Welcome to the 8th installment of The War Room for the off-season of 2017. 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 8th edition of the War Room for the 2017 off-season!
2018 FOCUS
I think everybody knows the primary focus right now is to find a top flight point guard in the class of 2018. Heading that list is Dwayne Cohill from Holy Name in Cleveland. Dayton is going to get him on campus (September 16th) for his first official visit.
This is big because it tells him where he is on their pecking order. Ohio State is viewed as Dayton’s biggest competition and he’ll travel to Columbus the weekend after he’s at UD. The Buckeyes will have already had point guard Elijah Weaver (Oldsmar, FL) on campus September 9-11. Even if Ohio State doesn’t get a commitment from Weaver, the Flyers can still use Weaver’s visit to remind Cohill that he’s not OSU’s first choice.
Cohill has visits setup to Dayton, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech and said he might setup two other to Vanderbilt and either Mizzou or New Mexico.
The weekend after Cohill’s visit to Dayton, the Flyers will host point guard Anthony Nelson from the New York Lightning. According to Nelson, his AAU teammate Jared Rhoden indeed will be making the trip with him to the Miami Valley. And he told me, Dayton does want them both as a package in 2018.
The other point guard I’ve heard that Dayton is hotly pursuing is Serrel Smith out of St. Petersburg, Florida. I have not been able to confirm whether a visit has been scheduled yet or not, but I was told they are working on it. Between those three point guards, Dayton fans will not be disappointed with a commitment from one of them.
KOSTAS THE SUMMER TOGETHER
Well, the good news is, as was reported by Doctor Bluff’s “stalking,” Kostas Antetokounmpo is back on Dayton’s campus. That’s actually bigger than you think I was hearing as recently as three weeks ago that there was some worry within the Athletic Department about him even making his way back to campus and ever suiting up in a Dayton uniform.
That’s the good news. However, I have heard he hasn’t made the greatest impression on the new coaching staff. They didn’t like the fact he was not on campus practicing with the new staff when he was with the national team. After he got hurt, they didn’t like that it was difficult to get any kind of information on his injury. They didn’t like that he didn’t come home right away.
He added another strike this week as I was told he was on campus a couple days before he even stopped by the basketball office or to see the trainers. According to a source, they still don’t officially know the extent of his injury. I don’t know how to take that. My guess is if the injury was more severe, there would be more of an urgency to get a diagnosis so he can get further treatment.
I think it’s safe to say that Kostas is going to have to live up to the potential because, as one source put it, “he’s already acting like he’s headed to the NBA and hasn’t even played a single college game yet.” Hopefully getting him back on campus will provide him structure where the coaching staff can put him in his place.
JUSTIN TIME
Justin Ahrens released his top six at the beginning of this month. Dayton, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Vanderbilt, and Xavier. The same weekend that Dayton will have Nelson and Rhoden on campus, Ahrens and Cohill will be at Ohio State.
Before that, he will take an official visit to Michigan (September 9th). Two days ago, he took an unofficial to Xavier and setup an official visit with the school for September 29th.
That’s three of his official visits with two to go. With him living in Versailles, it’s quite possible that Dayton doesn’t get an official visit from him. That would mean, logicially, Purdue and Vanderbilt will likely get the other two officials.
Justin did tell me, though, that he was planning on “getting there sometime” when I asked him about UD. I think Dayton would love to have him, but I’m feeling like they are closer to the bottom of his six than towards the top.
TREADING CAREFULLY
Right after the whole thing happened with Sam Miller, I was told right away that they were looking for a grad transfer for this fall. The primary focus was to add another capable body in the backcourt, citing the slew of forwards Dayton had on their roster.
By then, the grad transfer market was greatly diminished. I was told they had some interest in couple guys that were still available—Gonzaga’s Bryan Alberts. They had one conversation, but it was too late. The next day he transferred to Long Beach State.
Similarly, the Flyers were looking into Westerville product Jaylen Benton from Southeast Missouri. While I don’t think there was ever a conversation, he quickly committed to Youngstown State.
The Flyers did have a conversation with North Texas guard J-Mychal Reese a week ago. I’m not sure if there is interest from Dayton’s end to pursue him any further, but I know there’s been at least one conversation in the past 7-8 days.
Dayton has to be very careful with whoever they bring in, considering what they are replacing with this new scholarship. They also are going to be very particular with what they need to fill the roster out. I don’t believe they would want to bring in a point guard for more than just this season as to not disrupt any chance of getting their 2018 primary targets. Perhaps they go best available player or perhaps they leave it vacant. Time will tell!
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room. Reminder, what’s posted on the Red and Blue Forum should stay on this forum. It’s been a quick summer, but glad the basketball season is right around the corner. When the calendar flips to September, the recruiting should really intensify.
As always, welcome to the new subscribers and thank you to those that this is not their first rodeo. You guys are ALL the reason why this is the best site for Dayton basketball, so thank you again!
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 8th edition of the War Room for the 2017 off-season!
2018 FOCUS
I think everybody knows the primary focus right now is to find a top flight point guard in the class of 2018. Heading that list is Dwayne Cohill from Holy Name in Cleveland. Dayton is going to get him on campus (September 16th) for his first official visit.
This is big because it tells him where he is on their pecking order. Ohio State is viewed as Dayton’s biggest competition and he’ll travel to Columbus the weekend after he’s at UD. The Buckeyes will have already had point guard Elijah Weaver (Oldsmar, FL) on campus September 9-11. Even if Ohio State doesn’t get a commitment from Weaver, the Flyers can still use Weaver’s visit to remind Cohill that he’s not OSU’s first choice.
Cohill has visits setup to Dayton, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech and said he might setup two other to Vanderbilt and either Mizzou or New Mexico.
The weekend after Cohill’s visit to Dayton, the Flyers will host point guard Anthony Nelson from the New York Lightning. According to Nelson, his AAU teammate Jared Rhoden indeed will be making the trip with him to the Miami Valley. And he told me, Dayton does want them both as a package in 2018.
The other point guard I’ve heard that Dayton is hotly pursuing is Serrel Smith out of St. Petersburg, Florida. I have not been able to confirm whether a visit has been scheduled yet or not, but I was told they are working on it. Between those three point guards, Dayton fans will not be disappointed with a commitment from one of them.
KOSTAS THE SUMMER TOGETHER
Well, the good news is, as was reported by Doctor Bluff’s “stalking,” Kostas Antetokounmpo is back on Dayton’s campus. That’s actually bigger than you think I was hearing as recently as three weeks ago that there was some worry within the Athletic Department about him even making his way back to campus and ever suiting up in a Dayton uniform.
That’s the good news. However, I have heard he hasn’t made the greatest impression on the new coaching staff. They didn’t like the fact he was not on campus practicing with the new staff when he was with the national team. After he got hurt, they didn’t like that it was difficult to get any kind of information on his injury. They didn’t like that he didn’t come home right away.
He added another strike this week as I was told he was on campus a couple days before he even stopped by the basketball office or to see the trainers. According to a source, they still don’t officially know the extent of his injury. I don’t know how to take that. My guess is if the injury was more severe, there would be more of an urgency to get a diagnosis so he can get further treatment.
I think it’s safe to say that Kostas is going to have to live up to the potential because, as one source put it, “he’s already acting like he’s headed to the NBA and hasn’t even played a single college game yet.” Hopefully getting him back on campus will provide him structure where the coaching staff can put him in his place.
JUSTIN TIME
Justin Ahrens released his top six at the beginning of this month. Dayton, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Vanderbilt, and Xavier. The same weekend that Dayton will have Nelson and Rhoden on campus, Ahrens and Cohill will be at Ohio State.
Before that, he will take an official visit to Michigan (September 9th). Two days ago, he took an unofficial to Xavier and setup an official visit with the school for September 29th.
That’s three of his official visits with two to go. With him living in Versailles, it’s quite possible that Dayton doesn’t get an official visit from him. That would mean, logicially, Purdue and Vanderbilt will likely get the other two officials.
Justin did tell me, though, that he was planning on “getting there sometime” when I asked him about UD. I think Dayton would love to have him, but I’m feeling like they are closer to the bottom of his six than towards the top.
TREADING CAREFULLY
Right after the whole thing happened with Sam Miller, I was told right away that they were looking for a grad transfer for this fall. The primary focus was to add another capable body in the backcourt, citing the slew of forwards Dayton had on their roster.
By then, the grad transfer market was greatly diminished. I was told they had some interest in couple guys that were still available—Gonzaga’s Bryan Alberts. They had one conversation, but it was too late. The next day he transferred to Long Beach State.
Similarly, the Flyers were looking into Westerville product Jaylen Benton from Southeast Missouri. While I don’t think there was ever a conversation, he quickly committed to Youngstown State.
The Flyers did have a conversation with North Texas guard J-Mychal Reese a week ago. I’m not sure if there is interest from Dayton’s end to pursue him any further, but I know there’s been at least one conversation in the past 7-8 days.
Dayton has to be very careful with whoever they bring in, considering what they are replacing with this new scholarship. They also are going to be very particular with what they need to fill the roster out. I don’t believe they would want to bring in a point guard for more than just this season as to not disrupt any chance of getting their 2018 primary targets. Perhaps they go best available player or perhaps they leave it vacant. Time will tell!
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room. Reminder, what’s posted on the Red and Blue Forum should stay on this forum. It’s been a quick summer, but glad the basketball season is right around the corner. When the calendar flips to September, the recruiting should really intensify.
As always, welcome to the new subscribers and thank you to those that this is not their first rodeo. You guys are ALL the reason why this is the best site for Dayton basketball, so thank you again!
