Who will be the new faces at your school next year?

[DUBulldog]

Rumor on the Drake board is that Aaron Hawley will be returning to the Bulldogs next season. Hawley was in the rotation each of his 3 seasons at Drake, and started about 1/3 of the time his junior season (2011-12). He was told by Phelps that he wouldn't be guaranteed any playing time his senior season.....basically encouraged to leave. He stayed at Drake this school year, paid his own way. Was planning on playing next season for Arkansas Tech, but apparently the new coaching staff found out about him, and encouraged him to stick around.

Hawley was always a very talented player, but often seemed lost on the court, especially on defense. It didn't help that Phelps was playing him out of position at the 4, when he's definitely a 3. AFter their freshman seasons, a lot of Drake fans expected Hawley to be better than Simons.

Good shooter, athletic, can take it to the rack. With good coaching, I think he can be a valuable contributor. Drake definitely needs guys at his position, so he'll probably get playing time.

[DUBulldog]

Rumor on the Drake board is that Aaron Hawley will be returning to the Bulldogs next season. Hawley was in the rotation each of his 3 seasons at Drake, and started about 1/3 of the time his junior season (2011-12). He was told by Phelps that he wouldn't be guaranteed any playing time his senior season.....basically encouraged to leave. He stayed at Drake this school year, paid his own way. Was planning on playing next season for Arkansas Tech, but apparently the new coaching staff found out about him, and encouraged him to stick around.

Hawley was always a very talented player, but often seemed lost on the court, especially on defense. It didn't help that Phelps was playing him out of position at the 4, when he's definitely a 3. AFter their freshman seasons, a lot of Drake fans expected Hawley to be better than Simons.

Good shooter, athletic, can take it to the rack. With good coaching, I think he can be a valuable contributor. Drake definitely needs guys at his position, so he'll probably get playing time.

It was confirmed today that Hawley will be returning to Drake next season....one scholarship left. If all goes well, that last one will be given this weekend.

[Wufan]

I'd like to see a list of Ill St players confirmed as on their way. I know they've got l lot of new faces and only 3 or 4 returners that saw the court last year.

What say ye Redbird fans?

[isuredbirds92]

http://espn.go.com/colleges/basketball/ ... class/2013

Bobby Hunter 5'10" JUCO guard was second in the nation in scoring his soph year and his frosh year led his NAIA school to a national title. Seems like a good pickup. Looks like we'll be adding some good size in the backcourt this year and we still have a couple scholarships to give out im pretty sure.

Mikyle McIntosh is reportedly considering ISU and Miami (FL). He played AAU ball with kaza. I posted about him in the recruiting thread. He's a 6'6" 230 lb guard. He would be a great pickup. http://zagsblog.com/articles/mikyle-mci ... -decision/

All in all looks like a very solid group of JUCO players coming in. The birds may surprise some people this year. Then again they might not...

[2livewu]

Coleby will be fine at the 5 for WSU. He's been here for a year and understands the system and knows the drill. You're not going to get big points from him, but he's more than serviceable.

Carter is the X factor. WSU needs him to be good right off the bat, not a given with juco guys. If Carter comes along slow, WSU becomes perimeter oriented very quickly.

In the tournament, WSU played a fair amount of 4 guard sets, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more of that this year. One of the big reasons is Derail Green who redshirted last year. This kid is a serious offensive talent. He will have games where he goes off for 20+ points as a freshman. He shoots it better than any player I've seen at WSU..maybe ever. Coach says he's coming along defensively. We'll see, but he's plenty good on the offensive end.

Bowles is the other kid that should play, and like Carter, his ability to step in and play early is big. FVV needs a true backup.

Personally, I don't expect much from Watson or Holland.

[Rambler63]

Loyola has three red shirt freshmen ready to make their debut next year: Jeremy King, Tanner Williams, and Milton Doyle; plus Indianapolis high school freshman Jordan Pickett and a 6'10" juco transfer center with three years eligibility, Cody Johnson.

We lose three players riddled by injuries last year and before.

We probably would have finished in the top three of a decimated Horizon League next year. With the new players we'll probably finish a few notches off the bottom in the MVC in 2013-14.

[Bmarq04]

I'd like to see a list of Ill St players confirmed as on their way. I know they've got l lot of new faces and only 3 or 4 returners that saw the court last year.

What say ye Redbird fans?

We have no idea what to expect from our redbirds next year. Many are hopeful that we'll be a middle of the pack team with the ability to surprise so teams. But, it's just as possible that these new faces don't gel and struggle. Here's what we have booked as of now....all height/weight stats are from verbalcommits.com

Tony Wills - 6'4" 185 - sg - solid scorer, athletic, and physical on offense and defense. From Indy. 3 star player on scout and espn

Paris Lee - 6'1" 165 - solid pg. maybe a little more of combo guard. True athlete. One of the top on the ball, aggressive defenders in Illinois.

Reggie Lynch - 6'10" 226 - c - led Minnesota in blocks. Pretty athletic and solid rebounder and defender. Offensive game will need work for the next level.

Zach Lofton - 6'4" 175 - sg - 41st ranked JuCo. Slashing, athletic scorer. K state was in on him and I believe Baylor too. Liked the idea of immediate playing time here. Many think this will be our diamond in the rough next year. 3 years of eligibility.

Bobby Hunter - 5'10" 195 - sg - can play point too. Second in JuCo scoring at close to 25 a game IIRC. 53rd ranked JuCo. First team JuCo at d1 level. Body like Nate Robinson of the chicago bulls. Can play above the rim. Very athletic. Many also think he will be our diamond in the rough. 2 years of eligibility

Michael Middlebrooks - 6'9" 200 - pf/c - JuCo ranked 65. 2 years of eligibility. Rebounder and shot blocker. former football player who picked up basketball 4 years ago. Physical and athletic.

Jamaal Samual - 6'8" 195 - sf/pf - JuCo. 3 years of eligibility. Another former football player. Has been playing baseball for 3 years. Coming out of high school was ranked as 42nd best sf from espn and 5th best player in Louisiana. At the time had only played 2 years. Got lost or something at JuCo. Played very few minutes and impressive stats. not sure what to think here. Have heard he's crazy athletic and can jump out of the gym. Many "experts" called this a true steal.

Past that, we have a lot of rumors about how the roster may fill out, but that's what's booked for now.

Muller wants an athletic, physical, defense oriented team. Every one of these signees fits the mold. He is trying to go for a system that he believes works and is looking for players that fit that system. My gut is that he wants a team (in a perfect world) somewhere between Wichita and VCU. Physical, athletic, and aggressive on d. Not comparing this team to those teams. Just saying that I think that's the mold he envisions.

Lots of questions as to what our inside play will be. The 3 pf/c above along with John jones (supposed athletic bruiser that has redshirted) are all we have and none have experience at this level and none are known for their scoring. Really need another big, hopefully with the ability to score.

This team has some very talented players and Muller beat out bigger named schools to get a couple of these guys. If they gel, they should be a 3-6 place team. If they don't....8-10.

[kcmsaluki12]

I'll really be shocked of IL ST is not a Thursday team. You lose Carmichael and Brown along with several other guys and you replace them with a lot of jucos? You guys might surprise people two years from now, but next year will probably be a long season for the redbirds.

[Wufan]

I'd like to see a list of Ill St players confirmed as on their way. I know they've got l lot of new faces and only 3 or 4 returners that saw the court last year.

What say ye Redbird fans?

We have no idea what to expect from our redbirds next year. Many are hopeful that we'll be a middle of the pack team with the ability to surprise so teams. But, it's just as possible that these new faces don't gel and struggle. Here's what we have booked as of now....all height/weight stats are from verbalcommits.com

Tony Wills - 6'4" 185 - sg - solid scorer, athletic, and physical on offense and defense. From Indy. 3 star player on scout and espn

Paris Lee - 6'1" 165 - solid pg. maybe a little more of combo guard. True athlete. One of the top on the ball, aggressive defenders in Illinois.

Reggie Lynch - 6'10" 226 - c - led Minnesota in blocks. Pretty athletic and solid rebounder and defender. Offensive game will need work for the next level.

Zach Lofton - 6'4" 175 - sg - 41st ranked JuCo. Slashing, athletic scorer. K state was in on him and I believe Baylor too. Liked the idea of immediate playing time here. Many think this will be our diamond in the rough next year. 3 years of eligibility.

Bobby Hunter - 5'10" 195 - sg - can play point too. Second in JuCo scoring at close to 25 a game IIRC. 53rd ranked JuCo. First team JuCo at d1 level. Body like Nate Robinson of the chicago bulls. Can play above the rim. Very athletic. Many also think he will be our diamond in the rough. 2 years of eligibility

Michael Middlebrooks - 6'9" 200 - pf/c - JuCo ranked 65. 2 years of eligibility. Rebounder and shot blocker. former football player who picked up basketball 4 years ago. Physical and athletic.

Jamaal Samual - 6'8" 195 - sf/pf - JuCo. 3 years of eligibility. Another former football player. Has been playing baseball for 3 years. Coming out of high school was ranked as 42nd best sf from espn and 5th best player in Louisiana. At the time had only played 2 years. Got lost or something at JuCo. Played very few minutes and impressive stats. not sure what to think here. Have heard he's crazy athletic and can jump out of the gym. Many "experts" called this a true steal.

Past that, we have a lot of rumors about how the roster may fill out, but that's what's booked for now.

Muller wants an athletic, physical, defense oriented team. Every one of these signees fits the mold. He is trying to go for a system that he believes works and is looking for players that fit that system. My gut is that he wants a team (in a perfect world) somewhere between Wichita and VCU. Physical, athletic, and aggressive on d. Not comparing this team to those teams. Just saying that I think that's the mold he envisions.

Lots of questions as to what our inside play will be. The 3 pf/c above along with John jones (supposed athletic bruiser that has redshirted) are all we have and none have experience at this level and none are known for their scoring. Really need another big, hopefully with the ability to score.

This team has some very talented players and Muller beat out bigger named schools to get a couple of these guys. If they gel, they should be a 3-6 place team. If they don't....8-10.

Thank you for the analysis! Lots of new faces and talent.

Returning is…Kaza Keane, Bryant Allen, Johnny Hill. What about Jones and Ziesloft? Are they returning? I had heard Deonte Hawkins was going to Ill St. Is that still in the works?

[Bmarq04]

Yes, Keane, Allen, Hill, Jones, and Ziesloft are all back at this point.

We've heard some Hawkins rumors too. Not sure what's fact or what is fiction on that front though. Someone said he is on campus and enrolled in hopes to get the grades to qualify. He would be a quality big that is truly needed.

I'd say there are greater than 50% odds that it's a Thursday night team next year. But with the talent coming in, if they gel and become a defense oriented team, who knows. Last years team was not great defensively and when that's the case you have to be on your game offensively all the time to give yourself a shot. In talking with Muller, he wants a team that can wear you down with tough, physical, aggressive defense. If that ends up being the case, they'll be competitive in most games and at least give themselves a shot. Some of the guards coming in clearly have a knack for scoring, so we're hopeful that the D can keep the game close and a new guy or Hill or Allen steps up. Lots of odds against a team like this but lots of potential too.

The thing I like, is that even though next year could be tough, 2-3 years from now has great potential as opposed to some teams that go thru a rebuild process that takes 6 years to turn around. Should be interesting if nothing else.