New Julius Francis Video

[PonyDoh]

This is highlight package from his Francis' first game of the season, courtesy of Seth Hoffman @ Turtlesportsreport.com. I'll see him at the holiday tourney in Charleston, SC.


http://vimeo.com/2445682

[papawasamustang]

Thanks for the video clip.

First, he has a larger frame & is bigger than Fall so that's good.
Looks like in 2-3 years he could be much broader.

I would like to see some video on the D end.

He is a project & big men develop much slower, but I'd have to say I like him better than Spencer & TK.

[Stallion]

he is supposed to be pretty solid on defense.

[Charleston Pony]

This is highlight package from his Francis' first game of the season, courtesy of Seth Hoffman @ Turtlesportsreport.com. I'll see him at the holiday tourney in Charleston, SC.


http://vimeo.com/2445682

Think I will have to check him out in that tourney as well

[tmustangp]

apologize for being a little negative and without seeing him play an entire game, my opinion could be off.. but...

Great, another big recruit who seems to be scared to attack the basket even though he is 6-10 plus.. If I was 6-10 in high school and athletic enough to be a D1 recruit, I would be attacking the basket and trying to dunk everytime I was close enough..

[PonyDoh]

This is highlight package from his Francis' first game of the season, courtesy of Seth Hoffman @ Turtlesportsreport.com. I'll see him at the holiday tourney in Charleston, SC.


http://vimeo.com/2445682

Think I will have to check him out in that tourney as well[/quote

Its the Piggly Wiggly Roundball event Dec 26th-30th. Its at West Ashley High School, I believe

[Charleston Pony]

This is highlight package from his Francis' first game of the season, courtesy of Seth Hoffman @ Turtlesportsreport.com. I'll see him at the holiday tourney in Charleston, SC.


http://vimeo.com/2445682

Think I will have to check him out in that tourney as well[/quote

Its the Piggly Wiggly Roundball event Dec 26th-30th. Its at West Ashley High School, I believe

They usually play the Roundball Classic at McAllister Fieldhouse on the Citadel campus...but that may have changed because I haven't attended the last couple seasons. I think Pinewood Prep is one of the local teams playing. They've got two studs - Jennings/Clemson bound and Manigault/Wichita State

[Charleston Pony]

yes, they are playing at the new High School in West Ashley


http://roundballclassic.athleticsite.com/

[ALEX LIFESON]

I like that he would go to the hole, and not wait (like Bamba) for the double team to come. He has a bigger frame than Bamba too.

[papawasamustang]

apologize for being a little negative and without seeing him play an entire game, my opinion could be off.. but...

Great, another big recruit who seems to be scared to attack the basket even though he is 6-10 plus.. If I was 6-10 in high school and athletic enough to be a D1 recruit, I would be attacking the basket and trying to dunk everytime I was close enough..

I would love to see him drive to the rim & throw it down also.
But lets be real. If he was doing that he wouldn't be coming to SMU.
I can actually see some upside with this kid & hopefully he can develop into a inside force that can do those kind of things. Looks like he has the frame to add more weight. He runs the court well & had a pretty nice turnaround j on the one highlight. Hopefully he will get in the gym everyday & really work on his footwork, post moves & jump roping.

[StangBry]

the most important thing is he looks tough. Much tougher than Bamba is at least. Everyone was hoping Bamba would eventually develop that toughness but it just hasn't come. Anytime you can get a 6'11 African player (good athlete, solid D, developing O - generalization yes) you take him. One things for sure, every recruit Doherty pulls in, he will come into college already with that toughness that you need at the D1 level. And if not they will be weeded out eventually whether it be transfer or bench (spencer, rhodes, tk).

[papawasamustang]

the most important thing is he looks tough. Much tougher than Bamba is at least. Everyone was hoping Bamba would eventually develop that toughness but it just hasn't come. Anytime you can get a 6'11 African player (good athlete, solid D, developing O - generalization yes) you take him. One things for sure, every recruit Doherty pulls in, he will come into college already with that toughness that you need at the D1 level. And if not they will be weeded out eventually whether it be transfer or bench (spencer, rhodes, tk).

I guess the real story with this will not just be the development of the player but if & when he develops will Robo still be the coach. The honeymoon is over & I have to say I'm disappointed with the recruiting & development of the big man recruits (Dia, Spencer & TK) .
This is a reach that I don't think Robo can afford. I think he made some major mistakes in the recruiting class that are now sophmores & with this signing. This kid may turn out to be great 3 or 4 years from now but because of several misses & the lack of development from others I don't see Robo here to enjoy the upside this kid may have.

Look @ what Christian is doing over in Ft. Worth & it shows that the right hire doesn't need to have 4 or 5 years to rebuild a program.
Robo's in his third year now & from what I've seen we need a couple of more years (unless Faye can dominate).

[PonyPatrol]

It's not all bad, Julius looks stronger and smoother than Bamba did his freshman year. His upside seems to be much higher, however I understand those who were looking for an immediate impact player. Doh's problems haven't necessarily been recruiting, but his coaching both in-game and in-practice. This has always been the case -- just look at how the players run the "offense".

I'm fine with taking Julius, but we desperately need a juco big to contribute next season.

[PoconoPony]

I do not think anyone should draw too many conclusions from a very abbreviated video clip of a few offensive plays from the first game of the season. My only observation is that he appeared to run/move well and has the body frame to add muscle. Guys this big are hard to come by and tend to physically develop later than smaller athletes. We will have a better read when the guys in SC have a chance to see Big J play in person.

[StangBry]

[quote="papawasamustang"][quote="StangBry"]the most important thing is he looks tough. Much tougher than Bamba is at least. Everyone was hoping Bamba would eventually develop that toughness but it just hasn't come. Anytime you can get a 6'11 African player (good athlete, solid D, developing O - generalization yes) you take him. One things for sure, every recruit Doherty pulls in, he will come into college already with that toughness that you need at the D1 level. And if not they will be weeded out eventually whether it be transfer or bench (spencer, rhodes, tk).[/quote]

I guess the real story with this will not just be the development of the player but if & when he develops will Robo still be the coach. The honeymoon is over & I have to say I'm disappointed with the recruiting & development of the big man recruits (Dia, Spencer & TK) .
This is a reach that I don't think Robo can afford. I think he made some major mistakes in the recruiting class that are now sophmores & with this signing. This kid may turn out to be great 3 or 4 years from now but because of several misses & the lack of development from others I don't see Robo here to enjoy the upside this kid may have.

Look @ what Christenson is doing over in Ft. Worth & it shows that the right hire doesn't need to have 4 or 5 years to rebuild a program.
Robo's in his third year now & from what I've seen we need a couple of more years (unless Faye can dominate).[/quote]

i totally agree with you on the fact that doherty cant develop his players. its almost like you can see their potential but somehow doh finds a way to restrict it. i don't think he has made mistakes on very many of his recruits (i think everyone he has brought in has/had promise). he is the best guy in the world to be your head coach up until game time. he shmoozes the alumni, he recruits with the big boys, he does all the right things from a PR standpoint (head shaving, radio/tv shows, blogs, reaching out to fans) but when he gets in the gym and its practice or game time its all about matt doherty and his ego which leads to overcoaching which leads to players becoming less and less and enthusiastic about winning for their head coach. players have to want to win for their coach. case in point the other night in fort worth, i think it was general patton talking about how the frogs were out there playing/winning for coach christensen, and that is just not happening right now with smu players and coach doherty. git em outta hurr