2023 Basketball Recruiting Information

[doc]

While Tulane HC Hunter and staff quietly target players to build a winning program, I thought I might post on what seems to be going on upriver in Red Stick (homage to Wayne Picou). While they await NCAA sanctions from the Will Wade regime, new HC McMahon has put together a solid group of mostly transfers and several holdovers. NIL must be playing well already in Baton Rouge. There is a lot of talent on the roster. How good a team they will be remains to be seen. He has put together the weakest LSU pre-conference schedule in my memory, with no road games. I expect they will win a lot early.

The thing that interests me most is their recruiting, Despite having a team of one senior and two juniors on next year’s roster, they have already offered over 50 players in the 2023 HS class and nearly 40 in the 2024 class. While HC McMahon may turn out to be a very successful SEC coach and recruiter, it seems to me that they are trying to build a “one-and-done” program like Kentucky and Memphis. He seems to be using his Ja Morant connection whenever possible (which makes perfect sense), while he awaits the NCAA hammer to fall.

If this turns out to be the regular roster plan in Baton Rouge, a successful Tulane program may be in a position to pick up more talented in-state transfers in the future, feeding into a pattern HC Hunter has already demonstrated his expertise.

[tjtlja]

While Tulane HC Hunter and staff quietly target players to build a winning program, I thought I might post on what seems to be going on upriver in Red Stick (homage to Wayne Picou). While they await NCAA sanctions from the Will Wade regime, new HC McMahon has put together a solid group of mostly transfers and several holdovers. NIL must be playing well already in Baton Rouge. There is a lot of talent on the roster. How good a team they will be remains to be seen. He has put together the weakest LSU pre-conference schedule in my memory, with no road games. I expect they will win a lot early.

The thing that interests me most is their recruiting, Despite having a team of one senior and two juniors on next year’s roster, they have already offered over 50 players in the 2023 HS class and nearly 40 in the 2024 class. While HC McMahon may turn out to be a very successful SEC coach and recruiter, it seems to me that they are trying to build a “one-and-done” program like Kentucky and Memphis. He seems to be using his Ja Morant connection whenever possible (which makes perfect sense), while he awaits the NCAA hammer to fall.

If this turns out to be the regular roster plan in Baton Rouge, a successful Tulane program may be in a position to pick up more talented in-state transfers in the future, feeding into a pattern HC Hunter has already demonstrated his expertise.

Doc, excellent point. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Like you said, it could be a windfall for Tulane basketball.

[Baywave1]

Agree totally that LSU MBB cluster F. Presents opportunities for Tulane and probably every team in LSU’s zone of influence.

However disagree about the OOC schedule. Looks like Tulane’s with all difficult games at neutral sites and TTU at home. LSU plays a MEAC road warrior team while Tulane plays a SWAC one or two

I’m ok but bored with Tulane’s OOC home schedule. LSU fans probably feel the same. However the overall OOC schedules are strong enough that if either team comes out of OOC with one loss, it will be ranked at beginning of conference play.

So it meets the media won’t ignore us if we dominate OOC standard even if Tulane fans are bored to death in November and December.

[doc]

I thought it was interesting what HC Hunter said about scheduling in the Nola.com/Guerry Smith link on the previous page. I wasn’t comparing LSU schedule vs the parts of the Tulane schedule we have seen so far. I wish we would schedule tougher. I hope that success on the court will lead to better scheduling. I remember when we won 2 of 3 in The Maui Classic years ago. LSU has no choice in scheduling Texas Tech with the conference vs conference series. They used to schedule Houston every year home and home in what was a solid non- conference matchup.

[doc]

2023 Chicago, IL PG Dalen Davis who is planning on visiting Tulane early in September, would be a great pickup for any of the schools involved. His game is polished and fluid. Besides the schools I mentioned in my post earlier this week, he was also offered by Kansas, Illinois, and Stanford. In one article I read, he was ranked the #3 rising senior in the 2023 Illinois class. I suggest those interested watch the film of him on the internet. Kansas State, one of the schools he is scheduled to visit recently got a commitment from a highly recruited PG, also from the Chicago area.

[PeteRasche]

I hope that success on the court will lead to better scheduling. I remember when we won 2 of 3 in The Maui Classic years ago.

A mere 27 years ago.
We got invited to Maui in 1995 because we'd been a ranked team for much of two of the prior three seasons, and had a roster featuring our "fab four" as sophomores, with high expectations we'd return to the NCAA (which we did) after three straight postseason appearances. It's a perfect example of why we aren't getting great OOC matchups now; we've been so bad for so long that we have to earn it.

[doc]

I believe it was 1994. Tulane made a big comeback in the second half, but lost by 2 points to 13th ranked Michigan in the opening game. Tulane had lost handily to Michigan the year before in Ann Arbor. Michigan had 2 Fab 5 members left in the Maui game, King and Jackson. Tulane beat Texas A&M the next day, then blew out Bobby Knight and Indiana to finish in third place. I remember Perry Clark was really pleased during the post-game interview after the Indiana game.

[PeteRasche]

Doc, yeah, the game was in 1994, but in my mind I reference seasons by the calendar year that each year finishes, so it's 1995 in my mind.

I know because the first two classes back had all been promised Hawaii when recruited, and Tulane finally went the year after we all graduated.

(yes, if I'd known then what I know now about who gets invited to those tourneys I'd have figured I'd never get to go.)

[doc]

2023 SF Devin Royal who Tulane offered last spring committed several days ago to Ohio State.

[doc]

R J Johnson is a 2023 6-4 190# PG from Huntsville, Alabama, Virgil I Grissom HS. His final 5 schools are Tulane, Alabama, Georgia, Wichita State, and Florida Atlantic. He is a very physical guard who impressed a lot of coaches at Peach Jam. He was also offered by LSU, Appalachian State, Louisiana Lafayette, and Tennessee Tech. He plans on making a decision on August 22nd.

[NJwave]

I believe everybody on the roster this year has eligibility left next season. I assume Hunter is expecting to lose a few players that should graduate this year and one who will test his luck at the next level.

[doc]

The recruiting of 2023 PG R J Johnson has really taken off since his performance at the Peach Jam in July. His list before then had apparently been primarily mid-majors (the offer from LSU was from 2021 during Will Wade’s tenure and I am not certain how intensively it was pursued). At the Peach Jam he was not only physical, but also explosive, and he shot the ball well. He had a particularly strong performance against the Louisiana AAU squad which includes local standouts Corey Chest Jr and Chris Lockett Jr. He visited Georgia in early August, and he has already visited Wichita State. He is visiting Alabama. I am trying to ascertain Tulane’s involvement. HC Hunter and staff seem to go about their recruiting quietly and effectively.

[doc]

2023 4* 6-6 SF Curtis Williams, Jr, Brother Rice HS, Michigan, who Tulane offered will choose between Providence, Seton Hall, Florida State, and Louisville.

[doc]

As expected, 2023 New Orleans, LA PF Corey Chest, Jr, commits to LSU.

[doc]

2023 Huntsville, Alabama, PG RJ Johnson (see my previous post 08/08/22) was offered by Alabama on his recent visit there. He has previously said he would announce his commitment on August 22nd. Alabama is the probable favorite right now.

[doc]

Georgia is now making a big late push for 2023 PG RJ Johnson. He was scheduled to announce his college choice tomorrow, and Tulane was reportedly in his Final 5. I would be surprised if Tulane is still in the picture. Georgia and Alabama now look like the two favorites.
.

[doc]

2023 Norcross, GA PG Mier Panoam who Tulane reportedly offered, will be visiting Murray State next weekend.

[tjtlja]

Doc, what players at this time do you think we have a more likely than not chance of landing? How many will we likely sign?

[PeteRasche]

Not to keep doc from answering (please still do) but I suspect the answer to that question is dependent on who leaves. I heard a rumor that the staff doesn't expect in any way to get everyone back after this coming season (whether that be NBA, transferring for big NIL, whatever). That concern is probably legit.

But regardless, my guess is we'll look to sign guys who are 6'6 to 6'8, athletic, and good shooters. And I suspect we'll also try to get another tall athletic guy to back up Daniels after Cross leaves. And several of them will be transfers.
(I know, I'm really stretching here. )

[doc]

The 2023 PG prospect from Chicago, IL, Dalen Davis is a really good player. He is rated one of the top 5 players in the 2023 Illinois high school class. His game is very polished. There is some good video of him on the internet. As I mentioned before, he will be visiting over Labor Day weekend. He is also a very good student, which is why he is considering Harvard and Princeton. Other schools are involved (see my previous post in this thread).

Mier Panoam, the 2023 PG prospect out of Georgia, is less polished, but he is very athletic and explosive. I have not seen an update on him in the last couple of weeks that mentioned Tulane.

[tjtlja]

Not to keep doc from answering (please still do) but I suspect the answer to that question is dependent on who leaves. I heard a rumor that the staff doesn't expect in any way to get everyone back after this coming season (whether that be NBA, transferring for big NIL, whatever). That concern is probably legit.

But regardless, my guess is we'll look to sign guys who are 6'6 to 6'8, athletic, and good shooters. And I suspect we'll also try to get another tall athletic guy to back up Daniels after Cross leaves. And several of them will be transfers.
(I know, I'm really stretching here. )

Pete, thank you for sharing the above. What you say is scary. Tulane has been very fortunate when it comes to transfers so far. The biggest loss to date is J. Johnson in football. We loss some very good players in baseball, but that was probably more to do with the coaching change than NIL (though we don’t know). You can see this clearly evolving into a minor league farm system. Who is interested in that. Thank you Tulane University (I hope our leaders read this board).

[doc]

Talented 2023 Chicago, IL PG Dalen Davis will visit Tulane September 2-3 and Princeton September 8-10.

[PeteRasche]

As someone who was recruited by Ivy Leagues, I can say that if a student is looking at good academic schools, Tulane jumps to the forefront. I had a Social Studies teacher in high school ask me how recruitment was going and when I told him who I was looking at, he said "why would you put yourself in tens of thousands of dollars of debt at an Ivy League when you can get a Tulane education for free?". To be honest, that comment was a HUGE turning point for me in my decision, at least regarding the Ivies. I was kinda like "yeah... good point..." and pretty much cut the Ivies from my decision after that (it was further reinforced during my visit to Tulane when I saw shirts in the bookstore that said "Harvard... the Tulane of the North". )
So I'd submit:
1. Tulane is a full ride, Ivies are not (unless something has changed recently)
2. Weather. 'Nuff said.
3. Lots of stories out there on the internet about the decreasing value of an Ivy education and how there are plenty of Harvard grads working in coffee shops for various reasons.

[GSx]

Not to keep doc from answering (please still do) but I suspect the answer to that question is dependent on who leaves. I heard a rumor that the staff doesn't expect in any way to get everyone back after this coming season (whether that be NBA, transferring for big NIL, whatever). That concern is probably legit.

I think we lose the big 3 to the pros. I've heard no rumors, but it seems logical. That's why this year is so important...NCAA tourney will add a lot of cred for the reload.

[doc]

2023 Huntsville, AL , PG reportedly will be delaying his decision until some time in September. Alabama and Georgia remain the favorites.