2014 Recruits

[PURPLEFORLIFE]

Ryan Richardson 6-5 SG: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Ryan-Richardson-150802;_ylt=An7mWkQkEdboNbCXgsQyySzXO5B4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Weber has offered, so has Utah State

Zack Braxton 6-8 C/PF: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Zach-Braxton-143113;_ylt=AqUAaOKIN74a26UXpV.rirjXO5B4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Weber has offered, so has Wyoming, Denver, and Green Bay.

Anyone else have any information?

 

[PURPLEFORLIFE]

I feel that the Cats are doing a great job of replacing the seniors who are leaving the team this season (Mook and Scotty B. both will be immensely missed). Weber is adding two bigs in Hill and Fuller (really, and Talhad would get pissy if I didn't add this, three with Jordan Rex, but is he really going to be playing a lot next year?), and is getting three guards in Duce, Senglin, and Gittens. I've heard, as of now, that everyone is planning on coming back next year. I thought for sure possibly Fulton or Bradford would both be leaving. 13 = 13 (I'm starting to sound like the USU fan site), so I'm thinking three on this years team will not be on scholarship next year. I've also heard that Weber is thinking of adding a couple of local recruits as pre-ferred walkons. Is there a chance anyone else signs or transfers in this spring? Jolley perhaps? He is 6-10 and had a decent senior season.
1. Richardson
2. Wheels
3. Berry
4. Bolomboy
5. Tresnak
6. Hajek
7. Hill
8. Williams
9. Duce
10. Senglin
11. Fuller
12. Fulton
13. Gittens
14. Bradford
15. Jordan Rex
16. Kevin Sweet

What is Weber looking for in 2014? Weber loses Tresnak, but Talhad has sworn up and down that Van Pelt is coming back next May and will be given a scholarship. Berry, Fulton, and Richardson are the other seniors. So, I'm guessing the Cats are looking for a 2/3, 4, and 1?

 

[n.ogdencat]

Weber needs a C, a PG, and a SF/SG. YES...Van Pelt is coming back to Weber. I heard it from Rahe that Van Pelt was assured a scholarship once he returns from his mission. So, at 6-10, I'm thinking the Cats have a C for this recruiting class. Maybe another wouldn't be that bad.

 

[SWeberCat02]

http://wildcats.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3291" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[oldrunner]

I expect this class to be all about the bigs. There may be a guard in the mix, but it is imperative that we sign a couple of bigs to fill in for Trez and James. After that, and I know how it sounds, you take the best athlete you can find, at any position.

I know that the coaches have an active list. But I also know that the list will change 25 times before next fall. :twocents:

 

[n.ogdencat]

Brett Jolly hasn't signed. I know we were pretty interested in him last spring and a bit last summer. He had a great SR. year and has grown since last year.

 

[oldrunner]

Sticking to the recent theme of going quicker and more athletic, I think the priority should be to find bigs who fit that description. This Jolly kid seems to have good offensive skills, but seemed to be a little less athletic than the rest of our guys. He doesn't seem to be an upgrade over the young man we have out on his mission. To me, that is the litmus test. If they are not an upgrade, don't bring them in. I'd rather have an open scholarship than a player sitting on the bench, who will never help us improve. We need to ride the wave of momentum surrounding our program recently. :thumb:

 

[webercat]

We have a chance on getting Jared Stutzman from Idaho. A 6'5" SG with offers from Weber, Utah, USU, and San Francisco. The only other offer out that I know of for 2014 is Dorian Pickens a 6'4" SF from Arizona. But I would be surprised if we got him. He has offers from Arizona, Arizona St, Boston College, Colorado, New Mexico, NAU, Rice, and Weber.

 

[oldrunner]

One really interesting thing about all of this speculation is how far off we really are when it is all said and done. The real story is almost never public knowledge. This news of, so called, offers is coming from the kids, not the coaches. Also, when these players say they have an interest in a school, it does not equate to the school having an interest in them. In the end, we can only hope that it all works out best for those involved. The really sad thing is that most of these kids have had so much smoke blown in their face, they do not have a clear picture of reality.

I believe that our coaches are as honest as they can be with the kids they are recruiting. I have not known them to make promises they can't keep. That sort of thing appeals to some kids and not to others. That is OK by me. We really don't need knuckleheads in our program or community. :twocents:

 

[n.ogdencat]

Rivals is reporting that Weber is recruiting 7 guards, 2 forwards, and 1 Center. I've heard that Stutzman and Pickens aren't really on our radar for very different reasons.

catcat and I know about another recruit who is at Centennial High in L.A. same school that Gelaun attended.

 

[oldrunner]

I'm fairly sure that we will be looking at more than one center over the summer, unless we have a firm commitment from our top guy at that position. They can't afford to not sign one for the future. Also, the line between forwards and guards is a little fuzzy. What we call a small forward is really a guard in the way that they are utilized in our sets. By the time the summer is over the coaches will have watched and evaluated several hundered players. Those, who pass muster, who we have not targetted yet, will be approached and fetted further. Some of those will make it on the list for further recruitment and may or may not be invited in for a visit. At that point, a lot will depend on their interest in becoming part of our program. If kids are luke warm about us, we don't usually bring them in for a visit. We don't want to waist their time and ours too. There are kids that we have been watching since they were sophmores or even freshmen. Some of those kids may actually have been offered. If some of those were to commit early, it can change the way we go after other players. :twocents:

 

[WSUbball24]

Van Pelt is in fact returning to WSU for fall 2014. He will finish his mission around the end of May 2014. He writes regularly of his plans to work hard all summer of 2014 so he is in shape for the season. He claims to have put on 25 lbs and says that he has grown an inch or so based on the fact that his pants are now too short.

 

[oldrunner]

I have watched Van Pelt play several times. He is very skilled offensively and works hard. If all of that is true and he comes back bigger and stronger, he can help us. However, having one center in the program is not the preferable way to go. I think Randy would like to have two centers and three power forwards. In 2011-12, James went down with an injury and it left us really thin in the post, and vulnorable to foul trouble.
It was so much better this last year having two healthy centers.

 

[WSUbball24]

No doubt about that. That was the year Van Pelt almost had to burn a year of eligibility in the last month of the season because of injuries to the bigs. I believe 2014 will be James' senior year? Plus coming off a mission can sometimes take a while to get back in game shape.

 

[oldrunner]

If Van Pelt can come back off his mission, get into shape, and contribute right away. then it will give who ever we sign the luxury of red shirting his first year. :twocents:

 

[n.ogdencat]

Van Pelt is in fact returning to WSU for fall 2014. He will finish his mission around the end of May 2014. He writes regularly of his plans to work hard all summer of 2014 so he is in shape for the season. He claims to have put on 25 lbs and says that he has grown an inch or so based on the fact that his pants are now too short.

Please be sure to tell Catcat this information since he never seems to believe me. Now if he will admit that I have been talking about Fuller for two years too, which he won't.

By the way AWESOME!! I really like Van Pelt. He is a good kid, hard worker, and a local kid. All positives! I heard that he had grown an inch and had put on some weight. If he has grown, wouldn't that put him at 6-11? Makes sense that there is only 1 kid being looked at who would be considered a big.

 

[WSUbball24]

He was a little over 6' 10" just before he left, so yes possibly 6' 11" or slightly taller. VP had other opportunities, but coach Rahe gave him a chance and he is very grateful for the opportunity. 3 years in high school and 3 different varsity coaches, none of which had real experience coaching a big man. Worked hard with Pump N Run and is SUPER stoked for a chance to really improve when he gets back.

 

[Webergrad02]

Are you his mom, dad or brother?

 

[oldrunner]

I'd love to claim the kid as a brother or son. However, nobody would believe it. We are all vertically challenged in my family. :lol:

I'm really pulling for him. I hope he turns out to be the steel of the century. It wasn't too long ago that Shawn Campbell was a similar story. He turned out to be great after growing and maturing on his mission.
David Johnson wasn't a missionary, but he grew a bunch between his freshman and sophomore years. He was a great 6'9'' small forward, with guard skills.

It is quite common for big kids to develop later in life than the rest of us. :thumb:

 

[weberwildcat]

Are you his mom, dad or brother?

while it is not an ncaa infraction to talk to players family once they have come to wsu and started class or practice....what about players who leave for church missions? does it matter? is it like a new prospect again who needs to sign? or just a deferment for a few yrs?