SLUDrew Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 This appeared in a Southeast Missouri newspaper yesterday: "Griskenas Watch * Griskenas visited Saint Louis this past weekend but said he is no closer to deciding on a school now than he was before he went. He has received scholarship offers from Saint Louis, Idaho State, Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, Nevada-Reno, Evansville, Illinois State, Dayton and East Carolina. His final chance to showcase his abilities will be at the NJCAA Basketball Coaches All-Star game in Kilgore, Texas, on April 21. Griskenas can also win the "Gene Bess" Award, which is given to the MVP of that game." Not exactly a who's who recruiting him, and maybe some of that has to do with the knee injury he suffered his freshmen year. He was named first team JUCO All-American and his Region's player of the year. He and Eberhardt would be an ideal wrap-up to this class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StLouBlue Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Kind of interesting in that W Kent is also a finalist for Pettigrew and Dayton is one of few mentioned with SLU as going after Eberhardt. Ill St and their new head coach hasn't gotten an assistant hired yet, so they are probably really scrambling at this point. Evansville needs size for next year, MG could probably get minutes there right away. It would be nice to know what other schools he is visiting. From the sounds of the 4/21 game, he probably won't be deciding until into May. MG has already done a year of prep school and had signed with Northeastern out of prep. I don't think he made it on campus though, but not sure. It has been 3 years since then so I would guess he used a red-shirt year somewhere as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Griskenas visited Saint Louis this past weekend but said he is no closer to deciding on a school now than he was before he went. I'll take that as not a positive, but let's hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Box and Won Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 You'd think it wouldn't be that hard of a decision - I'm surprised he hasn't narrowed it down more. Dayton and Nevada would be the biggest competitors, I'm guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westy03 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I was thinking the same thing... If Dayton is recruiting him, arent they loaded at the 3 and 4 with young players? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUDrew Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Some may view this as a kid just being prudent, but I view it as a kid who was just not all that crazy about SLU. Its not like he has visits to Duke, Kentucky and UCLA on the horizon. Along with Dayton, we appear the be the "biggest" program recruiting him. I think if he was very impressed he would have verballed after his visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbofive Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 We've got all the minutes he could want - I agree, I think he's probably pretty *************** about SLU, and probably Missouri. I hope that's not the case though, as St. Louis has a lot more to offer than he probably thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzah Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 My guess is he is going to the all star texas game to see if he can land a bigger fish. If not he will make his choice from what is in his creel now. Lets hope he takes our worm and does not crawfish away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quest Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 You say: Evansville needs size for next year, MG could probably get minutes there right away. Um, hello. WE NEED SIZE RIGHT AWAY. SCREW EVANSVILLE, MAN!!! What the hell??!? Bryce Husak is NOT...IS NOT the answer inside!!!!!! Wake up. GET THIS KID TO SIGN NOW!!!!!!!! I'd take anyone over Bryce Husak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 If Nevada is recruiting him then they have done pretty well lately so I would be concerned about them more than Dayton. I took the kid's comments as that he visited SLU and wants to visit the others to make sure he knows all his options. Fair enough - you would do the same thing. A kid who makes his mind up at the first place he goes shows a lack of maturity. Having been his first visit all the others will be measured against it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcus aurelius Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 I would definitely not consider Mantas a "big". He is firmly a small forward in my book. He does get a lot of rebounds (when he decides to) because of anticipation and quickness... Mantas has good ball skills and a nice stroke from the outside. He can tend to get VERY passive at times, choosing to simply roam around the perimter, not looking to get involved. He's a bit of an enigma, because he can certainly get a LOT done when he puts his mind to it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Yeah, but a comment like, "It was cool, I liked the coach, the staff, the players, the new arena sounds great, but I'm gonna explore all my options", would have been a little more encouraging than "I'm no closer than I was before I visited." I'm starting to hear that familiar flushing sound of another recruit heading elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 His use of the words " I am no closer..." may not mean anything. If he says I really the coach then when he goes some place else and doesn't say I really liked the coach then people at that place will be upset. It could simply be that the Juco coach who is somewhat controlling in the recruiting process - not a knock just his style of trying to help his kids - probably tells them to me non-committal in public until they make up their minds. I am not saying he is coming to SLU just that there is no need to read anymore into it then it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUDrew Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 I think it is extremely unfair and short-sighted to state that kids who decide on a school after they take one visit are somehow "immature." Sometimes you fall in love with a place and know it is the right place for you. Some coaches have the ability to have that kind of impact on a kid. Some coaches don't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Box and Won Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 He's also not a native English speaker, so he might not be quite as expressive in his interviews as American recruits. (Trying to stay positive here. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Box - good point. I thought the same thing but simply did not post it. Drew - I do think that anytime an impulsive decision is made it probably is a sign of immaturity or at least poor decision making skills. You can fall in love with a place but that does not mean you don't check out your other options just to confirm your feelings. Now if the coach tells you decide now or forget it - you then have a tough decision. My thought would be that any coach that would try to pressure me that way probably is not someone I would want to be with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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