Hoopmasters Rates UC Recruits #16 Class (Final)

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

16. Cincinnati (6) Signees: Anthony McClain 7-foot C Fort Washington, MD National Christian: Jason Henry 6-foot-6 WF Cincinnati, OH Harmony Community; Alvin Mitchell 6-foot-5 SG Ft. Lauderdale, FL Cardinal Gibbons; Larry Davis 6-foot-3 CG Alief, TX Hastings; Rashad Bishop 6-foot-5 WF Newark, NJ St. Benedict's; Kenny Belton 6-foot-8 PF Greensboro, NC Dudley. Bearcats flex their recruiting muscle this spring to crack top twenty here. McClain and Belton much needed size inside, while perimeter trio of Henry, Mitchell, and Davis add some firepower to open up inside game. Bearcats are ready to start to climb back up ladder in Big East.

[Ben Hurst]

I'm sure not having Henry (?) takes us down a few spots, but we have such an upgrade over last years Team, not only with McClain, Mitchell, Davis, & Belton, but I have been fairly impressed with Mike Williams and Adam H.

I really like our ability to go big without losing athletic ability. I think Belton will be the last big guy off the bench, but he may surprise us. I still think Adam h was a great pickup for the team. I would have liked to see him play games for two years, but...

I dont want to make any bold predictions, and always hold out hope for the NCAA tourney, but would be mildly pleased with the minimum of BE tourney.

Go Cats!!

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

UC is at least 2 deep at every spot. The BEast tourney is a given. Postseason play should occur, whether NIT or NCAA next March.

20 W would be a nice target. Mick averages 20 W per season as a head coach, why not?

[Lobot]

UC is at least 2 deep at every spot. The BEast tourney is a given. Postseason play should occur, whether NIT or NCAA next March.

20 W would be a nice target. Mick averages 20 W per season as a head coach, why not?


I'm a little apprehensive about the 20 win mark. These are freshman we're dealing with for the most part. If Mike W, Adam H and Deonta can carry the team for the whole year then maybe we'll see 20 Ws. Hope for an injury free year from these guys.

[jeffto]

20 will be hard. We're not rebuilding around a core of players. We're still early in the process of building a team from scratch.

Let's say that the Big East level of competition is about the same as last year. Are we twice as good?

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

I'm a little apprehensive about the 20 win mark. These are freshman we're dealing with for the most part. If Mike W, Adam H and Deonta can carry the team for the whole year then maybe we'll see 20 Ws. Hope for an injury free year from these guys.

10 W in OOC, 10+ W (combined) in BEast/tourney and postseason play.

[ralph1950]

Ralph's Basketball Yearbook rates UC's recruiting class # 1

[Bearcat_DF]

10 W in OOC, 10+ W (combined) in BEast/tourney and postseason play.


With the BE going to an 18 game schedule (I believe that takes place this year) - then you are looking for the Bearcats to go 10-2 OOC? That seems a pretty tall order for a team with a lot of new players.

Do we know that OOC schedule? Memphis, Xavier, Miami - is our series with NCSU finished? Don't we have a game with Wake?!

I can imagine the other 10 - 8-8 in conference play, a win in the BE tourney, and at least a win in the NCAA/NIT. Still, that will be a huge leap
for a team that only won 2 conference games last year.

Go Cats!
DF

[richard k.]

In a somewhat similar vein to the original post in this topic, the guy for Fox Sports talking about the 2009 class lists the Scout top 40, where they will be playing this summer, and which colleges are currntly "in the mix." I don't care whether the Scout top 40 is the best of all possible listings, but there are dozens and dozens of colleges listed in the mix for one or more of these guys, and I noted that UC is not named once (unless I missed it - which is quite possible).

[SLMadiCat]

In a somewhat similar vein to the original post in this topic, the guy for Fox Sports talking about the 2009 class lists the Scout top 40, where they will be playing this summer, and which colleges are currntly "in the mix." I don't care whether the Scout top 40 is the best of all possible listings, but there are dozens and dozens of colleges listed in the mix for one or more of these guys, and I noted that UC is not named once (unless I missed it - which is quite possible).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Henry (or the plan B) makes the roster, they will have only one scholarship to fill for '09, which is going to D. McElroy. Granted, I still hope MC recruits for '09 just as hard b/c anything is possible, but maybe he is more focused on 2008 and 2010. Just a guess, I could be way off base.

[swilsonsp4]

The Cats still owe NC St a game in Raleigh. They also have a make-up at IL St that they were supposed to play last season. I haven't heard anything to suggest that UC won't go there.

Undoubtedly, there will be some cupcakes early. Well, we all thought Wofford was a cupcake. With Mike Williams and quality depth, there's no way that the likes of a Wofford will prevail this season.

[schottjy]

Can't wait for them to come to Raleigh this year... We luckily caught them early last year, NC State looked much better in April/March.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Ralph's Basketball Yearbook rates UC's recruiting class # 1

RBY is an unknown quantity.

[richard k.]

It's also of unknown quality ;)