'13 CA C Jamaree Strickland (Commit)

[Hicks' Guns]

Not terribly concerned about big men...yet. Beyond this season, I think Rubles, Nyarsuk and Jackson are promising for next year.

But beyond that, we have Gaines and this dude. I have zero hope for Gaines. I'm sure Mick is focused on re-loading and the recruiting effort is obviously there. But he may have to rely on cobbling together more jr. college transfers. I don't doubt his ability to do that. I think this is what separates us from the consistent top 10-15 programs...the ability to get the cream of the crop big men. Hopefully Mick can make the jump at some point. My sense is he's on the right track but it just takes time and is very challenging (and our facilities don't help).

 

[bearcat18]

So, he's coming off of a traumatic ACL injury and is taking a prep year at Queen City Prep (NC), ranked 12th nationally, ahead of traditional power schools like St. Anthony (NJ), Montverde (FL), and Simeon (IL) [rankings courtesy of: http://recruitdirt.com/2012/11/05/2...rep-school-rankings-hs-pg-included/#more-946].

From what I've seen on Youtube, and from what I've read elsewhere, here are the positives: good size and a decent left hook.

Am I missing anything? Who is this guy? It's hard to find any stats about him, and against the smaller and weaker competition that he's faced in Oakland (See: Youtube), he's relatively unimpressive. Is this what our program has been reduced to, settling for players who are offered by the likes of Houston and Missouri State (no offense to Houston or Missouri State, but these programs aren't competing on our level)? As I think BearcatJeff (?) pointed out in his forum conversation on recruiting big men, is this a trend that should worry us fans? What's more, is this a sign that we're out of the Lawrence sweepstakes, or is Strickland a legitimate find who can play behind Lawrence and develop, so long as Lawrence stays in school? I always will put faith in Mick (he's brought us this far), but our inability to land a well-documented, quality big man is disconcerting.

There's no stats or information on him because he missed his whole junior year and half of his senior year because of his ACL. You point the video on Youtube. You realize he had 22, 10, and 5 that game right? Not to mention that that was one of his first games back from the injury. He's dropped a lot of weight since that video, and thus his mobility has improved. He still has good size but isn't as hefty.

I understand we all want the top 100 guys, but can we please wait till we see the kid play to judge him? Just because there's not much highlights/buzz or information on him doesn't mean he can't play.

 

[Cpaw]

There's no stats or information on him because he missed his whole junior year and half of his senior year because of his ACL. You point the video on Youtube. You realize he had 22, 10, and 5 that game right? Not to mention that that was one of his first games back from the injury. He's dropped a lot of weight since that video, and thus his mobility has improved. He still has good size but isn't as hefty.

I understand we all want the top 100 guys, but can we please wait till we see the kid play to judge him? Just because there's not much highlights/buzz or information on him doesn't mean he can't play.

I agree. Find a kid who is 6'10" and 240 lbs and is "excited" to play in the 4 out 1 in offense is a great thing. Big kid who wants to run the floor, I am excited to see this kid!

 

[rallie25]

There's no stats or information on him because he missed his whole junior year and half of his senior year because of his ACL. You point the video on Youtube. You realize he had 22, 10, and 5 that game right? Not to mention that that was one of his first games back from the injury. He's dropped a lot of weight since that video, and thus his mobility has improved. He still has good size but isn't as hefty.

I understand we all want the top 100 guys, but can we please wait till we see the kid play to judge him? Just because there's not much highlights/buzz or information on him doesn't mean he can't play.

Agree 100%! He looks no different the Chris Perry but BIGGER.

 

[bearcat jeff]

He played on a top 5 AAU team on the west coast pre-injury so he has some ability. He apparently has some real upside now that he has lost so much weight and is in better shape. A guy that can shoot out to 15', has a go to move on the inside with his jump hook, high bb iq, with a work ethic and size. Mick and Coach Davis were obviously sold that he had recovered enough from his acl injury and had what they needed.

I think having Nyarsuk, Jackson, Rubles next season, and Gaines showing some progress, made this possible to do.

 

[Bearcat04]

He played on a top 5 AAU team on the west coast pre-injury so he has some ability. He apparently has some real upside now that he has lost so much weight and is in better shape. A guy that can shoot out to 15', has a go to move on the inside with his jump hook, high bb iq, with a work ethic and size. Mick and Coach Davis were obviously sold that he had recovered enough from his acl injury and had what they needed.

I think having Nyarsuk, Jackson, Rubles next season, and Gaines showing some progress, made this possible to do.

That's how I see it too. When you are building a program with 4-year players not everyone of them has to be an immediate impact player.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I don't know if saying Mick is settling for this guy is fair or not, but with the trend of good big men waiting around to commit to the best school possible it would be foolish to play the waiting game with them and lose out again and again. We have Gaines only for 2014. Nyarsuk kind of fell in our lap with his school shutting down the bball program. If Mick sees enough of this guy to offer at this point I am happy with that. I know most are critical of Mick for not landing big men, but reality is what it is. I'd rather him be proactive in signing a player now who has the intangibles than lose out.

 

[Lobot]

Ralph, do you have any information that Strickland might be the next KMart? I'm not asking to be a jerk. I actually think you might be right as long as he can stay healthy and we don't agree very often.

I don't think this was a reach by Mick. It's win/win. He got a good talent with height when everyone had given up. It's a bit like betting with a scholly. If he's great, you look like gold. If he's not great. You have a backup center for 4(5 RS)? years.

 

[JumpinJack5]

Fits the mold of a UC recruit-both Mick and Huggins like to take under-the-radar players like this and turn them into great players. Hopefully, he is only a 1 or 2 year project, not the 4 years it will take Gaines.

 

[Bearcat22]

I found this article on scout, not premium content, or anything to new. Seems like a good kid though. Looks like he's adjusted well moving across the country. That speaks to his maturity.

http://saintjosephs.scout.com/2/1204167.html

Mick has a talent for finding these under the radar type of guys. This seems like the type of player that normally ends up at a mid-major, because of the injuries, and in 2-3 years is creating havoc for opponents in the NCAA tournament.

 

[rallie25]

I found this article on scout, not premium content, or anything to new. Seems like a good kid though. Looks like he's adjusted well moving across the country. That speaks to his maturity.

http://saintjosephs.scout.com/2/1204167.html

Mick has a talent for finding these under the radar type of guys. This seems like the type of player that normally ends up at a mid-major, because of the injuries, and in 2-3 years is creating havoc for opponents in the NCAA tournament.

I thought same thing! Reminds me of the kid you took down Mizzou last year!

 

[waterhead]

I looked at a dunk of his back in 2010 and he looked like he was a much better athelete back then...as well had some ball handling skills and looked chizzled. That tells me once he is fully rehabbed and gets his hops and conditioning back...he might be a steal. Also a lefty which is harder to adjust for on D.

I am trying to figure out why people are saying he's a project. His ball skills are not bad although he looks a little slow right now (first game back from rehab). What kind of stars was he getting before the injury?

I don't mind it. We can save a scholly for late signees or we can use it as leverage that we only have one left. Hopefully a big time recruit will fall in our lap.

 

[mplebanon]

Well, take the following for what's it worth, as it was told to me by someone supposedly "in the know" about Mick's recruiting. Nothing earth shattering though.

Supposedly Mick saw the kid play a few years back when the kid was healthy, and the kid was on the top schools radar and Mick kind of wrote him off for that reason, since he was rebuilding a program. Then those schools backed off because of the ACL and additional surgeries. This kid is supposedly a top 50 talent when healthy, and if he returns to 100%, it's considered a steal. Mick grabbed while the kid was ready to commit and before the big boy schools moved back in on him.

Again, nothing earth shattering. Makes sense though.

 

[Scheids21]

Well, take the following for what's it worth, as it was told to me by someone supposedly "in the know" about Mick's recruiting. Nothing earth shattering though.

Supposedly Mick saw the kid play a few years back when the kid was healthy, and the kid was on the top schools radar and Mick kind of wrote him off for that reason, since he was rebuilding a program. Then those schools backed off because of the ACL and additional surgeries. This kid is supposedly a top 50 talent when healthy, and if he returns to 100%, it's considered a steal. Mick grabbed while the kid was ready to commit and before the big boy schools moved back in on him.

Again, nothing earth shattering. Makes sense though.

Good insight. Hope it is true. The more I'm learning, the more I am very much ok with this signing. Gotta remind ourselves sometimes there is a slight chance Mick knows more than us.

 

[Cronin crazy 5]

Well, take the following for what's it worth, as it was told to me by someone supposedly "in the know" about Mick's recruiting. Nothing earth shattering though.

Supposedly Mick saw the kid play a few years back when the kid was healthy, and the kid was on the top schools radar and Mick kind of wrote him off for that reason, since he was rebuilding a program. Then those schools backed off because of the ACL and additional surgeries. This kid is supposedly a top 50 talent when healthy, and if he returns to 100%, it's considered a steal. Mick grabbed while the kid was ready to commit and before the big boy schools moved back in on him.

Again, nothing earth shattering. Makes sense though.

Alot of kids are highly ranked because of size and skill level. justin jackson probably would have not been ranked no where in the top 500 if it wasnt for his aggressive non stop motor. Visa versa with Yancey. Yancey was projected high because of size strength and potential. everything now a day is ranked upon potential. To get a guy this big with athleticism and a very hungry player at that will mean alot more than getting a players who didnt have to put much effort into playing because of size and strength. i would take a guy who would want to play here that is not highly ranked vs a top 150 player who is only here because its just where he ended up.

 

[CPAW29]

Do anybody think this kid will be redshirted as a freshman?

 

[mdchick]

well he missed his whole junior year, so that is a possibility, to gain back the year that he missed, I guess it depends on how much mick believes in Nyrasuk and gaines...

 

[anbuc88]

Do anybody think this kid will be redshirted as a freshman?

If he is here this weekend, then I'm sure the coaching staff will have the medical team look at his knee. If there are concerns, and Mick still thinks that he is worth the scholarship, then I can see him being redshirted. Otherwise, Gaines and Strickland would be the only big men on the roster with experience in the system 2 years from now(of course, depending on who else they add to this recruiting class). If that's the case, I'm would guess that Mick would like to have 2 guys with game experience rather than just 1 (Gaines).

I also find it interesting that Strickland mentioned the 4 out and 1 in offense that he finds appealing. I wonder if Mick has told him that this is the style UC will employ for the foreseeable future. If this is true, then UC will be guard and small forward heavy in their recruiting classes from here on out.

 

[JackBauer151]

He had 24 points and 10 boards in his game tonight.....

 

[waterhead]

Well, take the following for what's it worth, as it was told to me by someone supposedly "in the know" about Mick's recruiting. Nothing earth shattering though.

Supposedly Mick saw the kid play a few years back when the kid was healthy, and the kid was on the top schools radar and Mick kind of wrote him off for that reason, since he was rebuilding a program. Then those schools backed off because of the ACL and additional surgeries. This kid is supposedly a top 50 talent when healthy, and if he returns to 100%, it's considered a steal. Mick grabbed while the kid was ready to commit and before the big boy schools moved back in on him.

Again, nothing earth shattering. Makes sense though.

You were dead on based on the coach comments from signing day.

The more I hear the more excited I get about him. He would have been highly sought after prior to the injury...probably high 4 star type. He will have had what 2.5 years of rehab in by the time he is a frosh? There should be no reason he could not be back to (or better than) his shape in 2010 once he gets on the UC weight and training program.

Unless we get another big recruit in this class I would see no reason to red shirt him. If he can play offense he fills an immediate void on the roster.