Going to be a busy recruiting season for us, as we've four scholarships to hand out. First offer goes to 2* PG
Dennis Luther. The Placentia, CA native already looks to be an accomplished ballthief with upside to grow into and incredible passing potential.
3* San Fernando, CA SG
Daniel Burkey gets our second offer. Not a stealer, but I'm in love with his shotblocking potential and he appears to have untapped upside in his jumper, handling, and passing. Could end up a three-position player. Can't shoot the 3 ball but that's fine. I'm a little frustrated with that anyway.
6'7, 212 lbs
Chris Pigg may be an undersized 4, but I'm seeing potential versatility in his upside and he's already a very good shotblocker. Great name, too, for the 3* Sonora, CA product.
2* C
Frank Gilmore is 7', 313 pounds, and the Eugene, OR native is an All-State player with an all-around skillset that reminds me of
Angel Moore in that he's just straight up solid. Has no hops and no speed, but he's literally the strongest dude I've ever encountered on the recruiting trail. You're literally not going to be able to move him, so an offer he gets.
I pull my offer to
Daniel Burkey when I see that
UC-Santa Barbara and
San Diego (aka University of Spoiled Daughters) have both offered him. No way in hell we can compete - either with those campuses or those programs.
Dennis Luther is also interested in spoiled daughters, but we're his only offer so far.
Chris Pigg has offers from
San Jose State and
St. Mary's, but we haven't invited him for a campus visit yet, so we're not giving up.
Frank Gilmore really wants to stay in Oregon, but he's being swayed by our charms and scholarship offer.
Gross.
Daniel Burkey signs with
UC-Santa Barbara. Not looking forward to that for the next four years. Glad I pulled my offer.
Happily, we sign
Dennis Luther.
Code:
#21 PG Dennis Luther
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Height: 6-2
Weight: 182
High School: El Dorado High School
Hometown: Placentia, CA
GPA: 2.76
Test Score: 970
Rating: **
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 27 27 28 43 38 41 50 20 16 31 62 21 88 13 40 22
Potential: D B D C D A C F F C A D
Season Stats:
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PTS OREB REB AST TOS A/T STL BLK PFS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.5 2.1 4.0 6.4 2.5 2.61 4.4 0.1 2.8
Shooting Averages:
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FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% 3PM 3PA 3P%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.7 9.5 .495 0.6 0.9 .611 0.5 1.9 .270
Recruiting Notes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qualified: Yes
Committed to Cal State Northridge
Rankings: West Region #24 PG
High School Awards: None
Top 5 Schools: *Cal State Northridge, San Diego, UC Irvine, Saint Mary's
Could end up a combo guard since his handles are reportedly not that great. Should be a good fit for our pressure system, however, once we're able to fully install it. That's 1 of 4 out of the way.
No one is willing to redshirt this year, so the classes are now officially unbalanced. We'll figure that out later. But for now, a review of our training camp results, starters first:
Code:
#0 PG Joseph Velarde - Cal State Northridge - Freshman
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Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
High School: Hesperia High School
Hometown: Hesperia, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 48 49 76 40 52 41 11 5 28 4 68 14 73 40 45 82
2015: 46 48 74 39 49 39 11 5 28 4 64 14 73 39 44 78
2014: 44 46 70 37 43 35 11 5 28 4 58 14 71 37 42 70
Potential: B C B C B C D F D F A F
Hasn't progressed as much as I'd hoped in the first two years. Still, he's the starting PG because he's by far the best option. While the rest of The Big West has done quite well with recruiting the position, we haven't. Also can not play perimeter D to save his life, so I will keep trying to recruit over him. Orange/Green
Code:
#54 SG Angel Moore - Cal State Northridge - Junior
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Height: 6-4
Weight: 211
High School:
Hometown: Grimsby, Canada
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 39 52 53 62 33 10 27 35 27 48 58 21 81 59 95 64
2015: 38 50 51 58 32 9 26 34 26 44 52 20 81 56 94 56
2014: 37 46 47 52 31 8 25 33 25 39 45 19 80 53 93 48
2013: 37 42 43 48 29 8 25 33 25 35 41 19 78 45 89 28
Potential: C C C B D F D C D C B D
Stat Averages:
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Season G GS MIN PTS ORE REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF
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2014 30 30 30.1 14.5 1.1 3.8 1.0 2.8 0.35 0.8 0.1 2.9
2015 22 22 30.2 11.6 0.9 3.5 1.0 2.8 0.35 0.5 0.0 2.5
Career 52 52 30.2 13.3 1.0 3.7 1.0 2.8 0.35 0.7 0.1 2.8
Shooting Averages:
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Season FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% 3PM 3PA 3P% PPS +/-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 4.4 11.5 .386 3.2 4.2 .756 2.4 6.7 .356 1.26 -2.97
2015 3.4 10.5 .325 2.8 3.6 .775 2.0 7.6 .256 1.10 -8.68
Career 4.0 11.1 .361 3.0 4.0 .763 2.2 7.1 .311 1.20 -5.38
Back to Yellow/Green and apparently recovered from his bulging disc problems. Steady progress on paper, but last year was a total and complete disaster in virtually every way. Can he recover and have a bounce back season?
Code:
#24 SF Gunther Hasenkopf - Cal State Northridge - Junior
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Height: 6-3
Weight: 208
High School:
Hometown: Tubingen, Germany
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 27 38 61 86 24 21 46 48 27 20 73 23 70 48 96 74
2015: 25 37 60 85 22 19 42 44 26 18 67 22 70 47 95 70
2014: 23 36 57 80 21 18 39 41 25 17 63 21 70 46 95 66
2013: 21 36 55 76 19 16 35 39 25 15 59 21 69 44 94 58
Potential: C C C A D D C C D D B D
Stat Averages:
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Season G GS MIN PTS ORE REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF
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2014 19 19 31.8 10.7 1.2 4.3 1.8 3.1 0.58 1.5 0.1 3.5
2015 31 31 30.2 10.3 1.6 5.1 1.5 3.0 0.48 0.8 0.2 3.4
Career 50 50 30.8 10.4 1.4 4.8 1.6 3.1 0.48 1.1 0.1 3.4
Shooting Averages:
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Season FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% 3PM 3PA 3P% PPS +/-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 3.4 8.3 .405 2.2 3.2 .700 1.7 5.1 .344 1.28 -0.58
2015 2.8 7.4 .376 3.1 4.2 .744 1.6 4.5 .362 1.39 -6.16
Career 3.0 7.7 .388 2.8 3.8 .730 1.7 4.7 .354 1.35 -4.04
Being a Dummkopf has limited
Rabbithead's growth, but this season portends to possibly be a breakout year, as the system changes should see his stats increase. Yellow/Green.
Code:
#15 C Winston Reyes - Cal State Northridge - Freshman
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Height: 6-11
Weight: 321
High School: Bethel High School
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 56 52 22 0 10 19 35 36 43 33 10 45 30 80 40 63
2015: 53 51 21 0 10 18 33 35 41 33 10 43 30 80 39 56
2014: 47 49 21 0 10 16 29 33 37 33 10 39 29 80 38 38
Potential: B C D F F D C C C C F C
Surprised to see the big guy at PF? Don't be - he's quicker than any of the true bigs on the roster other than
Raphael Taylor. I'm not sure what kind of season to expect from him, to be honest. One of the biggest mysteries on the roster. Best inside game of the starters at any rate. Orange/Green
Code:
#1 C Marlin Chevalier - Cal State Northridge - Junior
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Height: 6-11
Weight: 219
High School: Fred C. Nelles High School
Hometown: Whittier, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 25 21 41 18 23 13 75 68 48 27 8 65 22 73 45 76
2015: 23 20 38 17 21 12 65 59 43 26 8 57 22 73 44 68
2014: 21 19 36 17 20 12 57 51 39 25 8 51 22 71 43 59
2013: 19 17 34 17 20 12 51 45 35 25 8 45 21 65 41 37
Potential: D D C D D D B A C C F B
Stat Averages:
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Season G GS MIN PTS ORE REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF
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2014 23 23 30.8 5.5 2.0 6.8 1.2 2.1 0.55 0.4 0.3 2.9
2015 31 31 30.1 4.4 2.2 6.1 0.7 2.5 0.28 0.4 0.8 2.9
Career 54 54 30.4 4.9 2.1 6.4 0.9 2.3 0.28 0.4 0.6 2.9
Shooting Averages:
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Season FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% 3PM 3PA 3P% PPS +/-
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2014 2.0 4.0 .511 1.3 2.0 .674 0.0 0.2 .200 1.37 -2.83
2015 1.4 3.6 .387 1.5 2.0 .774 0.1 0.3 .222 1.23 -7.48
Career 1.7 3.8 .443 1.5 2.0 .731 0.1 0.3 .214 1.29 -5.50
The Fish Knight had an absolute gangbusters TC: +10 OReb and +9 DReb to go with +8 Blk. Garbage sophomore year like everyone else, but he's now one of the Big West's best combined rebounders and shotblockers. I'm expecting an incredible year from him, as his Orange/Yellow attests
Returning Reserves of Note
Code:
#11 PF Florentin Dupretz - Cal State Northridge - Sophomore
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Height: 6-9
Weight: 247
High School:
Hometown: Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 41 41 53 55 41 22 49 28 5 31 45 48 42 64 44 64
2015: 36 39 51 53 39 21 41 25 4 30 42 43 41 62 43 58
2014: 34 37 49 51 37 19 37 23 4 28 38 41 40 56 41 42
Potential: C C C C C D B C F C B C
Stat Averages:
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Season G GS MIN PTS ORE REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF
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2015 31 31 32.1 7.2 1.2 3.8 0.7 2.0 0.37 0.6 0.5 2.5
Career 31 31 32.1 7.2 1.2 3.8 0.7 2.0 0.37 0.6 0.5 2.5
Shooting Averages:
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Season FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% 3PM 3PA 3P% PPS +/-
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2015 2.4 5.8 .411 1.6 2.2 .710 0.8 2.4 .356 1.24 -6.77
Career 2.4 5.8 .411 1.6 2.2 .710 0.8 2.4 .356 1.24 -6.77
We all know the Frenchman's late-season heroics but at this point, he's been recruited over. He'll see time as the backup SG this season, shifting over to the perimeter where his height and defense will actually be beneficial, and we'll be well clear of his awful post! Red/Yellow
Code:
#14 PG Rickie Burns - Cal State Northridge - Junior
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Height: 6-4
Weight: 188
High School: Canoga Park Senior High School
Hometown: Canoga Park, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 13 21 48 58 52 24 27 46 35 31 46 10 74 28 55 83
2015: 12 19 44 57 51 23 25 42 32 28 41 9 73 26 54 76
2014: 11 17 40 53 49 22 23 39 30 25 36 9 73 24 54 69
2013: 11 15 38 51 47 20 21 37 28 23 34 9 72 22 52 53
Potential: F D C C C D D C C C C F
Stat Averages:
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Season G GS MIN PTS ORE REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF
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2014 30 30 31.7 6.5 0.9 3.3 1.8 2.4 0.75 0.9 0.0 2.5
2015 31 31 33.6 7.9 0.7 3.4 1.9 2.3 0.83 1.1 0.1 2.4
Career 61 61 32.7 7.2 0.8 3.4 1.9 2.3 0.83 1.0 0.1 2.5
Shooting Averages:
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Season FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% 3PM 3PA 3P% PPS +/-
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2014 2.0 5.8 .347 1.7 2.5 .684 0.7 3.2 .232 1.12 -2.50
2015 2.5 6.5 .390 1.6 2.4 .653 1.3 4.0 .323 1.23 -6.84
Career 2.3 6.1 .370 1.7 2.5 .669 1.0 3.6 .283 1.18 -4.70
Nice kid. Finally will end up not starting and be the first point guard off the bench. Has been surprisingly effective, all things considered. Next year, he probably drops to third string, and he'll be just a neat little story.
The True Freshmen
Code:
#31 C Thomas Hadden - Cal State Northridge - Freshman
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Height: 6-9
Weight: 259
High School: Center High School
Hometown: Antelope, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 19 47 23 0 4 23 24 58 81 31 40 77 13 79 42 73
2015: 19 45 23 0 4 23 22 50 75 31 38 71 11 73 40 57
Potential: D C D F F D C A A C C A
I seriously contemplated replacing the
Fish Knight with him in the starting lineup. That post defense and shotblocking is absolutely incredible as a true freshman. Already Orange/Yellow. If the season goes south. I might well pull the trigger to see what happens. Very, very happy with this one.
Code:
#43 SG Reinaldo Gonzalez - Cal State Northridge - Freshman
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Height: 6-4
Weight: 184
High School: La Habra High School
Hometown: La Habra, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 63 28 26 22 5 7 26 48 20 44 39 68 70 55 62 53
2015: 57 26 24 20 5 7 24 44 20 38 35 64 68 49 59 31
Potential: A C D D F F D C D B C A
Because his handles are so bad, I'm limiting him to SF, similar to
Hasenkopf. The most interesting player I've recruited to date, and he really should have been a 2* recruit at minimum. Super slept on and already Orange/Green. Could push
Rabbithead out of the lineup either this season or next.
Code:
#10 C Raphael Taylor - Cal State Northridge - Freshman
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Height: 7-0
Weight: 276
High School: Cerritos High School
Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Attributes:
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Type INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QKN STR JMP STA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current: 41 32 19 0 26 15 43 31 37 4 25 30 32 92 39 40
2015: 35 30 19 0 24 15 37 29 33 4 25 28 30 82 36 24
Potential: B C D F C F B C C F D D
Bull-strong and bullheaded. Should have taken a redshirt year. Red/Green, though I'm not fond of his inability to block shots. Moves with quickness for his size.
We're going with the Matchup Zone defense, though we're starting at 50 for it, which makes me a bit tetchy.
Gonzalez joins
Rabbithead and
Angel Moore as our primary scoring options.
Still no motion because we don't have the passers for it, but we're 5 Pace, 5 3 point shooting, and Balanced Offense. Our pressing leaps up to 7 and for the first time, we won't be doubling much inside (4). This is a radically different scheme in every way because we have the deepest bench we've ever had. Ever. I'm actually excited for this year.
@ SIU-Edwardsville
The Cougars have a pretty good center in junior
David Langlois and a shutdown perimeter defender in
Daren Harrison, who was a JUCO transfer in 2014 and a starter last year. But overall, I'm not seeing anything particularly threatening here.
We're up by 10 at the half and I'm honestly surprised we're not ahead by more. We're dominating in almost every important statistical category. Of course, that probably means we'll implode but...
Sure as shit, we let them right back in the game, getting particularly sloppy at protecting the ball, but we escape with the 62-58 victory.
Angel Moore is back to his old self with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals in earning Player of the Game.
Joseph Velarde greets college with 15 points.
@ Presbyterian
Sophomore
James Briggs is a legit great player, but he's a star on a very bad, very short Blue Hose team, though junior
Chadwick Carey is a pretty decent all-around defender.
God, it feels amazing to actually be able to beat up teams. 44-28 at the half as
Rabbithead has already teed off for 15 points and 8 rebounds and
Angel Moore has scored 10.
Easy 74-61 win with
Angel Moore roaring alive in the second half for 23 points, 6 rebounds, and a steal to earn Player of the Game.
Rabbithead powered his way to 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals. Off the bench we have 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a steal by
Thomas Hadden.
We'll get ROFLstomped in our annual three-game road trip against the nation's blue bloods that I'll summarize, but I'm just going to enjoy this moment for now.