3 mystery players

[etowncoug]

Jamey Vinnick got an interview with CKS for clickbait and, as his material often is, it was informative.

Of note there are three mystery players. 1) A silent commit. 2) Cougs are in on someone who would be a big name. 3) One of the players in the transfer portal looks like they will be coming back.

Here is a thread for guesses.

 

[COUGinNCW]

Hope Cannon is coming back.

 

[SaveFerris]

Hoping Cannon ends up sticking as well. I thought the silent commit and "big" is one player. I also thought he meant size by "big" but could have misunderstood the meaning.

 

[Glad Cougar]

That was my impression, too. He mentioned the player was "a real big guy and pretty accomplished." I take that to mean good size.

Glad Cougar

 

[Coug1990]

Perhaps it is a transfer. Here is a list of players who entered the transfer portal.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...-basketball-transfer-rankings-2019-20-2020-21

 

[etowncoug]

1) I'm guessing the mystery commit is a big man.
2) The guy we are in on is probably Ronnie Degray.
3) The player returning from the portal is most likely Isaiah Wade. Kid has a good attitude, will buy in, won't attract much attention on the transfer market. His departure seemed more like both parties mutually exploring options and neither have found something better. Worst case he's a guy who hustles with five fouls.
Ali just doesn't fit what Smith does. Cannon does but he'll be a hot commodity.

 

[SaveFerris]

Brandx says Ali to stay. Interesting if that ends up the case. I do wonder if Wade ends up staying as well.

Has Degray visited? I saw he visited UMass and he has connections to the program. His Prep school coach is now an assistant and 3 other players off his Prep school team have signed with UMass. I like his versatility. Seems like he could play the 3 or 4 depending on the situation.

 

[Loyal Coug]

So is Elleby coming back, or is he gone, or what?

 

[avabob1]

He is not getting drafted so he either returns or decides to transfer

 

[SaveFerris]

He is not getting drafted so he either returns or decides to transfer

Assuming his goal is getting to the NBA as quickly as possible a transfer doesn't make sense unless he believe he would be immediately eligible.

 

[etowncoug]

Ali coming back surprises me. He's not a versatile defender, was prone to dumb fouls as a result, and dribbled the ball far higher off the floor than he should. I don't see him as a natural fit for Smith.

That said, he has played in the Pac-12 and he might improve a lot over the off-season. He could be a great third scoring option for the offense, maybe even a second.

 

[Coug1990]

I wonder if Kelvin Jones could be the big? He would be a graduate transfer.

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/m...cle_6962cb24-5c27-51c1-9aa9-33f6d85da0f6.html

 

[etowncoug]

I wonder if Kelvin Jones could be the big? He would be a graduate transfer.

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/m...cle_6962cb24-5c27-51c1-9aa9-33f6d85da0f6.html

Smith said the player was accomplished and Jones resume doesn't scream accomplished to me. No 3 scorer on a bad Big Sky team averaging 5 boards a game doesn't pencil out to be able to do much at the P6 level.
More likely to be a transfer who needs to sit out a year, IMO.

 

[Coug1990]

Smith said the player was accomplished and Jones resume doesn't scream accomplished to me. No 3 scorer on a bad Big Sky team averaging 5 boards a game doesn't pencil out to be able to do much at the P6 level.
More likely to be a transfer who needs to sit out a year, IMO.

You may be right. It was just a stab in the dark trying to guess who it could be. I was thinking that the work "accomplished" was relative. He would be an accomplished big man for WSU. He also got better and better as the season went along. We shall likely find out tomorrow.

 

[Glad Cougar]

I think Kelvin Jones is a real possibility. He was one of the leading shot blockers in the Big Sky and had some highly productive games for Idaho State, even though they were not a very good team. Cougs need someone to defend the rim with size....and they need that for this coming season. Jones fits the bill there. One problem with him...he's a fouling machine. I think he led the NCAA in average fouls per game.

Glad Cougar

 

[etowncoug]

Would appear the Cougs landed at 7-2 Ukrainian. Nice to have some size in the paint.

 

[kougkurt]

 

[SaveFerris]

Tall and looks to have good shooting touch. He's not the most fluid player but you obviously can't teach that kind of length. Here's a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina where Markovetskyy had 17 & 11. He's hard to miss but Markovetskyy is #18 in blue.

 

[etowncoug]

Tall and looks to have good shooting touch. He's not the most fluid player but you obviously can't teach that kind of length. Here's a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina where Markovetskyy had 17 & 11. He's hard to miss but Markovetskyy is #18 in blue.

View embedded media

Park the kid in the paint and have him block shots.

 

[Glad Cougar]

I'm assuming the big guy will be an incoming freshman. I wonder if anyone else was recruiting him. I like the signing. While he may be counted on to play significant minutes this coming season, he'll also have a couple of years to develop. To me, that's preferable than a so-so grad transfer or JC.

Glad Cougar

 

[moxeecoug]

I always thought Kent was a decent recruiter who attracted some good talent but he couldnt coach. It seems like Smith is recruiting at a higher level and I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do this upcoming season on the court and on the recruiting trail. I am hoping he is going to make WSU mens basketball fun again.

 

[acgcoug]

I always thought Kent was a decent recruiter who attracted some good talent but he couldnt coach. It seems like Smith is recruiting at a higher level and I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do this upcoming season on the court and on the recruiting trail. I am hoping he is going to make WSU mens basketball fun again.

My same sentiment.

 

[SaveFerris]

I'm assuming the big guy will be an incoming freshman.

Glad Cougar

Correct.
https://wsucougars.com/news/2019/5/15/mens-basketball-ukrainian-center-signs-with-the-cougars.aspx

 

[AlwaysSpokanesFault]

I'm assuming the big guy will be an incoming freshman. I wonder if anyone else was recruiting him. I like the signing. While he may be counted on to play significant minutes this coming season, he'll also have a couple of years to develop. To me, that's preferable than a so-so grad transfer or JC.

Glad Cougar

Per the S/R, Kansas State was also in the mix.

 

[etowncoug]

Though tweets referencing his departure have disappeared from the internet, Ahmed Ali is one of 5 players still listed on the roster.

Brandx says Ali to stay. Interesting if that ends up the case. I do wonder if Wade ends up staying as well.

Has Degray visited? I saw he visited UMass and he has connections to the program. His Prep school coach is now an assistant and 3 other players off his Prep school team have signed with UMass. I like his versatility. Seems like he could play the 3 or 4 depending on the situation.

 

[SaveFerris]

I think Kelvin Jones is a real possibility. He was one of the leading shot blockers in the Big Sky and had some highly productive games for Idaho State, even though they were not a very good team. Cougs need someone to defend the rim with size....and they need that for this coming season. Jones fits the bill there. One problem with him...he's a fouling machine. I think he led the NCAA in average fouls per game.

Glad Cougar

According to Goodman we were at least involved with Jones. That time may have passed.

 

[ElComanche]

Another false hope and most probable whiff. Jones is visiting Creighton and will visit Virginia Tech and Oregon State in the next two weeks.

 

[7ICoug]

Cannon looks likely to return if things work out.

 

[Glad Cougar]

Kelvin Jones just committed to Creighton. Not sure he and WSU were interested in each other at this point.

I'm still curious where Cannon and Wade end up, and if Ali is indeed going to come back.

Glad Cougar

 

[SaveFerris]

Of the wings we were in on late I would love if Cannon came back. Haven't really heard anything around Wade or John coming back. You would expect things to go one way or the other before the end of the month with the last 2 spots.

 

[7ICoug]

Ali and Cannon are both still in the Transfer Portal