If you truly analyze the recent games we lost or fell behind, it is the defensive play of our guards. Cure point differential by position highlights we are subpar at that position comparatively to our opponents. May change now that we lost our two big men, but Coach White needs to get more athletic guards that can score and defend more effectively
Coaches who don't 1) Compete for conference championships, or 2) make deep runs into the NCAA tournament, or 3) put players consistently in the NBA, are not going to recruit the top-tier athletes in the country. The fact is MW has done an amazing job given the fact that his recruiting average for the 7 years that he has been here probably ranks in the bottom half of the SEC. The truth is when you have ceilings on talent, there can be little development. This is why MW has opted for the transfer portal. Basketball is not like football where it is not uncommon for a 3 star to become the star of a team and conference. Most 3 stars in basketball are so because that is what they are. MW's recruiting average is probably north of 3.5 on star ratings of HS commits in his 7 years, but that has translated to mediocrity in terms of results. Couple the low star rating with the penchant for landing undersized (height and bulk) commits, and the ability to put an SEC championship-contending program on the court becomes almost impossible. It has been for MW as we have all seen. We have to hope that Jitoboh comes back, Felder comes back, Reeves comes back, and Kennedy, Gatkek, and Lane can develop more before the end of this season. We have to hope that the 3 commits develop quickly. We have to hope that we get four people in the transfer portal that can competently fill the scholarships that we will have open because of the lack of interest in HS players playing for MW. He has 7 seniors on scholarship and only 3 commitments from HS players. What does that tell you? He could have been recruiting players telling them he will turn over the court to them outright if they commit. Perhaps that is how he landed the 5-star power forward and 4-star big Reneau and Reed. But we have no point guard coming in HS. 4 of the top 50 point guards in the 247 list in the 2022 class are from Florida. We offered 2 and I don't think we got even a visit from any of the 4. One committed to St. Johns. Two committed to other SEC programs neither of which has even played for a national championship in the last 6 decades let alone won one. There are no standout PGs in the transfer portal for 2022. So does this mean that Kennedy is the man? He is the only PG on the team after this year. Aberdeen the other freshman coming in is a 3-star combo guard (which is a nice way of saying he does have a great handle). So we have 4 scholarships available no centers (in case Jitoboh does not return) or pgs available in the portal, and only 3-star talent at the swing position. Sorry to say folks, MW is down a queen, rook, and a bishop. Absent a breakout superstar year from either Reeves, Reneau, Reed or Aberdeen (which could happen), I think we are seeing the last year of MW after next year. I hope one or more of the freshmen or sophomores develop into legitimate NBA material.
It’s February 2. How would you possibly know who will be in transfer portal-coming or going-for next season? Besides which—maybe we should concern ourselves with this season.
Recruiting is a full time job. So discussing it doesn't hurt anyone’s feelings, it shouldn’t. Haven’t you learned anything this year, we also need another tough big. Just saying you can n very have enough bigs! I agre another pg or two and a killer wing, just don’t forget about the big, maybe the transfer portal.
