Class of 2018 SG Eric Ayala (DE/IMG) to Maryland

[Zelda Zonk]

Both Nike and UA circuits were there this past weekend... Oh Lord

Blurghhh!
I hadn't been out of my apartment for 10 days. Would have been a good bit of motivation...

 

[gilardino]

You almost have to believe that Ayala has given a verbal but wants to wait because of the aau stuff.

so did green and tucker and look what happen with that?

 

[JLine]

Love his game...for the future. I don't see him doing a ton this year. He is crafty, but uses his offhand too much. He's gonna get called for that in College. Some of the and ones will be going the other way. Solid shooter, and passer.

Just think Thorpe makes us a Tournament team next year, while EA makes us a better team for the future, obviously. I can see JB wanting to build up for his final run, instead of taking Thorpe just to make a one year run to get into the Tourney.

 

[gilardino]

We will get into tourney regardless with or without EA or Thorpe.

#bocce

 

[JLine]

We will get into tourney regardless with or without EA or Thorpe.

#bocce

I tend to agree. I guess I'd say Thorpe gives a chance when we are in there to make a run. EA, not so much. We have the pieces already, but we're banking on a lot of question marks working out. With Thorpe, we can have a question mark or two not work out and still do well.

 

[jordoo]

We will get into tourney regardless with or without EA or Thorpe.

#bocce

I could see it happening as our front court is going to be much better than most expect. That said I think we need either Ayala or Thorpe simply to have options at PG just in case.

 

[jgeorge322]

so did green and tucker and look what happen with that?

What happened to marek not committing?

 

[GooseMutt]

What happened to marek not committing?

You know, if Quade signed we would not be in the recruiting doldrums we act like we are in. One setback and everyone loses it( including me)

 

[JLine]

I could see it happening as our front court is going to be much better than most expect. That said I think we need either Ayala or Thorpe simply to have options at PG just in case.

Plus, God forbid any injuries. I'm gonna punch myself for even mentioning that.

 

[jordoo]

You know, if Quade signed we would not be in the recruiting doldrums we act like we are in. One setback and everyone loses it( including me)

I hear you and while on the face of things that is sort of true its not really the case at all in the big picture. There has been a lot going on that caused many concerns especially since early spring 2016. You could easily make the case that we have actually gotten very lucky to land who we have in 16 and 17. Things changed a lot and we won't really know where they are headed until we see how the staff approaches the 2018 class and beyond.

 

[FrancoPizza]

You know, if Quade signed we would not be in the recruiting doldrums we act like we are in. One setback and everyone loses it( including me)

Don't blame a high school kid for this mess. If JB listened to Hop we would've signed Jelly dimes or pressured quade into a verbal.

 

[GooseMutt]

Don't blame a high school kid for this mess. If JB listened to Hop we would've signed Jelly dimes or pressured quade into a verbal.

Definitely not blaming anyone or Quade he did what was perceived to be best for him but I feel like when he bailed the floor fell out for me and others on our recruiting perception

 

[chugg21]

You know, if Quade signed we would not be in the recruiting doldrums we act like we are in. One setback and everyone loses it( including me)

1 major set back at the most important position on the court after 3 years of riding the bubble in large part because of that position.

 

[Day2]

so did green and tucker and look what happen with that?

Not an oranges to oranges comparison. We have a fallback option in Thorpe.

 

[orangecuse]

Not an oranges to oranges comparison. We have a fallback option in Thorpe.

This chart kinda exemplifies our recruiting path this year...I guess now we can only hope that Thorpe's name gets plugged in at the "end."

 

[GooseMutt]

This chart kinda exemplifies our recruiting path this year...I guess now we can only hope that Thorpe's name gets plugged in at the "end."

Looks more like our zone

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Not with FH running point.

 

[two3zone]

Not an oranges to oranges comparison. We have a fallback option in Thorpe.

Thorpe isn't this all star free agent that is going to come to the rescue. He lead a crap team and his numbers weren't even good there. He has zero experience with our zone and we see how first year players play our defense.

It's like we grab onto and love these third or fifth options only because we have to.

 

[JLine]

Thorpe isn't this all star free agent that is going to come to the rescue. He lead a crap team and his numbers weren't even good there. He has zero experience with our zone and we see how first year players play our defense.

It's like we grab onto and love these third or fifth options only because we have to.

At least he played zone. It's like 1:30, and the best are already on the way home with someone else. You sit there, order another at last call, then she comes out of nowhere. Scoop her up, and call it a day/night.

 

[OrangeDW]

Thorpe isn't this all star free agent that is going to come to the rescue. He lead a crap team and his numbers weren't even good there. He has zero experience with our zone and we see how first year players play our defense.

It's like we grab onto and love these third or fifth options only because we have to.

He averaged 15 and 5 and shot 38% from 3 last year. Pretty good numbers. I know nothing about him beyond the stats, but his numbers last year were a little better than Gillon's before he transferred.

 

[two3zone]

He averaged 15 and 5 and shot 38% from 3 last year. Pretty good numbers. I know nothing about him beyond the stats, but his numbers last year were a little better than Gillon's before he transferred.

40% from 2, 3 turnovers a game to 4.6 assists a game leading a team to a 7-23 record.

 

[orangefog]

40% from 2, 3 turnovers a game to 4.6 assists a game leading a team to a 7-23 record.

Yeah, but they wouldn't have won 5 games without him.

 

[OrangeDW]

40% from 2, 3 turnovers a game to 4.6 assists a game leading a team to a 7-23 record.

If he can give us around 10-12 ppg and shoot the 3 in the high 30's and play decent defense, I'll take that anyday.

I agree that he's not likely to be some savior. But if he plays as well as Gillon while being like 6 inches taller(and a likely better zone defender), that makes us a far better team.

Really so many questions that it's hard to tag any guy as a "missing piece" or anything but we can sure use another guard that can put the ball in the basket a bit.

 

[cuseinseattle]

Yeah, but they wouldn't have won 5 games without him.

The other guys weren't ready. They needed Geno.

 

[dasher]

Thorpe isn't this all star free agent that is going to come to the rescue. He lead a crap team and his numbers weren't even good there. He has zero experience with our zone and we see how first year players play our defense.

It's like we grab onto and love these third or fifth options only because we have to.

Thorpe is a good player. I watched him last year and liked him. And because two guys that aren't good defensively come in and have trouble with the zone doesn't mean that it is just too difficult to grasp. That isn't true. I don't know that Thorpe will come and be an amazing defender, but I'm not writing guys off because Gillon and white didn't play good defense.