2023 SF/PF Mackenzie Mgbako to Texas A&M via Portal

[RaceToTheTop]

1 hour ago, Chris007 said:

St. John's has more money than we think. Mike Repole a billionaire who founded vitamin water said he would give lots of money if they hired Pitino. Some have said he has donated 100 million to their NIL funds to get it started. But every school has money. Hopefully Adidas pushed him one way or another. 

They do have money, but so far it has not been transferring to big gets in recruiting.  From what we had heard about Ledlum, St. John's was a pretty distant third despite him being from Brooklyn.  At this point they've brought in:

Glenn Taylor, Oregon State.  Averaged 11.6 points.

Quinn Slazinski, Iona.  Average a shad over 11 points but only played 7 games due to injury.

Naheim Alleyne, U Conn.  Averaged 5 points.

Cruz Davis, Iona.  Averaged 6.5 points at Iona.

Daniss Jenkins, Iona.  Averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 reb, 4.9 assists.

All the previous staff's commits decommitted.  The only high school commit so far is Brady Dunlap, who's a 150ish type of player and the other commit is a JUCO player.  Everyone except Soriano left, so they are completely started from scratch.  Has to be a little discouraging that that haven't brought in any big names and three of the five transfers were guys that played under Pitino previously.  Daniss Jenkins is a nice player but really wasn't even the most sought after Iona player -- he chose Florida over St. John's.  The other player of value he could have picked up plays pretty much the same position as Soriano and he chose to go to New Mexico.

The money will be there at St. John's, but right now the brand isn't and the facilities definitely aren't.  Playing more in MSG helps, but they'll still be playing half their home games at Carneseca Arena, which is simply horrible.

[Hoosierfan1901]

Starting to look like Kansas will have room if HD commits, since Kansas’ insider said there is a possibility one of their big men will transfer out. Something to watch later on…

[BottomLine]

15 hours ago, IUFAN1976 said:

No it’s not.  It needs to be more regulated instead of being a free for all.  Also, I think it needs to come out of the school’s athletic money.  Being fine it is not!

Can't come out of athletic money.  Schools are not allowed to give money directly to players.  NIL operates outside of the school.

[CSP]

17 minutes ago, BottomLine said:

Can't come out of athletic money.  Schools are not allowed to give money directly to players.  NIL operates outside of the school.

Right. He's saying that's wrong, which, I agree with. 

Schools should be allowed to give the money, they're the ones GETTING the money. Instead, we've decided asking for free will donations so children will go to our favorite school is the best route. It's been a confusing ride. 

[ap2345]

46 minutes ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Starting to look like Kansas will have room if HD commits, since Kansas’ insider said there is a possibility one of their big men will transfer out. Something to watch later on…

Of course they would. Just about any school will make room for someone like MM

[Demo]

39 minutes ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Starting to look like Kansas will have room if HD commits, since Kansas’ insider said there is a possibility one of their big men will transfer out. Something to watch later on…

They were always gonna have room. And their pitch is easy as pie to make. “Wanna know how we’ll use you? Here, watch these 15 mins of Jalen Wilson cut ups. Any questions?” Seems like the real question there is how inexperienced are they willing to be? If they take Mgbako they would be really young. Would think if they are players for Grant Nelson, he would be their preference. They could probably take both, but if Mgbako wanted to come off the bench he’d be going to Duke.

[pumpfake]

1 hour ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Starting to look like Kansas will have room if HD commits, since Kansas’ insider said there is a possibility one of their big men will transfer out. Something to watch later on…

Tom Crean was a man before his time - the O.G. of "Creaning".

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 hour ago, Demo said:

They were always gonna have room. And their pitch is easy as pie to make. “Wanna know how we’ll use you? Here, watch these 15 mins of Jalen Wilson cut ups. Any questions?” Seems like the real question there is how inexperienced are they willing to be? If they take Mgbako they would be really young. Would think if they are players for Grant Nelson, he would be their preference. They could probably take both, but if Mgbako wanted to come off the bench he’d be going to Duke.

This is right on!  The Wilson comp is exactly what they are doing.  I think its a strong sell.  I could see them wanting HD or GN more though.  But just like us, they want MM at the 3/4 and HD/GN at the 5.  We want MM at the 3.  Kansas is going to be tough to beat if they are all in.  

[RaceToTheTop]

28 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

This is right on!  The Wilson comp is exactly what they are doing.  I think its a strong sell.  I could see them wanting HD or GN more though.  But just like us, they want MM at the 3/4 and HD/GN at the 5.  We want MM at the 3.  Kansas is going to be tough to beat if they are all in.  

FWIW.....Jalen Wilson played two minutes in Kansas' opener as a freshman and then broke his ankle in the second game.  Regardless of his injury, he was set to only get a handful of minutes that year.  If they are going to show him tape of how they Wilson became an NBA player, they are going to be showing highlights from his senior year.  If they are wanting to show how he could quickly make it to the NBA, I'm not sure Jalen Wilson highlights are the way to go.  And my feeling is that he wants to be a one and done, which is part of the reason that he chose not to stay committed to Duke where his role would be lesser as a freshman.

Kansas may be the team to beat -- I have no idea, could very well be it's Indiana, Louisville, or St. John's -- but I'm not really sold that the four year development of Jalen Wilson is something that sells MM.

[RaceToTheTop]

2 hours ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Starting to look like Kansas will have room if HD commits, since Kansas’ insider said there is a possibility one of their big men will transfer out. Something to watch later on…

I think HD committing would not be a selling point for MM.  Just my opinion, nothing else.  He could go to Duke and deferred to others offensively if he wanted to.

[IUFAN1976]

1 hour ago, btownqb said:

Right. He's saying that's wrong, which, I agree with. 

Schools should be allowed to give the money, they're the ones GETTING the money. Instead, we've decided asking for free will donations so children will go to our favorite school is the best route. It's been a confusing ride. 

To say the least!

[AKHoosier]

2 hours ago, btownqb said:

Right. He's saying that's wrong, which, I agree with. 

Schools should be allowed to give the money, they're the ones GETTING the money. Instead, we've decided asking for free will donations so children will go to our favorite school is the best route. It's been a confusing ride. 

Agreed.

With all the ridiculous bloat most universities have these days, they've got money to burn. So why not let the ones that are able to spend money on recruits make that choice?

[CSP]

Just now, AKHoosier said:

Agreed.

With all the ridiculous bloat most universities have these days, they've got money to burn. So why not let the ones that are able to spend money on recruits make that choice?

It's the only logical way this is sustained. 

[str8baller]

50 minutes ago, AKHoosier said:

Agreed.

With all the ridiculous bloat most universities have these days, they've got money to burn. So why not let the ones that are able to spend money on recruits make that choice?

Because universities have never wanted to be in the business of having athlete employees. In some ways, it was the sole purpose of the NCAA.  
 

NLI was forced upon them. The NCAA isn’t one to innovate either. So now the schools get to have their cake and eat it too…. Maybe not as good as the good ‘ol days but the university presidents don’t have to worry about a whole new class of high profile employees. 
 

I’d guess there will be some NCAA rules in the next few years that puts some organization to the whole thing. And if they are sensible courts will probably let them do it. But it was the Universities own avarice that brought this on, so nobody really feels too sorry for them yet. 

[Hoosierfan1901]

6 hours ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Starting to look like Kansas will have room if HD commits, since Kansas’ insider said there is a possibility one of their big men will transfer out. Something to watch later on…

6 hours later….

Kansas’ Cuffe is transferring opening up a scholarship and Kansas should be feeling A LOT better with Mgbako

[Hoosierfanyuh]

2 minutes ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

6 hours later….

Kansas’ Cuffe is transferring opening up a scholarship and Kansas should be feeling A LOT better with Mgbako

Cuffe was going to leave regardless. They’re looking at more than just MM and HD. But yes that is notable 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Just now, Hoosierfanyuh said:

Cuffe was going to leave regardless. They’re looking at more than just MM and HD. But yes that is notable 

Ugh.  Don’t like. But it is what it is. Kansas is tough. 

[Hoosierfan1901]

6 minutes ago, Hoosierfanyuh said:

Cuffe was going to leave regardless. They’re looking at more than just MM and HD. But yes that is notable 

Also notable, Kansas is reportedly going hard after that NDSU player too. But the way I see it….Mgbako is Kansas’ to lose as of now 

[Hoosierfanyuh]

15 minutes ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Also notable, Kansas is reportedly going hard after that NDSU player too. But the way I see it….Mgbako is Kansas’ to lose as of now 

You could say that after any visit imho

[Uspshoosier]

Worrying about scholly numbers for teams is a thing of the past.   Looking at the numbers has gotten less important over the years and now it’s a waste of time.    All teams will have room for whoever they are recruiting it’s up to the recruit if he feels comfortable with the situation.    Even in the NIL era recruiting is still a relationship and geography game.   Whoever the recruit feels a connection with will win out most of the time.   Get them on campus and hope they make that connection