Huge get Stephen Rogers and this is why...
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 10:11 am
Utah State offered a lot here; let's not be naive. He faces much more competition from Abouo, Hartsock, and the Collinsworths than he'd face at USU for playing time. (there's also Magnusson at the 3,4 but let's be realistic...) USU is a hoops 1st school and Stew Morrill is a hoops genius.
1. This sends a message throughout the conference, the state of Utah, and the west that top tier prep and JUCO lds kids are ours to lose, even if we don't initially pursue them. If you don't think that Stew Morrill, or Steve Alford will back off a little and invest their time in different pursuits if BYU expresses interest in other LDS players in the future, you'd be wrong (I didn't mention Boylen; if a kid considers Utah; I automatically will assume they're not top tier... which is exactly what people have told me about Neil Monson = "not a D1 starter')
2. Rogers has 3 to play 3 (very rare to find a juco all america that was a qualifier coming out of high school)--- this is major (major major major); he's going to fill in the blanks now between JT (gone) Haws (mission next 2 years) Abouo (2 left) Hartsock (2 left) KCollinsworth (fresh then likely mish)
Rogers will be a senior with Brandon Davies (assuming he doesn't go on a mission) THIS IS HUGE TO MAINTAIN DEPTH AND LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT OUR RECRUITING CLASSES
3. Rogers is being compared to JT but this is a very distorted view. He's a legit 6'8" has solid handles for his size, and can play the 2-4. JT was such a poor 1 on 1 defender that the only place we could hide him was in the zone (and he was awful at rotating on the shooter) We don't have to hide Rogers at the 4 and he can defend most 3s in man.
Where he does compare favorably with JT is that he can shoot the ball and is competent on the dribble and in the passing game (some might argue that JT was not competent with the dribble but I disagree; I think he could drive, he just didn't)
What I don't know, is if Rogers can make bettter shot decisions than JT (though honestly how could he possibly be worse)
Having said all of that, I think we all owe JT a lot for where the program has been elevated currently (same for Plaisted and Cummard...) I just didn't love any of their overall skillsets or in the case of Plaisted his complete and utter lack of a heart.
(random note JT: scarecrow- no brain ........Cummard: lion no courage in big games .......Plaisted: tin man no heart)
4. No pressure on either of the Collinsworths as they're not "needed" to help this team win (they are needed to make this a final four team though), yet as with the QB situation, they are all going to have to elevate their games this summer to get pt. If Abouo or others slack, Rogers might just top the team in minutes played at the 3.
As a hoops > football fan... this recruting class (k collinsworth, winder, rogers) makes me very very happy and I think it compares very favorably to this years football class in terms of needs, chemistry, and potential.
BYU will not miss the dance this decade.... (especially if they expand)
I was crossing my fingers for Rogers, but hardly holding my breath... this is a great week for BYU.
1. This sends a message throughout the conference, the state of Utah, and the west that top tier prep and JUCO lds kids are ours to lose, even if we don't initially pursue them. If you don't think that Stew Morrill, or Steve Alford will back off a little and invest their time in different pursuits if BYU expresses interest in other LDS players in the future, you'd be wrong (I didn't mention Boylen; if a kid considers Utah; I automatically will assume they're not top tier... which is exactly what people have told me about Neil Monson = "not a D1 starter')
2. Rogers has 3 to play 3 (very rare to find a juco all america that was a qualifier coming out of high school)--- this is major (major major major); he's going to fill in the blanks now between JT (gone) Haws (mission next 2 years) Abouo (2 left) Hartsock (2 left) KCollinsworth (fresh then likely mish)
Rogers will be a senior with Brandon Davies (assuming he doesn't go on a mission) THIS IS HUGE TO MAINTAIN DEPTH AND LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT OUR RECRUITING CLASSES
3. Rogers is being compared to JT but this is a very distorted view. He's a legit 6'8" has solid handles for his size, and can play the 2-4. JT was such a poor 1 on 1 defender that the only place we could hide him was in the zone (and he was awful at rotating on the shooter) We don't have to hide Rogers at the 4 and he can defend most 3s in man.
Where he does compare favorably with JT is that he can shoot the ball and is competent on the dribble and in the passing game (some might argue that JT was not competent with the dribble but I disagree; I think he could drive, he just didn't)
What I don't know, is if Rogers can make bettter shot decisions than JT (though honestly how could he possibly be worse)
Having said all of that, I think we all owe JT a lot for where the program has been elevated currently (same for Plaisted and Cummard...) I just didn't love any of their overall skillsets or in the case of Plaisted his complete and utter lack of a heart.
(random note JT: scarecrow- no brain ........Cummard: lion no courage in big games .......Plaisted: tin man no heart)
4. No pressure on either of the Collinsworths as they're not "needed" to help this team win (they are needed to make this a final four team though), yet as with the QB situation, they are all going to have to elevate their games this summer to get pt. If Abouo or others slack, Rogers might just top the team in minutes played at the 3.
As a hoops > football fan... this recruting class (k collinsworth, winder, rogers) makes me very very happy and I think it compares very favorably to this years football class in terms of needs, chemistry, and potential.
BYU will not miss the dance this decade.... (especially if they expand)
I was crossing my fingers for Rogers, but hardly holding my breath... this is a great week for BYU.
