Recruiting - 2016

[BACKHANDtheRICAN]

3Star_recruit or anyone, have you seen Jason Draggs, the 6'10" center for Riverview play? If so, is he a D1 talent?

If he is a d2 talent, he'll be a Billiken.

[doowop]

He hasn't played yet so probably not. Ineligible.

According to the Post he has. He and a 6'7" forward are playing now for Riverview. Riverview is expecting to make a run in the post season.

[Pistol]

3Star_recruit or anyone, have you seen Jason Draggs, the 6'10" center for Riverview play? If so, is he a D1 talent?

I missed this question the other day and was just about to ask the same thing after reading this.

He's bounced around a lot - "He spent his freshman season at Ritenour then played his sophomore year at St. Charles where he averaged seven points, four rebounds and one block. He transferred to Madison Prep and then North Tech his junior season, but never played for either program. Draggs landed at Riverview Gardens in the fall and was cleared to play for the second semester" - so he's sat out the last three semesters. The same article calls him an "elite, athletic rim protector and glass cleaner" which sounds like some sort of chemical product, but still.

He's finally playing again, and anyone who goes to see SLU signee Zeke Moore play will see him, too. He had 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks against McCluer in his first game back (January 8th). Riverview plays again on the 19th and 20th at an event at Triad HS on the Illinois side (GOSEETHEKIDSPLAY).

I'm seeing that he has offers from Illinois State, SEMO, UT-Martin, Cleveland State, Chattanooga, and Campbell. Also said to have interest from DePaul. Grew from 6-8, 210 to 6-10, 230 while he was sitting out.

There's some video on him here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ6hm6b9ypE&feature=youtu.be&a - but it doesn't show a whole lot. He's not playing high-level competition and he's the biggest guy on the court by a long shot, so he's basically just coasting. But he also clearly shows some flashes of skill and athleticism for his size.

[thetorch]

I missed this question the other day and was just about to ask the same thing after reading this.

He's bounced around a lot - "He spent his freshman season at Ritenour then played his sophomore year at St. Charles where he averaged seven points, four rebounds and one block. He transferred to Madison Prep and then North Tech his junior season, but never played for either program. Draggs landed at Riverview Gardens in the fall and was cleared to play for the second semester" - so he's sat out the last three semesters. The same article calls him an "elite, athletic rim protector and glass cleaner" which sounds like some sort of chemical product, but still.

He's finally playing again, and anyone who goes to see SLU signee Zeke Moore play will see him, too. He had 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks against McCluer in his first game back (January 8th). Riverview plays again on the 19th and 20th at an event at Triad HS on the Illinois side (GOSEETHEKIDSPLAY).

I'm seeing that he has offers from Illinois State, SEMO, UT-Martin, Cleveland State, Chattanooga, and Campbell. Also said to have interest from DePaul. Grew from 6-8, 210 to 6-10, 230 while he was sitting out.

There's some video on him here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ6hm6b9ypE&feature=youtu.be&a - but it doesn't show a whole lot. He's not playing high-level competition and he's the biggest guy on the court by a long shot, so he's basically just coasting. But he also clearly shows some flashes of skill and athleticism for his size.

Irons had a chance to take both of the Riverview kids this year at Vashon. They were both left out and ended up at the View. I'll be at a couple riverview games before the season is over. Riverview isn't accredited though and with his transcript there is no way he can start his college career at a 4 year school that isn't internet based.

[doowop]

Thank you, Pistol. It was that "elite, athletic, rim protector" statement that caused me to ask the question.

[Pistol]

He's certainly intriguing, someone I'll be keeping track of and that I hope some of you can see. Obvious eligibility concerns based purely on the constant transfers - I have no idea what kind of student he is, but as thetorch says, RG is unaccredited and he's bounced around enough for credits to get lost in the shuffle - but a local kid with that size is someone to monitor.

[Pistol]

@PrepHoopsMO: 6'9 2016 PF Jason Draggs of Riverview Gardens with 22 PTS and 8 REB in a 71-45 win over Granite City

@mooregrod: Riverview 71-45 win over Granite City. J Drags 22pts 8 rebouds, Hamilton 16pts, Zeke 9 pts 10 assists. Got to admit my team looks different

[Box and Won]

Got to admit my team looks different

What do you suppose he means by this?

[Pistol]

What do you suppose he means by this?

I think he's just being obvious; he's got a 6-10 beast inside now and a high-energy scoring PG. Before, it was just Zeke and a solid PF that had to do everything.

RGHS plays a ton in the next week. I'm really interested to see how the numbers shake out, and whether Zeke remains the primary scoring option over the long run - and if he's not, whether people take it as a sign he's not the player SLU hopes he is, or if it just means he's learning to become a more complete player.

EDIT: Sorry, this post assumed people saw the article I posted above about Draggs and Hamilton joining the team as of 1/8. Yesterday's game was the second with the new additions and they have four more games from today through the 25th.

[FromDaEastSide]

What do you suppose he means by this?

Jason Draggs and Jhanyle Hamilton recently joined the team.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/draggs-hamilton-join-the-fray-at-riverview-gardens/article_790f9e54-b8d5-11e5-8dbb-9f6e0914b26f.html

[johnbj14]

While the video of Draggs isn't against the best competition, this is very very intriguing. Yeah his history isn't the best, but something in me is telling me the Bills should take a chance on this guy. Flashes good athleticism, has a ton of size, and has very good court vision. Maybe Zeke could help out the recruiting effort. Even though he may not be qualified out of the gate, I really am intrigued by this.

[brianstl]

I think he's just being obvious; he's got a 6-10 beast inside now and a high-energy scoring PG. Before, it was just Zeke and a solid PF that had to do everything.

RGHS plays a ton in the next week. I'm really interested to see how the numbers shake out, and whether Zeke remains the primary scoring option over the long run - and if he's not, whether people take it as a sign he's not the player SLU hopes he is, or if it just means he's learning to become a more complete player.

EDIT: Sorry, this post assumed people saw the article I posted above about Draggs and Hamilton joining the team as of 1/8. Yesterday's game was the second with the new additions and they have four more games from today through the 25th.

I am happy to see Zeke what appears to be complete game where the offense ran through him instead of him being it on offense. We knew he could shoot. The questions surrounding him are how he would fit in on a more complete team.

[Pistol]

While the video of Draggs isn't against the best competition, this is very very intriguing. Yeah his history isn't the best, but something in me is telling me the Bills should take a chance on this guy. Flashes good athleticism, has a ton of size, and has very good court vision. Maybe Zeke could help out the recruiting effort. Even though he may not be qualified out of the gate, I really am intrigued by this.

2016-2017 will be a third straight lost season regardless of what happens. A partial qualifier isn't the worst thing in the world. I want to see and get to know more on this kid, but he sure is intriguing. We haven't had a big body inside like that in a while.

[Pistol]

I am happy to see Zeke what appears to be complete game where the offense ran through him instead of him being it on offense. We knew he could shoot. The questions surrounding him are how he would fit in on a more complete team.

9 points, 10 assists is a weird night for him, indeed. This is going to be an interesting rest of the season for him and RGHS.

Will anyone get a chance to GOSEETHEKIDSPLAY - i.e. Zeke and Draggs - anytime soon?

1-20 7:30 pm vs Highland at Triad

1-21 5:30 pm McCluer North

1-23 6:00 pm vs TBD at Cardinal Ritter

1-25 5:30 pm at Hazelwood East

2-02 5:30 pm Trinity

2-04 5:30 pm Hazelwood Central

2-09 5:30 pm St. Louis Christian

2-11 7:00 pm at Hazelwood West

2-15 5:30 pm McCluer South-Berkeley

2-16 5:30 pm North Tech

2-23 5:30 pm at Lindbergh

[Box and Won]

Jason Draggs and Jhanyle Hamilton recently joined the team.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/draggs-hamilton-join-the-fray-at-riverview-gardens/article_790f9e54-b8d5-11e5-8dbb-9f6e0914b26f.html

Interesting. The Riverview situation sounds a bit fishy with all these transfers, but maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[johnbj14]

2016-2017 will be a third straight lost season regardless of what happens. A partial qualifier isn't the worst thing in the world. I want to see and get to know more on this kid, but he sure is intriguing. We haven't had a big body inside like that in a while.

I agree. It has worked out pretty well for Dayton with the PQ they took on. He has better size and what appears to be skill than our current bigs, so while there is risk the upside could be huge.

[Pistol]

I agree. It has worked out pretty well for Dayton with the PQ they took on. He has better size and what appears to be skill than our current bigs, so while there is risk the upside could be huge.

Steve McElvene? We offered him! He was a higher-level recruit than Draggs and is also a little bit bigger, but Purdue and others held off because of the academic issues.

[brianstl]

9 points, 10 assists is a weird night for him, indeed. This is going to be an interesting rest of the season for him and RGHS.

Will anyone get a chance to GOSEETHEKIDSPLAY - i.e. Zeke and Draggs - anytime soon?

1-20 7:30 pm vs Highland at Triad

1-21 5:30 pm McCluer North

1-23 6:00 pm vs TBD at Cardinal Ritter

1-25 5:30 pm at Hazelwood East

2-02 5:30 pm Trinity

2-04 5:30 pm Hazelwood Central

2-09 5:30 pm St. Louis Christian

2-11 7:00 pm at Hazelwood West

2-15 5:30 pm McCluer South-Berkeley

2-16 5:30 pm North Tech

2-23 5:30 pm at Lindbergh

I might be able to check out the Lindbergh game.

I really don't care about how many points Zeke scores the rest of the year. We know he can score at that level and is a really fine shooter. I want to see if he can actually expand his game. If he can add facilitator to his ability to score, we may have really lucked into something.

[Cowboy]

-ZM is coming from an unaccredited district, how much more of one recruiting class are we comfortable taking from this source especially when high school transfers are involved?

-I can see the clearinghouse having a field day

-I worry too much

[johnbj14]

Ah I didn't know that we had offered Steve McElvene, probably because I was not yet a student here when he was being recruited. And as for the risk associated, I don't think next year will be much different that this one so what is the harm in trying to get a talented kid? (assuming he is worthy of a scholarship and all that good stuff)

[Pistol]

Riverview won again tonight, 57-46, over Highland. Zeke Moore had 17 points, Jason Draggs had 12.

[Quality Is Job 1]

Interesting. The Riverview situation sounds a bit fishy with all these transfers, but maybe I'm reading too much into it.

I don't know about Draggs, but I know from having sub taught the kid that Hamilton had attended RGHS before the accreditation pull and is apparently now back in his home district. Riverview Gardens may be in line for getting its accreditation back.

[Pistol]

According to Twitter, the situation is turning around:

[johnbj14]

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writer/jon-solomon/25457033/college-sports-discussing-eliminating-academic-standards-for-freshmenThe NCAA is apparently looking into getting rid of initial eligibility requirements for athletes. This could greatly influence someone such as Draggs or TilMon if he hadn't transfered away. Obviously it is has not happened yet, but the fact the NCAA is talking about it is interesting nonetheless.

[johnbj14]

Riverview won again yesterday, 4-1 with whole roster now. Zeke posted this little short video. For a player who doesn't have much film, figured this is at least something.