2017 Recruits

[hoyaboya]

Current high school coach refers to him as a "bruiser" in tweet today:

Putnam Science Acad.‏
@psahoops

Follow
More
6'8 PF Isaac Kante picked up an offer from Georgetown yesterday. Amazing Post Grad year for the bruiser from Brooklyn, NY

[bostonfan]

Mar 10, 2017 16:25:04 GMT -5 augustusfinknottle said:

Things being what they are he may turn us down.

He may turn them down, for any number of reasons, but there is no chance he accepts if they don't offer him. I am not sure this, or could be, a big deal but it is better than doing nothing!!!

[daytonahoya31]

Mar 10, 2017 16:25:04 GMT -5 augustusfinknottle said:

Things being what they are he may turn us down.

Guess we gotta cross that bridge if we come to it

[deacon]

Mar 10, 2017 16:23:24 GMT -5 daytonahoya31 said:

The following is an exact quote on Kante from a head coach that's in his conference and played him three times this season.

"He's Undersized for Big East...but he's a dog! But hey, I also thought Bonzi Colson was undersized when I heard he was going to Notre Dame"

If what he's saying is true, and I trust this coach 100 percent, his mentality is just what we need. We need guys who play hard and who go after it.

I agree 100%.

The one thing I can't stand about recruiting is people making judgements on prospects based solely on stats/offers and not seeing them with their own eyes.

I'll let a lot of people in on a secret: College coaches pass up on players that can play on their level all the time for the dumbest reasons. Simply because he's only been offered by DePaul and Fordham doesn't say to me he can't play, it just says those staffs weren't shy about pulling the trigger and worrying about why other schools haven't. There are players all over at mid-majors that should be playing at major conference schools but instead of trusting their own eyes and scouting instincts, coaches at those schools don't offer kids all the time because schools they compete with haven't. It's pure insanity but it happens all the time.

I've never seen this kid play but just from my experience with kids I coach, don't judge him solely based on offers/stars. If he can rebound and gets after it, I will welcome him with open arms. We need it, period.

[Hoyas4Ever]

You know who else was described as an energy guy/bruiser from Brooklyn before he committed? Angel Delgado who some thought he and Desi Rodriguez were thrown in to get Isaiah Whitehead to commit to Seton Hall. Not saying Isaac Kante is going to be an impact player at the D1 level  because I don't know anything about him. Darryl Reynolds at Villanova is another energy/bruiser type  I just know there is nothing close to an exact science when it comes to college basketball recruiting. 

[eastcoastteddy58]

If he is a bruiser and I hope so I'll welcome him, we need that toughness after Jabril left.  Would love some video of his work!

[Hoyas4Ever]

Mar 10, 2017 16:51:33 GMT -5 deacon said:

Mar 10, 2017 16:23:24 GMT -5 daytonahoya31 said:

The following is an exact quote on Kante from a head coach that's in his conference and played him three times this season.

"He's Undersized for Big East...but he's a dog! But hey, I also thought Bonzi Colson was undersized when I heard he was going to Notre Dame"

If what he's saying is true, and I trust this coach 100 percent, his mentality is just what we need. We need guys who play hard and who go after it.

I agree 100%.

The one thing I can't stand about recruiting is people making judgements on prospects based solely on stats/offers and not seeing them with their own eyes.

I'll let a lot of people in on a secret: College coaches pass up on players that can play on their level all the time for the dumbest reasons. Simply because he's only been offered by DePaul and Fordham doesn't say to me he can't play, it just says those staffs weren't shy about pulling the trigger and worrying about why other schools haven't. There are players all over at mid-majors that should be playing at major conference schools but instead of trusting their own eyes and scouting instincts, coaches at those schools don't offer kids all the time because schools they compete with haven't. It's pure insanity but it happens all the time.

I've never seen this kid play but just from my experience with kids I coach, don't judge him solely based on offers/stars. If he can rebound and gets after it, I will welcome him with open arms. We need it, period.

Agreed 1,000,000%! I've been blessed to have coached multiple D1 basketball prospects in my past and when I would be talking to the High Major College Coaches, All of them would ask me (in their first couple of questions about the prospects) who else is offered and who's showing interest and based on my answers the coaches would slow play them holding back on offering until more high majors got involved. I had one assistant who's a friend of mine tell me that he could loose his job if he offered a kid, got him to commit and that player turns out to be a bust. Makes the coaches extremely hesitant to take chances on unknown players unless they have a very strong track record and relationship with the Head Coach. 

[SDHoya]

Sounds like no one has actually seen this guy play.

If he plays defense like N'Golo Kante though, sign him up!

[hoyaboya]

Mar 10, 2017 17:00:21 GMT -5 Hoyas4Ever said:

You know who else was described as an energy guy/bruiser from Brooklyn before he committed? Angel Delgado who some thought he and Desi Rodriguez were thrown in to get Isaiah Whitehead to commit to Seton Hall. Not saying Isaac Kante is going to be an impact player at the D1 level  because I don't know anything about him. Darryl Reynolds at Villanova is another energy/bruiser type  I just know there is nothing close to an exact science when it comes to college basketball recruiting. 

This is a pretty awful comparison. Delgado was highly ranked nationally (RSCI #42) and reportedly chose Seton Hall over Kentucky, Florida State, and Virginia among others.

In contrast, Kante hasn't been ranked anywhere and his best offers (which have come recently) are from Kansas State (whose coach was expected to be fired prior to beating Baylor yesterday) and DePaul (who is easily one of the 5 worst Power 6 basketball programs).

[EtomicB]

Mar 10, 2017 17:00:21 GMT -5 Hoyas4Ever said:

You know who else was described as an energy guy/bruiser from Brooklyn before he committed? Angel Delgado who some thought he and Desi Rodriguez were thrown in to get Isaiah Whitehead to commit to Seton Hall. Not saying Isaac Kante is going to be an impact player at the D1 level  because I don't know anything about him. Darryl Reynolds at Villanova is another energy/bruiser type  I just know there is nothing close to an exact science when it comes to college basketball recruiting. 

Delgado was a top 50 kid coming out of HS & described by many as the best rebounder to come along in years but I get what you're saying..

I get what other posters are saying too though, a player like this doesn't help to balance the roster very much..

To me he sounds a lot like Walker, rugged rebounding, defensive minded player..

I can't be a hypocrite though & knock the staff for offering a kid they like..

Good to hear the staff being out there as a team scouting kids..

[dreamhoya]

Mar 10, 2017 16:26:01 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Current high school coach refers to him as a "bruiser" in tweet today:

Putnam Science Acad.‏
@psahoops

Follow
More
6'8 PF Isaac Kante picked up an offer from Georgetown yesterday. Amazing Post Grad year for the bruiser from Brooklyn, NY

Kind of player Villanova would recruit #32 in black:

[dreamhoya]

Mar 10, 2017 20:37:53 GMT -5 dreamhoya said:

Mar 10, 2017 16:26:01 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Current high school coach refers to him as a "bruiser" in tweet today:

Putnam Science Acad.‏
@psahoops

Follow
More
6'8 PF Isaac Kante picked up an offer from Georgetown yesterday. Amazing Post Grad year for the bruiser from Brooklyn, NY

Kind of player Villanova would recruit #32 in black:

He actually FIGHTS FOR REBOUNDS. !! Can get to basket. Pretty good court awareness/timing. In this game, made right passes at right time. But needs work of course ...Wonder if he played against Govan in H.S. - Went to Paul Robeson

[Hoyas4Ever]

Mar 10, 2017 18:23:47 GMT -5 hoyaboya said:

Mar 10, 2017 17:00:21 GMT -5 Hoyas4Ever said:

You know who else was described as an energy guy/bruiser from Brooklyn before he committed? Angel Delgado who some thought he and Desi Rodriguez were thrown in to get Isaiah Whitehead to commit to Seton Hall. Not saying Isaac Kante is going to be an impact player at the D1 level  because I don't know anything about him. Darryl Reynolds at Villanova is another energy/bruiser type  I just know there is nothing close to an exact science when it comes to college basketball recruiting. 

This is a pretty awful comparison. Delgado was highly ranked nationally (RSCI #42) and reportedly chose Seton Hall over Kentucky, Florida State, and Virginia among others.

In contrast, Kante hasn't been ranked anywhere and his best offers (which have come recently) are from Kansas State (whose coach was expected to be fired prior to beating Baylor yesterday) and DePaul (who is easily one of the 5 worst Power 6 basketball programs).

Yes he was rated high after a big summer Heading into his senior year and a big senior season but when he committed to Seton Hall he was still very much a regional prospect at best. That summer put him on the map. Kentucky never offered and Virginia was lightly involved (probably kicked the tires). His 2 real major offers were Florida State and Seton Hall. He listed Kentucky and Virginia as window dressing when he committed. Some on the circuit believed that his friendship with Isiah Whitehead got Seton Hall and others to look and that alongside his tremendous effort on the glass and energy during the summer circuit opened up the door for him and Got him the attention but he was not a well known commodity before that summer. 

Obviously im not comparing Delgado and Kante in skill level and build as I've never seen the kid and the fact that he's considered an under the radar prospect, but more so in skill set and intangibles. A physical and high energy type player. 

[bamahoya11]

I'm intrigued by Kante, though I am also trying to figure out where he fits. Basically, it seems to me like next year we really need to replace Rodney (the 2, sometimes 3) then add depth at center. In theory, you would have Derrickson at the 4 next year with Akoy spelling him. Then you have Govan who could have Akoy behind him, but we really could use another center. Then, we are now fine at PG with Waters and Mosley, but we need another scoring guard like Rodney. Walker would back up LJ, and Kaleb I suppose could play the 3 or 4. I'm just not sure where Kante fits in that rotation, though I like the idea of hard nosed defensive players.

[dreamhoya]

Mar 10, 2017 22:05:54 GMT -5 bamahoya11 said:

I'm intrigued by Kante, though I am also trying to figure out where he fits. Basically, it seems to me like next year we really need to replace Rodney (the 2, sometimes 3) then add depth at center. In theory, you would have Derrickson at the 4 next year with Akoy spelling him. Then you have Govan who could have Akoy behind him, but we really could use another center. Then, we are now fine at PG with Waters and Mosley, but we need another scoring guard like Rodney. Walker would back up LJ, and Kaleb I suppose could play the 3 or 4. I'm just not sure where Kante fits in that rotation, though I like the idea of hard nosed defensive players.

Not sure. Just know that GU needs more bigs and defenders. Btw - What's up with Mourning?

[bamahoya11]

Mar 10, 2017 22:15:22 GMT -5 dreamhoya said:

Mar 10, 2017 22:05:54 GMT -5 bamahoya11 said:

I'm intrigued by Kante, though I am also trying to figure out where he fits. Basically, it seems to me like next year we really need to replace Rodney (the 2, sometimes 3) then add depth at center. In theory, you would have Derrickson at the 4 next year with Akoy spelling him. Then you have Govan who could have Akoy behind him, but we really could use another center. Then, we are now fine at PG with Waters and Mosley, but we need another scoring guard like Rodney. Walker would back up LJ, and Kaleb I suppose could play the 3 or 4. I'm just not sure where Kante fits in that rotation, though I like the idea of hard nosed defensive players.

Not sure. Just know that GU needs more bigs and defenders. Btw - What's up with Mourning?

I've given up trying to figure out how we might use Mourning. In theory, he could do a lot of different things for us. I'm less bullish on him than some on this board. He seems like a good kid and showed flashes when he played more last year.

I'm agreed though that we need more defenders. And also, we are gonna have to learn to win with who we can get. Just given where we are right now, we aren't going to have five stars beating down the door to get to us. We need kids with heart who want to win, and then we just have to get it done schematically.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Mar 10, 2017 12:46:33 GMT -5 lda05816 said:

Mar 10, 2017 9:32:01 GMT -5 @nychoya94 said:

1 shooter, please, for last '17 recruit. 6'2 - 6'4, Dead eye.

No other skillset or national ranking required.

Absolutely agree. We need shooters to space the floor for LJ and Tremont next year. Along with shooting, can I also add enough lateral quickness to not be another fouling machine?

I was going to post the same thing. We need a 40%+ 3 PT shooter. Obviously, it would be great if the person had other skills, but if someone could shoot 40%+ on threes, they'll automatically be extraordinarily useful.

[iheartdurenbros]

I like that he projects as a four year player who is willing to fight in the paint. That he may not fit into rotation right away is not that big a concern to me. Georgetown really needs players willing to scrap and claw, block out and rebound so, if that's who he is, he will work his way in. It also may help our chances that he is from Connecticut and may know more about Waters than most.

Personally I think the program needs to return to basics. It's not the end of the world that we are not getting four and five stars. Get players with heart who want to work. I really prefer players who project as four year players and are willing to embrace that. I think we have had a number of players who believed they would leave early, then have not, and in some cases stopped working. FWIW Butler and Villanova have built strong programs around four year players. It creates continuity and ensures succession in leadership.

[hoyasaxa2003]

As others have said, at this point, in the Class of 2017, we are unlikely to get an RCSI top 100 player. While I would prefer higher ranked players, next year's team needs help, and it's only coming from the Class of 2017 or graduate transfers. So we need to be on guys who are under the radar, but who could contribute. Take someone like Wallace, who wasn't a highly ranked recruit but turned into an excellent shooter. Even someone like Pryor - Pryor was by no means a well regarded or recruited player in high school.

The only way we get top 100 talent at this point is if guys decommit because of coaching changes, etc. And we should certainly look at those kids, along with any graduate transfers, but we've got to do the best we can at this point. The Class of 2018 is much more significant for the long-term future of the school, but the Class of 2017 could make a big difference too.

And, to our benefit, I think guards are more likely to fly under the radar. It's hard for big men to be unknown simply given that there aren't a ton of them. But it happens with guards all the time.

[s4hoyas]

I can see Issac Kante wearing the Kente cloth..."bruiser...has dog in him...plays very hard...passes very well out of double teams...all around good player"...
alot to like, and attributes we need...and could be somewhat of a late bloomer who makes a major contribution at the collegiate level...lets get him down for a visit...