2020 MVC Recruiting Impact

[BEARZ77]

Been working up some analysis of teams 2020 recruiting and roster additions and their potential impact on the 2020-21 season. It's a lot more complex evaluation than it used to be given you have HS seniors/prep school kids, jucos, grad transfers, and traditional transfers all in the mix. And with transfers you have to take into account possible redshirt and waiver options, which then also brings into play kids who transferred the previous year, but sat and are now eligible. And then there are those few freshman redshirts and injury redshirts who are now eligible also. So far I've identified 63 potential additions to MVC playing rosters, but as noted, it's not clear on some because of waiver status and of course there can still be some additions and subtractions to come. Still that number represents in the vicinity of a 48% change in players who will see the court in the coming year in Valley play. That's a big number .

Part of analyzing recruiting of course also comes down to what a team's needs are and what kind of system do they run, and then how the newcomers fill those needs and fit systems both immediate and long term. Obviously so much is subjective and conjecture and of course most of us are always enthusiastic about our newcomers. But that's one of the draws of college basketball, it's ever changing and a solid recruiting effort can turn things quickly. Anyway, i'll be following up in this thread with some thoughts on the Valley's recruiting overall and what I see for each team. Feel free to throw in your own thoughts especially insider thoughts about your own team and how new players fit. There are some huge waiver decisions like for East, Brodie etc. that could greatly impact teams outlooks , and as always, there will be jucos and freshmen that just are ready and make immediate impacts that might not be anticipated. All fun to talk about.

[DUBulldog]

Is there a link where we can look at this? Thanks!

[BEARZ77]

Is there a link where we can look at this? Thanks!

I'm going to post stuff here under this thread. I do have a MVC preview posted at the 247 Sports Bear Fan Board, but it's not the recruiting breakdown that I'll be putting up here, but I'll also post a similar thread on that site. Not good with links, so just google 247 Bear Nation fan board . The MVC preview is under the JQH Arena board. You can access all content w/o joining, but to post comments, you have to register.

[BEARZ77]

EVANSVILLE
High School/Prep:Trey Hall 6'7; Alex Matthews 6'5
Juco : Iyen Enaruna 6'9; Emmette Page 6'2
Grad Trans : Jax Levitich 6'7 [UNC Ashville]
Trans: Samari Curtis 6'4 [Nebraska]
RS : Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander 6'5

It's not a bad collection of talent overall coming in for Evansville ; Curtis was a 4 star recruit, Hall is well regarded, Page averaged 20 ppg+ in juco, and Enaruna is an active , mobile big . Matthews won some awards in Kentucky, but was not highly recruited despite the recognition. Levitich can fill some minutes, but was a role player at Ashville. With Cunliffe , it's enough talent to be competitive, but probably doesn't go deep enough to move the needle too much this year. 2022 recruiting class will be huge for the Aces as they will need a deep and talented mix to get things moving upward in the next couple seasons.

[BEARZ77]

DRAKE
Highschool/Prep: Bryceson Burns 6'6, Jordan Kwiecinski 6'8
Juco:
Grad Transfer: ShanQuan Hemphill 6'6 [Wisc. GB/ 11.7 ppg/5.8 rbs]
Transfer: Darnell Brodie 6'9 so[?] [Seton Hall]
Redshirt: Nate Ferguson 6'7 fr; Tremell Murphy 6'6 sr[ 10.4 ppg/6 rbs], Issa Samake 6'7 fr; Okay Djamgouz 6'4 fr.

With the uncertainty of Brodie, and having lost Robbins, felt like Drake needed to do more with this class. The return of T. Murphy along with Hemphill gives them a pair of proven, athletic 6'6 forwards. The two HS forwards along with Ferguson will add needed depth on the frontline, but even if Brodie gets a waiver, he's unproven and they are thin behind him in the post. Need a rebound year from Wilkins or another shooter to emerge on the perimeter, but they didn't go out and get one. A lot has to go well for this team to be where they were 2 years ago.

[BEARZ77]

VALPO
Highschool/Prep: Sheldon Edwards 6'4, Connor Barrett 6'5, Jacob Ognacevic 6'8 [ 39ppg/16 rbs]
Juco : Goodnews Kpegeol 6'6 , so,[ 12.6 ppg/6 rbs, 35% 3pt]
Grad Transfer:
Transfer:
RS :

Another team I'm not sure did enough given the loss of their two best players. Kpegeol was a nice add and fits their style of play well as an athletic wing that can play multiple positions and shoot. Edwards looks to be uber athletic, but somewhat raw offensively . Obviously Ognacevic had prolific stats in HS, but it remains to be seen how it translates to D-1 from small HS ball. I like a lot of the young players on Valpo , but they need some better post presence defensively and on the boards and don't look to have filled that.

[BEARZ77]

SIU
High School/Prep: Eric Butler 6'3, Dalton Banks 6'2, Kyler Filewich 6'8
Juco: JD Mulia 6'8 [#24 ranked juco]
Grad Transfer: Anthony Duvanzo 6'8 , D-2 Lewis [ 8ppg/4 rbs]
Trans: Steven Verplancken 6'4 , D-2 [ 16 ppg, 45% 3pt]
RS: Ben Harvey 6'5, Trans Eastern Illinois [ 10 ppg, 46% fg, 39% 3pt, 75% ft as fr]

SIU used multiple scholys to try to fill the hole in the middle, & each brings a little different package. Mulia is a strong, athletic, but offensively challenged juco ; Duvanzo can shoot the trey but was a role player in D-2, and Filewich probably needs some developing. Both freshman guards are well regarded and should push for time, Harvey is a solid shooter and Verplancken is similar if eligible. Don't see the 6'5 -6'7 athletic wing forwards many Valley teams will have , so that could be an issue . SIU was offensively challenged last year and lost 2 of their better offensive players, but if they get reasonable post play from the rotation, and Harvey and Verplancken can help Domask offensively, then SIU might be able to challenge for an upper half finish, but it'll be tougher this year.

[BEARZ77]

UNI
High School/Prep: Bowen Born 5'11 [ 37 ppg], Tytan Anderson 6'6, Nate Heise 6'4
Juco:
Grad Trans:
Transfer: Gonor Mar 6'7 Jr, George Mason[ 10 ppg/ 5 rbs as fr 2 yrs ago]
RS: Cole Henry 6'9

Obviously despite losing 2 senior starters and a couple veteran role/bench guys, UNI returns a lot of firepower. Their HS class has the prolific Born who will try to fit his offense in with Green/Phyfe/Berhow, and Anderson and Heise look like classic Jake type recruits who fit the system well. Mar if eligible and can play back to his freshman level, could be a nice bench piece . But the question mark is behind Phyfe and whether Henry can give quality depth and minutes there. If not, that's a concern as the Valley has a number of big, deep frontlines this year.

[DUBulldog]

DRAKE
Highschool/Prep: Bryceson Burns 6'6, Jordan Kwiecinski 6'8
Juco:
Grad Transfer: ShanQuan Hemphill 6'6 [Wisc. GB/ 11.7 ppg/5.8 rbs]
Transfer: Darnell Brodie 6'9 so[?] [Seton Hall]
Redshirt: Nate Ferguson 6'7 fr; Tremell Murphy 6'6 sr[ 10.4 ppg/6 rbs]

With the uncertainty of Brodie, and having lost Robbins, felt like Drake needed to do more with this class. The return of T. Murphy along with Hemphill gives them a pair of proven, athletic 6'6 forwards. The two HS forwards along with Ferguson will add needed depth on the frontline, but even if Brodie gets a waiver, he's unproven and they are thin behind him in the post. Need a rebound year from Wilkins or another shooter to emerge on the perimeter, but they didn't go out and get one. A lot has to go well for this team to be where they were 2 years ago.

Two more redshirts on Drake's roster

Issa Samake 6'7" Fr (has a 7'3" wingspan, great athlete)
Okay Djamgouz 6'4 Fr (great shooter, needs to get stronger and quicker)

Although he's not a redshirt, 6'0" soph guard Joseph Yesufu missed virtually the entire conference season.

[BEARZ77]

LOYOLA:
High School/Prep: Baylor Hebb 6'1, Jacob Hutson 6'10
Juco:
Grad Transfer:
Transfer: Demezi Anderson 6'7, jr, Indiana
RS: Braden Norris 6'0 ,so, Trans Oakland [8ppg/5 assists as fr] Cooper Kaifes 6'3 inj , so

Like UNI , Loyola returns much and didn't need to add anything to be a contender. But they probably did a little more to solidify their spot . Not sure what the status of Anderson is, but if eligible he adds to the one area Loyola needed some help with, that being 6'5-6'7 athletic wing forwards. Both freshmen are solid pickups who aren't needed to fill primary roles, but will add to the depth and competition already present; that said, many think Hebb could be special at some point. Norris gives them an experienced pure pg to add to an already deep backcourt , and Kaifes gives them back one of the better spot up shooters in the league . IMO this is the deepest and best team in the league.