'11 NJ SF Shaquille Thomas (Signed)

BearcatTalk

Help Support BearcatTalk:

JasonS said:
Exactly! This is probably the biggest turn of events for this program since Mick took over. Having upper classmen who are legitimate Big East players is going to help immensely.

On a side note, I really wish Wilks had one more year of eligibilty. He frustrates me at times still with his decision making, but he has made some tremendous strides this season and has really given us some nice minutes. He pulled down a couple huge rebounds in traffic at the end of that Depaul game.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Wish he could have redshirted too. I know I've had this debate with people before, some believe it would have helped and some don't but it couldn't have hurt. I too think he's made some great strides and his body is simply late to develop. You can see he's started to fill out.
 
psax889906 said:
Agreed. Wish he could have redshirted too. I know I've had this debate with people before, some believe it would have helped and some don't but it couldn't have hurt. I too think he's made some great strides and his body is simply late to develop. You can see he's started to fill out.
Click to expand...

He has played much stronger down low. He is never going to be a banger but he can hold his own a bit better now.
 
psax889906 said:
It will be interesting to see how his athleticism and that "blossoming perimeter skill-set" transition to the Big East next year. The great thing about this freshmen class is- although we're all expecting big things from them, they won't be counted on to come in immediately and be starters or leaders of the team. Isn't it nice having (legitimate) upperclassmen?
Click to expand...

true but they will be needed. right now, with no player attrition (transfer, player getting kicked off, leaving team, etc) we only have 6 returning players. thomas and sanders are going to need to come in and play right away for sure.
 
Count me in the group that is thankful for Wilks scholarship. Like the kid, works hard, but he isn't a very good D1 basketball player.

I'm also not sure where all the experienced upperclassman comes from that you guys are talking about. We'll have Gates who was just suspended and obviously still hasn't learned his lesson, Dixon who hopefully snaps out of his funk, and Cash who I like but has struggled off and on this year. Parker will be a junior but hasn't played at all this year. They'll have 8-9 players that will have 2 years or less experience. It will essentially be up to Cash and Dixon, with maybe a little SK.
 
Last edited:
TheLongHaul said:
Count me in the group that is thankful for Wilks scholarship. Like the kid, works hard, but he isn't a very good D1 basketball player.

I'm also not sure where all the experienced upperclassman comes from that you guys are talking about. We'll have Gates who was just suspended and obviously still hasn't learned his lesson, Dixon who hopefully snaps out of his funk, and Cash who I like but has struggled off and on this year. Parker will be a junior but hasn't played at all this year. They'll have 8-9 players that will have 2 years or less experience. It will essentially be up to Cash and Dixon, with maybe a little SK.
Click to expand...

I think Kilpatrick will be the star of this team next season. He is a gym rat and will work his ass off in the offseason. Still think they'll sign a juco big. Gates is lazy but teams have to pay attention to him. Cash will continue to improve. His problem is confidence. Sanders and Thomas will both play minutes. The wildcard to me is Parker. I haven't heard anything but it won't surprise me if he transfers. Guyn or Davis will play some minutes too.Right now I'm leaning toward Guyn.
 
bearcat jeff said:
I think Kilpatrick will be the star of this team next season. He is a gym rat and will work his ass off in the offseason. Still think they'll sign a juco big. Gates is lazy but teams have to pay attention to him. Cash will continue to improve. His problem is confidence. Sanders and Thomas will both play minutes. The wildcard to me is Parker. I haven't heard anything but it won't surprise me if he transfers. Guyn or Davis will play some minutes too.Right now I'm leaning toward Guyn.
Click to expand...

i think whether jackson throws on 20 pounds and develops into a presence is the wildcard. we have no one inside next year aside from Gates- who honestly, who know what his deal will be. All other bigs will be newcomers + redshirt Gaines who still needs another few years to develop.
 
TheLongHaul said:
Count me in the group that is thankful for Wilks scholarship. Like the kid, works hard, but he isn't a very good D1 basketball player.

I'm also not sure where all the experienced upperclassman comes from that you guys are talking about. We'll have Gates who was just suspended and obviously still hasn't learned his lesson, Dixon who hopefully snaps out of his funk, and Cash who I like but has struggled off and on this year. Parker will be a junior but hasn't played at all this year. They'll have 8-9 players that will have 2 years or less experience. It will essentially be up to Cash and Dixon, with maybe a little SK.
Click to expand...

Dixon will play BIG time minutes. 25-30 a night. Cash will play BIG time minutes. 25-30 a night. Gates will play 25-30 minutes as well, imo. They could end up going small too and starting SK at the 3. You'd have a lineup that could look like this:

PG- Cash
SG- Dixon
SF- SK
PF- JJ
C- Gates


That's how I see it. You could also potentially toss in the JUCO Big at either PF or C if the one they sign is the right fit. Because of the numbers game I think Gaines will see about 10 minutes a game next year. I'd say about the same amount of time JJ is seeing this year.
 
@AdamZagoria
Cincinnati signee Shaq Thomas has been removed from the NIA Prep team 4 disciplinary reasons
 
Wow, very disappointing. With his past, and the guidelines and expectations Mick works with in regard to recruiting, you have to wonder if this could effect his scholarship status. As talented as he is there is obviously something he isn't getting.
 
bearcat jeff said:
Wow, very disappointing. With his past, and the guidelines and expectations Mick works with in regard to recruiting, you have to wonder if this could effect his scholarship status. As talented as he is there is obviously something he isn't getting.
Click to expand...

I didn't know there were any past issues with regards to Shaq. I hope this is not something major. I would really like to see him in a Bearcat uniform. Of course, Mick has to do what is best for the program. I hope it all works out.
 
JasonS said:
I didn't know there were any past issues with regards to Shaq. I hope this is not something major. I would really like to see him in a Bearcat uniform. Of course, Mick has to do what is best for the program. I hope it all works out.
Click to expand...

X2 on all accounts.

This was really disheartening news, though I'm still waiting on details. This kid has every bit of high major/NBA athleticism and would be a huge asset to the program. I'm still in wait and see mode until further details are revealed.
 
ME80 said:
Also disturbing in my opinion.
Click to expand...

He has struggled with grades throughout high school. Apparently going to NIA was very good for him because it allowed him to get 1 on 1 attention.

Not sure what happened to get him kicked off his team there. Hopefully nothing serious. I am looking forward to him becoming a Bearcat.
 
I'm sure more details will come out eventually, let's just cross our fingers it's nothing serious. From what I understand, this could be the kid to put us over the top and get us back to where we want to be. I hope he gets that chance.
 
Ryno99 said:
I'm sure more details will come out eventually, let's just cross our fingers it's nothing serious. From what I understand, this could be the kid to put us over the top and get us back to where we want to be. I hope he gets that chance.
Click to expand...

NBA potential- but we've seen that before with Yancy. It's all up to him as to how he develops it.
 

Similar threads

bearcat jeff
'11 KY PG Ge'Lawn Guyn (Signed))
2 3
Replies
53
Views
21K
bearcat jeff
bearcat jeff
swg
'11 OH OT Ethan Wirth (Toledo Verbal)
Replies
0
Views
4K
swg
swg
Back
Top