TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
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Post by TBird41 on Apr 16, 2007 15:03:06 GMT -5
Great, this guy can just step in for Green next year. Perfect. Seriously, if (...) Green and Hibbert leave, you'd like to see guys enter the program who, from their descriptions, at least sound like they would be able to step in and contribute immediately (immediately in whatver sense is appropriate considering III's system). While I'm not sure exactly what that would sound like, I'm pretty sure Mercherakov's write-up isn't it. That said, welcome Nikita, you've made an incredibly good choice. JT3 already has two guys coming next year who can make an immediate impact. He also has a guy ready to step up and take Jeff's spot. Really, the only replacement he's missing is one for Roy, and, considering that few people expected him to leave this year, is that really all that galling a mistake?
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,899
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Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 16, 2007 15:05:58 GMT -5
The recruiting guys at Rivals had a chat a few years ago, and I asked what the #1 motivation for players seemed to be...
...the universal response from the "gurus" was playing time, no question. Freeman, Wright, Summers, and Macklin are making it harder for our staff to recruit.
It's one reason why a lot of staffs can come in and get that great first class. It's much harder to keep it going.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,487
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Apr 16, 2007 15:07:10 GMT -5
Great, this guy can just step in for Green next year. Perfect. Seriously, if (...) Green and Hibbert leave, you'd like to see guys enter the program who, from their descriptions, at least sound like they would be able to step in and contribute immediately (immediately in whatver sense is appropriate considering III's system). While I'm not sure exactly what that would sound like, I'm pretty sure Mercherakov's write-up isn't it. That said, welcome Nikita, you've made an incredibly good choice. JT3 already has two guys coming next year who can make an immediate impact. He also has a guy ready to step up and take Jeff's spot. Really, the only replacement he's missing is one for Roy, and, considering that few people expected him to leave this year, is that really all that galling a mistake? And we still don't know if Roy is gone. Let's keep that in mind.
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HealyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Victory!!!
Posts: 1,059
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Post by HealyHoya on Apr 16, 2007 15:08:25 GMT -5
Great, this guy can just step in for Green next year. Perfect. Seriously, if (...) Green and Hibbert leave, you'd like to see guys enter the program who, from their descriptions, at least sound like they would be able to step in and contribute immediately (immediately in whatver sense is appropriate considering III's system). While I'm not sure exactly what that would sound like, I'm pretty sure Mercherakov's write-up isn't it. That said, welcome Nikita, you've made an incredibly good choice. JT3 already has two guys coming next year who can make an immediate impact. He also has a guy ready to step up and take Jeff's spot. Really, the only replacement he's missing is one for Roy, and, considering that few people expected him to leave this year, is that really all that galling a mistake? No, of course not. Clearly I'm being greedy when expecting McD's-level talent across the board but, hey, I can always hope. I have faith in III and, frankly, he's shown an incredible ability to develop players. One wonders what type of contribution Saed might have made after 4 full years of III's system and mentoring. He would not have been a D-1 stud but probably would have done more.
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TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
Posts: 8,740
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Post by TBird41 on Apr 16, 2007 15:09:21 GMT -5
JT3 already has two guys coming next year who can make an immediate impact. He also has a guy ready to step up and take Jeff's spot. Really, the only replacement he's missing is one for Roy, and, considering that few people expected him to leave this year, is that really all that galling a mistake? And we still don't know if Roy is gone. Let's keep that in mind. True, but if I allow myself to believe that, it will only reopen the wounds when he stays in the draft...
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Post by hoyas2008 on Apr 16, 2007 15:12:02 GMT -5
Will his last name fit on the jersey?
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dTRAIN
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 189
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Post by dTRAIN on Apr 16, 2007 15:23:25 GMT -5
Perhaps he drops Mescherakov and is simply Nikita.......like a Brazilian soccer star.
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Post by HoyaOnBothSides on Apr 16, 2007 15:31:19 GMT -5
In Soviet Russia, ball dunk you!
Seriously though, it does.
Congrats & Good luck to Nikita..
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Apr 16, 2007 16:20:02 GMT -5
"Step in immediately"
I keep reading this comment. Why did we sign a guy who can't "Step in Immediately". We need a guy who can "step in immediately".
At the same time, most of us recognize it isn't easy to "Step in immediately" to JT3's system. Mickey D AA Vernon Macklin wasn't able to Step in Immediately".
Many people say McLain would not have been able to, even if he were to come here.
I don't know why everyone thinks it is so critical to have someone who will "Step in Immediately".
Yes, I understand that if both Roy AND Jeff depart, we'll be shorthanded up front. But we can still start Macklin, Ewing and Summers, or maybe Macklin, SUmmers and Freeman (one of the few who is being given credit as someone who really COULD "Step in immediately") up front, with Ewing off the bench again.
JT3 needs guys who can learn the system before they are fully able to contribute. Unless JT3 is willing to run guys off -- something he has given no inclination of doing -- there are limits to how much he can recruit. At the start of this season, we had no schollies available for anyone -- not McLain or anyone else.
When Thornton left, his schollie went to Chris Wright. When Egerson left, we created one open one. Sounds like that one went to Nikita. So if we need big guys, we'll need them because Jeff and/or Roy depart, and we will have the schollies available. Unfortunately, the timing is such that options are limited.
Regardless, GU will have a really good team next year. Maybe not Final Four, but very good, very exciting, and building for the future once again.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Apr 16, 2007 16:33:35 GMT -5
The recruiting guys at Rivals had a chat a few years ago, and I asked what the #1 motivation for players seemed to be... ...the universal response from the "gurus" was playing time, no question. Freeman, Wright, Summers, and Macklin are making it harder for our staff to recruit. It's one reason why a lot of staffs can come in and get that great first class. It's much harder to keep it going. Great post SF- I agree 100%. At the same time, I don't think that you can really evaluate a coach's full recruting ability/ potential until he has had 4-6 years to recruit a couple of classes throughout their four years of HS. III has had an amazing first couple of years, and I have faith that things can get even better from here. That's not to say more All-American recruits; what it should mean is no wasted scholarships; more guys like Crawford and Rivers to go along with the superstars. I am excited that this signing is a sign of that trend continuing to take place.
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Canes Pugnaces
Posts: 5,304
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Post by Cambridge on Apr 16, 2007 16:35:59 GMT -5
So when do we start calling him La Femme Nikita?
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Post by stafford72 on Apr 16, 2007 17:53:28 GMT -5
Why do some of you write off Hibbert and Green and theorize the staff's decision making based on their departure?? Not even Green and Hibbert know for sure if they are coming back. That is what the process is for. Again--the odds are quite good that Hibbert will honor his prior statements and stay for his degree. We all have to wait 2 months for the answer.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Apr 16, 2007 18:01:54 GMT -5
Ahem ...
Ahem ...
In Soviet Russia, you recruit Georgetown.
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HoyaChris
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,412
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Post by HoyaChris on Apr 16, 2007 18:26:21 GMT -5
I can only imagine what the board would have looked like when we signed Eric Floyd.
"Who is this Sleepy guy. Are we also going to sign Grumpy and Doc?"
"Why are we signing two guards from North Carolina? At least some of us have heard of this Blaylock guy."
"He's not even the best player in Gastonia for god's sake. And where the hell is Gastonia?"
"We need someone who can play right away. We are losing Derrick Jackson, Mike Riley and Craig Esherick."
I have absolutely no idea how good Nikita can be. But he does sound like a good fit for the offense.
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Whoya
Century (over 100 posts)
ICU81MI
Posts: 162
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Post by Whoya on Apr 16, 2007 18:31:10 GMT -5
Why isn't the recruiting list updated already!?!?!??!?!
Someone had to say it. May as well be me.
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Post by Frank Black on Apr 16, 2007 18:48:44 GMT -5
I can only imagine what the board would have looked like when we signed Eric Floyd. "Who is this Sleepy guy. Are we also going to sign Grumpy and Doc?" "Why are we signing two guards from North Carolina? At least some of us have heard of this Blaylock guy." "He's not even the best player in Gastonia for god's sake. And where the hell is Gastonia?" "We need someone who can play right away. We are losing Derrick Jackson, Mike Riley and Craig Esherick." I have absolutely no idea how good Nikita can be. But he does sound like a good fit for the offense. Wow. Does that mean Esh was replaced at Georgetown first by Sleepy Floyd and THEN by John Thompson III? Can we hire him back in some capacity just so we can get rid of him?
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RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
Posts: 4,803
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Post by RusskyHoya on Apr 16, 2007 19:59:31 GMT -5
Aaaahahaha you have no idea how happy this makes me. Really awesome. Hopefully he'll develop quickly enough that I'll be able to see more than 15 total minutes of him in my two years left on the Hilltop.
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
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Post by The Stig on Apr 16, 2007 20:05:21 GMT -5
A real gentleman white guy with a great name who isn't projected to get much playing time? If nothing else, he will be a fan favorite!
Seriously though, it sounds like he's got solid fundementals and a great work ethic, so he could end up contributing more than just moral support.
Welcome to the family Nikita!
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Apr 16, 2007 20:12:29 GMT -5
Potential Nick Name: "The Communist Blocker"
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,487
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Apr 16, 2007 20:25:54 GMT -5
"Step in immediately" I keep reading this comment. Why did we sign a guy who can't "Step in Immediately". We need a guy who can "step in immediately". At the same time, most of us recognize it isn't easy to "Step in immediately" to JT3's system. Mickey D AA Vernon Macklin wasn't able to Step in Immediately". Many people say McLain would not have been able to, even if he were to come here. I don't know why everyone thinks it is so critical to have someone who will "Step in Immediately". Yes, I understand that if both Roy AND Jeff depart, we'll be shorthanded up front. But we can still start Macklin, Ewing and Summers, or maybe Macklin, SUmmers and Freeman (one of the few who is being given credit as someone who really COULD "Step in immediately") up front, with Ewing off the bench again. JT3 needs guys who can learn the system before they are fully able to contribute. Unless JT3 is willing to run guys off -- something he has given no inclination of doing -- there are limits to how much he can recruit. At the start of this season, we had no schollies available for anyone -- not McLain or anyone else. When Thornton left, his schollie went to Chris Wright. When Egerson left, we created one open one. Sounds like that one went to Nikita. So if we need big guys, we'll need them because Jeff and/or Roy depart, and we will have the schollies available. Unfortunately, the timing is such that options are limited. Regardless, GU will have a really good team next year. Maybe not Final Four, but very good, very exciting, and building for the future once again. Yeah I mean let's face facts here, even if Roy and Jeff leave we basically have gone from Summers, Green, Hibbert to Freeman, Summers (with that big extra year), Macklin (same). Everyone else is a year older and a year better and we added a Mcdonald's AA at guard. We're still potentially really, really good with essentially our unknowns being Vernon Macklin's development and Austin Freeman's arrival. Not exactly bad times. My wishlist is 1) Everyone return 2) Roy return 3) Jeff return 4) Back-up center in that order. As far as "step in immediately" SirSaxa has it right. Even if they both make the jump, we're probably looking at almost all the minutes already being accounted for so anyone "stepping in" will probably be doing so for about 10 minutes a game.
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