GoodOleBaylorLine said:

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Any chance Missi progresses fast enough to allow JTT to play true power forward? Or even Josh O for that matter.

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EJ is a 10 or 15 minute guy as a backup 5, IMO. Missi and Josh O are true 5s. If we don't get Bridges to return we need the Tennessee transfer or someone else from the portal to play the 4 position.

Can everyone please stop insulting Everyday Jon by using his initials? He has stated that he hates that because it dishonors his family which is important in his culture. We may not think much of it but if we are Baylor fans and appreciate what he does for our team it's not much to ask that you use Everyday Jon or EJ. He's ok with that.

I know this sounds kinda nit-picky but it seems like the kind of thing a Frog or Cow troll would do just to show contempt for one of our great athletes.

DanaDane said:

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- Flagler staying in draft
- Bridges withdraws from draft but future undecided -- could be pro ball overseas or could come back



-Bears allegedly in Final 3 of highly sought after transfer guard RayJ Dennis, Toledo along with Illinois & Utah

-Bears allegedly in Final 4 of highly sought after transfer forward Grant Nelson, North Dakota St. along with Bama, Florida St and Iowa

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Dennis was a huge add. If we land Nelson, too, I'm going to be super excited about our team next year.

For those who haven't seen hm play, Nelson's a freak.

Scott Drew has done/is doing a really good job of getting our experience level up in a way that won't force our freshman to be stars next year. If they are, great. But we won't be leaning on any of them the way we did Keyonte this past season.

Nelson's s stud, for some reason I think he ends up at Iowa. Olivier would be a huge get as well. Couldn't go wrong with either of those dudes

IowaBear said:

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Nelson's s stud, for some reason I think he ends up at Iowa. Olivier would be a huge get as well. Couldn't go wrong with either of those dudes

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Both would be good adds, but Nelson is a more dynamic player.

Pairing Dennis and Nelson would give Baylor one of the best scoring combinations in the Big 12 and would allow everyone else to fall into the supporting roles they're likely best suited to fill. Nkamhoua would add another really good supporting player to a roster that, other than Dennis, is full of them.

I haven't seen Nelson play,
But has nice stats. Iowa is tough to beat as he would be much closer to home. But no doubt Baylor's team potentially is higher than Iowa's. They lose alot this year.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4702670/grant-nelson

Like to see those so high on Dennis but will have to watch more to be confident in a leading conference guy next year. Some of the limits of athletism and not yet elite shooting will have to be mitigated.

Has good length so that will help with the midrange game and "crafty" finishes against high big 12 defense. Having other solid guards should help open the floor too. Optimistic but still remains to be seen but experienced success is always welcome. Do expect some nice passing and playmaking though.

I would not be surprised if Walter avgs a pretty effficient 12/13 with improving defense, good rebounding, and tough play filling role where needed. If Dennis comes in as good as some are suggested at say 13/14 and Walter at 12/13.. would be tough. That with the very high ceiling of Dunn, the undervaluation of the possible leap Love could make, Grimes aggressive playstyle, and Miro's high potential and strong work ethic. You have a pretty nice group of potential guards.

All with size, strength, aggressive, and plus athletes (Dennis about avg, Love depends on further injury recovery). Defense has the potential to be very good.

bear2be2 said:

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IowaBear said:

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Nelson's s stud, for some reason I think he ends up at Iowa. Olivier would be a huge get as well. Couldn't go wrong with either of those dudes

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Both would be good adds, but Nelson is a more dynamic player.

Pairing Dennis and Nelson would give Baylor one of the best scoring combinations in the Big 12 and would allow everyone else to fall into the supporting roles they're likely best suited to fill. Nkamhoua would add another really good supporting player to a roster that, other than Dennis, is full of them.

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Just saw some on Nelson. I see what you mean. Yeah that would place us in the very very clear #2 spot and with the right developement contending for conference title. I like our roster talent better but KU is seasoned at high D1 play. In addition to the offensive potential, the defensive potential would be crazy.

Would be clearly better than WVU/Tex/UH if we were to add him.

Quinton said:

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bear2be2 said:

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IowaBear said:

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Nelson's s stud, for some reason I think he ends up at Iowa. Olivier would be a huge get as well. Couldn't go wrong with either of those dudes

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Both would be good adds, but Nelson is a more dynamic player.

Pairing Dennis and Nelson would give Baylor one of the best scoring combinations in the Big 12 and would allow everyone else to fall into the supporting roles they're likely best suited to fill. Nkamhoua would add another really good supporting player to a roster that, other than Dennis, is full of them.

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Just saw some on Nelson. I see what you mean. Yeah that would place us in the very very clear #2 spot and with the right developement contending for conference title. I like our roster talent better but KU is seasoned at high D1 play. In addition to the offensive potential, the defensive potential would be crazy.

Would be clearly better than WVU/Tex/UH if we were to add him.

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The thing I love about Nelson is in addition to his elite offensive capabilities, he also averaged more than nine rebounds and almost two blocks per game last year. His numbers would likely come down some in the Big 12, but he is a legit all-around talent.

Nelson - Iowa is out. Arkansas came back in because Holland decided to go G League. It's basically Baylor (visits Monday or Tuesday), Bama (Tuesday/Wednesday) or Arkansas (Thursday/Friday). Those are the 3 visits. Muss is said to be clearing the NIL path and willing to get the Hog boosters to go as high as the kid wants, IF that is the deciding factor.

Nkamhoua - Most believe it's a Michigan, WVU, Baylor fight. Different people have at one point or another claimed each of the 3 as the most likely.

DanaDane said:

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Nelson - Iowa is out. Arkansas came back in because Holland decided to go G League. It's basically Baylor (visits Monday or Tuesday), Bama (Tuesday/Wednesday) or Arkansas (Thursday/Friday). Those are the 3 visits. Muss is said to be clearing the NIL path and willing to get the Hog boosters to go as high as the kid wants, IF that is the deciding factor.

Nkamhoua - Most believe it's a Michigan, WVU, Baylor fight. Different people have at one point or another claimed each of the 3 as the most likely.

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If it's not Baylor, I hope Arkansas lands him. Bama is a cesspool.

Is a point center, a mini Jokic. Since our system is so guard oriented not sure he will see himself fitting in our system but I'm sure Drew is selling we can make offensive adjustments to accommodate him.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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Is a point center, a mini Jokic. Since our system is so guard oriented not sure he will see himself fitting in our system but I'm sure Drew is selling we can make offensive adjustments to accommodate him.

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It's not like we've never run our offense through a big man. We did it with Udoh, Motley and, most recently, Jeremy Sochan. We just haven't had many frontcourt players recently capable of being an offensive centerpiece.

Having Dennis and Nelson to run our halfcourt offense would be awesome. We could use Nelson at the high post the way we used Sochan at times in 2022.

I think Sochan was more of a glue guy or facilitatir compared to what I've seen of Nelson, who would demand more usage offensively. But I would love having him and I know Drew would make adjustments for a stud like this.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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I think Sochan was more of a glue guy or facilitatir compared to what I've seen of Nelson, who would demand more usage offensively. But I would love having him and I know Drew would make adjustments for a stud like this.

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I'm not saying they're the same type of players. Just that we've let big men cook when we've had big men capable of doing so. And Sochan was used in a point forward role that could be used as a blue print for the way to use Nelson. Isolate him on the high post and let him go to work.

Damn! His handles for his height are unreal!

I could visualize that 100%. And I imagine they are showing him tape of Sochan as part of selling our program to him. If we get him we will be legit final 4 and national championship contenders.

Crawfoso1973 said:

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I could visualize that 100%. And I imagine they are showing him tape of Sochan as part of selling our program to him. If we get him we will be legit final 4 and national championship contenders.

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I agree. Olivier Nkamhoua would make us a better basketball team, and if we get him, I'll be happy. But Nelson would make us a Big 12/national title threat.

I don't know what our chances of landing him actually are. But we have two key lures in Scott Drew and a recent national championship trophy.

Nkamhoua update -- Michigan was informed today that it is OUT.

Down to WVU and Baylor.

DanaDane said:

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Nkamhoua update -- Michigan was informed today that it is OUT.

Down to WVU and Baylor.

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Would guess this is contingent on Bridges and Nelson. Feel like he would come here if the pieces fall that way. Seems Wvu bball is really ramping up the Nil. They've been like Ark/Bama this cycle in on everyone.

Ideally Bridges and one of those two. Should be clearer soon. High ceiling team with this group

Why not both?

historian said:

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Why not both?

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We're running out of playing time. It's already going to be very crowded rotation as is.

That does make sense. I guess it depends on how deep we want the bench. I do recall the natty team was quite deep & the announcers in the title game quoted Drew as saying it was basically 8 starters because they all played roughly equal minutes. I would love to see have that kind of squad, especially if they can shoot, rebound & defend well. That could be the ingredients for another deep run in the tourney.

historian said:

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That does make sense. I guess it depends on how deep we want the bench. I do recall the natty team was quite deep & the announcers in the title game quoted Drew as saying it was basically 8 starters because they all played roughly equal minutes. I would love to see have that kind of squad, especially if they can shoot, rebound & defend well. That could be the ingredients for another deep run in the tourney.

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We usually like to settle on an eight-man rotation by March, but I have trouble getting this one under 10. I could see something like this ...

STARTERS
PG -- RayJ Dennis
SG -- Ja'Kobe Walter or Jayden Nunn
SF -- Jalen Bridges
PF -- Grant Nelson or Olivier Nkamhoua
P -- Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua or Josh Ojianwuna

BENCH
PG -- Dantwan Grimes
SG -- Jayden Nunn or Ja'Kobe Walter
SG/SF -- Langston Love
P -- Josh Ojianwuna or Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua
P -- Yves Missi

DEEP BENCH
PG -- Miro Little
PF -- Caleb Lohner

If Bridges doesn't return, you could replace him in the starting five with either Nunn or Love and pull Little or Lohner into the rotation.

If we land one of those two forward targets, this is going to be a very good, very deep roster.

DanaDane said:

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Nkamhoua update -- Michigan was informed today that it is OUT.

Down to WVU and Baylor.

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I read somewhere on Twitter WVU was gonna let him play the 3 spot, which is the feedback he get from the scouts. We can't give him the 3 spot but if replacing Bridges he would play the stretch 4 so he could showcase his perimeter skills in the same way Bridges did.

BTW I think Olivier or Bridges could coexist beautifully with Nelson, Nelson at 5 and Olivier or Bridges at 4. Minutes-wise I don't think we would have room for all 3 to keep everyone happy when also considering Missi and Josh O who will need minutes. Would be a great problem to have.

Wildly deep. Don't see Walter not starting but agree most of this. 4 of the guards off the bench have legit big upside. Grimes, healthy Love, Nunn, and Little all have great potential.

Quinton said:

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Wildly deep. Don't see Walter not starting but agree most of this. 4 of the guards off the bench have legit big upside. Grimes, healthy Love, Nunn, and Little all have great potential.

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I don't think it matters so much who starts. Walter and Nunn will get their minutes. So will Love.

Baylor is OUT on Nelson. Visit was cancelled. Baylor folks are claiming we cancelled. Folks around Nelson are claiming he is the one who cancelled. Doesn't matter. He's OUT. Between Bama and Arkansas for him now.

Not sure what this means as it relates to Nkamhoua. Premium side may know the answer, particularly Ashley.

DanaDane said:

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Baylor is OUT on Nelson. Visit was cancelled. Baylor folks are claiming we cancelled. Folks around Nelson are claiming he is the one who cancelled. Doesn't matter. He's OUT. Between Bama and Arkansas for him now.

Not sure what this means as it relates to Nkamhoua. Premium side may know the answer, particularly Ashley.

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Now that Nelson is out, that sucks but I can say I'm not surprised. Our offensive system is more guard-oriented and Nelson would require touches and volume. Olivier seems more a defensive-minded, 3 and D kind of player who would probably be a better fit anyway for our system. Fingers crossed we land him or re-recruit Bridges. Getting both would be even better.

He was rated the number 49 prospect in the portal.

DanaDane said:

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Baylor is OUT on Nelson. Visit was cancelled. Baylor folks are claiming we cancelled. Folks around Nelson are claiming he is the one who cancelled. Doesn't matter. He's OUT. Between Bama and Arkansas for him now.

Not sure what this means as it relates to Nkamhoua. Premium side may know the answer, particularly Ashley.

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For what it's worth, I've heard from an Arkansas recruiting insider that Nkamhoua will be committing to Baylor soon. That same insider told me a few days ago that Nelson had some academic issues that were going to create an obstacle trying to get into Baylor.

Either way, Nkamhoua is a really solid consolation prize. But I would have loved to have watched Dennis and Nelson play together.

DanaDane said:

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Baylor is OUT on Nelson. Visit was cancelled. Baylor folks are claiming we cancelled. Folks around Nelson are claiming he is the one who cancelled. Doesn't matter. He's OUT. Between Bama and Arkansas for him now.

Not sure what this means as it relates to Nkamhoua. Premium side may know the answer, particularly Ashley.

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It makes sense on both sides honestly. Bama and Ark pay large & have less crowded (at least Bama does) front court if Bridges comes back and if the rumors of Jon looking much better are true. Those are probably the two toughest competitors for transfers in this new era and we were in the mix. Good sign

The offensive fit for a big to work the perimeter wasn't ideal but you make it work with a big talent. Their side probably knows that and he doesn't want to get stuck playing a smaller role. Our offense would also really flash his poorer perimeter shooting which doesn't help stock. Would want a very specific tape to come out of his final yr. Think the P&R game could have flourished & showed nice post finishes but not a huge surprise. Honestly both those teams might be better offensive fits

Think the TN kid will come now. If they can get him and Bridges to return that is still a conference title contender and in my view still the 2nd best team in the league. The whole team would be long, physical, & athletic.

Not sure I'm getting the Olivier is a good "consolation prize" narrative. The dudes a damn good ball player. He instantly makes us a much much tougher team. He's a grown ass man who can guard 3-5. Would be a monster get and immediately insert us into the B12 title discussion.

DanaDane said:

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Baylor is OUT on Nelson. Visit was cancelled. Baylor folks are claiming we cancelled. Folks around Nelson are claiming he is the one who cancelled. Doesn't matter. He's OUT. Between Bama and Arkansas for him now.

Not sure what this means as it relates to Nkamhoua. Premium side may know the answer, particularly Ashley.

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I just saw this:

https://sicem365.com/s/15175/baylor-basketball-and-transfer-target-grant-nelson-both-looking-elsewhere