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Post by Chuck on Aug 18, 2007 16:08:37 GMT -5
Relph on newcomers
Sorry it's been a while since the last entry. Tons of high school football stuff to do and not a lot of time to do it.
Anyway, I talked with Tyler Relph last month just before he went back home after summer school. Asked him about the newcomers.
Relph is always candid about teammates and usually gives pretty good scouting reports of them. He's always the go-to guy in this regard.
Relph was most high on freshman guard Malcolm Eleby, which seems to be the prevailing thought coming out of Bona.
Of Eleby, Relph said, "I think is going to be one of the better point guards in the A-10 in his junior and senior years. He's 6-2, long and athletic. If he keeps working on his jump shot and keeps working like he did this summer, I think he'll be, if not the best point guard, one of the best in the league."
From what I understand, Eleby is a little bit like Ahmad Smith, only three inches shorter. The Philadelphia product is a lefty, tough, a creator-slasher. He's not afraid to mix it up inside either. But outside 15 feet he isn't an offensive threat. Inside 15 he has a pretty good jumper though. Being left handed and 6-2, sounds a lot like Kenny Anderson. We will see.
Relph went on to say that Da'Quan Cook, at 6-8, will help the Bonnies most with rebounding. Junior college big man D'Lancy Carter has soft hands and nice touch around the basket while swingman Hilary Haley is a versatile slasher with a natural ability to get to the basket.
Relph concluded of the four, "They really work hard. I think they're going to be good."
Word is, the Bonnies could add another freshman before the start of school. We'll see.
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Post by jh on Aug 18, 2007 17:28:51 GMT -5
Relph on newcomers Sorry it's been a while since the last entry. Tons of high school football stuff to do and not a lot of time to do it. Word is, the Bonnies could add another freshman before the start of school. We'll see. A frosh or 2..........
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Post by bleacherbum on Aug 18, 2007 18:12:26 GMT -5
Greg Lewis played a lot of pick-up games this summer with the team, and he says that there is more talent on this team than on any of Solomon's 4 teams.
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Post by sireltonruddock on Aug 18, 2007 18:23:40 GMT -5
Greg Lewis played a lot of pick-up games this summer with the team, and he says that there is more talent on this team than on any of Solomon's 4 teams. I've heard similar sentiments. While our raw talent is at a high point in terms of the last four seasons, we can surely expect some freshman mistakes this season from the likes of Eleby, Cook, Morgan, and Haley. Having said that, I think this will be the most entertaining season we've seen at SBU since 2003. Also, as jh stated above, the aforementioned freshman class as it stands will, in all likelihood, add one or two to its stable. Don't sleep on the tales of the fabled big transfer, either. Go Bona.
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Post by deuce on Aug 19, 2007 8:13:44 GMT -5
Look for possibly a transfer from a pretty good program - someone who put played regularly and had the ability to score. Won't help the cause next year - but will be available in 2008 - 2009.
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Post by BonaMan on Aug 19, 2007 9:53:32 GMT -5
Sounds like we are closing in on some help for this year. Any hints on the two freshmen and transfer? My excitement level is at an all time high for this season.
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Post by Copenhagen on Aug 19, 2007 13:57:03 GMT -5
Who will be the first to break the story with some names? and when will that be?
Inquiring minds want to know!
How about some guesses or rumors or sightings......
--- is the long talked about Maurice Thomas the transfer?
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Post by mangham on Aug 20, 2007 8:57:56 GMT -5
I'm hearing Mo Thomas is on campus. I wonder why the school has yet to acknowledge this.
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Post by BonaMan on Aug 20, 2007 9:16:00 GMT -5
Probably don't want to jump the gun on his announcement. I've done a quick Google search on him and at one time he had some big programs in on him. He was originally slated to attend the University of Tennessee. For some reason, that didn't work out. Then it sounds like he was to attend a second school, which also did not pan out. He then signed a LOI and played at UTEP the past two seasons.
There must be some issues (character, academic, etc.) because of the turnover in commitments. According to a scouting report that I read Wake Forest, UNC, Arizona, University of Tennessee, and Marquette were at one time interested. He must have some talent. Now it will be up to the coaching staff to help him fulfill that potential. Provided the rumor we are hearing is true that he is on campus.
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Post by bleacherbum on Aug 20, 2007 9:18:24 GMT -5
I believe info on recruits in this situation cannot be announced until they actually set foot in their first class, which would be next Monday, right ?
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Post by Chuck on Aug 20, 2007 21:52:36 GMT -5
Maurice Thomas is a victim of a recent trend in college basketball, where a new coach wants players who fit his team's style of play. If they do not fit his image, he takes away their basketball scholarship. Second year coach Tony Barbee (from UMass) wants big physical post players, which he gained with signing 3 new players for this year. Unfortunately for Maurice he has a big man's game, but he weighs only 210 pounds (which is less than Michael Lee).
This past season Maurice started 19 games for UTEP and finished the season as the 3rd leading scorer on the team at 9.4 points a game. He is an athletic player who has a game that is played in the paint. He is a former teammate of Chris Matthews at Lutheran.
Maurice Thomas is a big time recruit who did not fit Barbee's image of a post player. Former NBA player and Syracuse star Louis Orr must have played before Barbee's introduction to basketball.
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Post by GoPadres on Aug 21, 2007 16:37:49 GMT -5
Why no mention of Matt Morgan? Did I miss something?
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Post by sireltonruddock on Aug 21, 2007 17:15:05 GMT -5
Why no mention of Matt Morgan? Did I miss something? From Vinny's Blog: Matt Morgan I received an email today reminding me that I forgot to mention freshman Matt Morgan in the newcomers outlook. I apologize. Anyways, Relph was pretty impressed with Morgan's outside shooting ability. And remember, Morgan is 6-8. It sounds like he'll be able to stretch defenses and create mismatches. That being said, I understand Morgan to be a project. Don't expect him to play much in his initial season, especially considering Mike Lee, Da'Quan Cook and D'Lancy Carter are ahead on the depth chart.
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Post by thebensonbandwagon on Aug 22, 2007 22:47:34 GMT -5
Why no mention of Matt Morgan? Did I miss something? From Vinny's Blog: Matt Morgan I received an email today reminding me that I forgot to mention freshman Matt Morgan in the newcomers outlook. I apologize. Anyways, Relph was pretty impressed with Morgan's outside shooting ability. And remember, Morgan is 6-8. It sounds like he'll be able to stretch defenses and create mismatches. That being said, I understand Morgan to be a project. Don't expect him to play much in his initial season, especially considering Mike Lee, Da'Quan Cook and D'Lancy Carter are ahead on the depth chart. Matt Morgan won't see time period. Sounds like the same type of player as Benson. If Morgan has as much fire and basketball IQ as Benson does... Ill be thrilled. I love the energy that Benson brings. But... I dont expect him or Benson to see time in Schmidt's offense, which isn't a bad thing because I love the run and gun ball. But I do feel that Benson, in the right program, could be the perfect role player.
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Post by jh on Aug 23, 2007 6:27:28 GMT -5
I agree with you on benson - but I do think he can have a role in this offense...shooters are always welcome...Benson is a gy to keep an eye on this year under a new coach/system
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