ESPN: Shocking the System

by **MVCfans** » July 24th, 2013, 7:32 pm

Cleanthony Early on the main CBB page at ESPN.com: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/

1. Wichita State -- Can the Shockers make it to the Final Four two years in a row? Heck, why not? There’s a strong chance that this year’s team could be even better than the unit that lost to Louisville. Losing bruising forward Carl Hall and court leader Malcolm Armstead will hurt, but Marshall’s team returns all of its other key parts. Cleanthony Early, who had 25 points and 10 rebounds against Louisville, is an NBA-caliber small forward. Ron Baker ignited the Shockers’ NCAA tournament run with his prowess from beyond the arc, and point guard Fred VanVleet logged valuable minutes as a freshman backing up Armstead. Tekele Cotton is a returning starter who helps set the tone defensively, and standout shooter Evan Wessel is back after redshirting last season. Look for 6-foot-9 Louisiana-Lafayette transfer Kadeem Colby to replace Hall in the paint. Colby spent the past season working out with the Shockers and Marshall couldn’t be more impressed. Chipola (Fla.) College transfer Earl Watson also will be in the mix down low. It should be another great season in Wichita.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... h-sleepers

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by **Redbird Recon** » July 24th, 2013, 8:35 pm

Is Watson on the fence or not in the picture whatsoever?

by **rlh04d** » July 25th, 2013, 1:17 am

Redbird Recon wrote:Is Watson on the fence or not in the picture whatsoever?

My understanding is: He failed a class needed to graduate. Had to take a class in the summer to graduate, so he couldn't get to campus. I don't know if he's passed the class yet or not -- he is still re-tweeting stuff regarding WSU and seems to think he'll be on campus soon.

I think he'll be on campus in the fall but he'll spend a year as a walk-on.

He's a PF that's almost the same size as Darius Carter. I think the hope would be to have him RS while Carter plays this season, and then play both next season. I think you can RS a JUCO transfer?

And it's a good article. Jason King is the only person at ESPN that seems to actually know WSU as a program, rather than just the names of a couple key players. Although his insistence on talking about Watson instead of Carter confuses me.

by **AngryShock** » July 25th, 2013, 8:22 am

If Watson ever makes it here that'll be great as we need some extra depth in the post the following year. It does seem odd that Carter seems to have flown under the radar in these stories being that he was a JC AA while Watson keeps getting talked about.

by **Wufan** » July 25th, 2013, 5:13 pm

AngryShock wrote:If Watson ever makes it here that'll be great as we need some extra depth in the post the following year. It does seem odd that Carter seems to have flown under the radar in these stories being that he was a JC AA while Watson keeps getting talked about.

Watson has ridiculous potential. Carter is very good and is polished.

by **Aargh** » July 25th, 2013, 9:54 pm

Watson did not have a great JuCo career and struggled with academics. WSU has no available scholarships.

In my opinion, if he's still tweeting that he's going to WSU, that's an indication of why he didn't have a good JuCo career and struggled in JuCo classes.

I suspect that if he's able to get eligible to transfer and shows up at WSU, he will be asked to take a RS year as a walk-on.. There could be some lower-level D1 (or D2) teams happy to give him a schollie if he can get eligible.

I'm not expecting Watson to ever show up in Wichita.

by **AngryWheat=FTW=** » July 25th, 2013, 10:05 pm

Watson is a tremendous athlete I have heard. There's a video somewhere of him doing some serious skywalking.

by **Wufan** » July 26th, 2013, 5:26 am

Aargh wrote:In my opinion, if he's still tweeting that he's going to WSU, that's an indication of why he didn't have a good JuCo career and struggled in JuCo classes.

I suspect that if he's able to get eligible to transfer and shows up at WSU, he will be asked to take a RS year as a walk-on.. There could be some lower-level D1 (or D2) teams happy to give him a schollie if he can get eligible.

I'm not expecting Watson to ever show up in Wichita.

I do not share this opinion.

by **AngryShock** » July 26th, 2013, 8:27 am

Wufan wrote:
Aargh wrote:In my opinion, if he's still tweeting that he's going to WSU, that's an indication of why he didn't have a good JuCo career and struggled in JuCo classes.

I suspect that if he's able to get eligible to transfer and shows up at WSU, he will be asked to take a RS year as a walk-on.. There could be some lower-level D1 (or D2) teams happy to give him a schollie if he can get eligible.

I'm not expecting Watson to ever show up in Wichita.

I do not share this opinion.

I do.

Watson did next to nothing his two years in JC and nobody is sure if he is even eligible.