Transfers

Swan88 · May 4, 2014

The fifth year one-and-done focus this recruiting season (Ayegba for a big and now potentially Kreklow for a shooting guard) may well suggest that recruiting efforts for the 2015 class are looking strong at such positions. Similarly, it seems an interesting development that Tim Miles did not appear to focus for 2014 on two- or three-year transfer players who must sit out a season, particularly in light of his heavy and effective use of such transfers in the past. Recruiting highest quality four-year players seems to be the highest priority.

faqlsr · May 4, 2014

I think Miles and staff see the potential for a big run next year and are planning accordingly.

throwback · May 4, 2014

I'd think NU is covering its bases in case Deng and/or Cornish fall through by looking at some sr transfers such as the kid from Cal or CSU's D-Smith. With both of those guys, as with Moses, you're hoping that maybe the injuries they've been suffering through the past couple of years are finally healed enough to give them a shot at having a breakthrough year.

As to why you'd pursue sr transfers versus 2 and 3 year transfers, I'd take that to mean NU really likes where it stands with quite a few 2015 HS recruits, so they want to ensure they have plenty of scholarships available. And NU likes those potential 2015 HS guys more than it likes any of the other D-1 transfers they could choose from at this point.

Being Coach Miles has now been on campus 24 months, 2015 should be the class where the coaching staff has had finally enough time to establish some significant relationships with that group to give themselves a realistic shot with some solid players. Plus you have the NU brand trending upward after last season's strong finish, which will allow NU to get in the door a bit easier with recruits, so this strategy of trying to keep as many 2015 HS class scholarships available as possible makes a lot of sense.

TheKamdyMan · May 4, 2014

Looks like we will get to see Huff in two years at creighton.

Milk · May 4, 2014

That's another big pickup for the Jays

The Polish Rifle · May 4, 2014

That's another big pickup for the Jays

Creighton came out huge with transfers. Got 2 guys that lots of big name programs were after.

GATA · May 4, 2014

That's another big pickup for the Jays
Creighton came out huge with transfers. Got 2 guys that lots of big name programs were after.

Nice offseason. Too bad their regular season will suck.

Swan88 · May 5, 2014

Tough break for Iowa. Huff was their back-up plan to Willie Atwood.

Section_316 · May 5, 2014

I'm amazed that people would rather have us sign NOONE and give Menke a scholly than sign a guard who has played 15-20 minutes a night the past 3 years in a tough conference and has proven he can shoot. If you don't think we could use a 6'6 guy who can shoot from 3 you didn't watch us play last year.... Even if it's an 8th, 9th, or 10th man I'm all for it. Our staff obviously is in on better HS players in 2015 than they are right now

hhcmatt · May 5, 2014

has played 15-20 minutes a night the past 3 years in a tough conference and has proven he can shoot. If you don't think we could use a 6'6 guy who can shoot from 3

Obviously we'd rather have guys like Deng and Cornish with our two scholarships.

Kreklow would be a good backup plan but he's not in the ballpark of Deng and Cornish....and obviously Deng is now a no go.

He very well might be a 3 pt shooter but he hasn't proved he can make them. He hasn't hit from over 33% on long range and has missed a ton of games...I'm assuming to injury. He's obviously better than assigning the scholarship to no one but IMO he doesn't bring in a ton more talent than a Dwight Smith.

ajb5856 · May 5, 2014

I'm amazed that people would rather have us sign NOONE and give Menke a scholly than sign a guard who has played 15-20 minutes a night the past 3 years in a tough conference and has proven he can shoot. If you don't think we could use a 6'6 guy who can shoot from 3 you didn't watch us play last year.... Even if it's an 8th, 9th, or 10th man I'm all for it. Our staff obviously is in on better HS players in 2015 than they are right now

Agree with this to a point. If there's a transfer that fits, I'd obviously rather add that player than sign nobody and give it too Menke again. The coaches are looking for specific pieces. They identify talent, figure out if that player will fit the system, and consider things like coachability, work ethic, attitude, mindset, probability of buying in, etc. They aren't going to target a player just to fill a slot. It's why we haven't heard about us considering some of these transfers. Just because they can do such and such on paper, doesn't mean they could automatically come in and help this Nebraska team next season. This is why I won't let myself be disappointed if we don't end up using every scholarship for next season. The coaches are trying like heck to add useful pieces. If those players they've recruited pick another school, they pick another school. They've done everything they can to land the player, but if they don't want to be here, you probably don't want them and what really can you do? We can't afford a bad apple, can't afford another Biggs. Sure, it's disappointing when a Deng picks a Baylor but what can you do?

I see quite a few people who have been "majorly disappointed" in recruiting so far with this staff and people who feel we should have landed some "wow" recruits or high-profile guys already. To this I say, yeah but take a step back and look at the program. I'll admit, with the way things have gone and the quick turnaround, I would've thought we would have landed more of the guys we've been after. But..look at the reasons for the turnaround that's happened faster than anyone thought. It's happened without a single "wow" or highly rated recruit. Shields. His play can be attributed to this staff and player development. Neither Petteway nor Pitchford were considered highly rated or high profile guys when they transferred here. Nice additions, sure, but they weren't expected by the general fans to be all-stars. Again, the staff is identifying this talent with a specific plan in place and then developing the talent. Petteway is a beast and we'll see how this staff molds Pitchford in the offseason. For next season already this staff is adding Tarin Smith, Hammond, Ayegba, and getting Fuller on the court for the first time. I'm guessing we'll be more than pleasantly surprised with a couple of these guys and they turn out to be better than expected. They were each recruited to fill a specific need with a plan in place.

It's hard for me to have a negative outlook on the recruiting so far. With recruiting you're gonna be denied way more times than you connect. 2015 should be the year. It's been said here before but going by the number of 'higher profile' guys on the radar, some have to say yes. The staff has had enough time building relationships to get this done. They've identified and offered more recruits that fit the program and the plan. This staff has it together. It's building.

colhusker · May 5, 2014

It is Ricky Kreklow from Cal.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51346/ricky-kreklow

After starting his career at Missouri, Kreklow transferred to Cal after his freshman year. The 6-foot-6 former three-star prospect averaged 3.1 points as a redshirt sophomore in 2012-13 and 5.5 ppg and 2.6 rebounds last year as a junior.

He missed a combined 35 games over the past two seasons due to injury. Kreklow plans to graduate this summer, and would be eligible to play immediately at his new school.

Other schools in the mix that would be getting visits from Kreklow were Creighton, Butler, Baylor and Missouri. It should be noted that Kreklow is a native of Columbia, Mo., and he's already publicly expressed interest in potentially returning to the Tigers.

No thanks to this one. Kid can shoot a bit but can't defend.

TheKamdyMan · May 5, 2014

Guy, guys,guys Menke won't get the scholarship.

Kye Kurkowski is up on the rotation after Peltz got it last year.

colhusker · May 5, 2014

I certainly hope we don't fill the last ship with a walk-on. Would say that would be a major failure on the coaches part with recruiting.

ajb5856 · May 5, 2014

I certainly hope we don't fill the last ship with a walk-on. Would say that would be a major failure on the coaches part with recruiting.

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I'd rather fill it with a walk on than fling schollies at anybody and everybody until the spot is filled. I wouldn't call it a major failure either. They've targeted certain players, recruited them hard, and if they say no, they say no. Major failure on the coaches part? How? There's gonna be a lot of this opinion if we don't fill out the class. And that's fine, I just don't agree that it's a failure on the coaches end. Disappointing, yes, but failure, no. Specific targets for a specific plan not a casting net to ensure that we fill all the spots.

colhusker · May 5, 2014

I certainly hope we don't fill the last ship with a walk-on. Would say that would be a major failure on the coaches part with recruiting.
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I'd rather fill it with a walk on than fling schollies at anybody and everybody until the spot is filled. I wouldn't call it a major failure either. They've targeted certain players, recruited them hard, and if they say no, they say no. Major failure on the coaches part? How? There's gonna be a lot of this opinion if we don't fill out the class. And that's fine, I just don't agree that it's a failure on the coaches end. Disappointing, yes, but failure, no. Specific targets for a specific plan not a casting net to ensure that we fill all the spots.

I don't want to fling a ship just anyone and everyone, that would be the same as giving it to a walk-on. As for it being a failure to not be able to fill a class after the best season in 16 years, having the best facilities in the country would be a failure to me. I understand some kids contacted are not coming from the get go no matter what and that selling a kid to a school with no tradition is tough. Nice thing is that we still have some options before recruiting is over for the year.

hhcmatt · May 5, 2014

Speaking of what you could do with a scholarship you don't fill...is Greg Whittington simply never going to school again?

nebrasketball10 · May 5, 2014

I certainly hope we don't fill the last ship with a walk-on. Would say that would be a major failure on the coaches part with recruiting.
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I'd rather fill it with a walk on than fling schollies at anybody and everybody until the spot is filled. I wouldn't call it a major failure either. They've targeted certain players, recruited them hard, and if they say no, they say no. Major failure on the coaches part? How? There's gonna be a lot of this opinion if we don't fill out the class. And that's fine, I just don't agree that it's a failure on the coaches end. Disappointing, yes, but failure, no. Specific targets for a specific plan not a casting net to ensure that we fill all the spots.

If we fail to fill a spot for the third straight year, then the plan might need adjusting.

OurDecay · May 5, 2014

Yeah, I'm not sure I buy into failing to land our chosen targets as ever being a positive. If Miles didn't feel like we wanted them or needed them, we wouldn't be pursuing them. I doubt Miles is 'aww shucks, we'll get em next year'.

Next year is critical. You have high expectations. He needs to win again or last year looks like a fluke and it's hard to recruit. Miles is not going to sacrifice 2014-2015 for the sake of the following year or recruiting class. We can't do that...one of the hazards of being so far ahead of schedule! (A good thing overall)

hhcmatt · May 5, 2014

With Craig Robinson out at OSU, is Nick Faust still going to transfer there?

ajb5856 · May 5, 2014

Yeah, I'm not sure I buy into failing to land our chosen targets as ever being a positive. If Miles didn't feel like we wanted them or needed them, we wouldn't be pursuing them. I doubt Miles is 'aww shucks, we'll get em next year'.

Next year is critical. You have high expectations. He needs to win again or last year looks like a fluke and it's hard to recruit. Miles is not going to sacrifice 2014-2015 for the sake of the following year or recruiting class. We can't do that...one of the hazards of being so far ahead of schedule! (A good thing overall)

Definitely not a positive to fail to land our targets. I just think our perception of what type of recruits we think we should be landing at this point is ahead of what others are thinking. It's easy to keep saying that next year will be the year but I think it truly will be. The length of time Miles has been here, the number of years key assistants have been here, and the large number of higher profile recruits they've been in on for that time is the key. It's also hard for me to be too down on the coaches and their recruiting, calling it a failure when I recognize what we already have here because of them. I'm not down on them just because we haven't landed that 'wow' recruit. And I have a hard time convincing myself that we won't be thrilled with how a couple of next years new guys turn out, even if they weren't considered 'wow' prospects. Petteway, anyone?

ajb5856 · May 5, 2014

I certainly hope we don't fill the last ship with a walk-on. Would say that would be a major failure on the coaches part with recruiting.
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I'd rather fill it with a walk on than fling schollies at anybody and everybody until the spot is filled. I wouldn't call it a major failure either. They've targeted certain players, recruited them hard, and if they say no, they say no. Major failure on the coaches part? How? There's gonna be a lot of this opinion if we don't fill out the class. And that's fine, I just don't agree that it's a failure on the coaches end. Disappointing, yes, but failure, no. Specific targets for a specific plan not a casting net to ensure that we fill all the spots.

If we fail to fill a spot for the third straight year, then the plan might need adjusting.

Id like the coaches to stick to their guns to a degree. If the guns don't work, by all means adjust your thinking, just don't compromise on the end goal.

hhcmatt · May 5, 2014

Bringing in 2014 signees and bringing in transfers are two different animals, as Robin Washut pointed out today on 1620.

We might be underwhelming on signing 2014 guys but the opportunity for Div 1 transfers and the window to sign them is still wide open. The signings of Petteway and Pitchford happened during the summer.

On that note, 2 more dudes are transferring out of Tennessee

https://twitter.com/TheRecruitScoop/status/463457577024516096

Nebrasketballer · May 6, 2014

Bringing in 2014 signees and bringing in transfers are two different animals, as Robin Washut pointed out today on 1620.

We might be underwhelming on signing 2014 guys but the opportunity for Div 1 transfers and the window to sign them is still wide open. The signings of Petteway and Pitchford happened during the summer.

On that note, 2 more dudes are transferring out of Tennessee

https://twitter.com/TheRecruitScoop/status/463457577024516096

Both 2013 class. Both solid players. Darius Thompson was rivals150. If Nebraska isnt able to land Cornish and/or another grad transfer, then I would think that both of these guys would be welcome at Nebraska...

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Darius-Thompson-142822

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-A.J.-Davis-119300

http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/tenn-m-baskbl-mtt.html