Naheem McLeod Transferring to Syracuse (5/15/23)

[orangepassion]

He put out his top 5 today and they were:
Syracuse, 'Cuse, The Cuse, The Orange, and The Orangemen

 

[721Comstock]

He put out his top 5 today and they were:
Syracuse, 'Cuse, The Cuse, The Orange, and The Orangemen

At least we didn't have those bastids from University of Syracuse tryin to poach another one of our croots at the last minute!!

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

The inability to recruit a legit big man or find a bruiser down low in the zone that can vacuum rebounds has held this program back since Christmas left

Exactly why some of us are excited. Along with coaches from these programs that disagreed with you (from Syr.com):
. . . Mississippi State, Villanova, Arkansas, Gonzaga, Arizona, Clemson, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Texas, West Virginia, Georgetown, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Butler, Minnesota, Rutgers and Temple.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Great pick up, you can't teach 7'4" or athleticism.

He was 7-4 at Florida . Here he’ll be 6-11

 

[CuseMan4]

3 ppg bench guy from a 9 win team. We’re popping champagne to this?

Haha I get what you are saying. The center spot in Red’s scheme isn’t going to be someone that needs a great offensive game. His scheme is going to be guard driven and dictated. Basically Red just wants size, athleticism, and guys that can run the floor at his center position. Their main priority is to be run protectors and be great rebounders. On offense he wants them to run the floor and catch the lobs for when the guards break down their defender and the centers defender slides for help leaving the lob open, or having the center run the floor on fast breaks or just getting second chance points. You aren’t gonna see plays run through the center. Most things will be uptempo and through the guards with Red. This is a good pickup for what Red wants from his centers. I can see McLeod finishing the season with 7ppg, 8rpg, 2bpg, 1-2spg. And I think that’s what Red wants tbh. You’ll see guys like Starling, Judah (if he comes back) and Westry probably average between 15-18 ppg. Beni probably around 8-10ppg.

 

[Orangezoo]

This is where you look at things from a situational matchup perspective. Additionally, this is where you run 3/4 court pressure backing into man or occasional zone to rush a team trying to run their traditional ball screen offense that looks to find a big to put into that screening action.

FSU lacked their usual tenacious on ball defenders this past year and thus they were forced to guard far more ball screen action than in the past. For small ball teams that are too good vs pressure you counter with someone like Maliq at the 5. If you coach to it - it can be effective.

It all plays into versatility that Red is preaching. Thus this signing is a step up from a warm body but also is just a piece for this year to work with.

 

[Niastri]

Welcome to Syracuse, Naheem McLeod of the Clan McLeod.

Given his height, name and slashing blocks, I think he should be The Highlander.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

I for one am all in on Mcleod. Was skeptical of the Red hire, but recruiting wise, he’s already won me over. I do hope there is a Judah replacement…

 

[Dcuse]

Note to Naheem and family... if you read message boards, BLOCK two3zone immediately!!!!

 

[dlegend44]

So, you're saying you would prefer they roll with the current roster over bringing in another Center?

Because, otherwise, celebration for improving the roster is what fans do.

No, don't be silly. What the critics are saying is anyone other than Victor Wemban-yama is far below the standard of a Syracuse center. Why would we "waste" a scholarship on a physically gifted, but raw player, that has a lot of upside?

 

[Niastri]

He was 7-4 at Florida . Here he’ll be 6-11

One tradition that Red might break. He's going full Rothstein instead. McLeod will be 7'6" here.

 

[Cusesky8214]

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Absolutely not saying that, if I bang a 4 tonight, not celebrating the 5 I bang tomorrow.

Celebrate them all.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I'd love to dig up the Chukwu commitment thread. I remember many of the same things being said about him at 7'2". I just don't know what we can do with this guy offensively. Can he catch the ball and be a rim runner? Most bigs we get always seem to have horrible hands.

Oh no….

 

[Orangezoo]

Zags with a little tease there like Jake

 

[MSOrange]

Seems like a warm body move, I think they staff realizes that our three projects aren’t ready, just wish we got a better warm body. I trust the staff, but they know this isn’t ideal.

I think this is where I'm at. I think he's an upgrade over what we have, but is he good enough? I guess we'll find out.

 

[Ozone!]

 

[two3zone]

We have our best zone personnel we’ve had in years.

 

[Cuse'91]

I for one am all in on Mcleod. Was skeptical of the Red hire, but recruiting wise, he’s already won me over. I do hope there is a Judah replacement…

Red can connect with the kids; now, please baby Jesus, let him be able to game coach too.

 

[cuseallday]

One discussion point that I was just pondering to consider...yeah, Naheem's stats aren't huge from 2022-23, and FSU was not good. But Hamilton plays a deep bench. Plus, take a look at his sophomore stats and compare them to Jesse's...Jesse made a huge leap as a junior, and maybe Naheem can, too. I get the skepticism, but there's promise there, too!

 

[bigmike]

Red can connect with the kids; now, please baby Jesus, let him be able to game coach too.

 

[Orangezoo]

We have our best zone personnel we’ve had in years.

As long as we pickup half court or 3/4 court into the zone sure. I don't think zone without some even token pressure is effective anymore.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

almost wish we had a better backup than Hima…

 

[chugg21]

I guess by the numbers one of these guys has to emerge.

Basically been our center recruiting for about a decade now. Just grabbing as many lottery tickets as possible and hoping to hit on one.

 

[kcsu]

He had a very good game against a wretched defense. He was also one of the ACC centers Jesse had a great game against. As soon as we dropped the zone back further McLeod was shut down.

What does Jesse’s improvement have to do with Mcleods possible improvement? Absolutely nothing, players don’t automatically get better, I can make a pretty good list of guys who just don’t, probably as long as of a list of guys that do. It’s irrelevant what Jesse did in year two when it comes to McLeod.

No it isnt. It shows that our staff has the ability to help players improve.