RaceToTheTop

I’m not sure why we have went to being concerned about the lack of players coming back and that you can’t win with so many transfers to worrying about the amount of money that a 15 ppg scoring sophomore coming back would be getting paid.

Looks like he has a European type of big man game. Played on the Israel team in the European FIBA U20 games last summer and led the tournament with 17.7 ppg and was second in rebounding at 12 rpg. I guess if I had to compare him to a player it would be Riensk Mast at Nebraska. Not overly athletic but good size and good passer and positional rebounder who does shoot very well for his size. just a year ago he couldn’t get off the Yale bench and now a year later he was one of the best in the euro U20 summer ball and put up a 14/10 season in the Ivy League and passes well for a big man. Strike will be athleticism but he has skills.

Or could be that the staff knows Cupps could be leaving. Or could be that the staff is just exploring as many options as possible. I know we need more players than we did at this time last year but it certainly seems like they are making contact with more players.

I would say strike out on them OR comparable guards and then there is concern. There are going to be guys like them still to enter.

Yeah, I don't get the complaints.....if the staff wasn't expressing interest or getting visits from players, people would be complaining. Now we have someone visiting which could be the first of maybe seven transfers we could sign and people are upset? Even if he were to commit to IU, why would anyone think he's the only guard out of 7 open spots that would be brought in?

They actually are indicators. Doesn't mean that he is looking to, but I'm not sure what you consider an indicator that he knows he would likely be coming off the bench if moving from a low major to a high major or moving to a school closer to home where he is going to have to compete are.

Awesome!

Markquis Nowell says hi. Can't paint every player with a broad brush. And no, not saying that it is the norm or that Leland Walker fits the Nowell mold.

My bad, you are correct.

Cam Carter, Kansas State, 6’3” guard. pluses: plus defender and plus rebounder for his size. Scorer who has played three years in P5. minus: inefficient shooter. 39/32/80 for his career. Averaged 14.6 points at K State last year

He played the 21-22 year plus two more years — the 21-22 year does not count as a year due it being the free ‘Covid’ year.

Alston Mason, Missouri State. 6'2" guard. Averaged 17.5 ppg, 3.0 reb, 3.6 assists. Shot 42/35/78; volume three point shooter (72 of 204). Two years of eligibility left; played at Oklahoma before playing two years at Missouri State.

Agree. Walker was first team all conference as a sophomore, though. My expectation is that Walker will either: 1. Go to a P5 and serve as a role player and backup point guard. 2. Go from low major Eastern Kentucky to a mid major and compete and likely win a starting job

Way back in the day, Randolph County used to have like 20+ high schools -- all probably under 100 students each -- County tournament looked like that bracket.

I think you might like Ace Baldwin in a role where there wasn't a need for him to put up 11 shots per game.

It will be harder for him. But I'm not saying he's going to put up 15.4 points and 4 assists per game at IU. I don't think that would be the expectation. He would be a backcourt piece.

Jordan Sears, UT Martin. 5’11” point guard. 21.6 ppg, 4.5 reb, 4.6 apg. Shot 43% from three.

IF Walker were to be at IU (which at this point is nothing more than message board guessing) the role that he plays would be more of a determining factor I would hope he wouldn't be coming in to get starter minutes. I will say that if there is one player right now who has entered the portal that I would want more than anyone else, it is a small school player -- Frankie Fidler. The most impactful player from the portal last year was a small conference player in Dalton Knecht. Obviously Walker shouldn't be mentioned with those guys, but he can serve a role.

Someone is trying to trick us with a fake profile. I am going to zone it out.

I guess Kansas sucks at talent evaluation as well since they contacted Walker.

I think IU is better running with no primary ball handler. Unless you have a great point guard, I'd prefer to have a couple of lesser ball handlers that have the ability to drive/shoot and allow multiple entry points.

Rowan Brumbaught, 6'4" PG, Georgetown. Three years of eligibility left. 132nd ranked propsect in 2023. Averaged 8.6 pts, 2.2 reb, and 2.6 assists as a freshman. Shot 41/37/79.

At his age, moving on has a much different meaning. I kid, I kid @Class of '66 Old Fart

Currently 9 guards and 2 forwards on the list of players IU has known contact with (although one of the guards there might not have been, so would be 8 and 2).

IU has contacted him per Sports Illustrated Long list including low, mid, and high majors have contacted him including Kansas.