Very interesting I never thought of the “portal “ being a source for D-1 programs to secure players moving up from D-2. So far it appears Heath has been contacted , but not offered a scholarship by FF. Perhaps the portal is where a smart/ astute coaching staff can mine a gem that perhaps initially was not ready for D-1 initially.
Post by nashvillestag on Mar 20, 2020 9:00:39 GMT -5
I have absolutely NO knowledge about this player other than the stats posted under his name. Don't know anything about his academic ability or his personality and how he would fit into a team situation, etc. But that said, based on his outstanding and efficient numbers all across the board, I think if I were Jay I would be all over this kid to try to get him to become a Stag, again if the ancillary points above are positive. Don't discount D-2 here. A lot of these kids can really play but for some reason weren't offered by D-1 schools. Over recent times there have been quite a few of these guys that have gone under the radar but then received an opportunity to move up and have made the most of that opportunity. Just to mention one local team that benefited in this way was Sacred Heart these past two years which rode the tremendous shot-blocking and rim-protecting talents of Jarel Spellman (a D-2 transfer from Florida Southern) as a main factor in them becoming a much better team than they had been for ages. Another even more known example, and this on a national stage and actually from D-3, was Duncan Robinson who transferred from Williams College to Michigan a few years ago. Had a great career as most fans know, and is now playing in the NBA. Anyway, in our situation nothing should be off the table and Jay and his staff should be looking under every rock. JS, since West Chester is so close to where you live, do you know anything more about Robbie Heath?
I have absolutely NO knowledge about this player other than the stats posted under his name. Don't know anything about his academic ability or his personality and how he would fit into a team situation, etc. But that said, based on his outstanding and efficient numbers all across the board, I think if I were Jay I would be all over this kid to try to get him to become a Stag, again if the ancillary points above are positive. Don't discount D-2 here. A lot of these kids can really play but for some reason weren't offered by D-1 schools. Over recent times there have been quite a few of these guys that have gone under the radar but then received an opportunity to move up and have made the most of that opportunity. Just to mention one local team that benefited in this way was Sacred Heart these past two years which rode the tremendous shot-blocking and rim-protecting talents of Jarel Spellman (a D-2 transfer from Florida Southern) as a main factor in them becoming a much better team than they had been for ages. Another even more known example, and this on a national stage and actually from D-3, was Duncan Robinson who transferred from Williams College to Michigan a few years ago. Had a great career as most fans know, and is now playing in the NBA. Anyway, in our situation nothing should be off the table and Jay and his staff should be looking under every rock. JS, since West Chester is so close to where you live, do you know anything more about Robbie Heath?
Spellman played at Florida Southern for Mike Donnelly, who is a Sacred Heart alum.
I thought Donnelly would be an interesting candidate for FF's HC position last year. A local guy (Stratford) who helped build the program at Post in Waterbury, led SCSU to a D2 title in 2014, and took D2 Fla Southern from 10-17 his first year, to 29-2 this season. I'm happy we have Jay Young, but assuming he wants to move up, Donnelly will coach a D1 team sooner than later.
Nash makes some good points. I had a college coach tell me that there's a very fine line between D1 and D2, especially the guards. He said a very good case could be made that 25% of D1 guards should be D2, and 25% of D2 should be D1.
I have absolutely NO knowledge about this player other than the stats posted under his name. Don't know anything about his academic ability or his personality and how he would fit into a team situation, etc. But that said, based on his outstanding and efficient numbers all across the board, I think if I were Jay I would be all over this kid to try to get him to become a Stag, again if the ancillary points above are positive. Don't discount D-2 here. A lot of these kids can really play but for some reason weren't offered by D-1 schools. Over recent times there have been quite a few of these guys that have gone under the radar but then received an opportunity to move up and have made the most of that opportunity. Just to mention one local team that benefited in this way was Sacred Heart these past two years which rode the tremendous shot-blocking and rim-protecting talents of Jarel Spellman (a D-2 transfer from Florida Southern) as a main factor in them becoming a much better team than they had been for ages. Another even more known example, and this on a national stage and actually from D-3, was Duncan Robinson who transferred from Williams College to Michigan a few years ago. Had a great career as most fans know, and is now playing in the NBA. Anyway, in our situation nothing should be off the table and Jay and his staff should be looking under every rock. JS, since West Chester is so close to where you live, do you know anything more about Robbie Heath?
Spellman played at Florida Southern for Mike Donnelly, who is a Sacred Heart alum.
I thought Donnelly would be an interesting candidate for FF's HC position last year. A local guy (Stratford) who helped build the program at Post in Waterbury, led SCSU to a D2 title in 2014, and took D2 Fla Southern from 10-17 his first year, to 29-2 this season. I'm happy we have Jay Young, but assuming he wants to move up, Donnelly will coach a D1 team sooner than later.
Certainly his record is deserving but for some reason it has historically been hard for D-2 coaches to get the big break of getting the chance to move up to the higher level. There have been exceptions of course, prime example being Tim Cluess. I always remember back in the day wondering why Bruce Webster of UB despite putting out outstanding teams year after year was never given that opportunity. The general word around the subject was that D-1 schools preferred D-1 assistants over D-2 head guys because of perceived recruiting connections. I myself would label that more of a case of general "bias," but anyway that's the way it seemed to be many years ago and that's the way it is now. But in any event I would hope that Donnelly, who BTW was once a very good high school player at St. Joe's, would indeed get the opportunity to run his own D-1 program.
If he transfers from D2 to D1 he will need to sit one year, unless the new proposed transfer rule is made official by the NCAA council. The council is suppose to take a vote in April for implementation during 20/21 academic year.
Robbie Heath has got some talent. If he has to sit or not, he could be one of 3 guards that we need to bring in this coming year.
According to the NCAA, only 11 of the 768 players who transferred this year moved from Division II to Division I; 189 went from D1 to D2. A player going from D2 to D1 must sit out one season before becoming eligible unless he's a graduate transfer; a D1 transfer is immediately eligible in D2
Spellman played at Florida Southern for Mike Donnelly, who is a Sacred Heart alum.
I thought Donnelly would be an interesting candidate for FF's HC position last year. A local guy (Stratford) who helped build the program at Post in Waterbury, led SCSU to a D2 title in 2014, and took D2 Fla Southern from 10-17 his first year, to 29-2 this season. I'm happy we have Jay Young, but assuming he wants to move up, Donnelly will coach a D1 team sooner than later.
Certainly his record is deserving but for some reason it has historically been hard for D-2 coaches to get the big break of getting the chance to move up to the higher level. There have been exceptions of course, prime example being Tim Cluess. I always remember back in the day wondering why Bruce Webster of UB despite putting out outstanding teams year after year was never given that opportunity. The general word around the subject was that D-1 schools preferred D-1 assistants over D-2 head guys because of perceived recruiting connections. I myself would label that more of a case of general "bias," but anyway that's the way it seemed to be many years ago and that's the way it is now. But in any event I would hope that Donnelly, who BTW was once a very good high school player at St. Joe's, would indeed get the opportunity to run his own D-1 progra Mam.
Nash. Didn’t Don Feeley go from D2 Sacred Heart to D1 FDU?
Certainly his record is deserving but for some reason it has historically been hard for D-2 coaches to get the big break of getting the chance to move up to the higher level. There have been exceptions of course, prime example being Tim Cluess. I always remember back in the day wondering why Bruce Webster of UB despite putting out outstanding teams year after year was never given that opportunity. The general word around the subject was that D-1 schools preferred D-1 assistants over D-2 head guys because of perceived recruiting connections. I myself would label that more of a case of general "bias," but anyway that's the way it seemed to be many years ago and that's the way it is now. But in any event I would hope that Donnelly, who BTW was once a very good high school player at St. Joe's, would indeed get the opportunity to run his own D-1 progra Mam.
Nash. Didn’t Don Feeley go from D2 Sacred Heart to D1 FDU?
Disco, you're right, he most certainly did. Actually though he had become an assistant at Yale for three years before he got the FDU job. So I guess in his case you could look at it two ways in that he was first a D-2 coach, but then later a D-1 assistant. And in kind of a quirky way where a D-2 guy went to D-1, ironically Feeley's successor at SHU, Dave Bike, fell into that category when the Pioneers moved up in class in the late 90s. Given that fact I wonder if any other D-2 school in the country could say they have had two of their coaches become D-1 guys later on? My guess is probably not.
