KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

Naheem McLeod - C
From: Plymouth Meeting, PA
School: Plymouth Whitemarsh
Travel/AAU: Team PYO

Ht: 7'0"
Wt: 195

RANKINGS:
Rivals: 3 Stars, #25 C
247 Sports: 4 Stars, 90 Grade, #119 in 2019, #26 C
ESPN: 4 Stars, 80 Grade, #29 C
Future 150: 3 Stars

FINAL 3:
Rhode Island (Unofficial Visit: 6/25/18, Official Visit: 9/6/18)
LaSalle (Official Visit: 9/27/18)
Florida State (Official Visit: 10/27/18)

Committed to FSU: 11/19/2018

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/ ... eod-222018
https://247sports.com/Player/Naheem-McLeod-46048917
http://www.espn.com/college-sports/bask ... eem-mcleod
https://future150.com/hs/basketball-pro ... ng-pa-2019
http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/naheem-mcleod

Villanova needs to pound sand and stop recruiting the same players as URI. 4 star and 7' sounds NBA ish.

7’0” 195. Feed him

"Leader Johnson: What do you like about Rhode Island?
Naheem McLeod: Their jersey and the coaching staff tells me what I need to hear."

We do have one of the sweetest jerseys in college ball.

that basketball looks like a softball in that kids hand

Rhody83 wrote:7’0” 195. Feed him

Gross uniforms. Definitely come to URI for upgrade, Naheem!

Naheem the Dream. Gotta teach him the Naheem Shake.

I've seen him listed at 7'3".

He looks like a major project is this video. I don’t think this is a high level AAU game.

I agree. To me, he's at the skill level of Tertsea, only a few inches taller.

Billyboy78 wrote:I agree. To me, he's at the skill level of Tertsea, only a few inches taller.

A few inches could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

Rhodymob05 wrote:

Billyboy78 wrote:I agree. To me, he's at the skill level of Tertsea, only a few inches taller.

A few inches could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

A few inches could be the distance the two of them sit from each other on the bench.
Rhody doesn’t need to recruit projects any more.

Rhody83 wrote:

Rhodymob05 wrote:

Billyboy78 wrote:I agree. To me, he's at the skill level of Tertsea, only a few inches taller.

A few inches could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

A few inches could be the distance the two of them sit from each other on the bench.
Rhody doesn’t need to recruit projects any more.

Here is the reality, a seven footer is a worthy project. We aren’t even using the 13th ship this year so why not take a flyer when other HM’s are involved as well. It isn’t just us that sees the upside here.

Almost every guy of this size is going to be a project, and they are 100% worth taking a chance on. The hit rate isn't going to be much better than 50/50, probably, but you'll never have a 13 man rotation, anyways. If a seven footer really cannot project to be a basketball player at all, fine, I'd pass on that guy too. But if there is any kind of projectible athleticism and coordination at all, I don't care if he cannot hit the rim on free throw as a HS junior. The upside is so immense if they kid can figure it out. This guy looks like he is going to be a consensus 4-star, top-100 player so there must be some projectibility there or the scouting services are even worse than I thought.

Florida St. and Nova and URI are interested in reasons other than his height I'm sure.

Blake Vedder was 7'3"...

Not to get off topic but I can't believe Blake Vedder has actually carved out a career in Europe. Here he is at his introductory press conference in some basement in Lithuania....

http://viveelbasket.blogspot.com/2016/0 ... blake.html

Not sure if a hostage situation or introductory press conference is taking place, but all parties look thrilled.

We agree to disagree. I will bet you this kid doesn’t end up on Nova or FSU.
Obviously the rotation is not going to be 13 players. That isn’t a reason to take a major project with less than a “50/50 chance”.
We had 13 scholarship players last year and how deep was our rotation? It was 7-8 deep. We were short 2 front court players.
There are going to be mistakes in recruiting. URI doesn’t need to take a player that is a major project.
There are 3 open spots. Cox has taked about using one on a traditional tramsfer (like KI and Stan).
The other two scholarships should be used on players that are at a D1 talent level already like Bishop, Walker, Bouknight, Fernandes, Somerville, Coulibaly etc.

You need at least two solid recruits in each class to build a program. EC and Hass, JT and Jarvis, missed a year, Jeff and Cyril, only Fatts. The 19 class is a tough recruit for URI because of the potential of the 4 from the 18 class. The missed year with Akele and Thompson hurts Rhody this year.

Everybody needs to relax, this kid is ranked 79 is ESPN’s top 100. URI has landed exactly two top 100 kids in the last 20 years or so and now we are taking about one not being good enough? Lol guys come on this entire convo is comical.

This would be huge if we could land this kid.

Blake Vedder was basically rated half a star, please don’t bring him up. I trust coach.

If he's motivated and willing to be coached, if he shows a willingness to get up and down the court and scrap for loose balls, if DC thinks he fits, sign him up posthaste. 7'1" doesn't come calling often. Looks like he could use some help with his footwork, still he looks like he could turn into quite an asset when all is said and done.

Also the current champions are interested in him, that's not good enough for some of you guys?

I like Somerville too, but people were in that thread complaining he only rates 2 stars. Trust coach guys.

A 4* top 100 center and people are saying he's a project? Not getting that one. Sign this kid up now.

Mike Tertsea was rated a 3 star because he's 6'10". This guy is rated higher because he's 7'3". Can anybody honestly say he deserves a 4 star ranking after watching that video?

I only watched a little but he had a block, an assist and a bucket. Need to see a more physical game against another big man to make a judgement.

Bb, for all we know Tersea has been languishing because of hurley's system, doesn't mean he can't contribute in spurts. As far as McLeod goes, can you or 83 tell me why Nova is recruiting him if he doesn't have huge potential?

Watch the video from 10:30 to 17:00. Tell me after that he is a 4 star top 100 player. Especially on the defensive end. This is a low level AAU game. This is two months ago. He has zero energy level. I trust Coach Cox.

I did watch the video, the whole game and I saw what you saw, in the one game I've ever seen him in, it's why I mentioned "If he's motivated and willing to be coached, if he shows a willingness to get up and down the court and scrap for loose balls" and "looks like he could use some help with his footwork" actually I wasn't impressed by this video right from the tip, he obviously got to the ball first on the tip but basically passed it right to the other team, doesn't matter, it's one video of one game. As I do every blue and harvest moon I agree with TP. If he's coachable, and shows any athleticism and coordination at all it's worth a dice roll.

Also 83, that doesn't answer the question "why Nova is recruiting him if he doesn't have huge potential?"

Running Ram wrote:Bb, for all we know Tersea has been languishing because of hurley's system, doesn't mean he can't contribute in spurts. As far as McLeod goes, can you or 83 tell me why Nova is recruiting him if he doesn't have huge potential?

Has Nova offered? Or are they just showing interest?

They are just on his list as interested, but for comparison sake they aren't showing interest in Walker right now

or Wahab

Because this guy is 7'3". Anybody with that height is going to get at least curious interest. I'm betting Nova loses interest.

Running Ram wrote:As far as McLeod goes, can you or 83 tell me why Nova is recruiting him if he doesn't have huge potential?

Nova has made offers to 13 recruits including 4 Centers. Nova hasn’t made an offer to McLeod.
Some sites list 20 players that Nova has interest in (that they haven’t made an offer to).
They have McLeod under the “scout look” category.
247 Sports has him as a 3 star and #211 nationally.
He isn’t in Rivals Top 150.
Nova has a “warm” rating on three of the Centers who are ranked 7, 21 & 23 nationally.

Hey, I hope I'm totally wrong on both this guy and Tertsea. I just don't see any basketball skills in either one of them. We'll see. I have a lot more hope for Layssard. He's the one who might be able to contribute. Although I believe he is hurt right now.

Running Ram wrote:They are just on his list as interested, but for comparison sake they aren't showing interest in Walker right now

That is not correct per 247. They have McLeod and Walker in the same category for Nova - Scout Look.

Granted Tertsea doesn't always look so smooth, sometimes lost, but ya never know...

It doesn't cost anything to host an unofficial visit.....I put more stock in official visits.....

....a player can take 5 official visits only......a school can host 15 players on officials only.....that tells the interest level on both sides....

Villanova can also unofficially host as many kids as they want without cost or an offer of a scholarship...just as we can....

Let's get hyped on official visits....til then it is all hot stove stuff....

Rhody83 wrote:

Running Ram wrote:They are just on his list as interested, but for comparison sake they aren't showing interest in Walker right now

That is not correct per 247. They have McLeod and Walker in the same category for Nova - Scout Look.

I missed that. But it still doesn't refute anything I have stated, it was only an example.

as far as this post goes...

Rhody83 wrote: Nova has made offers to 13 recruits including 4 Centers. Nova hasn’t made an offer to McLeod.
Some sites list 20 players that Nova has interest in (that they haven’t made an offer to).
They have McLeod under the “scout look” category.
247 Sports has him as a 3 star and #211 nationally.
He isn’t in Rivals Top 150.
Nova has a “warm” rating on three of the Centers who are ranked 7, 21 & 23 nationally.

you are not rebutting my point or answering my question, you are making my point, Nova is looking at about 5 centers and Mcleod is one of them.

HS playoff game

Running Ram wrote:

Rhody83 wrote:

Running Ram wrote: as far as this post goes...


you are not rebutting my point or answering my question, you are making my point, Nova is looking at about 5 centers and Mcleod is one of them.

Haha. You just grouped a kid who someone had reported that Nova has the lowest level of interest “scout look” to four recruits they have made offers to. Typically “scout look” means and Ast Coach watched him at one of his AAU games.

McLeod’s only other offer is LaSalle.
I agree with Ramulous hot stove.

Well I see a kid that would have to work/play a lot harder than he does now if he wants to play at a high level in college but that has insane height, basic coordination and some huge potential if he can be persuaded to get his motor running, if it looks like he can be coached, he's a good gamble.

Also, if he wants to make some money playing someday he had better get coached up and get that motor running, maybe the right college experience will be just what he needs

I’ve seen Tertsea touch the ball two times. No way to judge his offense.

Naheem’s twitter is @boogiehan_10 and instagram is d1.nah_10 if you want to follow him.
Ty is following him on Twitter.
He posted a ibstagram video clip walking labeled ”University of Rhode Island”
His nickname is Big Duke.

If he fills out and gets to 220 pounds we may have something to work with

Let's trust the staff on this one

A summary on URI’s interest level on Naheem.
URI has not made an offer to Naheem. URI has made offers to 24 players in the class of 2019.
Naheem visited Kingston yesterday. There are no pics or videos of Naheem in a Rhody uniform (because Rhody didn’t offer that).
Naheem was more interested in visiting URI than Rhody MBB was in having him visit.

He doesnt play on an AAU team on a circuit (Nike, Addias, UA) so he plays against low level competition (not college D1).
In an interview last week he responded to a question regarding each team’s interest. For Nova he said a Nova ast coach calls his coach to stay in touch. That is the level of Nova’s recruiting of Naheem.

Rhody83 wrote:

Rhodymob05 wrote:

Billyboy78 wrote:I agree. To me, he's at the skill level of Tertsea, only a few inches taller.

A few inches could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

A few inches could be the distance the two of them sit from each other on the bench.
Rhody doesn’t need to recruit projects any more.

This is false - we should recruit a project a year. If they pan out by their senior year you have Andre berry.

I don’t know any program that contends for the Tournament that recruits a project every year. That would put you at 4-5 projects on your team (at least one will redshirt). That is 5 out of 13 scholarships. You are going to have a few players that you recruit who don’t crack the regular rotation from your non-project players (Preston, Akele). You also don’t use a scholarship up for 4 to 5 years for one year of performance as a plan.