Recruiting Update

[SIram]

Graduated from SJU in 75 ,  used to post on the boards as "The Maven".  He was reported to own several bakeries in Queens.   Was a program insider during the Jarvis era.  Started Redmen.com and produced "Inside the Big East" that ran on ESPNU. He had the Daily News believing he was the guru of SJU hoops.  

A book was published called "Raw Recruits" where the author accused Albano of steering Jamal Faulkner to Pitt and that major recruiting violations were involved including payments for tuition and gifts to the players family.  The NCAA hit Pitt with sanctions after it discovered that a "NY businessman" paid $7,000 in prep school tuition for a highly recruited prospect who needed further tutoring before entering college after his graduation from high school in 1988.

He was also a witness for the prosecutor in the Bob Oliva (Christ the King Coach) scandal.  

Thanks,

Does not sound like the kind of guy SJU would want contacting a player they are said to be recruiting

[shortshot]

It's actually 5 new players, with Short, to integrate into a team.  That's a lot in one year.

And if 5 all stay to graduation, we will be going through it again in 4 years. TP will have to be recruiting their replacements over that time period.

[85]

Six ( 6 ) if you count Jared Fay.

[SIram]

Any news on who might be the fifth recruit this year?

[RAM71]

Joey Natale‏@Coast2CoastHoop
'13 New Heights (NY) PG Tyler Wilson lists Fordham, Marist, Iona, U of Texas Arlington, Northeastern, Kent St, C of Charleston & Monmouth

[nyhoopsfan12]

According to Zags, Pankey visiting Iona this coming Tuesday, Fordham Wednesday and Manhattan Friday.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/05/27/pankey-to-visit-iona-manhattan/

[ramfan01]

According to Zags, Pankey visiting Iona this coming Tuesday, Fordham Wednesday and Manhattan Friday.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/05/27/pankey-to-visit-iona-manhattan/

Good to know we are still involved.  Lets get this guy!

[ace93]

After Rhoomes visited FU, he cancelled his visit to iona. I predict the opposite holds true this time around with Pankey.

[Rich93]

Well if Pankey visits Pecora has another selling point:  we are changing the entire culture of athletics and hiring a new ad. 

[B2Bomber]

Well if Pankey visits Pecora has another selling point:  we are changing the entire culture of athletics and hiring a new ad. 

Bingo!!  And Iona or Manhattan can't rag on Fordham's Athletic Department either!

[ramfan01]

After Rhoomes visited FU, he cancelled his visit to iona. I predict the opposite holds true this time around with Pankey.

By opposite, do you mean he will cancel with Manhattan after us, or cancel with Iona before us this time? 

Or cancel both 

[SIram]

At this point it appears that we have scholarship left and that is assuming that Samuel is still transferring.

I put that in as a qualifying point since to my knowledge we have not seen an announcement of what school he is transferring to and in some of the Rhoomes stories Samuel was listed as a person Ryan spoke with about coming to Fordham

I know Pecora could still sign someone or hold it to use for next year, which would give us a 2013 recruiting class of Fay the younger and player TBD

I wonder what he will decide to do?

[ace93]

By opposite, do you mean he will cancel with Manhattan after us, or cancel with Iona before us this time? 

Or cancel both 

I think he will cancel all visits after visiting Iona. Just a hunch.

[ramfan01]

I think he will cancel all visits after visiting Iona. Just a hunch.

I thought the same thing with Rhoomes.  I thought Iona had him set up to commit, so JG told zags to give us a slap in the face.  This time it might be the case though.

[RAM71]

Is Ashton Pankey still scheduled to visit on Wednesday?

I think we are a long shot but have a few things in our favor:

He is friendly with Fatty and Frazier.

The A-10 is a very strong conference and getting stronger with Butler and VCU joining this year.

Coach Pecora has a contract extension. That is always helpful for recruiting. 

[Buzz]

I think Firdham has an advantage with Pankey. At Iona nobody is going to pass him the ball

[Vinseiro]

I think Firdham has an advantage with Pankey. At Iona nobody is going to pass him the ball

Yeah, because Gaston & Bristol really made out with our offense!?!

[Jay92]

I think Firdham has an advantage with Pankey. At Iona nobody is going to pass him the ball

Let's see.. He visited Iona first. Iona would love to get back at Fordham due to the Rhoomes recruiting trip. (To refresh the memory.. He came to Fordham on a Tuesday and was scheduled to visit Iona on a Wednesday. He was a no show at Iona and later that day announced he was signing with us. I'm pretty certain that ruffled some feathers). If he shows up on campus tomorrow then I think we have a shot. Fingers crossed.

However, even if he shows up at FU, he got to see Iona's fast paced style up close. Maryland lost to them as Iona scored over 90. Maybe his mouth watered a little thinking about all the scoring opportunities he'll get as a Gael. Glover is gone and he becomes the big go to guy.

Momo got the waiver so Iona knows something about this topic. I don't know if a waiver has been given to a team in consecutive seasons, but there is precedent at Iona. The details of Pankey's hardship and Momo's differ greatly from my understanding. It should be an interesting development no matter where he goes.

Lastly, Pankey has made it clear he wants to play in the pros. What team is he visiting that can boast a future pro or two? Clearly it is Iona with Machado (pretty definite) and Glover (getting sniffs). If I'm Cluess, I'm driving that point home. He can be a star in the MAAC and put up big numbers at Iona. That would be my sell.

That being said, I hope TP gets a shot at him and it goes the Rams way. AS for your comment who is going to get him the ball?? Don't forget Momo was the point guard at Arizona and took them to a sweet 16. So that is one option. If you want to argue the education line, then we have them. Based on what I've heard and read, I doubt that angle will be the selling point though.

[Rich93]

If Pankey walks on campus tomorrow I think we have a really good chance of signing him before he visits Manhattan on Friday.  Remember, Hofstra was on of his final schools before he chose Maryland so he already knows Pecora and is comfortable with him.  The recent press that the A-10 has been getting with VCU, and now Butler, I think will help us.  Pecora has the job security he wanted, now he needs to use it and finish off this class and close on Pankey if he visits.  Not much Pecora can do if he chooses to cancel the visit but if he steps foot on RH, close the deal that day. 

[RAM71]

Momo got the waiver so Iona knows something about this topic. I don't know if a waiver has been given to a team in consecutive seasons, but there is precedent at Iona. The details of Pankey's hardship and Momo's differ greatly from my understanding. It should be an interesting development no matter where he goes.

Jay, all good points. But I will put a different spin on the potential hardship appeal. 1. Does the NCAA take notice that the same school has hardship appeals two consecutive years and will apply a stricter standard the second time? 2. If you want to be close to home and mom is in The Bronx, isn't Fordham about as close to home as you can get?     

[Buzz]

Jay92-Momo is a shoot first point guard (a good one at that) and Armand is a poor passer.
Vinserio-Gaston was 5th in the league in scoring (not bad for someone with limited range) and Bristol did not have an offensive game, although Pecora was imploring him to shoot more than he did.

Whatever way Pankey chooses, I hope it works out for him. If the staff at Fordham wants him & he wants Fordham, I think he'd be a great fit.

[John]

I want a new AD who will treat Iona like a bug to be squashed. Just saying.

[RamFan78]

Lastly, Pankey has made it clear he wants to play in the pros. What team is he visiting that can boast a future pro or two? Clearly it is Iona with Machado (pretty definite) and Glover (getting sniffs). If I'm Cluess, I'm driving that point home. He can be a star in the MAAC and put up big numbers at Iona. That would be my sell.

If he wants to make it in the pros it suits him to go to a stronger conference and be a star there where he competes against better all around talent. He may put up bigger numbers in the MAAC but the scouts will realize it is against lesser foes.

[ConnGael]

I want a new AD who will treat Iona like a bug to be squashed. Just saying.

That's a bit harsh;  can't he just trap us like a squirrel and let us go in the woods?

[ConnGael]

If he wants to make it in the pros it suits him to go to a stronger conference and be a star there where he competes against better all around talent. He may put up bigger numbers in the MAAC but the scouts will realize it is against lesser foes.

So how does that explain Machado being scouted all year, trying out for 6-7 NBA teams and projected as a late first round, early second round pick?  And Glover being invited to Portsmouth, and the Nets Combine?

[John]

That's a bit harsh;  can't he just trap us like a squirrel and let us go in the woods?

Thought about it, but when we do that, Iona comes back and kicks our a**es. Seriously, though, I'd like to see a new AD renew the rivalry.

[ConnGael]

Thought about it, but when we do that, Iona comes back and kicks our a**es. Seriously, though, I'd like to see a new AD renew the rivalry.

Amen John

[ace93]

So how does that explain Machado being scouted all year, trying out for 6-7 NBA teams and projected as a late first round, early second round pick?  And Glover being invited to Portsmouth, and the Nets Combine?

I think a guy like Machado gets noticed almost anywhere. Glover, in my opinion, benefitted from the exposure Machado brought and the great team Iona had (partial credit to him on that of course). I'm not as convinced he gets as noticed on other MAAC teams even if those teams were better than Fordham. The conference helps a lot in that regard.

[Rich93]

Lastly, Pankey has made it clear he wants to play in the pros. What team is he visiting that can boast a future pro or two? Clearly it is Iona with Machado (pretty definite) and Glover (getting sniffs). If I'm Cluess, I'm driving that point home. He can be a star in the MAAC and put up big numbers at Iona. That would be my sell.

I never bought into the idea that one program will give a player a better chance at going to the NBA, regardless of conference or players that recently went to the NBA from that school.  If a player is good enough to play in the NBA, the scouts will find him.  They find guys who play overseas so they can certainly find a guy who is good enough to play in NBA if he is at Fordham or Iona.  NBA scouts are not fooled by guys who put up big stats because of a particular system and they are not turned off by a guy who may not put up stats because he plays on a very good team or in a different system.  They see the player, not the numbers or the conference he played in.    Pankey can get to the NBA from Fordham or Iona and neither gives him a better chance to get him there.

[Vinseiro]

Vinseiro-Gaston was 5th in the league in scoring (not bad for someone with limited range) and Bristol did not have an offensive game, although Pecora was imploring him to shoot more than he did.

You didn't watch too many games, didja?  Gaston/Bristol got the bulk of their production off their own efforts, not from entry passes from our guards or our offensive sets.  Pec has already said that Gaston (i.e., the forwards) can go chase the ball if our guards miss.  He's setting ball screen after ball screen far from the basket.  What team's offense has more chuckers at guard than we do?  At least other guards' shots go  in occasionally.  There may be other reasons to choose us, but your point ain't one of them.