I heard he is (still) being recruited by Purdue, and then I looked up his Rivals profile and saw Purdue among 4 schools he lists. Does anybody have any solid info on him and Purdue? I hadn't heard his name mentioned since last year.
Jabari Craig
- Thread starter boiler800
- Start date
Now that we missed Herard, shouldn't we take one more look at him? It feels a bit uneasy that we will have only 3 frontcourt guys next year, two of whom may even leave after the next season. I think we have a room for a project. We can get a rough diamond and spend a year polishing him. Just saying.
He averaged 1.5 ppg and 1.6 rebounds last year in 23 games. Not impressive at all. And he's not even listed at Hutchinson CC anymore. So he seems to have flamed out of basketball. Still want to waste time on the kid?
Frontcourt will be fine with Basil back to play some 4 next year. Haas and Taylor at the 5 is just fine
I wouldn't assume that Haas will be back... If we go deep into the tournament and he continues playing like he has early in the season, he may be gone also..
Haas looks like a more NBA-ready prospect than Swanigan at this very early stage of the season.
I think we get at least one more year with both Haas and Swanigan. Not sure about two, but I think one for sure.
Isaac doesn't strike me as a kid looking to bolt for the NBA after his Soph season, and Biggie has expressed his desire to really leave a great legacy at PUR and win big in the Tourney (E8, F4, Natty, whatever.)
I can see them bonding this year and hanging around for at least next year working together towards their goals for Purdue. Hope so, anyway.
Isaac doesn't strike me as a kid looking to bolt for the NBA after his Soph season, and Biggie has expressed his desire to really leave a great legacy at PUR and win big in the Tourney (E8, F4, Natty, whatever.)
I can see them bonding this year and hanging around for at least next year working together towards their goals for Purdue. Hope so, anyway.
May depend on if they feel they have unfinished business. I have real mixed emotions about that.
Like a ghost? Oh Hell, now I have to watch the games with the lights on.
Go Boilers!
He is actually at Pearl River Community College this year, and he is absolutely worth looking at still...while his numbers may not have been impressive, he has size and a skill set that make him worth following and potentially pursuing...definitely not a waste of time, particularly so in that Purdue needs a talented post player with Hammons leaving.
MP has recruited a group of very intelligent players. Much like Zeller at IU I believe $ is not a desperate need for Isaac at this point and he is more likely to stay for another year to polish his game. He seems to truly enjoy his teammates and the college experience.
The fact that it's December 5 and people are talking about people leaving for the NBA...is silly.
It's really not worth stressing out about and analyzing what this person said at XXX right now.
Taylor is barely getting mop up minutes, you can never have enough quality Bigs. If he has the skill set then yes take a chance on him.
I'm not sure what your point is. Where did I say, "We have enough quality bigs" or "Don't take a chance on Craig"?
Purdue is still watching Craig I believe. Thought JC wrote an article about it.
No clue on if he has an active offer or if he is offer worthy
No clue on if he has an active offer or if he is offer worthy
So Smotherman at the 4 fills a need? Now we're back to 6-5 PF. Oh, and unless he gets a jumper soon, don't suggest he's the vaunted "stretch" guy so many gush about.
Why count Craig out? You think he's worse now than the early recruiting attention garnered?
Why count Craig out? You think he's worse now than the early recruiting attention garnered?
I have no problem with Craig, but if Basil cannot go down to at least a 3 having a total of one year to improve the areas he needs....I'll wonder what he is doing. He is not limited physically for a 3 as much as skills...
Worst case scenario - Haas, Hammons, and Biggie leave at the end of the season.
Then what's next? No big in next years class. All the folks who said that we don't need a big in 2016 will be very hard to find.
I still think that Painter has failed with not getting a talented post signed for 2016. We had a similar recruiting hangover after the baby boilers.
Then what's next? No big in next years class. All the folks who said that we don't need a big in 2016 will be very hard to find.
I still think that Painter has failed with not getting a talented post signed for 2016. We had a similar recruiting hangover after the baby boilers.
Haas will be back it would absolutely shock me if he isn't...same with Biggie...unless many other areas improve to his potential. I think both are back for one more year...maybe two for one of both? I imagine selling a big in 2016 with Haas, Taylor and Biggie was not easy for someone that was less than a huge get and Purdue wasn't interested to just log one. I see Purdue pretty solid next year and then some youth in 2017 in Williams and ????
Last edited:
Can you name a "quality post" who would be willing to come and play behind Haas and Swanigan?
I think the opportunity to go against them in practice every day as a true freshman would appeal to many 4 star players. Can't imagine that IU's Bryant is seeing much improvement during practice against whoever they run out. But I'd agree that a lot of 5 star players might want to play right away and would be difficult to convince.
A player in the 50 to 100 ranking range. Someone not expecting to be a blue-chip-one-and-done lottery pick, but also not getting the exposure they feel they deserve. Someone with the foresight to see the payoff after 3-4 years on a Top 25 squad practicing against and learning from the best centers in the college game.
That's why your not on CMP's staff. You don't word it "playing behind" you word it "playing with".... much like Hammons does.
Who is worried about competing with Taylor? I wouldn't want a recruit who says "Dang, you got Taylor, I'm worried about getting minutes next to that guy". Nothing against him or you, but no recruit is worried about competing with Taylor.
What I thought I was saying in...
"I imagine selling a big in 2016 with Haas, Taylor and Biggie was not easy for someone that was less than a huge get and Purdue wasn't interested to just log one."
Was that was less than a huge get...solid, good player, but not a huge get might see a lack of time available. What was also implied was that a lesser player was probably not someone Purdue was interested in as I didn't think they just wanted to log one. A great or huge get would not be worried about any as he probably thinks he is good enough to get his time no matter who is there.
Haas will get plenty of playing time next year. Biggie will get plenty of playing time next year. Taylor is a future player for Purdue and I think may blossom unto a good one. Huge gets are not worried unless they want to play 30 minutes a game at the 4 or 5. Not huge gets and Purdue may not be interested...
Doesn't matter how you "word it". Most kids see the landscape, and they are looking for potential starting roles. Especially true for quality bigs, because there are so few of them, and they are getting promises to start from a slew of programs.
That's why you, being on CMP's staff, haven't been able to get one of them to commit.
OK, but the request was to "name one". You may be hoping there is a kid like that what you described out there, but it is very unlikely. There aren't many bigs in the 50-100 ranking range. A kid in the 50-100 ranking range is going to get a TON of offers, unless he's a head case or really poor student.
I agree with the appoaches that you guys describe, and I have to believe the Purdue staff used a similar approach. But if there isn't a single big in the Top 100 who wants to give up a starting spot in a good program for what he knows will be a back-up role in a good program, then how is that MP's failure?
