Confirmation from @MattD
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Is there a case to be made that between Tillman, Livers, and Smith, the best option might actually be Smith under the assumption all would slot in at the four? Do we think he can defend the position adequately? Offensively, I think he is probably the best fit of the group for UM at that spot given his versatility and ability to stretch the floor…
I’m not sure Smith has the size, or more importantly, the lower body base, to be able to defend at the 4. I saw Smith live several weeks ago. He looked about 6’6" to me, and I’m more confident of that guess than I otherwise would be because I was with a friend who is almost 6’4" (just measured as part of a physical) and Smith was standing next to my friend at a break in the action. More to the point, he doesn’t seem to have much thickness in the lower body. One thing our undersized 4s (Novak, GR III, Irvin, etc.) have had in common is sufficient base so that they don’t get pushed off the low block. I’m not sure Smith has, or will develop, that base.
I like Smith, and would be happy to get him. He could certainly be a 3, and if he could develop his lower body sufficiently or grow height wise, he might be capable of being a 4. However, personally, I would want a clear 4 in the class along with him.
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I would echo this sentiment. I know JB doesnt get too hung up on positions sometimes, but I think there are clearly two groups of forwards that he is recruiting:
3’s/Wings: Cain, Wilkes, Smith, Bowen
4’s/PFs: Young, Tillman, Jackson, Livers
There maybe some overlap there but I think generally the “wings” bring a different skill set than the “PFs” and the wings are generally smaller guys who would have a tough time guarding the 4 on another team
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I know a lot of people were big Malik Williams fans, he’s off to Louisville.
On the Victors board someone mentioned Webb said there is two tiers of recruits, the first one is Wilkes, Bowen and Jackson who JB will wait for in the spring. The other one has everyone else in it and the first one to commit gets the one spot.
Thoughts, did anyone hear the recruiting roundup?
I heard that and it makes sense. Even though we may not have a great shot with the 5 star guys you might as well save the last spot for one until the spring. If they don’t jump there would still be other options available in the spring including giving the spot to Donnal.
My only caveat to that is I wouldn’t hold a spot for them if you got one of the second tier wings AND then Young wanted to commit. I think Young should be a take at that point.
But for the second tier wings, I think it’s the first one to commit and then wait till spring.
I just have a hard time thinking that if one of the wings commits that they could turn away Young or Livers… And likewise if one of the 4s commits, that they could turn away Cain or Smith… Seems like a huge risk to take banking the scholarship for the spring in hopes of landing a 5 star when you have a talented player wanting to commit… Seems like a recipe to wind up with a 3rd or 4th tier player in the end
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I tend to agree. If I was calling the shots, I’d be fine with taking one of Young/Livers and one of Smith/Cain in the fall and then continuing to recruit the others through the season and see how everything shakes out.
Now that means you have to actually land them, but if you look at a class of Brooks, Poole, Matthews, Livers/Young, Cain/Smith – that’s a pretty well-rounded class. Not many five-star impacts, but solid top-100 level players at basically every position 1 through 4.
On the other hand, I can see an argument for not taking two from one group or the other. Although I could probably be convinced to take Smith and Cain.
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Yeah, if we were bigger players for the 5 stars then I’d be more inclined to wait than I currently am. I like the other options enough that I think we need to take them if they want to come.
I don’t trust us landing Wilkes Jackson or Bowen. I’d much rather go with a combo of
Smith
Cain
Young
Tillman
Livers…
Then again I’m assuming those five stars arent super interested. Maybe I’m completely wrong. Hopefully so and that’s why he’s holding out. Also he might be ok with gambling and banking that scholarship. Or maybe Gaines is his fall back wing. He maybe more interested in balancing the classes. Taking one 3/4 wouldn’t be that absurd. Maybe he envisions Ibi and Wilson holding down. The wing. Maybe even slide Wagner to the four on occasions. I have this feeling Wilkes is interested and Jordan is trying hard to make it happen. Very lntersting
Ideally we get Young or Livers (preferably Young) in the Fall. Then we’re good and we can push hard for whoever the coaches want.
With Livers commitment today, I think UM is in a position to wait out the recruitment of its top choices on the wing. Consider Beilein’s preference to cut down to an 8-man rotation.
Cain/Smith, IMO, can be good solid program players, but not sure either of them would project in to Beilein’s 8-man rotation in '17-18 and both would face some obstacles in making the 8-man rotation in '18-19. Especially if UM is able to bring in a guy like CRyan in the '18 class.
Wilkes, Bowen, Jackson can all step in to the 8-man rotation as Freshmen. If UM strikes out on those 3, either retain Donnal for a 5th yr or look at the transfer options at season’s end?
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I think you take Cain (assuming he wants to go here) and just finish. Jackson isn’t even considering us and Bowen/Wilkes have their eyes set on blue bloods.
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Can’t we just take another guy we really like now, and then still continue to recruit the guys waiting until the Spring. At that point, there could be team attrition.
It was very important for us to be aggressive with the roster this past offseason and should be going forward.
No reason not to keep recruiting a 5 star in case a spot opens up, but I don’t see it. Not many transfer candidates after this season. Too early for any of the 2016 class to possibly transfer. DJ already used his redshirt, so it doesn’t make sense to transfer (it’d be better for him to stay a year and then grad transfer). And then I can’t see any way that Rahk or Duncan would be leaving as seniors.
Really the only option for a spot opening up is Wagner going pro (in the NBA or Europe) or something really negative going down with member(s) of the 2016 class (akin to what happened at OSU, which I view as super unlikely). So yeah, I don’t foresee attrition.
I’m not sure if I’m the only one in this boat but I’d be a little let down if someone other than Wilkes, Bowen, or Jackson commits to our last scholarship. The others with offers are nice players but I think we need some star power on '17s roster.
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