Tracking Our *CURRENTLY* Signed/Committed Recruits

[ballasTv]

video of mandell thomas http://ballastv.com/profiles/blogs/fordham-gets-verbal-commitment-from-6-2-mandell-thomas-notre-dame?xg_source=activity

[rambacker]

Here's a story on Fordham's recruiting in New England:

Fordham Returns to New England

December 1st, 2011
New England Recruiting Report

Notre Dame Prep guard Mandell Thomas became the latest local product to pledge to Fordham.

When Tom Pecora took over the Fordham men's basketball program in the spring of 2010, part of what made him so attractive to the Rams' was his history of success in the New York region stemming from his time at the helm of Hostra's program.
 
What couldn't be anticipated was the success Pecora and his staff would have in the New England region.
 
The Rams returned to New England this week, landing their latest verbal commitment from the region in six-foot-two swingman Mandell Thomas, a post-graduate at Notre Dame Prep.
 
Thomas is a multi-dimensional player with a naturally strong body, good athleticism, and the ability to make shots from behind the three-point line.
 
An upstate New York native, Thomas ran with Upstate Elite on last summer's AAU circuit and has worked his way up the Notre Dame rotation since arriving in Fitchburg this September.
 
Thomas' commitment gives Pecora a New England pledge in three consecutive classes as he joins Jeff Short and Jared Fay in the class of 2011 and Jake Fay in the class of 2013.
 
Thomas also becomes the third Notre Dame Prep product to join the Rams in the last three years, joining short and sophomore guard Lamount Samuell.

[RAM71]

NEER:

MACK Prep (NC) 74  Brimmer & May (MA) 58

Adrian Oliveira was the bright spot for Brimmer, pouring in 28 points with a series of tough jumpers and his typical assortment of smooth dribble drives.  Fellow junior Jake Fay buried a couple of long range bombs of his own but it wasn’t enough for the local squad as a high powered MACK offense, led by the tandem of Quevyn Winters and Jamar Goodwin, proved too much to overcome.  Winters and Goodwin combined for 47 points to lead the visitors to the final leg in their 3-0 weekend.

[joeb]

Oliveira' a guard i assume, lets sign em up.

[RAM71]

Oliveira' a guard i assume, lets sign em up.

He is a PG, class of 2013. He has scored 28 and 24 in their first two games. Being recruited by Holy Cross and New Hampshire.       

[RAM71]

Brimmer And May is now 0-4 after being routed by a very good Northfield Mount Hermon team.

Am I the only one who thinks we were too early in offering Jake Fay as a soph, especially since it cost us two scholarships? He is only a Junior, but Jake has not been overly impressive. I see this as the next controversy for TP to answer regarding our questionable recruiting strategy.

[Fish Fry]

Brimmer And May is now 0-4 after being routed by a very good Northfield Mount Hermon team.

Am I the only one who thinks we were too early in offering Jake Fay as a soph, especially since it cost us two scholarships? He is only a Junior, but Jake has not been overly impressive. I see this as the next controversy for TP to answer regarding our questionable recruiting strategy.

Nothing questionable about it.  If the coaching staff views this kid as an impact recruit, best to act aggressively and decisively.  Don't see it as a controversy, just more hot air.

[ace93]

I'm with Fish Fry on this one. I think it's trying to find an issue where one does not necessarily exist. We have plenty of definite problems, no need to search for more.

[RAM71]

I'm with Fish Fry on this one. I think it's trying to find an issue where one does not necessarily exist. We have plenty of definite problems, no need to search for more.

Really? So you are saying that you have confidence in this coaching staff and its ability to spot a kid as A-10 talent as a sophomore? I guess we will need to wait a couple of years to see.   

[Fish Fry]

Really? So you are saying that you have confidence in this coaching staff and its ability to spot a kid as A-10 talent as a sophomore? I guess we will need to wait a couple of years to see.   

That's right, '71, wait and see.  Rather than questioning the kid before he even steps foot on the floor, why not give it a shot?  This just in, '71...your program is a joke.  Hands down the worst run program in any major basketball conference, the Whit/Grasso implosion of two years ago the most damaging setback yet.  Instead of being so hypercritical of the recruiting, be grateful the coaching staff was able to land a kid of any quality and that the kid is willing to play for Fordham.

[RAM71]

That's right, '71, wait and see.  Rather than questioning the kid before he even steps foot on the floor, why not give it a shot? 
.

Fish Fry, "giving it a shot" does not sound like a solid plan to me. You are saying that TP has no responsibility for the product on the floor this year? It is all the fault of DW and Grasso?     

[ace93]

Really? So you are saying that you have confidence in this coaching staff and its ability to spot a kid as A-10 talent as a sophomore? I guess we will need to wait a couple of years to see.  

No, I am not saying that. I just don't think there's enough to say it was too early. I guess for me it's more that there is so much definitely wrong with the program that I don't see the point in criticizing something that is uncertain.

[RAM71]

No, I am not saying that. I just don't think there's enough to say it was too early. I guess for me it's more that there is so much definitely wrong with the program that I don't see the point in criticizing something that is uncertain.

Appreciate your point.

[Fish Fry]

Fish Fry, "giving it a shot" does not sound like a solid plan to me. You are saying that TP has no responsibility for the product on the floor this year? It is all the fault of DW and Grasso?     

'71, unlike you, I was never of the belief we were in for a quick fix here.  I'd like to think I'm running on few more cylinders than the rest of the bunch.  Is TP responsible for having to take his lumps with a vastly inexperienced team due to having no foundation for a program left behind?  Is he responsible for the 15 years of mostly inept program mismanagement that is making for a tough hurdle to clear on the recruiting front.  I would say no, he's not.  You don't want to "give it a shot", fine.  Then just go back to continually stewing in the pungent juices of 7-21 seasons until such time that the program drops to D-III or just folds altogether.  You reap what you sow, partner. 

[RAM71]

'71, unlike you, I was never of the belief we were in for a quick fix here.  I'd like to think I'm running on few more cylinders than the rest of the bunch.  Is TP responsible for having to take his lumps with a vastly inexperienced team due to having no foundation for a program left behind?  Is he responsible for the 15 years of mostly inept program mismanagement that is making for a tough hurdle to clear on the recruiting front.  I would say no, he's not.  You don't want to "give it a shot", fine.  Then just go back to continually stewing in the pungent juices of 7-21 seasons until such time that the program drops to D-III or just folds altogether.  You reap what you sow, partner. 

Unbelievable. "You reap what you sow, partner". LOL!

"7-21 seasons". We should only be so lucky. Can you say 3-26?

[ace93]

Unbelievable. "You reap what you sow, partner". LOL!

"7-21 seasons". We should only be so lucky. Can you say 3-26?

Yeah, that's a bit much. Remember when I said that I'm with Fish Fry on this one. I'm not with him anymore. 

[fordham81]

How many of these kids will be interested after the train wreck that this season has become?

[Fish Fry]

Yeah, that's a bit much. Remember when I said that I'm with Fish Fry on this one. I'm not with him anymore. 

Don't really need you or anyone with me, Ace.  All of y'all want to be so negative this early into the game, have at it.

[RAM71]

How many of these kids will be interested after the train wreck that this season has become?

You use the same selling point on recruits- these guys stink, you can play right away.

[ace93]

Don't really need you or anyone with me, Ace.  All of y'all want to be so negative this early into the game, have at it.

I'm just playing around. Trying to have a little fun here.

It might be early in the season (which is what I think you meant), but you really can't expect people to be positive. If we were losing close, hotly contested games, I'd here your point, but not when things have gone as they have. Most people are just venting here, that's expected.

[Fish Fry]

I'm just playing around. Trying to have a little fun here.

It might be early in the season (which is what I think you meant), but you really can't expect people to be positive. If we were losing close, hotly contested games, I'd here your point, but not when things have gone as they have. Most people are just venting here, that's expected.

Fair enough and sorry to snap at you.  But when we get to the point where we appear to be ripping kids two years before they ever play a game for us, I think it's over the top and we should be better than that. 

We have a young team, and a young backcourt.  Even with two ugly losses over the last few nights, the reaction seems to be a bit much, even by this board's standards.  I'm not turning cartwheels over any of this, but good lord, did we really think we wouldn't have some growing pains?  This team and the coaching staff do need some time here.  If this were Pecora's 4th year here and his kids were playing games like this as juniors and seniors, I could understand the hysterically negative tone.  Sorry...but I just don't agree with it now. 

[RAM71]

Northfield Mount Hermon 109 vs. Brimmer & May 47

NMH has Harvard and Dartmouth signees.

[RAM71]

Brimmer And May falls to 0-5 after losing to a weak Pingree School team.

From NERR:

Pingree 50  Brimmer & May 43

In what can only be considered a major upset, Pingree pulled off a dramatic win over class AA Brimmer & May in the nightcap of the 2011 Scholar Roundball Classic.  Discipline and unselfishness were the keys from Pingree as they put on a passing clinic, moving the ball through Brimmer’s full court pressure and half-court zone.   John Spears provided energy and playmaking in the Pingree backcourt, weaving through pressure with his dribble for 17 points, while Kyle Lentini was equally important on the interior, finishing with 16 points.  Adrian Oliveira had a team high 13 points for Brimmer while K.J. Baptiste finished with 12 after doing most of his damage in the first half.


 

[ace93]

Not much on Fay from those last two games.  His team seems weak, how is he doing?  We can surmise that he scored less than 12 in the last one, hopefully it was 11.

[charlietags]

I am not sure that if we don't recruit some phenom that no one knows about, that we will continue to  get mediocre players.  Smith can shoot the ball and Gaston is a good player but where are the rest?  The Monmouth game was so bad.  This was a 1-8 team before we played them and we made them look like Duke.  Just awful.

[ramfan01]

Brimmer And May falls to 0-5 after losing to a weak Pingree School team.

From NERR:

Pingree 50  Brimmer & May 43

In what can only be considered a major upset, Pingree pulled off a dramatic win over class AA Brimmer & May in the nightcap of the 2011 Scholar Roundball Classic.  Discipline and unselfishness were the keys from Pingree as they put on a passing clinic, moving the ball through Brimmer’s full court pressure and half-court zone.   John Spears provided energy and playmaking in the Pingree backcourt, weaving through pressure with his dribble for 17 points, while Kyle Lentini was equally important on the interior, finishing with 16 points.  Adrian Oliveira had a team high 13 points for Brimmer while K.J. Baptiste finished with 12 after doing most of his damage in the first half.


 

Fay's team is losing every game!  Who says he isn't getting prepared to play here?

[Stringer Bell]

I think it's a little early to worry about Jake, but I still can't believe we gave a 5 year ride to his older brother after we already had 3 guards committed in last year's class (and glaring needs at PF and C).  I'd say that decision by Pecora is probably on par with whatever the worst personnel move was under Whittenburg, and Lord knows there were a lot of really awful ones during his 6+ years.

[ace93]

I think it's a little early to worry about Jake, but I still can't believe we gave a 5 year ride to his older brother after we already had 3 guards committed in last year's class (and glaring needs at PF and C).  I'd say that decision by Pecora is probably on par with whatever the worst personnel move was under Whittenburg, and Lord knows there were a lot of really awful ones during his 6+ years.

Come on. Your memory cannot be that bad. Worse than the Thomas/Gordon combo?  And we still don't know if Jared is going to be redshirted anyway.

[ramMan]

Below are excerpts from a Q&A with Jake Fay (Hoop Dreams Magazine blog).


Jake Fay "A Head of His Class"

This young man needs no introduction, the first played to commit in the class of 2013, Mr  sharp shooter himself Jake Fay. Raised in the city of sin Lynn, from the same area that brought you players such as Antonio Anderson, Anthony Anderson and Dwight Brewington just to name a few.  Jake attends Brimmer and May school located in the chestnut hill section of Boston.  Jake gave a commitment to Fordham University in his sophmore year of high school, this took many by surprise as Fay was on track to becoming a big fish in the New England sea.  Running with New England Ballas on the AAU circut, Fay has gained an extra boost of confidence.

Fay is a shot maker that has the size to adjust to any stage level, standing at 6′ 6″  and great athleticism he is a no catch guy on the scouting report.  What is impressive about Fay is that he doesn’t worry about the miss shots, he keeps shooting as if he didn’t miss.  That is what a great shotter does, off the dribble, step back, and catch and shot are all in fay’s arsenel, we sat down with Fay and got the inside scoop
 
Why did you choose FU so early ?
I committed so early to Fordham, because who would turn down the opportunity to play along side there brother in New York City at a division one school. Coach Pecora , coach Duke and the rest of the staff made me feel at home while recruiting me. I feel like something special is going to happen with the Fordham basketball program and I want to be apart of it.

Click here to read more.

[Vinseiro]

Fay doesn't worry about the missed shots?  Then he'll fit right in.

Too bad we landed him mainly because we took in his bro, but that's the kind of thing we may have to do for now.  Hope he's worth it.