of 2009 prospect, he is actually a class of 2008 student! He is also being recruited by Central Florida, NC State, Georgia, Florida State, Stanford, and a host of midmajors

Anyway, Coach Macri is the trainer in the YouTube videos that were previously posted on this board. Coach Macri says Jakub likes Georgetown a lot and will be working out at McD during the summer from time to time. Coach Macri says the Georgetown staff wants to monitor Jakub’s development closely to see if Jakub will be a player who can impact them by his sophomore year. Coach Macri says Jakub is a great kid, a real WORKHORSE and is getting TREMENDOUSLY better. He has a 3.1 GPA and speaks four languages - Polish, Russian, German, and English.

Coach points out that Jakub is a relative newcomer to the game of basketball (only 2 years of experience) and that his conditioning has adversely affected his playing time the past two seasons. He feels that Jakub’s conditioning is greatly improving. They are now working out six days a week. However, with a 9'8" standing reach, Jakub should be able to make an immediate impact on the boards and defensively right now.

As for the interest level of G-town, Coach Macri says that the Georgetown staff is monitoring his progress closely. They have invited him to come down and play at open gyms this spring and summer, and Jakub and Coach Macri will be taking advantage of that opportunity whenever possible. Apparently, Georgetown wants to see what kind of leap Jakub makes working out every day. They have seen him play in open gyms and have been to his games.

Also, while no "regular" schedule has been set up for Jakub to workout with Roy Hibbert at this point, Jakub expects that will indeed take place and is excited to go down and match up with Big Roy. Next year Jakub’s high school will move up to the "A" Conference in Baltimore, so Jakub will be able to face Henry Sims.

Anyway, Jakub was just recently added to Rivals recruiting database. You can check out his profile at:

rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=60016&sport=2

There’s also an interesting recent Rivals’ article on Jakub at:

rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=665369

Here’s a couple of articles on Jakub that Coach Macri was nice enough to pass along:

www.johncarroll.org/students/athleti_teaminfo.asp?TeamID=76

www.johncarroll.org/news/detail.asp?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=873&ModuleID=24&TeamID=76

myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-23-76/17--7-4--and-Sweaty--The-Making-of-a-Big-Man.html

Btw, Coach Macri also coaches Isaiah Philmore, Class of 2009. 6'7, 210 lb forward, who has Georgetown, Maryland, Kansas State, UConn, Rutgers, and Villanova at top of his list of schools that interest him.

Coach Macri says he’ll pass along regular updates to me, so I’ll keep you all posted.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

nice. great info great to get all this info. Would love to keep some East European flavor on the team. as lic says got to get a 7 footer.

[hoyarooter]

The second coming of Georghe Murasan or Mark Eaton?

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

that is amazing inside info

[TahoeSkin]

stpetersburghoya said:

that is amazing inside info

Well, truthfully, a lot of it was already known by most of this board, but some of it was new.

[idhoya]

Darko anyone?

[ephoya04]

More like Pavel Poldkolzine (without the pituitary issue and all that)

[hoyalove4ever]

I really hope that we land this kid. He seems like a hard worker with a lot of upside. At the very least, a 7'4" dude is a great practice player who would help us prepare for playing other big centers. But I think with time this guy can contribute.

[bubbrubbhoya]

This sounds great...great post HoyaSkin. Maybe Lic hasn't responded because he had a sudden coronary event upon reading the original post?

[lichoya68]

over seven foot YES YES YES GO HOYAS GO JAKUB YES REAL SEVEN OVER SEVEN FOOTER YES CANT TEACH HIGHT AND LOOK WHERE ROYS COME YES YES YES WOWWOOWOWOWOWO ;D ;D ;D

[dajuan]

He's absolutely right. You just can't teach hight. It's impossible. Many have tried, none have succeeded.

[GIGAFAN99]

I'll believe when I see it and I think the staff will too.

I'm quickly becoming the Ignatius of Kusmieruk. Luckily for me I've chosen a 7'4 guy who averages 3ppg instead of a 2nd team all-met, Scout top 100 player.

[TahoeSkin]

bubbrubbhoya said:

This sounds great...great post HoyaSkin. Maybe Lic hasn't responded because he had a sudden coronary event upon reading the original post?

Thanks, bubbrubb.

I should point out that Macri contacted me only to clarify that Jakub was 2008 and not 2009, which is what I had him listed as on the Recruiting list. To be fair, the rest of the information was the result of my inquiries.

[RDF]

gigafan99 said:

I'll believe when I see it and I think the staff will too.

I'm quickly becoming the Ignatius of Kusmieruk. Luckily for me I've chosen a 7'4 guy who averages 3ppg instead of a 2nd team all-met, Scout top 100 player.

I second Giga's thoughts. It's cool he'll be running pick up with the guys--but I don't see anything happening with this kid unless he has a huge transformation over the Summer.

[bubbrubbhoya]

rdf said:

gigafan99 said:

I'll believe when I see it and I think the staff will too.

I'm quickly becoming the Ignatius of Kusmieruk. Luckily for me I've chosen a 7'4 guy who averages 3ppg instead of a 2nd team all-met, Scout top 100 player.

I second Giga's thoughts. It's cool he'll be running pick up with the guys--but I don't see anything happening with this kid unless he has a huge transformation over the Summer.

Roy Hibbert learned to run between his freshman and sophomore years in college.

Just saying.

[Deleted]

Hi Hoyaskin!!

You are doing an absolutely fantastic job. Your, summaries are great. These sites are an added bonus for us.

Keep up the great work. You should have your salary tripled!! Unfortunately 3 times 0 is still 0.

Jerry

[GIGAFAN99]

bubbrubbhoya said:

rdf said:

I second Giga's thoughts. It's cool he'll be running pick up with the guys--but I don't see anything happening with this kid unless he has a huge transformation over the Summer.

Roy Hibbert learned to run between his freshman and sophomore years in college.

Just saying.

www.prepstars.com/exclusive_features/2001/brick_oettinger/juniorfrontcourt111102.jsp

Every so often when we go off about how stiff Roy has always been and how he was a complete project with little upside, I feel the need to post this listing to show everyone where Roy was ranked when he committed.

I also like to remind everyone Roy had a double-double in his first NCAA game (supposedly before he could run). This Polish guy can't get a double double at In-n-Out if you spotted him the cash.

[HoyaLingus]

I'm sorry,

9'8" standing reach??

Ridiculous!

[RDF]

bubbrubbhoya said:

rdf said:

I second Giga's thoughts. It's cool he'll be running pick up with the guys--but I don't see anything happening with this kid unless he has a huge transformation over the Summer.

Roy Hibbert learned to run between his freshman and sophomore years in college.

Just saying.

Roy needed to work on his athleticism--not his skills or game. You can teach a big man to get more athletic/fluid--you can't teach them how to score, have post moves, and touch. The fact is that Roy was putting up numbers--holding his own in AAU Ball and at Camps far before he arrived at Georgetown--he also suffered broken foot his Soph/JR year and that hurt his development.

I watched this guy's clips--he couldn't even make a layup within 3 feet.

Size is nice--SIZE AND SKILL is what you target. If a player has those things--you don't worry about how slow he is--you take a chance--this guy looked like he needs to develop some game and while he's enormous--some of you are getting carried away thinking of 7'0 as if that assures success at some point. There are guys worth taking and some who are not--and the fact that Hoyas are evaluating him--means they'll see if he's any better--but it's also a way of keeping relationships with local HS programs--which is what you do when you coach college sports. Not every guy who visits, is evaluated is even under serious consideration--but you show respect to coaches and programs and when they do have a player you want--it's a lot easier to get involved in their recruitment.

Josh Selby was at that school--he's the guy Georgetown would be most interested in at this time--he's transferred out and will be at DeMatha or Montrose--he's a rising Soph guard--and Philmore is good--but he's in a loaded class where Hoyas have a ton of local targets at same position--Judge, Taylor and some national kids looking at them as well--but it's part of the process to evaluate/invite kids to your school--not a sign that he's going to get offered or be a Hoya. If he improves a great deal--he might but right now--Georgetown is involved with Greg Monroe, Michael Dunigan, Jamison Morgan, etc....and I don't see them taking a project over some kids who are a bit further along in development at this time.

[idhoya]

true. Ben-Eze was up in Nashville also and while athletic and physical, he's not skilled and doesn't quite understand the game yet.