2025 Recruiting

[MikeUMA]

New Hoops Commit Dwayne Wimbley Jr. Talks UMass
https://www.minutemancommand.com/p/new- ... alks-umass

[Floyd]

LOVE this commit. A talented SF who's committed to strong defense and can score. Just what we needed. Starting to like the way the roster is balancing out with offensive firepower, some front court help, & defensive minded kids. Now let's put it all together

[UMass1991]

LOVE this commit. A talented SF who's committed to strong defense and can score. Just what we needed. Starting to like the way the roster is balancing out with offensive firepower, some front court help, & defensive minded kids. Now let's put it all together

Wait, a highly rated recruit chose Umass even though they are in the MAC? How could that be?

[eldonabe]

LOVE this commit. A talented SF who's committed to strong defense and can score. Just what we needed. Starting to like the way the roster is balancing out with offensive firepower, some front court help, & defensive minded kids. Now let's put it all together

Wait, a highly rated recruit chose Umass even though they are in the MAC? How could that be?

Nice signing on paper. It will be great if he works out.

[NilesGold]

I am not expecting much even though it is nice to see some 3 pt shooters. That said, FM is totally missing the boat on how we should be recruiting with the big picture in mind. We play in a Midwest conference and that is where a signifant portion of our recruiting focus should be. UMASS is very similar to Big Ten schools when looking at it from a campus perspective so I believe you can get BigTen bench sitters and low 3 star guys who want a chance to start who are from the Midwest.

Frank has missed the mark on a lot, but this is one criticism of him that I could not disagree with more. Shifting recruiting focus to the midwest due solely because we'll be in the MAC and UMass is similar to B10 schools is just silly. What competitive advantage would UMass have with this strategy?

[69MG]

^ Holy sh-t Niles, we are 100% in agreement on something. First, you get the best players you can get regardless of where they are from. The midwest angle is flawed because around 2/3 of our games will be played in New England, NY or NJ.

I can see targeting a special player or two if you think playing some games in the midwest will help, fine. But no way do you change your recruiting focus to there.

Anyone know if Frank is going for 13 or 15? If it's 13, we only have 1 spot left. What is our biggest need?

[Plano Minuteman]

I'm liking how this roster is coming together. Am planning to be in the Knoxville area for at least the next year or so and some of those Ohio MAC schools are a reasonable drive. I look forward to seeing this team live and in person, actually.

[wmmmfan]

^ Holy sh-t Niles, we are 100% in agreement on something. First, you get the best players you can get regardless of where they are from. The midwest angle is flawed because around 2/3 of our games will be played in New England, NY or NJ.

I can see targeting a special player or two if you think playing some games in the midwest will help, fine. But no way do you change your recruiting focus to there.

Anyone know if Frank is going for 13 or 15? If it's 13, we only have 1 spot left. What is our biggest need?

He announced on X he will be announcing the roster soon, they have everyone signed. Didn’t say 13 or 15 but on the call I thought he said he had 13 locked up and was waiting on final 2.

[Juice Stand]

Frank has missed the mark on a lot, but this is one criticism of him that I could not disagree with more. Shifting recruiting focus to the midwest due solely because we'll be in the MAC and UMass is similar to B10 schools is just silly. What competitive advantage would UMass have with this strategy?

^ Holy sh-t Niles, we are 100% in agreement on something. First, you get the best players you can get regardless of where they are from. The midwest angle is flawed because around 2/3 of our games will be played in New England, NY or NJ.

I can see targeting a special player or two if you think playing some games in the midwest will help, fine. But no way do you change your recruiting focus to there.

100% agreed with both of you. I brought this up in an earlier thread a few weeks back and it makes no sense to me whatsoever to shift your recruiting region just because you're playing in the MAC. If someone from that area is high on your priority list go get 'em, but As 69 said, most of your games will still be in this area. You're only playing something like 9 conference road games out of a 31+ game season. I also don't understand why you want to directly compete for the same recruits as the established teams in the player's backyards. Recruiting the east coast is a place where we have established connections, and offers a different talent pool to choose from.

[Juice Stand]

He announced on X he will be announcing the roster soon, they have everyone signed. Didn’t say 13 or 15 but on the call I thought he said he had 13 locked up and was waiting on final 2.

Here's the tweet from Frank: https://twitter.com/coachFMartin/status ... 6587291913

Frank Martin
@coachFMartin

After last 6 weeks, as we all adapt 2new norm in the spring, I’m proud to let Umass know that we’ve completed our roster. We’ll have detailed information coming. Thank u 2 my staff 4?their detailed work. Also to @TheMassCo, @UMassADBamford & @UMassChancellor for your commitment

12:55 PM · Apr 28, 2025

An interesting note in the quote tweets: a reduction in scholarships can be used toward NIL budget, apparently confirmed by Bamford on a call a few weeks ago. If I was a team like UMass with a small-ish budget, I would keep the scholarships at 13, which is plenty, and have a little more money in the kitty. I also think that 15 might be too much as you can end up with locker room issues with guys unhappy with their playing time, or lack thereof.

[stevemaz]

I am not expecting much even though it is nice to see some 3 pt shooters. That said, FM is totally missing the boat on how we should be recruiting with the big picture in mind. We play in a Midwest conference and that is where a signifant portion of our recruiting focus should be. UMASS is very similar to Big Ten schools when looking at it from a campus perspective so I believe you can get BigTen bench sitters and low 3 star guys who want a chance to start who are from the Midwest.

Frank has missed the mark on a lot, but this is one criticism of him that I could not disagree with more. Shifting recruiting focus to the midwest due solely because we'll be in the MAC and UMass is similar to B10 schools is just silly. What competitive advantage would UMass have with this strategy?

you missed the pt. I think the midwest kids would consider UMass over other MAC and MV schools. And I would be targeting 3 star guys with this strategy. Especially with 15 man rosters..some kids will want a chance to play vs being the 11th or 12th man on a Big Ten team

[inthescoop]

We are waiting for 2 more players who have already signed to announce, correct?

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

Gotta consider Wembley as a 1 and done at UMass. Goes to a lower level conference, gets plenty of playing time and showcases himself to the high majors for next year. Works out for both sides as long as UMass gets some good production out of him this year. Gotta hope we can have bigger impact freshmen in the MAC compared to the A10.

[MikeUMA]

Gotta consider Wembley as a 1 and done at UMass.

Jeez man, can you just be happy that we got a player like this? He hasn't played one second of college ball and you're already marking him as out the door.

[69MG]

Mike, not to worry. Wembley is probably a 1 and done, but Wimbley will stay for at least 2.