last Schollie?

**Cyforce** · 05-22-2011, 10:24 AM

I know we have 2 but CW has hinted that he thinks we'll getgood news on Okoro soon. Based on that we are down to 1 opening between now and closing the 2012 class. Then we'll have 5 open in 2013 which gives the staff another season to show what Fred and company have built.

Looking from a need stand point I see our recruiting future to look like this.

POST- we have JR Booker, SO White & Railey, FR Gibson, 2012 (tweener Niang)
I don't see anyone else in here in 2012 but 2 in 2013, we'd be losing one and White may not be on the 5 year plan.

SF-we have JR wing Babb, redshirting SR to be Clyburn and SO Ejim plus 2012 wing Okoro. Niang being told he would be used as a tweener (hybrid) may have closed the window on Abrahamson. Cook would be stepping into a log jam when we have bigger needs to fill. Jok in 2013 would be huge, get it done Lefty.

SG-this seems like our biggest 2012 need. Scottie and Allen are SRs and wing Babb and CG McGee will be JRs. Okoro isn't a refined shooter like the guys we'll be losing so I think this is the most likely last signing in 2012 unless we get a transfer next year. One way or another I think we end up with a pure shooter to go with Okoro.

PG-this winter we have CGs JR McGee and FR Sledge. With Lucious in the mix in 2012-13 I think we wait for 2013.Terrence Samuel would be a perfect fit.

Looking at Fred's recruiting classes I like that he hasn't settled for players to fill classes. Something every other coach we've had in the last 25 years has done.

**madcityCY** · 05-22-2011, 11:12 AM

wow... lots of thoughts there. can you resummarize/ direct discussion?

I'm down with banking the 13th scholarship for 2011 - lots of talent we seem to be on in 2012 - would love to add Okoro and ____.

5 scholarships for 2013 - again a class that we seem to be chasing some top talent, and of course the door will close on some of those guys. A lot can happen between now and then. Could see a Juco or two in this class depending. At this point, (i admit this is looking way ahead) the team will be lead by Sledge, Ejim, Niang, Gibson, & Railey. Will need a little of everything to fill out that team - especially a shooter/ slasher like... OKORO!

Kerwin, note Niang... pull the trigger

**Haverhill** · 05-22-2011, 11:22 AM

Lets steal a recruit from Kansas. That sounds like fun.

**Cydkar** · 05-22-2011, 11:23 AM

I'm guessing Bubu ends up with it but I'd like to know if there are any targets right now.

**Rural** · 05-22-2011, 11:26 AM

I'm not for banking it. We've got 2 sitting out, there's plenty of PT to go around. Olu are you listening?

**Cydkar** · 05-22-2011, 11:30 AM

He's not.

**madcityCY** · 05-22-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by Rural

I'm not for banking it. We've got 2 sitting out, there's plenty of PT to go around. Olu are you listening?

That would be a glorious fantasy come-true if we somehow came back into his picture. I've seen tweets that say he'll be deciding early this week.

**Haverhill** · 05-22-2011, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by madcityCY

That would be a glorious fantasy come-true if we somehow came back into his picture. I've seen tweets that say he'll be deciding early this week.

Last ditch twitter effort??

**madcityCY** · 05-22-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Haverhill

Last ditch twitter effort??

we could launch a campaign today... I don't have anything to do besides study, which I will gladly put off.

**ISUonthemove** · 05-22-2011, 02:28 PM

What did CW say about Okoro? I must have missed that. I would love for Okoro to pull the trigger.

**acgclone** · 05-22-2011, 02:37 PM

I say Bubu gets the open ride this year (1 yr deal).

Next year we sign Okoro, Niang and a Juco/transfer guard that can bomb from 3.

The following year we would have 4 possibly 5 spots to fill, so you get one of everything or close to it. You're order of importance would be: 2, 1, 3, 4, 5 (assuming no attrition, which is unlikely).

**risiusj** · 05-22-2011, 02:38 PM

Just a note -
When Hoiberg said he saw Niang as being a hybrid 4, I think he meant more of an inside-outside threat on offense. Not that he'd play at the 3. He doesn't seem to be quick enough to not be a liability on defense if he's at the 3.

**acgclone** · 05-22-2011, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by risiusj

Just a note -
When Hoiberg said he saw Niang as being a hybrid 4, I think he meant more of an inside-outside threat on offense. Not that he'd play at the 3. He doesn't seem to be quick enough to not be a liability on defense if he's at the 3.

Agreed. He seems to be a post with a decent 3 pt shot.

**Cyforce** · 05-22-2011, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by risiusj

Just a note -
When Hoiberg said he saw Niang as being a hybrid 4, I think he meant more of an inside-outside threat on offense. Not that he'd play at the 3. He doesn't seem to be quick enough to not be a liability on defense if he's at the 3.

I think the same can be said of Abrahamson. He seems like a kid that would play the 4 for UNI. Where Niang plays the same way but built a little more for the Big XII.

**StLouisClone** · 05-22-2011, 06:53 PM

We have 10 scholarship players ready to go in 2011-12 plus Bubu. That is plenty. I hope we bank the last scholarship or give it to Bubu.

I like the idea of always having at least 1-2 players who are either redshirting or sitting out their transfer year. There's no need to have 13 scholarship players fighting over playing time in a particular year. 11 scholarship players plus one or two walkon players is plenty going into the season.

McDermott was always filling out the roster with 13 scholarship players and the last 3-4 guys seemed to be reaches. That strategy didn't work as proven by all the transfers out during the season or at the end of the season.

Our best team ever only went 7 deep during most of the season and there were some games in which the bench got a total of only 5-10 minutes.

Barring injuries, I think we're set to have at least 2 break out seasons in a row (NCAA tourney here we come). I haven't been this sure of it since Tim Floyd was our coach in his 3rd season. That team went to the Sweet 16 with Jacy Holloway as PG averaging 5.5 PPG and 5.9 APG. As long as McGee or Sledge can be as good Holloway, I will be disappointed if we don't make the NCAA tourney.

PG McGee, Sledge, Palo
SG Allen, Christopherson
SF Babb, Ejim
PF White, Gibson
C Booker, Railey

Christopherson is one of ISU's all-time leading 3-point shooters but I see him being the first player off the bench next season. I'm not sure who will start between Babb and Ejim, but the one who doesn't start will still get around 20 minutes/game.

It's quite possible our 2 best returning players (Christopherson and Ejim) will be backups this season. That's what I'm hoping to see. It would be similar to Floyd's 2nd season in which we had all newcomers in our starting lineup (Holloway, Willoughby, Bankhead, Pratt and Cato).