2016 Recruiting needs and potential recruits

[Mass Grad]

I was reading an interview with Yale's Makai Mason (30 points against Baylor), who said that he grew up a UMass fan and when they did not recruit him, he looked to other schools. He is from Greenfield. Also starring in the NCAA tournament: Wayne Seldin, Jr. (Kansas), Jake Layman, (Maryland), Zach August (Notre Dame) and Georges Niang (Iowa State). All From Massachusetts. I am sure that I am missing some. Put together, they would win the whole thing! Why can't DK keep these guys in state? Please don't tell me that Iowa State is a better school than us.

If I had a kid that was offered by Kansas, ND, or MD. That's where he would go.

[vanmeter]

Makai Mason would have been another story. If he wanted to come hear we made a mistake not taking him.

[LS71]

Add former Springfield Central and Wilbraham & Monson guard Jaylen Brantley, who's on Maryland, to the list. Don't know if he heard anything from UMass about coming here.

[MikeEsq]

I was reading an interview with Yale's Makai Mason (30 points against Baylor), who said that he grew up a UMass fan and when they did not recruit him, he looked to other schools. He is from Greenfield. Also starring in the NCAA tournament: Wayne Seldin, Jr. (Kansas), Jake Layman, (Maryland), Zach August (Notre Dame) and Georges Niang (Iowa State). All From Massachusetts. I am sure that I am missing some. Put together, they would win the whole thing! Why can't DK keep these guys in state? Please don't tell me that Iowa State is a better school than us.

Welcome, WMassFan. This has been a point of contention on the board for years (decades). The two camps are that some people don't care where players are from so long as we get the possible recruits, while others would like to build a fence around Massachusetts. DK has never been good at getting Bay State players, and even Coach Cal only got them towards the end of his tenure if I'm not mistaken.

[LS71]

The good news is that Chris Baldwin of Springfield is a major part of the top-25 recruiting class on its way to Amherst for next season.

[Old Cage]

The standing joke about Makai Mason is that he couldn't get accepted by UMass. so he went to his safety school in New Haven.

[Calmass9]

Please don't tell me that Iowa State is a better school than us.

It absolutely was at the time. Fred Hoiberg (good enough to now be coaching in the NBA, by the way) resurrected that program and it started with Royce White and Georges Niang. ISU had better facilities, the status of the Big 12 behind it, and a coach who clearly had one hell of a recruiting pitch. People who bitch and moan about players leaving the state of Massachusetts to go play in Power 5 conference's need to get their head examined. When Wabissa Bede goes to Villanova or something of the like, it'll be automatic outrage on here from a select few that think we should keep a 4 star player from going to a team that's coming off a Final Four appearance. Crazy talk. Chris Baldwin (Springfield, MASSACHUSETTS) is a ridiculously good get for this program, enjoy him for the next 4 years.

[MJatUM]

^ Thank you.

[WMassFan]

From today's Gazette, from the new hockey coach: "Carvel said he was surprised to find just three kids from Massachusetts on the UMass roster.
“I had three Mass. kids at St. Lawrence,” he said. “We have to chase after Mass. kids. I think it will help with the identity of the team and creating interest from fans. ... I’d like to get at least 10 kids from Massachusetts. I think that’d be great for the program.”

[NilesGold]

^ Hockey in New England is a little different than basketball in New England.

[eldonabe]

From today's Gazette, from the new hockey coach: "Carvel said he was surprised to find just three kids from Massachusetts on the UMass roster.
“I had three Mass. kids at St. Lawrence,” he said. “We have to chase after Mass. kids. I think it will help with the identity of the team and creating interest from fans. ... I’d like to get at least 10 kids from Massachusetts. I think that’d be great for the program.”

Yup pile on the those 10 Mass kids and go 8-24-4

Get any other roster of players from wherever they come from and go 24-8-4

You tell me which team creates more interest?


I wold love to see more locals on the Umass Roster - I really would, but ultimately I could care less if they put a good team on the floor, and if any of you had a gun to your head you would take that same trade off as well.


Al Davis said it best - "Just win baby!" Everything else will take care of itself.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

You need to win first. Then THE best players from your home state will want to come here over leaving the state or choosing another in-state rival. Simple as that. You can't just take local kids to say you have local kids. You want the best of the best.

[69MG]

Nick Marshall is leaving Memphis. He was a 4* center (6'10 or 6'11) from Memphis who we offered a while ago. If we think we're going to need another big in 2 years he's not a bad option. Not sure what happened his freshman year, but he only played about 9 minutes a game. Around 3 points and 3 boards in his 9 minutes.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... ll-program

[TruBluMaroon]

^ Perhaps.......going out on limb here......he just wasn't good enough to play significant minutes as a freshman!

[inthescoop]

Nick Marshall is leaving Memphis. He was a 4* center (6'10 or 6'11) from Memphis who we offered a while ago. If we think we're going to need another big in 2 years he's not a bad option. Not sure what happened his freshman year, but he only played about 9 minutes a game. Around 3 points and 3 boards in his 9 minutes.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... ll-program

No thanks... the Nick Marshall situation at Memphis has been very messy, don't want UMass being involved in that.