menu
Logo
99+
Bobcat Attack Menu
Logo
99+
Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Jeff Boals Recrcuiting Analysis
Page: 1 of 2
mail
Cellis033
1/26/2023 10:07 PM
Have seen this debate throughout the board, so I looked through a ton of statistics and yearly rosters and put together this analysis of the last four years under Boals in terms of recruiting freshmen and transfers. Will be rating them Hit, Meh and Miss. Feel free to express your opinion as well, as I'd love to discuss them, especially with how our current class of transfers and freshman are doing.

2019-20

Ben Roderick: Hit, good chance to reach 1k career points if COVID year is used in 23-24.
Miles Brown: Hit

Michael Brown, JR.* : Miss, Quit team mid 21-22 Season, walk-on
Marvin Price: Miss, Transferred after 19-20 season.
Nolan Foster: Miss, Transferred after 20-21 season.
Sylvester Ogbonda (Transfer): Meh, 213 points & 6.7 PPG in final year of eligibility

2020-21

Dwight Wilson III (Transfer): Hit

Rifen Miguel (Transfer): Miss, Transferred after 20-21 season.
Mark Sears: Hit, Transferred after 21-22 season. Balling out at Bama. Likely NBA draft pick
Sam Towns: Meh, Transferred after 21-22 season.
Jalen White: Miss, Transferred after 20-21 season.
Colin Granger: Miss, Transferred after 21-22 season.

2021-22

AJ Clayton: Hit, Solid freshman season and proving to be immense help offensively off the bench
IJ Ezuma: Meh, injuries have limited him but from what I have seen brings the energy on D and solid in paint. Can see why Boals decided to redshirt him. Huge potential if he can fend off injuries.
Olumide Adelodun: Meh so far, but one of our best defensive players.

Tommy Schmock (Transfer): Hit, wish we had him for another year
Jason Carter (Transfer): Hit, solid production at center
Luke Frazier (Transfer): Miss, transferred at end of 21-22 season.

2022-23

Jaylin Hunter (Transfer): Hit, Solid starting PG.
Gabe Wiznitzer (Transfer): Meh, Project center. Has had relatively solid games throughout the year.
DeVon Baker (Transfer): Meh, Decent start but has fizzled out the past few games.
Ajay Sheldon: Meh, has shown some flashes he can be a talented PG
Aiden Hadaway: Meh, solid year so far even in limited minutes
AJ Brown: Hit, likely FOTY frontrunner
Elmore James IV: Hit, Solid bulldozer guard
Quinn Corna: Hit (Reasoning: has always contributed in garbage time and is reaching the point where we could give him additional looks for 23-24. Underrated depth piece)
Ben Estis: Redshirted. But, has looked very solid in practice.
Last Edited: 1/26/2023 11:51:13 PM by Cellis033
mail
GraffZ06
1/26/2023 11:46 PM
We've never had a hit bigger than the man, the myth, the legend - Quinn Corna.

That is all.
mail
Cellis033
1/26/2023 11:48 PM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
We've never had a hit bigger than the man, the myth, the legend - Quinn Corna.

That is all.
Gangsta
mail
person
FJC31
1/27/2023 8:57 AM
I appreciate the breakdown. Not counting walk-ons and going off your analysis, Boals has “hit” on 9/23 recruits or 40%. I’m unsure of how that compares on average. Jury is still out on the full class this year. Before doing the math, it seemed pretty daunting how many guys have left/not worked out. All but Towns and Sears haven’t been impactful elsewhere, so it doesn’t seem like we missed out — but we still missed nonetheless.

I didn’t count Carter since he originally was recruited by Saul. I think I credit his return more to familiarity, playing time, and his friendship with BVP and Preston (who went to bat for JC to Boals) than I do Boals himself.

On the surface, it would appear Boals and co. could tweak some recruiting strategies moving forward for continuity. Hopefully, players of AJB’s and EJ4’s caliber will become the norm.

Edit: adding Ogbanda. So, 10/23 or 43%.
Last Edited: 1/27/2023 9:19:32 AM by FJC31
mail
100%Cat
1/27/2023 9:11 AM
I'd take a Sylvester Ogbanda type any time. He wasn't a big scorer but he was a solid big that wasn't a liability on the court.
mail
person
FJC31
1/27/2023 9:16 AM
100%Cat wrote:expand_more
I'd take a Sylvester Ogbanda type any time. He wasn't a big scorer but he was a solid big that wasn't a liability on the court.
I agree with this. Would gladly take another Ogbanda via portal for next year.
mail
FearLeon
1/27/2023 9:28 AM
100%Cat wrote:expand_more
I'd take a Sylvester Ogbanda type any time. He wasn't a big scorer but he was a solid big that wasn't a liability on the court.
Totally agree. Heck…Ogbanda is like Shaq if you want to compare him to the Whiz. You never held your breath when Ogbanda was on the floor like you do with the Whiz.
Last Edited: 1/27/2023 9:29:05 AM by FearLeon
mail
GraffZ06
1/27/2023 10:07 AM
Oh look another thread with Fear bashing Wiz. Who could possibly imagine?
mail
person
Kevin Finnegan
1/27/2023 10:22 AM
Would we consider McDay a Boals recruit? He had agreed before Boals came on board, but then didn't he open back up? Either way, not sure if this would be a hit or a miss. I really liked watching McDay play. His situation remains such a mystery.
mail
person
Recovering Journalist
1/27/2023 11:17 AM
Obviously the recruiting world has changed monumentally since Boals started coaching here thanks to NIL and new transfer rules. It feels like - and the standings look like - schools like Kent State and Akron are benefitting right now. Those places for years have more heavily relied on JUCOs and other transfers whereas Ohio seems to historically prefer four-year guys. Boals has to keep adjusting to a world where a great four-year talent is almost certain to become a painful transfer.
mail
FearLeon
1/27/2023 1:07 PM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
Oh look another thread with Fear bashing Wiz. Who could possibly imagine?
The thread drifted into how good was Ogbanda and reminding people (especially those who never saw him play) that he was more than a serviceable big. And I think we all agree that if Ogbanda were coming off the bench to rest Wilson this season that we'd be in much better shape.
mail
Cellis033
1/27/2023 1:26 PM
Kevin Finnegan wrote:expand_more
Would we consider McDay a Boals recruit? He had agreed before Boals came on board, but then didn't he open back up? Either way, not sure if this would be a hit or a miss. I really liked watching McDay play. His situation remains such a mystery.
I believe he was initially a Saul recruit but Boals persuaded him to stay. I think he is between Meh and Hit for me. Very serviceable guard. I hope he is doing alright since he left.
mail
person
bobcatsquared
1/27/2023 1:50 PM
Obviously a subjective analysis. . . but I question AJ Clayton being an "immense help offensively off the bench." Like I posted earlier in the week about Miles and his consistency, I would like to see AJ be more consistent from game to game instead of providing 15 pts one game and then only 2 or 3 in another.

Or perhaps my definition of "immense" differs from the OP.
Last Edited: 1/27/2023 1:51:11 PM by bobcatsquared
mail
person
Jeff McKinney
1/27/2023 2:02 PM
Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
Obviously the recruiting world has changed monumentally since Boals started coaching here thanks to NIL and new transfer rules. It feels like - and the standings look like - schools like Kent State and Akron are benefitting right now. Those places for years have more heavily relied on JUCOs and other transfers whereas Ohio seems to historically prefer four-year guys. Boals has to keep adjusting to a world where a great four-year talent is almost certain to become a painful transfer.

This makes sense.
mail
person
Bobcat1998
1/27/2023 3:08 PM
Vest Ogbanda was a fantastic pickup in Boals' first year. I would have loved him to be here another year. I still believe, and we will never truly know, that we were going to win the MAC Tourney that March. We won handily at home that year to start the MAC Tourney and were really playing well before COVID smacked us all in the face. I thought BVP, Jay Preston, our frost like McDay and BRod -- were all playing really good basketball.
mail
person
GoCats105
1/27/2023 3:34 PM
Cellis033 wrote:expand_more
Would we consider McDay a Boals recruit? He had agreed before Boals came on board, but then didn't he open back up? Either way, not sure if this would be a hit or a miss. I really liked watching McDay play. His situation remains such a mystery.
I believe he was initially a Saul recruit but Boals persuaded him to stay. I think he is between Meh and Hit for me. Very serviceable guard. I hope he is doing alright since he left.
McDay was unequivocally, 100% a hit in the same way that Ryan Taylor and Mark Sears were. Great players that we just didn't see enough of in Bobcat uniforms. We don't beat Virginia without Lunden McDay, and frankly I don't think this team has been the same since he parted ways.
mail
person
FJC31
1/27/2023 3:57 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Obviously a subjective analysis. . . but I question AJ Clayton being an "immense help offensively off the bench." Like I posted earlier in the week about Miles and his consistency, I would like to see AJ be more consistent from game to game instead of providing 15 pts one game and then only 2 or 3 in another.

Or perhaps my definition of "immense" differs from the OP.
+1. He’s still shooting way too many 3’s in comparison to 2’s imo. If he can become more balanced offensively that’d be ideal. 14 3PA’s (only hit 3) to 5 2PA’s over the last 3 games.
Last Edited: 1/27/2023 3:58:02 PM by FJC31
mail
person
FJC31
1/27/2023 4:10 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Would we consider McDay a Boals recruit? He had agreed before Boals came on board, but then didn't he open back up? Either way, not sure if this would be a hit or a miss. I really liked watching McDay play. His situation remains such a mystery.
I believe he was initially a Saul recruit but Boals persuaded him to stay. I think he is between Meh and Hit for me. Very serviceable guard. I hope he is doing alright since he left.
McDay was unequivocally, 100% a hit in the same way that Ryan Taylor and Mark Sears were. Great players that we just didn't see enough of in Bobcat uniforms. We don't beat Virginia without Lunden McDay, and frankly I don't think this team has been the same since he parted ways.
McDay was great. Even with no Dwight last season; if we still have McDay, I think we take the MAC again.
mail
Cellis033
1/27/2023 5:37 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Obviously a subjective analysis. . . but I question AJ Clayton being an "immense help offensively off the bench." Like I posted earlier in the week about Miles and his consistency, I would like to see AJ be more consistent from game to game instead of providing 15 pts one game and then only 2 or 3 in another.

Or perhaps my definition of "immense" differs from the OP.
+1. He’s still shooting way too many 3’s in comparison to 2’s imo. If he can become more balanced offensively that’d be ideal. 14 3PA’s (only hit 3) to 5 2PA’s over the last 3 games.
Fair, just think when moved him to coming off the bench he has done better shooting. Very strong game against WMU
mail
greencat
1/27/2023 8:52 PM
see the "Florida Atlantic" thread re: the 7-1 guy from Russia.

I knew they should have planted palm trees around the Convo.
mail
OU_Country
2/1/2023 4:38 PM
Recruiting opinion based on the last few games I've watched:

Too many scholarships on guys getting a fair number of minutes that aren't really contributing much:

Baker
Wiznitzer
Adelodun
Roderick (at this point, sadly)

For some reason, it seems like the coaches are insistent on playing two bigs at a time as much as they can, which leaves Wiz getting a lot of minutes.

It's pretty darn obvious that the best players on this team are:

Dwight
Hunter
Brown & Brown
Clayton

Followed by:
James
Roderick

So far, Sheldon and Hadaway aren't really being given the chance to show much in my opinion.

Baker, as noted by one of our peers on here, is a reminder of the Whittington / Hester season.

And then there's the big guy that still stuns me: Wiznitzer. How on earth did so many high major power teams offer him? He's probably a proficient big in the MEAC, or Big South. But in any P5 conference, he's walk-on caliber at best.

In short, there's a talent shortage in my opinion. And/or a confidence problem for everyone involved: The coaches in certain players, and the players in themselves.
mail
A-townBound
2/1/2023 5:01 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Would we consider McDay a Boals recruit? He had agreed before Boals came on board, but then didn't he open back up? Either way, not sure if this would be a hit or a miss. I really liked watching McDay play. His situation remains such a mystery.
I believe he was initially a Saul recruit but Boals persuaded him to stay. I think he is between Meh and Hit for me. Very serviceable guard. I hope he is doing alright since he left.
McDay was unequivocally, 100% a hit in the same way that Ryan Taylor and Mark Sears were. Great players that we just didn't see enough of in Bobcat uniforms. We don't beat Virginia without Lunden McDay, and frankly I don't think this team has been the same since he parted ways.
+ 1 to both of the last two comments. We could really use someone like McDay!
mail
person
SBH
2/1/2023 5:47 PM
OU_Country wrote:expand_more
And then there's the big guy that still stuns me: Wiznitzer. How on earth did so many high major power teams offer him? He's probably a proficient big in the MEAC, or Big South. But in any P5 conference, he's walk-on caliber at best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erP8Ipe72IY
mail
person
bobcatsquared
2/1/2023 6:33 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
I think I saw a play in those high school highlights similar to last night's awkward left-handed bank shot that the EMU announcer liked so much: "That's an angle I haven't seen anyone take a shot in quite a while... on purpose."
mail
FearLeon
2/1/2023 7:05 PM
OU_Country wrote:expand_more
Recruiting opinion based on the last few games I've watched:


And then there's the big guy that still stuns me: Wiznitzer. How on earth did so many high major power teams offer him? He's probably a proficient big in the MEAC, or Big South. But in any P5 conference, he's walk-on caliber at best.
+1

Preach
Showing Messages: 1 - 25 of 44
reply
vertical_align_top
vertical_align_center
vertical_align_bottom
add_comment
chevron_forward
MAC News Links



extra small (< 576px)
small (>= 576px)
medium (>= 768px)
large (>= 992px)
x-large (>= 1200px)
xx-large (>= 1400px)