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Rate this years recruiting class.
- Thread starter bu fan 9
- Start date
I think we have filled some needs with a couple true point guards, a big man who can defend the lane and help prevent teams from layup drills against us, and one of the best shooters in the state of Illinois. But overall I'd still grade this recruiting class a C.
We have not addressed our biggest need of a scorer who can help right away to improve the worst offense in Division I.
Yes, the returning players will be better, but as I posted in the other thread-
Bradley's 56.0 ppg last season ranked 351st out of 351 Division I teams. Dead last.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/stats/teamsort/NCAAB/SCORING/regularseason (scroll down, click "ALL", and check the bottom of the list).
Overall FG percentage was 38.0% (349th out of 351), and shooting percentages from 3-point were equally poor (28.0%- 348th out of 351). Free throw percentage was 66.1% (307th out of 351).
Assists to turnovers was 0.53 (9.1/17.2) and ranked 348th, assists (9.1/game) ranked 348th, and turnovers (17.2) ranked 351st in Division I.
I don't see the returning players improving enough nor any of the 5 recruits making enough difference in these abysmal statistical areas (except maybe assists/turnovers) to elevate Bradley out of the 7-10 slots in the MVC.
IMO, one single good juco scorer could do more to help this team next season than anything landed so far.
We have not addressed our biggest need of a scorer who can help right away to improve the worst offense in Division I.
Yes, the returning players will be better, but as I posted in the other thread-
Bradley's 56.0 ppg last season ranked 351st out of 351 Division I teams. Dead last.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/stats/teamsort/NCAAB/SCORING/regularseason (scroll down, click "ALL", and check the bottom of the list).
Overall FG percentage was 38.0% (349th out of 351), and shooting percentages from 3-point were equally poor (28.0%- 348th out of 351). Free throw percentage was 66.1% (307th out of 351).
Assists to turnovers was 0.53 (9.1/17.2) and ranked 348th, assists (9.1/game) ranked 348th, and turnovers (17.2) ranked 351st in Division I.
I don't see the returning players improving enough nor any of the 5 recruits making enough difference in these abysmal statistical areas (except maybe assists/turnovers) to elevate Bradley out of the 7-10 slots in the MVC.
IMO, one single good juco scorer could do more to help this team next season than anything landed so far.
wily coyote
Active member
I'm afraid I have to agree with your assessment. We are going to be better next year but how much better is debateable. I'm with you in not seeing any real difference maker coming in so far for next year. I think we are bringing in people who will help us in the future but no difference maker. Hopefully the kid from Memphis will improve our PG position and could be our best newcomer but we'll see. Still don't see a real big time shooter but I do think that will improve by everyone just being a year more experienced. As bad as we shot the ball last year,in order for us to move up the ladder ,we really need to make a drastic improvement taking care of the ball and lowering our turnovers.
I said in another thread that I think our sophs will shoot better next year??¦.they shot better as the year went last year. DLO,Pittman,Luuk, and Suggs all had some good shooting games and I think they all could improve a lot next year. I understand we all want game changers but I don't know that has to happen for teams to be successful??¦..
As of today, I'd give our recruiting class a C. If we were to get a junior college scorer, it may jump up higher. We essentially will be the same team next year, only a year older. Nate Kennel may help with some shooting, however it is difficult to expect any of our incoming freshmen to be difference makers as they will most likely make the same mistakes we saw last year. I've seen Koch Bar play and feel he is a year or two away from being a factor. Our returning players will get better. If we are the only team in the league that has players improve in the off season, we will move up in the standings to the middle of the pack. If the players on other teams also improve, we will be back in the 7-10 spot in the standings. We still haven't addressed our biggest need...a shooter.
tornado
New member
It would have been advantageous if Coach Wardle had time to start recruiting kids as freshmen, sophomores, etc...
Keep in mind he's only been at the helm here at Bradley for one year...
So I think he's done OK so far....obviously we won't know all the facts for a couple years still....
the last coach sure didn't land any studs in year-two but some have....
Here's the best players in each of the past few coaches' 2nd recruiting classes...
Versace- Thirdkill, Houston, Ford - :-o
Albeck- Bayless, Schell, Beccue -
Molinari- Jackson, Wright, Pollard, Funches - :biggrin:
Les- Adams, Ruffin, Rembert, Sommerville, Tauai - :-D
Ford- Alwan, Bell, Pickett, Fields, Grier -
Wardle...
Keep in mind he's only been at the helm here at Bradley for one year...
So I think he's done OK so far....obviously we won't know all the facts for a couple years still....
the last coach sure didn't land any studs in year-two but some have....
Here's the best players in each of the past few coaches' 2nd recruiting classes...
Versace- Thirdkill, Houston, Ford - :-o
Albeck- Bayless, Schell, Beccue -
Molinari- Jackson, Wright, Pollard, Funches - :biggrin:
Les- Adams, Ruffin, Rembert, Sommerville, Tauai - :-D
Ford- Alwan, Bell, Pickett, Fields, Grier -
Wardle...
It would have been advantageous if Coach Wardle had time to start recruiting kids as freshmen, sophomores, etc...
Keep in mind he's only been at the helm here at Bradley for one year...
So I think he's done OK so far....obviously we won't know all the facts for a couple years still....
the last coach sure didn't land any studs in year-two but some have....
Here's the best players in each of the past few coaches' 2nd recruiting classes...
Versace- Thirdkill, Houston, Ford - :-o
Albeck- Bayless, Schell, Beccue -
Molinari- Jackson, Wright, Pollard, Funches - :biggrin:
Les- Adams, Ruffin, Rembert, Sommerville, Tauai - :-D
Ford- Alwan, Bell, Pickett, Fields, Grier -
Wardle...
I disagree to a point. It doesn't matter what the previous coach did. One of our biggest weaknesses, still hasn't been addressed. A skilled shooter. Until we get a couple we will struggle.
tornado
New member
it does if there's quality players left behind for the new coach to build upon...
Geno had numerous All Valley caliber players right off the bat in Taylor Brown, Dyricus, Walt Lemon, and even Jake, Egolf..
JL inherited some talent in Gillingham & Gilbert, but Wardle had virtually nothing.
but wasn't trying really to make any point - just to show that most of our coaches did get some solid talent by year-two that became part of the rebuild success....time will tell if Wardle does also
In fact, for most of the past 4 seasons, this message board is the only place you saw ANYONE noting that, as the Geno supporters and the media
talked up the tremendous talent, depth, and shooting prowess of Geno's recruits as if they were Steph Curry -
but only here was it accurately pointed out how they ranked dead last repeatedly in MVC play and that it was hurting us big time.
However- over the 18-game MVC season Luuk van Bree shot 39%, the best anyone in a Bradley uniform has done since Andrew Warren (2010-11)
..Luuk is the 5th best returning 3-pt shooter in MVC play, and of course the jury is still out on Kennell, Hodgson, Brown, etc...
..and remember - we still have more to come...
Geno had numerous All Valley caliber players right off the bat in Taylor Brown, Dyricus, Walt Lemon, and even Jake, Egolf..
JL inherited some talent in Gillingham & Gilbert, but Wardle had virtually nothing.
but wasn't trying really to make any point - just to show that most of our coaches did get some solid talent by year-two that became part of the rebuild success....time will tell if Wardle does also
I have been saying this is one of severest needs since Andrew Warren - so you won't get any argument from me..
In fact, for most of the past 4 seasons, this message board is the only place you saw ANYONE noting that, as the Geno supporters and the media
talked up the tremendous talent, depth, and shooting prowess of Geno's recruits as if they were Steph Curry -
but only here was it accurately pointed out how they ranked dead last repeatedly in MVC play and that it was hurting us big time.
However- over the 18-game MVC season Luuk van Bree shot 39%, the best anyone in a Bradley uniform has done since Andrew Warren (2010-11)
..Luuk is the 5th best returning 3-pt shooter in MVC play, and of course the jury is still out on Kennell, Hodgson, Brown, etc...
..and remember - we still have more to come...
LongTimeFan
Active member
If you are considering long-term needs, I would give it a C. Several have the potential to develop and fit Wardle's long-term needs.
When considering short-term needs, I'm not sure I would rate it as high. I'm hoping that the recruits will surprise us towards the end of next year. Except for point guards, the freshman class should not need to contribute as much as last year's recruits. We will be depending more on our juniors and sophomores.
When considering short-term needs, I'm not sure I would rate it as high. I'm hoping that the recruits will surprise us towards the end of next year. Except for point guards, the freshman class should not need to contribute as much as last year's recruits. We will be depending more on our juniors and sophomores.
I believe that if Josh Cunningham had stayed at Bradley he would have been by far, the best player on this year's team. He may have even been a candidate for All-Valley. I also believe that if Xzavier Taylor had stayed he would have been a much better player under Wardle than he was under Ford.
I was just trying to make the point that Geno Ford is not responsible for the type or quality of player Wardle is recruiting. We don't need just one shooter, we need a couple. Teams can shut one player down, once the scouting reports get out. Nate Kennel may have been a good player in the Mid-Illini, however I am not expecting much out of him as a freshman. Every game at Bradley he will be facing better players than he did in the Mid-Illini. I think in time he will contribute quite a little bit at Bradley.
I was just trying to make the point that Geno Ford is not responsible for the type or quality of player Wardle is recruiting. We don't need just one shooter, we need a couple. Teams can shut one player down, once the scouting reports get out. Nate Kennel may have been a good player in the Mid-Illini, however I am not expecting much out of him as a freshman. Every game at Bradley he will be facing better players than he did in the Mid-Illini. I think in time he will contribute quite a little bit at Bradley.
tornado
New member
I am kinda happy both are gone- they never impressed me as much as it seemed our local media went gaga over them & hyped them...
I think the jury is out on Josh Cunningham....good rebounder (actually 86 of his rebounds or 35% were offensive cuz we shot so incredibly poorly and there were endless offensive reb-chances available - but it didn't help squat as we still lost 24 games!) but still not convinced he can score consistently...
Hard to imagine that Geno gave the guy the green light to launch from the arc whenever he wanted - the guy shot 20% from there.
...and we already had way too many big guys (Taylor, Morgan, Shaw) clanking layups and shooting 33-40% from point blank.
I do not believe Bradley has ever had a freshman who played OVER 30 minutes per game - yet averaged under 8 ppg, under 24% outside shooting, and under 57% on FT's.
As for Xzavier Taylor, I almost hafta laugh...he has not improved nor progressed one bit in two years of playing full time (59 games, 189 total points, roughly what Callum Barker scored this year alone!)
Remember - the very best game was the preseason summer tour game before his freshman year against a weak opponent - then it was downhill from there!
.... and even when he was given the chance to stay and work out for Coach Wardle, he opted to go home.
I don't agree that Wardle could have turned Xzavier Taylor into a much better player.
Remember - he lost his starting spot & playing time to Jermaine Morgan - and yet Morgan still couldn't even beat anyone out on Kentucky Wesleyan, a DII team, for playing time and averaged 5.4 ppg and 47.7% on FTs.
tornado
New member
I have agreed with you that Cunningham has talent - and Taylor did too but there's another complete aspect - the desire to work hard & develop, which I never saw with XT
I said the jury is still out with Cunningham....time will tell...
SIU landed the #29 player in the entire NATION a few years ago... so lots of people musta thought he had talent, too...and yet in two full seasons at SIU he averaged 5 ppg - then he transferred to Iowa State and averaged 3 ppg.
There's an interesting history with Top 100 recruits and the MVC - Booker, P'Allen Stinnett, Andrew Bock, Sean Ogirri....many or most of whom never panned out to say the least...
I said the jury is still out with Cunningham....time will tell...
SIU landed the #29 player in the entire NATION a few years ago... so lots of people musta thought he had talent, too...and yet in two full seasons at SIU he averaged 5 ppg - then he transferred to Iowa State and averaged 3 ppg.
There's an interesting history with Top 100 recruits and the MVC - Booker, P'Allen Stinnett, Andrew Bock, Sean Ogirri....many or most of whom never panned out to say the least...
Rate This Years Recruiting Class
Rate This Years Recruiting Class
Vent....I agree with you. While we may now have a decent point guard and a big man defender, we still havn't addressed our major problem which is our weak, generally ineffective, and terrible shooting offense. Kennel may be OK but in reality, he was a second team all-state player and probably won't be a major factor for a couple of more years. In the meantime, we still have not recruited any big-time shooters and we won't see much improvement until we do. At best, I would grade this recruiting class a "C" but only if Brown and K. Bar are as advertised.
Wiz
Rate This Years Recruiting Class
Vent....I agree with you. While we may now have a decent point guard and a big man defender, we still havn't addressed our major problem which is our weak, generally ineffective, and terrible shooting offense. Kennel may be OK but in reality, he was a second team all-state player and probably won't be a major factor for a couple of more years. In the meantime, we still have not recruited any big-time shooters and we won't see much improvement until we do. At best, I would grade this recruiting class a "C" but only if Brown and K. Bar are as advertised.
Wiz
I would not get your hopes up for Koch Bar next season. He is tall and lean and will alter some shots in the lane, but other than that, from what I saw at the T.O.C. in Washington, he is not going to help much on offense. On the defensive end he did alter some shots but he also is not very strong and will get pushed around a lot when playing against other college players. I think he will be very prone to foul trouble. He did a lot of reaching and played defense by trying to block shots instead of getting in good defensive position.
Kennel is a really good kid and can catch the ball and shoot. From what I've seen of him, he is just average at creating shots off the dribble. Against Manual, with a defense that had very quick hands and feet, in the Sectional this past season, he was ineffective. I believe he will be a decent Valley player but it will take time to develop him.
You are correct, last year our shooting was terrible, and we still haven't answered our needs in that area. Our returning players may improve in shooting but generally players improve in scoring before they improve in shooting. There is a huge difference. So often people put emphasis on 3 point shooting. That is fine and dandy but I would like to see us get some guys that can shoot free throws at a good percentage as well as being able to shoot the 10-15 footer at a much better percentage.
As for Brown, he appears to be the best player we have recruited in this class. Asking a freshman to be the point guard is asking an awful lot. There have not been many true freshman point guards at Bradley or anywhere else, that have been really effective.
I agree with the Da Coach, we really need to get a shooter that can come in next year, be a step in starter. Without that, I believe we may still be in the 7-10 spot in the standings.
Chibearsfan10125
New member
I know that I might be in the minority here, and maybe I'm just being an optimist, but I like this class a lot. Sure it doesn't skyrocket us to a top 3 team in the Valley, but I wasn't expecting this class to do that. Obviously we don't know much until they play D-1 ball, but let's look at who we've gotten.
Darrell Brown Jr.: A 5-10 point guard who can score (averaged over 22 ppg his senior year of high school) and get others involved (with over 6 assists per game). The player in this class, as of right now, I'm most excited about.
Koch Bar: a 6-10 Center who, while raw, has a ton of upside. I know it's high school, but he still averaged near a double double (14 points, 9.5 Rebounds) and added a bunch of blocked shots. I don't see any way he gives us less should be able to give us what Cooper gave us last year, unless he redshirts. He's a project, and I know from recent experiences, that worries some people, but Wardle seems to be a better coach than Geno, and sometimes projects pay off in a big way. Just ask an Evansville fan about their last project center.
Jayden Hodgson: Honestly, the recruit on coming in next year I know the least about. Not going to spend a lot of time here, but I don't think it would be that hard for him to at least match, if not exceed, the production we got out of Okafor last year.
Nate Kennell: I think a lot of people are down on Kennell because he's a local kid. People are acting like there's no way that he sees the court while also asking why we haven't signed a shooter. Let's not forget this kid scored almost 25 a game his junior year. Sure his scoring dipped his senior year, down to around 18, but that's because Metamora didn't need him to score in bunches. They needed him to be a team player and leader, and that's what he did. I think if he wasn't local, our fans would be all excited about a 6-5 (or 6-4 depending on where you check) shooting guard who shot as well as Kennell did in high school. Especially one who is first cousins with Aaron Zobrist, one of the best shooters in the schools history.
Jerome Merritt: Not the most exciting of spring signees, but still an athletic wing who can defend. Give me that any day of the week. I doubt he's a star here at Bradley, but if he's as athletic as some stories make him out to be, he'll carve out some sort of role for himself.
That's just the scholarship guys coming in for next year, not counting Lou Griffith (who I like a ton, even though he's almost certainly redshirting this year) or Alex Foster who will definitely provide help inside. I don't think there's any question that the team has gotten better from last year. Meanwhile, the Valley was pretty senior heavy last year, and while other teams will get better, most aren't returning as much production as Bradley is. I know we aren't used to it, but players are supposed to get better from year one to year two. Look how much better Donte looked last year than his freshman year.
I hate to grade a recruiting class until we see them on the court, but as of right now, I'd give this class a B. Is it perfect? No, but it fills some holes and we were never going to get the type of freshman that schools like Kentucky get. I'm curious to see what we will do with the last scholarship and can't wait to see this team take the court in the fall.
Darrell Brown Jr.: A 5-10 point guard who can score (averaged over 22 ppg his senior year of high school) and get others involved (with over 6 assists per game). The player in this class, as of right now, I'm most excited about.
Koch Bar: a 6-10 Center who, while raw, has a ton of upside. I know it's high school, but he still averaged near a double double (14 points, 9.5 Rebounds) and added a bunch of blocked shots. I don't see any way he gives us less should be able to give us what Cooper gave us last year, unless he redshirts. He's a project, and I know from recent experiences, that worries some people, but Wardle seems to be a better coach than Geno, and sometimes projects pay off in a big way. Just ask an Evansville fan about their last project center.
Jayden Hodgson: Honestly, the recruit on coming in next year I know the least about. Not going to spend a lot of time here, but I don't think it would be that hard for him to at least match, if not exceed, the production we got out of Okafor last year.
Nate Kennell: I think a lot of people are down on Kennell because he's a local kid. People are acting like there's no way that he sees the court while also asking why we haven't signed a shooter. Let's not forget this kid scored almost 25 a game his junior year. Sure his scoring dipped his senior year, down to around 18, but that's because Metamora didn't need him to score in bunches. They needed him to be a team player and leader, and that's what he did. I think if he wasn't local, our fans would be all excited about a 6-5 (or 6-4 depending on where you check) shooting guard who shot as well as Kennell did in high school. Especially one who is first cousins with Aaron Zobrist, one of the best shooters in the schools history.
Jerome Merritt: Not the most exciting of spring signees, but still an athletic wing who can defend. Give me that any day of the week. I doubt he's a star here at Bradley, but if he's as athletic as some stories make him out to be, he'll carve out some sort of role for himself.
That's just the scholarship guys coming in for next year, not counting Lou Griffith (who I like a ton, even though he's almost certainly redshirting this year) or Alex Foster who will definitely provide help inside. I don't think there's any question that the team has gotten better from last year. Meanwhile, the Valley was pretty senior heavy last year, and while other teams will get better, most aren't returning as much production as Bradley is. I know we aren't used to it, but players are supposed to get better from year one to year two. Look how much better Donte looked last year than his freshman year.
I hate to grade a recruiting class until we see them on the court, but as of right now, I'd give this class a B. Is it perfect? No, but it fills some holes and we were never going to get the type of freshman that schools like Kentucky get. I'm curious to see what we will do with the last scholarship and can't wait to see this team take the court in the fall.
tornado
New member
hard to be miss that Hodgson was named to the Florida All State teams ( Florida Association of Basketball Coaches) when he only played one month at Arlington Christian Day School...
and as many talented kids as there were on the ACD team, he was the only one who got such honor...
he must have impressed some people
Time will be the true judge as to how good this recruiting class is. I do know the Valley, other than the top two or maybe three teams, is not very good. So with that in mind, with any type of recruiting class at all, it should not be hard for Bradley to move up in the standings. I would say anything less than a 4th thru 6th place finish, would be a disappointment. I do not next year's team to compete for a top 3 spot in the standings. I also do not expect the team to compete for the bottom 4 of the standings. Getting the new recruits on campus in June will be a big help. However, we still haven't addressed our #1 need, a shooter. I am anxious for the time when we are able to recruit players that are respectable mid major to an occasional upper mid major to Bradley.
tornado
New member
the success of any recruiting class is strongly tied to at least two other factors..
#1- the ability of the coach to actually figure out how to play & win games - this destroyed all of the recruiting classes from 2011 thru 2015
#2 no matter how good any one player is, he will never win games by himself, so each recruit's success is tied to the talents and abilities of his teammates as well
#1- the ability of the coach to actually figure out how to play & win games - this destroyed all of the recruiting classes from 2011 thru 2015
#2 no matter how good any one player is, he will never win games by himself, so each recruit's success is tied to the talents and abilities of his teammates as well
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That is correct. But, the better the recruits, the easier the coach's job is. There are a lot of good coaches in college conferences that are extremely weak leagues. The old saying "Good players make bad coaches look good and good coaches make bad players look better" holds a lot of validity. Most people would agree...75% of coaching at the Division I level is recruiting.