OSU Men's Basketball Recruiting/Projections/General Discussions

[GrizzlyBuck]

I read an article that said BJ Mullens is one and done, due to family issues. What will be done with his scholarship if he goes pro after this year? Also, if bufford and turner go pro, where do they find the players to fill these scholarships? Isn't the 09 recruiting pool weak, so no one to offer? Do they go the juco players again?

I'm far from an expert as far as recruiting goes, but if tOSU loses only Mullens this year, they would probably stand pat (they have a 7' transfer from UAB with some potential to help Dallas out in the post) if either Buford or Turner, or heaven forbid both forgoe their remaining eligibility, I'm not sure what tOSU would do. It is not a very strong 09 class at least in terms of elite type players in the midwest. Matta might try to get involved late with unsigned players or maybe pickup an impact JUCO, or he could just stand pat and bank the schollies for the '10 class that is strong.

Just thinking out loud, tOSU'd have big Z (7' transfer) and Dallas with size, Kecman and Lighty for the 3-4 position, they'd have Offut, Crater, Simmons and Hill to man the guard spots with Diebs playing 2-3. While not exactly a National title contender, not chopped liver either as Dallas and Diebs will be Juniors and much improved, Lighty a grizzled veteran, Kecman and Simmons 2nd year seniors, Offut and Crater somewhat experienced Sophs and big Z with some good size and potential. Matta and the Bucks are finally about to the point where early defections will not so adversely affect them. There are more upperclassmen with some experience to fall back on than there were when Oden, Conley and Cook left early. If you think about it had Ivan or Ron Lewis been back last year with Butler and 'Thello and Twigs, the Bucks would have been a Tourney team, but to lose both of them and the three frosh coupled with the late melding of last years team was too much to overcome.

 

[BengalsAndBucks]

I read an article that said BJ Mullens is one and done, due to family issues. What will be done with his scholarship if he goes pro after this year? Also, if bufford and turner go pro, where do they find the players to fill these scholarships? Isn't the 09 recruiting pool weak, so no one to offer? Do they go the juco players again?

The Class of 2010.

 

[buckeydoptimist]

Kecman and Simmons 2nd year seniors

Actually, Kecman will be a 2nd year JR. He only played JUCO for one year and thus has this and 2 more years of eligibility.

It doesn't seem that the staff has any '09 back burner recruits really. So they do appear to be standing pat even if they have 2-3 guys go pro this early. Losing BJM will hurt but they feel Dallas and Z will be able to play it. I am afraid ET is gone too. I think we could still be good with Buford more-or less taking his role next year as a Soph. If we lose both we would be in some hurt tho.

It would be too late to get anyone better than we already have on the bench, IMO. So my guess is they save up any ships that open up for that '10 class that looks to be 6-7 strong the way it is shaping up ( 5 commits, Payne and they are looking at several others still ).

:osu:

 

[LitlBuck]

I read an article that said BJ Mullens is one and done, due to family issues. What will be done with his scholarship if he goes pro after this year? Also, if bufford and turner go pro, where do they find the players to fill these scholarships? Isn't the 09 recruiting pool weak, so no one to offer? Do they go the juco players again?

There is a thread named "Projected Scholarship Breakdown" Here

As you can see, we only have 4 seniors leaving at the end of the 2009-10 season and we already have 5 scholarships committed for the 2010 season. So, we actually do need one guy to leave early but it will probably be 2-3 (include Turner and Buford). I have not read any place where we are looking for somebody to come in for 2009 well you never know there can always be a surprise.

I think this was the appropriate place to post this message because you would not only talking about BJ leaving but also other guys which leads to general recruiting discussion.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Well, I guess we don't have to worry about finding that extra scholarship for the 2010 class.

 

[LitlBuck]

Well, I wonder if this will bring Howard back into the picture plus there was some talk about some mystery guard out of the Chicago area. The numbers would even be more interesting if Lighty does not heal fast enough and takes a redshirt. I think he will be back but one never knows so that my bring the number back down.

 

[DaytonBuck]

Don't we almost have to sign a transfer or try to make a late move on a guy like John Wall in the spring to balance the classes?

Hypothetically if Mullens, Buford and Turner leave after next season we'd be left going into the next season with Kecman, Diebler, Lauderdale, Zizis, Offutt as are only returning veterans assuming nothing happens to them?

 

[LitlBuck]

Don't we almost have to sign a transfer or try to make a late move on a guy like John Wall in the spring to balance the classes?

Hypothetically if Mullens, Buford and Turner leave after next season we'd be left going into the next season with Kecman, Diebler, Lauderdale, Zizis, Offutt as are only returning veterans assuming nothing happens to them?

In an ideal world, getting a transfer in here would be good because we are going to have so many young guys in 2010. I think our chances with Wall are slim and none and I think you know about slim:(. I think Matta will always have problems with unbalance classes if he keeps on recruiting players who are going to leave early. I guess it's pay now or pay later and he has to make that decision.

 

[DaytonBuck]

In an ideal world, getting a transfer in here would be good because we are going to have so many young guys in 2010. I think our chances with Wall are slim and none and I think you know about slim:(. I think Matta will always have problems with unbalance classes if he keeps on recruiting players who are going to leave early. I guess it's pay now or pay later and he has to make that decision.

With the front court talent we've got coming in that year it would nice to have a veteran PG

 

[LitlBuck]

With ET and Buford looking more likely to go pro with each game, would TM get involved with this kid now? I know we have 3+ wings coming in the 2010 class ( Sibert, Wright, L. Smith and some of Thomas ) but the 09-10 season may have us a bit thin there if ET and WB leave.

This post was about Sherrod Wright. Personally, I'd like to keep this type of discussion in this thread because then the recruit's thread doesn't get all messed up.

I would think that if Matta is going to bring anyone in for next year it would be a junior college player but I have no inside information whatsoever. That is just my opinion. I also am not sure if Buford and Turner are both going to leave early. I think both of them would benefit greatly it they stayed another year but I am also very bias when it comes to guys leaving early.

Another scenario that might have to be looked at is whether Lighty red shirts this year or not because that would certainly throw the numbers off for 2010.

I also think that if Thad brings in any more recruits for 2009 or 2010 one of them will be a PG because we are, or will be, in desperate need for one in 2010 and I don't like to start freshman PGs.

 

[itownbuckeye]

This post was about Sherrod Wright. Personally, I'd like to keep this type of discussion in this thread because then the recruit's thread doesn't get all messed up.

I would think that if Matta is going to bring anyone in for next year it would be a junior college player but I have no inside information whatsoever. That is just my opinion. I also am not sure if Buford and Turner are both going to leave early. I think both of them would benefit greatly it they stayed another year but I am also very bias when it comes to guys leaving early.

Another scenario that might have to be looked at is whether Lighty red shirts this year or not because that would certainly throw the numbers off for 2010.

I also think that if Thad brings in any more recruits for 2009 or 2010 one of them will be a PG because we are, or will be, in desperate need for one in 2010 and I don't like to start freshman PGs.

With the 3 underclassmen likely leaving early and Crater's transfer there will be 4 unused scholarships if no one is added in the '09 class. I don't like the idea of going into a season with only 9 scholarship players. Look at what happened this year with injuries, if you're starting with 9 and you lose two you're left with a 7 man roster.

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

With the 3 underclassmen likely leaving early and Crater's transfer there will be 4 unused scholarships if no one is added in the '09 class. I don't like the idea of going into a season with only 9 scholarship players. Look at what happened this year with injuries, if you're starting with 9 and you lose two you're left with a 7 man roster.

While obviously not a leap to think that tOSU may lose 3 to the draft this year, they could just as easily lose none (unfortunately extreme wishful thinking here) The Bucks did not get in on very many '09 kids this year, and most if not all have committed elsewhere. Another factor regarding '09 recruiting is that there were few if any tOSU level recruits in Ohio or nearby states who had a natural pull to tOSU. Add these factors into not knowing how many ships they'll have and the expected huge haul in '10, which would be affected even if we only offered 2 year eligible JUCOs, sorry to say, but I don't think the Staff has much choice but to somewhat stand pat and hope either not all three guys go pro, or the remaining guys develop and stay healthy.

Big Z
Dallas
Madsen
Kecman
Lighty
Diebler
Offutt
Simmons
Hill

Actually looks like all 9 could see minutes, pretty good breakdown between bigs, guards and swingmen, but obviously you are right, it would not be the easiest thing to even practice. Lighty's injury not only hurt this years squad, but by placing the burden clearly on Turner and Buford and allowing them to show their stuff, it may hurt next years squad even more if this causes/allows them to leave after this year.

Either way, I will root on the '09-10 Bucks with my normal vigor.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

At this point I don't think Turner and Buford are going to go...Obviously this is a fluid situation and we will know more as the season winds down, but right now I see Mullens as the one that leaves for sure...

 

[MaxBuck]

At this point I don't think Turner and Buford are going to go...Obviously this is a fluid situation and we will know more as the season winds down, but right now I see Mullens as the one that leaves for sure...

I hope you're right. If Mullens, Turner and Buford all go pro (and frankly, I think they'd be well advised to do so), next year could be ugly.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Turner would obviously go higher than Buford...He has a solid year on Buford, he has 3 inches on him...Buford has the better shot and midrange jumper, but Buford doesn't do a whole lot off the bounce in terms of getting to the rim and creating for guys...

And 6'4'' SG's are a dime a dozen in the NBA...

He has the talent and athletic ability to play at the next level, but this is one situation where I am not sure he is quite ready or the NBA will feel that his potential is high enough...A guy like Wayne Ellington who most would obviously rank ahead of him is a late first rounder...