Welcome to the 1st installment of The War Room for 2020. 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 1st edition of the War Room for 2020!
OBI ONE!
Let me start by saying I wish I was writing right now about how Dayton is on the way to their second Sweet 16 in the last seven seasons. Watching more Obi Toppin highlights all over ESPN, nevermind. I’m going to make myself cry if I don’t start getting to the War Room.
Toppin was the only unanimous AP First Team All-American selection, appearing on all 65 voters’ ballots. He has been in a dogfight with Iowa’s Luke Garza for most of these Player of the Year selections with AP announcing their pick and Coach of the Year (Hopefully Anthony Grant) tomorrow—March 24th. The Naismith will announce on April 5th and Wooden on April 10th.
It’s long been expected that Toppin will be leaving early for the NBA Draft after flirting with the idea a year ago before choosing to come back. I still can’t fathom how us Dayton fans knew this was going to happen this year with Obi and yet, somehow, not a single NBA team wanted to take a low first round risk on his upside.
Not trying to get anyone’s hopes up, but sharing what I was told. I was told if Ryan Mikesell and Trey Landers both got their year back, Toppin would consider coming back. I was told the chance of them getting a year is slim to none so it should stop with just that. But even if they did get the year back miraculously, listing to Roni and Obadiah’s podcast with the Curry’s, it sure sounds like the family has made up their minds. So with that, lets just move on and be happy we saw him in a Dayton uniform and pull like heck that he runs the table on these Player of the Year awards. The ammunition that would provide the coaches on the recruiting trails would be endless.
SCHOLARSHIP SITUATION
Assuming that Obi Toppin leaves for the NBA, Dayton would have one vacant scholarship that they are currently recruiting for. There’s the possibility of one or two more would also open up depending on each situation.
The obvious question is that of Chase Johnson. The Florida transfer left the school in December and it was not known if he’d be back or not. I can tell you that there was genuine hope that he would return after Christmas last season. Anthony Grant has not closed that door on Johnson returning. In fact, I was told that he invited Chase back to attend the George Washington regular season finale. I spoke with Chase and he said he was hoping to attend the game, but “had a few things pop up.” He did also add, “I wish I could’ve been there. I heard the atmosphere was great.”
The other one to keep an eye on is Jhery Matos. There was even talk that he may walk with Trey Landers and Ryan Mikesell on Senior Night, but as we all witnessed, it was just the latter two. I am told the option is on the table for Matos to return for another year and the ball is in his court. He probably didn’t play as much as he’d like to this season, but you have to appreciate the fact that when he did get in the game, he answered the bell almost every time. That type of response is likely why it’s up to Jhery if he wants to return for one last season at UD or move on.
With all those situations described above, Dayton is being very active so far in the transfer market. You see them mentioned with nearly every position on the floor. At this point, it’s likely a safe assumption that they are operating on the premise that they’ll have at least two scholarships open for the fall roster.
TRANSFER MARKET
The Dayton coaching staff has been very active in their recruiting efforts, despite the fact that there is no spring evaluation and no off campus or on campus recruiting being allowed at the moment. Dayton is coming off a season that they likely would have been a one seed in the NCAA tournament and will likely have a Top 5 draft pick so they’re an attractive option for just about any prospect looking to develop their game for the next level.
Two of the main transfer options right now are Wichita State’s Jamarius Burton and Duke’s Alex O’Connell. From what I’ve been told, there may have already been FaceTime meetings or even video presentations with these two prospects.
Burton was a double-figure scorer as a sophomore point guard this past season for the Shockers and the team’s leading assist man. He shot 38% from three-point range which is very important in Anthony Grant’s system. Donnie Jones recruited Burton to Wichita State so it’s no surprise that Donnie’s protégé Riccardo Greer would be heading up Burton’s recruiting for UD.
Alex O’Connell shocked some people last week when he made his announcement that he entered the transfer portal. He averaged five points a game at Duke, which one source told me is easily a double-figure scorer at Dayton. As of right now, he’s a sit one, play one prospect, but that he will likely petition to become eligible immediately. One source told me that Dayton may be in his top 2-3 transfer options. Anthony Solomon recruited him while at Notre Dame and is in charge of recruiting at Dayton now. Landing one of these two would be big for the Flyers.
NOT (YET) IN THE PORTAL
There’s the guys that we know already that are in the transfer portal, but there’s also a lot of guys that the staff is researching with the potential of the player entering the portal shortly.
Western Michigan forward Brandon Johnson is one to keep a very close eye on. He has not entered the transfer portal yet, but I am told UD coaches are doing their due diligence on him. Plenty of film has already been poured over and I am hearing they like what they see.
He averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds, while his shooting splits were 45.9 / 33.3 / 73.8. He was a redshirt junior this season so it’s expected he would be a graduate transfer and be eligible immediately if/when he does enter the portal.
A couple of other guys to keep an eye on. Pickerington, Ohio, natives and North Carolina players Sterling Manley and Jeremiah Francis have had their share of injuries that have set them back. Manley had a redshirt season and Francis played in just 16 games, averaging 3.3 points. Both players have been on Dayton’s campus before and recruited at one point by UD. It’s possible that if they do enter the portal, if Dayton wants them, it could happen fast.
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room! A formal welcome to the new subscribers and a thank you to you long, loyal subscribers. You all are the reason why this site is the best place to talk Dayton basketball all year round. I hope this serves as a ray of sunshine in what has become a four wall society at the moment. I hope everyone and their families remain healthy and stay safe. God Bless you all! WE ARE…
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 1st edition of the War Room for 2020!
OBI ONE!
Let me start by saying I wish I was writing right now about how Dayton is on the way to their second Sweet 16 in the last seven seasons. Watching more Obi Toppin highlights all over ESPN, nevermind. I’m going to make myself cry if I don’t start getting to the War Room.
Toppin was the only unanimous AP First Team All-American selection, appearing on all 65 voters’ ballots. He has been in a dogfight with Iowa’s Luke Garza for most of these Player of the Year selections with AP announcing their pick and Coach of the Year (Hopefully Anthony Grant) tomorrow—March 24th. The Naismith will announce on April 5th and Wooden on April 10th.
It’s long been expected that Toppin will be leaving early for the NBA Draft after flirting with the idea a year ago before choosing to come back. I still can’t fathom how us Dayton fans knew this was going to happen this year with Obi and yet, somehow, not a single NBA team wanted to take a low first round risk on his upside.
Not trying to get anyone’s hopes up, but sharing what I was told. I was told if Ryan Mikesell and Trey Landers both got their year back, Toppin would consider coming back. I was told the chance of them getting a year is slim to none so it should stop with just that. But even if they did get the year back miraculously, listing to Roni and Obadiah’s podcast with the Curry’s, it sure sounds like the family has made up their minds. So with that, lets just move on and be happy we saw him in a Dayton uniform and pull like heck that he runs the table on these Player of the Year awards. The ammunition that would provide the coaches on the recruiting trails would be endless.
SCHOLARSHIP SITUATION
Assuming that Obi Toppin leaves for the NBA, Dayton would have one vacant scholarship that they are currently recruiting for. There’s the possibility of one or two more would also open up depending on each situation.
The obvious question is that of Chase Johnson. The Florida transfer left the school in December and it was not known if he’d be back or not. I can tell you that there was genuine hope that he would return after Christmas last season. Anthony Grant has not closed that door on Johnson returning. In fact, I was told that he invited Chase back to attend the George Washington regular season finale. I spoke with Chase and he said he was hoping to attend the game, but “had a few things pop up.” He did also add, “I wish I could’ve been there. I heard the atmosphere was great.”
The other one to keep an eye on is Jhery Matos. There was even talk that he may walk with Trey Landers and Ryan Mikesell on Senior Night, but as we all witnessed, it was just the latter two. I am told the option is on the table for Matos to return for another year and the ball is in his court. He probably didn’t play as much as he’d like to this season, but you have to appreciate the fact that when he did get in the game, he answered the bell almost every time. That type of response is likely why it’s up to Jhery if he wants to return for one last season at UD or move on.
With all those situations described above, Dayton is being very active so far in the transfer market. You see them mentioned with nearly every position on the floor. At this point, it’s likely a safe assumption that they are operating on the premise that they’ll have at least two scholarships open for the fall roster.
TRANSFER MARKET
The Dayton coaching staff has been very active in their recruiting efforts, despite the fact that there is no spring evaluation and no off campus or on campus recruiting being allowed at the moment. Dayton is coming off a season that they likely would have been a one seed in the NCAA tournament and will likely have a Top 5 draft pick so they’re an attractive option for just about any prospect looking to develop their game for the next level.
Two of the main transfer options right now are Wichita State’s Jamarius Burton and Duke’s Alex O’Connell. From what I’ve been told, there may have already been FaceTime meetings or even video presentations with these two prospects.
Burton was a double-figure scorer as a sophomore point guard this past season for the Shockers and the team’s leading assist man. He shot 38% from three-point range which is very important in Anthony Grant’s system. Donnie Jones recruited Burton to Wichita State so it’s no surprise that Donnie’s protégé Riccardo Greer would be heading up Burton’s recruiting for UD.
Alex O’Connell shocked some people last week when he made his announcement that he entered the transfer portal. He averaged five points a game at Duke, which one source told me is easily a double-figure scorer at Dayton. As of right now, he’s a sit one, play one prospect, but that he will likely petition to become eligible immediately. One source told me that Dayton may be in his top 2-3 transfer options. Anthony Solomon recruited him while at Notre Dame and is in charge of recruiting at Dayton now. Landing one of these two would be big for the Flyers.
NOT (YET) IN THE PORTAL
There’s the guys that we know already that are in the transfer portal, but there’s also a lot of guys that the staff is researching with the potential of the player entering the portal shortly.
Western Michigan forward Brandon Johnson is one to keep a very close eye on. He has not entered the transfer portal yet, but I am told UD coaches are doing their due diligence on him. Plenty of film has already been poured over and I am hearing they like what they see.
He averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds, while his shooting splits were 45.9 / 33.3 / 73.8. He was a redshirt junior this season so it’s expected he would be a graduate transfer and be eligible immediately if/when he does enter the portal.
A couple of other guys to keep an eye on. Pickerington, Ohio, natives and North Carolina players Sterling Manley and Jeremiah Francis have had their share of injuries that have set them back. Manley had a redshirt season and Francis played in just 16 games, averaging 3.3 points. Both players have been on Dayton’s campus before and recruited at one point by UD. It’s possible that if they do enter the portal, if Dayton wants them, it could happen fast.
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room! A formal welcome to the new subscribers and a thank you to you long, loyal subscribers. You all are the reason why this site is the best place to talk Dayton basketball all year round. I hope this serves as a ray of sunshine in what has become a four wall society at the moment. I hope everyone and their families remain healthy and stay safe. God Bless you all! WE ARE…
