Oats really needs these freshmen to stick around

[frazor]

Can't complain about the job he has done with rerecruiting guys like Petty, Jones, Shack, etc. as well as bringing in JUCO and transfer guys to fill in the gaps as he tries to get his players in place. However, when you look at the 4 freshmen he brought in last season it sort of leaves me a little concerned about the building blocks of this program.
Primo: Bolted after a season of ups and downs and was a descent contributor but would be a huge cog in the wheel this season
Tchikou- can't see the court which has to make you wonder will he be ready as a Jr in 2 years?
Ambrose- Appears that he will also struggle to see PT unless injuries mount or he develops a good deal more as a un upperclassman.
Miles- shows flashes but has some holes outside of shooting 3s.

I hate to think of what may come out of the portal if Oats has to replace Davison or Bediako with a transfer. While the recruiting under Oats appears to be fantastic can a collection of freshmen and transfers come together year after year over a 30 game season to form a special team? I just don't know. Hopefully it's much ado about nothing but it would be nice if future teams had 3-4 upperclassmen on the team that signed out of high school.

 

[jtr4dad]

Can't complain about the job he has done with rerecruiting guys like Petty, Jones, Shack, etc. as well as bringing in JUCO and transfer guys to fill in the gaps as he tries to get his players in place. However, when you look at the 4 freshmen he brought in last season it sort of leaves me a little concerned about the building blocks of this program.
Primo: Bolted after a season of ups and downs and was a descent contributor but would be a huge cog in the wheel this season
Tchikou- can't see the court which has to make you wonder will he be ready as a Jr in 2 years?
Ambrose- Appears that he will also struggle to see PT unless injuries mount or he develops a good deal more as a un upperclassman.
Miles- shows flashes but has some holes outside of shooting 3s.

I hate to think of what may come out of the portal if Oats has to replace Davison or Bediako with a transfer. While the recruiting under Oats appears to be fantastic can a collection of freshmen and transfers come together year after year over a 30 game season to form a special team? I just don't know. Hopefully it's much ado about nothing but it would be nice if future teams had 3-4 upperclassmen on the team that signed out of high school.

I share your concerns about next season as well. Gurley and Ellis are seniors. If JD, JQ, and Shack all leave only 3 of our top 8 players from this season will be returning. While Bediako, Gary, and Miles are all solid, they’re more role players than game changers. We would need to hit the portal hard or rely on a bunch of our highly rated freshmen to be ready right out of the gate.

 

[frazor]

I share your concerns about next season as well. Gurley and Ellis are seniors. If JD, JQ, and Shack all leave only 3 of our top 8 players from this season will be returning. While Bediako, Gary, and Miles are all solid, they’re more role players than game changers. We would need to hit the portal hard or rely on a bunch of our highly rated freshmen to be ready right out of the gate.

If JD, Shack, and Q leave I think you have to find at least two guards in the portal.

 

[pwestbro61]

You must have missed the recruiting class Oats just signed/ they will be fine.

 

[Jordan Harper]

People are forgetting the freshman class coming in. It’s the greatest in Bama basketball history. Sure they need depth from the portal, but Miller and Bradley are both potential 1 and done type talents. Plus Griffen and Clowney who will be game changers. Pair those with maybe a portal or two additions and the returners and that’s a very solid squad.

 

[winin11]

At this point, I'm just sitting back and watching. Does CNO have some holes on this team? yes, but I have confidence he is correcting them.

 

[frazor]

You must have missed the recruiting class Oats just signed/ they will be fine.

When you say they'll be fine I am assuming you expect them to contribute on the same level that Burnett, Gurley, and Tchikou have contributed this season??? Not trying to be a smart ass but my point was the uncertainty of hinging every year's success to a collection of 18 year olds and sprinkling in transfers who may or may not contribute. I am very excited about this incoming class but is it not safe to assume, in the current state of basketball, that maybe 2 of those guys will wear a crimson jersey after the age of 20? Pretty sure Oats brought in Rojas as well as Bruner and now Gurley. I'd like to see guys 8-10 be upperclassmen who have paid their dues so to speak. Not complaining at all about what Oats is doing.

 

[rsaxoniii]

When you say they'll be fine I am assuming you expect them to contribute on the same level that Burnett, Gurley, and Tchikou have contributed this season??? Not trying to be a smart ass but my point was the uncertainty of hinging every year's success to a collection of 18 year olds and sprinkling in transfers who may or may not contribute. I am very excited about this incoming class but is it not safe to assume, in the current state of basketball, that maybe 2 of those guys will wear a crimson jersey after the age of 20? Pretty sure Oats brought in Rojas as well as Bruner and now Gurley. I'd like to see guys 8-10 be upperclassmen who have paid their dues so to speak. Not complaining at all about what Oats is doing.

I get what you're saying because I think it too. I'd like to be able to say this Davison guy is going to be real good for us in a couple of years but appears things like that won't be happening.

Ask yourself this... would you be happier if this years class were 3 and 4 stars instead?

You could possibly get you're veteran leadership in a couple of years with Gary, Miles, Ambrose-Hylton, Tchikou, and Holt but I doubt it.

 

[frazor]

I get what you're saying because I think it too. I'd like to be able to say this Davison guy is going to be real good for us in a couple of years but appears things like that won't be happening.

Ask yourself this... would you be happier if this years class were 3 and 4 stars instead?

You could possibly get you're veteran leadership in a couple of years with Gary, Miles, Ambrose-Hylton, Tchikou, and Holt but I doubt it.

I don't like to compare it to the football team but what I genuinely anticipate is that Oat's first couple of recruiting years will mimic that of Saban's with regards to signing kids and encouraging kids to enter the portal. My thought is simply this: Oats recruited and signed Ambrose and Tchikou. I find it hard to believe that as juniors or seniors (after 4 years in this system) they couldn't replicate the kind of production that Bama has gotten from Gurley and Brunner if they were given the minutes. This is why I want to see last year's class stick around. I do understand the need for transfers to fill holes and as was stated I think Oats will be looking for a couple of guards out of it next year.

 

[pwestbro61]

When you say they'll be fine I am assuming you expect them to contribute on the same level that Burnett, Gurley, and Tchikou have contributed this season??? Not trying to be a smart ass but my point was the uncertainty of hinging every year's success to a collection of 18 year olds and sprinkling in transfers who may or may not contribute. I am very excited about this incoming class but is it not safe to assume, in the current state of basketball, that maybe 2 of those guys will wear a crimson jersey after the age of 20? Pretty sure Oats brought in Rojas as well as Bruner and now Gurley. I'd like to see guys 8-10 be upperclassmen who have paid their dues so to speak. Not complaining at all about what Oats is doing.

These guys coming in are higher rated than 2 of the 3 you mentioned and Burnett got hurt.

 

[jd82tide]

I think Burnett was a lot more important piece than some realize to making us a more complete team and depth. No telling what these kids will do when the years over. You gotta sign 3-5 good freshman every year and get 2-3 from the portal and hopefully the 4-6 coming back can all give you good minutes. Seems like with the portal now and guys like Primo leaving after on mediocre year for the NBA you can count on half a new team or more every year. Would love to see JD and JQ come back, I think Shack is ready to go, don't think JD is ready, JQ is a wildcard.

 

[pfaud001]

I think JD, Shack, Quinerly, and Ellis are gone. Like Winin said, I think we just sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

I think JD, Shack, Quinerly, and Ellis are gone. Like Winin said, I think we just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I agree they’re probably gone, but I don’t understand how it would be a good decision for JQ and Shack. They should both come back for their senior years.

 

[frazor]

I agree they’re probably gone, but I don’t understand how it would be a good decision for JQ and Shack. They should both come back for their senior years.

I would assume they have both earned their degrees. It's hard to imagine the NBA being in either of their futures so they won't benefit from exposure next season. It's basically a choice of playing for a championship or playing to get paid.

 

[Bocat69]

JQ is 23 years old. Definitely time for him to go. I see a lot of people on here saying JQ cant make an NBA roster. I think with his ball skills and the court being more open in the NBA he can definitely be serviceable back up point guard. Shaq is the long shot to make a roster off the bat. To many guys in the G-league and overseas with similar skill sets. I don't think many people realize how hard it is to stick on an NBA roster and it's only going to get harder. Basketball is a universal sport played by kids all over the world. You got to be really special to sniff a NBA court.

 

[frazor]

These guys coming in are higher rated than 2 of the 3 you mentioned and Burnett got hurt.

I'll reserve my praise for this collection of 18 year olds until I see them actually play hoops against collegiate kids. Pretty sure JD had a higher rating than most, if not all, of this year's class if memory serves.

I will say that a team is comprised of pieces that work together to make everybody look good, and having Burnett would probably improve other's stock.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

I'll reserve my praise for this collection of 18 year olds until I see them actually play hoops against collegiate kids. Pretty sure JD had a higher rating than most, if not all, of this year's class if memory serves.

I will say that a team is comprised of pieces that work together to make everybody look good, and having Burnett would probably improve other's stock.

This ^^^
I'll wait.

 

[pfaud001]

I agree they’re probably gone, but I don’t understand how it would be a good decision for JQ and Shack. They should both come back for their senior years.

It’’s kind of like Reese leaving. He was ready to make money overseas. Shack’s dad is pretty off with his views so I think he is NBA or bust. I think Quinerly is going to bust his butt hard to make it.

 

[BeastofBourbon]

I agree they’re probably gone, but I don’t understand how it would be a good decision for JQ and Shack. They should both come back for their senior years.

I'm not sure they get any better if they return. I think they've reached their potential from a skillset perspective. I think the only thing they lack is consistency.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

I'm not sure they get any better if they return. I think they've reached their potential from a skillset perspective. I think the only thing they lack is consistency.

I agree on Shack… but Q has had a bad year. Would do him well to come back and improve statistically because what he’s done this year is nowhere near his ceiling. We’re talking about a 45% three point shooter who’s shooting 20%

 

[frazor]

Given what Pearl has done at AU there is obviously more than one way to skin a cat and recruiting the portal may indeed become more valuable than signing 18 year olds out of high school.
Now, has JD been less than what we've expected? I think that's fair to say. I also don't think he'd be catching as much criticism if it wasn't strongly believed that he is going to declare after the season. All in all last year's class is looking better and better as Holt, Bediako, and JD have all shown flashes of talent that would be great to see develop over the next 2-3 years. Won't happen but it would sure be nice to see.

 

[rsaxoniii]

Given what Pearl has done at AU there is obviously more than one way to skin a cat and recruiting the portal may indeed become more valuable than signing 18 year olds out of high school.
Now, has JD been less than what we've expected? I think that's fair to say. I also don't think he'd be catching as much criticism if it wasn't strongly believed that he is going to declare after the season. All in all last year's class is looking better and better as Holt, Bediako, and JD have all shown flashes of talent that would be great to see develop over the next 2-3 years. Won't happen but it would sure be nice to see.

That's my thinking about JD...I would be extremely enthusiastic about him if I were saying, "this kid is going to be a stud in 2 or 3 years"..... instead I sound really negative saying, how the hell could he be a 1st rounder this year.