We need to throw bags of money at Lawal
53 Replies
1y
(In response to this post by SarahVTHokie24)
VT wasn't his biggest offer last year, FWIW.
(In response to this post by DDhokie31)
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TDVick
1y
VT or the collective had some retention leverage (i.e. buyout clause or retention option). But given how things are run at VT, I wonder what that answer might be? But yes, pretty much every one on this board that follows the team was really excited to have a presence like Lawal on our roster.
Let's wait for the "no one saw this coming" and "stop being so negative about Whit" posts. Maybe Lawal will be retained and it won't be an issue. If not, it will be par for the course.
(In response to this post by DDhokie31)
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saret
1y
He has improved a lot during the year. I attribute that to CMY. He often used to hurt us a lot on defense, not because he didn't want to play good defense, but because he didn't know what to do. That might be an edge for him remaining at VT. He might want to continue to improve, and he would under his current coach/mentor.
(In response to this post by TDVick)
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TDVick
1y
someone unambiguously better available? If Whit can figure that out and not screw something up.
(In response to this post by saret)
1y
We can compete to some degree and All P2 is not the same.
(In response to this post by DDhokie31)
1y
(In response to this post by LonghornHokie)
1y
There are indications that there will be greater resources for the program this coming offseason, and Lawal is a difference-maker. VT will make a big effort to keep him.
(In response to this post by DDhokie31)
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TDVick
1y
haven't had and specifics on this matter articulated by the athletic department?
It looks like NC State and Clemson have left VT in the dust, basketball resource-wise. Should that be happening?
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
Drones, Dorian, Felton, Lane, Tuten, APR, Chaplin, and maybe a couple others were all retained before last year. I think the money is being spent more efficiently this year, as we’ve seen the team rightly balk on someone like Mose wanting 400k (something like that). This combined with the house settlement should have VT in a much more competitive position to match offers while also still shop and add guys in the portal, although they’ll still be priced out of the big fish. My anticipation is that it’ll be more like the 21-22-23 years, where vt was able to land the efficient mid major players like Basile, instead of having to shop for the career role player guys like Beran, Long, Burnham, all fine players but not program raisers
(In response to this post by TDVick)
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TDVick
1y
(In response to this post by jfrance41)
1y
He has shown noticable improvement over the season. If we make our offer competitive he has good reason to stay with coach Young.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
I questioned MY's ability to get his "system" to work. This team lacks talent and they have done nothing but get better as the season has progressed. VT needs to do any and everything in its resources to retain players.
(In response to this post by NC Hoke)
1y
Wildly overinflated across the board. Got a little inside info today about Miami’s NIL. We can definitely compete. I think we can keep all 4 we need to keep. Whit turns his back on Mike Young this year and I for one am gone…. For good.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
Don’t think it will happen. I believe he got caught flat footed last year, not intended.
(In response to this post by ftsumterhokie)
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saret
1y
accountability, ;flat-footedness could become chronic.
(In response to this post by NC Hoke)
1y
(In response to this post by ftsumterhokie)
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TDVick
1y
Because Whit's good ole days weren't very good.
If MY isn't getting love or people that can't figure out that he is an extremely excellent coach, it just seems blind or not very smart.
The guy took a school of 1600 students to the NCAA tourney 4 times, won the ACC tourney at VT with 2 and 3 star recruits, beat a final 8 and final 4 team last year. These results aren't "because" of VT, they are "in-spite" of the operation that he has to overcome.
VT won't find a better coaching fit than MY. Whit just needs his rear kicked into line and not be a complete hindrance.
** Edited by TDVick at 2/10/2025, 3:43:13 PM
(In response to this post by GoldCoast)
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Vippie1
1y
and 2) not care about giving up the chance to be in the rotation of a national championship contender.
Not saying we can't keep him but he is going to have to really want to stay. Realistically this will be difficult.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
If WB can’t retain a handful of basketball players, they have no prayer ever assembling a winning FB team. So building on the MBB team is a strategic imperative for the athletic department.
WB needs to understand that the fans aren’t stupid. If he fails the MBB team a second year in a row, they will get up and walk out on all
VT sports.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
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saret
1y
that the AthDir doesn't think we're stupid, or that he holds us in disdain/
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
1y
Interested in whether or not @GCHokie34 agrees with this ordering (and note that although everyone is listed in order, some of these guys are pretty much equal priority):
Tobi Lawal
Jaden Schutt
Tyler Johnson
Ben Hammond
Ryan Jones, Jr.
Rodney Brown
I might flip Johnson and Schutt, and I'm not sure exactly where a healthy Ryan Jones would slot.
Beyond those six, I think the other guys can be replaced in the portal if any of them decide to move on. That doesn't mean I don't like some of the guys, I just think they're more replaceable.
** Edited by Will Stewart at 2/9/2025, 11:51:39 AM
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
1y
He’s likely going to be a high level P2 PG who stays in college for 4-5 years and in his 3rd-4th year he will be capable of leading an NCAA tournament team to wins in the tourney
Reminds me of where Kihei Clark or Jose Alvarado were when they were Fr
That said I think top 3 to keep are Lawal, Hammond, Johnson with Schutt as a nice one to have (it can be easier for CMY to replace shooters like him in portal than it is to replace the physical + bball abilities of guys like Lawal & Johnson)
** Edited by hokiepro at 2/10/2025, 1:58:00 PM
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
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win-tech
1y
His defense has improved significantly, he's driving to the basket occasionally, and has high basketball IQ. I think he is turning into a solid overall player. I don't think his overall skillset can be replaced so easily.
Cattoor was just a shooter in his first few years, but became a major overall contributor as an upperclassman. I think that Schutt could follow the same path, but with a little more athleticism than Cattoor.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
1y
Not that I’ve seen yet anyway. Hunter was dunking on dudes his last 2 years
(In response to this post by win-tech)
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TDVick
1y
guessed this? I wonder if our AD could? Without the injury, Jones would be pretty high as well. We all suspected that Tyler Johnson was another, effective, under-the-radar Mike Young recruit.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
Like Chem below I would tier them, but the order is pretty much the same
Tier 1: do everything you can to keep
Lawal
Tier 2: make competitive offers that might be slight overpays for current production
Schutt
Johnson
Tier 3: competitive offers with incremental increases to reward future progress/retention even if it isn't the highest dollar figure
Ben Hammond
Ryan Jones (if there are no issues other than injury)
Tier 4: make competitive offers but understand there are replacement level players available
Jaydon Young
Rodney Brown
Tier 5: you have a plan for them if they come back, you're ok if they leave
Brandon Rechsteiner
Patrick Wessler
Also understanding you're adding a 4 and a 5 out of HS, the possibility of an undersized PG to be the emergency PG, I think the writing is on the wall for this tier
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
hope to upgrade at the position in the portal, if we have the money.
I don’t think Wessler will go anywhere else unless CMY recommends it. No clue on Jones.
Portal priorities seem to be center, power forward depth, and pg.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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win-tech
1y
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
1y
I'm not his biggest fan, but you could certainly do worse as a 3rd PG
(In response to this post by win-tech)
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win-tech
1y
Or do you expect that we'll get a starting PG from the portal, and Hammond is our backup PG?
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
1y
Could he theoretically? Sure. I don't think VT will have it's highest ceiling with him playing starter minutes next season, but they've shown they can win with him in that spot now that they're getting on the same page...he'll only be better next season
But ideally it's a PG from the outside who has 1 year of eligibility remaining
(In response to this post by win-tech)
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Vippie1
1y
Athletic PGs tend to make big jumps in second year. I see keeping Hammond in the fold as a pretty high priority (maybe number 2) I mean if a Miller type (without the off court issues!) is available for a rent-a-year, you do it. But I'd think the odds are long of finding that.
I'd be satisfied rolling with Hammond next year assuming we can upgrade the back-up (and if Brown stays he hopefully can get more comfortable as the third PG for low minutes).
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
1y
He's gonna need to become a serviceable shooter or teams are going to start guarding him with a drop coverage in ball screens (which is another way to defend the wrinkle I talked about on the subscriber board)
So he needs to be able to knock down open shots since he isn't gonna be big enough to finish around the rim if there are trees around. It really limits what you can do with a ball screen. I think that's what I'd focus on with him in the offseason, and work on shooting out of specific actions within the offense so he can continue to grow in knowing where his shots will come from.
He is going to be limited in his overall ceiling by his size, so there's never really any danger he'd leave early for the pros. He has been a starter as a freshman at VT so that bodes well for him staying next year at least
(In response to this post by Vippie1)
1y
Finishing at rim for anyone under 6ft is a concern. Watching his HS film, he was able to finish, but he's playing against the big boys now. Having a Pedulla to tutor him on battling the big-uns on drives would have been nice.
If he could consistently turn the corner on the high screens or dribble drives for 12-15 footers, it could make him a contributor in the half-court game. Being able to knock down ball reversal 3's is a must for him though. If he can't shoot consistently, it's like playing 4 on 5.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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win-tech
1y
After those 4, I think that Brown, Young and Rech could all be valuable bench players. I would guess that at least 2 of those 3 will transfer out looking for starting roles.
Jones is a complete question mark for me. Is injury keeping him from playing this year? If so, what's the likelihood he will be at full health next season?
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
Absolutely must be retained:
Lawal - based upon current and future performance
Johnson - huge upside
Hammond - future starting ACC PG
Retain at above market;
Schutt - on a solid trajectory
Retain at market:
Young
Brown
Offer to stay at below market:
Rech
Wessler or Jones - if healthy
Must gets in the portal:
Starting 5 with 1-2 yrs availability
Starting 1 with 1-2 yrs availability
Nice to have in the portal:
Starting quality wing
Back-up 4
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
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saret
1y
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
1y
The 5 will be very costly, curious about how VT handles the 1.
but that's a worry in 2 months
(In response to this post by SarahVTHokie24)
1y
VT isn't looking for the same center that others are
Hypothetically, if VT keeps Jones and Gurdak in the fold you have 2 players who can play with their back to the basket, pass the ball, and not get bullied on the defensive end. You have Jones who can step outside and shoot it, and you have Lawal who can play any small ball role.
So the 5 VT needs next season is actually probably a combo 4/5 who is a better passer than Lawal (low bar) who can play inside and out to complement Lawal and doesn't need to be a rim protector because...Lawal.
So likely someone 6'8/6'9 with some touch around the rim and probably missing some athleticism that keeps the cost down.
TBD who that is, but there are typically a bunch out there who fit that mold (Grant Basile would've been a great complement to Lawal, for instance)
I don't think VT spends as much on a PG or 5 as they do for Lawal, but I do think the total number of those 3 add up to around 900k-1mil
(In response to this post by VermontDDS)
1y
Only way we do that is if Jones and Wessler leave, can’t have 4 true centers on the roster. Gurdak has the ability to be a day one starter with his size/skill combination and we need guys with positional diversity.
We have to replace Burnham and likely Lawal, a versatile 4 is priority number one followed by a lead guard.
Assuming we can pony up the cash to keep Schutt, Johnson, and Hammond while the backups likely aren’t getting a raise anywhere else, either keep Lawal or find a guy like Burnham and we’ll be in decent shape.
(In response to this post by VermontDDS)
1y
have a very strong appeal. If he continues to develop, he will be able to go anywhere he wants .
(In response to this post by SarahVTHokie24)
1y
(In response to this post by HOKIE75-79)
1y
Which they’re debating
** Edited by hokiepro at 2/9/2025, 9:46:32 AM
(In response to this post by dolph)
1y
(In response to this post by hokiepro)