Hypothetically, if TJ were to finish top 2/3 in the MW in 2021-2022. Would opinions change of him? Would we wish he had taken the job at ISU if whomever we hire can't recruit in this very important COVID transfer year??
He has the #16 class coming in. Could return almost the entire team and turned Caleb Grill into the player we all wished he was at ISU
I'm still in the Craig Smith camp. Mostly becuase I want a great X's and O's coach. But just about all of the other candidates have some really serious questions marks that TJ doesn't.
I think TJ is now my #2 for the job, mostly because of his history to who he brought to Iowa State, he's probably willing to take a lesser salary day 1 (Pollard admitted in the video this morning that this will be the reality for 2021-2022) and he needs NO TIME to aclamate to Iowa State. He'd start recruiting to Ames 10 seconds after signing a contract. He's our best bet at keeping Hunter committed and if he could bring in 1-2 of his UNLV recruits. That's a Top 20 class instantly. Near 5 star PG in Hunter, Kaluma would be the stretch 4 we desperately need.
2021/2022 starters then:
Hunter - Near 5 star PG - TJ get/keep
Bolton - All Big-12 guard, who many agree would thrive when asked to not handle the ball
(Big guard) - Biggest hole on the roster. Could be filled if Hinson stays with the program
Kaluma - Top 50 recruit, KU, OU, USC offers - TJ recruit
Foster
That's 5/5 positions with either Elite talent or prior P5 success
I'm starting to not be upset if TJ were hired. Again, he's not my #1. But he's becoming my #2 of the names mentioned