Welcome to the 8th installment of The War Room for 2019. 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 2019!
NEON KEON
A lot going on in basketball recruiting lately, and for the most part, they’ve been kept under the radar. Luke Frazier’s official visit and Keon Ambrose-Hylton’s official visit were discussed in War Rooms well ahead of time, but were not publicly announced until less than 24 hours before they arrived on campus. Keon’s official begins mid-morning today.
He arrived in Dayton late last night and accompanying him on the official visit is his mother. Keon received an offer from the University of Dayton last Halloween and has been a priority by Anthony Solomon and Anthony Grant ever since.
While he picked up a few high-major offers at the end of this summer, UD is his only visit that has been scheduled according to a source. From what I have gathered, Dayton has made it known that he is at the top of their recruiting board while other schools have been putting other recruits ahead of him.
It may be wishful thinking to get him to commit this weekend during his visit, but it’s possible given the long-time relationship. In my opinion, getting a top 100 recruit like Ambrose to commit this early with big schools also in the picture may be hard now, but should be easier a year from now if Obi Toppin gets taken high enough in the 2020 NBA Draft.
WHAT’S THE FUSS?
Christian Fussell came on an official week ago and left without much of a trail. There seem to be more questions after the visit than answers.
From what I have heard about the visit, he and Luke Frazier both played in the open gym with the players. I heard that Christian struggled some and goes with the reports that he is very up-and-down at this stage in his career.
Fussell’s mother is pushing her son to make all five of his visits and, in my opinion, that didn’t seem to both the Dayton coaches at this point. I had heard there was still some question marks heading into last weekend on whether or not they’d be ready to accept a commitment if he was prepared to commit.
That’s not to say that he can’t still end up at Dayton, but I don’t think they’re pushing him to make a decision. He’ll visit VCU this weekend, Middle Tennessee State next week, FGCU in three weeks, and finish at Charlotte at the end of September.
EVERYTHING TO GAINES
Perhaps the one visit that’s been circled on Dayton’s calendar since I was in Disney World a month ago is when Eric Gaines makes his trip to the Miami Valley next week. Gaines is somewhat of a forgotten commodity because he’s dealt with some injuries and his exposure was down as a result.
As I mentioned previously, Gaines biggest flaw right now might be his decision making on when and when not to take a shot. The thing is, sometimes he makes some where you’re saying No! No! No! YES! Once you start surrounding a guy like that with other good shooters and guys that can take up space in the paint, things should improve in that area.
Gaines will arrive in Dayton late next Thursday night and have his visit begin around the same time as Keon’s did the week prior. Hopefully, Friday the 13th will bring good luck to the Flyers, who really like Gaines from what I’m told.
He has a couple Big Ten offers under his belt already and TCU’s Jamie Dixon extended him an offer at the end of August. No word on any other potential visits at this point so things seem to be looking positive with the Flyers.
MMXXI
Last, but not least, I am hearing rumors of their first 2021 official visit potentially making it to campus by the end of the month. My source wouldn’t tell me who Dayton’s staff is looking to bring in yet, but I’m open to guesses.
This situation reminds me a lot of the one when Anthony Grant brought in Nebraska transfer Jordy Tshimanga for an official visit. I was given the hint that a transfer from a Big Ten school would be visiting, but they didn’t quite want the cat out of the bag because they felt good about their chances of securing a commitment.
That very well may be the case with this target and that’s why the name wasn’t able to be shared yet. I would assume that it would likely be the weekend of September 20th as hopefully the iron is hot from the two fantastic visits on the previous weekends and they can build on the momentum.
Dayton will have a few scholarships to fill in the 2021 class and that’s not even including if/when Obi Toppin decides to stay in the NBA Draft. Pretty much every position will be a place of need so the list of names that it could be will be quite large. Should keep us all entertained though until its official shared!
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room! I wanted to give a formal welcome to the new subscribers and a hearty thank you to all of you loyal, long time subscribers. All of YOU are what makes this site so special, all year round. Apologies about the mixup on last weekend’s preview. I got my football dates mixed up, but at the same time you’re educated now on the game this Saturday and I can use Friday to post this War Room instead
Until next time… 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 8th edition of the War Room for 2019!
NEON KEON
A lot going on in basketball recruiting lately, and for the most part, they’ve been kept under the radar. Luke Frazier’s official visit and Keon Ambrose-Hylton’s official visit were discussed in War Rooms well ahead of time, but were not publicly announced until less than 24 hours before they arrived on campus. Keon’s official begins mid-morning today.
He arrived in Dayton late last night and accompanying him on the official visit is his mother. Keon received an offer from the University of Dayton last Halloween and has been a priority by Anthony Solomon and Anthony Grant ever since.
While he picked up a few high-major offers at the end of this summer, UD is his only visit that has been scheduled according to a source. From what I have gathered, Dayton has made it known that he is at the top of their recruiting board while other schools have been putting other recruits ahead of him.
It may be wishful thinking to get him to commit this weekend during his visit, but it’s possible given the long-time relationship. In my opinion, getting a top 100 recruit like Ambrose to commit this early with big schools also in the picture may be hard now, but should be easier a year from now if Obi Toppin gets taken high enough in the 2020 NBA Draft.
WHAT’S THE FUSS?
Christian Fussell came on an official week ago and left without much of a trail. There seem to be more questions after the visit than answers.
From what I have heard about the visit, he and Luke Frazier both played in the open gym with the players. I heard that Christian struggled some and goes with the reports that he is very up-and-down at this stage in his career.
Fussell’s mother is pushing her son to make all five of his visits and, in my opinion, that didn’t seem to both the Dayton coaches at this point. I had heard there was still some question marks heading into last weekend on whether or not they’d be ready to accept a commitment if he was prepared to commit.
That’s not to say that he can’t still end up at Dayton, but I don’t think they’re pushing him to make a decision. He’ll visit VCU this weekend, Middle Tennessee State next week, FGCU in three weeks, and finish at Charlotte at the end of September.
EVERYTHING TO GAINES
Perhaps the one visit that’s been circled on Dayton’s calendar since I was in Disney World a month ago is when Eric Gaines makes his trip to the Miami Valley next week. Gaines is somewhat of a forgotten commodity because he’s dealt with some injuries and his exposure was down as a result.
As I mentioned previously, Gaines biggest flaw right now might be his decision making on when and when not to take a shot. The thing is, sometimes he makes some where you’re saying No! No! No! YES! Once you start surrounding a guy like that with other good shooters and guys that can take up space in the paint, things should improve in that area.
Gaines will arrive in Dayton late next Thursday night and have his visit begin around the same time as Keon’s did the week prior. Hopefully, Friday the 13th will bring good luck to the Flyers, who really like Gaines from what I’m told.
He has a couple Big Ten offers under his belt already and TCU’s Jamie Dixon extended him an offer at the end of August. No word on any other potential visits at this point so things seem to be looking positive with the Flyers.
MMXXI
Last, but not least, I am hearing rumors of their first 2021 official visit potentially making it to campus by the end of the month. My source wouldn’t tell me who Dayton’s staff is looking to bring in yet, but I’m open to guesses.
This situation reminds me a lot of the one when Anthony Grant brought in Nebraska transfer Jordy Tshimanga for an official visit. I was given the hint that a transfer from a Big Ten school would be visiting, but they didn’t quite want the cat out of the bag because they felt good about their chances of securing a commitment.
That very well may be the case with this target and that’s why the name wasn’t able to be shared yet. I would assume that it would likely be the weekend of September 20th as hopefully the iron is hot from the two fantastic visits on the previous weekends and they can build on the momentum.
Dayton will have a few scholarships to fill in the 2021 class and that’s not even including if/when Obi Toppin decides to stay in the NBA Draft. Pretty much every position will be a place of need so the list of names that it could be will be quite large. Should keep us all entertained though until its official shared!
CLOSING
That does it for this edition of the War Room! I wanted to give a formal welcome to the new subscribers and a hearty thank you to all of you loyal, long time subscribers. All of YOU are what makes this site so special, all year round. Apologies about the mixup on last weekend’s preview. I got my football dates mixed up, but at the same time you’re educated now on the game this Saturday and I can use Friday to post this War Room instead
Until next time… WE ARE…
