Flowers on campus
- Thread starter 7ICoug
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Jakimovski in the transfer portal. I'm pretty disappointed by that but this is how it goes when you are as active as we are in recruiting.
I wanted to see how Jakimovski would produce this year. I was disappointed in him last year relative to his hype coming in. Was hoping for a big improvement. Guess the only unknown now is Rice, and how they make room for him.
I heard a while back that he didn't like it in Pullman. My guess is the game is enough different that he wanted a different system and will be going back to Europe. Never looked comfortable in our system.
Aikien is a defensive upgrade and brings more maturity. Gueye is a major upgrade to AJ! No doubt both came with AJ's decision to leave.
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Saw that about Pullman today. It can be an adjustment and many don't give it the time (i.e., more than a year) to allow it to take place. If he did want out this makes Aiken a lot more understandable to me. I honestly didn't get why we went that direction even though I think he's a solid player.
Gueye is definitely the future. He has said he prefers warm weather before choosing WSU. Hopefully we don't see a repeat next year.
Hate to see AJ leave as just like you all I was excited to see his growth next year. That being said, its amazing that one of our highest rated recruits ever is leaving after slightly disappointing year, but we have depth, a experienced and talented transfer coming in to take some of his minute and an ever higher rated recruit signed in the wings. Different times.
Agree. He was the one guy I felt the least solid on in terms of potentially transferring since we were over the limit.
I was really excited when we signed him, but when his outside shot went south last season, his overall value went that way too.
I hope he finds his best place to be. I will watch with interest on how it turns out for him. Wishing him the best in the future.
In a way I am surprised, and in a way I am not surprised by AJ transfering.
Logically, in a way, AJ had reasons to stay, and there were worse players in Rapp, Vova, that should transfer over AJ.
But in a way, I am not surpised, because of the depth at the 3,4 spots, AJ's spots, and because it sometimes takes a long time for a Euro player to adjust to Pullman, P5, USA, Pac 12, College game.
And AJ turned down a PAID PRO CONTRACT to play for WSU.
I think AJ thought: "Hmm, I can either get less play time, because of Jwckson, Efe, Gueye, etc, or I can go home, get a PAID Pro Contract, likely start, or be a 6th man off bench, get a lot of play time, Continue to develop, then probably get a shot at the G League/NBA Later, or I can stay, rot on bench, not develop, then not be able to play PAID Pro Ball, not get a shot at G League, NBA SOMEDAY in the future someday."
So in that sense, I am not surprised.
As to who is going to also Transfer, I still think Rapp, Vova, are the worst, least productive, least upside, so that makes them the most eligible, worthy of Transfering.
Tho with AJ transfering, Vova might be needed more, since if Vova Transfers, then only have Jackson, EFE, Gueye, as good, great at the 5,4 spots. So Jackson, Vova, needed at the 5 spot, and Efe, Gueye needed at 4 spot, and Gueye might also see play at the 3 spot.
So that leaves Rapp, Rosario, Bamba.
But Bamba got Gueye to WSU as a Friend, so if Bamba, were to leave, that might make it hard on Gueye, cause Gueye to leave. Also Bamb's abput 5.5 ppg, in limited minutes, and his development, athleticism, upside, etc, is still valuable to team. More Valuable then Rapp to the team.
And Rosario was INJURED A LOT last year. And he has a lot of potential, athleticism, development, upside, valuableness to the team, so getting him to transfer, wouldnt be good for both him, and the team. And he Rosario is more Valuable to the team, then Rapp is.
So that leaves Rapp as the most eligible, worthy to transfer.
But if Rapp doesnt transfer, I think it would be between Rosario, Vova, as unfair that would be to Rosario havimg gotten injured his 1st year, and Vova needed for depth at the 5 spot.
So its either going to be:
1. Rapp
2. Vova
3. Rosario
4. Bamba.
Hoping its:
1. Rapp
2. Vova(Hope not needed for depth at 5 spot)
3. Rosario(Hope not(Highly rated athletic, upside 3, that got INJURED)
4. Bamba(Hope not because about 5.5 ppg, good defense, in limited minutes, athletic, good upside, came on strong, good at end of season, developed, developing, will develop, good friends with, got Gueye to goto WSU, and if leaves may make it harder on Gueye, might cause Gueye to leave)
But since AJ transfered, who knows for sure, as others besides Rapp, Vova, Rosario, Bamba might transfer, even if they shouldnt transfer, even if they arent expected to transfer.
Logically, in a way, AJ had reasons to stay, and there were worse players in Rapp, Vova, that should transfer over AJ.
But in a way, I am not surpised, because of the depth at the 3,4 spots, AJ's spots, and because it sometimes takes a long time for a Euro player to adjust to Pullman, P5, USA, Pac 12, College game.
And AJ turned down a PAID PRO CONTRACT to play for WSU.
I think AJ thought: "Hmm, I can either get less play time, because of Jwckson, Efe, Gueye, etc, or I can go home, get a PAID Pro Contract, likely start, or be a 6th man off bench, get a lot of play time, Continue to develop, then probably get a shot at the G League/NBA Later, or I can stay, rot on bench, not develop, then not be able to play PAID Pro Ball, not get a shot at G League, NBA SOMEDAY in the future someday."
So in that sense, I am not surprised.
As to who is going to also Transfer, I still think Rapp, Vova, are the worst, least productive, least upside, so that makes them the most eligible, worthy of Transfering.
Tho with AJ transfering, Vova might be needed more, since if Vova Transfers, then only have Jackson, EFE, Gueye, as good, great at the 5,4 spots. So Jackson, Vova, needed at the 5 spot, and Efe, Gueye needed at 4 spot, and Gueye might also see play at the 3 spot.
So that leaves Rapp, Rosario, Bamba.
But Bamba got Gueye to WSU as a Friend, so if Bamba, were to leave, that might make it hard on Gueye, cause Gueye to leave. Also Bamb's abput 5.5 ppg, in limited minutes, and his development, athleticism, upside, etc, is still valuable to team. More Valuable then Rapp to the team.
And Rosario was INJURED A LOT last year. And he has a lot of potential, athleticism, development, upside, valuableness to the team, so getting him to transfer, wouldnt be good for both him, and the team. And he Rosario is more Valuable to the team, then Rapp is.
So that leaves Rapp as the most eligible, worthy to transfer.
But if Rapp doesnt transfer, I think it would be between Rosario, Vova, as unfair that would be to Rosario havimg gotten injured his 1st year, and Vova needed for depth at the 5 spot.
So its either going to be:
1. Rapp
2. Vova
3. Rosario
4. Bamba.
Hoping its:
1. Rapp
2. Vova(Hope not needed for depth at 5 spot)
3. Rosario(Hope not(Highly rated athletic, upside 3, that got INJURED)
4. Bamba(Hope not because about 5.5 ppg, good defense, in limited minutes, athletic, good upside, came on strong, good at end of season, developed, developing, will develop, good friends with, got Gueye to goto WSU, and if leaves may make it harder on Gueye, might cause Gueye to leave)
But since AJ transfered, who knows for sure, as others besides Rapp, Vova, Rosario, Bamba might transfer, even if they shouldnt transfer, even if they arent expected to transfer.
Bamba and Gueye have never met. simply share a heritage link to Senegal and have communicated on social media.
Imo Rosario is the most likely to leave, not because he isn’t good enough or even better than some others, just he is the least invested having not seen much time last year and facing limited time this year.
We always think these things are always decided on pure skill and basketball ability. Often they are part of a larger team chemistry from both the player and team perspective. Fitting in with the team, the coaches, the school both academically and socially, family pressure (homesick) are all part of these decisions not just basketball.
Imo Rosario is the most likely to leave, not because he isn’t good enough or even better than some others, just he is the least invested having not seen much time last year and facing limited time this year.
We always think these things are always decided on pure skill and basketball ability. Often they are part of a larger team chemistry from both the player and team perspective. Fitting in with the team, the coaches, the school both academically and socially, family pressure (homesick) are all part of these decisions not just basketball.
Well at least if Rosario leaves, its from the 3 spot, the deepest spot depth wise on the team.
DJ Rodman, Aiken, Bamba, are at the 3 spot. And Gueye might probably play at the 3 spot, when not playing the 4 spot. And Noah might temporarily shift, rotate, move to the 3 spot, if, when, if go with a Flowers/Tyrell Roberts at 1.PG, and Koulibaly at 2. SG, and Noah at 3. Wing. And even Rapp would be just barely ok, and not terrible, not bad at 3 spot.
So even without Rosario, the 3 spot is still pretty good.
I think losing Vova would lose a Rim protector, space in the middle of the post eater, lose depth at the 5/Center Spot(The thinnest position spot on team)
5/Center: 1. Jackson. 2. Vova or Gueye. 3. Vova or Gueye.
4 spot: 1. Efe. 2. Gueye. 3. Kim(When not playing 3 spot) or
6-9 walk on. 4. Kim or 6-9 Walk on. 5. DJ Rodman, if, when, if not playing 3 spot, and if other 4 spot players injured, foul trouble, etc.
So PG, SG, 3 spot, Wing, 4 spot, PF, are all better, deeper, then the 5 spot, Center Spot.
So Vova at 7 ft 2 in, is really needed at the 5 spot behind Jackson at the 5 spot.
April showers bring May Flowers.
A beautiful and welcomed sight.
A beautiful and welcomed sight.
April showers bring May Flowers. What do May Flowers bring? Pilgrims. 
Two things. I don't think it's a given that AJ goes pro back home....he's in the transfer portal, which leads me to believe he plans on playing college ball for at least one more year. Secondly, as Jourdand alluded to, roster decisions aren't necessarily made on talent. If we are talking about who gets that 13th scholarship, it's more than likely that a player who is willing to accept his role as a deep bench player is a good choice for that last spot. Many times a team needs players who won't be disgruntled by reduced playing time. Rapp and Vova seem to be the type of team players that won't disrupt team chemistry. We'll see what happens, but personally, I'm sorry to see AJ leave.
Glad Cougar
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