RECRUITING: Jaren Holmes commits to Iowa State

[cyclonehomer]

Nothing like Conditt? Kunc is nothing like Conditt. Ward is rather similar. An apt comparison, although not exactly the same.

More importantly their roles won’t be too different, particularly if we don’t land Basile. It’s more of the same, hopefully just slightly better. We don’t really have a 5 that would result with him playing the 4 much, at least on our accord.

As of now, having Ward at the 4 would mean some of the worst spacing imaginable given the offense they ran last year. He's Conditt, but not as good of a finisher offensively, probably a lot better at defending P&Rs defensively. I hope he does more but it would take him taking a jump in his play moving up to the B12.

 

[SoleCyclone]

Transfer Portal Target: St. Bonaventure’s Jaren Holmes | GatorCountry.com

www.gatorcountry.com

Yes, this is a column by a U of Florida outlet but a nice breakdown on Holmes skill set. In particular, I agree with his min/game affecting his 3pt shooting % this past season. Hopefully with guard depth % goes up with more rest.

 

[MartyFine]

How many spots left? Or does anyone know at this point?

 

[singsing]

As of now, having Ward at the 4 would mean some of the worst spacing imaginable given the offense they ran last year. He's Conditt, but not as good of a finisher offensively, probably a lot better at defending P&Rs defensively. I hope he does more but it would take him taking a jump in his play moving up to the B12.

Sounds like Jones then. Can he hit the rim on a free-throw?

 

[Stormin]

You expect helluva improvement over last season? We don’t have the final roster yet, but let’s bet on that. Pick the amount.

I was referencing that last season was a helluva improvement over the previous season. Stated that the previous season was winless in Conference.

I will bet that we would have had another dreadful season last year had we not finally hired a decent Coach. I will bet that TJ will not go winless in the Conference. We will be competitive. Maybe Tourney.

 

[Hayes30]

Ward is essentially an one for one replacement of Conditt. He will play the same position and is a similar size, with similar skill set.

I know Conditt was listed as 6'9 here but there was no way he wasn't pushing 7'0

 

[Hayes30]

How many spots left? Or does anyone know at this point?

2

 

[WhoISthis]

I was referencing that last season was a helluva improvement over the previous season. Stated that the previous season was winless in Conference.

I will bet that we would have had another dreadful season last year had we not finally hired a decent Coach. I will bet that TJ will not go winless in the Conference. We will be competitive. Maybe Tourney.

As I thought- you’re also not confident next year will be better, which is why you had to bring up Prohm’s damages. The poster saying “if TJ is good, I’m good” is nonsense in regards to whether next year will be better.

If given similar players, this staff will have a similar season. That could mean many records, and would even with the same exact roster.

Given better players, I have no doubt we’d see improvement, but unfortunately we’re one season late in that imo. So far it’s unclear whether the starting 5 is improved. This started with a comment disagreeing that we have a loaded backcourt. I don’t know if it’s equitable let alone loaded.

The real maddening thing is TJ and the staff would have absolutely crushed this off-season if any other. We’ll still have a nice haul, but we likely do have an undisputed loaded roster before NIL. As it is, we hope for best case scenarios to unfold for improvement

 

[cytor]

However this final roster comes together, they still have to play together as a team.... TJ and the players did that beautifully this past season.

 

[cyclonehomer]

Sounds like Jones then. Can he hit the rim on a free-throw?

He was in the wide gulf between Jones and Conditt from the field and the line offensively, definitely an upgrade from Jones there.

 

[Raywswartz]

Do we know much about him as a ball-handler? We really struggled last year against pressure when anyone but Hunter was bringing it up. I worry that's going to be a major weakness this year.

Hunter struggled also

 

[Raywswartz]

However this final roster comes together, they still have to play together as a team.... TJ and the players did that beautifully this past season.

Last year was testament to playing hard and outworking teams. With the talent level we had, we found out in league play that is not enough to challenge for title. And that is the goal. We need to play that hard and get talent equal to rest of league. We have all the pieces except one alpha dog who can get 18 to 20 a night. Scorer with size. That is what we are missing. 6. 6 or bigger that can shoot and score.

 

[NorthCyd]

Hunter struggled also

People keep talking about how great Hunter was because he was Big XII freshman of the year, but the freshman class didn't exactly light it up in the conference this year. He didn't even make 3rd team all Big XII. In fact he wasn't even included in the honorable mentions. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that, because Sochan was a freshman who was 6th man of the year and honorable mention, yet Tyrese was freshman of the year but didn't make honorable mention....strange. Regardless, Hunter had a solid freshman campaign, but with him it was more about the promise of what he would become, not that he was all that great last year. Replacing his production from last year is not going to be that hard.

 

[WhoISthis]

Hunter struggled also

He struggled at times against pressure, he is a bit loose with the ball right now, but overall he was good in "brining it up".

Half-court is where the offense fell apart. Hunter as 2nd in usage a large part of that, but IB being the only other option a challenge.


Our pg play will be better if we don't have a shooting guard that can't shoot or handle, a low-volume 4, and a 5 that can't shoot or drive getting the ball around the 3P line. Everyone's play will be better if we don't have that combination.

 

[clonehenge]

I'm excited because now I can say, "that's levitation, Holmes" multiple times a game next year.

Hail the D!

 

[Halincandenza]

Nice get. Now Green and a big

 

[isucy86]

I'm OK with this signing, but was really hoping TJ would sign players a bit more lengthy. If he's physical, great, but physicality alone isn't enough all the time. Caleb Grill mentioned in the recent Corner 3 pod, that as physical as they were this past season, they wanted nothing to do with Texas Tech, and simply couldn't match their size and strength. I'm not sure much has been done to remedy that this offseason. The backcourt is a little bigger with the subtraction of Hunter and addition of Williams, but it is still gonna be a backcourt of mostly 6'4" and under guys with average wingspan. Just waiting to get smothered by TTU again, who is essentially reloading with big, physical dudes. I absolutely want AJ Green with one of our remaining scholarships, but he doesn't help in that area either.

TT is pretty unique around college hoops, so not a lot of teams are going to match up against their physicality. But then, that whole team will basically be gone for the 2022/23 season- so we'll see who they sign this spring.

However, we have gotten bigger/longer:

• Williams is 4" bigger than Hunter. Holmes & Brockington appear to be a wash and unless Gabe just hit puberty, he's probably the same size. But then again, he's a year older, so maybe he has shrunk.
• TJ's high school recruits seem to fit what you are looking for. Watson is 6'6" and Eli King is a strong 6'4" with his football background.
• Tre King has the size that you reference with TT players. He is 6'7" & 230lbs. If he brings some attitude and motor- he should be a physical presence we missed at the 4 last season. I am sure he could also slide and play minutes at 3.

 

[Statefan10]

People keep talking about how great Hunter was because he was Big XII freshman of the year, but the freshman class didn't exactly light it up in the conference this year. He didn't even make 3rd team all Big XII. In fact he wasn't even included in the honorable mentions. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that, because Sochan was a freshman who was 6th man of the year and honorable mention, yet Tyrese was freshman of the year but didn't make honorable mention....strange. Regardless, Hunter had a solid freshman campaign, but with him it was more about the promise of what he would become, not that he was all that great last year. Replacing his production from last year is not going to be that hard.

I think Hunter would’ve been an absolute star someday. He has a lot to correct and get better at but his game could’ve flourished as more talent was placed around him.

Oh well. He made his choice and gave us no shot to sell him on what he could be here, and he’d rather cash in now. Who knows what his future entails but this decision may end up biting him in the ass.

 

[Statefan10]

TT is pretty unique around college hoops, so not of teams are going to match up against their physicality. But then, that whole team will basically be gone for the 2022/23 season- so we'll see who they sign this spring.

However, we have gotten bigger/longer:

• Williams is 4" bigger than Hunter. Holmes & Brockington appear to be a wash and unless Gabe just hit puberty, he's probably the same size. But then again, he's a year older, so maybe he has shrunk.
• TJ's high school recruits seem to fit what you are looking for. Watson is 6'6" and Eli King is a strong 6'4" with his football background.
• Tre King has the size that you reference with TT players. He is 6'7" & 230lbs. If he brings some attitude and motor- he should be a physical presence we missed at the 4 last season. I am sure he could also slide and play minutes at 3.

I also think Watson has a couple inches to grow too

 

[isucy86]

Nothing like Conditt? Kunc is nothing like Conditt. Ward is rather similar. An apt comparison, although not exactly the same.

More importantly their roles won’t be too different, particularly if we don’t land Basile. It’s more of the same, hopefully just slightly better. We don’t really have a 5 that would result with him playing the 4 much, at least on our accord.

Lighten up Francis!