CJ Elleby and next year

[COUGinNCW]

Nice fluff piece about CJ on Brand X. Hopefully he's ready to contribute right away to a team that will be getting just about everyone back except for Drick B. I'd like to think the Cougs are one solid big away from being a middle of the Pac team next year with all the experience they have coming back so long as a few of the younger players continue to develop like Millan and Chidom.

Thoughts?

 

[7ICoug]

Casto was a gem and would have been a 4-star recruit if anyone thought be could have qualified. The type of player that we had to get and did.

 

[avabob1]

We need one more contributor to come in next year, plus significant improvement from Chidum and Acquaah. Acquaah concerns me, not because of his struggles, but because it almost looks like his skill set may not translate to the high D-1 level. I remember watching him dominate in the exhibition game against D-2 athletes. He hasn't really even shown signs of that during this season. Still he is only a frosh, and he is more athletic than our other guards. He definitely needs to develop a respectable outside shot.

Chidum is more likely to continue to develop. Basketball IQ can be more easily taught than length and shooting touch.

 

[bogusto]

If the undisciplined play (i.e. turnovers), lack of commitment to defense, and unfettered willingness to fire up shots willy-nilly with no thought to value of possession persist, then Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen would be hard-pressed to produce a winner on the Palouse. In other words, EK's coaching style ipso facto puts a premium on out-talenting the other team because they sure as hell aren't going to outwork them or pressure them into mistakes.

 

[Loyal Coug]

Nice fluff piece about CJ on Brand X. Hopefully he's ready to contribute right away to a team that will be getting just about everyone back except for Drick B. I'd like to think the Cougs are one solid big away from being a middle of the Pac team next year with all the experience they have coming back so long as a few of the younger players continue to develop like Millan and Chidom.

Thoughts?

Other than you are delusional?

Seriously though, this kid looks good. What about the other kid from Washington (4 star?) that didn't get in this year and went to CC or prep school? What's his status?

 

[7ICoug]

Gittens. Might be available has to wait for grades still has WSU interest.

 

[CougDave]

Gittens is playing at Southern Idaho JC. Averaging 10 ppg off the bench with excellent shooting numbers (for a loaded JC program). He should be a star for them next season. I believe he still has high interest in the Cougs.

 

[SaveFerris]

I didn't take the time to read the brandx piece but I am pretty excited anout Elleby. Need more like him.

 

[Loyal Coug]

Gittens is playing at Southern Idaho JC. Averaging 10 ppg off the bench with excellent shooting numbers (for a loaded JC program). He should be a star for them next season. I believe he still has high interest in the Cougs.

10 points off the bench at an Idaho JC doesn't sound like star power to me.........although I see that CSI is a national JC powerhouse. Their first coach was Eddie Sutton! They also field men's and women's rodeo teams. Yee Haw.

 

[SaveFerris]

10 points off the bench at an Idaho JC doesn't sound like star power to me.........although I see that CSI is a national JC powerhouse. Their first coach was Eddie Sutton! They also field men's and women's rodeo teams. Yee Haw.

I could be overgeneralizing but JC coaches typically play the 2nd year guys to get them more exposure to get to the next level. It's good for player and program. As you said CSI is a national JC powerhouse so there is most likely good talent through the roster anyway.

 

[avabob1]

Everything about Gittens in high school said 4 star talent. Not sure Cougs will still have a shot at him, but would definitely be a nice addition.

 

[SaveFerris]

Everything about Gittens in high school said 4 star talent. Not sure Cougs will still have a shot at him, but would definitely be a nice addition.

Hard to envision Gittens not starting this year. Wish he took care of business. Gittens and Elleby would give us most talented wings we have had at the same time since I don't know when.

 

[avabob1]

I don't think Gittens will be available till he has an AA degree. Too bad.

 

[SaveFerris]

I don't think Gittens will be available till he has an AA degree. Too bad.

If you go JC you must complete your AA unless you were a full qualifier out of high school. Some have done it in a year but it's pretty rare.

 

[CougDave]

CSI has 8 or 9 guys all averaging around 20 minutes a game. They have a JC All-American point guard in Charles Jones who has signed with Utah, others have already signed with Pitt and Utah State. My guess is that Gittins will get plenty of recruiting interest next year and will be very difficult to get back in the fold. I'm not sure we have a player on our roster who would have started for this CSI a team as a freshman.

 

[SaveFerris]

I'm not sure we have a player on our roster who would have started for this CSI a team as a freshman.

That would have been my guess.

 

[ElComanche]

That would have been my guess.

 

[ElComanche]

Elleby will start next year. He has a complete game and likes to play defense.If the cougs can land a physical big man and Acquah figures it out than the cougs will be much improved. Of course, i said that this year but the cast coming back will be experienced ,and just needs a couple of pieces to fall in, to make this a much better team.A ot of "if s" ,but hope springs eternal.

 

[avabob11]

Biggest things keeping the Cougs from more success this season comes down to Bernstein, Acquaah, and Hinson. I wasnt expecting much scoring from Bernstein, but hoping for a tougher presence inside and more of a lock down defender. I thought Acquaah would be a starter or 6th man whose struggles would not be as great as they have been. I expected Hinson to struggle as a first year JC, but thought he might be more of an instant offense, at least sporadically. Both of the latter two have upside potential, but it will be a longer road than I expected for them to step up next year.

Elleby should be an instant starter, but without some good inside help he along with Franks Flynn and Daniels probably doesnt get us more than a couple more wins.

 

[PeteTheChop]

NBAdraft.net (one of the most frequently cited draft sites) has Robert Franks on the edge of the first round as the No. 35 overall pick this June.

Think how high RF's stock could climb if he leads WSU to an NCAA tournament run in the 2018-19 season?

If Franks comes back for his senior year, things should really be on an upturn for CEK and the Cougs.

 

[ElComanche]

Franks is one player who needs to stay in school for another year. He needs to develop some moves to the basket, and a pull up mid range jumper to add to his game. He is no where ready to make the jump to the Big League this year.

 

[avabob1]

I agree. Nobody was higher than me on Franks but he has nowhere near demonstrated NBA potential in his game. I hope he continues to improve and becomes a solid 1st round pick next year.

 

[YakiCoug]

Gittens. Might be available has to wait for grades still has WSU interest.

Looks like he'll spend a second year at CSI (Southern Idaho, not the TV show). That's too bad. We could use him next year.

 

[YakiCoug]

I agree. Nobody was higher than me on Franks but he has nowhere near demonstrated NBA potential in his game. I hope he continues to improve and becomes a solid 1st round pick next year.

I agree, Avabob. He ain't there yet.

 

[ElComanche]

What many of the unknowing "fans" here do not realize is in Juco ball,these guys are usu sally playing around 15 minutes per game and one cannot make rash judgements about a player s ability. The juco coaches also start their second year players to give more exposure to college recruiters. i laugh at the naivete shown her by a few posters who want to see the worst in possible coug recruits. They are a small band of funny guys

 

[avabob1]

The other thing people dont understand is that it works a lot better to recruit scorers and teach them to play D than to recruit defenders and try to make them scorers.

 

[Glad Cougar]

What many of the unknowing "fans" here do not realize is in Juco ball,these guys are usu sally playing around 15 minutes per game and one cannot make rash judgements about a player s ability. The juco coaches also start their second year players to give more exposure to college recruiters. i laugh at the naivete shown her by a few posters who want to see the worst in possible coug recruits. They are a small band of funny guys

The sum total of Cougar basketball fans these days can be described as a small band of funny guys.

Glad Cougar

 

[bogusto]

The other thing people dont understand is that it works a lot better to recruit scorers and teach them to play D than to recruit defenders and try to make them scorers.

Tell that to the Bennett's, Kyle Weaver, Robbie Cowgill, Baynsie et.al.

 

[SaveFerris]

Tell that to the Bennett's, Kyle Weaver, Robbie Cowgill, Baynsie et.al.

Remember though, Dick said Weaver couldn't guard a chair early in his career.

What I want is guys that will give effort on defense from day 1. That whole group was in that category.

 

[avabob1]

Cowgill was a scorer coming out of high school. He used the same length, quickness and smarts to become a tremendous fefender

 

[7ICoug]

Its all about emphasis. If you think you can outscore 4-5 star players you are as a Coach wrong. Tony's squad held Pitt to 7 that's right SEVEN points in the first half yesterday. Defense is why teams are good. That and players.

 

[Loyal Coug]

The other thing people dont understand is that it works a lot better to recruit scorers and teach them to play D than to recruit defenders and try to make them scorers.

Marcus Capers and I agree with you on that one. Poor guy could never hit a shot beyond 4 feet.

On a semi-related note, one thing you really see with our NBA Cougs is that they play good defense. They were coached well.

 

[Loyal Coug]

What many of the unknowing "fans" here do not realize is in Juco ball,these guys are usu sally playing around 15 minutes per game and one cannot make rash judgements about a player s ability. The juco coaches also start their second year players to give more exposure to college recruiters. i laugh at the naivete shown her by a few posters who want to see the worst in possible coug recruits. They are a small band of funny guys

Sorry, some of us don't spend a lot of time analyzing JC teams from Southern Idaho. I for one stand corrected.

Maybe EK and staff should get down there and recruit the whole damn team. What a potential feeder program. 2 years in S. Idaho and Pullman will look like heaven to them.

 

[ElComanche]

You should note that all of the juco teams and coaches will use their players the same way. So it is not just Southern Idaho. When one starts to analyze recruiting there are certain things people should know before making rash judgements. The amount of minutes played is important at all levels of basketball.