2023 cruits


rochcuse44

Well-known member
Cusealum05, wondering if I could ask a favor. You’ve had some great posts on some top JUCO and International players you think we should be pursuing for the 2023 class. Is it possible to summarize some of these best prospects in one post? Would like to see the breakdown by position, too. That would be great. Mike, to your knowledge, are there any International or JUCO players on our radar?
 

rochcuse44

Well-known member
Great interview, Mike! I hope Estrella remembers who discovered him first and was his first big offer. We want that 5th visit!
 

Cusealum05

Well-known member
Cusealum05, wondering if I could ask a favor. You’ve had some great posts on some top JUCO and International players you think we should be pursuing for the 2023 class. Is it possible to summarize some of these best prospects in one post? Would like to see the breakdown by position, too. That would be great. Mike, to your knowledge, are there any International or JUCO players on our radar?
This is who is on my radar as of now. Keep in mind this is fluid as international guys can reclass or go pro.

2023 International
Alex Toohey, 3, 6'7, Australia (strong interest in playing in college)
Rory Hawke, 1/2, 6'4 Australia (Interest in playing in college)
Dragos Lungu, 2/3, 6'6 NBA Global Academy (strong interest in playing in college)
Matteo Visintin, 1/2, 6'3, Stella Azzurra (strong interest in playing in college)
Zaccharie Risacher, 3, 6'8, ASVEL Lyon-Villeaurbanne (Not sure he ends up playing in college)
Aday Mara, 5, 7'2, Spain (Not sure he ends up playing in college)

2023 JUCO
Kalifa Sakho, 4/5, 6'10, South Plains (originally from Guinea)

2024 International
Eddie Jallow Hedqvist, 1/2, 6'5, Fryshuset
Jalik Dunkley-Distant, 2/3, 6'6, Orangeville Prep
 

MassaCusetts

Well-known member
International so important moving forward. Look what UCLA just did. He’s the guy who recruited Santa Aldama to Loyola.

Personally I’m still not convinced of the international route per se. I’m not including Canada in that. I just don’t see enough success for teams or by individuals that if I have my preference, that’s how I’m spending my resources. So many of the really successful kids (ie, Tshiebwe) that are international play(ed) some level of high school/prep ball here. Tommy Lloyd is challenging that idea for sure…but I’m just not sure SU is likely to be successful in that route. Having said that, we also can’t ignore the NIL and International….so I’d welcome some sort of modernized approach!
 

Cusealum05

Well-known member
Personally I’m still not convinced of the international route per se. I’m not including Canada in that. I just don’t see enough success for teams or by individuals that if I have my preference, that’s how I’m spending my resources. So many of the really successful kids (ie, Tshiebwe) that are international play(ed) some level of high school/prep ball here. Tommy Lloyd is challenging that idea for sure…but I’m just not sure SU is likely to be successful in that route. Having said that, we also can’t ignore the NIL and International….so I’d welcome some sort of modernized approach!
Dukes convinced, they signed Tyrese Proctor from Australia.
Baylor is convinced, they have Josh Ojiunwana as a part of the 22 class, and another in the 23 class.
Arizona has two 247 top 100 international kids coming in as part of the 22 class.
Loyola MD put a kid in the first round of last years draft, international, and the coach that recruited him just got hired by UCLA.

And the majority of those schools have NIL strategies in place.

Josh Giddey was a lottery pick, Franz Wagner first round pick, Alperen was a first round pick.

What strategy are you convinced of?
 

MassaCusetts

Well-known member
Dukes convinced, they signed Tyrese Proctor from Australia.
Baylor is convinced, they have Josh Ojiunwana as a part of the 22 class, and another in the 23 class.
Arizona has two 247 top 100 international kids coming in as part of the 22 class.
Loyola MD put a kid in the first round of last years draft, international, and the coach that recruited him just got hired by UCLA.

And the majority of those schools have NIL strategies in place.

Josh Giddey was a lottery pick, Franz Wagner first round pick, Alperen was a first round pick.

What strategy are you convinced of?
But those are small pieces of those teams. And Giddey didn’t play college ball. I think if you struggle having a solid recruiting engine in your home turf, it’s really hard to just put your stake down in the international scene. Don’t get me wrong; there’s a place for it. But I think SU needs to tighten things up at home first. I just don’t think they can draw the type of talent from abroad to get back to being a top 15 team. And I say that VERY much appreciating your insight/awareness and finding these kids.
 
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ThePearl

Well-known member
Elmarko Jackson visits Maryland tomorrow. There's an article and interview with him posted on 247 yesterday. He says he also hopes to visit VCU, Miami, and Syracuse and he won't be cutting down his list until later in the summer. He and Estrella once again were standouts at the Under Armour event this weekend.
 

Cusealum05

Well-known member
But those are small pieces of those teams. And Giddey didn’t play college ball. I think if you struggle having a solid recruiting engine in your home turf, it’s really hard to just put your stake down in the international scene. Don’t get me wrong; there’s a place for it. But I think SU needs to tighten things up at home first. I just don’t think they can draw the type of talent from abroad to get back to being a top 15 team. And I say that VERY much appreciating your insight/awareness and finding these kids.
You’re right about local recruits but unless we get on the NIL train (which I wish we would) I think it’s going to be very tough to compete for top 25 kids. Between the schools giving out big NIL deals, the alternative professional leagues (OTE, NBL, etc.) the landscape has shifted dramatically. Combine that with our best recruiter moving on, the game which has changed to every position now being able to shoot the 3 which makes the zone less effective, we aren’t in an easy spot recruiting wise.

My proposed solution to striking out on top tier kids at home, is adding an international kid and a juco kid to our cycles that way it doesn’t sting as much when we miss out on our top targets at home.

Again I would love for Weitsman or someone else to start writing NIL check for 5 stars kids, I just haven’t seen it yet so I’m trying to problem solve.
 

ThePearl

Well-known member
Estrella just got offered by Kansas, the offer he has been hoping for. Our chances are between extremely slim and none.
 

ThePearl

Well-known member
Elmarko won MVP at the UA event this weekend that had Estrella and all the top UA guys there. Elmarko and Copeland seem friends, he just posted Quadir’s graduation photo from this weekend.
 

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