Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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07-12-17 05:11 PM - Post#230836
This is the longest stretch I can remember without any news. Any reports on recruiting, or how the new guys have looked in scrimmages, or how Castlin looks?
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florida lion
Freshman
Posts: 8
Reg: 04-21-17
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07-13-17 08:24 AM - Post#230857
In response to Chet Forte
Not a lot, it was just posted elsewhere that the Lions won a NABC Team Academic Excellence award. Harvard, Princeton and Yale were the other Ivies to win one.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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Any news out there?
07-13-17 12:42 PM - Post#230871
In response to florida lion
For recruiting news you have to log in to the Verbal Commits website where the Lions have been very active indeed having already made eighteen offers for the Class of 2018 and seventeen offers for the Class of 2019. Also, the Columbia Athletics website recently reported that assistant coach Jean Bain was promoted to Associate Head Coach which was the same position he held at Dartmouth before coming to Columbia last year. My sense is that Columbia Basketball and several other Columbia sports are transitioning their recruiting efforts to emulate the very successful style of Columbia Football under Coach Bagnoli.
Edited by Columbia 37P6 on 07-13-17 12:43 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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internetter
Postdoc
Posts: 3400
Loc: Los Angeles
Reg: 11-21-04
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07-14-17 06:37 PM - Post#230923
In response to Columbia 37P6
from AD: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Columbia men’s basketball program received The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award, as announced today. These awards, now in its fifth season, recognize outstanding academic achievement by a team with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better for the 2016-17 season.
The Lions boasted a team GPA of 3.08 during the academic year and was one of four Ivy League institutions represented.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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 08-11-17 08:50 AM - Post#231835
In response to internetter
This is the longest off-season drought on news about our team in years. Any information on how the new guys have looked to date? What about Castlin? Any news on how Meisner did in Europe this summer?
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Dr. V
PhD Student
Posts: 1537
Reg: 11-21-04
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08-11-17 11:40 AM - Post#231844
In response to Chet Forte
FWIW, some tidbits: in summer open gym scrimmages Castlin looked fully recovered; Smith looked like he may have raised it a notch; he and Adlesh looked very strong at the PG, Smith with his off balance drives and unexpected shots, Adlesh with his long range shots, which show a bit more arc. Adlesh also did a great job feeding our bigs, particularly Tape.
All of the first years who played looked good, but they did show some first year-itis, to make up a word. There is a difference between D1 and h.s., to remind of something obvious. Several looked very slight, but two who looked appropriately strong for their positions were Hanson and Stefanini. Everybody was here second half of June and through July except Meisner and Andrew P., who went home. A couple were recovering from something or a bit banged up.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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 08-11-17 12:45 PM - Post#231848
In response to Dr. V
Thanks Dr. V. We know that Stefanini played in a very tough and competitive hs program and against top flight competition.
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cc66
Postdoc
Posts: 2203
Reg: 10-09-09
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08-11-17 07:56 PM - Post#231879
In response to Chet Forte
How does Faulds look? Is he one of those suffering from first year-itis?
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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08-12-17 01:03 PM - Post#231893
In response to cc66
And the guard from Chicago, Bibbs?
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Dr. V
PhD Student
Posts: 1537
Reg: 11-21-04
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Any news out there?
08-13-17 01:45 PM - Post#231913
In response to Chet Forte
Faulds and Bibbs were there and looked fine. The players didn't all show up at the same time (some were lifting?), so I didn't see all of them play the same length of time. Also, I only watched one evening's worth of play, so I'd have to see 3 or 4 days of play of first years whom I had never seen live before before I could have anything meaningful to say about them.
Edited by Dr. V on 08-13-17 01:46 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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hoopsfan
Masters Student
Posts: 644
Reg: 12-26-04
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08-14-17 03:40 PM - Post#231988
In response to Dr. V
Castlin's return at 100% could be very important.
His freshman year he started every game, played 26 minutes per game, and averaged 10.3/4.2. As importantly, he gave us unusual toughness from the 3 position. He sat out last year and the year before lost a lot of time to the return of Mullins and Rosie, if I recall correctly.
Last year with Killingsworth fighting illness and Hunter not finding his game, we got very little from the 3 which was hard to compensate for each game. So, if Castlin finds his old form it will help.
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cc66
Postdoc
Posts: 2203
Reg: 10-09-09
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08-14-17 07:00 PM - Post#231992
In response to hoopsfan
Smith, Adlesh or Hickman, Castlin, Meisner, and Tape, is, if everyone is healthy and plays to his potential, a pretty competitive lineup.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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08-15-17 09:57 AM - Post#232008
In response to cc66
Swimming Coach Jim Bolster's son, a freshman guard from the Trinity School, has just been added to the roster. Jim is a terrific coach and great person.
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Dr. V
PhD Student
Posts: 1537
Reg: 11-21-04
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08-16-17 12:03 PM - Post#232064
In response to cc66
That's a good way of putting it, i.e., a competitive lineup. Fortunately or unfortunately, as Mr. James has been reminding us all, the league is much stronger than perhaps ever. H, P and Y are loaded and the rest all have good parts.
What's good about our situation is that we have good experience returning and a strong class of first years who will be pushing them daily in practice. But, as always, the key question is whether we can improve on D. And we need to shoot better.
Positionally I think we're strong at the 1 with Smith (with Adlesh or one of the first years backing him up when needed) and, surprisingly for us, at the 5. We have two athletic bigs, Tape and Faulds, who can rebound and block shots, and having two is huge because young bigs who rebound and block shots tend to pick up fouls.
The rest is more or less a blank slate, but it's nice that Engles and the staff will have options. Castlin has demonstrated his many strengths, but his long range shooting is not as consistent as one would like. Can he improve that by November? Meisner has at times looked great moving without the ball, on the O boards, rebounding and sometimes shooting, but for some reason he tends to get nicked up so playing time has been somewhat limited. Hickman started very strong, then faded last year. Adlesh will be very valuable off the bench with his experience, shooting and passing, but because of size on D, I don't think we can have both him and Smith starting together. Then there are the first years. There is a lot of talent there. Question is, who can play the best D the earliest? It's hard to predict such things, but I wouldn't be surprised if one or even two broke into the starting lineup by the time we play the Ivies.
We probably need to have two more classes like the one coming in, like it it in terms of quality, not its size, to match the top teams in our league. But then Engles showed at NJIT that he can be a magician, so it's going to be fun to see how we play this and the next several years.
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cc66
Postdoc
Posts: 2203
Reg: 10-09-09
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08-16-17 08:39 PM - Post#232105
In response to Dr. V
Yes, that is exactly what I meant. We will be good and on our best days may surprise some people, but it will take at least one or possibly two years of recruiting--Smith's senior year???--before we can plausibly challenge the top.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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08-16-17 09:21 PM - Post#232107
In response to cc66
Plenty of "ifs,' but if Bibbs and Faulds break into the starting lineup, and if some of the many talented veterans play to their potential and the team stays healthy down the stretch, then I see us competing for the top this year.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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08-17-17 06:33 AM - Post#232110
In response to Columbia 37P6
We were highly competitive against the better teams but tended to bomb against some of the weaker teams. Our losses to Dartmouth and Brown were inexplicable to me. But I am very high on our depth and can see going 9 or 10 deep. To me, Smith is a given as one of the elite PGs in the league, Meisner has all star potential, Castlin if 100% and out from the Kyle Smith doghouse is going to be an elite player, and Tape has incredible athleticism for a guy his size. Those are the first four guys going into the season.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6404
Reg: 11-22-04
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08-24-17 01:16 AM - Post#232353
In response to Columbia 37P6
Competing for the top (as in winning the regula season) seems nearly impossible to me. Columbia was 235 in Pomeroy last year. If Harvard simply stays the same (and they seem more likely to jump forward than Columbia), it's just a huge leap to get there (112 in kenpom). Princeton should come back to the field some, but they were 58 last year -- again a massive distance. You are correct to focus on freshmen in predicting they can win the league, because the numbers don't really add up to win the league with the existing players. Petrasek had a good ORAT while eating possessions, and those possessions would seem to undoubtedly come from less efficient players next year. Improvements can cover some of that, but a number of guys will need tomprove quite a bit just to get you back to 235.
Competing for the tournament is another matter. 235 Columbia was right with 171 Penn last year for the 4th spot. And once you get in the tournament, it becomes a 2 game season where anything can happen. To me, that's the path for Columbia.
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cc66
Postdoc
Posts: 2203
Reg: 10-09-09
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08-24-17 05:15 PM - Post#232378
In response to SomeGuy
Although I'd hope we'd do better than KP 235, just eyeballing the schedule, I'd project a disappointing 11-16 record. If we go 3-4 for the first 7 away games, and 2-4 for the remaining nonconference, then we are 5-8 before the IL starts. Add to that a 6-8 IL record (lose twice to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, go 6-2--by no means assured, including away games, with everyone else, you get 11-16).
I'd love to be surprised, but in my more clear-eyed moments, everyone else is also better, so I'm expecting a difficult season.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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08-24-17 05:20 PM - Post#232379
In response to cc66
Bart Torvik's site has Columbia falling to 277 which I don't agree with. But at that level, the Lions would be between 4-5 Ivy wins and 9-10 wins total. I think I'd have them better than that, so call that a floor.
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randal7
Freshman
Posts: 37
Age: 36
Reg: 12-31-13
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09-05-17 03:26 PM - Post#232641
In response to mrjames
Here's the problem for next year -- you have shoot first guards in Smith and Hickman who are the centerpieces. Not a problem if you have other players who are pass first, but feels like this whole team is a shoot first, ask questions later squad.
Summer ball they've really been letting in fly, for better or worse. Give this team a Grant Mullins and they would be in great shape. But as it stands I think there's gonna be a rough transition from a ball movement/passing perspective
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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09-05-17 05:16 PM - Post#232644
In response to randal7
Yes indeed, but the Lions are likely to play a three guard offense which could be a mitigating factor.
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internetter
Postdoc
Posts: 3400
Loc: Los Angeles
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-05-17 09:08 PM - Post#232654
In response to Columbia 37P6
While he'll pop from almost anywhere, Adlesh has shown he understands the flow, knows what to do.
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SRP
Postdoc
Posts: 4910
Reg: 02-04-06
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09-06-17 04:50 PM - Post#232677
In response to internetter
I've seen Hickman drive and kick or make interior passes off a drive.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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09-06-17 05:45 PM - Post#232682
In response to SRP
And the Lions also have Castlin, Bibbs, Stefanini and Davis amongst others. Based upon what happened last year, I would not be surprised if the Lions use a very large rotation, particularly in the backcourt.
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rbg
Postdoc
Posts: 3050
Reg: 10-20-14
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09-14-17 12:56 PM - Post#232834
In response to Columbia 37P6
Some big news for the Lions -
Ike Nweke, a 3 star 6' 6" PF from Bethesda, announced on his twitter feed that he has chosen to attend Columbia for the fall of 2018.
According to Verbal Commits, he had offers from Brown, Colgate, Army, Navy, Lafayette, Loyola (MD), BU, UNH, NJIT and Sacred Heart
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hoopsfan
Masters Student
Posts: 644
Reg: 12-26-04
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09-14-17 02:34 PM - Post#232838
In response to rbg
Ike Nweke F 6’7 210 2018 Bethesda, MD Georgetown Prep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkBn4m6Cecc
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-14-17 03:11 PM - Post#232839
In response to hoopsfan
Rough year for bigs, especially those that are Ivy targets, so good to get one. Also love undersized bigs for the Ivies because they tend to be underrecruited relative to skill level.
Three star seems a bit of a stretch (not sure who's got that rating), but a nice get regardless.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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09-14-17 03:11 PM - Post#232840
In response to hoopsfan
Mike James, do you know anything about him?
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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09-14-17 03:12 PM - Post#232841
In response to Chet Forte
Sorry, hadn't seen yours of 3:11
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internetter
Postdoc
Posts: 3400
Loc: Los Angeles
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-14-17 04:52 PM - Post#232843
In response to Chet Forte
Nova opener on FS2, 6:30
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cc66
Postdoc
Posts: 2203
Reg: 10-09-09
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09-14-17 07:40 PM - Post#232846
In response to internetter
Is he actually listed as a three star somewhere? Because on ESPN, he only gets a 61
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hoopsfan
Masters Student
Posts: 644
Reg: 12-26-04
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09-14-17 07:58 PM - Post#232847
In response to cc66
Yes here, Verbal Commits:
https://verbalcommits.com/players/ike-nweke
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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09-14-17 08:54 PM - Post#232850
In response to hoopsfan
First piece in what is likely to be an another excellent recruiting class. Another prime prospect will be coming in for his official visit soon. Obviously, Engles and his staff are very good recruiters.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2967
Reg: 03-02-08
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09-15-17 11:13 AM - Post#232858
In response to Columbia 37P6
When does the official practice period begin? Any more news on how the guys look? Especially the first years.
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randal7
Freshman
Posts: 37
Age: 36
Reg: 12-31-13
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09-18-17 02:11 PM - Post#232935
In response to Chet Forte
Luke signed by the Charlotte Hornets for camp.
https://swarmandsting.com/2017/09/18/charlotte- hor...
He'll be playing in the league! There's always a place for long men that can hoist it from canarsie
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rbg
Postdoc
Posts: 3050
Reg: 10-20-14
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09-20-17 06:10 PM - Post#233066
In response to randal7
The Lions get its 2nd commit for 2018, Maka Ellis:
https://twitter.com/makaellis/status/9106 183262120...
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Dr. V
PhD Student
Posts: 1537
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-20-17 06:18 PM - Post#233067
In response to rbg
He's a 3 star at ESPN and 247; offered by Utah St., New Mexico St., Rice, Lehigh, Bucknell and others.
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Dr. V
PhD Student
Posts: 1537
Reg: 11-21-04
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Any news out there?
09-20-17 06:44 PM - Post#233068
In response to Dr. V
Some more info re Ellis, he was first team all state in NV; he averaged 25 ppg., 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assista, and 2.1 steals.
He was visited by Stanford, and some of the recruiting "experts" had him choosing between us and Stanford, but not clear whether Stanford actually offered him at this point, and one of our knowledgeable posters thought it was actually between us and Santa Clara. Whatever the case, a very nice pickup.
Edited by Dr. V on 09-20-17 06:45 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-20-17 07:12 PM - Post#233069
In response to Dr. V
The 2018 class got thin QUICK, so landing a quality scorer is a huge win. Teams that managed to get a few decent pieces out of 2017 and 2018 are going to be at a huge advantage once the monster 2016 class graduates, because there are going to be some teams that will end up with pretty bare junior and senior classes at that point.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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09-20-17 07:16 PM - Post#233070
In response to Dr. V
Maka Ellis is a terrific addition to the incoming freshman class which is quickly sizing up as a very strong group. Two pieces of the puzzle are in place, three to go. Congratulations to Maka Ellis, his family and friends on his commitment to the Columbia Lions. And congratulations to Coach Jim Engles and his staff for successfully recruiting Ellis, Nweke, Bibbs and Faulds amongst others.
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hoopsfan
Masters Student
Posts: 644
Reg: 12-26-04
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09-21-17 10:18 AM - Post#233096
In response to Columbia 37P6
This is Maka Ellis' 247 page: http://247sports.com/Player/Maka-Ellis-460 35646
They have him ranked as the #256 player in his class. Even allowing for the very large squishiness of such a number, this is a high ranking for a Columbia commit.
He had a lot of offers, a good sign and typical of many of Columbia's recent recruits. He had offers from the West Coast, Mountain West, Big West, Patriot and Ivy conferences that we know of.
He committed very shortly after his official visit, cancelling another planned visit. For some, NYC and the campus is a clincher.
Finally, in a few years the backcourt will be very athletic and skilled with Smith, Stefanini, Bibbs and now Ellis.
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mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-21-17 10:46 AM - Post#233100
In response to hoopsfan
I wouldn't take five kids in this class.
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Dr. V
PhD Student
Posts: 1537
Reg: 11-21-04
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09-21-17 12:18 PM - Post#233103
In response to mrjames
My guess is maybe one more at most. We're only graduating two.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2173
Reg: 02-14-06
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09-21-17 02:11 PM - Post#233105
In response to Dr. V
Although we're only graduating two players, there is almost certain to be some attrition so the coaching staff would be looking at this time to recruit at least four newcomers. There are some nice big men on the board.
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Wheeler
Freshman
Posts: 33
Reg: 02-11-06
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09-24-17 06:30 PM - Post#233185
In response to mrjames
Thanks for the input. You're the king of backhanded compliments.
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