Post by nashvillestag on Sept 13, 2019 13:12:06 GMT -5
Just thought I'd start the thread for the coming season three months early (the CIAC doesn't actually begin play until mid-December) because of the announced transfer of the best senior in the state association in Nate Tabor from Sacred Heart back to the area where he is from in NY to Christ The King. Another loss of a "big-time" talent in Connecticut, unfortunately routine recently, this following the transfer out of Max Edwards from Bunnell a few weeks ago. Anyway for what its' worth, the only currently rated seniors from the CIAC on the Connecticut list (among the many prep school kids) are Corey McKeithan of Windsor (committed to Rider), Matt Knowling, East Catholic (Yale), and uncommitted prospects Primo Spears of Windsor and Guy Ragland of Northwest Catholic. I personally observed everyone of the above other than Ragland last season, and my opinion is Spears might be the best of the bunch even though he isn't rated as high as the two committed players. But the truth is, at least right now, other than the sophomore Donovan Clingan of Bristol Central (talked about previously), there aren't any real "big-time" (translation high major) prospects in the state. Hopefully in the next few months a surprise or two will pop up, something that usually happens every year at this time.
Last Edit: Sept 13, 2019 13:16:54 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Tabor is interesting. committed to the Johnies to be close to home, transferred to CTK. Then decommitted when Mullin got canned. Wonder where he will wind up. Hopefully not in Storrs
Last Edit: Sept 13, 2019 14:00:33 GMT -5 by mikesdad
Just thought I'd start the thread for the coming season three months early (the CIAC doesn't actually begin play until mid-December) because of the announced transfer of the best senior in the state association in Nate Tabor from Sacred Heart back to the area where he is from in NY to Christ The King. Another loss of a "big-time" talent in Connecticut, unfortunately routine recently, this following the transfer out of Max Edwards from Bunnell a few weeks ago. Anyway for what its' worth, the only currently rated seniors from the CIAC on the Connecticut list (among the many prep school kids) are Corey McKeithan of Windsor (committed to Rider), Matt Knowling, East Catholic (Yale), and uncommitted prospects Primo Spears of Windsor and Guy Ragland of Northwest Catholic. I personally observed everyone of the above other than Ragland last season, and my opinion is Spears might be the best of the bunch even though he isn't rated as high as the two committed players. But the truth is, at least right now, other than the sophomore Donovan Clingan of Bristol Central (talked about previously), there aren't any real "big-time" (translation high major) prospects in the state. Hopefully in the next few months a surprise or two will pop up, something that usually happens every year at this time.
Well since the CIAC officially begins play later this week (finally!) I figured it would be a good idea to move this thread up to date. Of course unfortunately unlike college ball where you have a pretty good idea where most teams are because of thorough information about rosters, many of the scholastic teams in the state are a mystery until they actually start competing against each other. And in that regard so are a majority of the players, something that is a bit frustrating from the point of view of at least one Stag fan (me) who would certainly like to discover a talent or two that maybe Jay Young could attempt to entice to come play for Fairfield in the future. Only thing I will say that I know right now, and this is from personal observation after watching some scrimmages this past week, is that the kids mentioned in the paragraph above are still going to be among the most mentioned performers as the season starts to play out. Actually I didn't see Ragland, never have, so I can't say anything about him. But I'll still say this. Spears appears to be the best unsigned senior in the association until proven otherwise. He really is a great PG in the making, a little different from before when I thought of him as a combo guard equally adept without the ball as with it. Would that affect how strongly Fairfield might pursue him based on the fact that Caleb Green should most certainly be the starting PG for the next two years? Don't know, but as we all know from the attempt to sign wing guard-forward Makhi Grey, that is the type of player that should be more of a priority this spring. Maybe someone like that will magically appear in the state in the next few months. It would be nice for the Stags to get a good talent who hails from Connecticut in order to start some kind of a pipeline, would it not?
A couple of other observations from the viewings. Fairfield Prep gave East Catholic all they could handle in their matchup, something that might portend good things for the locals. Catholic although losing a lot from last season still should be a major player in the state behind Yale signee Knowling, therefore Prep playing them basically even might mean something. We'll see. The other thing I wanted to say is that Clingan of Bristol Central is ready to create a lot of buzz in the state. The only problem seems to be that there are hardly any really talented big men who will be able to compete with him, and that's a shame. It's more like him fending off a bunch of 6-3 to 6-5 kids who double and triple team him as opposed to going up against someone his size who would force him to perform as he would later on in his career in college. Maybe this will be the reason that he, like many others recently, will end up playing in prep school against better competition starting next year. I hope I am wrong about that BTW.
Last Edit: Dec 16, 2019 19:49:14 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Post by gratefulstag on Dec 17, 2019 11:55:37 GMT -5
Clearly Jay Young's tenure will be defined by recruiting. Coach Cooley started to improve Fairfield's name in most recruiting hotbeds. I think a step back was taken under Coach Johnson. It ok to ignore local markets and recruiting hotbeds if your strategy is working. Iona has a clear name recognition and strategy in these markets. I am not sure of the basketball reputation at Fairfield anymore. Mark Few is able to build Gonzaga to a national brand from a regional power. It can be done with good coaching and a commitment to getting quality players. I am looking forward to the Oakland game and rest of season to see the Young strategy. I didn't like or agree with the Johnson hire. I met him once and thought he lack an identity that represented True Stags basketball IMO. He treated most players well though a couple of transfers where head scratchers that signaled a problem with player development. I am open minded on the Young hire as a player Development guy and a good recruiter. This is the only way to think this is a good hire. At some point management has to be held accountable. Looking at Young's background you probably need to give him two years to find an identity as a head coach. By year 3 he should find some kind of traction in some indicator. Can he recruit? Can he develop players ? Can he snooze boosters? Can he coach ? Unfortunately basketball is a business and part of the university's arsenal of development. I think the Gonzaga example is one of the best. I wish Coach Young well as he approaches this recruiting cycle and I hope Fairfield's basketball reputation is repaired to a higher level.
Clearly Jay Young's tenure will be defined by recruiting. Coach Cooley started to improve Fairfield's name in most recruiting hotbeds. I think a step back was taken under Coach Johnson. It ok to ignore local markets and recruiting hotbeds if your strategy is working. Iona has a clear name recognition and strategy in these markets. I am not sure of the basketball reputation at Fairfield anymore. Mark Few is able to build Gonzaga to a national brand from a regional power. It can be done with good coaching and a commitment to getting quality players. I am looking forward to the Oakland game and rest of season to see the Young strategy. I didn't like or agree with the Johnson hire. I met him once and thought he lack an identity that represented True Stags basketball IMO. He treated most players well though a couple of transfers where head scratchers that signaled a problem with player development. I am open minded on the Young hire as a player Development guy and a good recruiter. This is the only way to think this is a good hire. At some point management has to be held accountable. Looking at Young's background you probably need to give him two years to find an identity as a head coach. By year 3 he should find some kind of traction in some indicator. Can he recruit? Can he develop players ? Can he snooze boosters? Can he coach ? Unfortunately basketball is a business and part of the university's arsenal of development. I think the Gonzaga example is one of the best. I wish Coach Young well as he approaches this recruiting cycle and I hope Fairfield's basketball reputation is repaired to a higher level.
I agree, usually three years is a reasonable time to start finding out if a new coach and regime is going to work. Have to give Jay a couple of recruiting cycles baked in so he is working with "his" players as the main guys, something you certainly can't say is happening this season with Sydney's leftovers that include Taj, Landon and Jesus as the most important guys on the court.
I will say this about the Gonzaga example. Much different situation there considering the school has very little competition for miles and miles around, at least for recruits that don't mind eastern Washington as a location. Also don't forget, before Few even became head coach Dan Monson had elevated the program to a national power in the late 90s. Also, years before that John Stockton had performed for the Bulldogs. I think to be reasonable you'd have to say that the days of the Stags becoming a national power (or even a regional one for that matter) are long gone. However a MAAC power should surely be attainable, and not in the distant future either. So at this point in time I think most Fairfield fans would certainly settle for that.
Last Edit: Dec 17, 2019 15:01:07 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Post by runningman on Dec 17, 2019 21:26:11 GMT -5
I have been told that Trinity Catholic will close after the Spring. A shame. I assumed that Trinity consistently produced top hoop teams. Last winter I watched a freshman game against Trinity. My grandson played in that game against Trinity and his team won handily. This surprised me since Trinity has such a great reputation. A sign of the times.
Clearly Jay Young's tenure will be defined by recruiting. Coach Cooley started to improve Fairfield's name in most recruiting hotbeds. I think a step back was taken under Coach Johnson. It ok to ignore local markets and recruiting hotbeds if your strategy is working. Iona has a clear name recognition and strategy in these markets. I am not sure of the basketball reputation at Fairfield anymore. Mark Few is able to build Gonzaga to a national brand from a regional power. It can be done with good coaching and a commitment to getting quality players. I am looking forward to the Oakland game and rest of season to see the Young strategy. I didn't like or agree with the Johnson hire. I met him once and thought he lack an identity that represented True Stags basketball IMO. He treated most players well though a couple of transfers where head scratchers that signaled a problem with player development. I am open minded on the Young hire as a player Development guy and a good recruiter. This is the only way to think this is a good hire. At some point management has to be held accountable. Looking at Young's background you probably need to give him two years to find an identity as a head coach. By year 3 he should find some kind of traction in some indicator. Can he recruit? Can he develop players ? Can he snooze boosters? Can he coach ? Unfortunately basketball is a business and part of the university's arsenal of development. I think the Gonzaga example is one of the best. I wish Coach Young well as he approaches this recruiting cycle and I hope Fairfield's basketball reputation is repaired to a higher level.
I agree, usually three years is a reasonable time to start finding out if a new coach and regime is going to work. Have to give Jay a couple of recruiting cycles baked in so he is working with "his" players as the main guys, something you certainly can't say is happening this season with Sydney's leftovers that include Taj, Landon and Jesus as the most important guys on the court.
I will say this about the Gonzaga example. Much different situation there considering the school has very little competition for miles and miles around, at least for recruits that don't mind eastern Washington as a location. Also don't forget, before Few even became head coach Dan Monson had elevated the program to a national power in the late 90s. Also, years before that John Stockton had performed for the Bulldogs. I think to be reasonable you'd have to say that the days of the Stags becoming a national power (or even a regional one for that matter) are long gone. However a MAAC power should surely be attainable, and not in the distant future either. So at this point in time I think most Fairfield fans would certainly settle for that.
I agree that Recruiting will define Jay Young's tenure. Most importantly, we have to recruit All MAAC guards. In the last 31 years here are our All MAAC guards
Tyler Nelson Derek Needham, Jon Han Terrance Todd Greg Francis
In a guard oriented league that has been loaded with All MAAC guards, its a must to have these type of players. And none of these 5 players overlapped in any years
I have been told that Trinity Catholic will close after the Spring. A shame. I assumed that Trinity consistently produced top hoop teams. Last winter I watched a freshman game against Trinity. My grandson played in that game against Trinity and his team won handily. This surprised me since Trinity has such a great reputation. A sign of the times.
RM actually I have been hearing rumors about the possibility of that very thing happening in the near future, but yet at the same time nothing concrete. Maybe what you heard is true, but yet I wonder given the lack of evidence (like maybe a major article in the local paper) if that very thing will happen so soon, if at all? Hope not of course. The school has a great reputation both academically and athletically going back to the years when it was known as Stamford Catholic.
As far as athletics, particularly boys basketball, it was not more than a couple of years ago where you could say the Crusaders were, if not one of the best in the FCIAC, certainly a feared opponent of almost every other school in the league on any given night. Last year yes there was a slide backward, some of it I'm sure related to the fact that legendary head coach Mike Walsh stepped down from his position. But I do think with the knowledge that Joseph and Abakar as two of the better players in the area will be on the team, might very well indicate that crew could have a strong season. And as far as the carryover to other sports at the school it is interesting that Walsh, who had been helping out the boys as an assistant, switched jobs in mid-season to take over the girls squad when the guy in charge had to leave. Lo and behold a couple of months later when they were state champions in their class, the school had another winner to celebrate even if it wasn't with the program they were most famous for in boys hoops. But all that said, other sports have suffered too. I'm not sure but I think football, maybe also hockey, had trouble finding enough kids to fill out a roster. Maybe even led to combining with another school in a co-op type situation. Not sure, just guessing here. But I do know that enrollment has been going way down, possibly an indicator that what you have heard is sadly true. The situation does indeed bear watching.
The article says Matt Curtis is involved with Stags. I also think Primo Spears s on Fairfield's radar.
Matt Curtis, Northwest Catholic, 6-3, So., G: As a freshman, averaged 17.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 steals. Over the summer, he picked up his first Division I offer from Fairfield University. Primo Spears, Windsor, 6-2, Sr., G: One of the state’s top guards a year ago, averaged 27.5 points and nine assists, leading the Warriors to the Division I state title game. Likely a Division I caliber guard, Spears was an All-State football player this fall, too.
I really like Amir "Primo" Spears.....! ATHLETIC,TOUGH and MATURE Not the physique of an Owen Mahorn but the football background can not be overlooked. athletes are athletes.