recruiting Bigs

[Hoop Fan]

as a follow up to my rebounding rant, I started to think about our current and recent recruiting classes. Is there any rebounding help coming? Not much. Last year we signed Bennett and Pearson, a guard and small forward. This year we signed Killen, Roberts and Ritter. I'm not too sure about Ritter, but Im pretty sure he is only 6-7, so thats two more guards and another small forward. In total, 3 guards and two smallish forwards over the last two years. Don't we need a center and a strong power forward somewhere along the line?

[LA_Mustang]

We do need a true big man and/or shot blocking power forward. I’m sure Dement and the other coaches have been going after bigs each year but coming up empty. I really wish we would have gotten Aliou Kane a few years back. It came down to us and Minnesota. He redshirted last year and has rarely played so far this year.

With DFW full of talent in 2005 and 2006, hopefully we can land a difference making big man.

[50's PONY]

So what does that tell you?

[Kiper]

Centers and shot-blocking power forwards are like big defensive tackles in football or left-handed pitchers who can throw in the mid-90s -- EVERYONE wants them. So when there is a kid with size and even a shred of talent, he often is over-recruited. Look at Brian Boddicker at Texas -- a nice player, I guess, but probably not worthy of being recruited as heavily as he was. Coach Dement is chasing big guys every year, but we'll need to win to land a good one.
Kind of a Catch-22....

[Hoop Fan]

Kiper, I agree 100% with the analogy. Now, throw in the fact that SMU only tends to recruits kids with good backgrounds and academics, and you really have alot of competition for those kids. Bottom line is that SMU needs to find at least 2 power guys somehow. Fresno has 6 of them it seemed. Rice even has a couple including Michael Harris. Our team would improve drastically by adding one or two legit power players to the group we already have.

[50's PONY]

Hoop Fan, that sounds great -- now tell us where they are and why they would want to come!

[Hoop Fan]

50s, I realize and acknowledge the difficulty. We are never gonna be deep and loaded with big talent, but SMU has to find a way to get one or two every few years anyway. Lots of mid majors with less going for them than SMU do it.

[OldPony]

It seems to me that Dement has tried to bring in some guys who he thought could toughen up our middle. Castro is a load and plays tough. He just isn't the most talented guy in the world but he was a good get for SMU and I giove him good grades for effort and learning how to do some moves near the goal. I'm sure Dement had hopes that Simpson would put on some beef and be tougher but he is more of a finesse guy and probably always will be. The Rack is a project. We all knew that when he came in at 6-11 and 235. We will most likely have to continue to gamble that we catch lightning in a jar with some project. We aren't in the running for a 7' guy who has good feet and hands and is mean as a snake. That guy goes to Duke or KU and they ony find him about 1 or 2 times every 4 years..

[Pony_Fan]

insert Stallion comment here

[Hal]

Originally posted by Hoop Fan:
Kiper, I agree 100% with the analogy. Now, throw in the fact that SMU only tends to recruits kids with good backgrounds and academics, and you really have alot of competition for those kids. Bottom line is that SMU needs to find at least 2 power guys somehow. Fresno has 6 of them it seemed. Rice even has a couple including Michael Harris. Our team would improve drastically by adding one or two legit power players to the group we already have.

Isn't Michael Harris onlyh 6'6"? Granted, he's a TOUGH 6'6" but his size isn't awe-inspiring.

[Hoop Fan]

I thought he was 6'7 but thats beside the point. 6-6 can be tall enough if you are bulky enough and tough like you say. I bet Charles Barkley was only 6'5 but he was a definite power forward when he wanted to be.

[Charleston Pony]

Chris Reay might turn out to be a pretty good low post player before he's done. He's certainly a banger and won't be timid underneath.

[Hoop Fan]

Duh, my fault, I forgot about Reay. He was actually a top 125 national recruit by some source too I think. He has some size, it remains to be seen if he the toughness and attitude it takes down low.