DeSmetBilliken Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 3 minutes ago, BilliesBy40 said: Why would this have anything to do with DeSmet? DeSmet has two juniors, Sekou Gassama and Yaya Keita, that SLU has been recruiting. They’ve been at some games this season. They are from Mali. Diarra is from Mali. The thought is that maybe having someone from their country could have been a draw. I’m not sure what kind of connection they had with Madani. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazedandconfused Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 minute ago, BilliesBy40 said: My initial question still stands. It's not as though Diarra has any connection to DeSmet. I mean I agree it won't change the minds of the DeSmet bigs but that's the answer to your question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A10Ref Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Sad I was right on this one. I predict he will transfer to a lower caliber school, continue to develop, have a couple monster years, and we will see his name pop up in the grad transfer portal going to a major school one day. I wish him the best, and I am grateful for his contributions to team blue in 19-20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I've thought about that a little bit and I don't think it'll be an issue. Both DeSmet bigs have been on campus numerous times and I've seen them talking to a number of people in and around the program. I get the impression that the Ford family connection (Brooks went to DeSmet) is pretty strong. So they're connected to SLU in their recruitments with or without him. Neither have said anything publicly about Diarra, either. Is it nice to have someone from back home who might be easy to relate to? For sure. But there's also the downside risk that Diarra played another season without getting minutes and if he's a guy they're talking to at SLU, he might not be the best pitchman for the program. And then if they do decide to come to SLU, he plays the same position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NH Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Pistol said: He was a long-term project here for sure. He was encouraged by the coaching staff to take a redshirt season and opted not to do it. I really wish he would have. Because like 05 says, he got a year of training and practice and school to see how he measures up. He will still have a better idea of where he stands within the college game, except now with one less season of eligibility and a potential sit year after barely seeing game action. He seems like a really nice dude and I wish him the best wherever he ends up. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like redshirting wouldn't have done him any good? He is going to have to burn his redshirt year after transferring, so would have been a sophomore when he can play at his new school either way? The caveat being that if the immediate eligibility rule passes, it would have made more sense to redshirt. Crewsorlose likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstl Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 minute ago, Pistol said: I've thought about that a little bit and I don't think it'll be an issue. Both DeSmet bigs have been on campus numerous times and I've seen them talking to a number of people in and around the program. I get the impression that the Ford family connection (Brooks went to DeSmet) is pretty strong. So they're connected to SLU in their recruitments with or without him. Neither have said anything publicly about Diarra, either. Is it nice to have someone from back home who might be easy to relate to? For sure. But there's also the downside risk that Diarra played another season without getting minutes and if he's a guy they're talking to at SLU, he might not be the best pitchman for the program. And then if they do decide to come to SLU, he plays the same position. This, it won't have an impact. Box and Won likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 -wish Madani all the best, hope he has a great life and always reflects fondly on his time at SLU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 15 minutes ago, NH said: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like redshirting wouldn't have done him any good? He is going to have to burn his redshirt year after transferring, so would have been a sophomore when he can play at his new school either way? The caveat being that if the immediate eligibility rule passes, it would have made more sense to redshirt. Based on what I've seen in recent years, he would likely have been granted a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately and would have 4 seasons of eligibility left. As it stands, he has 3 seasons of eligibility remaining after sitting a season (unless there is a rule change or blanket waiver this coming season). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old guy Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 All the best to you Madani Diarra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littlebill Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Pistol said: I've thought about that a little bit and I don't think it'll be an issue. Both DeSmet bigs have been on campus numerous times and I've seen them talking to a number of people in and around the program. I get the impression that the Ford family connection (Brooks went to DeSmet) is pretty strong. So they're connected to SLU in their recruitments with or without him. Neither have said anything publicly about Diarra, either. Is it nice to have someone from back home who might be easy to relate to? For sure. But there's also the downside risk that Diarra played another season without getting minutes and if he's a guy they're talking to at SLU, he might not be the best pitchman for the program. And then if they do decide to come to SLU, he plays the same position. Is Gassama really on our level? (Or at least the one we hope to maintain after this season) We always seem to talk about them as a pair, but to me it seems as if Keita is the much better player. There seems ot be a lot more noise around Yaya Keita's recruiting than there is around Gassama's Dsiclaimer - I've only seen video of these guys. Haven't seen these guys play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBFan Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Good health and good luck I hope you have great success at your next school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufanskip Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 12 hours ago, Slufan10 said: Sad to see him go. Feel like he was basically forced to leave. because you're privy to what info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 16 minutes ago, Littlebill said: Is Gassama really on our level? (Or at least the one we hope to maintain after this season) We always seem to talk about them as a pair, but to me it seems as if Keita is the much better player. There seems ot be a lot more noise around Yaya Keita's recruiting than there is around Gassama's Dsiclaimer - I've only seen video of these guys. Haven't seen these guys play. -I've seen them a few times and I wonder about both of them, I interpreted what I was told on here as they are developing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufanskip Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 For those insinuating he was forced out. My take on Travis is that he's pretty upfront and real with players. Would you consider it forced out if Travis had a frank discussion with him and told him he didn't see him realistically earning many game minutes? wgstl likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgstl Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 2 minutes ago, slufanskip said: For those insinuating he was forced out. My take on Travis is that he's pretty upfront and real with players. Would you consider it forced out if Travis had a frank discussion with him and told him he didn't see him realistically earning many game minutes? A coach would be doing more harm and disservice by not telling him or being upfront. slufanskip likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUMedBilliken15 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I wish Madani the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Compton Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 3 hours ago, billikenfan05 said: That’s understandable but also look at it this way. He was a kid coming off an injury with not many collegiate options for basketball. He comes in to a Division 1 program, full athletic scholarship to a really nice private school for a really bright young man. He gets to rehab and strength train under Rob Hornett who a couple of years ago was working for the Warriors, improve his physical condition and his game and now he can go and explore options where he can thrive on the court. This. One can easily see how SLU ends up being a great stepping stone for Diarra. For a kid with limited HS play (due to injuries) and limited recruiting (Detroit and Mississippi Valley are the two most often mentioned), it seems that coming from SLU could still be a path to better opportunities than what he was seeing. Alternatively, Detroit appears to still have 2 spots open for next year. He could take Brad Calipari's spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3star_recruit Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 47 minutes ago, Littlebill said: Is Gassama really on our level? (Or at least the one we hope to maintain after this season) We always seem to talk about them as a pair, but to me it seems as if Keita is the much better player. There seems ot be a lot more noise around Yaya Keita's recruiting than there is around Gassama's Dsiclaimer - I've only seen video of these guys. Haven't seen these guys play. Gassama was coming back from an injury this season. A year earlier, a healthy Gassama went head to head against a top 3 player in the 2021 class and held his own. https://ballislife.com/meet-sekou-gassama-brings-out-best-in-21-no-1-patrick-baldwin-hes-a-pro/ In one of the best camp games we’ve seen in recent memory at the Pangos Frosh/Soph Camps, Gassama went to work right away. He competed and bodied up Baldwin and really made him work for his, and the Sussex High standout got plenty. Gassama tried to push Baldwin further out from his comfortable spots, and he responded by making deep jump shots and with beautiful driving finishes, including some of the left-hand variety. Baldwin also did some work on the blocks, but Gassama offered plenty of resistance. Gassama also made some baskets around the rim and threw down a powerful dunk off an offensive rebound put back that got everyone in the gym noticing the terrific matchup and asking, “Who’s THAT guy?” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeniceMenace Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Based on Coach 314 and Frank C. prognostications, we’ve now seen 2 out of what seem to be at least 3 predicted roster changes...suspect last is 2021 recruit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLURadioBoy Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 15 minutes ago, VeniceMenace said: Based on Coach 314 and Frank C. prognostications, we’ve now seen 2 out of what seem to be at least 3 predicted roster changes...suspect last is 2021 recruit? Yesterday, Frank confirmed that Okoro was the 2020 recruit he was talking about. He said he can’t announce yet what the good news for 2021 is, but will once he can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billikenfan05 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 minute ago, SLURadioBoy said: Yesterday, Frank confirmed that Okoro was the 2020 recruit he was talking about. He said he can’t announce yet what the good news for 2021 is, but will once he can. Honestly Okoro is good news for 2021. He won’t be playing this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLURadioBoy Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 7 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said: Honestly Okoro is good news for 2021. He won’t be playing this season. Yes, but he’s part of the 2020 recruiting class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clocktoweraccords2004 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I heard Okoro wanted his number..... Also scholarships are year to year and Ford won’t let a program waste them anymore. Good on him. This isn’t a charity Dr. Holly Hills likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billikenfan05 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 30 minutes ago, SLURadioBoy said: Yes, but he’s part of the 2020 recruiting class. I fully understand that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLURadioBoy Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 4 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said: I fully understand that Sure, I was just trying to clarify that I believe that’s what Frank meant. The recruit for the 2020 class is Okoro. The recruit for 2021 is TDB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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