I hope he stays but if not, Saul should consider a top D-2 guard... such as the one who broke Oscar Robertson's record for high game in a triple double. The kid would be immediately eligible.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5mwDQsU8AI247x.jpg

Jaaron is not a free agent technically because he declared for the NBA, that said it does allow for opportunities for people to begin getting in his ear a lot more than usual.

That said, Michigan is not in that bad of shape and to be honest would be a great fit in Ann Arbor for their system. I hate to say it but that situation in Ann Arbor is actually pretty good with their current freshman class and incoming class. If they can get either Wilson or Wagner to return, that team will be a tough out in the Big Ten tbh.

Jaaron is free to talk to teams because he has asked for and received his release from Ohio. Doesn't mean he can't come back to Ohio.

Why would he be immediately eligible? Players transferring up have to sit out a year unless there are other circumstances, such as a grad transfer.

I was to dumb to notice at the time, but at the Columbus coaches caravan stop, Saul never mentioned Simmons. A year ago, he spent half his time talking about him...

This is all you need to know. For all intents and purposes, Jaaron is gone. He "can" come back to the team if he chooses - but he's not a member of the team currently (regardless of NBA draft - which he's not going to enter), which is why he's free to talk to whatever other schools he wants.

I'll say it again - the outlook for this team next year certainly isn't roses IMO.

PG: Gollon? / Kirk? (eeks)
SG: Dartis / Butler
SF: Block / Laster
PF: Carter / Vander Plas / Gareri (Dozier)
C : Taylor / Mickle

It's year 4 of #SaulBall - and with 5, maybe 6 new guys coming in this year - the roster is officially 100% his making. Time to put the cards on the table.

I see a team that barely went .500 last year without Tone - and who lost a whole bunch more on top of that (Simmons/KK). Let's hope the newcomers in this incoming class are LEGIT otherwise we're in for a major rebuilding year and step back.

This thread isn't as much fun as the Malik Zaire threads.

It may be naive, but until he announces anything I am going to assume he is returning which makes us the prohibitive favorites in the conference without a doubt.

My issue with this is you can't really lump DT and Mickle into being "centers." This team doesn't have a center. They have a bunch of guards and forwards. And that's fine. The idea of a true center at a mid-major just doesn't happen anymore. Tony was the last one we'll probably see who was close for a while, and even he was more of a forward. When's the last "center" Ohio has had? Even Leon Williams was more of a power forward.

1s - Simmons and Kirk
1/2 combos - Dartis, Butler and Gollon
2/3 combos - Laster, Block
3/4 combos - Vander Plas, Dozier
4s - Carter, Taylor, Mickle, Gareri

We need to get away from this idea that this is a roster that has set positions of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 down the line. They're recruiting guys who can do a lot of different things so when one guy goes down, the next guy slides right in.

All I did was confirming what someone else saw on Twitter, nothing more or nothing less.

That said, to spite your rear end, to get rid of this "anaonymous message board poster" theme of yours, my name is Matt Dewire. If that name sounds familiar, I worked in the athletic dept. for three years and in fact served as your ticketing representative during my time. Also during this time, I did my graduate work in the Sports Ad program where classmates of mine also worked for some of the basketball programs prior to coming to Athens (including directly working for John Groce and John Beilein).

As some of you know, I did my undergrad at Ohio State in a wide array of jobs in the athletic department and in a degree in which friends go to work in the athletic department after graduating. With that, some of these directly work in the basketball program, others in the athletic department where I can go get information in a hurry. When I have these contacts asking me what do I think of Jaaron, and tell me after that the coaching staff wants him, you tend to think that MAYBE they will go after him. So take it with a grain of salt, I am telling you what I've been told.

As to Ann Arbor, not only do I have my close friends, but again I worked up that way and befriended other athletic dept. employees along with my classmate who worked for Beilein and telling me the same stuff that sounded pretty familiar to what was coming out of Columbus.

I get it, we all think Athens is Nirvana (trust me, I have more love for Athens as I do Columbus, especially because they gave my crazy ideas a shot versus the ATM machine in Columbus). That said, Jaaron would be a fool not to consider going to one of those schools because scouts and media are dumber than rocks that they can't get on Route 33 to find a kid. The second I saw Jaaron light up Bean Willis and Stevie in practice when he sat out his transfer year was all I needed to know about how good the kid was. So if he does leave, and I hope to god he doesn't, he is going to light up the Big Ten and be in the running for Player of the Year in those conferences and most likely have a better chance of getting drafted. In addition, a full ride to potentially start on a graduate degree

But I have enough contacts across the industry to have a pulse on what's going on and keep in contact with them as much as I can. Yes, my work consists of this because I have to be able to put my money in places where the odds of success increase so call it insider trading or what you will, but my contacts make sure I'm kept in the loop. So if you want to attack me fine, but I do not like to be smeared because you think I'm an anonymous poster. Only reason I went with this name is cause it's better than CrooksvillebyAmesville, for which anyone knowing that back story of how I got lost for 3 hours by taking the wrong road out of Athens on the north end would know full well that's always a possibility of happening.

PS-If you think I'm full of it, check out Delaware's basketball schedule next year when it comes out, as they will be receiving a visit from a former coach and that is all I am able to say on that.

As the kids would say, REAL TALK, lol. If I were Jaaron, I would stay if I believe I can win the MAC and go to the dance. If not, I would not wait for Michigan, I would go to Louisville, Pitino has way more pro contacts and he could easily beat out Quinn Snyder, like Tre Lewis did two years ago. I believe he should get some analysis from the NBA scouts and work them out here, he won't have to look over his shoulder. I would hate to see him become Ronnie Lewis or Ron Lewis.

I believe in "if you are good, you will be found", especially in the current era where on demand video and game film of players is frequently available.

I hope he stays. I think the team will be good regardless, but with him, this group is undeniably better.