Tweet
Those are Foxsports' Jeff Goodman's words, not mine
There has also been some discussion in other topics
There has also been some discussion in other topics
-
-
geez. these other teams just re-load. wsu, creighton and siu are going to be very tough to beat this upcoming season. hope we don't fall back to being a .500 or sub .500 team again. really enjoyed last season so much. -
flipper, I think this kid is overrated.
I have put a bunch of effort into finding every story and reference I could on him, and I don't doubt he is good, but I find literally dozens and dozens of similar kids touted every bit as much all over Germany, Asia, and elsewhere.
Mekel played for an 18-under team which won some tourneys but which wasn't necessarily the best team on the continent, and at time Mekel wasn't even hyped as the best player on his team.
I found similar hype for the foreign kids like the one that bombed out at UNI last year (Raffington) and the kid who bombed out there the year before.
As I said, most of the places on the Euro sites talking basketball have him listed at 1.81 meters, which correlates to 5'11", but suddenly he is listed at 6'2"-6'3" on these latest news stories.
I think a skinny 5'11" shootin guard is in for a BIG shock if they think they will dominate the Valley.
He is compared favorably to Niv Berkowitz, who bombed out at Marquette and left before he ever earned any playing time.
Here is exactly what they said about Berkowitz-to whom Mekel is likened, and tell me if this doesn't sound like a carbon copy of what's said about Mekel.
They literally claimed he is the best to ever come from the nation of Israel!!!
"Berkowitz: ???‚¬?“Niv is someone who absolutely loves the game, has a passion for it, and the bloodlines as well. He really understands how to pass, he's a very adept ball handler, and he can go right and left. His ability to shoot the ball, get into the lane, draw fouls and shoot free throws is what separates him offensively."
High School/Youth League: Member of the Israel???‚¬?„?s FIBA U18 European Championship team???‚¬?¦ Helped Israel to a seventh place finish by averaging 14.4 points, 2.1 steals, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists???‚¬?¦ Connected on 49.2-percent from the field, including 53.8-percent from three-point range, in eight games during the European Championships???‚¬?¦ Had his best games against Greece, recording 27 points and four steals, and Bulgaria, against who he had 22 points, five assists and five steals???‚¬?¦ Played in the National Youth League for Maccabi Tel Aviv???‚¬?¦ Earned team???‚¬?„?s MVP award by helping it win the national Israeli Cup???‚¬?¦ Averaged 27.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.0 assists and was MVP of the Israeli High School League???‚¬?¦ Was the Israeli High School League???‚¬?„?s top scorer and all starting five selection."
If the U-18 MVP can't make it in US college ball, then I will not hold my breath waiting for Mekel...Comment
-
hope your right t, just seems wsu makes sweet sixteen and they lose one player,all be it a good one, and are getting good recruits. siu brings everyone back, they beat us 2 out of 3 games last season, they bring in two pretty good player plus sign fay. creighton had a good team last season and had a good recruiting class plus will have funk back.
that coupled with us losing bennett,boogie,cellus and pob makes me wonder how well we will compete against these upper-level conference teams.
hope my concerns are unwarranted.Comment
-
Bradley WOULD NOT have gotten a bid to the NCAA had the ENTIRE rest of the Valley been anything except strong enough to have the lofty RPI .
Thus the Valley got four teams in and BU was fortunate to be one of them.
So I am glad the Valley is getting better.
Had we hoped for our Valley opponents to have a lousy season as did the C-USA
then we'd be stewing about how we only had one or two bids like Houston coach Tom Penders.Comment
-
I'm with you T. I hope this kid is a stud. The Valley has seperated itself from the mid-majors and we can only sustain it if there are 2-3 kick butt teams each year with another 3-4 solid teams year-in / year-out. Maybe WSU, SIU, and Creighton carry the banner this year and BU is solidly respectable.Originally posted by tornadoComment
-
Exactly Dallas. I aspire for the NCAA (and wins in the NCAA) but certaily don't turn my nose at the NIT (and wins in the NIT).Originally posted by Dallas Brave
We are 'rebuilding' this year for front court players. We will remain competitive. Expectations will be less. We may surprise some teams - playing without the pressure. Middle of MVC with the potential to win 3 games in St Louis for the NCAA.Comment
-
i understand where everyone is coming from. it just seems in the last 6 years or so it is the same schools at the top of the valley every year. maybe it is just runs in cycles. i just don't want bu to be a once in a decade ncaa team.Comment
-
Now the reasons are clear why this kid, Gal Mkel wanted to come to the US and play college ball.
"Mekel said playing basketball at an American university will allow him to
delay the military service required of Israelis after the age of 18."
So he's doing it to dodge the draft!
Comment
Comment