West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

We need a go fund me campaign to send Ben to Serbia and Croatia to bring back a 6-9 and 240 lb player who is fundamentally sound, hits 40% from three and ran cross country in his spare time ! Lol

That's how they found Cobo. Joe sent an assistant to Spain to recruit a center. Word of mouth sent the assisant out to the Canary Islands and that's where they found him.

Interesting story. Cobo came here and didn't speak a word of English ... and will graduate in May with a double major in finance and international business.

Quite an accomplishment.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

We need a go fund me campaign to send Ben to Serbia and Croatia to bring back a 6-9 and 240 lb player who is fundamentally sound, hits 40% from three and ran cross country in his spare time ! Lol

Hahahahaha!!! I'll make the first $20 donation!

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

My only hesitation with that lineup is if you run in to another Dustin Sleva or Patrick Smith. Not much bulk in that lineup. And, to win the last game, you're going to eventually run in to those guys.

Alessandro is listed at 205 this year which I think is a 10 pound bump over his HS weight. If he can put on another 10 this off season and play at 6'7", 215, that would be great. Hazelbaker is listed at 6'7", 210 coming into the program (if he doesn't redshirt). So at least we have some options we didn't have the last couple of years. But much will depend on the players we don't know about yet. If it is four more "shooting forwards" that go 6'5", 185, we will have to hope we catch the Sleva or Smith's on their off nights...If one of the four goes 6'7", 225, we should be OK provided Alessandro and Hazelbaker can play.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

My only hesitation with that lineup is if you run in to another Dustin Sleva or Patrick Smith. Not much bulk in that lineup. And, to win the last game, you're going to eventually run in to those guys.

We need a go fund me campaign to send Ben to Serbia and Croatia to bring back a 6-9 and 240 lb player who is fundamentally sound, hits 40% from three and ran cross country in his spare time ! Lol

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

My only hesitation with that lineup is if you run in to another Dustin Sleva or Patrick Smith. Not much bulk in that lineup. And, to win the last game, you're going to eventually run in to those guys.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Think they would need to bring in some really top notch transfer talent for that to be possible. I'm not a fan of "one and done" type transfers although this might be the year for one of those...someone capable of playing within the WLU system (hard to find) to plug a hole for one year and effectively give a freshman one year to redshirt.

From the current roster, I think our first seven are really strong with all but Alessandro having considerable front line (in most cases starting) experience. While WU typically goes much deeper than that, I note that there are some pretty good basketball teams that effectively only go seven deep. Of course, seven would assume that Alessandro and ALL three of the incoming freshmen are total busts...ALSO assumes that any additional transfers/HS recruits that Ben brings in are also total busts! Sure, that is possible, but Ben's track record with recruiting talent doesn't indicate he has the ability to miss on 7-9 straight players!!!

My only hesitation with that lineup is if you run in to another Dustin Sleva or Patrick Smith. Not much bulk in that lineup. And, to win the last game, you're going to eventually run in to those guys.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Agree with first platoon.
I wonder if any of freshman will redshirt to get stronger or develop their skills. Like you said it depends on the future players, if any.

Think they would need to bring in some really top notch transfer talent for that to be possible. I'm not a fan of "one and done" type transfers although this might be the year for one of those...someone capable of playing within the WLU system (hard to find) to plug a hole for one year and effectively give a freshman one year to redshirt.

From the current roster, I think our first seven are really strong with all but Alessandro having considerable front line (in most cases starting) experience. While WU typically goes much deeper than that, I note that there are some pretty good basketball teams that effectively only go seven deep. Of course, seven would assume that Alessandro and ALL three of the incoming freshmen are total busts...ALSO assumes that any additional transfers/HS recruits that Ben brings in are also total busts! Sure, that is possible, but Ben's track record with recruiting talent doesn't indicate he has the ability to miss on 7-9 straight players!!!

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Way too early First 5:

PG Luke Dyer (Jr)*
SG Preston Boswell (Jr)*
SG Dalton Bolon (Jr)*
SF Will Yoakum (Jr)*
SF Marlon Moore (Jr)

Second 5:

PG Evan Connley (TF)
SG Malik McKinney (So)*
SF Jon Alessandro (So)
SF Bryce Butler (TF)
PF Owen Hazelbaker (TF)

* Starting experience

Obviously there are as yet unannounced players coming in that could "upset" this initial lineup. I'd antisipate two transfers and two freshmen.

Agree with first platoon.
I wonder if any of freshman will redshirt to get stronger or develop their skills. Like you said it depends on the future players, if any.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Way too early First 5:

PG Luke Dyer (Jr)*
SG Preston Boswell (Jr)*
SG Dalton Bolon (Jr)*
SF Will Yoakum (Jr)*
SF Marlon Moore (Jr)

Second 5:

PG Evan Connley (TF)
SG Malik McKinney (So)*
SF Jon Alessandro (So)
SF Bryce Butler (TF)
PF Owen Hazelbaker (TF)

* Starting experience

Obviously there are as yet unannounced players coming in that could "upset" this initial lineup. I'd antisipate two transfers and two freshmen.

[Columbuseer]

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUPTrackMan]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I read on a basketball recruting site that only 40% of players that come out of HS to a D1 program are playing basketball at ANY level by the end of their sophomore year. Of the 60% that quit D1 basketball only 20% continue college and get their degree. At the DII/D3 level, 80% of players continue playing into their Junior and Senior years.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

At a school like WVU the perks are not comparable. It's easier to accept riding the pine or playing a small role when the facilities are awesome, you are flying to away games, eating and staying at top notch restaurants and hotels, and getting a ton of cool Nike gear and shoes. Compared to having some dominoes and a bottle of water during a 4 hour bus ride home.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Add to it 0.03% of high school players will play even one minute in the NBA.

Yep. But the coach sitting on your couch when your kid is a HS junior and senior will paint an entirely different picture. Your kid is the best player I've ever seen come out of his HS. Can't miss All American and sure fire pro prospect. I personally think he could become a lottery pick with the right coaching and development. I'm just the guy to get him to that level. But unfortuanatly, we have a temporary scholarship issue that prevents us from giving your son a scholly out of HS. We've got a lot of seniors coming back and out of loyalty, it's just unfair to cut their scholly their senior year. But that's actually a good thing for your son. I'll have a year honing him in our system as a prefered walk-on and if he progresses like we ALL know he will, he'll be a shoe in for a full scholly the next year and then the sky is the limate!

Meanwhile, coach knows that this kid is nothing more than practice fodder for his ones and twos.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I read on a basketball recruting site that only 40% of players that come out of HS to a D1 program are playing basketball at ANY level by the end of their sophomore year. Of the 60% that quit D1 basketball only 20% continue college and get their degree. At the DII/D3 level, 80% of players continue playing into their Junior and Senior years.

Add to it 0.03% of high school players will play even one minute in the NBA.