It's been a long time since ISU has had five recruiting commitments in place by the first day of the late signing period. Here's a look at the roster so far, with more work still to be done:
C--Ayibakuro Preh, Ajak Magot, Andrej Slavik (Preh and Magot appear to be very similar in style -- long, rangy defenders and shot blockers with very limited offensive games. Slavik will come as in as a 4-5 who, we are told, can shoot and pass from the high post.)
PF--Andre Hatchett, Jeff Solarin, Slavik. (Hatchett was the most improved Bengal last year. He's undersized for the power forward position, but figured out how to use his athleticism to be effective. Solarin has a history of production -- 18 ppg and 14 rpg in high school, 17 ppg with 9 rebounds in JC. He'll get playing time, probably at both the 3 and 4 spots. Slavik can play both the center and PF positions).
SF--Nnamdi Ezenwa, Solarin, Justin Smith, Scott Tyler. (Ezenwa is a very athletic defender who is limited offensively, but will get a chance because of his experience and physical gifts. Solarin appears to be more of a back-to-the basket type -- he only took four 3s and made one last year in JC, so he'll slide between the 3 and 4. Smith is very athletic and can play either wing spot based on what I saw of him in the Colorado state championship game. In the video I've seen of Tyler, he also looks like someone who can play either the two or the three.)
SG--Chris Hansen, Tyler, Smith, ???. (Hansen had a very nice sophomore season, and played quite a bit at the 3. He's the Bengals' best pure shooter, but does he have the athleticism to defend at the 2 spot for long periods of time? Tyler, at 6-7, seems like a natural fit at the top of the Bengals 2-3 zone -- if he stays active, he could create a lot of steals from that position. Smith is probably more suited for the SF spot, where he can use his quick jumping ability to hit the boards. I expect the Bengals to sign another player to compete at this spot).
PG--Tomas Sanchez. (The Bengals' leader and most competitive player, Sanchez had a nice junior season, capped by a couple of game-winning shots. ISU definitely needs to recruit a backup here, and Nick Mason's rumorered transfer would allow them to theoretically take two -- a freshman to groom long-term, and a JC to step in immediately.).
C--Ayibakuro Preh, Ajak Magot, Andrej Slavik (Preh and Magot appear to be very similar in style -- long, rangy defenders and shot blockers with very limited offensive games. Slavik will come as in as a 4-5 who, we are told, can shoot and pass from the high post.)
PF--Andre Hatchett, Jeff Solarin, Slavik. (Hatchett was the most improved Bengal last year. He's undersized for the power forward position, but figured out how to use his athleticism to be effective. Solarin has a history of production -- 18 ppg and 14 rpg in high school, 17 ppg with 9 rebounds in JC. He'll get playing time, probably at both the 3 and 4 spots. Slavik can play both the center and PF positions).
SF--Nnamdi Ezenwa, Solarin, Justin Smith, Scott Tyler. (Ezenwa is a very athletic defender who is limited offensively, but will get a chance because of his experience and physical gifts. Solarin appears to be more of a back-to-the basket type -- he only took four 3s and made one last year in JC, so he'll slide between the 3 and 4. Smith is very athletic and can play either wing spot based on what I saw of him in the Colorado state championship game. In the video I've seen of Tyler, he also looks like someone who can play either the two or the three.)
SG--Chris Hansen, Tyler, Smith, ???. (Hansen had a very nice sophomore season, and played quite a bit at the 3. He's the Bengals' best pure shooter, but does he have the athleticism to defend at the 2 spot for long periods of time? Tyler, at 6-7, seems like a natural fit at the top of the Bengals 2-3 zone -- if he stays active, he could create a lot of steals from that position. Smith is probably more suited for the SF spot, where he can use his quick jumping ability to hit the boards. I expect the Bengals to sign another player to compete at this spot).
PG--Tomas Sanchez. (The Bengals' leader and most competitive player, Sanchez had a nice junior season, capped by a couple of game-winning shots. ISU definitely needs to recruit a backup here, and Nick Mason's rumorered transfer would allow them to theoretically take two -- a freshman to groom long-term, and a JC to step in immediately.).
