Octavious Ellis (Signed)

[bearcat18]

According to a tweet from Evan Daniels of scout.com, Ellis has committed to UC today. http://twitter.com/EvanDanielscout

I have been trying to gain some info about him. He was ranked 138 in the Rivals 150 before they just redid their rankings. He had offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, and UTEP with interest from Memphis. He appears to be a long, athletic player with upside and potential.

Here are some videos found.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vR7BLRyK-4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vR7BLRyK-4[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd4OkX9Q6_8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd4OkX9Q6_8[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTvrqZiqnBk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTvrqZiqnBk[/ame]

 

[Thegreatone]

Cool. I hope he is as athletic as people say.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

Octavious Ellis

Finally a commit, dont know much about this kid but he looks to be able to handle the ball very well for his size. You can tell he will need to hit the weights but from a potential standpoint he is a solid get. I hope one of his buddies from the same aau team decides to commit to us real soon too!!!

 

[bearcat jeff]

Power forward
Memphis, Tennessee
Whitehaven
AAU: Memphis Select
Ht:6'8"
Wt:185 lbs
Class:2011 (High School)

Rivals is reporting a solid verbal. He had a nice June but wasn't as strong in July. He plays for Memphis Select, the same team as Cedrick McAfee. I think potential is the operative word with this kid and he is more of a combo forward at this point. He needs to add strength and bulk to play PF in the BEast. He does have a face up game and can shoot from the perimeter. His low post footwork has improved over the summer. Lost his Mother some time ago so he has faced adversity in his young life. Verballed on his visit without leaving campus I believe. This is a solid pick up by Mick for several reasons. Interest in him was really picking up and Memphis had also started recruiting him pretty hard.

 

[psax889906]

My only concern with this is that this is now 3 commitments in the 2011 class without a single high profile (4 star) or better player... we've got Smith who is incredibly under the radar and wasn't recruited heavily by any big time schools... Ellis, who appears to be a project... and Guyn, who seems to be the most college ready, yet isn't an amazing get... I hope this class turns out better on the court than on paper, which I'd be wonderfully happy with... as top 25 recruiting classes of Mick's in the past haven't been as successful... but as it stands at this point this class will most certainly not make any top 25 lists...

 

[BearcatAlum1]

My only concern with this is that this is now 3 commitments in the 2011 class without a single high profile (4 star) or better player... we've got Smith who is incredibly under the radar and wasn't recruited heavily by any big time schools... Ellis, who appears to be a project... and Guyn, who seems to be the most college ready, yet isn't an amazing get... I hope this class turns out better on the court than on paper, which I'd be wonderfully happy with... as top 25 recruiting classes of Mick's in the past haven't been as successful... but as it stands at this point this class will most certainly not make any top 25 lists...

Ellis addressed a need. I've been told that this was a very solid commitment (both for UC and as for Octavious' ability). He doesn't need to get 15-20 minutes a game as a freshman. Chances are he'll see a limited role, like most freshman should.

The "gems" of the class are still on the board. BJ Young, Shaq Thomas, Aaron Thomas, Jermaine Sanders, Jerome Seagers, Sledge, Ced McAfee, etc.

We're in very tight with some of our top targets. It seems likely that we end up with 6 in this class. I'm glad we have 3 commitments so we can put the full court press on 2-3 more players, without having to worry about filling 6 'ships.

 

[psax889906]

Ellis addressed a need. I've been told that this was a very solid commitment (both for UC and as for Octavious' ability). He doesn't need to get 15-20 minutes a game as a freshman. Chances are he'll see a limited role, like most freshman should.

The "gems" of the class are still on the board. BJ Young, Shaq Thomas, Aaron Thomas, Jermaine Sanders, Jerome Seagers, Sledge, Ced McAfee, etc.

We're in very tight with some of our top targets. It seems likely that we end up with 6 in this class. I'm glad we have 3 commitments so we can put the full court press on 2-3 more players, without having to worry about filling 6 'ships.

I appreciate the end of it where Mick and Co. will be able to focus on only a few players instead of still having to recruit six... I'm just hoping they find those two freshmen that are going to be able to play 20-25 minutes a game, because a couple are going to have to, unless Mick wants to play only 6-7 deep.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Like I said, let's see the end result before we judge. This class still has a great opportunity to be very solid.

 

[westsidecat]

Like I said, let's see the end result before we judge. This class still has a great opportunity to be very solid.

That's find and great if you want to look at the big picture. Looking at the picture right now, how can anyone say Mick is getting the job done on the recruiting trail?

Anybody who follows UC knows how big of a class this was to UC. They have only three scholly left. Another UC target just pick another school. Cronin would have to land some real studs in order to get this class where I would hope most UC fans thought it would be. Looking at how the last year has went, I'll give Mick a 10% chance at landing anyone who can make an inpact right away. It's been an epic fail job by Mick and his crew.

 

[Lobot]

Just lost Jack and Harkless to other bottom feeder BE schools. I'm not impressed.

 

[JasonS]

That's find and great if you want to look at the big picture. Looking at the picture right now, how can anyone say Mick is getting the job done on the recruiting trail?

Anybody who follows UC knows how big of a class this was to UC. They have only three scholly left. Another UC target just pick another school. Cronin would have to land some real studs in order to get this class where I would hope most UC fans thought it would be. Looking at how the last year has went, I'll give Mick a 10% chance at landing anyone who can make an inpact right away. It's been an epic fail job by Mick and his crew.

If the three commitments we have already are the most ready of the eventual 6 to contribute as freshmen, I will agree with you. Right now, the class is only 50% done. It is way too early to say Mick has failed in the 2011 class. That attitude is completely unbelievable to me. We are in on a lot of really good recruits right now so let's see what happens when all the dominoes have fallen and then make a judgement. There is no sense in worrying about it right now and definitely no sense in making judgements already.

 

[adrock]

Anybody who follows UC knows how big of a class this was to UC...Cronin would have to land some real studs in order to get this class where I would hope most UC fans thought it would be.

Totally agree. I thought we would have Teague and Behanan locked up by now. To be optimistic though, we do know that Mick is capable of landing studs, so a solid recruiting class is still plausible. Which brings me to your initial point:

That's fine and great if you want to look at the big picture. Looking at the picture right now, how can anyone say Mick is getting the job done on the recruiting trail?

Who makes a judgment on a half-finished picture? We can give our opinions on how we feel about the currently committed players (to our school as well as others), but this class isn't complete and there are plenty of top tier players still available, and by all accounts several are interested in UC.

 

[westsidecat]

If the three commitments we have already are the most ready of the eventual 6 to contribute as freshmen, I will agree with you. Right now, the class is only 50% done. It is way too early to say Mick has failed in the 2011 class. That attitude is completely unbelievable to me. We are in on a lot of really good recruits right now so let's see what happens when all the dominoes have fallen and then make a judgement. There is no sense in worrying about it right now and definitely no sense in making judgements already.

I said looking at the picture Right NOW. If you're happy with Mick and his job that's he's done right now, then that's great.

If you want to keep saying we're still in on a lot of good recruits that may come here, then that's fine also. I've seen nothing at all that is going to make me belive any of these "other great recruits" are going to come here. I'm looking at the picture now, not what could happen.

Look at the schools and coaches we lost out on,to alll the kids that have picked a school already,then tell me why I should belive Cronin is going to fill these 3 spots with high level players?

 

[westsidecat]

Totally agree. I thought we would have Teague and Behanan locked up by now. To be optimistic though, we do know that Mick is capable of landing studs, so a solid recruiting class is still plausible. Which brings me to your initial point:



Who makes a judgment on a half-finished picture? We can give our opinions on how we feel about the currently committed players (to our school as well as others), but this class isn't complete and there are plenty of top tier players still available, and by all accounts several are interested in UC.

Why can't someone look at a person and the job that they have done already? I never said anyone can't give their own opinions. But I can't look at what I'm seeing right now and give an opinion on it?

 

[JasonS]

Why can't someone look at a person and the job that they have done already? I never said anyone can't give their own opinions. But I can't look at what I'm seeing right now and give an opinion on it?

What is there to give an opinion on? If you want to give an opinion on the team's play halfway through the season, great, go for it. If you want to give an opinion on a previous class in hindsight, be my guest. But unless you are so tight with Mick that you know everything going on in recruiting, how can you possibly have an opinion on the job he is doing when it isn't finished yet? I never got that. We have no idea when the staff backs off on a kid or knows they have no shot so they don't recruit him hard. Mick has always played recruiting very close to the vest so the only info we have to go on is often the offer list. You can't have a realistic opinion on what he is doing based on the recruiting list. Sorry, but that's just a fact.

 

[bearcat jeff]

That's find and great if you want to look at the big picture. Looking at the picture right now, how can anyone say Mick is getting the job done on the recruiting trail?

Anybody who follows UC knows how big of a class this was to UC. They have only three scholly left. Another UC target just pick another school. Cronin would have to land some real studs in order to get this class where I would hope most UC fans thought it would be. Looking at how the last year has went, I'll give Mick a 10% chance at landing anyone who can make an inpact right away. It's been an epic fail job by Mick and his crew.

Look, I understand everything you're saying, and everyones concerns. For me I don't care about the stars and numbers, it's about winning. If he signs 6 people nobody thinks are any good and they go to the NCAA who cares? Wilks, Biggie, Gates, Wright were all top 100 recruits. That and fifty cents will buy you a piece of gum. You can't initially judge a class till it's complete, and you can't judge a class at all till it has played. I said last season it was NCAA or change was needed. They didn't make a change. I say the same thing this season.

 

[westsidecat]

What is there to give an opinion on? If you want to give an opinion on the team's play halfway through the season, great, go for it. If you want to give an opinion on a previous class in hindsight, be my guest. But unless you are so tight with Mick that you know everything going on in recruiting, how can you possibly have an opinion on the job he is doing when it isn't finished yet? I never got that. We have no idea when the staff backs off on a kid or knows they have no shot so they don't recruit him hard. Mick has always played recruiting very close to the vest so the only info we have to go on is often the offer list. You can't have a realistic opinion on what he is doing based on the recruiting list. Sorry, but that's just a fact.

Hahhaha, you can't make a realistic opinion on what he has done so far? Okay...

 

[bearcat jeff]

Just lost Jack and Harkless to other bottom feeder BE schools. I'm not impressed.

Jack only looked at Cincinnati because of Savino. Harkless hurts me. I really wanted that kid but my heart will heal if Thomas signs.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

We were always a longshot to land Harkless, so it isn't a big surprise.

It is more important to get Shaq Thomas and/or Jermaine Sanders at the SF position.

 

[JasonS]

Just lost Jack and Harkless to other bottom feeder BE schools. I'm not impressed.

Jack was a NY kid who we got in on late and only was even mentioning UC because Savino was hired. We never had a good shot at him.

Harkless was a UCONN Commit who backed out and had UC listed as one of 10 schools he was interested in. At no time was UC ever a favorite. Mick and company were always playing from behind and it wasn't realistic to think we would land him. How can you be disappointed about not landing kids that you were never the favorite for? It is difficult to pull NY kids out of NY. St. John's has 10 scholarships to fill for 2011 so Harkless is all but guaranteed to start as a freshman.

If Mick misses out on all of the following players (and he might), then it would be time to be concerned: Shaq Thomas, Aaron Thomas, Kevin Pangos, Cedrick McAfee, Jerome Seagears, and BJ Young

Edit: Forgot about Sanders. You can add him to the list above too.

There are still a lot of good players out there. The sky isn't falling yet.