“Rick Pitino told me that Mike Marra was the best shooter he’s ever seen and Chris is right on par with that,” Carroll said.  “Chris won five games for us this year.  He had 25 points versus South Kent, 26 against Blair, and huge shots in three others…Plus he is an awesome kid.”

Check-out Fitzgerald's twitter account:

http://twitter.com/mattitude33

I think this is the third recruit whose description talked about him being effective in "pick and pop" offenses.  Now all we need is to set a pick.  It seems like GW only has recruited players who are allergic to setting picks for shooters.  Of course, they're probably only running the "offense" that the coaches have installed. 

not to be confused with "Mike" from a few posts above.

Sorry Seneca, but I agree with the point of DEA's post.  And Herve's SWAG of getting Ftiz to get Marjok could be a stroke of genius!

Is there anyone who has more of a vested interest in making correct decisions regarding GW recruits these days than Karl Hobbs?  Do you realize how easy it would be for KH to keep focusing on recruiting athletes between 6'3" and 6'8" who are long, lean and can run the floor?  Obviously, there is a tremendous need to improve our perimeter shooting and KH and staff are smart enough to realize this.  Could it backfire?  Of course it can..from an inability to fulfill a role within KH's defenses to a failure to get one's shot off in time.  However, critics of this decision, which seems totally based on either the player's scoring average in high school or the other schools that were offering, are completely missing the boat on this.  We are filling a gigantic need here and credit should go to the coaching staff for understanding the importance of this.  By the way, there are a ton of 20 point scorers in high schools throughout the country who will never see the light of day in a Division1 college basketball game, if that makes you feel any better.

PF is an area of need for GW, but I think there's a question of whether these recruits fill that need.  Are Fitzgerald and Mikic PFs in name only? The reports are that they are both thin, rather unathletic players defensively and strickly perimiter shooters offensively with no inside game or ability to get to the hole. 

Hollis was also a perimeter player as a PF, but he was also a very good rebounder, could score down low and block shots.  Doesn't appear that Fitzgerald or Mikic help out anywhere else but outside shooting.  Mikic seems to have more promise but there's a question of his actual size (is he really only 6'4" as posters here claim?). 

Alumnus' question still stands: When has Hobbs' offense ever set screens and picks to free up these types of set shooters? If these kids don't get picks set for them, it's really had to see either succeeding at GW. 

Why stop at Gordon Hayward comparisons?  Larry Bird was a white, jump shooting forward from Indiana too.

Gordon Hayward reportively received offers at Purdue and Michigan.  Fitzgerald did not.  Other than skin color, these players have very little in common.

DanJ:

You said that Fitzgerald and Mikic add depth to the position GW is most in need.  What position is that?  If these recruits aren't PF on offense or defense, where do they fit in?  Phellom is at least a good rebounder and shot blocker on defense.  Doesn't look like Fitz or Mik contribute those catagories or add any bulk down low. 

So what PF skill do they add?  That being said, I still like Mikic as he appears to have a more complete game and has been more productive on the court. 

Thinker,

True that no team plays 13 players, but that is the total number of scholarships available.  With Fitz signed, GW is down to just 1 more this year.  If they do sign Loyd, I would hate to lose the ability to sign McKnight and Jelani Hewitt because Fitzgerald has their spots.

They also only have 1 available so far for 2011 as well - and filled it already with Erik Copes.  Obviously kids transfer out but it just seems that Mikic and Fitzgerald are competing for just 1 spot in the lineup (the thin, unathletic, set shooting PF spot).  It's very hard to see the more athletic, defensive oriented players like D Pellom and and D Smith not getting minutes at the PF spot as well.  So the 2 freshman are battling for 1 role spot off the bench.

Maybe Hobbs tells them both that they have 1 year to prove which player is better and that the loser will have to leave the program after 2010.  Competition can be good.   I would just prefer Hobbs & Co would have just went with the better of the 2 from the start and held the other schollarship for other players that fit his system better. 

Mentz,

Like it or not, you are comparing the players.  Why even bring Hayward's name up if not to invite some sort of comparison. 

How about this: Don't like Chris Fitzgerald?

Two words: Kevin Durant.  Not comparing the two, but obviously Fitzy could become an NBA All-Star in the right system.  

Two words: Andy Rooney.  Not comparing the two, but both received offers from Colgate University. Maybe with the right mentoring, young Fitzgerald can become the crudmuginous old guy spouting commentary about his daily grievances on a nationally televised weekly newshow. 

I'm not saying... I'm just saying. 

thinker, those were only a few choices.  so tell us just how you know Loyd will be better than Frazier &Lawhorn, and Mikic better than James.  let me also address the Matt A. situation - who offered him a scholly? now there's a white guy (i'm Caucasian) who had great character how'd he work out? if KH does it on the blind then it's on him not an asst.

also like someone's suggestion for a KH 6th man of the year award.  KH hands-down winner this year.

Knowing nothing more than what has been posted here, i've got to throw my lot in with thinker, dm and others who have taken a reasoned approach to this signing.  i would also take eception to dea's contention that what we need are athletes.  we have 10 6' 5" look-a-like athletes on this team.  for the better part of Hobb's tenure we've had an endless stream of athletes but few basketball players.  what we need are a few players to go along with our athletes.  more than that we need a few shooters.   i would love a 6-8 stud that we steal from g'town who has led the world in both rebounding and 3 point shooting but i will settle for an acknowledgment from our staff that we need to supplement our athletes with basketball players and accordingly are willing to roll the dice with a couple of late bloomers who can shoot.

Recognition of this need seems to me a bit of maturity on the part of the coaching staff and may well be part of ellerbe's influence.  we have had very little success over the years teaching kids to shoot so investing a couple of scholarships in 6'7"-6"8" shooters is not a bad gamble.

DEA, one minute you're acknowledging that it's OK that GW doesn't get All-Americans and yet in the same paragraph, you're holding Fitzgerald up against the top recruit of avier.  Newsflash dude...we're not avier and at this point in time, it would be unrealistic to suggest that KH is capable of landing comparable talent.  Or put another way, tell me what coach would be able to head GW right now and bring in comparable recruits to avier?  He's not out there.

You've picked up on a point (multiple times) that Alumnus made regarding our offense and how it doesn't free up shooters.  First of all, I don't entirely believe this.  We saw a lot of dribble drive penetration last year and should epect the same net year.  The difference is that as long as Lasan was accounted for (defensively), defenses could drop back into the lane as there was no real threat to consistently kick the ball back outside for an open 3.  This year, when there will be multiple 3-point scoring threats on the floor at the same time, penetrators should have an easier time scoring off of drives as defenders will need to keep these outside shooters at bay.  Or else, look for the number of our three point shots (attempted and made) to go up significantly.  In addition, have you thought about the fact that some facets of our offense might very well change net season due to the fact that several more capable outside shooters will have been added to the mi?

most of us welcome KH's going after basketball players.  guys who know the fundamentals and can shoot.  will Mikic and Fitz being competing for one back-up role or a starting position?  will either of these players have a shot as starter at any point in career?

thinker made a good point earlier about the speculation about Mikic& Fitz, what about Warren what do we know about him. not suggesting we focus on Warren, he had his share last season.

More than skeptical about someone if they didn't start in high school (see Beatty).And a high school shooter who averages 7 points a game.

It's on KH to show he's done the right thing in recruiting.

 But if he's signed, welcome to the team, Chris!

 Show us you can blossom like most young men and women in college.

DM, been trying to keep up with Fitz but all i've read is that he's a perimeter player.  i haven't read anything about him being an inside player or a rebounder. (i'd like to read the report, thanks.) my point is he didn't play inside and didn't rebound in HS so i wouldn't count on him being a force for us in the paint.  as i said i think he could be a solid addition. 

 do you see either Mikic or Fitz ever starting at GW with KH as coach? 

Sadly, I think this thread contains a great deal of implied racism.  Rather than dwell on the new white guys being slow and unathletic, wouldn't the more cogent analysis be along the lines of whether we are now trying to be all things to all people?  We are a team that loves to run but now have some players who some fear will be unable to keep up.  Does our defensive pressure take a hit in echange for some better perimeter shooting?  Sorry to break the news but 5 minutes on YouTube really isn't going to answer any of these questions.  The coaching staff seems to feel that we will be a better team for adding outstanding shooters even if this means sacrificing in other areas.  Anyone is entitled to feel otherwise; however, it seems to me that you really ought to see these players play in person, as well as watch the team as a whole, before passing any judgments.

What's you smokin', Dolphin?

There's nothing in the bios or video to justify the claim that Fitz and Mik are anything like Damian Hollis.  Hollis could shoot the 3 but got more points down low.  Hollis could handle the ball and drive. Hollis got to the line better than anyone else on the team.  Hollis led the team in both rebounds and blocks.  Damian Hollis is a basketball player.  From what we know,  Mik and (especially) Fitz are shooters only.  There's a significant difference.

Relatively unathletic, thin jump-shooting PFs.  Mikic was productive in HS, Fitz generally was not (only 7pts/game). 

Best case senario is that one of the 2 recruits claims the role of outside bombing PF off the bench - lets say 12-14 minutes/game by the end of the season.  The loser of this one spot competiion is politely told that he must transfer out.  This opens up a spot for a better recruit net year.  Hopefully both Fitz and Mik have been told they have a 1 season audition to stay on the team but it's highly unlikely that they will both be here this time net year.

Can anyone name a more underwhelming recruiting class in the past 15 years?  Perhaps Hobbs & Co are taking these guys by default  because noone else is willing to sign; therefore they are just taking warm bodies and not actually looking for any particular "type of player".  I hope our last signee is a stud. Thankfully, I'm still looking forward to the development of our current freshman.  

Speaking of our 2 newest recruits: "The staff has two similar guys to Hollis." 

Who said that? Yes, sir, it was Dolphin Mike!  If you're unhappy with what you have written, we'd all understand.

Yet Fitzgerald only averaged 1.2 rpg. He appears slow and relatively unathletic.  I doubt he will be a good defensive player or rebounder in the A10.  You say he will. One of us will be proven wrong.

Mikic seems to be a better recruit but people on this board has seen him up close.  They say he's 6-6 ma and very skinny. Hard to see him being a big time rebounder or low post defender either. 

Neither player is anywhere the complete basketball player that Damian Hollis is: Scoring, rebounding, ability to drive and block shots.  They are just shooters.  While there's a place for that on the team, it's a very limited role.

That's it.  We're all just desperate to have a white guy on the team.  I haven't been able to sleep ever since Matt announced his plans to transfer.  Puzzle solved.  You've figured us out.  Way to go creep.

That's it danjsport - you are starting to see the light of what goes on here. We talk even when we have nothing new to say which then evolves into an argument over something else and a continuation of arguing over the same points repeatedly. And don't worry - if you missed any of the nonsense the first time,  this thread will likely repeat itself 4 or 5 times prior to net November. I am sure of one thing though, if God forbid Chris Fitzgerald is reading any of this he has to be wondering what the f*ck did I just do.  

If Fitzy does come on to read this board, he'll have two choices:

1. Take it as incentive to work harder and prove all his doubters wrong.

2. Conclude the pressure of GWU Basketball is too much for him and reverse his decision to play here. 

- both are legitimate choices