West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I see Hill landing somewhere in the Atlantic next season. That was a horrible decision.

As for Chucky, I would have loved to see him here all four years. Once Joe started playing him last year all that natural athletic ability shined. He's going to have a big year next season.

Had Humphrey's not listened to his handlers, AAU "coaches" and Twitter Recruiting Service "experts", he would be entering his Sr year at West Liberty and possibly be one of the leading players in the nation...but he didn't and is now hoping for one big year on his third team!!

Someone will pick Hills up. Even though he is not really a D1 caliber player, he has proven in his one year at WLU that he is a very good DII player and will get someone at that level to throw him a lifeline.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Eric Williams just left Duquesne and is now signed with Oregon. I think it was Bucknell who just lost their best big to Kentucky.

That's the part of this we aren't talking about much. The 'big' schools now poach off the 'little' schools in D1 -- basically a developmental level in many ways.

So, a Sincere Carry type can look at Duquesne as his path to the P5. Stay there a year or two and bail.

The mid-majors have become the bus leagues in many ways. It's a mess.

I almost wonder if someday we see a football approach ... D1 and 1-AA

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It does, but the handlers contribute. It also includes self titled "Scouting Services" that hit the kid the second he mentions that he is committing to name DII's and tells them that they are "can't miss" D1 players...You couple what the handlers are whispering in their ear, what these unsolicited recruiting "experts" are reinforcing and the belief in every player that he just needs a shot to PROVE that all his hard work has really made him one of the best players in the nation and BAM...You get a player decommitting from one of the best programs in the nation to go JUCO to Polk State (Humphreys), or to accept a low tier D1 offer (Carry), or have to accept a lifeline offer from a DII (Dennis), or are sitting out in limbo after no D1 came calling (Hills). And these Twitter recruiting pirates are on to the next fish whispering in his ear that he REALLY is a D1 talent!!

I see Hill landing somewhere in the Atlantic next season. That was a horrible decision.

As for Chucky, I would have loved to see him here all four years. Once Joe started playing him last year all that natural athletic ability shined. He's going to have a big year next season.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It doesn't matter. Look at Sincere. It goes well beyond handlers. D1 schools will recruit kids even if they are already signed D2. In particular, D1 schools that have new HC's getting an April start after accepting a new job. They have to whip a class together quickly. The now 6'8" SG will draw attention in itself.

High school recruits far too often view our offers as their fallback. Even a trash offer to a dumpster fire like UMES still gets 'D1' on their Twitter feed. That's what it's all about after all. Never know. You may see him again in a year.

It does, but the handlers contribute. It also includes self titled "Scouting Services" that hit the kid the second he mentions that he is committing to name DII's and tells them that they are "can't miss" D1 players...You couple what the handlers are whispering in their ear, what these unsolicited recruiting "experts" are reinforcing and the belief in every player that he just needs a shot to PROVE that all his hard work has really made him one of the best players in the nation and BAM...You get a player decommitting from one of the best programs in the nation to go JUCO to Polk State (Humphreys), or to accept a low tier D1 offer (Carry), or have to accept a lifeline offer from a DII (Dennis), or are sitting out in limbo after no D1 came calling (Hills). And these Twitter recruiting pirates are on to the next fish whispering in his ear that he REALLY is a D1 talent!!

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Although I have no evidence, I have a nagging feeling that I contributed to raising the visibility of the decision by posting internet info about the player on this site, which is one of the many one-stop shops for info on recruits.

No more comments from me on any player until the LOI is signed and announced by WLU.

I don't think so, I use a Twitter app (tweetdeck) that tracks all posts from, about and related to an individual user OR containing specific key words. There were D1 strap hangers saying that he should go D1 from the moment he announced he had committed (his word) to WLU four days ago. Funny that these "you should go D1" posters were conspicuously absent before Collins announced he was going to WLU. One of these schmoes is Antar Fisher (@PrimoBigTime...I did NOT make that up!!). He "runs" something called Clutch Recruiting Service who, as near as I can tell, consists of Primo and some guy called "Big Fish" telling HS players they are can't miss D1 players and reposting recruiting highlight videos.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Although I have no evidence, I have a nagging feeling that I contributed to raising the visibility of the decision by posting internet info about the player on this site, which is one of the many one-stop shops for info on recruits.

No more comments from me on any player until the LOI is signed and announced by WLU.

It doesn't matter. Look at Sincere. It goes well beyond handlers. D1 schools will recruit kids even if they are already signed D2. In particular, D1 schools that have new HC's getting an April start after accepting a new job. They have to whip a class together quickly. The now 6'8" SG will draw attention in itself.

High school recruits far too often view our offers as their fallback. Even a trash offer to a dumpster fire like UMES still gets 'D1' on their Twitter feed. That's what it's all about after all. Never know. You may see him again in a year.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

We have certainly lost some good talent from dreams of going D1 lately. Carry, Hill, and now maybe this kid. Brutal

Although I have no evidence, I have a nagging feeling that I contributed to raising the visibility of the decision by posting internet info about the player on this site, which is one of the many one-stop shops for info on recruits.

No more comments from me on any player until the LOI is signed and announced by WLU.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

We have certainly lost some good talent from dreams of going D1 lately. Humphries, Carry, Hill, and now maybe this kid. Brutal

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Oh well, nice having him for a day or so!

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Wonder if the guy who says he's D1 is some AAU weasel looking to enhance his all star gig resume. WLU would actually let him play outside and take 3's and would prepare him for Europe.
Does not have the body for the NBA. Hope my concern posted earlier is not coming true...

You might be right, part of his bio says clutch recruiting services with big fish scouting

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Wonder if the guy who says he's D1 is some AAU weasel looking to enhance his all star gig resume. WLU would actually let him play outside and take 3's and would prepare him for Europe.
Does not have the body for the NBA. Hope my concern posted earlier is not coming true...
Funny thing is that elite D2 teams (like WLU, NWMissouri, Bellarmine, Queen's, IUP, etc.) would beat most low to mid major D1 teams. Some elite D2 teams can't get low-mid majors to play them in exhibition. Just look at some of the games that D2 teams have won against high majors.There is thread on it in the basketball general discussion forum of this site. Impressive, given the height that D2 generally concedes to D1 high majors.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Uh oh. Retweets are gone from his twitter...

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Collin's "retweeted" a post that said he had signed with WLU so I'd say that is as good as the school posting it!

Some quick hits on Collins:

Collin's was a first team All-WV performer this past year.

Most of the "services" and "showcases" say that he is a D1 level player (that's not surprising...seems like almost every player these "service" review are "D1 players!!").

Collin's was listed as a 5'11", 130 pounder as a freshman at Chapmanville HS.

Collins has apparently grown 4+ inches in the last year.

Collins posted about a Dr visit he had just had where the doc said he should top out at about 6'11".

His HS video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No8-swvxWac

IF he reaches 6'11" and adds about 30 pounds, he could be a DII unicorn! IF he JUST get's to 6'9" and ONLY adds 15 pounds, he could be the WLU version of a unicorn!!

Uh oh. Retweets are gone from his twitter...

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Not to downgrade the PG position with WLU because we are certainly better with one who plays at a high level, but when all five of your players on the court can do just about as good as a dedicated PG, the position line starts to blur. While they probably are not all star quality, WLU has a number of players (including Boswell and McKinney) that would be adequate PG's.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Boswell can definitely support the PG position as well as McKinney possibly, depending on where Conley is at and if there is a desire to red-shirt him.

Not to downgrade the PG position with WLU because we are certainly better with one who plays at a high level, but when all five of your players on the court can do just about as good as a dedicated PG, the position line starts to blur. While they probably are not all star quality, WLU has a number of players (including Boswell and McKinney) that would be adequate PG's.