^i'd say more like top 5 with favors in the mix

7/28/2008 4:06:32 PM

WVU was scout's number 10 last year with 1 *****, 2 ****, and 1 ***

7/28/2008 4:09:54 PM

I'm liking what I hear about this guy ...

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=42857&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fplayer%3frecruitId%3d42857

7/28/2008 4:13:01 PM

Particularly:

Quote :

"he is able to get rebounds because be has a good motor and he plays very hard. "

and

Quote :

"Howell has superior quickness and strength that he utilizes when operating in the paint area. He is a quick leaper and can finish with contact. "

7/28/2008 4:15:50 PM

i reallllllly love to see these quotes about the players we are getting, makes me REALIZE that Lowe is changing the TYPE of players we have here.

Quote :

"Howell has superior quickness and strength that he utilizes when operating in the paint area. He is a quick leaper and can finish with contact."

7/28/2008 4:16:42 PM

this is all even more of an amazing job by Sid and staff considering we're coming off a last place finish in the ACC

7/28/2008 4:16:45 PM

Quote :

"gifted passer out of the post as well"

haha after jj last year, i'm sold on howell just by that quote

7/28/2008 4:18:31 PM

^Can't be understated. Can you imagine the type of players we can pull in when we actually don't suck?

7/28/2008 4:19:26 PM

Yeah Howell is now 6'8" not 6'7". He could end up growing another inch too. I know I grew another inch around my senior year, and Horner grew an inch or two when he got here.

7/28/2008 4:19:59 PM

if he'd be 6'9" i could really enjoy lookin at that number.


and the other thing I like about these guys...they seem to be character standout guys, some that may contribute past the 1 and done, which is what i like to see.

now if Favors will commit tomorrow...

7/28/2008 4:22:16 PM

WRT Brown

Quote :

"AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT Decision Making Defensive Presence"

Those make no sense to me based upon what I've heard. One ESPN article talked about how good he is defensively and another article I read praised him for how 9 times out of 10 when he has the ball in his hands good things happen. Maybe those evaluations are from a year ago and just haven't been updated.

7/28/2008 4:25:38 PM

More on Howell, from the recent Reebok Championship in Las Vegas:

Richard Howell, F (6-8, 220)
Senior, Marietta, Ga./ Wheeler
Howell had a terrific performance against fast-rising senior 6-9 Ryan Kelly. He used his strength, solid post footwork and 3-point shooting touch to score at will throughout most of the contest against the longer Kelly. He has a soft shooting touch out to the stripe and knows how to use his impressive frame and hang time to convert against taller opponents. Howell is one of the most improved players from a year ago in the Class of 2009.

7/28/2008 4:29:25 PM

And hell, while we're at it, this is from the same page

Quote :

"Lorenzo Brown, G (6-4, 180) Senior, Snellville, Ga./ Centennial Brown isn't a high level athlete, but he has great skills, nice size for the 1 and a solid feel for the game. He has an innate ability to get to the basket and find teammates for open looks. He is deceptively quick with the dribble to separate from defenders, and his pull-up jump shot is solid."

Quote :

"C.J. Leslie, F (6-8, 190) Junior, Holly Springs, N.C./ Word of God Leslie has some of the longest arms and is springy as well. Despite his willowy frame, he converts inside regularly due to his bouncy nature and solid footwork along the baseline. He has a solid drop step and can get to the rim in a hurry. "

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=3501403

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 4:32 PM. Reason : ]

7/28/2008 4:31:49 PM

Quote :

"now if Favors will commit tomorrow..."

I'm going to get flamed for saying this, but I almost think I would rather have Kelly than Favors. I realize Kelly is more of a project, but I'm thinking long-term. I see Howell and Brown both staying at least 2 years, probably 3 or more. With them, Wood (who's almost guaranteed to stay 4 years), Harrow, and Leslie, we would have almost all the parts needed to contend for a national title in 3 or 4 years. The only thing we would be lacking is a true center. While I would love to get Favors, we're all fairly certain he's going to be a one and done. If we land Kelly, I'm pretty confident he'll stick around for at least 3 years and in so doing, he could be the man at center when it would really count. I mean, I'd like to think we could turn things around enough this year for Favors to do us some real good, but even with Favors, I just don't see our team having the maturity to go all the way (or even deep in the tourney) in Favors' freshman year. In Kelly's third year, I think the story might be a little different.

Some might say we could just replace Favors with another 5* center, but the saying goes "a bird in hand (in this case it would be Kelly) is better than two in the bush (another center with Favors' potential)."

I realize I'm getting way ahead of myself, but I just felt like spitballin a little bit.

7/28/2008 4:34:24 PM

the best part about these commits is that they are all friends and have played together. think about our team chemisty now. no more bullshit

7/28/2008 4:37:42 PM

^ Word. Me and my friend were talking about that. Maybe the team will be playing together as a well-oiled machine in year 2 as opposed to year 3 because of this.

7/28/2008 4:39:38 PM

another great point^

7/28/2008 4:40:26 PM

statered, the thing about Kelly, is that he isn't a pure center either. He may be 6'10, but hes not a big banger down low like a TRUE center would need to be.

7/28/2008 4:43:21 PM

world wide renegades is lowe's dematha? perhaps.

7/28/2008 4:44:10 PM

^^ Hmmm...Have you seen him play? I mean, could he develop into a true center with some work and putting on of some weight? I really am asking for knowledge's sake. Not trying to be a smart-ass.

^ Word. Yeah it is. Bring him home the title baby.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 4:45 PM. Reason : asdf]

7/28/2008 4:44:48 PM

Reading how agressive Howell is, and how he's a great rebounder/shot blocker, I'm thinking he could possibly see time at C.

He's listed at 6'8 220 lbs. Favors is listed at 6'9 220 lbs on scout. That's not a whole lot of difference there.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 4:46 PM. Reason : ]

7/28/2008 4:44:50 PM

you really don't need a true center in the college game, especially if your gameplan is to run, which, in theory, is our goal.

7/28/2008 4:51:36 PM

I don't really agree with that. Most of the most successful tournament teams the past decade have had a true COLLEGE center...

^ it is? Weren't we one of the worst offensive teams in the country last year?

**** And Favors has a list of like 15 schools... ours sticks out like a sore thumb on it, I regret to say.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 4:56 PM. Reason : he won't be at State]

7/28/2008 4:54:42 PM

Quote :

"**** And Favors has a list of like 15 schools... ours sticks out like a sore thumb on it, I regret to say."

Explain? I'm assuming you mean we stick out like a sore thumb because his other schools have much more prestige/recent success?

Right now I'm seeing his leaders are Clemson, GT, UGA, Auburn (WTF), FSU, and us. Not exactly top-notch competition.

7/28/2008 5:00:22 PM

I would bet my left nut that we're in Favor's top 5. Not betting the nut on top 3, but the word all along is that its State, GT, and UGA with GT and state in a slight lead. We may not get him, but we have a damn good shot.

Honestly, with the 3 we have committed right now, I'm comfortable waiting until march or april to see if we can land one of the top 3 players in the country if he has us in his top 3.

7/28/2008 5:01:08 PM

^^^uhh he has consistently listed us in his top schools, along with Georgia and Ga Tech



[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 5:01 PM. Reason : .]

7/28/2008 5:01:15 PM

Favors list is GT, UGA and NCSU. Don't worry about any other schools right now.

I'm not saying its impossible for any other teams to get involved, but right now, those 3 are it

7/28/2008 5:01:18 PM

in a dream like scenario i guess if we somehow landed Favors........we wouldn't even have a scholly for Wall am I correct? (even though a lot of reports are saying him to OSU)

7/28/2008 5:02:18 PM

don't worry about Wall...he will not be playing at NCSU

7/28/2008 5:03:05 PM

Quote :

"The soft-spoken Favors is also very, very undecided on college. After saying he won't sign until the spring, Favors reeled off 13 elite programs he's considering. "Really I am still wide-open," he said, mentioning Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Texas, Connecticut, UCLA, Southern California, North Carolina, Duke, North Carolina State and Memphis among his suitors. Favors said Florida State has shown the most love, and he denied speculation that he would definitely stay in Georgia for college. He said he likes Kentucky because "they have a great tradition." "I am still looking hard at everybody," Favors said. "I wouldn't mind leaving home, but I might want to stay close to Georgia." But he's far from deciding."

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 5:06 PM. Reason : just what he said...]

7/28/2008 5:06:13 PM

yea i already forgot about wall, i like Harrow's resume just as well, and he'll be less shady as a recruit


and to everyone that says crap about the running offense we plan to have, last year was an offense with the weave and heave guys still left over from Herbs tenure.

7/28/2008 5:07:33 PM

Quote :

"it is? Weren't we one of the worst offensive teams in the country last year?"

lowe has said, many times, that he wants to run.

whether we do or not i can't say, but like i said, in theory, our goal is to field a team that can run.

7/28/2008 5:11:07 PM

For the record I would totally almost disregard the February evaluation of Howell seen in the ESPN profile that Maverick posted. The July one is much more accurate. You have to consider that up until a month or two ago Howell wasn't 100% and was still getting over a back injury that has hampered him for a good portion of this past year. He is now fully healed and is looking like his old self if not better. I am ultra excited to get this guy. He could rise in the rankings now that he will be able to show off what he can truly do.

7/28/2008 5:13:16 PM

How do you guys keep up this optimism? The last two years (the high and then the very, very low) have beaten the crap out of me... and I'm generally really optimistic.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 5:18 PM. Reason : x]

7/28/2008 5:18:05 PM

^actually, he, himself, even says hes not 100% yet. Around 85% is where he thinks he is at right now.

7/28/2008 5:18:37 PM

Quote :

"How do you guys keep up this optimism? The last two years (the high and then the very, very low) have beaten the crap out of me... and I'm generally really optimistic."

Getting two solid recruits back-to-back helps. More than that though, we're NC State fans -- unfounded optimism is just in the blood.

7/28/2008 5:21:26 PM

Well I'm an eternal optimist, but admittedly I have become a little cynical over the past few years. I think the reason why I'm optimistic is b/c a lot of the guys Sid is getting are guys completely the opposite of Herb's players athletically, but still play with a high basketball IQ.

7/28/2008 5:22:06 PM

Quote :

"How do you guys keep up this optimism?"

i really don't know.

after this season i was so down about basketball, but as soon as the offseason came around there were bits here and there about the players working really hard and costner losing weight and this and that. then we see some things play out recruiting wise and it looks like lowe's doing a really good job, then the past two days, i kindof got caught up in it.

w/ that said, any optimism that i hold is very cautious.

7/28/2008 5:22:58 PM

We beat out some pretty stiff competition for Howell.

Auburn
Michigan State
Marquette
Georgia
Oregon
Texas
USC
Tennessee
N.C. State
Georgia Tech
Kentucky
Memphis
Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech
Florida
Florida State
Alabama

7/28/2008 5:50:03 PM

Quote :

"as soon as the offseason came around there were bits here and there about the players working really hard and costner losing weight and this and that."

well not to be a smart ass but I wouldn't expect Lowe to say the players aren't doing shit this summer, of course he is going to say they are working "really hard"

These guys aren't going to be on Campus for a couple years, and they still have to sign the paper work. Next season we'll probably be shitty again though right? Better than last season, but still shitty for the standards we create preseason as fans.

7/28/2008 6:13:19 PM

Found a good video of Favors (#34 in Blue)

http://www.takkle.com/people/7132524/-/profile

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 6:26 PM. Reason : .]

7/28/2008 6:25:11 PM

^^^ Damn that's a pretty impressive list. Florida, MSU, Texas, Tennessee, UK, and Memphis... nice to see them whiffing on OUR recruits for a change

EDIT:

Quote :

"well not to be a smart ass but I wouldn't expect Lowe to say the players aren't doing shit this summer, of course he is going to say they are working "really hard""

Well, you are being a smartass, but yes saying the players are "working hard" isn't exactly something to cheer about.

Quote :

"These guys aren't going to be on Campus for a couple years, and they still have to sign the paper work. Next season we'll probably be shitty again though right? Better than last season, but still shitty for the standards we create preseason as fans. "

Yes, none of this changes the fact that the upcoming season will likely suck. Still, an improved Javi Gonzalez, a healthy Farnold Degand, and contributions from freshmen CJ Leslie might help alleviate the PG issues we had last year. Don't forget that with McCauley and Costner playing back to form, and Tracy Smith stepping up from a solid freshmen campaign, NC State still has a potentially solid frontcourt. Losing Hickson hurts, but PG play was what killed us. If that situation improves, and the team chemistry comes together a bit, State might pull a few upsets as it did 2 years ago.

Yeah, there's a lot of "maybes" in the equation, but a decent year is not out of the question even with Hickson's departure.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 6:32 PM. Reason : d]

7/28/2008 6:25:34 PM

Quote :

"Yes, none of this changes the fact that the upcoming season will likely suck. Still, an improved Javi Gonzalez, a healthy Farnold Degand, and contributions from freshmen CJ Leslie might help alleviate the PG issues we had last year. Don't forget that with McCauley and Costner playing back to form, and Tracy Smith stepping up from a solid freshmen campaign, NC State still has a potentially solid frontcourt. Losing Hickson hurts, but PG play was what killed us. If that situation improves, and the team chemistry comes together a bit, State might pull a few upsets as it did 2 years ago."

wat

7/28/2008 6:39:03 PM

cj williams not leslie

7/28/2008 6:41:35 PM

I think he meant Julius Mayes

7/28/2008 6:52:11 PM

CJ Williams is a wing....MAYBE Julius Mays....MAYBE. Neither recruit may help much immediately this year.

7/28/2008 6:53:43 PM

Quote :

"With them, Wood (who's almost guaranteed to stay 4 years), Harrow, and Leslie, we would have almost all the parts needed to contend for a national title in 3 or 4 years. "

Ha. This is NC State. We'd be lucky to compete for an ACC title first.

7/28/2008 7:00:34 PM

I had a disclaimer that said: "not to be a smartass"

sorry it still came off that way.. but yeah I'll probably get real pumped for the season the closer BBall comes around but realistically speaking we'll probably be bottom tier again this year... have to wait and see.

One thing to come out of these commitments is that pretty much guarantees Lowe as head coach for two more seasons, maybe even three. Too early to tell if that is good or bad thing.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 7:18 PM. Reason : x]

7/28/2008 7:18:01 PM

The fact that I just read the good news on this page means that I have jinxed all further good fortune.


Seriously, though, all 3 recruits tear their ACLs before getting here.

[Edited on July 28, 2008 at 8:03 PM. Reason : .]

7/28/2008 8:00:37 PM

if all you're going to contribute is "so and so is going to tear their acl before getting to campus" every time we pick up a recruit, you should probably just not post

7/28/2008 8:04:40 PM