Welcome to the 3rd installment of The War Room for the 2024 offseason! As always, I'll begin this session with the ground rules for those that may be new. Everything that is reported in The War Room must stay in The War Room. Sometimes the info is sensitive enough that it simply doesn't need to be passed on beyond the doors of this message board thread. This is a special feature for our subscribers only. The reason why it is posted on the premium board is because that's the only way to ensure that the info stays exclusive to Dayton Flyer fans. Thanks for your cooperation. Without further ado, here it is.... The 3rd edition of the War Room for 2024!
A GREAT FRI-DAY?!
In the words of Darren Hertz, tomorrow could be a GREAT DAY TO BE A FLYER! Maybe even the GREATEST DAY, in terms of Dayton recruiting is concerned. The Flyers could have a huge day if what I am hearing plays out on Friday.
The Flyers just concluded an official visit with Tulane transfer Kolby King. He came and went without a commitment and had a visit scheduled for South Carolina. My sources were telling me they thought it would be a two-horse race in the end with Butler and Dayton as South Carolina seemed to view him as a Plan B option.
I’ll admit I was a bit surprised when he didn’t pledge before he headed back to New Orleans, but I knew he did the same with Butler so I had to take a step back. He’s just being thorough and wanted to go home and think about things.
An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow. My sources are saying that Dayton is in a good spot with this one and they very well may be improving their standing as we speak.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Another ode to my favorite store when I was at UD—where I got all my used CD’s and DVD’s. From what I’ve gathered, Posh Alexander is the reason that Kolby King went to St. John’s in the first place. The two of them are very close and very well may be the reason why King was considering Butler. Fast forward, Kolby King concludes his visit to Dayton on Wednesday. Thursday, former Butler guard Posh Alexander enters the transfer portal.
Alexander, of course, was a target for Dayton coming out of high school. You know how Anthony Grant and Ricardo Greer like to get guys the second time around. I’ve been told that Dayton is meeting with Posh today and that there’s a strong indication that there’s a strong mutual interest between the two.
Posh visited Dayton in February of 2019 and had picked St. John’s over Dayton, Illinois, Pitt, and Seton Hall. This past season as Butler, he started all 32 games this season and averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. In 39 minutes against Texas Tech, he recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
The senior will have one year of eligibility remaining after averaging double-figures in each of his four seasons in the Big East. He is regarded as one of the nation’s top backcourt defenders.
CALLING ON COLIN
Let’s not forget that Vanderbilt forward Colin Smith is currently on Dayton’s campus for an official visit. Sources have told FlyerHoops that the visit is going “very well” and that he would be a “big” pickup if he chooses Dayton.
Of course, he’s coming off an Achilles injury, but the Dayton coaches are said to love his game. Prior to his injury, he was averaging 7.1 points and 6.6 rebounds while starting six of the seven games. At 6-8, 220-pounds, Smith would provide Dayton when some bulk on the interior to go with Zed Key.
He originally is from Dallas and played at Compass Prep in Arizona. He will have three more years of eligibility remaining at his next school.
From what I’ve been told, it’s a competition with a couple other power five schools at the moment. People I have spoke to feel very strongly that if he returns to form after the injury, that he would be a coup for Dayton.
As I previously reported, Marshall transfer Jacob Conner was on an unofficial visit to Dayton’s campus on Wednesday afternoon. This past season, he started 32 of 33 games and averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Marshall sources told me they thought he would benefit from better coaching.
Conner did message FlyerHoops following his trip to UD that it was a great visit and he had a good time seeing the campus and everything, really for the first time. He, of course, played his high school basketball at Archbishop Alter.
He played his first two seasons at Marshall and would have two years of eligibility remaining. Those I’ve spoke to have hinted at the fact that he would like to be closer to home leading to a solid possibility that he ends up at Dayton.
If he does choose the Flyers, it would provide Dayton with some quality depth on the wing with some major height. At 6-10, Conner is considered a long three man with the ability to shoot it from anywhere on the floor. An announcement could come as soon as Friday on his future destination.
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT
When I started the week off with an article about it being a big week on Dayton’s campus, I didn’t realize how big it would get. Dayton is expected to have another unofficial visitor on Friday night when Duke transfer Jaden Schutt is scheduled to stop in and get a peak.
The dialogue I’ve had about him is that Dayton is in his Top Five currently, but is probably at the bottom of that list as he’s looking to “go bigger.” He, like Colin Smith, sat out this season as a medical redshirt, after having some work done on his knee.
Schutt was recruited by Dayton out of high school as a sharpshooter out of Yorkville Christian in Illinois. While Dayton lost the nation’s top three-point shooter in Koby Brea, Schutt would be a significant replacement if they can somehow climb his list after a visit.
He will have three years of eligibility remaining as well. Reportedly has heard from Butler, Creighton, Davidson, Dayton, DePaul, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Saint Louis, Saint Mary’s, UCF, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin. If all those dominoes above fall, who knows what could happen by the time Schutt gets on campus. A lot of momentum, strike while the iron is hot!
ONE MORE THING
Just want to clear one thing up on Koby Brea. There was a lot of talk that Koby’s family was shopping him and that’s what led him to going into the portal. My sources told me that his decision to go in the portal was more driven by his new relationship with LeBron James’ Klutch Sports. Just another reason why I no longer am the fan of LBJ that I once was.
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room! Thank you to all of you… You are what makes this board so special and the best place to talk Dayton basketball all year round! A special welcome to all of those that have signed up for FlyerHoops recently, hope you’re enjoying all the nuggets, tidbits, etc that the site and forum provides. By the way, tomorrow is my wife and I’s 16th wedding anniversary so I am giving you all the heads up on potential activity in this War Room just in case I am not around to post when things actually do go down. Seems like yesterday I was breaking Rob Lowery's commitment on the runway to our honeymoon. We have a nice day planned together tomorrow that we plan to enjoy! Until next time, WE ARE!
dayton.rivals.com
therookiewire.usatoday.com
www.maxpreps.com
