Michigan State University Athletics
Men’s Basketball Adds Two on National Signing Day
11/13/2019 2:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Izzo on Hoggard
Izzo on Sissoko
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's basketball team has received signed National Letters of Intent from AJ Hoggard (Coatesville, Pa./Huntington Prep [W.Va.]) and Mady Sissoko (Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa/Wasatch Academy [Utah]).
"It's an exciting day for us here at Michigan State, announcing the commitments of AJ (Hoggard) and Mady (Sissoko)," Head Coach Tom Izzo said. "Mady is a guy everyone will love. He's got a little bit of Tum Tum (Nairn) in him that he just appreciates the world he's in and appreciates people. In AJ, he brings the toughness that I think this program has stood for. I fell in love with him watching him on the bench in a game, he's such a good leader, he communicated. AJ fits in well with our guys amd he brings a lot to the table.
"We're not done recruiting yet. We've got two down and maybe one or two to go, but this was a great start for us here and I'm excited with the two guys we've signed."
AJ Hoggard (G, 6-3, 220, Coatesville, Pa./Huntington Prep [W.Va.])
Played at Archbishop Carroll in Philadelphia before transferring to Huntington Prep for his senior year … Comes from the same prep school as former MSU All-American Miles Bridges … Hoggard is ranked No. 71 nationally by 247Sports.com and No. 13 among all point guards … At Archbishop Carroll, Hoggard was a first team All-Catholic selection … He averaged 15.6 points as a junior, leading the team to a 20-8 record and the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals.
"AJ Hoggard comes from Coatesville, Pa., home of Rip Hamilton, who helped train him a little bit, and he goes to Huntington Prep, home of Miles Bridges. There are some good genes there. AJ is the kind of guy we're looking for here, a tough, rugged, 6-3, 220-pound player who can play multiple positions. He can play some point, he can play some two and he can play some three. What is he? He's a basketball player. And we think a tough player who brings some of the attributes we like."
Mady Sissoko (C, 6-10, 215, Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa/Wasatch Academy [Utah])
A native of Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa, Mady Sissoko (Mau-DEE Si-SO-ko) averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game as a junior at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah during the 2018-19 season … A 6-10 center who has a 7-4 wingspan, Sissoko is ranked No. 35 in the ESPN Top 100 and the Nike Top 100 Elite … Rated the No. 36 overall player and No. 7 among centers by 247Sports.com … Also plays for the Vegas Elite and Jimmer Elite (Utah Mountain Stars) … Sissoko has been in the United States since 2016 … Sissoko will be Michigan State's first player from Africa since Idong Ibok, a native of Nigeria, played from 2005-09.
"Mady Sissoko is a 6-10 jumping jack, a guy that we think will be an excellent addition. Maybe one of the great rebounders of all-time and we consider ourselves a little bit as Rebounder U with the number of national titles we've won over the years here. Mady brings that to the table. He's an incredible rebounder. When the ball goes up, he goes up. He runs like a deer. He's got a lot to him as far as energy and he's a well-conditioned athlete. I hope he'll put on a little more weight, but he's really strong for his size. Mady is from Mali, West Africa and came over and he's been at Wastach in Utah and we think his back home brings a work ethic beyond belief and at Wastach, they've done an incredible job with him as he's improving each and every year he's been there."
The following is a complete transcript from Wednesday's press conference.
Opening Statement…
I get to announce two new Spartans. AJ Hoggard, from Hartsburg, Pa. and Huntington Prep. The former home of, of course our guy Miles Bridges. AJ played at Archbishop Carroll in Philadelphia before transferring to Huntington Prep and he comes from a very, very good neck of the woods high school program. He's ranked somewhere in the seventies. He was a first team All-Catholic selection when he was there as a sophomore. He averaged 15.6 points as a junior. He helped lead his team to a 20-8 record and class 5A quarterfinals. Huntington Prep, we all know they play against some of the best competition in the country. At 6-3, 220 pounds, he can play various guard positions, maybe all three guard positions. That's kind of what we're really looking for. A guy that's got some toughness, some size. But maybe most importantly it was the versatility. Mady Sissoko at 6-10 from Mali, West Africa. Wasatch Academy is where he is now in Utah. He's from Mali, and I got a chance to see some video of Mali. It's not a lot bigger than the U.P. in some of the areas that he was from. He averaged 12.5 points and almost nine rebounds and a block as a junior at Wasatch. I think this kid has got a 7'4 inch wingspan. He's been ranked in the top-30, top-40 players in the country. He plays also for two different AAU teams. One in Vegas and in Utah. That's where we got to see him a lot as a recruit that… saw him play for both AAU teams. Mike Garland has seen him in person and they are going to go back out there. He plays for a very good coach. I think it's helped him a lot and he has kind of the Tum Tum demeanor to him. He's very appreciative about everything. I think his biggest asset is that he can run the court like a deer. He rebounds everything in sight, so we think he's going to fit in well with us. He gets along with everybody. To be honest with you, we're very excited to get top-100 kids. One top-50 kid. Yet, I think by the end of the year, AJ will be a top 50 kid. Just because of who they'll play and I think how he'll play this year.
AJ Hoggard, like I said, has played all three guard positions. Very good passer and a very good defender who also can score it, but maybe most important is he shows great leadership skills. He pushes. Can rebound it. As I said, he has a knack for seeing the court. A good shooter. I wouldn't say a great shooter yet, but a good enough shooter that he can make that shot so right now he can play for us as we're struggling to shoot the ball lately. I think the other asset is strength. Very strong and good size. Very strong. Dad was a big fan of ours and we started recruiting him...almost said from day one, "that's where I want him to go." That really helped along with he too is also coached by the same coach that coached Miles. He plays in a program that is just going to play a ton of great people all year. So, it'll give him a good chance to improve as the year goes on. That's the cool part. He can post and he can play so many different positions. AJ is the first one that'll play somewhere in the guard position.
Our second guy of course is Mady who we really like as a person and as a player and as a kid. He runs dunks and rebounds. He has pretty good feet for a shooter. He can run. He can jump. He thinks every rebound is his. I think as he puts on more weight too… he's skinny, but he's very well built. He's going to be an exciting player because of what he can do and how he plays. With a 7'4 inch wingspan, he reminds me a little bit of Jaren Jackson who is a different kind of player. He played in the prep school tournament, the Dicks, which now has changed. That's a left-hand right-hand jump hook. He is right handed. So, I think a great start for us. We'll probably sign one more if we feel like the number of guards we're losing. We'll need another guard. You never know in this day and age. We'll check that basket sometime and see what's in there and then we'll figure out where we want to go from here. The game plan is definitely to sign at least one more sometime throughout the year.
On Mady's ball awareness…
He's been ranked as high as the third best center. He's got to get better offensive production, but he does have those skills that you saw with the right to left hand. He's got that already. That was junior year. He did get hurt a little bit in an accident, but he's starting to play again in a couple weeks. Just with his hand. I think when you see him athletically… I wish he had some of that offensive production. He's definitely got that and more athleticism. I'm starting to believe length might be more important than height.
On recruiting big guys and running center lane in transition…
I think running he does. I also think that the rebounding… he just believes every missed shot is his. In fact, shot that goes up he's going there. He rebounds with a vengeance. In that respect, I think he's going to fit in really well here. He will continue to work on his offensive skills. He's a pretty good free-throw shooter. I think running the court and rebounding the ball and blocking shots, I think he's going to be at a very high level.
On early signs of raw potential in Mady..
Mike (Garland) went there to look at another kid to be honest with you and saw Mady and said I really like this kid. This was a year ago. We started recruiting him a little bit and then when we got to know the kid. Another kid from West Africa, that just academically, personality. You can talk to him. He calls you back. He's kind of 'our kind of guy'. We kind of fell in love with him that way. We got him up here early and he really enjoyed his time here and the rest was history. I thought at the end Kansas and Memphis were in there strong and I think we had built a good enough relationship that he's one of those guys that has something that people don't have anymore. He had a very… this is my path and this is what I want to do. If the Lakers came in I don't think he would have gone and that's a treat this day and age.
On where AJ will start position wise…
That will be determined. I barely know who I have tomorrow night. Definitely by the end of the year. This is not a fun time for me if you want the truth because I just don't like the way recruiting in general is going because I have to answer questions that you have to ask. I can look you in the eye and say I don't have an honest answer on any of it. I think we're all going to be flying by the seat of our pants. I think that's what they want. That's probably what we're going to get. Hopefully what I'm going to do in the best organized way we can to keep some process here that makes sense for keeping your program above ground. It isn't like it used to be where you had a junior or you had a senior, you had a freshman. You thought you were getting some guys. You knew they went one or two and done. Some guys you thought would be four-year players. I don't think there's any such thing with any of this anymore. I just know this, the more versatile players we can get that can play multiple positions, the more it will benefit us. Depending on what happens with a lot of different guys on our team. It's a little hard to say right now. I do feel comfortable that he's a guy that can play multiple positions. He can play some point. He's strong enough to play almost the four in this day and age. I think he'll be able to play all over the place and I think that benefits us. He can guard a lot of different positions. I think consistency with that 3-point shot will be one thing that he'll have to improve on. Maybe getting him in great shape. I think he's in decent shape, but he could improve in that area. Yet, we kind of fell in love with him just listening to him on the bench to his teammates. He has very good leadership skills and is not afraid to use his voice.
On AJ's toughness..
As you know, he's played in a tough league. Rip Hamilton kind of mentored him a little bit, I guess. His parents are both great, but his Dad is a lively guy that exudes energy. If the kid ends up at all like him, we've got ourselves a gem. I do think he could guard three and four positions because of his strength. He has some size, but his strength really separates him.
On if Mady and AJ compare to any former players of his..
Mady is different than most guys that we've had. An athlete like that at the five positio. I'm trying to think who we have had in recent years. Jaren a little bit. He's probably more athletic. He's not as big as Jaren. He doesn't shoot it as well as Jaren. He can run and can do some things that way. Plus, just like Jaren, his personality is… He's one of those guys you're going to enjoy being around I think. AJ has got some Alan Anderson in him. He can play different positions. He's got a great first step. He needs to shoot it a little better. Probably a better shooter than Alan was when he came. He's kind of like that. They're kind of unique. They're in their own way. The versatility thing. Is he versatile like Denzel Valentine? He might be. He probably shoots it as well as Denzel when he came. He'll improve on that like Denzel did. Only time will tell. They've kind of got their own personality. They're their own guys. I do think it's good to recruit a guy that can both pass and shoot it and guard it. I think that is really needed. I think that's one thing we're missing with Josh right now. He's a guy that can do all three. Josh can do two of the three. He wasn't maybe the best passer, but he can definitely guard it and shoot it. I think this kid will be able to do all these things before he's done.
On another opening in this class…
I think there's a lot of opportunities. I'm pretty sure we'll go after a guard, but who knows what's going to happen between now and the spring. There's a couple of guards that we're looking at right now to be honest with you. We'll look that way, but we might get to take the best player too. I think so many things are changing now. Who's in that magical chair or box or whatever you want to call it. I think that what everybody does, I might need other things. I feel really good right now about this. I think inside, we've really got some solid work. We're getting more and more excited about the progress those two freshmen are making. I think both guys are demonstrating some things offensively and defensively that are going to be good for us. I think we're going to need help. We're going to lose Kyle. Cassius of course and we lost Josh. We're losing a lot more at the guard position. Hopefully, that's something that'll show up.
On holding on to scholarship and not forcing it..
I guess that depends on, lets see, what are the variables now. Who goes pro or who enters their name, who transfers or who graduates. Recruiting is a confusing part of my job now, but you're right. We could hold the scholarship. I think this day and age, everybody says that you should hold the scholarship until late. Maybe this works out good that we used two and we've kind of got one to go. When you start doing the numbers guys, the one thing that I wouldn't at any school anymore figure on is you want to say you have one scholarship. They could have no scholarships left. We've got a lot of scholarships. Everybody's got a lot of scholarships right now. That is the sad part of what's happening. Coaches are going to be doing more where guys who play to his best, they won't be keeping guys that they used to keep. It's one of those unintended consequences I think you're going to see that doesn't benefit the student-athlete. Maybe that won't happen. Hopefully it will happen very little here. I think it's going to be a mad rush before it's over. The other thing is, I think there's always going to be scholarships to be had. We're teaching kids not to be happy to go through a process of any kind. We've prepared for that too. It will probably end up the worst part of my job. Today is an exciting part of my job because I'm very pleased and happy with the two kids that we've got. We definitely want guys that want to be here. I think we've got two guys that definitely want to be here. I don't know if I'll hold a scholarship back. I just think that every spring, you're going to look at most programs and see that they have more scholarships than you think they had in the fall. I'm hoping it doesn't happen here. I'm hoping that we keep some roster management issues solved. Just looking at the landscape of everything, I think that these are one of those things that's hard for coaches and hard for programs. I think they're going to find out there's more and more people think the transfer route is the way to go that there's going to be unintended consequences where maybe they don't get to go where they thought they'd get to go and then do they even have a scholarship at places. I will publicly say I feel bad about that. I will privately say much worse and I will always say that I still have a feeling when it's all said and done more kids are going to lose out than benefit. That's sad for the kids. If I leave here tomorrow. Somebody else comes the next day, these walls aren't caving in. Colleges don't go anywhere.
On how hard recruiting has become since transfers are more prevalent…
There's some major, major, major program teams. If we're in that blue blood group. There's some others in that blue blood group in the last two or three years that are signing guys the end of August for that year. That's never happened in the history of the world. That's what we're up against. Whatever the day that we start school, my job ends on that year's team that day and then it starts for the next two or three years. So, the days of somewhere along my first ten years, we have commitments from every kid in July and you kind of knew you were done then. That boat has left. That horse has left the barn, which is okay. I do think it's going to get harder on coaches because, how do you be honest with a kid? There's schools out there recruiting like you're going to be the only one and then in August they pick up two from the transfer area. It's just going to be very different. I think kids are going to be going crazy on that. I think the coaches will be going crazy, because you're right. We will never quit recruiting, and we won't quit recruiting for next year and we won't quit recruiting for the year after and the year after. That will never end. It'll drive you guys a little nuts, us totally crazy. That's the way it is.
On player rights and if he'd like to see coaches be able to dismiss players out of scholarships if they don't perform…
No, you know better than that. That's not the American way. There's a lot of one-way streets in that situation. Some people think it's a one -way street that coaches can leave. I can't argue that. I guess I can leave any time I want. I think I know what it would cost me or a lot of coaches. Guys, we can get into a philosophical discussion with some of my favorite people on TV, but I'm not going to do that because I don't know the ramifications of all of this. I'm just amazed how all of these people are commenting on all of these different topics that are out there. Usually, we have these long studies before we change policy. We're doing it like that now. When you do it like that, there will be unintended consequences. When I talk to some of our Olympic sports and they tell me about the number of people who don't even end up with scholarship. I don't even know what goes through anyone's brain. Loyalty is a two-way street. I don't know what'll happen with that. I don't have the answers, I just know that I'll never until the day I die believe that when the going gets tough you hit the road. I'll always believe that people can make mistakes - players, coaches, everybody can make mistakes. I fear being fired every day. That is a good thing. It is a good thing. You should fear that if you don't do your job, somebody's going to replace you. It's the same for a player. It's the same for a coach, and it's definitely the same for media people. If you don't do your job, someone should replace you. I just feel like it's going to cause more kids to just jump out and not really fight through things. If that's what you are, that's probably what will happen to you at a lot of different places, in my opinion. Other people have other opinions. I will say this, I know what I believe. But I'm not going to arrogantly say I know what's going to happen, because nobody does. I'm just trying to get my arms around how we handle it. It wasn't long ago that we had a four-year scholarship. So, if you have a kid a scholarship, he was guaranteed that unless he did something criminally wrong, he had that scholarship for four years. I don't even hear about that anymore. I don't know where that is. It's going to be, in my opinion… it's going to be a little crazier. I don't enjoy what I'm seeing. That could change as things go on and maybe it works out. I worry about the culture of the program. You won't have people in your program. You don't have juniors and seniors teaching you when you're a freshman and sophomore. There's just a lot of things. I worry about fans being connected to the players that they usually get connected to them for a few years. I look at all those things, but a lot of other people who are a lot smarter than me look at other things. The rights of a player. I'm not against the rights of a player. I'm not against the rights of a player in any way shape or form. I think when you go with not as much accountability with no rules, then it becomes the Wild Wild West and that's my take on it.
On chasing kids late in the process and early signing isn't a big thing anymore…
If that happens. Let's say kids are waiting to go to a certain school, and they wait and wait and wait and then all of a sudden that school is filled up. Now what do you do? At the end of the day, there's a lot of things that happened and I'd say in that kids case, he would have liked to be closer to home. I'd say eight out of ten kids, would rather be playing closer to home if it worked out that way. Eight out of ten. Maybe I'm a little off on that. I really believe that. Sometimes you wait and you better watch what you're waiting for because we are going to sign kids and a lot of other schools are going to sign kids and you might luck out. This thing about kids going somewhere. Loyalty will be a two-way street. I just worry that in the end, what seems like the benefactor is now the kids. I could see where they could be the ones that go through some times wondering where they're going to end up or where they're going to go. Maybe that will be the trend. Let's wait and see. Is so and so going to lose a bunch of kids to the pros. Is so and so going to lose a bunch of kids to transfer. Maybe I want to go there. Maybe that works out, but maybe if he goes there, a year from now they're going to get somebody better and things like that. I've been in this with a lot of my good friends that I can't say I totally agree with and consequently, they try to educate me and I try to educate them. It's just my philosophy and if it works out great for the kids, I'll say this. If all these things work out best for the kids, I'll be happy with it. I really will. I'll be happy with it. Even though nobody cares if things work out for me, I kind of earned my way. If that's the new way, I'm cool with that. Benefit them, I'm cool with that. I don't see how those things have long lasting. I'll ask you, do any of you get to do what they want to be able to do. Do you not take your job because you're waiting for some other jobs. Then when you start moving too much, employers say he's not very stable and he's not sticking around long. I'm just asking, is that the way the real world is? If that's the way it is… If that's the way it's going, I'm cool with it. I think I can fight through anything, so I'm not going to worry about it. I just feel strongly that I should voice my opinion because everybody's is voicing it in different ways. My best opinion, I don't know yet. I wish someone would show me the studies. I've got a very good player that left here a couple years ago that's back home and that bothers the hell out of me. It really bothers me. We just keep talking about LeBron and Kobe. We're not talking about the many that don't make it. Those are the guys that worry me.
Izzo on Sissoko
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's basketball team has received signed National Letters of Intent from AJ Hoggard (Coatesville, Pa./Huntington Prep [W.Va.]) and Mady Sissoko (Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa/Wasatch Academy [Utah]).
"It's an exciting day for us here at Michigan State, announcing the commitments of AJ (Hoggard) and Mady (Sissoko)," Head Coach Tom Izzo said. "Mady is a guy everyone will love. He's got a little bit of Tum Tum (Nairn) in him that he just appreciates the world he's in and appreciates people. In AJ, he brings the toughness that I think this program has stood for. I fell in love with him watching him on the bench in a game, he's such a good leader, he communicated. AJ fits in well with our guys amd he brings a lot to the table.
"We're not done recruiting yet. We've got two down and maybe one or two to go, but this was a great start for us here and I'm excited with the two guys we've signed."
AJ Hoggard (G, 6-3, 220, Coatesville, Pa./Huntington Prep [W.Va.])
Played at Archbishop Carroll in Philadelphia before transferring to Huntington Prep for his senior year … Comes from the same prep school as former MSU All-American Miles Bridges … Hoggard is ranked No. 71 nationally by 247Sports.com and No. 13 among all point guards … At Archbishop Carroll, Hoggard was a first team All-Catholic selection … He averaged 15.6 points as a junior, leading the team to a 20-8 record and the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals.
"AJ Hoggard comes from Coatesville, Pa., home of Rip Hamilton, who helped train him a little bit, and he goes to Huntington Prep, home of Miles Bridges. There are some good genes there. AJ is the kind of guy we're looking for here, a tough, rugged, 6-3, 220-pound player who can play multiple positions. He can play some point, he can play some two and he can play some three. What is he? He's a basketball player. And we think a tough player who brings some of the attributes we like."
Mady Sissoko (C, 6-10, 215, Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa/Wasatch Academy [Utah])
A native of Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa, Mady Sissoko (Mau-DEE Si-SO-ko) averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game as a junior at Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah during the 2018-19 season … A 6-10 center who has a 7-4 wingspan, Sissoko is ranked No. 35 in the ESPN Top 100 and the Nike Top 100 Elite … Rated the No. 36 overall player and No. 7 among centers by 247Sports.com … Also plays for the Vegas Elite and Jimmer Elite (Utah Mountain Stars) … Sissoko has been in the United States since 2016 … Sissoko will be Michigan State's first player from Africa since Idong Ibok, a native of Nigeria, played from 2005-09.
"Mady Sissoko is a 6-10 jumping jack, a guy that we think will be an excellent addition. Maybe one of the great rebounders of all-time and we consider ourselves a little bit as Rebounder U with the number of national titles we've won over the years here. Mady brings that to the table. He's an incredible rebounder. When the ball goes up, he goes up. He runs like a deer. He's got a lot to him as far as energy and he's a well-conditioned athlete. I hope he'll put on a little more weight, but he's really strong for his size. Mady is from Mali, West Africa and came over and he's been at Wastach in Utah and we think his back home brings a work ethic beyond belief and at Wastach, they've done an incredible job with him as he's improving each and every year he's been there."
The following is a complete transcript from Wednesday's press conference.
Opening Statement…
I get to announce two new Spartans. AJ Hoggard, from Hartsburg, Pa. and Huntington Prep. The former home of, of course our guy Miles Bridges. AJ played at Archbishop Carroll in Philadelphia before transferring to Huntington Prep and he comes from a very, very good neck of the woods high school program. He's ranked somewhere in the seventies. He was a first team All-Catholic selection when he was there as a sophomore. He averaged 15.6 points as a junior. He helped lead his team to a 20-8 record and class 5A quarterfinals. Huntington Prep, we all know they play against some of the best competition in the country. At 6-3, 220 pounds, he can play various guard positions, maybe all three guard positions. That's kind of what we're really looking for. A guy that's got some toughness, some size. But maybe most importantly it was the versatility. Mady Sissoko at 6-10 from Mali, West Africa. Wasatch Academy is where he is now in Utah. He's from Mali, and I got a chance to see some video of Mali. It's not a lot bigger than the U.P. in some of the areas that he was from. He averaged 12.5 points and almost nine rebounds and a block as a junior at Wasatch. I think this kid has got a 7'4 inch wingspan. He's been ranked in the top-30, top-40 players in the country. He plays also for two different AAU teams. One in Vegas and in Utah. That's where we got to see him a lot as a recruit that… saw him play for both AAU teams. Mike Garland has seen him in person and they are going to go back out there. He plays for a very good coach. I think it's helped him a lot and he has kind of the Tum Tum demeanor to him. He's very appreciative about everything. I think his biggest asset is that he can run the court like a deer. He rebounds everything in sight, so we think he's going to fit in well with us. He gets along with everybody. To be honest with you, we're very excited to get top-100 kids. One top-50 kid. Yet, I think by the end of the year, AJ will be a top 50 kid. Just because of who they'll play and I think how he'll play this year.
AJ Hoggard, like I said, has played all three guard positions. Very good passer and a very good defender who also can score it, but maybe most important is he shows great leadership skills. He pushes. Can rebound it. As I said, he has a knack for seeing the court. A good shooter. I wouldn't say a great shooter yet, but a good enough shooter that he can make that shot so right now he can play for us as we're struggling to shoot the ball lately. I think the other asset is strength. Very strong and good size. Very strong. Dad was a big fan of ours and we started recruiting him...almost said from day one, "that's where I want him to go." That really helped along with he too is also coached by the same coach that coached Miles. He plays in a program that is just going to play a ton of great people all year. So, it'll give him a good chance to improve as the year goes on. That's the cool part. He can post and he can play so many different positions. AJ is the first one that'll play somewhere in the guard position.
Our second guy of course is Mady who we really like as a person and as a player and as a kid. He runs dunks and rebounds. He has pretty good feet for a shooter. He can run. He can jump. He thinks every rebound is his. I think as he puts on more weight too… he's skinny, but he's very well built. He's going to be an exciting player because of what he can do and how he plays. With a 7'4 inch wingspan, he reminds me a little bit of Jaren Jackson who is a different kind of player. He played in the prep school tournament, the Dicks, which now has changed. That's a left-hand right-hand jump hook. He is right handed. So, I think a great start for us. We'll probably sign one more if we feel like the number of guards we're losing. We'll need another guard. You never know in this day and age. We'll check that basket sometime and see what's in there and then we'll figure out where we want to go from here. The game plan is definitely to sign at least one more sometime throughout the year.
On Mady's ball awareness…
He's been ranked as high as the third best center. He's got to get better offensive production, but he does have those skills that you saw with the right to left hand. He's got that already. That was junior year. He did get hurt a little bit in an accident, but he's starting to play again in a couple weeks. Just with his hand. I think when you see him athletically… I wish he had some of that offensive production. He's definitely got that and more athleticism. I'm starting to believe length might be more important than height.
On recruiting big guys and running center lane in transition…
I think running he does. I also think that the rebounding… he just believes every missed shot is his. In fact, shot that goes up he's going there. He rebounds with a vengeance. In that respect, I think he's going to fit in really well here. He will continue to work on his offensive skills. He's a pretty good free-throw shooter. I think running the court and rebounding the ball and blocking shots, I think he's going to be at a very high level.
On early signs of raw potential in Mady..
Mike (Garland) went there to look at another kid to be honest with you and saw Mady and said I really like this kid. This was a year ago. We started recruiting him a little bit and then when we got to know the kid. Another kid from West Africa, that just academically, personality. You can talk to him. He calls you back. He's kind of 'our kind of guy'. We kind of fell in love with him that way. We got him up here early and he really enjoyed his time here and the rest was history. I thought at the end Kansas and Memphis were in there strong and I think we had built a good enough relationship that he's one of those guys that has something that people don't have anymore. He had a very… this is my path and this is what I want to do. If the Lakers came in I don't think he would have gone and that's a treat this day and age.
On where AJ will start position wise…
That will be determined. I barely know who I have tomorrow night. Definitely by the end of the year. This is not a fun time for me if you want the truth because I just don't like the way recruiting in general is going because I have to answer questions that you have to ask. I can look you in the eye and say I don't have an honest answer on any of it. I think we're all going to be flying by the seat of our pants. I think that's what they want. That's probably what we're going to get. Hopefully what I'm going to do in the best organized way we can to keep some process here that makes sense for keeping your program above ground. It isn't like it used to be where you had a junior or you had a senior, you had a freshman. You thought you were getting some guys. You knew they went one or two and done. Some guys you thought would be four-year players. I don't think there's any such thing with any of this anymore. I just know this, the more versatile players we can get that can play multiple positions, the more it will benefit us. Depending on what happens with a lot of different guys on our team. It's a little hard to say right now. I do feel comfortable that he's a guy that can play multiple positions. He can play some point. He's strong enough to play almost the four in this day and age. I think he'll be able to play all over the place and I think that benefits us. He can guard a lot of different positions. I think consistency with that 3-point shot will be one thing that he'll have to improve on. Maybe getting him in great shape. I think he's in decent shape, but he could improve in that area. Yet, we kind of fell in love with him just listening to him on the bench to his teammates. He has very good leadership skills and is not afraid to use his voice.
On AJ's toughness..
As you know, he's played in a tough league. Rip Hamilton kind of mentored him a little bit, I guess. His parents are both great, but his Dad is a lively guy that exudes energy. If the kid ends up at all like him, we've got ourselves a gem. I do think he could guard three and four positions because of his strength. He has some size, but his strength really separates him.
On if Mady and AJ compare to any former players of his..
Mady is different than most guys that we've had. An athlete like that at the five positio. I'm trying to think who we have had in recent years. Jaren a little bit. He's probably more athletic. He's not as big as Jaren. He doesn't shoot it as well as Jaren. He can run and can do some things that way. Plus, just like Jaren, his personality is… He's one of those guys you're going to enjoy being around I think. AJ has got some Alan Anderson in him. He can play different positions. He's got a great first step. He needs to shoot it a little better. Probably a better shooter than Alan was when he came. He's kind of like that. They're kind of unique. They're in their own way. The versatility thing. Is he versatile like Denzel Valentine? He might be. He probably shoots it as well as Denzel when he came. He'll improve on that like Denzel did. Only time will tell. They've kind of got their own personality. They're their own guys. I do think it's good to recruit a guy that can both pass and shoot it and guard it. I think that is really needed. I think that's one thing we're missing with Josh right now. He's a guy that can do all three. Josh can do two of the three. He wasn't maybe the best passer, but he can definitely guard it and shoot it. I think this kid will be able to do all these things before he's done.
On another opening in this class…
I think there's a lot of opportunities. I'm pretty sure we'll go after a guard, but who knows what's going to happen between now and the spring. There's a couple of guards that we're looking at right now to be honest with you. We'll look that way, but we might get to take the best player too. I think so many things are changing now. Who's in that magical chair or box or whatever you want to call it. I think that what everybody does, I might need other things. I feel really good right now about this. I think inside, we've really got some solid work. We're getting more and more excited about the progress those two freshmen are making. I think both guys are demonstrating some things offensively and defensively that are going to be good for us. I think we're going to need help. We're going to lose Kyle. Cassius of course and we lost Josh. We're losing a lot more at the guard position. Hopefully, that's something that'll show up.
On holding on to scholarship and not forcing it..
I guess that depends on, lets see, what are the variables now. Who goes pro or who enters their name, who transfers or who graduates. Recruiting is a confusing part of my job now, but you're right. We could hold the scholarship. I think this day and age, everybody says that you should hold the scholarship until late. Maybe this works out good that we used two and we've kind of got one to go. When you start doing the numbers guys, the one thing that I wouldn't at any school anymore figure on is you want to say you have one scholarship. They could have no scholarships left. We've got a lot of scholarships. Everybody's got a lot of scholarships right now. That is the sad part of what's happening. Coaches are going to be doing more where guys who play to his best, they won't be keeping guys that they used to keep. It's one of those unintended consequences I think you're going to see that doesn't benefit the student-athlete. Maybe that won't happen. Hopefully it will happen very little here. I think it's going to be a mad rush before it's over. The other thing is, I think there's always going to be scholarships to be had. We're teaching kids not to be happy to go through a process of any kind. We've prepared for that too. It will probably end up the worst part of my job. Today is an exciting part of my job because I'm very pleased and happy with the two kids that we've got. We definitely want guys that want to be here. I think we've got two guys that definitely want to be here. I don't know if I'll hold a scholarship back. I just think that every spring, you're going to look at most programs and see that they have more scholarships than you think they had in the fall. I'm hoping it doesn't happen here. I'm hoping that we keep some roster management issues solved. Just looking at the landscape of everything, I think that these are one of those things that's hard for coaches and hard for programs. I think they're going to find out there's more and more people think the transfer route is the way to go that there's going to be unintended consequences where maybe they don't get to go where they thought they'd get to go and then do they even have a scholarship at places. I will publicly say I feel bad about that. I will privately say much worse and I will always say that I still have a feeling when it's all said and done more kids are going to lose out than benefit. That's sad for the kids. If I leave here tomorrow. Somebody else comes the next day, these walls aren't caving in. Colleges don't go anywhere.
On how hard recruiting has become since transfers are more prevalent…
There's some major, major, major program teams. If we're in that blue blood group. There's some others in that blue blood group in the last two or three years that are signing guys the end of August for that year. That's never happened in the history of the world. That's what we're up against. Whatever the day that we start school, my job ends on that year's team that day and then it starts for the next two or three years. So, the days of somewhere along my first ten years, we have commitments from every kid in July and you kind of knew you were done then. That boat has left. That horse has left the barn, which is okay. I do think it's going to get harder on coaches because, how do you be honest with a kid? There's schools out there recruiting like you're going to be the only one and then in August they pick up two from the transfer area. It's just going to be very different. I think kids are going to be going crazy on that. I think the coaches will be going crazy, because you're right. We will never quit recruiting, and we won't quit recruiting for next year and we won't quit recruiting for the year after and the year after. That will never end. It'll drive you guys a little nuts, us totally crazy. That's the way it is.
On player rights and if he'd like to see coaches be able to dismiss players out of scholarships if they don't perform…
No, you know better than that. That's not the American way. There's a lot of one-way streets in that situation. Some people think it's a one -way street that coaches can leave. I can't argue that. I guess I can leave any time I want. I think I know what it would cost me or a lot of coaches. Guys, we can get into a philosophical discussion with some of my favorite people on TV, but I'm not going to do that because I don't know the ramifications of all of this. I'm just amazed how all of these people are commenting on all of these different topics that are out there. Usually, we have these long studies before we change policy. We're doing it like that now. When you do it like that, there will be unintended consequences. When I talk to some of our Olympic sports and they tell me about the number of people who don't even end up with scholarship. I don't even know what goes through anyone's brain. Loyalty is a two-way street. I don't know what'll happen with that. I don't have the answers, I just know that I'll never until the day I die believe that when the going gets tough you hit the road. I'll always believe that people can make mistakes - players, coaches, everybody can make mistakes. I fear being fired every day. That is a good thing. It is a good thing. You should fear that if you don't do your job, somebody's going to replace you. It's the same for a player. It's the same for a coach, and it's definitely the same for media people. If you don't do your job, someone should replace you. I just feel like it's going to cause more kids to just jump out and not really fight through things. If that's what you are, that's probably what will happen to you at a lot of different places, in my opinion. Other people have other opinions. I will say this, I know what I believe. But I'm not going to arrogantly say I know what's going to happen, because nobody does. I'm just trying to get my arms around how we handle it. It wasn't long ago that we had a four-year scholarship. So, if you have a kid a scholarship, he was guaranteed that unless he did something criminally wrong, he had that scholarship for four years. I don't even hear about that anymore. I don't know where that is. It's going to be, in my opinion… it's going to be a little crazier. I don't enjoy what I'm seeing. That could change as things go on and maybe it works out. I worry about the culture of the program. You won't have people in your program. You don't have juniors and seniors teaching you when you're a freshman and sophomore. There's just a lot of things. I worry about fans being connected to the players that they usually get connected to them for a few years. I look at all those things, but a lot of other people who are a lot smarter than me look at other things. The rights of a player. I'm not against the rights of a player. I'm not against the rights of a player in any way shape or form. I think when you go with not as much accountability with no rules, then it becomes the Wild Wild West and that's my take on it.
On chasing kids late in the process and early signing isn't a big thing anymore…
If that happens. Let's say kids are waiting to go to a certain school, and they wait and wait and wait and then all of a sudden that school is filled up. Now what do you do? At the end of the day, there's a lot of things that happened and I'd say in that kids case, he would have liked to be closer to home. I'd say eight out of ten kids, would rather be playing closer to home if it worked out that way. Eight out of ten. Maybe I'm a little off on that. I really believe that. Sometimes you wait and you better watch what you're waiting for because we are going to sign kids and a lot of other schools are going to sign kids and you might luck out. This thing about kids going somewhere. Loyalty will be a two-way street. I just worry that in the end, what seems like the benefactor is now the kids. I could see where they could be the ones that go through some times wondering where they're going to end up or where they're going to go. Maybe that will be the trend. Let's wait and see. Is so and so going to lose a bunch of kids to the pros. Is so and so going to lose a bunch of kids to transfer. Maybe I want to go there. Maybe that works out, but maybe if he goes there, a year from now they're going to get somebody better and things like that. I've been in this with a lot of my good friends that I can't say I totally agree with and consequently, they try to educate me and I try to educate them. It's just my philosophy and if it works out great for the kids, I'll say this. If all these things work out best for the kids, I'll be happy with it. I really will. I'll be happy with it. Even though nobody cares if things work out for me, I kind of earned my way. If that's the new way, I'm cool with that. Benefit them, I'm cool with that. I don't see how those things have long lasting. I'll ask you, do any of you get to do what they want to be able to do. Do you not take your job because you're waiting for some other jobs. Then when you start moving too much, employers say he's not very stable and he's not sticking around long. I'm just asking, is that the way the real world is? If that's the way it is… If that's the way it's going, I'm cool with it. I think I can fight through anything, so I'm not going to worry about it. I just feel strongly that I should voice my opinion because everybody's is voicing it in different ways. My best opinion, I don't know yet. I wish someone would show me the studies. I've got a very good player that left here a couple years ago that's back home and that bothers the hell out of me. It really bothers me. We just keep talking about LeBron and Kobe. We're not talking about the many that don't make it. Those are the guys that worry me.
Players Mentioned
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