Here are the five that LU signed. I'm not sure what to think. The eyeball test tells me they aren't that impressive outside of maybe the Talbert brother. However, I'm no coach and certainly not a recruiter. They could be diamonds in the rough, good fits for the style coach wants, or better than what I can see on paper. Or... maybe my expectations are just too high right now. One thing I do like a lot... we are recruiting nationally.

Xzavier Barmore
6'0 / 165
Seneca, SC
27 points / 5 assists / 4 rebounds / 4 steals
offers- Winthrop

Brock Gardner
6'7 /188
Chandler, AZ
23 points / 9 rebounds / 4 assists
offers- Air Force, C. Arkansas

Josiah Talbert
6'8 / 210
Olathe, KS
11 points / 5 rebounds
offers- S.F. Austin, C. Arkansas, New Orleans, Lipscomb, American, Denver, JMU

Brody Hicks
6'4 / 185
Roanoke, VA
15 points / 6 rebounds / 3 assists
No other scholarship offers

Hayden Koval
7'0 / 220
Prosper, TX
14 points / 10 rebounds / 5 blocks
offers- Oral Roberts

(11-29-2015 06:56 PM)army56mike Wrote:  Here are the five that LU signed. I'm not sure what to think. The eyeball test tells me they aren't that impressive outside of maybe the Talbert brother. However, I'm no coach and certainly not a recruiter. They could be diamonds in the rough, good fits for the style coach wants, or better than what I can see on paper. Or... maybe my expectations are just too high right now. One thing I do like a lot... we are recruiting nationally.

Xzavier Barmore
6'0 / 165
Seneca, SC
27 points / 5 assists / 4 rebounds / 4 steals
offers- Winthrop

Brock Gardner
6'7 /188
Chandler, AZ
23 points / 9 rebounds / 4 assists
offers- Air Force, C. Arkansas

Josiah Talbert
6'8 / 210
Olathe, KS
11 points / 5 rebounds
offers- S.F. Austin, C. Arkansas, New Orleans, Lipscomb, American, Denver, JMU

Brody Hicks
6'4 / 185
Roanoke, VA
15 points / 6 rebounds / 3 assists
No other scholarship offers

Hayden Koval
7'0 / 220
Prosper, TX
14 points / 10 rebounds / 5 blocks
offers- Oral Roberts

A lot of this information is old. Based on the video I've seen, the eyeball test makes this look like a very strong class, especially given the current roster. It may be the top recruiting class in the conference.

Gardner looks to be the top of this class. 3 star from ESPN. William & Mary was very interested and sounds like programs like Gonzaga, Creighton, Oregon State, etc were as well. Top 5 in class of 2016 in Arizona. Held like 10 offers including Tim Floyd at UTEP. Looks like a very versatile wing. Talbert played with KC Run GMC a top club program nationally. Committed early but gained a ton of interest from larger programs this summer due to his strong play. Stayed committed to Liberty. Also up to 6'9". Will bring a physical presence inside. Barmore is a play making guard who can score it. He is also very athletic. Can dunk at 6'0". Good in the pick and roll. Will provide some creativity in the half court. The addition of a 7'0" big man as a project is a bonus as well as Hicks.

McKay said he's more excited about this class than any class he's brought in to Liberty including the Curry class. One thing that's impressive is all the bigs can shoot the 3 as well. Creates match up issues all over the court. A couple years and we'll be competing for Big South championships.

(11-30-2015 10:49 AM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  McKay said he's more excited about this class than any class he's brought in to Liberty including the Curry class. One thing that's impressive is all the bigs can shoot the 3 as well. Creates match up issues all over the court. A couple years and we'll be competing for Big South championships.

After the 3 turkey time loses, we can hope things will be better soon.

(11-30-2015 10:49 AM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  McKay said he's more excited about this class than any class he's brought in to Liberty including the Curry class. One thing that's impressive is all the bigs can shoot the 3 as well. Creates match up issues all over the court. A couple years and we'll be competing for Big South championships.

McKay may just be using "coachspeak." I'm sure his next recruits are going to be his new favorites ever.

Regardless, it is very important for Liberty basketball's future, and perhaps our FBS future, to get these recruits hitting the ground running. Don't rush short-term progress at the expense of long-term gains but we could use a real shot in the arm.

I think that is what you have seen from Coach McKay from the moment he returned to the mountin. Letting Retic & Theo go when they were the best returning players outside of Gielo shows that he is committed to starting fresh and taking some lumps this year to build something special down the road. It is very similar to the plan that Charlie Strong enacted in Austin on the football side. As a Longhorn by marriage, I hope that story has a postive plot twist soon. I have a great deal fo confidence in Coach McKay.