GT Transfer Portal Activity 2.0 – Portal Season: The Awakening

[CEB]

Feels like there are a lot of shared experiences on this board.

Or shared exes?

 

[kg01]

Or shared exes?
View attachment 21671

Yikes.

If that's true, I recommend setting aside bail money for mine.

(Not even kidding)

 

[AUFC]

Was this a confirmed NIL issue? I'm not active on the pay sites or the donor rumor mills

Auburn is 100 miles closer to his hometown of Dothan and has made two F4s and 6 tournaments in the last 8 years. Our recent lack of success unfortunately gives players plenty of basketball reasons to go elsewhere

No it's not confirmed. There could be several reasons that you point out - lack of success being one, closing to his hometown being another, etc. I would not be surprised if Auburn offered him more money also, but I can't confirm that.

 

[Techwood Relict]

Yikes.

If that's true, I recommend setting aside bail money for mine.

(Not even kidding)

Never gonna learn if you don't leave her in there.....

 

[Novajacket]

Are you counting on Fields to match up against teams with a strong big or are you thinking Cross will just scheme around those kinds of teams?

I think it will start with zone defense and if there is a problem then they will bring in Cole or Diop. At the end of the day this will be a weakness that we will have to work through/compensate for. It’s something CSC has done before. I would love it if we can get a big junior or senior transfer to help here.

 

[Techster]

While you never want to depend on a true freshmen for such a pivotal position as Center, Diop's HS scouting report sounds like he could as least be a good rebounder and protect the paint at good enough level for Cross not to reach for a center just have an older body:

Moustapha Diop – NBA Draft Room

A big time athlete for a player his size who hustles all over the court and plays both ends.
Has NBA size and a solid build that will add more weight.
Does all the little things well. Rebounds, defends at the rim and in space and runs the floor hard.
Has some offensive upside but is more of a junkyard dog type of player. (<-- Sounds like an OKG there to me)

Georgia Tech Commit Moustapha Diop Shines In 3SSB Championship Game

Georgia Tech commit, Moustapha Diop, scored 10 points in the 17U 3SSB championship game to defeat D1 Minnesota, 62-61. Diop was documented as one of the eye cat

www.si.com

"Diop is a physically gifted big man. He stands at over 6-foot-10 with shoes on, has long arms with a better than 7-foot-2 wingspan, and is a high-level run and jump athlete, particularly for his size. He changes ends extremely well and is also a good leaper, giving him immediate value as a rim-runner, lob threat, and shot-blocker. He's also cut-up with a frame that should only continue to add muscle mass.

While Diop is a major presence around the rim on both ends of the floor, he's working to extend his game. He can be a little limited offensively and isn't always a big scoring threat. His hands are a work in progress, but he shows some signs of footwork and dexterity, with a bit of touch and shooting potential. Those aspects of his game aren't college ready yet, but are gradually progressing in the right direction. Defensively, he's also mobile enough to potentially have some versatility guarding ball-screens down the road."

We have 3 guys that can score 10-15+ points/game (although adding a scoring wing/3 spot would be fantastic), so I don't worry too much about Diop having to contribute on the offensive end. If he can have the same impact Baye Ndongo did his freshmen season on the defensive end and rebounding, that would help GT a LOT.

 

[Vinotx]

If Diop is playing major minutes next season , we will be in trouble. That said , I'm not worried at all. We have 3 plus spots left to fill and there are plenty of quality bigs to get out there. I also know coach is working on getting bigs and another guard.
Have faith

 

[GTHomer]

If Diop is playing major minutes next season , we will be in trouble. That said , I'm not worried at all. We have 3 plus spots left to fill and there are plenty of quality bigs to get out there. I also know coach is working on getting bigs and another guard.
Have faith

Why do you say this? I hope that our freshman/younger players get PT next season, given the number of seniors on the team. This shows prospective recruits that they have a chance for PT in the subsequent seasons.

I have not seen Diop play and hope that he can be a significant contributor. At a minimum, he gives us 5 additional fouls from the 5 spot.

 

[Techster]

Why do you say this? I hope that our freshman/younger players get PT next season, given the number of seniors on the team. This shows prospective recruits that they have a chance for PT in the subsequent seasons.

I have not seen Diop play and hope that he can be a significant contributor. At a minimum, he gives us 5 additional fouls from the 5 spot.

One thing to keep in mind about Diop is he will be turning 20yrs old next November. While he'll be a true freshman, he won't be a "true" freshman in a physical sense.

 

[AUFC]

Why do you say this? I hope that our freshman/younger players get PT next season, given the number of seniors on the team. This shows prospective recruits that they have a chance for PT in the subsequent seasons.

I have not seen Diop play and hope that he can be a significant contributor. At a minimum, he gives us 5 additional fouls from the 5 spot.

I mean we would all love for Diop to come in and immediately contribute but the realistic scenario is that he's as ready for big time ACC hoops as Brandon Stores/Davi Remigan/Eric Chatfield were this year.

 

[Connell62]

I mean we would all love for Diop to come in and immediately contribute but the realistic scenario is that he's as ready for big time ACC hoops as Brandon Stores/Davi Remigan/Eric Chatfield were this year.

ehhh...I hear you, he is definitely not ready for major role, but damn...lol...I'd probably rate him ahead of those dudes.

Hopefully he can come in and push Cole (for the back-up C spot). If Cole's offensive game hasn't expanded, the door will be wide open for Moo to take his minutes.

Those two competed against other all the time when Cole was OTE.

 

[Root4GT]

If Diop is playing major minutes next season , we will be in trouble. That said , I'm not worried at all. We have 3 plus spots left to fill and there are plenty of quality bigs to get out there. I also know coach is working on getting bigs and another guard.
Have faith

A 4-star top 100 Nationally Ranked Player should get significant minutes as a freshmen. As Techster said, he is 20 years old so he should be more physically developed than many freshmen.

 

[WaCoJacket]

I If Diop is playing major minutes next season , we will be in trouble. That said , I'm not worried at all. We have 3 plus spots left to fill and there are plenty of quality bigs to get out there. I also know coach is working on getting bigs and another guard.
Have faith

I know why you think way and you aren’t wrong, but consider this... new free flowing offense with ball movement and more capable passers, scorers, and shooters than we’ve had in years. We need our bigs to finish more than create offense.

I’m still hoping for Folefac though

 

[WaCoJacket]

I’m ehhh...I hear you, he is definitely not ready for major role, but damn...lol...I'd probably rate him ahead of those dudes.

Hopefully he can come in and push Cole (for the back-up C spot). If Cole's offensive game hasn't expanded, the door will be wide open for Moo to take his minutes.

Those two competed against other all the time when Cole was OTE.

I’m higher on Cole than most people. With real PGs and a defined role, he will jump

 

[Rzunz]

I mean we would all love for Diop to come in and immediately contribute but the realistic scenario is that he's as ready for big time ACC hoops as Brandon Stores/Davi Remigan/Eric Chatfield were this year.

Yes. But you couldn’t teach those 3 to be 6’10” with a 7’2” wingspan

 

[Connell62]

I’m higher on Cole than most people. With real PGs and a defined role, he will jump

No one rooting harder for him than me, but it’s all gonna come down to a.) did he get stronger and b.) did he develop any offensive tools. I’m not sure he made a FT last year.

 

[tbglover]

No one rooting harder for him than me, but it’s all gonna come down to a.) did he get stronger and b.) did he develop any offensive tools. I’m not sure he made a FT last year.

You are correct!! 0 for 8 from the free throw line this past season

 

[Connell62]

Trilly stating that Folefac is headed to Syracuse.

 

[reckrider]

Not surprised but don’t we have enough 6-7 PF’s with:
Victor Valdes, SR - F, 6’7” (Tr. Troy U.)
Jackson Fields, SR - PF, 6’8” (Tr. West Virginia)
Tylis Jordan, RS FR - PF, 6’ 9” (Tr. Ole Miss)
I’m happy with the roster as it stands, another 6-10 wide body would be nice but we got DIOP for a reason.

 

[reckrider]

Four quality seniors and a sixth man senior plus a four star 20 year old freshman C sounds like a damn nice roster to me when you mix in a couple of 4 star freshmen. Oh, I forgot, a first year coach.