I don’t have the stats, but my recollection is that Anthony Johnson was basically a 50% FT shooter for three and a half years. But something happened the last half of his senior where he must have shot 75-80% from the line. It was like a miracle. He went from a guy Cooley would have to hide late in games where we had a lead, to the guy we wanted at the line. Amazing turnaround. Does anyone remember this the same way?
I'm not sure about Johnson but you just described Darren Phillip - he was an absolutely horrendous free throw shoot early in career and turned into a pretty good one by his senior year.
Not too many good free throw shooting big men in Fairfield's recent history, a few that come to mind are Deng Gai, Robby Thompson, and Mike Evanovich
Phillip's FT shooting improved tremendously over four years.
Post by reindeerfan on Mar 31, 2020 15:42:21 GMT -5
When it comes to the all time most memorable free throw shooting centers no conversation is complete without a discussion of Andy Woodtli Woodli appeared in 50 games going 13 for 40 or .325 from the line. Another memorable Center, Harold Brantley, was a beloved Stag but it wasn't his free throwing shooting that we loved:
Fr: 51% So: 53% Jr: 46% Sr: 47% Career .493 (289/586)
Off the top of my head I believe Brantley is the only Stag player to shoot below 50% from the line on more than 500 attempts, but Nick Macarchuk .504 (447/887) is certainly an honorable mention.
He just entered the portal and JY started following. Scoring/shooting PG transferring after frosh season. 44/36/80 - good percentages. Southern Conference co-Frosh of the year by coaches. Frosh of the year by media.
I gather he'd have to sit a year - but he looks like a player.
Last Edit: Mar 31, 2020 19:46:06 GMT -5 by typhaon
He just entered the portal and JY started following. Scoring/shooting PG transferring after frosh season. 44/36/80 - good percentages. Southern Conference co-Frosh of the year by coaches. Frosh of the year by media.
I gather he'd have to sit a year - but he looks like a player.
He wouldn't have to sit if the NCAA approves the changes to the transfer rule. I agree, good percentages, so certainly he looks good on paper. The Stags need one more dynamic guard. Maybe him, maybe?
And a little further checking about him, he was the leading scorer as a freshman for a lousy team (for whatever that means). Also, he had a decent assist to turnover ratio. BTW another player on that team was former Fairfield Warde great Sean Conway (much discussed a couple of years ago in the high school thread). Got quite a bit of playing time and averaged almost 6PPG. Hopefully he builds on that and goes on to have a good career.
Last Edit: Apr 1, 2020 9:08:05 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
I guess Fairfield shouldn't reach out. We are no match.
Maybe this is the reason why the Stags SHOULD reach out. Can't be afraid to shoot high, and if these schools think enough of him to try and convince him to commit, the selling of a great school plus PLAYING TIME might be a great point of emphasis to help seal the deal.
I guess Fairfield shouldn't reach out. We are no match.
Maybe this is the reason why the Stags SHOULD reach out. Can't be afraid to shoot high, and if these schools think enough of him to try and convince him to commit, the selling of a great school plus PLAYING TIME might be a great point of emphasis to help seal the deal.
Obviously highlight videos can be deceptive, but this guy does some things in this video that we haven't seen since Deng Gai.
It seems to me the decision for Otchere is........ does he want to go to a bigger school and play about 15mpg. Or play at an Eastern Michigan (or Fairfield) and play 24mpg. I would certainly go after him, especially because Jay Young is a Big Man's coach. That could be our difference maker.
Another guy that just entered the portal and JY started following.
4-star recruit... so yeah... from JY's Twitter to God's ears.
* I feel like the Stags might be able to find 32+ mpg for him. Also - going to need some guys like this to compete with Pitino.
Agreed. The biggest hurtle right now for transfers is being able to play right away. Even though it looks like the NCAA is leaning that way it is not 100% the case yet. Keep in mind Pierre-Louis was a top 200 recruit last year with a very high grade (offers from Georgia, OK State, RUTGERS and others). I would welcome him but might be a little surprising for him to go mid-major.
Humor me for a minute but I would see it going this way with either of those two transfers:
PG - Caleb 2G - Pierre-Louis/Evee (Could also be Leach if he is ready to go and we don't get a scoring transfer) 3G - Taj (how nice would it be to have 3 ball handlers when we kind of only had 1 in most lineups last year) Strech 4/Wing - Tshiefu C - Maidoh
With Cruz being a great 6 man, AJR continuing to develop, Whipple, Edokpayi off the bench as our first "big", Leach and two more players if we get a transfer guard.
To me that's a great starting point with Cruz and Taj being the only Seniors.
On paper, I'd think Pierre-Louis might be looking higher... but he also might be looking for a place where he can start immediately (and likely star) and still be one of those guys that transfer to the high-major for a grad year. Plus... we never know what connections there might be behind the scenes. It was a little easier to figure with SJ... he tended to only follow the guys he really, really wanted or was about to sign... JY is a bit more prolific, but he doesn't follow everyone. At the very least, I'd bet he has reached out.
On paper, I'd think Pierre-Louis might be looking higher... but he also might be looking for a place where he can start immediately (and likely star) and still be one of those guys that transfer to the high-major for a grad year. Plus... we never know what connections there might be behind the scenes. It was a little easier to figure with SJ... he tended to only follow the guys he really, really wanted or was about to sign... JY is a bit more prolific, but he doesn't follow everyone. At the very least, I'd bet he has reached out.
To be honest it does seem that lately, 95% of these players immediately want to go higher rather than to the same or a lower level of competition when it comes to changing schools. Always the exceptions of course, so if there is any chance at all, Jay should try. And actually regarding connections, there is sort of one here, although probably a little more of a technicality than a real one. Temple is where our DOBO Jim McDonnell worked until last spring before coming to Fairfield. I know, I know, this guy was a freshman last season and therefore wasn't directly connected to Jim. However, maybe in his role with the Owls before he changed jobs McDonnell got to know the kid a bit. It's possible, right?
On paper, I'd think Pierre-Louis might be looking higher... but he also might be looking for a place where he can start immediately (and likely star) and still be one of those guys that transfer to the high-major for a grad year. Plus... we never know what connections there might be behind the scenes. It was a little easier to figure with SJ... he tended to only follow the guys he really, really wanted or was about to sign... JY is a bit more prolific, but he doesn't follow everyone. At the very least, I'd bet he has reached out.
To be honest it does seem that lately, 95% of these players immediately want to go higher rather than to the same or a lower level of competition when it comes to changing schools. Always the exceptions of course, so if there is any chance at all, Jay should try. And actually regarding connections, there is sort of one here, although probably a little more of a technicality than a real one. Temple is where our DOBO Jim McDonnell worked until last spring before coming to Fairfield. I know, I know, this guy was a freshman last season and therefore wasn't directly connected to Jim. However, maybe in his role with the Owls before he changed jobs McDonnell got to know the kid a bit. It's possible, right?
I agree with your point, guys seem to keep wanting to go higher. From a bias perspective I would think if I was that talented why not try to rise a program to a higher level i.e. Ja Morant or Steph Curry? With media where it is today any team can be covered at anytime and be on "networks". While you still will get the vast majority of exposure at a high major, if you are good, people will tune it. Seems like last year Ja Morant was on SportsCenter highlights every night. You better bet that Pinto will be covered on EPSN quite a bit as well...
On paper, I'd think Pierre-Louis might be looking higher... but he also might be looking for a place where he can start immediately (and likely star) and still be one of those guys that transfer to the high-major for a grad year. Plus... we never know what connections there might be behind the scenes. It was a little easier to figure with SJ... he tended to only follow the guys he really, really wanted or was about to sign... JY is a bit more prolific, but he doesn't follow everyone. At the very least, I'd bet he has reached out.
To be honest it does seem that lately, 95% of these players immediately want to go higher rather than to the same or a lower level of competition when it comes to changing schools. Always the exceptions of course, so if there is any chance at all, Jay should try. And actually regarding connections, there is sort of one here, although probably a little more of a technicality than a real one. Temple is where our DOBO Jim McDonnell worked until last spring before coming to Fairfield. I know, I know, this guy was a freshman last season and therefore wasn't directly connected to Jim. However, maybe in his role with the Owls before he changed jobs McDonnell got to know the kid a bit. It's possible, right?
Ooops, cancel that "connection" thought. I forgot that although he played for the Owls a few years ago, actually he worked for the Phoenix Suns before coming to Fairfield. Anyway, nice try nashville. But wait a minute, we actually do have another connection between the two schools. The daughter of JS is a graduate of Temple. Maybe that could be a difference-maker!