Donnie and JJ back

[PauliePeppas]

Boom. Soooo happy to eat crow about Donnie , everything I heard from the aau scene was that he was gone. Two legit scorers coming back. Please do well in the portal Red

 

[Cuse1055]

HUGE

 

[Nicknack]

Most of this is for Donnie. As long as JJ can play within the team next year, I'll be glad to have him back as well.

 

[PauliePeppas]

 

[Cuse1055]

Having Melo around the program is gonna help Donnie develop into a first round pick and pro.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Cuse_NYC]

Leggo!

 

[phil77]

Good for Syracuse that they were able to get him to come back.

 

[PauliePeppas]

Having Melo around the program is gonna help Donnie develop into a first round pick and pro.

So much potential. Will take a big jump for sure next year. More refined game and 10-15 lbs hopefully. Please put a bruising rim protector around him and shooters

 

[Jake]

I’d rather we run it better….but I get it

 

[djcon57]

I'm not suggesting everyone ignore the obvious with JJ. I'm there with you. We need to deal with the reality of what he is and can be.

BUT...

He's a local kid who clearly wants to win at home. At best, we can hope he has an amazing SR season without crapping on him all offseason.

Again, not suggesting we shouldn't be recruiting over. We should be giving him some comp for PT, imo. But we can hope he steps up his game to the next level.

 

[donniesyracuse]

Checkmate!

 

[ezbeezy214]

Baby steps

 

[NineOneSeven]

Donnie back is critical. Spare me the “he can’t play defense” stuff. Kid played what, 15 games? Clearly was on the way to being best player.

This is enormous.

 

[tptcuse]

Being able to retain both is a very good sign from an NIL perspective. Donnie is going to flourish, especially if we get a good point guard.

 

[dasher]

Being able to retain both is a very good sign from an NIL perspective. Donnie is going to flourish, especially if we get a good point guard.

I said it earlier in the year, we have NIL this year. We can get good kids in the portal.

 

[Scott11]

Great job by the staff and program to get this done. First good news we've had in months. Shows we have resources and that the players (and their parents/agents) still believe in Red and the program. If we get some more talent in the portal maybe we can rebuild this thing faster than we all believe possible.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Donnie back is critical. Spare me the “he can’t play defense” stuff. Kid played what, 15 games? Clearly was on the way to being best player.

This is enormous.

If he didn’t get hurt he would have been putting up 20 and 10 by February.

 

[Conrad13]

This is great news. Freeman has an opportunity to blow up and if JJ isn't depended on as much next year, he will be a great part of the team. I'm happy that he'll play his last year at Syracuse.

Now let's go get a point guard, a forward who can shoot threes, and a couple of centers, please.

 

[CuseMan4]

This is great. But is Petar not coming back then?

PG-Fennell
SG-Starling, Anthony
SF-Womack
PF-Freeman, White, Petar
C- None

Needs in Portal
Starting PG
Starting SF
Starting C
Back up C
Back up combo guard
Back up combo forward

 

[RF2044]

This is great. But is Petar not coming back then?

PG-Fennell
SG-Starling, Anthony
SF-Womack
PF-Freeman, White, Petar
C- None

Needs in Portal
Starting PG
Starting SF
Starting C
Back up C
Back up combo guard
Back up combo forward

I love Womack's long-term potential. Kid has skill.

But if he's our starting SF next year, we'll be lucky to win 10 games.

Think Petar [assuming he returns] will be our backup 5 who can also slide to 4.

 

[baggerbob]

I'm not suggesting everyone ignore the obvious with JJ. I'm there with you. We need to deal with the reality of what he is and can be.

BUT...

He's a local kid who clearly wants to win at home. At best, we can hope he has an amazing SR season without crapping on him all offseason.

Again, not suggesting we shouldn't be recruiting over. We should be giving him some comp for PT, imo. But we can hope he steps up his game to the next level.

As long as he learns to pass and play within a team concept, plus plays defense, it's good to have him back. But he needs to be the 4th or 5th option on offense.
Donnie needs to be among the top 3 options, need a good point guard and a low post presence at center who can play defense.

 

[cuseincincy]

This is great. But is Petar not coming back then?

PG-Fennell
SG-Starling, Anthony
SF-Womack
PF-Freeman, White, Petar
C- None

Needs in Portal
Starting PG
Starting SF
Starting C
Back up C
Back up combo guard
Back up combo forward

Why? They were both on the team when Petar signed last year. Donnie, White and Anthony will all play some 3. Petar will paly some 5. Let's not drive 6'8" Euros with skill away because we want to label guys by positions.

 

[Eric15]

If Kiyan and Sadiq can be ready from Day 1 like say Donte Greene and Jonny Flynn were (obviously a big if) I really think this ship can be turned around like Louisville‘s was.

I love the thought of Donnie as a healthy and mature soph and Starling being a secondary offensive option.

 

[Ottoman]

These are two very talented players. Please, please teach and motivate them to play effective defense!