Schutt

I don't get the notion that Gurdak is indispensable. He's a nice piece at 15 min/game, but he's a liability defensively (outside the paint and even in it) and that likely won't change much.

I think he is what he is. He could develop an outside shot. As a stretch 5 he’d be a bigger asset.

He's 6'-10" 260# and agile. Methinks you've got a severe case of Premature Evaluation.

Yes, he a was a frosh. And he's not totally lacking in skills and, as I CLEARLY SAID, is a nice piece. But you can't teach quick feet and speed and while he may not be at his ceiling, he's not that far from it. He will always be an exploitable defensive liability. Do I want to just let him go? No. But is he a key piece you build around and try to retain at all costs? No chance. So again, if I was Hansbury, I would need to see a more agile 5 on the roster otherwise it would be more of defenders collapsing on him and watching lots of guards/forwards speed by on ball screens and pick and rolls on the other side of the paint.

I don't agree with you that he's close to his ceiling or be an exploitable defensive liability. Not sure how you can know that after watching him play 15 minutes a game as a freshman unless you're an NBA GM. Methinks he's a budding star. You don't grab 19 rebound against a Top 20 team unless you got serious game. Yeah there were times when he looked lost and clumsy but that's to be expected from freshmen. I wouldn't be surprised if he averages a double-double next season If he starts and plays +30 MPG. And I think Hansberry will flourish at the 4 if Gurdak plays the 5.

The good news is I doubt he's a hot commodity, so I think VT can retain him fairly easily if it wants. ** Edited by marcbvtgm at 3/26/2026, 6:33:05 PM

as long as we have enough money to pay them to stay. Hammond and Hansberry will have high price tags though, and we need to make sure they stay. We should be able to sustain the cost of the others.

Especially if staff holds it true abt continuing to recruit in Europe.