West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
according to verbal commits, Enzo Khalil has committed to wlu.
6-2 190 lb 1st team all WPIAL 6A from Pittsburgh central catholic. 1000 pt scorer. Senior.

[boatcapt]

So you're looking for:

Evan French
Luke Dyer
Malik McKinney
Keene Cockburn

Those are certainly "gettable" types in the portal. But you have no room to miss. Good luck hitting on every one.

Oh, and it should be noted that each of the players mentioned above grew into the role you've assigned over the course 2-3 years in the system. That no longer exists in Portal Mania, so now you have to find polished "Senior Year" versions of those guys on Day 1. Your level of difficulty just went up by about 200%.

Those would be my priority types. Not saying we'd get all of them or that the guys we do get can't fill multiple of those rolls.

Yep...the days of player development are effectively over (hurray portal...hurray NIL...). You've got to expect players to be ready on day one because they probably aren't going to be around for day one of their second year. If you are a top tier program...coaches from other schools are going to be sniffing your players jocks probably before they show up in the fall and EVERY day from then.

[Scrub]

My priorities:

Spot-up jump shooter who knows his roll and can get to the "right" spot on every play
True PG who looks to distribute first (but with enough shooting ability to keep defenses honest)
Gritty defender who plays at 110% every second and dives for everything
A sharp elbowed inside the paint player who can run and distribute while sweeping the boards

So you're looking for:

Evan French
Luke Dyer
Malik McKinney
Keene Cockburn

Those are certainly "gettable" types in the portal. But you have no room to miss. Good luck hitting on every one.

Oh, and it should be noted that each of the players mentioned above grew into the role you've assigned over the course 2-3 years in the system. That no longer exists in Portal Mania, so now you have to find polished "Senior Year" versions of those guys on Day 1. Your level of difficulty just went up by about 200%.

[boatcapt]

So as it stands right now, WLU will have nine returning players (Coan, Butler (L and M), Muldowney, Pankey, Lattos, Williams, Montgomery and Davis) plus two incoming freshmen (Maddox Bennett and Owen Hill...That's assuming no one poaches either). Mike had 16 on last years roster so that leaves five holes to fill via late signing HS'ers, JUCO's or transfers.

Any rumors on who the five players who will be wearing the Black and Gold will be? Only four (five?) months until school starts in the fall! My priorities:

Spot-up jump shooter who knows his roll and can get to the "right" spot on every play
True PG who looks to distribute first (but with enough shooting ability to keep defenses honest)
Gritty defender who plays at 110% every second and dives for everything
A sharp elbowed inside the paint player who can run and distribute while sweeping the boards

[boatcapt]

Of the seven member "Coker Contingent" that transfered to WLU to be with Mike, only three are returning for a second season on the Hilltop.

[boatcapt]

Basically the entire Horizon League is in the Portal. It's just another rung up the ladder (stepping stone league) like the rest of us.

But, yeah, Ben got gutted.

Gutted to say the least. Seven players in the portal...losing his top five scorers...seven of his top eight three-point shooters...etc...etc...etc. So much for the "You've got to let players transfer when a coach leaves because the players had a relationship with him" crowd.

[Columbuseer]

Former Hilltoppers in portal from indy
D’Augustino ( leading scorer) - probably poached by $
Dragas ( torn meniscus 6 month rehab)
Aiden Miller (commit from point park)

————-
in addition maguire Mitchell, promising freshman is in the portal.

also Max Hurray is going to d3 Roanoke college.

D’Augustino going to Ohio univ

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
Montgomery 2nd team Atlantic region as a true freshman.
https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...an-season.aspx

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The hardest time to do a thing is the first time...after that it becomes easy. These players quit in WLU...Not surprised they have now quit on Howlett and IU Indy.

Basically the entire Horizon League is in the Portal. It's just another rung up the ladder (stepping stone league) like the rest of us.

But, yeah, Ben got gutted.

[boatcapt]

The hardest time to do a thing is the first time...after that it becomes easy. These players quit in WLU...Not surprised they have now quit on Howlett and IU Indy.

[Columbuseer]

Former Hilltoppers in portal from indy
D’Augustino ( leading scorer) - probably poached by $
Dragas ( torn meniscus 6 month rehab)
Aiden Miller (commit from point park)

————-
in addition maguire Mitchell, promising freshman is in the portal.

also Max Hurray is going to d3 Roanoke college.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
owen hill article wlu signee
https://www.morningjournalnews.com/s...r-locals-hill/

[boatcapt]

Jim's probably a bit raw. It's really hard to get up 100 shots a day when you spend all your time on a raft.

True...but at least he has tremendous upper body strength!

[Scrub]

Hahah...I'm sure there is an advanced stats that says he can!!! He's only 5'9", 145 lbs but in The System, size doesn't matter. I hear he has a High Basketball IQ, can Make His Own Shot and is Very Athletic.

I'm a little more interested in his partner Jim Watson from St Petersburg Missouri. Probably too thin to start next season but he is tall and we'll benefit from a season in the weigh room. He plays outside which is exactly what we want from a big. Has a great Euro Step and although he didn't shoot much in highschool, the 10 second video I saw proved he has a quick release with great ball rotation. He should easily eclipse .450 from 3. He also showed a tremendous motor in that clip.

Jim's probably a bit raw. It's really hard to get up 100 shots a day when you spend all your time on a raft.

[boatcapt]

But can Mark Twain shoot the trey?

Hahah...I'm sure there is an advanced stats that says he can!!! He's only 5'9", 145 lbs but in The System, size doesn't matter. I hear he has a High Basketball IQ, can Make His Own Shot and is Very Athletic.

I'm a little more interested in his partner Jim Watson from St Petersburg Missouri. Probably too thin to start next season but he is tall and we'll benefit from a season in the weigh room. He plays outside which is exactly what we want from a big. Has a great Euro Step and although he didn't shoot much in highschool, the 10 second video I saw proved he has a quick release with great ball rotation. He should easily eclipse .450 from 3. He also showed a tremendous motor in that clip.