Elijah Hughes

[SoBeCuse]

JB's not walking away any time soon. He has ZERO plans to retire, trust me on that. And I highly doubt Wildhack or anyone at the University would 'pull the plug' on him.

Sigh. Really? Even if the team is around .500 or less for the foreseeable future? The U and Wildhack are just gonna accept that?

 

[Louie and Bouie]

I haven't seen the guy play so I don't have any opinion as to his skill level but the argument that he can't play P5 hoops because he is/was being recruited by ECU, Iona, Seton Hall etc. is a non-starter. Guys can develop later and a look at any NBA roster will more than prove that point.

For example: Norris Cole, Robert Covington, CJ McCollum, Andrew Nicholson, Matthew Delladova, Tony Snell, Jeremy Lin, Rodney Stuckey, George Hill, Courtney Lee, etc.

All played at non P5 schools and that is a fraction of the list.

Since a lot of the arguments are about who recruited him and where he ended up I thought I would share. Its not always where you start, its how you end up. A lot can change between 17 and 20 years old, for better or worse.

 

[TinyManInside]

Sigh. Really? Even if the team is around .500 or less for the foreseeable future? The U and Wildhack are just gonna accept that?

I have no insider info on the administration, that's just speculation.

I do have insider info on JB having zero plans to retire.

 

[TinyManInside]

I haven't seen the guy play so I don't have any opinion as to his skill level but the argument that he can't play P5 hoops because he is/was being recruited by ECU, Iona, Seton Hall etc. is a non-starter. Guys can develop later and a look at any NBA roster will more than prove that point.

For example: Norris Cole, Robert Covington, CJ McCollum, Andrew Nicholson, Matthew Delladova, Tony Snell, Jeremy Lin, Rodney Stuckey, George Hill, Courtney Lee, etc.

All played at non P5 schools and that is a fraction of the list.

Since a lot of the arguments are about who recruited him and where he ended up I thought I would share. Its not always where you start, its how you end up. A lot can change between 17 and 20 years old, for better or worse.

agree 100%. My hesitation is more on the side that he didn't show particularly well in a mid-major conference.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I have no insider info on the administration, that's just speculation.

I do have insider info on JB having zero plans to retire.

Oh I have no doubt and agree with the latter. He'll want to coach even hooked up to an oxygen tank like Remo Gaggi and those KC mob bosses awaiting sentencing in Casino.

 

[EastCoast2]

1) Comparing Nichols and Southerland to Hughes from a shooting standpoint is crazy. Nichols was widely recognized as the best shooting forward in the his SR class. I was at ABCD his last season there and he led the camp in 3 pointers made and had the 3rd highest percentage. He shot LIGHTS OUT all week. The kid came in as a great shooter but lacked the confidence to play at this level and it took him awhile to develop that enough to be effective.

Southerland was also very good 3 point shooter in high school.

Hughes is waaaay far behind both of your examples. Maybe he could develop but I think it's wishful thinking.

2) Comparing a kid at ECU's freshman stats to a kid at Duke's freshman stats is meaningless. I'm sure if Gbinijie was at ECU as a freshman he would have obliterated Hughes' meager stats of 8 ppg and 2 rpg with terrible shooting percentages. We're talking about playing against AAC here, not ACC. Huge difference in the caliber of play.

I did not compare Hughes to Gbinije, so let me stop you right there. If you re-read what I wrote, I said using freshman season stats to judge talent is almost meaningless. And are you sure Gbinije would have "obliterated" Hughes's production as a freshman? Gbinije, as a RS sophomore, meaning his third year in college, averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.8 rpg at Syracuse. Maybe based on stats we should have forced Gbinije to transfer from Syracuse.

 

[dasher]

I did not compare Hughes to Gbinije, so let me stop you right there. If you re-read what I wrote, I said using freshman season stats to judge talent is almost meaningless. And are you sure Gbinije would have "obliterated" Hughes's production as a freshman? Gbinije, as a RS sophomore, meaning his third year in college, averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.8 rpg at Syracuse. Maybe based on stats we should have forced Gbinije to transfer from Syracuse.

Just so that we all know. The coaches and many others think the kid is really, really good. in high school, he played the kid that went to Kentucky from South Kent and destroyed him. Something like 30 pts to 5. This kid might be much better than he has showed and might be a steal.

 

[themorey]

Given that JB is, generally speaking, against transfers I would think he must really like Hughes if he is entertaining the thought of bringing him in.

 

[nyucuse]

Just so that we all know. The coaches and many others think the kid is really, really good. in high school, he played the kid that went to Kentucky from South Kent and destroyed him. Something like 30 pts to 5. This kid might be much better than he has showed and might be a steal.

I have been very confident this is the staff's view. Again, this is not a desperation move. We are waay early in the 2018 cycle and involved with a ton of kids. If the staff does indeed pursue and offer him, it is because they really like his game. Simple as that.

Out of curiosity - when you say 'many others' think he is really good, who do you mean? Still seems most other programs have not caught on, given where he is visiting.

 

[dasher]

I have been very confident this is the staff's view. Again, this is not a desperation move. We are waay early in the 2018 cycle and involved with a ton of kids. If the staff does indeed pursue and offer him, it is because they really like his game. Simple as that.

Out of curiosity - when you say 'many others' think he is really good, who do you mean? Still seems most other programs have not caught on, given where he is visiting.

people that have played against him and coached against him .

 

[OrangeXtreme]

If JB offers him a scholarship, it means that there's a role for this kid in 2018 and beyond.

 

[JLine]

Silent G was a Top 50 recruit, who went to Duke. And got stuck behind AA-quality players.

This kid is just a guy. Who was recruited by pretty much nobody - and probably for good reason.

Chewie was at Providence for a year, sat out a year and practiced our system, and then played for us.
How'd that work out?
This kid was a much lower level recruit than PC was also.

I'm not saying he is Silent G, but sometimes using a scholarship on a transfer works out better than using it on a HS kid. He hasn't been offered, and the staff probably just wants to talk, and get a better feel for him. It isn't the end of the world. Wes, and G worked out pretty well. PC is yet to be determined. This kid may just not be a guy. He didn't have much exposure. The staff will do what they do best here. Their job.

Blackwell was pretty good too. We have a pretty solid rate with transfers, so I'll sit back, and let JB decide. No reason to argue back, and forth but hey, that's what we do.

 

[two3zone]

Just like after the 2007 and 2008 NIT seasons happened, we had a terrible recruiting cycle over two years:

2010: Fab Melo, Dion Waiters, CJ Fair, Baye Keita
2011: Rakeem Christmas, Trevor Cooney, Michael Carter-Williams

Rob Murphy and Mike Hopkins were pretty top notch recruiters. Not sure it's even a debate putting them against our current staff.

 

[JazzNC]

I haven't seen the guy play so I don't have any opinion as to his skill level but the argument that he can't play P5 hoops because he is/was being recruited by ECU, Iona, Seton Hall etc. is a non-starter. Guys can develop later and a look at any NBA roster will more than prove that point.

For example: Norris Cole, Robert Covington, CJ McCollum, Andrew Nicholson, Matthew Delladova, Tony Snell, Jeremy Lin, Rodney Stuckey, George Hill, Courtney Lee, etc.

All played at non P5 schools and that is a fraction of the list.

Since a lot of the arguments are about who recruited him and where he ended up I thought I would share. Its not always where you start, its how you end up. A lot can change between 17 and 20 years old, for better or worse.

Fair point. Exceptions do exist. Hell the reigning MVP, Steph Curry, is a perfect example. But, I'm guessing if you actually broke down the percentage of NBA players from non P5 schools in the last 10 years it would be very minimal.

I don't have the time or energy to do the research, but I'd also be curious how those guys you listed did as freshman in college? Did they excel their entire career in college or come on late? Getting to the NBA as a non P5 happens, but how often does it happen after a lackluster freshman campaign? I'm also curious if any of the players you named made the NBA after a college career that included a transfer?

Also, I understand that he was under the radar in high school and did not garner much interest from college programs. BUT now that it's widely known that Syracuse has expressed interest, where are the other programs who want him? Iona and Seton Hall... anyone else?

Thanks for the good post.

 

[MCC]

Oh I have no doubt and agree with the latter. He'll want to coach even hooked up to an oxygen tank like Remo Gaggi and those KC mob bosses awaiting sentencing in Casino.

Look: why take a chance? At least that's the way I feel about it.

 

[GooseMutt]

If you real

I could make the same claim about you. Why do people have such a need to be right all the time? I could care less.

If you rally care less why keep responding to perceived criticism. Do your thing and move on. Stay on script what's important to you

 

[JazzNC]

If you real


If you rally care less why keep responding to perceived criticism. Do your thing and move on. Stay on script what's important to you

Thank you. I am passionate to a fault sometimes. But, We are ALL entitled to our opinions, including those whose account longevity is short, and those whose opinions differ from the consensus. I've always been a champion for the underdog, and I know how to hold my own. Speaking ones truth takes courage, much more than parroting what the legendary posters on here have to say.

I actually enjoy reading posts with views that differ from my own. Anyhow, thanks for the advice.

 

[jordoo]

Thank you. I am passionate to a fault sometimes. But, We are ALL entitled to our opinions, including those whose account longevity is short, and those whose opinions differ from the consensus. I've always been a champion for the underdog, and I know how to hold my own. Speaking ones truth takes courage, much more than parroting what the legendary posters on here have to say.

I actually enjoy reading posts with views that differ from my own. Anyhow, thanks for the advice.

LOL, you know those little monikers under the posters names are just based off post counts right. You can customize it in your profile if you want but if you don't there are default ones that change as the post count goes up.

Maybe I should change mine. Living Legend makes me sound old.

 

[syr14]

I said on page 1 this kid reminds me of a young G. From the 2 minute video I gathered, similar height/size, similar looking shooting stroke, and in transition attacking the rim. G worked on his game and became a great player for us. Kids improve all the time. Try leaving the talent evaluating to the staff...I know its hard.

If we offer him, he is plenty good enough.

 

[721Comstock]

I said on page 1 this kid reminds me of a young G. From the 2 minute video I gathered, similar height/size, similar looking shooting stroke, and in transition attacking the rim. G worked on his game and became a great player for us. Kids improve all the time. Try leaving the talent evaluating to the staff...I know its hard.

If we offer him, he is plenty good enough.

Oh yeah? Like Chino, Buss, and Kaleb were plenty good enough?

A year ago, our staff, and the STAFFS OF LITERALLY EVERY P5 PROGRAM didn't even bother to offer him.

But after his stellar year of production at ECU, now he's this incredible diamond in the rough?
Please.

G's shooting stroke actually worked - this kid's, not so much.
G was a Top 50 recruit, hence why he went to Duke initially.
And even G didn't become a solid shooter until his 4th and 5th years in college - can we really afford to wait that long?

Especially when we need players NOW?
G came on board when we had the full allotment of 13 scholarships.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[JazzNC]

Syracuse.com just posted an article on why this kid is such a good match... how much did we pay Waters to write that article to pacify the masses because he's our backup plan for missing out on Ayala, Quade, Randolph, and likely Tucker. (Sarcasm)

Please don't respond to convert me, we did that yesterday. If you disagree and are juiced by the idea of getting this guy, I respectfully ask you to simply scroll on by.

 

[syr14]

Oh yeah? Like Chino, Buss, and Kaleb were plenty good enough?

A year ago, our staff, and the STAFFS OF LITERALLY EVERY P5 PROGRAM didn't even bother to offer him.

But after his stellar year of production at ECU, now he's this incredible diamond in the rough?
Please.

G's shooting stroke actually worked - this kid's, not so much.
G was a Top 50 recruit, hence why he went to Duke initially.
And even G didn't become a solid shooter until his 4th and 5th years in college - can we really afford to wait that long?

Especially when we need players NOW?
G came on board when we had the full allotment of 13 scholarships.

You're probably right, our coaches know a lot less than you and Jazz.

 

[rrlbees]

Good article. Provides some context on the kid.

 

[orangefog]

Good article. Provides some context on the kid.

I agree. And honestly, if the staff thinks he is worth a shot, considering how valuable our limited scholarships are right now, I would be excited to have him on board.