[UAZip0510]

He told someone on Twitter that he'll be on scholarship. I wouldn't be shocked if Blake Justice was leaving the program (pure speculation - just doesn't seem to fit).

[Hilltopper]

Pure speculation on my part, but I would think that Deji Ibitayou would be a more likely candidate to leave if we were recruiting another point guard.

[Dave in Green]

My apologies in advance to Malakiah Hunter if he has huge hidden talent. But he simply does not have the resume of recent Zips scholarship players. Most recent Zips recruits have been all-state players with at least fairly high rankings on the recruiting websites.

The Philadelphia Daily News named 32 players to their first through sixth All Public Teams, and Hunter did not even make the sixth team. He was just an honorable mention. So he certainly did not show the level of talent in HS to match recent Zips scholarship recruits.

The least highly awarded HS player the Zips have signed in recent years was Ibitayo. But there were a number of articles about Deji in Illinois newspapers describing him as a late bloomer who was one of the top sleepers in the state. I can't find anything on Hunter that suggests he has shown even hints of playing at the level of recent Zips scholarship players.

[CincyZip]

My apologies in advance to Malakiah Hunter if he has huge hidden talent. But he simply does not have the resume of recent Zips scholarship players. Most recent Zips recruits have been all-state players with at least fairly high rankings on the recruiting websites.

The Philadelphia Daily News named 32 players to their first through sixth All Public Teams, and Hunter did not even make the sixth team. He was just an honorable mention. So he certainly did not show the level of talent in HS to match recent Zips scholarship recruits.

The least highly awarded HS player the Zips have signed in recent years was Ibitayo. But there were a number of articles about Deji in Illionois newspaper describing him as a late bloomer who was one of the top sleepers in the state. I can't find anything on Hunter that suggests he has shown even hints of playing at the level of recent Zips scholarship players.

Yep, I said it earlier, I hope he is the next Jordan but something is just not right.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I don't think it has been a rarity over the past several decades that the 6th or 7th best point guard from the Philadelphia area has been a better player than the #1 or #2 rated PG in Cleveland or Pittsburgh.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I wouldn't be shocked if Blake Justice was leaving the program (pure speculation - just doesn't seem to fit).

We don't need a #2 guard that can shoot the lights out?

I saw how OU ran through the 2012 NCAA tourney. I want to be like them. I want guards that can hit the 3 at a sick pace.

[Dave in Green]

Speculation ended: Team sources confirm that Hunter will be a walk-on. He's pretty talented, but the Zips just do not need another scholarship PG right now. Justice, Ibitayo, Egner and all other scholarship players on the 2011 roster will be back, and will be joined by the three new recruits -- Carmelo Betancourt, Jake Kretzer and Reggie McAdams.

Betancourt has already impressed the coaching staff with his abilities as backup PG, and is expected to have similar performance to Rico as he gains college experience. He's already earned the nickname of Melo, and it's almost certain that he will not redshirt. The Zips should be solid at PG.

The search for 2013 recruits to fill the expected three open scholarships continues to focus on bigs -- centers and power forwards. There's a chance that the Zips could possibly take a talented wing or guard if one is available. But this would most likely be a late decision only if the coaching staff can't sign three quality bigs.

[UAZip0510]

We don't need a #2 guard that can shoot the lights out?

I saw how OU ran through the 2012 NCAA tourney. I want to be like them. I want guards that can hit the 3 at a sick pace.

I'm not knocking Justice or his ability, I'm just not sure where he fits.

Abreu is the obvious starter at PG, with Betancourt backing him up.

Gilliam, Walsh, and Diggs will play the wing, with McAdams possibly being in that mix as well.

Marshall, Treadwell, Harney, and Egner will be our post players.

That leaves both Ibitayo and Justice on the outside looking in. That means that barring injury both, at the earliest, will be rotation players their junior years. Will that be acceptable to both?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I'm not knocking Justice or his ability, I'm just not sure where he fits.

Abreu is the obvious starter at PG, with Betancourt backing him up.

Gilliam, Walsh, and Diggs will play the wing, with McAdams possibly being in that mix as well.

Marshall, Treadwell, Harney, and Egner will be our post players.

That leaves both Ibitayo and Justice on the outside looking in. That means that barring injury both, at the earliest, will be rotation players their junior years. Will that be acceptable to both?

I agree that with Gilliam and Diggs being seniors, and maybe Walsh being a senior too, that there won't be a ton of minutes available at shooting guard. But there will be some. As a redshirt Fr,., 8-or-so mpg wouldn't be too bad?

I really wonder where Ibitayo will fit in. Not a great shooter. Not a great ball handler. Great upside. Great length. Is he still a year away from meaningful minutes? Seems like it.

[Dave in Green]

UAZip0510, don't forget that Justice will be just be a freshman player this season because of his redshirt. So he could play some minutes this season, and then make the rotation in his sophomore season. Ibitayo got enough experience playing as a true freshman last season to potentially make the rotation this season, depending on his progression. Ibitayo's reputation in HS was as a lockdown defender. His 6-9 wingspan could make life miserable for other teams' guards.

Also forgot to mention that walk-on CJ Oldham appears to be transferring out. It's been noted that CJ could be a starter on some D-I teams that lack UA's depth. Don't know where CJ is headed. Could be the source of Zach's rumor about a basketball player transferring to Lake Erie College. CJ could be a real force in a D-II program like Lake Erie's, should he end up there.

[UAZip0510]

UAZip0510, don't forget that Justice will be just be a freshman player this season because of his redshirt. So he could play some minutes this season, and then make the rotation in his sophomore season. Ibitayo got enough experience playing as a true freshman last season to potentially make the rotation this season, depending on his progression. Ibitayo's reputation in HS was as a lockdown defender. His 6-9 wingspan could make life miserable for other teams' guards.

Also forgot to mention that walk-on CJ Oldham appears to be transferring out. It's been noted that CJ could be a starter on some D-I teams that lack UA's depth. Don't know where CJ is headed. Could be the source of Zach's rumor about a basketball player transferring to Lake Erie College. CJ could be a real force in a D-II program like Lake Erie's, should he end up there.

I did forget the redshirt...I was looking at the scholarship chart posted elsewhere on ZN and didn't realize it wasn't updated.

[CincyZip]

Justice fits in at the three point line.

[zippyman23]

#Dayton‬ transfer Ralph Hill is down to two schools, Akron and Oakland. Will decide in next 2-3 days.

https://twitter.com/FlyerHoops/status/213827912409952260

[Captain Kangaroo]

About Ralph

[Hilltopper]