Udoka closing in on decision?

[Ozheelfan]

Enjoy the rest of this season guys because it's got real potential to be downright ugly next season. I'm having nightmares of watching a 6'7" Luke Maye at the power forward position. How on earth do you miss on Rabb,Zimmerman,Giles,and every other power forward in the 2015 and 2016 classes? It's absolutely mindboggling. We better get on our hands and knees and pray that Meeks and Hicks come back for their senior years.

I agree with you, UNC needs 1 if not 2 post players for 16-17.
I do not agree with the glass half empty approach.
Why did Roy miss on a lot of players? (not all, but a lot) Check the headlines for the last couple of years. He's been recruiting with one hand (maybe two) tied behind his back for a while.

And yes Gary, '17 is a big year for bigs, but Roy still needs some depth up front in the season before.

I'm really hoping he finds/lands:
1. A solid 5th year (Grad) transfer who can play alongside Bradley and (hopefully) Hicks
2. A preferred walk-on or late recruit who'll provide practice play and spot minutes when needed (basically need one of these every 2yrs or 2 every 3 years)

Of course, if UA's decision means Allen chooses the Heels then just a Grad transfer will do.

 

[HeelFan58]

Jarrett Allen , Thon Maker and Marques Bolden are the big men left. Allen would seem to be the only remote possibility. Taurean Thompson is the only other left and he is out of top 50 and a heavy 'Cuse lean.

 

[HeelFan58]

Here's to hoping on Wendell!

Hopefully he doesn't get recruited by UK, KU, or Duke or else it'll be on to the next guy after that

uhhh ...all are recruiting the shat out of him. K has called him amazing.

 

[gunslingerdick]

'17 is ultimately more important. .

No, no it's not. We've got a long time to get bigs whether it's Wendall or not. We just missed on the last top uncommitted big man prospect and our cupboard is potentially bare next year. I'd say '16 is more important.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

uhhh ...all are recruiting the shat out of him. K has called him amazing.

Ok, so then who is the fall back option after him?

 

[OldSchoo01]

Has there been any communication with Thon Maker?

 

[HeelFan58]

Ok, so then who is the fall back option after him?

Allen is a remote possibility. He mentioned we were still coming hard so he must be at least intrigued. Nick Rakocevic 6'10" 210 PF could be an option. We looked in to him early and he has some pretty good offers. Azubuike would have been great , but we really need a traditional PF with Bradley already signed.

 

[HeelFan58]

someone tweeted that UD stared at the camera for 28 minutes until they went to him for his announcement.

 

[toophly1124]

Well it sucks but even more reason for me to just enjoy this years team and hopefully watch them do something special

 

[RoseHeel]

This season just got a lot more crucial for a Final Four appearance.

I'm aware it's early in Carter's recruitment, but I see no signs pointing to us having a strong chance with him. Feels like a Harry Giles type situation for us all over again. Would love to have him, but I don't think we get him. Next year could be rough.

Don't feel very hopeful for Alkins, but still hoping.

 

[GACMAN]

Enjoy the rest of this season guys because it's got real potential to be downright ugly next season. I'm having nightmares of watching a 6'7" Luke Maye at the power forward position. How on earth do you miss on Rabb,Zimmerman,Giles,and every other power forward in the 2015 and 2016 classes? It's absolutely mindboggling. We better get on our hands and knees and pray that Meeks and Hicks come back for their senior years.

dude....you really need to get a life!!

 

[Ozheelfan]

Allen is a remote possibility. He mentioned we were still coming hard so he must be at least intrigued. Nick Rakocevic 6'10" 210 PF could be an option. We looked in to him early and he has some pretty good offers. Azubuike would have been great , but we really need a traditional PF with Bradley already signed.

There was some contact with Aussie PF/C Harry Froling last year. He's a nice fundamentals type player who'd fit that back-up project role.
I remember there was some baggage with Rakocevic but he also seems pretty skilled.

 

[HeelFan58]

Has there been any communication with Thon Maker?

I don't think we ever offered Maker. He may be more trouble than we want to bring upon ourselves. He was never even assigned a recruiter.

 

[Steat]

It's not all about Roy. The shoe company and the AAU coach controlled the Udoka decision. Roy came very close, but it was not good enough. Roy is not going to play the game. This is another reason why he has never signed a player with a handler. Third parties are obvious!.... AAU coach and shoe company. The sums of money these folks get under the table is enormous. The handler will get his pay-out also. Roy will get another big, but it may be a 5th year senior. Really thought Roy would pull it out based on the Heels playing style....Next!

 

[gary-7]

No, no it's not. We've got a long time to get bigs whether it's Wendall or not. We just missed on the last top uncommitted big man prospect and our cupboard is potentially bare next year. I'd say '16 is more important.

Disagree. But I do agree with those who said that Udoka is still a bit of a project.
It's certainly not ideal, nor the depth luxury we're used to, but I recall Roy doing quite well with three-headed rotations at the 4-5 spots, going back to Pollard Lafrenz and Pugh at KU. With Hicks ready to break out as a go-to post scorer and Bradley I believe ready to start as a frosh at the 5, with an improved Maye as back-up, our cupboard won't be exactly bare.

 

[gary-7]

There was some contact with Aussie PF/C Harry Froling last year. He's a nice fundamentals type player who'd fit that back-up project role.
I remember there was some baggage with Rakocevic but he also seems pretty skilled.

Good point Oz. The foreign angle is a possibility.

 

[hills5]

I don't think we ever offered Maker. He may be more trouble than we want to bring upon ourselves. He was never even assigned a recruiter.

Maker still has eligibility issues and has flat out stated that he's coming for one year or he's going abroad for a year then going pro. He could be a great kid and a huge addition to a program, but that, to me, is a bit of a red flag.

 

[Ozheelfan]

Maker still has eligibility issues and has flat out stated that he's coming for one year or he's going abroad for a year then going pro. He could be a great kid and a huge addition to a program, but that, to me, is a bit of a red flag.

The red flag is his 'guardian' Ed Smith.
I met the guy in 2008 when he was involved in getting Ater Majok to Connecticut...... and didn't that work out well.
Smith doesn't have a good name in Aussie hoops circles. He may have all good intentions but the impression is that he latched on to the Sudanese refugee community, looking for a meal ticket and may have just found it in Thon.

 

[dadika13]

Guys...relax. It's one recruit. And stop with the Maker talk, he's a nightmare of baggage.

We're loaded this year, we have a top 10 class coming in, we have Jalek and Leeky already on board after 2016 and once the NCAA mess clears this summer we will go heavy on 2017 guys.

The future is very bright.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I would love to have gotten this big fella ... but alas win some lose some. BUT there always are late bloomers, transfers and one source which we seemingly have NOT tapped..... Foreign players. I believe we will get at least one more BIG MAN from one of those sources

 

[CJBlue]

There was some contact with Aussie PF/C Harry Froling last year. He's a nice fundamentals type player who'd fit that back-up project role.
I remember there was some baggage with Rakocevic but he also seems pretty skilled.

He committed to SMU I believe.

 

[Archer2]

We were playing catch up and though we made up a lot of ground, it wasn't quite enough. Good luck to Udoka.

 

[imajericho]

Not that concerned. We have plenty of bigs for next year and didn't really need another.

 

[Archer2]

Not that concerned. We have plenty of bigs for next year and didn't really need another.

Assuming everyone returns who is eligible to do so, that still only leaves Meeks, Hicks, Maye, and Bradley. I'd feel much more comfortable with anther big, even with all those guys. And if Meeks and/or Hicks leave, we'll be paper thin at the 4/5 spots unless we add another big.

We hardly have plenty of bigs.

 

[Spacegrass]

1. I have feeling Roy goes and looks for a 5th year transfer graduate student to fill a 1 year depth void on the front court.

 

[DSouthr]

The red flag is his 'guardian' Ed Smith.
I met the guy in 2008 when he was involved in getting Ater Majok to Connecticut...... and didn't that work out well.
Smith doesn't have a good name in Aussie hoops circles. He may have all good intentions but the impression is that he latched on to the Sudanese refugee community, looking for a meal ticket and may have just found it in Thon.

Assuming everyone returns who is eligible to do so, that still only leaves Meeks, Hicks, Maye, and Bradley. I'd feel much more comfortable with anther big, even with all those guys. And if Meeks and/or Hicks leave, we'll be paper thin at the 4/5 spots unless we add another big.

We hardly have plenty of bigs.

Thon maker is an amazing talent but there is zero possibility he commits to UNC and with the new academic requirements in place for next season it is doubtful he comits to any school. I do think that UA to Kansas takes them out for Bolden and Allen but duke & Ky are all over Bolden leaving Allen who is not likely to leave the state of Texas. Pretty much leaves the only guy left for Roy to recruit as Kennedy Meeks.

I know I know, Meeks has made his mind up, he going pro after this season, yeah I know. But the most important lesson this life has taught me is things change, decisions change, new information comes and brand new decisions happen. Brice went in to his Jr season at UNC with the full belief that he would enter the last NBA draft but rather than do that he is playing for us right now. Meeks has not exactly had a ready for the NBA type of season so far, Brice didn't exactly have a ready for the NBA season last season, look what coming back has done for Brice! If we can go in to next season with Meeks, Hicks, Tony, and Luke, I am fine with that.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

If we can go in to next season with Meeks, Hicks, Tony, and Luke, I am fine with that.

Yep, and why not kick back and enjoy THIS season then see what happens?

 

[Archer2]

Sounds like the only logical approach to me Mike. It's exactly what I plan to do.

 

[DSouthr]

Yep, and why not kick back and enjoy THIS season then see what happens?

Exactly what I am doing, I enjoy each and every season, I wait to long for it to get here to not enjoy it. But I look at yesterday, today and tomorrow because one is a lesson, one is happening now , and the later is still a mystery. Thing about a mystery, I enjoy trying to figure out how it will un-fold.

 

[coolwaterunc]

F him. Go Heels.

 

[johnhelvete]

1. I have feeling Roy goes and looks for a 5th year transfer graduate student to fill a 1 year depth void on the front court.

I think UNC would be an attractive destination for a player looking to further their potential pro career, being the third big and getting quality minutes at either post position.

 

[dadika13]

Sounds like the only logical approach to me Mike. It's exactly what I plan to do.

You're assuming everyone on this board is logical...

 

[hills5]

I think UNC would be an attractive destination for a player looking to further their potential pro career, being the third big and getting quality minutes at either post position.

If Meeks does in fact leave, I think you'll see a number of transfers contacting UNC. Not to mention, at the end of the year there are always coaches who get fired opening up their players for recruitment. A number of high level programs have gotten late additions through this route. If UNC is in dire need of another big when Meeks declares, Roy will hit the recruiting trail for 5th years and the players of recently fired coaches and get enough to have a decent rotation.

 

[Spaceytoyz]

Just get some big bodies in and go with Guard lineups and let the ball fly..

 

[Steat]

Injuries, injuries, injuries folks. You have to compensate for injuries. The Heels have them every year. Roy know more than us folks. He will sign someone. Hicks may come back, but Meeks is gone. Also, Meeks is injury prone. If I was advising him, no way I recommend he come back. He is not going to get any better staying in college.

 

[acarter0277]

Injuries, injuries, injuries folks. You have to compensate for injuries. The Heels have them every year. Roy know more than us folks. He will sign someone. Hicks may come back, but Meeks is gone. Also, Meeks is injury prone. If I was advising him, no way I recommend he come back. He is not going to get any better staying in college.

That's exactly what I said in another post. Meeks stands to gain NOTHING by coming back. He is what he is. He's not going to improve his stock. He'll the be same player next year as he was this year. Isaiah, on the other hand, has EVERYTHING to gain by coming back. Brice would have been a low 1st rounder last year, but came back and has played his way into a mid-1st rounder, possible lottery to Top 10 selection. It's the exact same situation with Isaiah. He could be a low end 1st rounder this season, or come back, be THE MAN, and play his way into a lottery pick. Isaiah needs to develop that 15 foot jumper that Brice is so adept at knocking down.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Meeks stands to gain NOTHING by coming back. He is what he is. He's not going to improve his stock. He'll the be same player next year as he was this year.

That's the same old tired crap many said about Brice-Zeller and many others. IF they don't improve under Roy they don't want to. I see plenty of want-to in Meeks.

 

[acarter0277]

That's the same old tired crap many said about Brice-Zeller and many others. IF they don't improve under Roy they don't want to. I see plenty of want-to in Meeks.

I've seen Meeks play every season since he was a freshman in high school. The only difference between now and then is his body weight.

 

[DSouthr]

Injuries, injuries, injuries folks. You have to compensate for injuries. The Heels have them every year. Roy know more than us folks. He will sign someone. Hicks may come back, but Meeks is gone. Also, Meeks is injury prone. If I was advising him, no way I recommend he come back. He is not going to get any better staying in college.

Steat, buddy, of course Meeks can get better...I can't believe you said that man, develop a mid range jump shot, play with more aggresion, play thru the defender as opposed to that soft stuff that gets smacked back him a couple times every game.

And after all, how bad did Brice coming back hurt his draftability ? Brice would maybe have gone higher in the last draft than Meeks is likely to go in this one... If meeks is at his ceiling then in all candor, he needs to stay in school and finish his degree cause he will need it after a stint in the euro leagues.

 

[DSouthr]

I've seen Meeks play every season since he was a freshman in high school. The only difference between now and then is his body weight.

WoW, just WoW...