2012 Small Forward Offer

Another 2012 northeast prospect is the recipient of a Tech offer and is listing the Red Raiders among his leaders.  Another Chris Walker special, you could say.  According to Adam Zagoria, New York Gauchos small forward Arthur Edwards’ list currently consists of George Mason, Texas Tech, Miami, Towson, Florida, Texas and SMU.  That is a pretty wide variety of universities with few, if any, common denominators.   Well, they all have Division 1 basketball programs.  Presumably Texas and Florida have not offered.  But Billy Gililspie and Tech have.

Edwards is a 6’6, 190lb small forward.  He is a strong kid who shows a nice touch around the basket.  Although not a lost cause, his jump shot reportedly is not much a high major weapon at this point.  The same could be said of his handle:  it is OK but he won't be taking Big 12 defenders off the bounce his freshman year.  Most of Edwards’ buckets come in transition and second chance opportunities, not that there is anything wrong with that.  Arthur is a good defender with the ability to turn into a very good defensive player.  I see no reason why Arthur couldn’t develop into a plus rebounder during his college career.  He processes a desirable frame and good athleticism for a Big 12 small forward.  Four years of college ball ahead, plus size and plus athleticism are characteristics that Red Raider fans will gladly accept in a potential basketball player.

I think that it is becoming obvious that size, athleticism and the potential to be a plus defender are valued traits in the prospects that Coach Gillipsie and his staff will chase during their tenure in Lubbock.  Gillispie is willing to overlook offensive shortcomings if the ability and willingness to get after it on the defensive end is evident.  If his style of play during his stay in College Station is any indication, he will not have a problem keeping games in the 40’s if it gives his team a chance to win.  Lack of size and lack of heart and cohesion on the defensive end of the floor were two common complaints from fans during the Pat Knight era.  These will be two strengths of the Gillispie era.  Gillispie will demand effort and focus on the defensive end and will not be afraid to use the bench as a motivating force.  Basketball will look much different in Lubbock in the coming seasons, and for Red Raider fans, it is a welcomed change.

Here is a two and half minute youtube highlight video of Edwards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PvhOAKWgrQ

Here is a (free) article published today by Maurice Wingate on NYChoops.net (yahoo) on the matchup between Edwards’ Gauchos and Team Philly, featuring Tech targets Brandon Phillips and Maurice Watson:  http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1246004

2012 Tech Offer - Brandon Taylor

According to Raphielle Johnson of NBEbasketball.com, Billy Gillispie has offered Trenton Catholic Academy and Team Philly power forward Brandon Taylor.  Taylor’s Team Philly point guard Maurice Watson also holds a Tech offer.  Taylor is a class of 2012 power forward who is listed at 6’6 by Yahoo and 6’8 by Team Philly and ESPN.  Taylor has recently picked up an offer from Miami to go along with offers from Drexel, Penn State, Maryland, and Siena.  And obviously the Red Raiders.

Taylor patterns his game after Dirk Nowitzki and his hair style after Terran Petteway and pre-buzz Jordan Goodman.  He is a physical and mobile player who is a mismatch for most bigs because of his ability to shoot from the outside.  However, Taylor is not your typical jump shooting high school big man.  He is listed at 235lbs and described as physically developed.  So unlike many high school bigs who develop a jumper because they are not strong enough to bang inside, Taylor has the ability to throw his weight around inside as well.

 

An obvious and predictable trend that is developing in the early stages of the Gillispie era:  heavily recruiting the northeast.  Although Coach Walker has many contacts throughout Texas, it is obvious that he has developed contacts throughout the northeast in his time at Villanova.  Until the staff is rounded out (preferably with someone with deep Texas connections) and even after it is, I would look for Walker and Gillispie to continue to put an emphasis on the northeast, particularly Philadelphia.  And I also suspect that, despite their abnormally large 2011 class, Gillispie and Co have about as many offers extended for the class of 2012 as any staff in the country.

Here is a youtube video of Team Philly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crgSSWNUZiE

I suggest skipping to 1:25 to avoid a whole lot of nothing and then you can see Watson and Taylor executing a pick and pop culminating with a Taylor game winning 3 pointer.  Taylor is number 34 with the hair and Watson is the little guy, number 4. 

Photo courtesy of Team Philly

Tech 2012 Offer

According to Adam Zagoria (http://www.zagsblog.com/), Billy G and Chris Walker have offered a scholarship to 2012 point guard Maurice Watson (http://www.scout.com/a.z?s=143&p=8&c=1&nid=5556523).  The diminutive point guard from Philly has blow up this summer with Texas Tech being the largest and latest to offer.  Some other notable offers he holds include Rice, Boston, Iona, Hofstra, and Moorehead State.  Not exactly high major offers, but some of those coaching staffs have assembled pretty good teams in recent years.

Many Red Raider fans probably have a sour taste in their mouths with regard to small guards over the disappointing development of John Roberson while on campus.  Other may not see where another small guard would fit with Kevin Wagner already on campus.  To the first concern, I would suggest that Roberson's development had more to do with the previous coaching regime and John's lack of desire than his stature.  Addressing second concern, I would say check out Gillispie's track If they aren't with the program (developing and contributing), they will find their way out of the program.  There is going to be a lot of player turnover, particularly in the early stages of Gillispie's building of the program.  Also, this is just an offer, not a commitment.  I imagine that offers are being flung at prospects all over the country, so no need to get too worked up about this one.

I will add that there is a growing contingent of basketball enthusiasts who feel that a guard's height is one of the most overrated criteria used to evaluate a prospect.  While there are not many sub-6ooters who are stars in the NBA, at every other level of basketball there are difference makers of all shapes and sizes.  Conferences big and small alike annually see sub-6-footers disproportionately represented on All-Conference teams.