Transfer from WVU -- Pat Forsythe

[Captain Kangaroo]

It's ironic to see him in that picture splitting Egner and Harney for the ball. Let's hope his injuries and mistakes are behind him. I think all this hardship waiver does is effectively wipe out last year, leaving him with 4 years left of eligibility. I don't see how he gets away without sitting out the usual 1 year for a D-1 transfer.

If he's relegated to pounding on Zeke in practices for 2012-13, it will also be beneficial.

[Dave in Green]

Here's a good story and video interview with Forsythe from last month about him coming back from his injuries and playing in a Pro-Am league against highly touted Pitt center Steven Adams, who is currently being projected as a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA draft:

Back In Action

And here's a real personal interest story about the problems Forsythe experienced throughout his childhood and how he overcame them (note that the writer accidentally reversed Patrick's name with that of his father, David):

Forsythe’s story one of resolve

Based on the story above, it sounds as if the family environment fostered by KD and UA would be perfect for Forsythe.

[skip-zip]

If Bob Huggins saw his talent, and was willing to use a scholarship on him at WV, then I'd take him in a heartbeat !! Size is rare in the MAC. It looks like his desire to come back closer to home is our gift. This is GREAT news.

[GP1]

If Bob Huggins saw his talent, and was willing to use a scholarship on him at WV, then I'd take him in a heartbeat !! Size is rare in the MAC. It looks like his desire to come back closer to home is our gift. This is GREAT news.

Agreed on all counts. Size matters....I've been saying it for years.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I wonder if he's developed his right hand? In his high school videos he exclusively uses his left hand, even when he's 1 ft away from the hoop on the right side.

[Dave in Green]

Found a little more circumstantial evidence. @JMUXL said in one of his tweets about Forsythe leaving WVU for UA that "Shmidty said he made it official today." The WVU basketball equipment manager is named Bubba Schmidt. The equipment manager would be the first to know if a player was cleaning out his locker. Again, nothing definite here, but lots of little clues fitting a pattern.

It's now being accepted as fact on some of the WVU fan forums that Forsythe is transferring, and the fans seem genuinely disappointed. Some are speculating that he might not have to sit out a year if the move to be closer to his father is related to his father's health.

It's a real longshot, but having Zeke and Forsythe playing together for a year would be pretty sensational if everything works out for the best.

[johnnyzip84]

So perhaps sometimes when you’re “thinking outside the box”, the box just happens to land right on top of you.

I wasn’t aware of his father’s health issues, so maybe he even gets to play for the Zips next season. Even if he sits out, I agree that it’d still be a huge benefit to have him banging with Tree, Harney, and Zeke in practice. I recall him running the floor well and converting a nice tip in when the game in Morgantown was still relatively competitive.

[akronzips71]

You cannot teach 7-feet

Quote of the month.

[akronzips71]

His father is blind. That's a pretty big hardship. He will get the waiver because it is not something made up. He will just say he must take care of his ailing disabled father. Who could say no to that?

By the time December rolls around, we could have TWO seven footers on the floor. Has that ever happened in the MAC?

Where oh where are we getting the scholarship from, THAT is the question?

[akzipper]

His father is blind. That's a pretty big hardship. He will get the waiver because it is not something made up. He will just say he must take care of his ailing disabled father. Who could say no to that?

By the time December rolls around, we could have TWO seven footers on the floor. Has that ever happened in the MAC?

Where oh where are we getting the scholarship from, THAT is the question?

Maybe the NCAA granted Akron a hardship waiver for having such a terrible football team?

I just hope we don't lose a key player, just so the new transfer can get a scholarship. As long as Zeke, Harney, Tree, Abreu, and Melo are here, I will be okay...

[akronzips71]

Maybe the NCAA granted Akron a hardship waiver for having such a terrible football team?

I just hope we don't lose a key player, just so the new transfer can get a scholarship. As long as Zeke, Harney, Tree, Abreu, and Melo are here, I will be okay...

And Walsh.

[yazan07]

I figured it all out. He obviously stole the credit cards to help his dad, displaying the extreme hardship faced by him and his family, and furthermore showing the need to move home and play for the Zips.

[ZipGoTheZippers!]

Another confirmation. I also had two others who have heard the same thing and they are both linked to WVU. One is involved in WVU athletics and is a student.

https://twitter.com/Carvelli3

[zipinnc]

Looks like more confirmation:

http://www.wvillustrated.com/story/1901499...ansfer-from-wvu

[skip-zip]

Players never want to sit out a year. I trust that he knew what he was doing, and a family medical condition or disability definitely has qualified in the past for a hardship exemption.

I think we might be closer than we think to having a real gift handed to us for next season.

[Quickzips]

Huge, HUGE get for the Zips if this pans out and he can play next year. Akron was after Forsythe a year ago before he committed to WVU. To get him now after a year in Huggins program is a big get for the Zips. Having two athletic 7 footers who can run the floor gives us an advantage over pretty much any team we will play this year.

PG: Abreu, Betancourt

SG: Walsh, Deji

SF: Gilliam, Diggs

PF: Tree, Harney

C: Zeke, Forsythe

[Dave in Green]

Since WVU has officially announced it, I guess I'm now freed from my pledge not to say anything to anyone until something was official. I was told last week that the UA coaching staff believed that they were on the verge of landing a 6-11 player who would be Zeke's heir apparent at center. I was told that this player was not a project but would be a major contributor from day one. The player's name was not being shared for obvious reasons. All I have to say now is that I have a renewed sense of faith in some of my sources.

[akronzips71]

Huge, HUGE get for the Zips if this pans out and he can play next year. Akron was after Forsythe a year ago before he committed to WVU. To get him now after a year in Huggins program is a big get for the Zips. Having two athletic 7 footers who can run the floor gives us an advantage over pretty much any team we will play this year.

PG: Abreu, Betancourt

SG: Walsh, Deji

SF: Gilliam, Diggs

PF: Tree, Harney

C: Zeke, Forsythe

Zeke, Tree and this guy on the floor all at the same time is like the impossible dream. A team that could make a run in the Dance.

Meanwhile. We still have Justice and McAdams. BOTH very strong contenders for playing time, if their HS careers are any guide.

[UAZip0510]

NBC Sports now reporting it:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com...closer-to-home/

[wadszip]

Here's a good story and video interview with Forsythe from last month about him coming back from his injuries and playing in a Pro-Am league against highly touted Pitt center Steven Adams, who is currently being projected as a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA draft:

Back In Action

And here's a real personal interest story about the problems Forsythe experienced throughout his childhood and how he overcame them (note that the writer accidentally reversed Patrick's name with that of his father, David):

Forsythe’s story one of resolve

Based on the story above, it sounds as if the family environment fostered by KD and UA would be perfect for Forsythe.

Dave,

Thanks for posting those links. I was going to post what I have heard about Pat earlier today, but since I didn't know the full story decided not to. Anyway, I am good friends with a couple of coaches who either are league rivals with Brunswick, or who are district rivals at Midview. Both kind of filled me on on Pat's backstory. They didn't go into as much detail as the article you linked, but they both told me he had a tough upbringing.

I know that's not adding much, but I guess to anybody who doubts whether a hardship waiver is legit, his family struggles have been well known (at least in basketball circles close to Brunswick). If he needs to be closer to his dad, it's definitely not some fabricated story. Hopefully, the NCAA sees it as such. This isn't just isn't a case of a kid getting homesick.

[wadszip]

Different sport, but here is a story I found on Michigan State sophomore-to-be DeAnthony Arnett, who transferred home from Tennessee to Michigan State due to his father's health condition. BTW, Arnett was cleared to play this year ... the article was before the NCAA granted his waiver.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index....s_msu_spri.html

It's not exactly apples-to-apples, but to me, both are legit reasons to transfer to a school close to home in a case where an immediate family member has a real disability. Even though we are talking about the NCAA, I'd be shocked if a waiver isn't granted.

[akronzips71]

Based on the tapes, he appears to be more athletic than Zeke, and more aggressive to the basket. And while he is supposedly on inch shorter, he is a good 25+ pounds heavier.

Having these two monsters on the court at the same time could make us very very tough.

Is the OOC schedule final? This pickup could get us another good opponent or two.

[Let'sGoZips94]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Zeke and Forsythe on the floor... at the same time... together... on the same team... at Akron?!?!?!

<---- Emphasis on this last emoticon.

[akzipper]

Just remember a lot of people were excited about Dakotah Euton..obviously a different kind of player, but still remember that just because they transferred/decommited from a big school doesn't mean they will pan out...

[Zipmeister]

Just remember a lot of people were excited about Dakotah Euton..obviously a different kind of player, but still remember that just because they transferred/decommited from a big school doesn't mean they will pan out...

Now there is a young man who has found his level. Dakotah averaged 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for the NAIA Asbury Eagles last season.