(2014) PF Emmit Holt to IU

[mdn82 25,510]

I trust Crean's eye, but I would be shocked if this kid could play for this team right now.  Depth?  He is already behind players such as Priller and April.  He missed a whole summer of workouts and practice.  That is huge in today's game.  Especially for a player who would have to carve a role on this team.  Personally, I would rather run 4 guards out there for 25 mpg + with Troy guarding the opposing 4 (and DD getting the bulk of the other min) than trying to be traditional when our lineup doesn't dictate that.  Our strength will be our guard play.  We will be smaller.  We have to play to our strengths.  I would be pleasantly shocked if this kid could come in August/September and get more than 5 mpg. 

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

It isn't normal. 

Looks like it's normal enough for Kansas and LSU and MSU and Purdue and whoever the heck else is trying to get Kasongo.

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

I trust Crean's eye, but I would be shocked if this kid could play for this team right now.  Depth?  He is already behind players such as Priller and April.  He missed a whole summer of workouts and practice.  That is huge in today's game.  Especially for a player who would have to carve a role on this team.  Personally, I would rather run 4 guards out there for 25 mpg + with Troy guarding the opposing 4 (and DD getting the bulk of the other min) than trying to be traditional when our lineup doesn't dictate that.  Our strength will be our guard play.  We will be smaller.  We have to play to our strengths.  I would be pleasantly shocked if this kid could come in August/September and get more than 5 mpg. 

Holts situation is a little bit different. Rather than coming off a high school season and fooling around all summer instead of making it to campus to work out, he had planned another year of ball before college, so he's been playing AAU all summer and keeping in shape.

 

At the AAU Nationals in July in Louisville, Holt averaged 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in nine games as his Albany City Rocks team finished second in the event. Had this been a kid we knew about and/or on an Indiana Elite, EG10, etc team, most of us would be fired up to add him, I believe.

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,083]

Holts situation is a little bit different. Rather than coming off a high school season and fooling around all summer instead of making it to campus to work out, he had planned another year of ball before college, so he's been playing AAU all summer and keeping in shape.
 
At the AAU Nationals in July in Louisville, Holt averaged 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in nine games as his Albany City Rocks team finished second in the event. Had this been a kid we knew about and/or on an Indiana Elite, EG10, etc team, most of us would be fired up to add him, I believe.

Those recent AAU stats are impressive. That's why I posted that ITH article. It opened my mind a bit to Holt.

[8bucks 6,383]

Good numbers at the nationals but my trepidation is related to the other programs pursuing him vs me not knowing about him. You would think those numbers would have gotten some others attention as well.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

He was slated to go to prep school ( and may have already been on their campus) and had planned to be in  the '15 class.

TC, who's always on the lookout, might have scooped the "bigger" teams before they got a chance to get all their ducks in a row, following the summer circuit

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

Excerpts from a recent story:

 

Vermont Academy forward Emmitt Holt has been one of the nation’s biggest risers in the July live period.

 

Holt caught the eye of the Saint Joseph’s staff out in Sacramento where he was showing off his 7-foot-3 wingspan and blocking shots into oblivion,

 

Holt’s unique body combined with his wide ranging skillset makes him one of the more intriguing power forward prospects in the country.

 

“He’s versatile because of his ability to pass the basketball,” Popp said. “He can guard multiple positions. He’s listed at 6-7 but his wingspan is 7-3. He has one of those Elton Brand bodies. You see him and you have to kind of look at him a little bit to take in exactly what his body is like. He has these size 18 sneakers so we’re convinced that he’s still growing. He has the baby face with the million-dollar smile.

 

The unique facet of Holt’s recruitment is being able to match basketball opportunity with a strong academic situation where the forward can study business.

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

I wonder if Victor, had a hand in the staff getting advanced word about Holt?

 

From July 13th...

Emmitt Holt- City Rocks EYBL: The 6’8” forward with a 7-foot wingspan recently decided to do a post-graduate year at Vermont Academy. His stock rose significantly this weekend after having a 19 point 8 rebound game. His Vermont Academy coach, Alex Popp, told NERR that he is “very excited to have Holt coming,” adding that he played extremely well at the Ty Lawson/Victor Oladipo All-American Camp. After this weekend Holt should be looking for his offer list to expand.

[Stuhoo 79,880]

I wonder if Victor, had a hand in the staff getting advanced word about Holt?

 

From July 13th...

Emmitt Holt- City Rocks EYBL: The 6’8” forward with a 7-foot wingspan recently decided to do a post-graduate year at Vermont Academy. His stock rose significantly this weekend after having a 19 point 8 rebound game. His Vermont Academy coach, Alex Popp, told NERR that he is “very excited to have Holt coming,” adding that he played extremely well at the Ty Lawson/Victor Oladipo All-American Camp. After this weekend Holt should be looking for his offer list to expand.

 

Sure as heck sounds like that could have been a possibility.

 

By the way...VIC IS ON CAMPUS during Holt's official visit. The players can't work out with the Heat, but they sure as heck are allowed to meet them. Think it will add anything to the visit when VO, DWade, and Cody each tell Holt that CTC has been a big part of their development?

 

One more thing:

 

I've seen a lot of hand-wringing when IU is nosed out for diamonds in the rough that we find just before their recruitment takes off. See Tum Tum, Donovan Mitchell, Raymond Spaulding, Marvin Clark, and countless others.

 

CTC apparently thinks that Holt is one of those that if the rest of the CBB world knew about, would also be a hot ticket. Are you also going to complain when we identify him first and then seal the deal?

[Stuhoo 79,880]

Ummm...I give you...hot off the presses: One humdinger of an article on Emmitt Holt, which reads like it was written by the President of the Emmitt Holt Fan Club: 

 

http://nextuprecruits.com/2014/08/18/emmitt-holt-is-proving-to-be-a-high-major-player-article-video/

 

Looks to me like Superman wears Emmitt Holt jammies!

[BGleas 7,880]

Did Tom Crean write that? Maybe to sway fanbase opinion  :biggrin:

 

Ummm...I give you...hot off the presses: One humdinger of an article on Emmitt Holt, which reads like it was written by the President of the Emmitt Holt Fan Club: 

 

http://nextuprecruits.com/2014/08/18/emmitt-holt-is-proving-to-be-a-high-major-player-article-video/

 

Looks to me like Superman wears Emmitt Holt jammies!

[Parakeet Jones 3,745]

The question for me is, does Holt give us a better option as a 3rd post guy this year than April or Priller?  I don't pretend to have the answer to this since I've not seen him play, or April play for that matter.  However, if the answer is yes, and I suspect it may be, I say bring him on.  

 

I understand all the concerns about how this might affect the '15 class.  The reality is though there will be a place for any hoss that we really want next year.  

[Stuhoo 79,880]

Did Tom Crean write that? Maybe to sway fanbase opinion  :biggrin:

 

My favorite line from the article (and maybe one of the best entertainment-value lines ever written in a recruiting blog!):

 

"On his official visit on August 18th, word on the street was that Indiana decided to have Dwyane Wade, Victor Oladipo and others in town to help impress Holt."

 

Can you imagine?

 

"Hey Dwayne, Vic, Cody, Norris, Udonis. This is Tom Crean." 

"Whaa? No. Bloomington. YES, I'm still there!"

"Anyway, I need all of your help. I have Emmitt Holt in for an official on Monday."

"No, I'm not kidding. Yes. THE Emmitt Holt!"

"Don't ask me how I made it happen. Just know that: It. Is. Happening."

"I know that you all would do anything for me. Well not anything - sorry Cody, I promise I'll never ask you to babysit my cat again."

"Anyway, as you might expect, I am very nervous about the Holt visit and I need you all here, as they said on nextuprecruit.com, to help impress Holt."

"What's that Udonis? Yes, I can get you a picture of you with Holt."

"How's that Dwayne? No. Holt is mine. You cannot use him to replace LeBron!"

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,083]

I think Tom Crean did write that.  LOL.  Or the writer reads btownbanners :yes: :cheese:

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,083]

Great stuff Stuhoo! 

[shortspacequickness 1,034]

Even considering he's missed the summer strength program and summer practices, I'd venture to say he's well ahead of Tim Priller and April........ said it before, but this sounds like one of those guys that's just getting ready to bloom. Sure, it's a whirlwind adjustment for the kid but it's the situation at hand; IU needs the help inside. If Crean sits on the scholarship, he'll be chastised after IU falls at Wisconsin for not bringing in more frontcourt help...

[JSHoosier 19,932]

I haven't been too impressed with what I've seen of this kid.  So I'd rather just bank the scholarship, even though Crean seems to think that's illegal.

 

The odds of a player being available this late in the game that can actually help have got to be slim to none and closer to none (Kasango has grade issues), and I've never been in the "we need bodies" camp.  We need someone that can actually help, not just any warm body.

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

I'm assuming his head is screwed on straight since he's a good student and wants to major in Business, I'd rather use our last scholarship on him to have depth behind Hanner and Devin. Just my opinion.

[Jafo71 149]

Several videos of Holt.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3593249/highlights

Thoughts?

[Hovadipo 55,276]

Pretty clear he's the best player on the floor at all times. But that's not saying much. Looks comparable to Devin with a little more skill and a little less bulldog.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners