Welcome to the 8th installment of The War Room for the off-season of 2011. 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. Here it is, the 7th edition of The War Room for the 2011 off-season:
Vee-Point Range
As we all know by now, Georgetown transfer Vee Sanford is on campus as the third official visit of the Archie Miller era. Vee went as far to tell me three weeks ago that he thinks (at least at that time) that it was a no-brainer that he'd likely end up at Dayton. He was scheduled to visit Marshall unofficially on his way back from school over the weekend, but told me yesterday that he didn't end up making the stop. From what I heard, it would likely be a courtesy visit to Huntington anyways.
I can tell you his parents came for the visit with him and today is the "get serious" part of it all. There's a feeling that he might pop the commitment on the coaching staff today, but he told me, "I don't know, to be honest" when I asked him if there might be a commitment taking place while he is there. I think he'll be a Dayton Flyer when it's all said and done, and I tend to believe, it will be real soon.
Down to three
I touched base with Isaiah Philmore on Tuesday night to get an update on his transfer situation. His original plan heading into this week was to take a trip to Delaware State and then get his list down to two schools. He made the trip on Tuesday during the day and told me afterward that his plan has changed. He said all three schools are neck-and-neck right now and he'll leave it at three and think about things. He said it's so close that he doesn't know when he'll make a decision and is just going to take some time and talk to the people close to him about what all three have to offer. He noted to me all three of the coaches are "players coaches" and that's what he is looking for.
A couple notes about the other two schools involved for Philmore. Rasheen Davis is the assistant from Xavier that is handling his recruitment, it wasn't Pat Kelsey. As far as his interest goes in the Delaware State Hornets, it involves personal connections. He played AAU basketball for Team Takeover with a guy at Delaware State, forward Tyshawn Bell. He also played with Dockery Walker (Brown University), the son of DSU assistant coach Keith Walker. I really don't know where Philmore ends up at this point, any of the three wouldn't surprise me and so I'm not going to give you any type of prediction on this one. From everything I've heard after the Dayton visit, the Flyers would be extremely happy to get a talent like him transferring into their program for the 2012-2013 season.
Long drive, but...
It's been really quiet on the Percy Gibson subject this week. I can tell you for sure that it was only his mom and him that made the trip to Ames. I was told that the drive was rough on mom, but she also said she would be okay with Percy going to Iowa State if that's really what he wanted to do. It very well could come down to his relationship with Cornell Mann if his mom is totally behind him, like it sounds.
The other thing that I was told was Percy probably wouldn't visit Dayton this week with Vee's visit and the dead period coming up on Thursday. The period lasts just eight days so if he is still torn, he could wait to take a visit to any of the other three schools afterward. Va Tech is coming hard and it was joked to me that they call him as he's brushing his teeth in the morning, getting ready for school. But it was also said don't be surprised if he knows all he needs to know to make a decision because he's been to both of his top two choices at this point. Time will tell with this one, but I think Iowa State and Dayton are as close as they've ever been for Percy.
Dr. Watson
Here's a somewhat new name for 2012, big man Devontae Watson of Lincoln Park in Pennsylvania. It was rumored a while back when Dayton called Chaquille Pratt (2011 wing), it was in hope to get a package deal started for Watson the following year. The 6-10 center averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds last season as a junior. He put together multiple triple-doubles this season, including blocked shots as the third category in those feats.
He's running with the King James Shooting Stars this summer and has reported offers from Cleveland State, Dayton, Duquesne, Robert Morris, St. Joseph's, and Temple. He'll likely come on campus sometime this summer for an unofficial with some of his AAU teammates.
"Kareem's in the Wash"
Sorry for the cheesy title, with that name, I had to make reference to one of my favorite movies-- Fletch. Anyways, I talked to Brooklyn native Kareem Canty recently as he's reclassified to 2012 at Bridgeton Academy. The 6-1 point guard was scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Providence late last week, but it didn't happen and his AAU coaches are working on rescheduling. He told me he is hearing from Dayton, Miami, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Texas A&M, and Xavier. Coach Griffin was recruiting him to Hofstra when he was there and has picked up the recruitment since he got to Dayton. Kareem told me he has a great relationship with Coach Griffin and is "someone I can relate to."
Canty said he doesn't know much about the Flyers program at this point, but said he will take a visit to find out more. He said he will more than likely couple an unofficial to Xavier on a single trip to Ohio. He'd like to make a decision in the middle of the summer or maybe toward the end of the summer. Dayton has some catching up to do for Canty, but they're better off than a lot of people know for this elite 2012 talent.
A firm reminder, that whatever is said in the War Room, needs to stay in the War Room. That does it for this edition, I'd like to formally welcome all the new subscribers we've had since last week's War Room, and thank everyone for being a part of this community. It's all of you that continue to make this place the most special place to talk Dayton basketball. Hopefully, I'll have some more good news to report in the next 48 hours!
PAST WAR ROOMS (COACH STOCK TOO):
#7: The War Room #7 (5/4/2011)
#6: The War Room #6 (5/4/2011)
#5: The War Room #5 (4/27/2011)
#4: The War Room #4 (4/20/2011)
#3: The War Room #3 (4/14/2011)
SM: Stock Movement (3/29/2011)
#2: The War Room #2 (3/24/2011)
#1: The War Room (3/17/2011)
This post was edited on 5/18 9:34 AM by Matt Schwade
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. Here it is, the 7th edition of The War Room for the 2011 off-season:
Vee-Point Range
As we all know by now, Georgetown transfer Vee Sanford is on campus as the third official visit of the Archie Miller era. Vee went as far to tell me three weeks ago that he thinks (at least at that time) that it was a no-brainer that he'd likely end up at Dayton. He was scheduled to visit Marshall unofficially on his way back from school over the weekend, but told me yesterday that he didn't end up making the stop. From what I heard, it would likely be a courtesy visit to Huntington anyways.
I can tell you his parents came for the visit with him and today is the "get serious" part of it all. There's a feeling that he might pop the commitment on the coaching staff today, but he told me, "I don't know, to be honest" when I asked him if there might be a commitment taking place while he is there. I think he'll be a Dayton Flyer when it's all said and done, and I tend to believe, it will be real soon.
Down to three
I touched base with Isaiah Philmore on Tuesday night to get an update on his transfer situation. His original plan heading into this week was to take a trip to Delaware State and then get his list down to two schools. He made the trip on Tuesday during the day and told me afterward that his plan has changed. He said all three schools are neck-and-neck right now and he'll leave it at three and think about things. He said it's so close that he doesn't know when he'll make a decision and is just going to take some time and talk to the people close to him about what all three have to offer. He noted to me all three of the coaches are "players coaches" and that's what he is looking for.
A couple notes about the other two schools involved for Philmore. Rasheen Davis is the assistant from Xavier that is handling his recruitment, it wasn't Pat Kelsey. As far as his interest goes in the Delaware State Hornets, it involves personal connections. He played AAU basketball for Team Takeover with a guy at Delaware State, forward Tyshawn Bell. He also played with Dockery Walker (Brown University), the son of DSU assistant coach Keith Walker. I really don't know where Philmore ends up at this point, any of the three wouldn't surprise me and so I'm not going to give you any type of prediction on this one. From everything I've heard after the Dayton visit, the Flyers would be extremely happy to get a talent like him transferring into their program for the 2012-2013 season.
Long drive, but...
It's been really quiet on the Percy Gibson subject this week. I can tell you for sure that it was only his mom and him that made the trip to Ames. I was told that the drive was rough on mom, but she also said she would be okay with Percy going to Iowa State if that's really what he wanted to do. It very well could come down to his relationship with Cornell Mann if his mom is totally behind him, like it sounds.
The other thing that I was told was Percy probably wouldn't visit Dayton this week with Vee's visit and the dead period coming up on Thursday. The period lasts just eight days so if he is still torn, he could wait to take a visit to any of the other three schools afterward. Va Tech is coming hard and it was joked to me that they call him as he's brushing his teeth in the morning, getting ready for school. But it was also said don't be surprised if he knows all he needs to know to make a decision because he's been to both of his top two choices at this point. Time will tell with this one, but I think Iowa State and Dayton are as close as they've ever been for Percy.
Dr. Watson
Here's a somewhat new name for 2012, big man Devontae Watson of Lincoln Park in Pennsylvania. It was rumored a while back when Dayton called Chaquille Pratt (2011 wing), it was in hope to get a package deal started for Watson the following year. The 6-10 center averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds last season as a junior. He put together multiple triple-doubles this season, including blocked shots as the third category in those feats.
He's running with the King James Shooting Stars this summer and has reported offers from Cleveland State, Dayton, Duquesne, Robert Morris, St. Joseph's, and Temple. He'll likely come on campus sometime this summer for an unofficial with some of his AAU teammates.
"Kareem's in the Wash"
Sorry for the cheesy title, with that name, I had to make reference to one of my favorite movies-- Fletch. Anyways, I talked to Brooklyn native Kareem Canty recently as he's reclassified to 2012 at Bridgeton Academy. The 6-1 point guard was scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Providence late last week, but it didn't happen and his AAU coaches are working on rescheduling. He told me he is hearing from Dayton, Miami, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Texas A&M, and Xavier. Coach Griffin was recruiting him to Hofstra when he was there and has picked up the recruitment since he got to Dayton. Kareem told me he has a great relationship with Coach Griffin and is "someone I can relate to."
Canty said he doesn't know much about the Flyers program at this point, but said he will take a visit to find out more. He said he will more than likely couple an unofficial to Xavier on a single trip to Ohio. He'd like to make a decision in the middle of the summer or maybe toward the end of the summer. Dayton has some catching up to do for Canty, but they're better off than a lot of people know for this elite 2012 talent.
A firm reminder, that whatever is said in the War Room, needs to stay in the War Room. That does it for this edition, I'd like to formally welcome all the new subscribers we've had since last week's War Room, and thank everyone for being a part of this community. It's all of you that continue to make this place the most special place to talk Dayton basketball. Hopefully, I'll have some more good news to report in the next 48 hours!
PAST WAR ROOMS (COACH STOCK TOO):
#7: The War Room #7 (5/4/2011)
#6: The War Room #6 (5/4/2011)
#5: The War Room #5 (4/27/2011)
#4: The War Room #4 (4/20/2011)
#3: The War Room #3 (4/14/2011)
SM: Stock Movement (3/29/2011)
#2: The War Room #2 (3/24/2011)
#1: The War Room (3/17/2011)
This post was edited on 5/18 9:34 AM by Matt Schwade
