It was a bit of a secret but Weber had offered 6-9 W Marek Dolezaj from Bratislava Slovakia. At first, there was a great chance that the Cats would steal another major recruit from Central Europe. However, Syracuse jumped in this spring and after a visit offered Marek.
Syracuse went through three other offers before they got serious with the Slavakian. Once they were serious, our chances of actually signing him were pretty much over. They kept telling him to wait before actually giving him a legitimate offer. So, in essence they strung him along for two and a half months before they actually took him serious. He wasn't their first, second, third, choice, but their fourth.
Marek had the potential to being an automatic contributor for the Cats, if not a starter at the 3 this upcoming season. For Weber, losing Marek is a bummer deal, but I wouldn't say an insurmountable loss. All we can do is wish Marek good luck, and when he transfers in a year, that he once again gives Weber State a look. Syracuse is currently under probation and can only have 11 scholarship players this season. Next season they are back to 12 and the following 13. They are already recruiting 11 wings for the 2018 season, which means that Syracuse is already over recruiting Marek before he has even stepped on campus.
Okay...so, what options are left for the 13th scholarship?
A. Sign a Freshman
B. Sign a 5th year guy
C. Sign a Transfer
D. Sign a JUCO
E. Resign a player who was going to leave.
A. I really don't think this is an option, unless nobody gets signed this Summer, then yes, Randy will sign a kid this November. All the best for 2017, have already signed. Most of those that haven't signed is because of talent and potential, by this point the vast majority 95% will end up at JCs, or lower divisions schools. There are a few out there who have talent, but those guys will end up at P5's.
B. This could definitely be an option. We all know that Alberts visited and has yet to sign. However, is Alberts that player who can take Weber to the next level? I've written this before, but why sign a 5th year guy if he isn't better than the guys you already have, or isn't substantially better than guys who are leaving your team? I don't doubt Alberts potential and yes, he did play for Gonzaga, who was just in the National Title game, but...is he the "it" guy who can help Weber get to that next level? No matter, I think this is the best option. It might not end up being Alberts, but I wouldn't doubt seeing a 5th year guy.
C. As Olds has pointed out, there are a lot of guys on the transfer list who haven't found a home yet. Weber has struck gold in the past. But, in the vast majority of cases, a transfer will not be eligible for a year and the Cats will have to provide him with 3 or 2 years of a scholarship, which shouldn't, at first, be an issue, but could turn into one. With Cannon leaving that gives the 13th 2 years. So, a guy like Alberts, who has 2 years and can automatically, it is a perfect situation, but a guy who is a Soph and has to sit a year to play two, could become an issue in the future.
D. I don't think this is the direction the coaching staff is going towards. With all the talent available on the transfers list, why waste time going after JUCO's who aren't anywhere near the talent level that could join the program.
E. Gittens and Cannon are still in Ogden. If you can't find anyone else, why waste a scholarship when you have two guys who are leaving your program, that you know are proven DI commodities? Also, why bring in a 5th year guy who isn't far and away better than Gittens or Cannon?
