'20 NY C - Isaiah Richards (Louisiana at Lafayette)

[The Dude]

After watching two of his videos (some of the same footage but not all), I like the fact that he doesn't feel the need to dribble the ball before dunking or putting the ball in the hoop when only a step or two away. He dribbles sometimes, but there were plenty of times when he didn't and just went straight up with the ball or brought the ball down to his waist and then went up without dribbling. He seems to have good jumping ability and there were some nice blocks. One block was even on another player who was in the air and trying to dunk it.
I think this would be a much needed replacement for Cyril.

[rhodyfan3000]

I concur

[Rhody83]

[rambone 78]

We should be all over this kid.

Are there academic concerns?

[DC_Rams]

Guys, our staff doesn’t publicize as much as they used to for obvious reasons. Most of the news we get will come from retweets or tweets from the player themselves. We are involved with Richards.

[rambone 78]

DC true, it's likely he could visit without any of us knowing it.

Not in this case since Richards will be a freshman, but with transfers the announcements that we've picked one up usually come out of the blue.

[Rhody83]

Should see Austin at their game tonight then. This weekend will be big exposure at Hoophall Prep Showcase.

[reef]

Please let us find a 6’10 guy with skills who could replace Cyril and play alongside JH and Twan

[Rhody83]

Playing in a small gym tonight. Up close look. I am back to putting him at 6’8”. Opponent (RCA) didn’t dress two starters because they are nursing injuries. Springfield up 57-30 at half. Richards has 6 points, 3 rebounds & 2 fouls. Probably played 12 minutes. Tries to block too many shots and puts himself out of position for rebound.

[rhodyfan3000]

83, how does he look around the hoop on Offense? Does he have a nice touch around the basket? Or is it volleyball?

[Rhody83]

Richards didn’t play much in the 2nd half. I think he had 1 rebound and no points. Probably 5th or 6th best player on his team.

[Rhody83]

Should see Austin at their game tonight then. This weekend will be big exposure at Hoophall Prep Showcase.

He has a pretty good shooting touch midrange but has a low release. Didn’t look for his shot down low. Passes it back out.

[The Dude]

Shame that he doesn't seem to be playing much in this particular game. Really hoping whoever we have in this incoming class doesn't disappoint. Losing Cyril and Jeff without having their replacements in the wings, could really set the program back a bit. Those are two tournament caliber guys who came in as Freshman and contributed in a big way from the beginning (not saying necessarily from a scoring perspective, but from a confidence & reliability perspective). Their talent & confidence was apparent right away. I feel Cox is just starting to show he can do a respectable job at keeping this program going in the right direction with a pretty good recruiting class last year and putting together a pretty decent season so far this year. I would hate to see things have a set back.

[DevRam]

There will always be under the radar players available every year. The opportunity is there to get them, the problem is finding them.

[steveystuds06]

Shame that he doesn't seem to be playing much in this particular game. Really hoping whoever we have in this incoming class doesn't disappoint. Losing Cyril and Jeff without having their replacements in the wings, could really set the program back a bit. Those are two tournament caliber guys who came in as Freshman and contributed in a big way from the beginning (not saying necessarily from a scoring perspective, but from a confidence & reliability perspective). Their talent & confidence was apparent right away. I feel Cox is just starting to show he can do a respectable job at keeping this program going in the right direction with a pretty good recruiting class last year and putting together a pretty decent season so far this year. I would hate to see things have a set back.

Good thing we have Ish coming... We will find a big.

[Rhody83]

[bkoeppen]

Cheeks is having a nice senior year... good pickup for Robert Morris

[Rhody83]

I like Cheeks. He has a great outside shot. His legs are huge - can really jump. Gets up quick to dunk and rebound. Could be the best player on Springfield. There are two 6’5” players rated ahead of him.

[Rhody83]

[Rhody83]

This win shows SCA is a very good team.

[Rhody83]

Richards is #10

[rhodyfan3000]

I'd say he looks pretty good in that clip. Good enough to crack an 8 man rotation with CL leaving, I would think.

8 or 9th.

[DevRam]

Think this one is the right kid to go after. Have to try and lock him up now if we’re not already doing so.

[Rhody_NYCT]

What is your guess on Richards true height? 6'8"?

[rhodyblue12]

I hope so - it doesn't seem that we are allowed to sign anyone taller than that.

[Rhody83]

What is your guess on Richards true height? 6'8"?

Yes.

[DevRam]

I hope so - it doesn't seem that we are allowed to sign anyone taller than that.

Certainly feels like it. It would be awesome to have a 7 footer on the squad. Unfortunately, all polished 7 footers will likely go to power 5 so are only hope would be to get a long term project guy who hopefully is already good at rebounding or shot-blocking but just needs to develop offensively. Jordan Hare comes to mind as the last person to fit this build. Not a 7 footer but was certainly tall and had a lot of upside. Would have loved to see him grow all 4 years here! But the point is that those are the kind of "big bigs" that we would be able to land and should go after. In recent memory, Youssou Ndoye of St. Bonaventure Is probably the best example of this long term development paying off for a team in the A10 confrence.

[ramster]

I hope so - it doesn't seem that we are allowed to sign anyone taller than that.

Certainly feels like it. It would be awesome to have a 7 footer on the squad. Unfortunately, all polished 7 footers will likely go to power 5 so are only hope would be to get a long term project guy who hopefully is already good at rebounding or shot-blocking but just needs to develop offensively. Jordan Hare comes to mind as the last person to fit this build. Not a 7 footer but was certainly tall and had a lot of upside. Would have loved to see him grow all 4 years here! But the point is that those are the kind of "big bigs" that we would be able to land and should go after. In recent memory, Youssou Ndoye of St. Bonaventure Is probably the best example of this long term development paying off for a team in the A10 confrence.

Mike Tertsea

[DevRam]

I hope so - it doesn't seem that we are allowed to sign anyone taller than that.

Certainly feels like it. It would be awesome to have a 7 footer on the squad. Unfortunately, all polished 7 footers will likely go to power 5 so are only hope would be to get a long term project guy who hopefully is already good at rebounding or shot-blocking but just needs to develop offensively. Jordan Hare comes to mind as the last person to fit this build. Not a 7 footer but was certainly tall and had a lot of upside. Would have loved to see him grow all 4 years here! But the point is that those are the kind of "big bigs" that we would be able to land and should go after. In recent memory, Youssou Ndoye of St. Bonaventure Is probably the best example of this long term development paying off for a team in the A10 confrence.

Mike Tertsea

Of course! Was in the back of my mind the whole time I was writting this Definetly a big risk to take in those under developed guys. Comes down to trusting you recruiters to make the right descisions on who could blossom into a D 1 level talent. Even with all the new metrics for grading a players current skill level there will never be an algorithm to determain what a payer can become. An unlimited ammount of factors go into it all. Risk getting the next Michael Tertsea or maybe you get the next Obi Toppin. Certainly would want better more sure fired talent if the only difference is a couple of inches but it all comes down to the right circumstanses. Right place and right time for whatever big man commits for next year. Will get playing time right away. I like it, throw em in the fire and see how they respond.

[Rhodymob05]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

[DevRam]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

That is a far take. Don't think he would ever be a top 5 draft prospect but maybe could have averaged 10 points 10 rebounds and 3 blocks at his ceiling

[Billyboy78]

Are we going to get a visit from this kid?

[steveystuds06]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

haha. I loved Hare but come on...

[Rhody15]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

Yikes.

[Rhodymob05]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

haha. I loved Hare but come on...

He was 6'10, started as center and was doing fast break windmill dunks as a Freshman. Add 3 seasons to that.

[bigappleram]

I agree Hare had a high ceiling, but not sure it was Top 10 NBA pick high which is where Obi sits right now.

[steveystuds06]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

haha. I loved Hare but come on...

He was 6'10, started as center and was doing fast break windmill dunks as a Freshman. Add 3 seasons to that.

Hare had a nice freshman year. I thought his best game was on the road against PC. I'm very confident he would have ended up as an all conference player, but you're comparing him to a dude that was arguably the best player in the conference as a freshman.

[RamStock]

Jordan Hare would have been Obi Toppin. Maybe better.

Such a ridiculous comment. Hare could block shots and little more. He was a bad offensive player and despite his length wasn’t a very good rebounder. His worst quality was probably his attitude and effort

[CHICO 78]

Obi is a beast. And while Hare was pretty agile and could run and jump
he was aptly named because he was soft as "bunny fur". He might
have developed into a decent big. But equal or better than Obi??
Come on!!! Obi is a possible all American and with all probability the
best player in the conference this year. Not even close.

[ramster]

Obi is a beast. And while Hare was pretty agile and could run and jump
he was aptly named because he was soft as "bunny fur". He might
have developed into a decent big. But equal or better than Obi??
Come on!!! Obi is a possible all American and with all probability the
best player in the conference this year. Not even close.

Where did Hare ever end up?

[Rhodymob05]

lol Relax. Hare had the potential to be a similar player as Obi.

[Rhody83]

Are we going to get a visit from this kid?

The visit would happen if URI wants it.

[Billyboy78]

Are we going to get a visit from this kid?

The visit would happen if URI wants it.

Are there better options at this point?

[RamIt!]

Obi is a beast. And while Hare was pretty agile and could run and jump
he was aptly named because he was soft as "bunny fur". He might
have developed into a decent big. But equal or better than Obi??
Come on!!! Obi is a possible all American and with all probability the
best player in the conference this year. Not even close.

Where did Hare ever end up?

Pretty sure he never played again.... last i saw he declared for the 2016 NBA Draft and poof... gone.

[Billyboy78]

Hare didn't like playing basketball.

[rhodyfan3000]

Are we going to get a visit from this kid?

The visit would happen if URI wants it.

Are there better options at this point?

I'm not sure how I am supposed to interpret this. Does that mean this is our fall back guy?

[Billyboy78]

The visit would happen if URI wants it.

Are there better options at this point?

I'm not sure how I am supposed to interpret this. Does that mean this is our fall back guy?

I don't know what our other options are. We have to get a big somewhere. Unless we've got someone that we don't know about, why not at least get a visit scheduled with Isaiah?

[Rhody83]

Are there better options at this point?

I'm not sure how I am supposed to interpret this. Does that mean this is our fall back guy?

I don't know what our other options are. We have to get a big somewhere. Unless we've got someone that we don't know about, why not at least get a visit scheduled with Isaiah?

Others on the Board would know better than me on this subject but I believe Coach Cox always wants to get the commitment on the official visit (or within days of it). In order to do that he needs to commit from Rhody’s side on the visit. So he only offers Official Visits to a recruit he is willing to commit to. I could be wrong about this but that is my understanding. Hurley did the same thing when he was here.

[reckless jake]

So I guess a litmus test of sorts is if we have Richards in for an official visit on the 31st, the night we play VCU, when Berry makes his official visit to Kingston.

The Ryan Center will be rocking that night.

[reef]

Right once they see that jamming atmosphere then they will want to commit right away