Strategic Scholarship Spacing

General NCS Basketball40

In the big picture, NC State’s Basketball program desperately needs more strategic spacing of scholarships to insure balance in the program’s future. As you will see in a moment, the addition of a junior college player this season would play a major role in helping the Pack balance our roster for future seasons.

SFN discussed State’s thin roster for the 2006-2007 season in this entry, but we didn’t lay out the scholarship spacing picture as clearly as we could have. The 13 scholarships spots on next year’s roster are as follows:

Senior Class
(1) Engin Atsur (G)

Junior Class
(2) Andrew Brackman (probably playing his last season) (F/C)
(3) Gavin Grant (G/F)

Sophomore Class
(4) Courtney Fells (G)
(5) Ben McCauley (F/C)

Freshman Class
(6) Brandon Costner (hopefully gets redshirt) (F)
(7) Trevor Ferguson (eligible in spring) (G)
(8) Dennis Horner (F)
(9) Potentially Dan Werner (F)
(1o) N/A
(11) N/A
(12) N/A
(13) N/A

So, next^ year looks tough enough in its own right…but, consider that Andrew Brackman is most likely going to be a high draft pick in next year’s Major League Baseball draft and will not return his senior season. That will effectivly make him a senior next year and make his scholarship available a year prematurely. So, take a look at the projected roster spacing for 2007-2008:

Senior Class
(1) Gavin Grant (G/F)

Junior Class
(2) Courtney Fells (G)
(3) Ben McCauley (F/C)

Sophomore Class
(4) Brandon Costner (hopefully gets redshirt) (F)
(5) Trevor Ferguson (G)
(6) Dennis Horner (F)
(7) Potentially Dan Werner (F)

Freshman Class
(7) Potentially Dan Werner’s scholarship
(8) N/A
(9) N/A
(10) N/A
(11) N/A
(12) N/A
(13) N/A

General NCS Basketball

40 Responses to Strategic Scholarship Spacing

  1. Dan 06/07/2006 at 11:29 AM #

    It should be understood that for the first two years whatever Sid does, I back and will make an attempt to understand. If he brings in two JUCO players this year, my response will be “He’s ten times more qualifies than I am to make that call.” I understand the reasoning behind wanting a post player for this season. I also understand the argument that a bad season in ’06 can really affect the ’08 recruiting class, so if you need to bring some guys in to maintain this year in order to recruit in the future, I can get that. I dont necessarily agree with it, but I get the argument, and I’d get behind Sid on it.

  2. redfred2 06/07/2006 at 12:08 PM #

    “I think it’s pretty obvious that 2007 was going to be one of his better classes – and he had positioned himself and the recruits nicely for that.”

    I don’t know exactly what that statement is saying but I do know Herb would be delighted that someone has confidence in his ability to at least “position” himself, if no one else.

    Here we are once again subjected to a rosy scenario of the maybe’s that Herb Sendek wouldn’t have accomplished with just a few more years. The present doesn’t matter to some people, it’s always the future over and over again, there’s no memory of the illogical underachievement of just last year.

    Cedric Simmons, Julius Hodge, Cameron Bennerman among others, keep coming to my mind when I hear anyone talking about what Herb could have done with a great future recruit. It’s been proven already, on too many occasions, how many times does it take?

  3. choppack1 06/07/2006 at 1:04 PM #

    redfred – I was basing that sentence on the following known facts:
    1) A verbal commit from Wright
    2) Top 25 Evan Thomas saying he was on the verge of committing to us.
    3) Julian Vaughn’s recruitment
    4) Gilstrap’s consideration.

    What I meant by “positioned” was that he had several open scolies and playing time to offer the pure PG.

    Look – I agree that it’s all water under the bridge now. If you’d read the entire post – (I don’t if that’s possible in your case) – you’d see that I criticized Sendek for creating a situation where a banner recruiting class was necessary in year 11. What in the heck do you think the following sentence means?

    “Unfortunately, he had also positioned himself and the program so that next year HAD to have a great class.”

  4. redfred2 06/07/2006 at 1:11 PM #

    chop

    Tongue lashing accepted with no hard feelings.

  5. primacyone 06/07/2006 at 1:32 PM #

    ^choppack1 – you may be right. There may not be any JUCO players left eligilbe for transfer this fall.

  6. choppack1 06/07/2006 at 2:12 PM #

    redfred – good – I probably should have been more diplomatic.

    primacy- That’s not to say Lowe shouldn’t look this way for 2007 if the right kid presents himself or if this one juco kid who is available out there now is just waiting for an NC State scoly and has no significant baggage I don’t want him.

    Unfortunately, I’ve pretty much written off 2006 and will be thrilled if we keep Werner (in addition to Horner.)

  7. redfred2 06/07/2006 at 2:23 PM #

    “I probably should have been more diplomatic.”

    Where’s the fun in that?

    Be prepared, every time I see a what might have happened scenario posted, I will keep responding likewise.

  8. redfred2 06/07/2006 at 3:04 PM #

    I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but the more I hear about Cedric Simmons NBA appraisals, the more irrate I become. There’s no sense of pride involved for the simple that he was enrolled at NCSU for a while. I was deprived of watching the guy play his real game on the collgiate level.

    If the coaching change hadn’t happened, his leaving wouldn’t have upset me as much. I was hoping for at least one good year, suited up in RED, for NC State and the ACC to remember him by.

  9. vtpackfan 06/07/2006 at 3:12 PM #

    Monte was pretty busy signing players this spring before his departure. One was an athletic 6’7″ PF JC transfer who had limited playng time due to an injury. Alvardo Parker, originally from Turk and Caicos, and has tremondous shot blocking abililty, and runs the floor very well. He wasn’t recruited as much because his playing time was limited due to injury. There were three others but they looked as if they either weren’t going to play for a team better than UNO, or very academically suspicious (Jermonte Bush, PG with a ton of ability but went to an unacredited post prep christian academy to become NCAA eligible). Parker could file for a release on grounds that Towe left and UNO has still not named a new basketball coach (sound familiar).

  10. Rick 06/07/2006 at 3:49 PM #

    I do not care what kind of recruiting lass Herb brought in, it would have resulted in the same kind of year.

    His system brought moderate success no matter who was in it.

  11. redfred2 06/08/2006 at 12:27 PM #

    “There seems to be two different types of coaches. Those who adapt their offense to the players they have like Ol Roy. And those that force their system on the players they recruit like K.”

    K has the option to play however he desires at Duke. Roy did it differently because he forced to with a group of freshman that were relative unknowns. Both coaches can pretty much pick and choose from the cream of the crop, that allows them to run whatever system they want. When coaches fail to pick up players to suit their needs, most re-evaluate and abandon their system to accomidate the talent that they are left with, and adapt to it out of neccessity. Only a select few have the luxury to do otherwise. Herb was not one of those lucky few, but he was not unlike K in thinking that he could ram his style down their throats, he just couldn’t recruit the talent or figure out to use his player’s talents wisely in a different way, like Roy and most good coaches do.

    I do not understand scholarships being left open for THREE years either. The theory on saving them because of failed projects like Flatt and etc., is invalid. Unless you are saying that Herb decided to leave the scholarships open based on players like Hodge and other recruits that were already skilled when they arrived. Did he see that players were not improving and he needed high school phenoms, why waste the time on “projects” anymore. I’ll save these scholarships for later on, and maybe I’ll get lucky on one or two more players who are already really talented straight out of high school.

  12. Dan 06/09/2006 at 10:35 AM #

    “K has the option to play however he desires at Duke. ”

    Yeah, its his way or the bench. Ask Shavlick Randolph. Or Eric Beoteng. Or Jamal Boykin. K doesnt adapt. K forces the pieces the fit. Dont get me wrong, he does it better than anyone else. But K’s problem most years is that he plays 6 to 7 guys that run out of steam come March. That’s how many guys he can force into his mold enough to be comfortable with. Anyone who doesnt sell out completely to K’s style can forget sniffing any playing time. K utilizes a dedicate low post player, a PG, a spot up shooting #2, and a prototypical #3. No way a guy like Shav ever had a chance there. K isnt going to change what he does for anyone.

    “Roy did it differently because he forced to with a group of freshman that were relative unknowns.”

    Not even the most ardent Heel hater (which I am) can call May, McCants, and Felton “relative unknowns”. If kills me to say this, but Roy can adapt. His team this year was totally different than last year’s team. He adapted his style to help out an inexperienced PG and to make Hansborough, a relatively unskilled but insanely strong center, look better than he is. He was able to do the same thing at Kansas. If it wasnt for the fact that Sid is going to be so damn good, Roy would soon dominate this conference. UNC is on a recruiting tear and Roy is better at getting the most out of all types of players. Duke’s little run is almost over. But Sid isnt going to let it happen.

  13. redfred2 06/09/2006 at 1:06 PM #

    “Not even the most ardent Heel hater (which I am) can call May, McCants, and Felton “relative unknownsâ€?.”

    I wasn’t refering to the championship year in my comparison, I was only talking about Roy’s successes of last year. How he made a believer out of me by adapting to whole new set circumstances, and without any hestitation, in the span of one season. I hated it, but I would be a fool to deny it.

    Carolina’s recent recruiting hauls are evidence that “an adaptable” coach will get the attention of the best recruits out there and how his program will be able to prosper for the long haul. Although I’m not anywhere close to writing K and Duke off just yet, you plainly stated it yourself, when you refered to K’s unyeilding style and how they may be losing ground of late.

  14. Wulfpack 06/09/2006 at 10:51 PM #

    http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/14782853.htm

    State basketball signee Dan Werner will fly with his father to Raleigh on Sunday to meet with new coach Sidney Lowe while considering whether to honor his scholarship agreement with the Wolfpack.

    Werner, a 6-foot-7 forward from Christin Brothers Academy (CBA) in Lincroft, N.J., reopened his recruitment after former coach Herb Sendek left for Arizona State. CBA coach Ed Wicelinski said Werner has made official visits to Kentucky, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Florida and unofficial visits to St. Joseph’s, Rutgers and Seton Hall.

    Wicelinski has advised Werner to cut his list to one or two schools, plus N.C. State, after visiting with Lowe. Wicelinski said he expects Werner to announce a decision next week because Werner wants to enroll in summer school at the school he will attend.

    Werner is the lone undecided player among the three seniors who committed to Sendek. Guard Larry Davis switched his loyalty to Seton Hall, and forward Dennis Horner decided to follow through with his plans to enroll at N.C. State.

    Ranked No. 70 in the nation in his class by scout.com, Werner is the top-rated player of the three Wolfpack signees.

  15. redfred2 06/10/2006 at 10:41 AM #

    Thanks Wulf

    That’s encouraging news to hear Lowe will finally get to talk to Werner face to face. I hope someone else has been talking to him constantly and keeping NCSU on his brain during his talks with the other schools. If that hasn’t been happening, this may just be a formality to honor Lee Fowler’s premature stipulations, before he walks away from the program altogether. Hopefully he’ll follow through.

    Is there any further word on the Davis/S Hall situation as far as if NC State will play by the rules, or will they roll over and give concessions to someone who didn’t honor their part of fair and understood agreement.

    I didn’t agree with Lee Fowler’s willingness to let the recruits have contact with other schools so early on, but no one can say it wasn’t more than fair. Davis didn’t feel he even needed to honor the one very simple stipulation, which was a request to meet with Coach Lowe first before making a decision to go elsewhere. I say give the young man, Seton Hall and their new head coach, a lesson in life.

1 2

Leave a Reply