(2015) JUCO PF Ray Kasongo

[TheWatShot 13,622]

Not that this means much but he just followed Jeremiah April on Twitter

 

 

Anthony Lee followed Tom Crean, IU basketball and one of our players on Twitter. Then his OSU visit happened. 

[Dalton26 16,892]

[quote name="Bowhunter" post="78502" timestamp="1407984126"]He might take April's Job.[/quote]

I think he'll do more than sit on the bench.


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[Lt. John McClaine 541]

We should feel good about this.  I think it's a done deal.  This does however, further illustrate just how much the Luke Fischer Transfer hurt us.  If we had him on the roster then we would not have to spend another scholly on a 2014 player.  That being said we are in a lucky spot to get a 3 star big man that had committed to Oregon.  

 

Does this remind anyone of the Mike Davis era after the Final Four run?  Do you guys remember how undersized we were every year?  I remember the first year that we did not make the tournament in forever, I believe it was 2003-2004, Bracey Wright's soph year, and the only post players we had were Mike Roberts, Sean Kline, and freshman Pat Ewing Jr.  (DJ White was on the team but injured)  We had good guards but it didn't matter because every team we played got us in foul trouble and absolutely man handled us.

 

My point is, if we don't get Kasongo, and I think that we will, but if we don't then IU has 2 post players in Jerimiah April and Hanner Parea, and one undersized 6'6" guy in Devin Davis. That's it!  In my opinion, this should never ever happen.  I know that the staff tried on some players and just couldn't land them, and like I mentioned before with the Luke Fischer Transfer, but it would be a shame to waste the talent that we have in the backcourt this year because every team we play will kill us down low and on the boards.  This further illustrates why getting Kasongo is so necessary, but to me it's crazy to think that we're even in this position, at all.  

[bleedhoosier 3,627]

Help is on the way boys! lolz

 

But seriously, at this point, sign this guy and it has to help no matter what. I don't want to spend another year grasping like we did last year (albeit in a different manner, down low). We need to put a product on the floor and get back in the tourney or IU just appears to be fading back to it's middle of the pack days again. That is unacceptable for this University!

 

'15 will be fine. This shouldn't be a news flash but someone from this years squad will be unhappy with playing time, have better opportunity elsewhere or one of the freshman just won't align with Crean's demands and requirements. These kids don't commit for the long haul much anymore.  

[Bowhunter 2,693]

Can we get some more video of Kasongo? The one vid he looks like he is playing against a bunch of less talented kids. I am now on board with taking him, just cautiously optimistic due to his handler.

[iuryan 14]

Here is some video, looks to be from about 2 years ago. 

 

http://www.ihigh.com/852fx/video_908744.html

 

 

[iuryan 14]

Here is one more from a dunk contest: 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRRJyv8pGl0

[Bowhunter 2,693]

Thanks guys!

[iuryan 14]

Here is some video, looks to be from about 2 years ago. 

 

http://www.ihigh.com/852fx/video_908744.html

 

This video was when the kid was 16. I like what I see. 

[CampHoosier 3,697]

On the around 5 videos on the internet I have watched, I've seen him take two outside shots. The rest are dunks and layups. The ratio is about 150:2 

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

That's what we need. We've got plenty of outside shooters.

[Stuhoo 79,575]

Ray Kasongo now following Nick Zeisloft on Twitter.

[CampHoosier 3,697]

I wonder if he's following the late signing guys to see how well he would fit in coming in late in the process

[WayneFleekHoosier 47,923]

Interesting that he chooses Zeisloft and April to follow. I'm sure he's doing his reconnaissance with the newbies. I'm pretty excited about Kasongo joining the squad. I hope/think we find he is vastly underrated at 222.

[Hutch89 2,939]

I saw that RoJo is following RayK too.

[Stuhoo 79,575]

Here's what I like about Ray Kasongo:

 

Even though his recruitment had a checkered pre-IU past, he is a physical beast who is extremely athletic. Yes, sometimes the high school competition was lacking, but his physicality alone should allow him to make an immediate impact, if nothing else as a 10-15 minute per game defensive and rebounding oriented big.

 

WAIT...THAT'S NOT MY TAKE ON RAY KASONGO!

 

That's all of our collective takes on Hanner Perea two years ago!

 

Moral of the story: hope for the best, but keep expectations in a reasonable place, y'all.

[ccgeneral 38,084]

He's the banger this team is missing!

[Never Daunted 398]

What is the consensus updated 2014-2015 outlook on the team with Ray Kasongo (hopefully) joining the program? Ceiling, realistic, and floor. Asking in here because I can't start my own threads yet!

[WayneFleekHoosier 47,923]

A lot of variation. I think we have a small outside chance at winning BIG.

Most likely 4-7 range. The B1G will be very competitive this year. I wouldn't be shocked if we beat the top teams or lose to the worst teams.

I think we have top 5 talent. But we are younger. Wisconsin will be great. OSU will be really good. Then comes Michigan, Michigan St, IU. Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Maryland will be solid too. Next comes Minnesota, Purdue, NW. Then finally Penn State and Rutgers.

The 3-9 range is very, very close.

Kasongo's influence on all of this is highly questionable.

[JSHoosier 19,811]

I really don't give a rat's behind about athleticism, being an "athlete" doesn't make you a "basketball player" and I'll take the latter 10 times out of 10.  That highlight tape looks like he has some actual skill instead of being nothing more than an athlete so that's a definite plus, although it is a highlight tape and the competition looked pretty bad.

 

At the very least he'd address a position of need.  I'm not thrilled with the idea of what looks to be a handler, but if things are on the up and up I'm okay with it.