I know we're all banking on Amile, but is there any news from the Torian Graham front? Haven't heard anything about him recently.

2/26/2012 12:02:19 AM

In response to simonn I agree it's gonna be a fight to get into the tournament next year. But while we lose a player like Williams, we gain a player that this team hasn't seen before. To have a guy like Purvis that can shoot and create his own shot off the dribble and is smooth getting to the rim will make us a more balanced team. It's another go-to guy when the shot clock is at 10 and we need someone that can drive the lane and draw a foul.

Of course he'll be a freshman, so it's anyone's guess as to how long it will take him to adjust to the college level.

2/27/2012 9:56:41 AM

Purvis has been playing against upper-level college players since he was a freshman in high school (summer leagues, etc.)

2/27/2012 12:38:07 PM

Quote :

"is there any news from the Torian Graham front? Haven't heard anything about him recently."

We're still recruiting him, and he was at the UNC game last week. I think Anton Wilson (http://rivals.yahoo.com/virginia/basketball/recruiting/player-Anton-Wilson-104607) is the backup plan at SG if Graham ends up going somewhere else

2/27/2012 12:57:09 PM

Quote :

"To have a guy like Purvis that can shoot and create his own shot off the dribble and is smooth getting to the rim will make us a more balanced team. It's another go-to guy when the shot clock is at 10 and we need someone that can drive the lane and draw a foul."

see, this is what i'm talking about. i'm assuming that you're assuming a lot here based on 2 minute youtube videos. if you're actually at upper room twice/week watching him play, then i apologize.

but it's not a guarantee that purvis can shoot, nor that he can create his own shot off the dribble and frankly based on youtube he's not overly smooth getting to the rim. it's also absolutely not a guarantee that he is a go-to guy that can either get in the lane or draw a foul.

not trying to shit on the kid, just saying i've never seen him play.

2/27/2012 1:26:46 PM

Quote :

"nor that he can create his own shot off the dribble"

Except for the fact that is pretty much the main reason he's ranked as high as he is. He's a decent shooter...but he's a great driver/finisher.

2/27/2012 1:34:37 PM

OKAY DUDE, ryan harrow could also get to the rim at will on youtube and throw a pass to himself off of the backboard (which is stupid by the way, and even was when he was on our team).

that doesn't mean he can do it in a game in the acc.

2/27/2012 1:36:57 PM

still ... a top 5 overall ranked kid would likely instill more confidence ... after that ... things drop off pretty quickly in terms of immediate all around impact.

I see the reason for concern. If not a great shooter, you can assume that defenses will put someone as quick as he is on him, and play off just a little with no fear for the quick dagger mid-range, long-range shots.

2/27/2012 1:37:00 PM

i'm not saying i'm actively concerned, i'm just saying i'm not counting rodney purvis' acc debut as part of an integral piece to us having a good team next year.

2/27/2012 1:38:57 PM

I've never seen him play either, but he's a consensus top-20 recruit (Rivals has him at#6), and guys rated that high are contributors and often impact players as freshmen.

2/27/2012 1:40:30 PM

^^ whose youtube highlight reel would you reference (from a HS player) as proof that they can get to the rim in the ACC? your argument basically nullifies any response because you're saying nothing will be good enough to prove he can do what they're saying.

the hope is that he brings that driving ability and can do it on the college level. that's why he was recruited by so many teams and is such a highly rated recruit.

2/27/2012 1:40:30 PM

STill though ... I would be lying if I said I was not drooling at the possibilities of having two 6-4-ish point guards with great penetration ability running our offense - plus continued improvement for Howell and Leslie ... I think things will be better for us next year. Gottfried has shown the ability to help us play strong, but I do think there is some psychological improvements that can only be made by winning.

And if we could make a freakin FT in the last 5 minutes of a ball game, that would help too!

2/27/2012 1:46:07 PM

Quote :

"^^ whose youtube highlight reel would you reference (from a HS player) as proof that they can get to the rim in the ACC? your argument basically nullifies any response because you're saying nothing will be good enough to prove he can do what they're saying."

that's exactly my point. it's impossible to know if he will be a stud or need a few years to adjust... just like our last crop of talented freshmen.

2/27/2012 2:05:26 PM

Point taken. Nonetheless, I feel much better about the coaching staff these recruits are coming to than the staff that the '10 class came to.

2/27/2012 2:37:55 PM

Quote :

" I would be lying if I said I was not drooling at the possibilities of having two 6-4-ish point guards with great penetration ability running our offense"

I'm drooling at the possibility of a pass-first point guard who knows exactly how to run Gottfried's offense, and where to go with the ball.

No offense to Purvis, but I hope he never has to play point guard while at NC State.

2/27/2012 9:54:19 PM

Quote :

"Point taken. Nonetheless, I feel much better about the coaching staff these recruits are coming to than the staff that the '10 class came to."

meh, i haven't been super impressed w/ the job they've done this year w/ either leslie or brown. both guys routinely make mistakes that i don't think guys should after a year w/ a staff.

i swear to god i don't hate this team or the current coaching staff... but when you just underhand them out there like that i have to respond.

2/27/2012 10:22:30 PM

Lewis seems to be the real deal based on the way he's performed at Oak Hill this year.

I still think Zobo and Purvis will be our most effective backcourt next year though.

But I'm certainly not opposed to a lineup of Lewis, Zobo, Purvis, Leslie, Howell for a few stretches. That is still an effective rebounding lineup and we'd definitely be a tough cover for every team in the country with that much athleticism on the floor at once and a ballhandler to get them the ball.

I think Lewis has a lot of potential, but I still think he needs one full season to adjust to the college game though.

Lisa Zobes, Nervous Purvis, Scott Wooden, CeeJello, and Rico Fowell. Coming to yeahhhhhaaa

2/27/2012 10:29:24 PM

Next year we will have 4 mcdonald all-americans. Four 5-stars and three 4-stars, 3 seniors and 2 juniors.


If we don't at least make the NCAA tournament, Gottfried should be fired immediately.

2/27/2012 10:33:15 PM

who the hell is Zobo?

2/27/2012 10:33:26 PM

Quote :

"I still think Zobo and Purvis will be our most effective backcourt next year though. But I'm certainly not opposed to a lineup of Lewis, Zobo, Purvis, Leslie, Howell for a few stretches. That is still an effective rebounding lineup and we'd definitely be a tough cover for every team in the country with that much athleticism on the floor at once and a ballhandler to get them the ball. I think Lewis has a lot of potential, but I still think he needs one full season to adjust to the college game though."

Well yeah. I don't expect Lewis to start next year. Zo will be our starting point guard.

I was just responding to the comment about us having "two 6'4-ish point guards who can drive". With Lewis in the same class as Purvis, I wouldn't expect Purvis to play point guard for us except in spot duty. I do fully expect Purvis to start next year, but at the 2.

Best case scenario: Lewis and Purvis are this generation's Corchiani and Monroe. Although Monroe was more of a shooter and Purvis attacks the basket.

Worst case: They turn out like Archie and Scooter. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

2/27/2012 10:43:56 PM

goddamnit face, you were arguing that lewis would barely see 5 minutes a game and that he was the least ready for ACC play of all of our recruits just a month ago. I really think you need to see a psychiatrist for bipolar symptoms.

2/27/2012 10:44:56 PM

I was also referring to purvis at the 2, with brown staying at the point ... for clarity

2/27/2012 11:24:05 PM

Face is rallydurham right

2/28/2012 1:22:56 AM

yes

2/28/2012 1:27:42 AM

Oh, it's raining out? Yeah, Purvis won't see any time next year. Wait... it's sunny you say? Purvis and Zo will dominate our backcourt.

...I figured it out.

2/28/2012 1:51:12 AM

Recruiting threads are all about conjecture so take it all a little less seriously. No one really 'knows' these players. We don't have jobs like Dave Telep, where we watch HS ball around the country so it's all just for kicks.

The McD's game will be a good chance to witness what these guys can do against top-flight players.

Here are my concerns for next year's recruits:
Purvis - Can he play good team ball when he's not the #1 scoring option? More power to him if he can step up and be that guy, but it definitely won't be from day 1.

Lewis - Defense. In the one Oak Hill game I watched, he ran the offense with great passing and hitting floaters as well as the deep shot. On defense, guys could move past him at will. It was like that first flag at the slalom that you can always go around. I'm hoping he can eventually take AJ's minutes towards the end of the season.

Warren - The Costner Effect. There's no doubt that he can score from anywhere, but with his size, it'd be a shame if he just hung out on the wing most of the time. Hopefully, whoever managed Howell's training can get to work on TJ when he gets to campus.

2/28/2012 5:41:55 AM

Quote :

"I'm hoping he can eventually take AJ's minutes towards the end of the season."

Alex Johnson is gone after this year...unless I'm missing something.

2/28/2012 7:25:13 AM

I am probably going to get flamed for this but the two biggest factors to how our team performs next year are already on the team. Leslie and Vandy are going to hold the keys to next years team. Without both of those players on the roster our frontcourt is going to be very very questionable.

2/28/2012 7:38:09 AM

Yes I said that but he's had a big senior year at a high level so now he might get 8-10 minutes in acc play

Did you not read my post I said I still think he needs a full year.

2/28/2012 7:38:19 AM

Don't sleep on TJ Warren. He will be the best scorer out of all of them...

[Edited on February 28, 2012 at 7:56 AM. Reason : a]

2/28/2012 7:55:38 AM

Quote :

"Alex Johnson is gone after this year...unless I'm missing something."

No, you're right. I just didn't explain it well enough. With Zo being the obvious starting PG, the second string is up for grabs. I think Tyler will end up winning this role by the end of the season with Purvis playing more in the SG spot.

2/28/2012 8:43:14 AM

^Tyler will win the back-up point guard role at the beginning of the season...and get more minutes at that spot as the season goes along. We're losing our main SG in Williams. So Purvis/Brown/Wood will take most of those minutes. Brown and Lewis will pretty much all of the PG minutes. I don't see Purvis playing much, if any, PG minutes.

2/28/2012 9:00:06 AM

I'm going out on a limb here, but I think it's safe to say that Lewis has the backup PG spot locked up.

2/28/2012 9:12:58 AM

Yep. Lewis will have to spell Zo from day 1 because we have no other alternative.

I agree with aph319 and face though: teams will try to exploit Lewis and it may take the better part of a year before his offensive prowess outweighs his defensive liabilities. He's supposed to be scrappy and competitive, but that only goes so far against superior athletes.

2/28/2012 9:13:33 AM

PI video!!!
http://packinsider.com/2012/02/video-rodney-purvis-goes-off-for-53-points-on-senior-night/

2/28/2012 9:16:53 AM

Quote :

"meh, i haven't been super impressed w/ the job they've done this year w/ either leslie or brown. both guys routinely make mistakes that i don't think guys should after a year w/ a staff."

Respectfully, I disagree. Both guys seem to have bought into the staff and embraced their respective challenges. They are both sophomores, so they are still young and are not immune to making mistakes.

Brown had to learn how to run the most important position on the court in a new offense. He is doing what the staff is asking him to do, which is getting guys into position and initiating the offense without turning the ball over. And pushing the fast break on missed shots. I agree he still has some bone-head moments. But for a first-time chance at running point under a new staff, I think he's done great.

Leslie was challenged to start over and play smarter. He is playing with restraint - he looks for the high-low pass; he passes it out when he's covered; he sets screens for the wings; and he takes it strong when it's there. He's playing a lot less selfishly than last year. He's great on help defense, but 1-on-1 he's very poor. Although, he seems to manage his fouls a lot better than Howell. Overall, I've been satisfied with his play.

2/28/2012 10:00:20 AM

Leslie is a below average one-on-one defender because he's still skinny. He gets abused by bigger guys.

He either needs to beef up a little, or guard the SF...which won't happen until he plays the SF, and he's not offensively ready for that.

But he'll be a SF in the NBA, so he better shoot a million jumpers a day this offseason.

2/28/2012 10:09:58 AM

Leslie has been our best player hands down for the last three weeks against our toughest competition. No one should be complaining about his play. Wood and Williams, yeah they deserve a lot of criticism.

2/28/2012 10:18:20 AM

Quote :

"The legend of NC State commit Rodney Purvis continues"

It's shit like this

2/28/2012 10:26:14 AM

Leslie is playing much more within himself this year. I don't see how anyone can argue that. This simple fact marks a huge improvement from last year. Kudos to the staff for convincing him he's most effective when attacking the rim from the lane instead of creating from the perimeter. He still has a few WTF moments on offense, but nothing like last year. Defensively, he's still got a ways to go. Loses focus way too much during the game.

Also ...

Quote :

"Purvis - Can he play good team ball when he's not the #1 scoring option? More power to him if he can step up and be that guy, but it definitely won't be from day 1. "

From everything I've read, Purvis is selfless to a fault on the court. He could take over at will most nights, but chooses not to.

2/28/2012 10:31:50 AM

Alright, I've decided that I'm excited for next season. We should not lose more than 4 games.

2/28/2012 11:16:26 AM

leslie has been playing more within himself.

i wouldn't say he has been playing within himself though.

2/28/2012 12:09:31 PM

I've decided to give us through the 2015 season. If by then we are still doing the same bullshit after this big class, I am giving up on NC State basketball forever!

2/28/2012 12:16:41 PM

Quote :

" Leslie has been our best player hands down for the last three weeks against our toughest competition. No one should be complaining about his play"

This. Without him we would get blown out every game.

2/28/2012 12:27:27 PM

yup

Now if we're talking about DRIFTWOOD, that's a different story. He's been completely irrelevant 4 games in a row.

2/28/2012 1:09:14 PM

yet still averaging 12.3 ppg. knee-jerk.

2/28/2012 1:13:35 PM

can you fucking read?

Here let me help you...

Quote :

"He's been completely irrelevant 4 games in a row."

Duke game - 1-7 FG, 1 3PT, 7-10 FT = 10 points
FSU game - 1-10 FG, 1 3PT, 5 FT = 8 points
UNC game - 1-5 FG, 3 points
Clemson game - 1-6 FG, 3 points





[Edited on February 28, 2012 at 1:39 PM. Reason : 12 out 24 points from FT in 4 games]

2/28/2012 1:35:52 PM

Quote :

"Not some Costner-Sendek offense-specific player. These are burger boys that the UNC's and Kentucky's of the world would cheat to have. But, our last class had the same feeling. This time *might*, and has a good chance, of being different."

Huh? Brandon Costner? He was heavily recruited by UCLA and Kansas. You really think a consensus Top 30 prospect was a system recruit?

2/28/2012 1:37:08 PM

people need to take it easy w/ this scott wood shit.

dude has been automatic from behind the arc and has played about every minute of every game for the last three years, and people want him kicked off the team after four bad games. jesus christ.

2/28/2012 1:39:09 PM

I don't want him kicked off the team at all. I want him to develop another aspect of his game besides taking 3 point shots.

[Edited on February 28, 2012 at 1:40 PM. Reason : his lack of production is really hurting us which is why i posted the stats from the last 4 games]

2/28/2012 1:40:10 PM