Valentine Izundu C added to roster

[7ICoug]

Valentine Izundu 6-10 215 C Transfer from Houston has been added to the roster and is enrolled.

Ranked #25 Center in 2012. Had a big Freshman year with 20 blocks. Didn't play but 4 games last year and none past the December 14th cutoff.

 

[ElComanche]

I wonder if he will file an appeal to become immediately eligible ?, Houston has lost Danuel House ,Dashawn Thomas and now this guy since their coaching change.. The new coach is of course,Sampson,whom coug fans may remember.

 

[jourdand]

Is this a walk-on player or scholarship player?

 

[ElComanche]

So,he is the "just in case" Kent was looking for.He is a slender 6'10 pivot with very long arms who will help the cougs defensively. He runs the court well and is quick to get off the floor. He only averaged 2.0 pts and 1.0 rbs in his freshman season in limited playing time.. However ,he had 22 blks in 20 games in limited playing time. One has to remember that he played behind two really good big men in Houston. They both have pro potential. One hopes that he does not become another Railey.However i like his ability to block shots.The cougs needed a big man who is not interested in scoring but rebounding and playing defense.

This post was edited on 7/27 5:01 PM by ElComanche

This post was edited on 7/27 5:03 PM by ElComanche

 

[wulffbone]

Hopefully a walk on player. I'm sure Kent will be able to bring in better talent than this. 25 points in TWO years! Wasn't on the travel squad for conference games last year. 6'10 and 200 lbs.

John Tessem weeps

 

[ElComanche]

No, he is a scholarship player. In HS ,he was rated a 3+ and the 25th rated center in 2012. He only played only 4 games last year.Evidently he asked for his release after his freshman year,reconsidered and asked again but not play much after he went back. He played 8 minutes a game as a frosh. The Houston Board thinks that he had a attitude problem and his coaches never reached him.I watched a couple of his tapes as a high school player and he was very impressive defensively. I guess that one will just have to see if Kent can motivate him and other players to get the best out of them.

 

[jourdand]

I was kind of hopping he was some kind of invited walk-on, who was told he possibly could earn scholarship. If he didn't play after Dec 14th could he be eligible after Christmas? This one is kind of a head scratcher, take a chance on him if he is eligible right out of the gate but seems there might have been better options between now and 2015/2016 season.

 

[ElComanche]

I was hoping that he would be able to appeal and be eligible for play this year. The cougs looked very weak inside with Railey and Longrus being the only D 1 inside players on the roster.The addition of Cheatum and Izundu would make them respectable inside. Based on the videos i saw he would be an immediate defensive help inside for the cougs,He now has only two years to be motivated and fulfill his potential.

 

[7ICoug]

scholarship player definitely

 

[jourdand]

I guess I have to give Kent the benefit of the doubt until he proves he doesn't deserve it but wow this doesn't seem like a good choice at all. 5.1 points per game and .4 rebounds according to max preps in 23 games as a senior in high school. How did he ever get recruited the first time around.


This post was edited on 7/28 10:43 AM by jourdand

 

[SaveFerris]

Originally posted by jourdand:
How did he ever get recruited the first time around.

There's always demand for 6-10" athletic players even if they are raw. He needs a redshirt year to work on his game. Develop a hook, work on free throws, get stronger and he has a shot to become productive. Sounds like either Houston was a bad fit or he's a flight risk?

 

[jourdand]

In high school at 6-10 you don't have to be that athletic to score 5 points and grab 0.4 rebounds. How long is it going to take? High school then 2 years of college ball. I know elcomache thinks we have nothing on our bench as far as posts but this just seems like we took somebody else's unproductive player who has some sort of other issues also. I hope this guy works out but I can't see him playing ahead of Boese or Hawkinson at WSU.

 

[ElComanche]

I guess we will just have to see . Somehow i cannot see "the Hawk" ever being a D 1 player. I have always seen The Hawk and Boese as being D11 or even D 111 players. Actually i hope the Hawk proves me wrong as the cougs look weak inside and Kent was not able to land a highly rated big man. The reports are that he spends his time in the weight room. The Hawk will have to become a lot stronger with a mean streak in him if he is going to play at all next year. The team could sure use some quality play from their bigs as the guard position will be much better than most people think. Anyone that thinks that lacy is going to be the PG next season are going to be surprised. Kent cannot afford a" me first" PG who thinks that he may be a NBA draft choice.I believe that Dunbar and Redding end up sharing the PG duties next year.These two guards know spacing and are good playmakers. They both have to learn to play better defense.

 

[jourdand]

One of those 2 will need to produce to help this team. I tend to think the job is Ike's to lose. I think Ike will benefit as much if not more from the coaching change than any other player.

 

[ElComanche]

From what i saw of IKe,his talents are more suited to the 2 guard.He has a problem with understanding spacing and is better driving to the hoop to try to score rather than with playmaking.I see him as a backup to Lacy. the old adage of f playing freshman does not make sense with all the AAU leagues which give HS kids much more exposure as to what to expect at the collegiate level

 

[ElComanche]

Back to Izundu, I have seen where he is listed to be a two for two Player. That would mean that he has two years of eligibility left. I saw where a couple of posters felt that he may be eligible to play next semester. Is there a real possibility that this may be true?