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Sam_Boger

PITT Transfer Josh Newkirk is headed to IU!

By Sam_Boger, in Indiana Men's Basketball

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Alford Bailey    13,189

Alford Bailey
Posted

I'm surprised that rebel is the only one that hit the nail on the head with a major component of this recruitment.

 

There is a common theme that has held since Stan, "The Movement", etc.  CTC is trying really, really hard to only recruit high character kids. OG and Juwan are through the roof academically, and T Bryant was held as a civic treasure in WV. Zeisloft, Rojo, JBJ, Beilfeldt? Same dynamic.

 

That doesn't keep us from going after four and five star players, but they all seem to be very squared away kids or we don't even try to get into the mix.

 

Newkirk seems to have a Ronnie Johnson skill set and a Robert Johnson mindset.

 

And that's O.K.

And I understand the looking on the bright of the Gelons, Prillers, Aprils, Newkirks ect. Thats fine. Just don't expect to win championships.

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AKHoosier    7,612

AKHoosier
Posted

He is quick but not sure how a point that can't shoot fits Creans system. We need a point that can regularly shoot the long range three from the top of the key when the offense breaks down.

 

His first two years at Pitt, he shot 35.7% from 3PT.

 

Yogi Ferrell's first two years at IU, he shot 37.5% from 3PT. 

 

Not too much of a difference there, and there's no reason to think Josh Newkirk can't improve his shot a little as an upperclassmen, inching closer to 40%.

 

Sure his numbers may look pedestrian, but that's to be expected at a place like Pittsburgh.  They run a slow, plodding style like Georgetown and Purdue that's heavily reliant on their big guys.  Newkirk is the type of player who wants to get out and run, which is why he came here.

 

I really like this pickup, and am excited to hear how he does when he starts practicing against/with the team in December.

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AKHoosier    7,612

AKHoosier
Posted

Some thoughts...

 

-The narrative that Newkirk can't shoot seems overblown. Yes, he shot poorly as a sophomore. But as a freshman he shot 46% from the field and 43% from distance. Is he Steve Alford? No. But let's not act like he's Stan Robinson or Jeremiah Rivers, either.

 

-Newkirk is a point guard. He's supposed to be a facilitator. He had a 2:1 assist-turnover ratio as both a Freshman and a Sophomore. Not superb, but decent.To compare, Robert Johnson, was a little over 1:1 last year.

 

-We are going to need experience for the 2016-2017 season. Newkirk will be a fourth-year Junior with some success vs. high-level competition. And a year working under Crean.

 

- What '16 point guard that we're recruiting do we honestly believe will be assuredly better of a pick-up than Newkirk? Yes, Curtis Jones and Bruce Brown look to be solid players. I'd gladly take them. But both are more of Top 50-60 players as opposed to the instant-impact McDonald's variety. And just by doing a little bit of reading on those two, you see the label "combo" guard as opposed to true point guard. Seriously now... do we honestly believe that they, as freshman, could give us more than Newkirk as a fourth-year Junior at point guard? Running the team, defensively, etc?

 

I'm just afraid some people see him as scoring 5.9 PPG and shooting 38% as a sophomore and just assume that's all he'll ever be. I think that's a little unfair.

 

My opinion.

 

This.  Co-signed.  X 1,000.

 

I liked this post, then unliked it just so I could like it again.

 

I like Bruce Brown and Curtis Jones too, but I'd take a 4th-year junior Newkirk over either of them to lead our team at PG.  Hopefully we get 1 of them because we still need an additional guard, but Newkirk has me all kinds of excited.

 

It's a great fit for our team.

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drewheck    749

drewheck
Posted

yeah but he averaged 5.9. He is a decent player. He is not April. He also is not Yogi.

look who he had to play last year in the acc the 5.9 doesn't scare me or make me think any less of him he was being guarded by number one teams and first round draft picks

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Class of '66 Old Fart    89,368

Class of '66 Old Fart
Posted

Easy there, really?? I don't think some of us are giving this kid the credit he deserves.

You're right.  Mom couldn't have got 8 rebounds because she's lost her verticality due to arthritis.  :shout:

 

Yes it was an exaggeration but our poor defense made a lot of players look like first round draft picks. Newkirk got a lot of points and boards against us, but his season averages were nowhere near that good.  I'm not saying he's a bad pick-up but I'm not overly impressed and especially concerned about his surgery and if he'll be able to fully recover as did Colin Hartman or will he be limited in playing time because the knee just won't hold up to the rigors of B1G.  He didn't just have your basic everyday 'scope, he had microfracture surgery and that's a whole different thing.   I absolutely hope he proves me wrong.

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Beowulf50    816

Beowulf50
Posted
[quote name="Class of '66 Old Fart" post="187274" timestamp="1440375839"]

You're right. Mom couldn't have got 8 rebounds because she's lost her verticality due to arthritis. :shout:

Yes it was an exaggeration but our poor defense made a lot of players look like first round draft picks. Newkirk got a lot of points and boards against us, but his season averages were nowhere near that good. I'm not saying he's a bad pick-up but I'm not overly impressed and especially concerned about his surgery and if he'll be able to fully recover as did Colin Hartman or will he be limited in playing time because the knee just won't hold up to the rigors of B1G. He didn't just have your basic everyday 'scope, he had microfracture surgery and that's a whole different thing. I absolutely hope he proves me wrong.[/quote

Ok so let's put the kid down and be negative until he proves us wrong. See I will choose to be positive until he gives me reason not to be.

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Iufan2324    158

Iufan2324
Posted

I've watched him and actually new his name when the announcement was made(which is a plus). Even before the injury I think it is pretty far fetched to say Newkirk is a Yogi replacement.

He may not be as productive as yogi but as of now he is his replacement. One way or another until someone else proves worthy he is the only point guard on the 2016-2017 team and his father said he was taking the torch from yogi.
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Alford Bailey    13,189

Alford Bailey
Posted

He may not be as productive as yogi but as of now he is his replacement. One way or another until someone else proves worthy he is the only point guard on the 2016-2017 team and his father said he was taking the torch from yogi.

Yep, said we can put the ball in Newkirks hands next year and there wont be a drop off.

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