Cooke is ours if we want him. That is my opinion on all trasfers that Fred contacts. Cooke just might not know it yet.
Hallice Cooke
- Thread starter CurvedAir
- Start date
Why a transfer? The success rate for transfers is going to be higher than for 18 year olds with mulligans to burn.
What constitutes as a major failure? I would not say our transfer from SIU, who was a rotation player on two NCAA teams, was a major failure. We had almost no players when we signed him- I am guessing he was around what the staff expecte. If going by ability to be a high-major player, I do not expect major failures in the future. The staff is very selective right now, going after guys already proven, or elite recruits.
Last edited:
Yeah you're right. Duh. Still, it isn't fair to a kid like him to assume he's not going to contribute because he didn't play a lot his freshman year. If he continues to develop, he will contribute here.
Bluford, was a JC, but a lower level JC that really did not have much of an offer list. That was a big reach/risk by Fred, and just did not pan out.
Also the number of transfers overall in college hoops kind of tells you that incoming freshmen are pretty much a crap shoot, unless they are top 25.
Well lets be realistic.....its bound to happen. Kids are kids. Still wont mean its not a great way to replenish and bolster a roster if we are not going to get 5 star talent.
Until something happens im not worried about it....even when it does.....the benefits are far outweighing the risks.
Major failure could happen, but it won't be a failure of not having the talent to fill the needed role. We are basically doing no speculation in our recruiting right now. The staff is wise to think a roster spot not contributing due to a redshirt (or vacant) is better than because your speculation was wrong.
Did anyone really think Bluford was going to fill the McGee role? Hoped maybe, but he was an unheralded late signee. He was picked up as insurance by Fred. When he committed we only had freshman and a sophomore (who sparingly played as a freshman) as our guards. I wouldn't really count that as a reach by the staff, though it's true he obviously didn't pan out.
He has speed. He has jumping ability. He is athletic. He just needs upper body strength. Expect him to gain some more weight and show more power.
Side comment on clones:
One thing that differentiates good teams from bad (ah hem finish of iowa vs Clones) is tenacity at end of the game. The refusal to quit. The sticktoitness to finish at the rim. The acceptance to live at the foul line. Willing to sell out around the rim.
We have had some tough broncos at times for various periods of time.
DG's last year. He kept working and kept getting better. Relentlessly drove the rim at behest of Fred.
Dendy. Pogo stick. Left too soon.
Godfrey. Tough although undersized. Too little did we have him.
RW. Always wanting to show what he could do. Never backed down.
Melvin. Wow, talk about not being denied around the rim this year. Must win mentality.
Kane. Looked like WWE when he drove the lane. Laying on the floor more than anyone else after a drive.
Hogue. Lots of effort and more to come this year.
Who might become our big nasties in the future?
BDJ?
Nader?
McKay?
Naz or SDW?
It has already happened, Maurice Jones PG USC. He never got his acedemics in order after getting to ISU. I think the staff's original plan was to have him start for Monte until he was ready to play PG in the Big 12. Of course this eventually led to Fred going after and landing Kane as the experience PG to fill that role.
IMO There is no reason to "expect" a transfer not to work out but, if it happens Fred has a plan and looking at the roster for the next couple of years he has options.
JuCo guys are not transfers. When you think transfer do you think Royce and DeAndre or McGee and Hogue? Bluford was not a transfer. I'd say overall we have been very successful with zero failures with the transfers we have brought in.
Of course I would still want Anderson and Cooke, or two other worthy transfers, yet is anyone else just a tiny bit concerned that leaves us only 10 scholarship players for the early season with McKay out til December? Only 9 until Nader is off suspension. Sure we've played before with only 6 or 7, but that leaves us only Niang, Hogue, and Edozie for front court players. Heaven forbid any other suspensions, injuries, or foul trouble. Obviously Monte, Matt, Naz, BDJ, Custer, and SDW keeps us dandy in the guard/small forward positions. Wouldn't we have to try to pull out some games with a 4-guard lineup? I know we should want Andersen for 2015, but guess I'm only thinking about next year and wishing we had some front court help for now. Fans will need to be patient and realistically optimistic until we get Nader and McKay playing. Sure hope they can improve Edozie's skill level some, as we know the rebounding and effort will be fine. Oh..for a contributing walk-on 'big'. Doubt any are just walking around out there.
And the ironic thing now is BDJ is here.....and was at USC at the same time as Maurice, before he transferred to UNLV.
It may cost a game or 2, depending on the schedule, but I'm not concerned. We will be in beast mode by the end of the year and the committee will know that we were minus some players if there are any losses.
Someone that makes money overseas playing professionally sucks at basketball? I'm guessing you've got NBA on your résumé then?
Last edited:
Kind of hard to get you academics in order when you aren't attending school. This kid was given bad advice and is being screwed by the NCAA. ISU let him start practicing with the team before he was cleared to attend school and the NCAA considered that a transfer which is BS.
Jones, 21, went to class for three days at Southern Cal in the fall of 2012 before finding out he was academically ineligible. He then transferred to Iowa State, but the NCAA ruled that he was not eligible there either.
"When I found out I didn't have a scholarship, I transferred from Southern Cal, but then I couldn't get a scholarship at Iowa State either," Jones said. "I didn't even go to school last year.
http://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/09/maurice_jones_ready_to_resume.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_BW-r6DSc
