With the news that DJ has narrowed his list to three and that SU is a finalist, many are assuming that one of our bigs is essentially gone. My take is a bit different. I think this situation is largely the same as last year with Noel. A big did not leave and no big planned on leaving. The staff considered Noel enough of a difference maker that they were willing to over-recruit to an extent at the 5 position, which is a shift from their normal philosophy. The likely scenario if Noel had committed would have been to redshirt Baye and run the 3 bigs plus James at the 4 and 5 positions.
I think the staff views Dakari as enough of a difference maker that they are willing to work the roster in a similar manner if he does commit and I am sure this is their pitch as well. One of RC or DC may leave but it is far from certain. Obokoh redshirting would be obvious but I wouldn't be surprised if they would redshirt Baye, even entering his senior year. This would serve all parties well. He is by all accounts a fantastic kid who is a team player. He no doubt needs to get stronger if he wants to pursue a professional basketball career. A year to lift, practice and then be a primary contributor as a redshirt senior in '14-15, once at least one of DJ, RC and DC are gone would do wonders for his prospects and would be in SU's long term interest as well, providing a solid front court piece in '14-15 no matter what happens with RC, DC and DJ and the NBA between now and then.
Regarding Dakari, the staff could sell him on being 1 of 3 true eligible bigs and 1 of 2 true centers in the lineup. He and DC rotate as the true post players while RC and likely JG eat the bulk of minutes at the 4. The numbers would be very similar to this year with Dakari replacing Baye and Jerami replacing James in the rotation.
SU would redshirt Baye, Obokoh and likely BJ Johnson and run 10 schollie players out there, with MCW assumed gone.
That's a long winded way of saying that it could work. The challenge will be that there would undoubtedly be more available PT at both UK and GT, but if he loves SU as much as has been stated and is willing to be on of 2 primary 5s and 1 of 3 true bigs, it is a sellable gameplan.
I think the staff views Dakari as enough of a difference maker that they are willing to work the roster in a similar manner if he does commit and I am sure this is their pitch as well. One of RC or DC may leave but it is far from certain. Obokoh redshirting would be obvious but I wouldn't be surprised if they would redshirt Baye, even entering his senior year. This would serve all parties well. He is by all accounts a fantastic kid who is a team player. He no doubt needs to get stronger if he wants to pursue a professional basketball career. A year to lift, practice and then be a primary contributor as a redshirt senior in '14-15, once at least one of DJ, RC and DC are gone would do wonders for his prospects and would be in SU's long term interest as well, providing a solid front court piece in '14-15 no matter what happens with RC, DC and DJ and the NBA between now and then.
Regarding Dakari, the staff could sell him on being 1 of 3 true eligible bigs and 1 of 2 true centers in the lineup. He and DC rotate as the true post players while RC and likely JG eat the bulk of minutes at the 4. The numbers would be very similar to this year with Dakari replacing Baye and Jerami replacing James in the rotation.
SU would redshirt Baye, Obokoh and likely BJ Johnson and run 10 schollie players out there, with MCW assumed gone.
That's a long winded way of saying that it could work. The challenge will be that there would undoubtedly be more available PT at both UK and GT, but if he loves SU as much as has been stated and is willing to be on of 2 primary 5s and 1 of 3 true bigs, it is a sellable gameplan.
