Tracking Our *CURRENTLY* Signed/Committed Recruits

[VTRAM]

Just got done watching Mandel Thomas at the Big Apple invitational.  Quite impressed.  Played 40 minutes.  Don't know his line but if I had to guess I'd say he had 12 pts and probably close to 10 boards.  Also had at least 5 steals.  Looked to be a very good defender and extremely athletic.  Some strong moves to the hoop and very good in transition.  Drilled a three in the second half.  He did not look out matched in the least despite playing with and against (St Thomas more) many high major signees.  Didn't look a ton for his shot and nd prep has a bunch of guys (davis, cassell Jr, and filer) who only seemed to look for their own shot.  I'm certainly no recruiting expert but we may have gotten a real steal.
!

I think Mandel is going to be real good player for us. The staff did an incredible job getting a player who is flying under the radar because of the team he plays on. The fact that he plays so much on that team and is not over matched means that he should be ready to compete in the A-10 next year.

Remember Marcus Stout didn;t score a lot in High School either because he was on a loaded team. Also Thomas scored a ton when he played at his last high school where he was a big time star.

[RAM71]

Is Mandell Thomas qualified? Last I read he was not yet.

[RAM71]

Jake Fay's Brimmer And May team recently won its first game of the year and is now 1-11. Fay is the third leading scorer on the team.

[The Grinch]

Jake Fay's Brimmer And May team recently won its first game of the year and is now 1-11. Fay is the third leading scorer on the team.

No way to sugar coat it - that's not good.

[LXRF]

Their record is not good, but why is it so bad?  Who else is on their team? Did they lose a lot of players from last year?  Are the other teams in the league oaded? Is it possible to evaluate Fay apart from the team's performace?  It would be helpful to have more facts and analysis. 

[VTRAM]

Their record is not good, but why is it so bad?  Who else is on their team? Did they lose a lot of players from last year?  Are the other teams in the league oaded? Is it possible to evaluate Fay apart from the team's performace?  It would be helpful to have more facts and analysis. 

Jake Fay's summe ron the AAU circuit should be mroe telling than this year with a really weak prep team.

[JohnG92]

I like the idea of trying to get another Kervin Bristol type player from the junior college ranks. Next year we could really make some noise if we had a 6-10 or 6-11 space eater down low who can rebound and hit the occasional jumper from 10 feet and in.

Anyone know if we are going that route and who might be out there?

[ace93]

I am not sure we currently have a scholarship to give.  Some keep saying they think we will have one more available by academic year's end, but I am not seeing it.  I think Samuell is still too critical to us as Fatty struggles and I don't think Mandell Thomas is any more of a guarantee than Samuell.  Some have mentioned Luka, but I think there is a future here for him, he just needs to bulk up a little and work on his defense.

[RAM71]

I am not sure we currently have a scholarship to give.  Some keep saying they think we will have one more available by academic year's end, but I am not seeing it.  I think Samuell is still too critical to us as Fatty struggles and I don't think Mandell Thomas is any more of a guarantee than Samuell.  Some have mentioned Luka, but I think there is a future here for him, he just needs to bulk up a little and work on his defense.

I believe we currently have 12 scholarships taken for next year and have one more available.

Gaston, Frazier, Samuell, Dominique, McMillan, Canty, Zivkovic, Smith, Short, Thomas, Fay, Leonard

I am predicting that we will have at least one additional. Nothing specific, just a hunch.   

[b.mann]

My hopes are that Leonard arrives in shape and ready for bear, that Smith's sweet stroke becomes more consistent, that Short is healthy and can contribute meaningful offensive numbers, that Fatty becomes more of an offensive threat, and that Thomas is the diamond in the rough of this year's recruits. Only Gaston leaves the following year. I think Fay supposedly takes his spot on the roster. Do we take someone for next year or do we wait a year? Your druthers? GO RAMS!

[ace93]

I believe we currently have 12 scholarships taken for next year and have one more available.

Gaston, Frazier, Samuell, Dominique, McMillan, Canty, Zivkovic, Smith, Short, Thomas, Fay, Leonard

I am predicting that we will have at least one additional. Nothing specific, just a hunch.  

Thanks.  I forgot that the debate was whether to save that last one for 2013 or use it now, as b.mann mentions above.  There were some assumptions that it was being saved based on the players we are active with, but those were just that, assumptions.

If it was up to me, I go with a ready to play Juco big now.  Short of that, I save it for 2013.

[rambacker]

 A juco big that can step in and contribute right away makes sense.

By-the-way, I believe Travion Leonard goes by "Tre."

[friarsbob]

I would tend to go the other way. Canty and Leonard are both big body space eaters and should compliment Gaston while Dominique and Livkovic develop their bodies and their shots. Let them get minutes and develop. Of course this is predicated on Fordham having a serious shot at one or more of the highly talented recruits that have been mentioned on this board. I would like to see an early verbal this April--a real Gaston replacement. If that seems unlikely, then by all means go for whatever value you can get when you can get it.

[RAM71]

Brimmer And May is now 3-13 after a W on Saturday. This is from a write-up on the game:

Jake Fay ’13 had one of his best games of the season finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double game in a row.

 

[joeb]

thanks 71, sounds good.

[RAM71]

Hearing and reading more good reports about Mandell Thomas' recent performances. He is not the star but more than holding his own against some of the very best Prep competition. His outside shooting is improved and he is a very good FT shooter. Expect him to be a solid contributor next year. 

[El Jefe]

Brimmer And May is now 3-13 after a W on Saturday. This is from a write-up on the game:

Jake Fay ’13 had one of his best games of the season finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double game in a row.
 

I guess this addresses the concerns expressed eight days ago in this thread.  It's good to see that Jake Fay reads this board and decided to do something about it.    

[RAM71]

I guess this addresses the concerns expressed eight days ago in this thread.  It's good to see that Jake Fay reads this board and decided to do something about it.    

Looking forward to reading more good things about Jake's play this season. There just wasn't much positive to report until very recenly. 

[85]

In a word, yes. 

A footnote:  I'm hearing that Freeman may be the best athlete on the team.  Considering the athletic ability of Gaston and Thompson, that's a big statement.

I wonder who you "heard" this from?   Answer: Nobody.

[joeb]

why is this relevant, is freeman coming back?

[85]

Stay tuned. Expulsion to those who post totally fabricated gibberish not attributed to anyone specific.

How is Majacque Majacque doing at Harvard   junior college?

[fholbr]

Looking at FU Football Commits - I see the following:

Phazahn Odom
Barnwell H.S., Barnwell, SC
TE, 6-7, 230

Here is a recent article on him:

The Barnwell High boys varsity basketball team could do no wrong in the first half of Friday’s region game against Silver Bluff.
Behind the shooting of center Phazahn Odom, who pumped in 15 first-half points, the Warhorses dominated the Bulldogs on their way to a 30-20 halftime lead.
However, the second half was a different story as the winds of momentum shifted to the Bulldogs. The end result for the Warhorses was a disappointing 58-55 overtime loss.
Barnwell High, which led by as much as 14 points in the first half, saw its lead evaporate in the second half. Trailing 48-45, Jalen Jackson drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, Donte Wright took over for the Bulldogs scoring five of the team’s 10 points for the win. Wright finished with a team high 14 points.
With the win, Silver Bluff High improves to 5-0 in region play.
Silver Bluff High head coach Robbie McKenzie said his team bounced back after a tough first half.
“Offensively we couldn’t get anything going in the first half. I thought Barnwell did a good job defensively of keeping us out of sync,” McKenzie said.
“In the second half, we made adjustments and went with a smaller lineup. It  spread the floor and allowed  us to get into a better rhythm offensively.”
Barnwell High head coach Michael Highsmith said for his team it was a game of missed opportunities.
“We had this game and let it slip away,” Highsmith said. “I feel real bad for our players. They played so hard tonight only to come away on the short end.”
Offensively, the Warhorses were led by Odom with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Octavius Baynes had a solid game with 12 points, including a three-pointer, seven rebounds and four assists. Farris Nickens contributed seven points, 10 rebounds and two steals. Edward Johnson finished with four points, seven steals and seven assists. :

Anyone know if he plans to play a little BB while he is at FU - another TE - Antonio Gates was a pretty good BB player

[RAM71]

NERR now ranks Travion Leonard #9 in Maine:

1 Amir Garrett 6'6" SF Bridgton Academy St. John's
2 James Farr 6'9" PF MCI Xavier
3 Darrick Wood 6'5" G/F Bridgton Academy 
4 Malik Nichols 6'6" SF Bridgton Academy 
5 Tobe Okafor 6'10" C MCI Loyola Marymount
6 Markus Crider 6'6" F Bridgton Academy 
7 Jean Yves Toupane 6'7" F Lee Academy St. Bonaventure
8 Jarryn Skeete 6'2" PG Bridgton Academy Buffalo
9 Travion Leonard 6'8" C/F Lee Academy Fordham
10 Rodell Wigginton 6'5" F Lee Academy 
11 Barry Webster 6'10" PF Lee Academy Maine
12 Jean-Pierre Charles 6'8" F MCI 
13 Jiri Kasper 6'6" F Lee Academy 
14 Tristan Thomas 6'3" SF MCI 
15 Drew Crudup 5'10" SG Lee Academy 
16 Jared Brandon 6'5" SF MCI Cal Fullerton
17 Liam Langaas 6'3" SG York HS Trinity
18 Gunner Bjornson 6'3" G/F Lee Academy 
19 Harry Rafferty 5'10" G Berwick Academy 
20 Patrick Stewart 6'7" PF Bangor HS Colby

[ramMan]

Looking at FU Football Commits - I see the following:

Phazahn Odom
Barnwell H.S., Barnwell, SC
TE, 6-7, 230

Anyone know if he plans to play a little BB while he is at FU - another TE - Antonio Gates was a pretty good BB player

Doubt it.  Although he's averaging 19.2 ppg and 14.4 rpg this season (per FordhamSports.com), he's got no offers to play basketball (see tweet below sent 1/6/12).

@WillGunter247 William Gunter
Barnwell has 2012 6'8 FW Phazon Odom. Recruited as a TE/WR w/fball offers from Citadel, Fordham and Jax.St. No bball offers yet





                    Phazahn Odom

[ramfan01]

Doubt it.  Although he's averaging 19.2 ppg and 14.4 rpg this season (per FordhamSports.com), he's got no offers to play basketball (see tweet below sent 1/6/12).

@WillGunter247 William Gunter
Barnwell has 2012 6'8 FW Phazon Odom. Recruited as a TE/WR w/fball offers from Citadel, Fordham and Jax.St. No bball offers yet

If he did play, could we count him as a walk-on being that he already has a football ship?

[friarsbob]

Talked to the new tight ends coach last night at the meet the recruits gathering and brought up the possibility of Odom maybe lending some bench strength as a walk on. NO WAY!! was the spirited response from the coach--he will be strictly a football player.

[John]

Speaking of Fordham players, past, present and future, does anyone know what Rayner Moquete is doing? He wasn't the most talented guy, but gave a good effort and seemed like a good fellow. I hope he's landed in a good situation, whether or not he's playing hoops.

[ram it 66]

Speaking of Fordham players, past, present and future, does anyone know what Rayner Moquete is doing? He wasn't the most talented guy, but gave a good effort and seemed like a good fellow. I hope he's landed in a good situation, whether or not he's playing hoops.

Always wondered how Moquete got to the team in mid-season. It was as if
he were in the Triple-A and got a September call up to the bigs.

Anyone know how that was possible? And, could we do it again this year?

[NYRam07]

he was a mid year transfer - he started in the spring semester. The problem with this is that when you calculate the four year clock, he'll be finishing up in the fall semester of whatever year he graduates. I'm sure coaches generally do not what situations like that.

[ace93]

he was a mid year transfer - he started in the spring semester. The problem with this is that when you calculate the four year clock, he'll be finishing up in the fall semester of whatever year he graduates. I'm sure coaches generally do not what situations like that.

He would actually graduate the fall after his athletic eligibility is completed. That first half season counts as a full year of eligibility.