Class of 2022 PG Quadir Copeland (PA/IMG) COMMITTED/SIGNED TO SYRACUSE

[Jeremy L.]

Eventually people will pick up on this hahaha

My immediate thought is Q is committing and then whatever happens after that happens. If JJ wants to come, great. If not, then it is what it is. Just get decent recruits that can gel well together and put out a solid product on the floor.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Playing time might be the issue for JG, given the talent we might have available at the guard spots.

Based on nothing, I can't see JB taking both JJ and Copeland, especially with JT presumably targeted for the 2.

My clear preference would be JJ over Copeland. I think JJ has the skill set to play PG from the jump, and can obviously play at the 2.

Eh... he's going to be a 3 year starter returning for a 4th year. He'd have to expect 2 incoming freshmen to bump him.

 

[007]

Eh... he's going to be a 3 year starter returning for a 4th year. He'd have to expect 2 incoming freshmen to bump him.

Yup

 

[Sherman20]

Peach Jam is highlighting that JJ is more of a 2 than a lead guard.

So what do you do if you're the SU coaching staff. Would love to land BOTH Cope and JJ -- but concerned about the combo guard dilemma if we throw all of our eggs into the JJ basket.

How is this a problem? It’s two different positions. Copeland will play PG and JJ will play SG.

 

[RF2044]

How is this a problem? It’s two different positions. Copeland will play PG and JJ will play SG.

A problem in the sense that JJ might not be the best facilitator, and his handle is more about creating for himself rather than handling pressure D, etc.

I'll own that this is my opinion ONLY, but I've seen enough of having combos [cough, Frank Howard, cough] play the 1.

Hope there's room for both.

 

[Sherman20]

I agree with all this. I'd just add, I don't think there is any way we say no to either Copeland or Starling. If both want to come, great.

The only real question is, will adding one scare off the other? I don't think any of us know the answer to that. My guess is it might. These are guys who are going to have a lot of good options.

If we land either one of the two we've secured a great class in my opinion, no matter who else we get or don't get.

A problem in the sense that JJ might not be the best facilitator, and his handle is more about creating for himself rather than handling pressure D, etc.

I'll own that this is my opinion ONLY, but I've seen enough of having combos [cough, Frank Howard, cough] play the 1.

Hope there's room for both.

I don’t think JJ would be scared off or even concerned about the presence of Taylor, Joe, Symir or anyone else. Same with Copeland. A lot of these top rated kids aren’t worried about competition. Look at UK this off-season. They signed two top 20 transfer guards in Sahvir Wheeler (PG) and Kellan Grady (SG), both high level scorers at their previous schools (Wheeler is also an elite PG/distributor), then went out and added a top 15 freshman PG in TyTy Washington and another SG in CJ Fredrick from Iowa (who’s an elite 3 pt shooter). All four of them are guards, and none of them seem concerned about each other in competing for playing time, even though there’s only 80 mpg available in the backcourt. Also, all those guys are higher rated than any of our recruits or transfers. We should be able to take JJ, Copeland and Taylor and not even bat an eye.

 

[RF2044]

I don’t think JJ would be scared off or even concerned about the presence of Taylor, Joe, Symir or anyone else. Same with Copeland. A lot of these top rated kids aren’t worried about competition. Look at UK this off-season. They signed two top 20 transfer guards in Sahvir Wheeler (PG) and Kellan Grady (SG), both high level scorers at their previous schools (Wheeler is also an elite PG/distributor), then went out and added a top 15 freshman PG in TyTy Washington and another SG in CJ Fredrick from Iowa (who’s an elite 3 pt shooter). All four of them are guards, and none of them seem concerned about each other in competing for playing time, even though there’s only 80 mpg available in the backcourt. Also, all those guys are higher rated than any of our recruits or transfers. We should be able to take JJ, Copeland and Taylor and not even bat an eye.

Again, there's a difference between them being a "take" for us and them wanting to come here.

A lot of these guys want to play right away. Having a crowded position group ahead of them might be a deterrent. UK isn't an apples to apples comparison, because they recruit elite guys who all expect to be one-and-dones. None of them conceive of the possibility that they might fail, because they are elite and have been smashing successes getting to UK. That many of them fall to the wayside and fail to achieve that is irrelevant, because the next group of blue chip prospects are lining up to play there the following class.

I don't think that anybody thinks it's one or the other in terms of SU -- I'm sure all fans would love to add both JJ and Copeland. The question is: do they [and specifically Copeland] see it that way.

PS -- think of how incredible a class of JJ, Cope, Tayor, Lands, and a big / Bunch would be! Top 10 class -- it would position us for success for years to come.

 

[alphaorange]

Sign as many of the best guys as you can. The reality is that some will underwhelm and sometimes the lesser regarded guys will rise. Either way, with the current transfer rules, it'll work out.

 

[GooseMutt]

Cope disregard all the chatter. Come on board brother

 

[baggerbob]

Sign as many of the best guys as you can. The reality is that some will underwhelm and sometimes the lesser regarded guys will rise. Either way, with the current transfer rules, it'll work out.

When JB was doing well in the 80's signed a number of big classes, and let the players work it out.

 

[GooseMutt]

I am dying for some swag and a legit pg and you’re it. Let’s do it

 

[dasher]

Oh man, General I love most of your posts, but... I disagree with this a lot.

Girard regressed as a point guard last season. He looked much better pushing tempo as a freshman. I think the jury is still out how much of a 1 he really is.

I'm optimistic about Torrence, but reality is he's had a very underwhelming first two years of production in college basketball. Now, he's going up a level in competition. At best he's an unknown quantity for now so it's difficult to predict his future, but I don't think it's crazy to think he could be bumped out of playing time if incoming guys are more talented (and I think there's a great chance ours could be depending on how recruiting unfolds).

Short of this all is, I think improving the talent at point guard could be really big for us, especially with Taylor coming in, especially with the possibility of playing Girard off the ball, especially since Lands may also be a great option at the 2. I'm not sure Starling accomplishes improving our talent at the 1.

That said, I wouldn't mind a scenario where there are legitimate battles for PT between multiple high level players. Let's get greedy.

Torrence first year wasn't so bad.

 

[althea]

When JB was doing well in the 80's signed a number of big classes, and let the players work it out.

I don’t want to be the one to point out the obvious, but it’s a completely different game/landscape than it was in the 80’s. It’s a credit to JB that he‘s been able to stay competitive in every decade.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Torrence first year wasn't so bad.

Fair enough, Torrence has one underwhelming season and one, uh... whelming season under his belt.

 

[Cusesky8214]

 

[Cusesky8214]

 

[721Comstock]

we’re screwed!!!

 

[sutomcat]

CB to SU just came in. Listed as a 5 in confidence level.

This was from 247. Not the one from Shaw from Rivals.

Quadir Copeland's Crystal Ball Predictions

247sports.com

 

[djorange1989]

This was from 247. Not the one from Shaw from Rivals.

Quadir Copeland's Crystal Ball Predictions

247sports.com

Yep that was the one I was referring to

 

[cliftonparksufan]

FYI that Justin Taylor's mom liked this tweet. I take that as a real good sign.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Regarding JJ and the 2 spot wouldn’t it be important for his development and NBA aspirations dictate he’d be looking at the PG position in college at 6’3”?

 

[kcsu]

I'm all in on Copeland, have been from the minute I started watching him. JJ is a great player but this is the kid I want. Big true PGs are rare. He isn't as advanced as JJ but his upside is evident. Gmac will make this kid special. I truly believe he has the potential to be a very special player at Syracuse. I

 

[OrangeinDC]

Regarding JJ and the 2 spot wouldn’t it be important for his development and NBA aspirations dictate he’d be looking at the PG position in college at 6’3”?

I don't see him playing the 1 in the League. He's a scorer ala Donovan Mitchel (6'3) or Sweet Lou Williams (6'1). I could be wrong but I think his ticket in the league will getting buckets at the 2.

 

[GooseMutt]

Cope is Dope
He’s big
He’s strong
He’s looking to pass
He’s unselfish
He’s cocky
He breaks down defenses
He’s a good humble kid with a chip on his shoulder
He probably would be here a number of years orchestrating things
He seems to love Cuse and appears to be a committed loyal type of young man
Parents did him right
May we please borrow him for 4 years

 

[CuseMan4]

I don't see him playing the 1 in the League. He's a scorer ala Donovan Mitchel (6'3) or Sweet Lou Williams (6'1). I could be wrong but I think his ticket in the league will getting buckets at the 2.

Yup. He’s a ball dominant 2 guard, think Tyus. Now I’m not saying they are the same player but Tyus played off the ball but still was a ball dominant guard. That’s what JJ will be. I think JJ is a bette player than Tyus for what it’s worth as well. I think Copeland could play in the same backcourt as JJ. I also think we could take all 3 of Taylor, Copeland and JJ. You could have Copeland at the 1, JJ at the 2 and Taylor at the 3, you could even slide Kamari to the 4 as he’s 6-8 and I’m sure will be a bit bigger by the time he arrives to campus. That’s one thing about Boeheim’s system most of the time the players that play the 3/4 are interchangeable. Obviously Taylor is a 2/3 combo but Kamari is more of a 2-4 combo lol, Benny is a 3/4, Grant was a 3/4, Fair was a 3/4, Chris McCullough was a 3/4, Roberson was a 3/4. You get my point. These guys are versatile and can play multiple positions the question is can we get them all to play well together if they all do come here.