gwhoops.com - The Most Comprehensive Site for Colonials Basketball

Freshman

Freshman
10/15/2009 11:24:00 AM
Poster: downtownmiami

Just wondering.

I don't know much about this year's rookies. Any idea which freshmen is going to have the biggest impact?

10/8/2009 12:36:00 AM
Poster: Free Quebec

Hard to tell, but Tim Johnson seems to have the most buzz.

There's a thread below called "Some Links" that gives Collucci's description of each freshman. (sorry don't know how to link it here, but just scroll down the page).

10/8/2009 12:41:00 AM
Poster: hooper

http://collegechalktalk.com/general/five-questions-gw-asst-coach-greg-collucci/

10/8/2009 12:52:00 AM
Poster: hooper

OMG!!! We are gonna be very,very eciting this year. We wont be at the bottom of the A-10 this year. Thats for sure...

Katuka has developed into a beast !!! B-E-A-S-T..LOL He has become virtually unstoppable in the paint. That is something that we needed ,a inside presence. To me his developement is a intrical part of how far we go. And as of now, I like!!!!

The big test will be our scrimmage of Villanova,that will be our measuring stick of where we are as a team right now.

This is gonna be one hellava fun ride. No matter how many we win or lose. Ecitement is guaranteed. The future looks very bright for Colonial fans in the coming years. We are like one or two good recruits away. If we can land another class like this one. YIPES !!!!

10/8/2009 2:18:00 AM
Poster: andrew

Hooper, I happen to agree with you about this team's prospects, but last year the team played future Final Four team Villanova closely (including Hollis putting up 30 ) during their scrimmage and we all know how that turned out.

10/8/2009 6:04:00 AM
Poster: hooper

LOL..Andrew thanks for letting the air out my ballon. I didnt know that happened last year.

10/8/2009 6:42:00 AM
Poster: Dolphin Michael

hooper, I know you aren't on the total "inside" on this (some of our posters are so wired)... but have you "heard" when the scrimmage with nova is? Are we a week away or two?

Secondly, and I mean this with tongue planted in cheek, but for a guy to be a "beast" in practice, it may mean that some of the other players haven't taken their beast pills, yet.

Finally, of the freshmen so far, what have you heard about consistent long range shooting? I have seen video of Lasan and I think a bit of this guy Johnson, but what are people seeing on the court here? Who do you think will hit the 3s out of the group. Also, mention has been made that Pellom has range is it legit? Is Smith's game purely in the paint or foul line in? If either of those can drop a shot if left open, that would change a whole lot.

10/8/2009 6:51:00 AM
Poster: Long Suffering Fan

I will ask the same question about Katuka, namely what i your basis of saying he has become a beast and is virtually unstoppable? We haven't even had the benefit of watching him play in the Kenner this season. Is it his scrimmage play that has resulted in this asessment?

10/8/2009 7:00:00 AM
Poster: Dolphin Michael

LSF, I was kidding hooper. I think he has seen some of this. It could be why he is ecited.

I should suggest that we all enjoy the fun and speculation. Not that you were questioning his information, but I think that Thursday should be "let people say what they want" Thursday.

Hey, I mentioned yesterday that folks will be surprised by the returning players and I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW JACK. I'm just guessing that some of the older players are going to develop and also get healthy.

10/8/2009 10:07:00 AM
Poster: thinker

Katuka has worked hard at getting stronger and developing a "tougher" game and attitude on the floor. From what I have heard from people who saw Kromah play in HS was that he can definitely play. Still the best freshman we've ever had have had to adjust to college ball. There is reason to be optimistic - the recruits have a ton of athleticism, have good size and strength. But no one should get ahead of themselves. Pops, Omar, Mike, JR, Mo, Elliott all took a while to develop. Speculation (on speculation Thursday - no less) is fine, but we will have to see how the guys perform in some actual games. The begining of the downfall of GW was when we had Mo, Cheyanne, and Wynton on the team - all with a lot of talent but unable to get along and play well together as a team so having talent is just a start.

10/8/2009 10:16:00 AM
Poster: The MV

College Chalk Talk has GW once again finishing in 13th place, Hollis has an all A10 Honorable Mention, and none of our freshmen on the All Rookie team (which includes 5 players plus 3 honorable mentions). I realize that this means little in the overall scheme of things. However, it also bears pointing out that while Hooper is unquestionably enthusiastic about our freshmen, what he may not be fully factoring in is that other schools are also reloading, perhaps with more talented players. That's why they play the games.

10/8/2009 1:55:00 PM
Poster: Long Suffering Fan

I do agree with Hooper that the development of Katuka is absolutely crucial for this team. Probably the same is true for Taylor and King. This year, more than ever, KH needs to make sure that he keeps his best players on the court the longest. As simplistically logical as that sounds (in all sports), this has not always been the case with GW.

10/8/2009 2:09:00 PM
Poster: GW Alum Abroad

Given the way the last few seasons have gone, I'd almost settle for KH just keeping his best players on the team.

10/8/2009 2:13:00 PM
Poster: notta hater

LSF, what do you mean by "best players" and can he keep 6 of his best on the floor at one time?

10/8/2009 2:15:00 PM
Poster: The MV

LSF, do you mean to say that you prefer a shorter rotation? I do think that it's in the team's best interest, given the way we play best, to have a 9-10 man rotation. That would, by definition, mean not keeping all of the team's best players on the court the longest.

10/8/2009 2:16:00 PM
Poster: Free Quebec

He tried that last year, Notta. It cost us a game :)

I'm not sure there's been a bigger Katuka booster on this board than me. Although I thought the same thing DM did (that if he's a beast in pick-up games, it might be because he's going against Jabari Edwards and Opoku every day), but I don't have a singe doubt that he can't be one of the best offensive centers in the league from Day 1 this year.

I think the bigger question is whether Hobbs will run an offense to take advantage of Katuka's olffensive talent and whether the guards will throw him the damn ball when he has position. it was very frustrating last year to watch the guards not throw it to him last year (often only to throw it to him later in the possession when his positioning wasn't as good).

10/8/2009 2:23:00 PM
Poster: newtman

thinker, if you look JUST AT THE STATS Pops, Mike, Mo etc all contributed a lot their freshman year. see the link below, which shows stats for Pops. you'll note the site allows one to look at stats for other players starting mid 90s. i am not saying they were as published as their final year but stats wise they didn't take that long to develop.

hope Katuka gets a chance to play this year. i thought he showed an inside game last year. cross our fingers the freshmen will contribute this year.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/george-washington/pops-mensah-bonsu

10/8/2009 3:47:00 PM
Poster: The MV

This discussion about Katuka is a great eample of what everyone should guard against regarding Hooper's proclamations. I have not seen the freshmen play yet and maybe they will be fantastic. However, Hooper can only be basing this on what the players did in high school/prep school and what he's seen on the practice courts and in meaningless scrimmages. Same for Katuka now becoming a beast. We've yet to see it during real competition. Maybe we will; I sincerely hope that we will. But to date, we haven't.

Hooper appears to be an ecitable fellow and it's easy to get caught up in his enthusiasm. Believe me when I say that I'm rooting for all of the success in the world for this team. However, given the past two seasons, reacting by saying that 'I'll believe it when I see it" isn't eactly a far-fetched saying.

10/8/2009 4:01:00 PM
Poster: hooper

The Villanova scrimmage is the week following the Colonial Invasion..

10/8/2009 4:13:00 PM
Poster: Long Suffering Fan

I mean Damien, Katuka and Taylor have to be on the court for long periods of time, followed by King, Ware and Edwards. I would probably make sure that at least the top 2-3 freshman see significant minutes, meaning a roughly 8-9 man rotation, depending on ability. (Who knows if anyone but Damien is talented enough to warrant significant playing minutes, but I guess the rules require that we have 5 on the court at any given time). When I coached in a recreational league, there were participation requirements for the kids, so we frequently had scheduled subsitutions irrespective of the game situation. Frequently it seemed like KH had the same requirements, as last year there would be wholesale situations even if the team on the floor was playing well together or was even on a run. Frankly, I never understood this and I never will. Play your best players as much as possible, rest them, then get them back out there.

10/8/2009 4:20:00 PM
Poster: notta hater

MV, hooper is a kid in a candy shop, none of it looks bad to him. According to the link, Colucci indicates that GW will utilize a "committee" for the inside play and Katuka is only mentioned as a member of the committee. I tend not to think of beasts as being a part of a committee.

10/8/2009 5:01:00 PM
Poster: Dolphin Michael

Thanks, Mr. H!!!

That's pretty early on in the process to install the offenses and defenses.

Again, thanks!

10/8/2009 9:35:00 PM
Poster: Bigfan

Wish we had seen more of Katuka to know. His first two years were largely wasted while we racked up losses.

But it did seem to a good number of us that Katuka showed some tantalizing offensive potential along with his size, so maybe, just maybe, this will be the year he comes into his own. If it happens, it could make a real difference in our fortunes to have a big man contribute.

10/9/2009 4:26:00 AM
Poster: Levinator

Levinator enjoys the enthusiastic rhetoric shared by some regarding our fresh crop.
Levinator also enjoys the healthy skepticism of the old established guard-
The truth will lie somewhere in between...and with twists and turns, scrapes and burns. Wont you join GWhoops on the journey through this new chapter?

10/10/2009 11:13:00 AM
Poster: rocket

I have to say that the new "kids" insofar as I can identify them do seem physically fit. Moreover, the veterans, especially Travis King, also look good. Last year, poor Travis limped up and down G Street. This year he is -- at least in street clothes -- both big and solid. And he has a spring in his step. Not quite Chris Monroe in terms of body but almost burly in the way you'd like a point to be. The Taylor/King alternation will, I think, be a good thing since we should be able to big against big and quick against quick. All hands on deck net Saturday.

I'm now pleased that Young Prof, Big Mo, and our dumb ass associate will be at the UNCW game.

10/12/2009 12:26:00 PM
Poster: The MV

If you really want to see what type of coach KH is, this will be the year. Like the freshmen year of Omar, Pops, Mike, etc., KH will genuinely have a really young (by eperience if not by age) team that looks like it has great potential over the course of time. Unlike the 2003-04 KH who was learning how to become a successful head coach, the 2009-10 KH has enjoyed 3-4 years of tremendous success as a head coach and undoubtedly will be in a rush to return to postseason play. Whether KH stays patient with this team and pushes the right buttons will go a long way towards determining how bright the future is.

10/14/2009 10:40:00 PM
Poster: Dolphin Michael

Smith seems to be the indicator. If Smith is the best/most used player out of the Freshman class, then it wouldn't be bad... if it is a guard, then we are going backwards a bit. Pellom is mentioned to be a bit soft. He also may be the plus wildcard.

10/14/2009 11:27:00 PM
Poster: hooper

Guess we are going backwards a bit then..

10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM
Poster: Dolphin Michael

Well, I assume you are suggesting that your freshmen guards will start? If so, we may very well be a great team because the guards are just that good. I'm also glad that I poked you to respond. I am looking forward to see if this could be true. Taylor and King are no slouches. AND, the team really needs to go four deep. Last year, we lacked a second set of guards with superior speed to pick up the pace.

Hooper, for coach to succeed, he has to find some offense in the paint. That was my point about Smith. If he is part of the answer, that would be good. A more effective Katuka would be good. A pleasant surprise from either Opuku or Edwards or one of the other two freshmen, would be good.

But, Hooper, if it works out that we have 4 guys of similar quality and much more speed... consistent scoring from the backcourt, then I would think our chances to win have gone way up. Of course, it is not only what we have on the team, but how coach uses everyone. Who knows, we may find a "Juan Dion" on our team--you may very well be right!

10/15/2009 11:24:00 AM
Poster: bobo

Hooper,

If history is any guide, Hobbs will play almost all players ecept small PGs or giant Cs one position above they projected to play comming into college.

Pops was supposted to be a SF - played C

Hall was projected to be SF/SG - played PF

Diggs was PF/SF - played C

Regiis came in as SF - played as PF

Hollis = SF but has been mostly PF (and will do so again this year)

The list goes on and on. So epect Smith to get most of his minutes at PF/SF, Pellom as a pure PF and Warren (listed as PF) play at the 5 spot. It's just the way it works at GW.

Poster:

Title: