Wanted to take a look and get thoughts on current roster.

From what I can tell, here is who is still here:

Comeaux, Kevon, Sammi?, Mitch, Nate, Oddyst, (Please correct me if I am wrong)

HERE COMES SOME PRAISE!

The last few days we have seen SFA secure players from the JUCO ranks.

I love this methodology.

When was the last time we had a true freshman LEGIT contribute? Probably Kevon 3 years ago. That being said, the JUCO guys, generally, are more ready to step in and play/contribute immediately.

It would not shock me if the bulk of our JUCO signees ended up being starters.

Then, we just have to hope the freshman guys take adequate strides.

So, some rare (but necessary & warranted) praise for how Keller and staff have attacked the off-season, so far.

MasterAxe said:

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From what I can tell, here is who is still here:

Comeaux, Kevon, Sammi?, Mitch, Nate, Oddyst, (Please correct me if I am wrong)

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Several have said that Sammie is gone. Injuries are more than his body can take.

I agree with you Master (mostly) on this post. Due to all the open spots from last year's roster, I believe the staff has done well going after the Jucos that are game ready and much more likely to be team guys for the next 2 years. We need a full and active roster to allow the staff to put in more plays and sets on both offense and defense and I think we will see that improvement next season.
You do though still need those freshman recruits to come in and give SFA 4 years (such as Kevon will do) and to form the base of the team. IMO Jucos normally should be used to fill select spots or graduations...but there is always room for a couple of good ones. This year however the numbers dictate the need for more jucos and I'm all for it.
Now let's get a couple more dudes and get ready for the 2019/20 Rebound.

So with two spots left what positions do you go after? Point guard or a big or both?

Both. Solomon as your guard of the future and Daniel's as your veteran post that can fill the TJ void and take pressure off of Serraile/Pope.

The coaching has to get better. Would like to see a player or two improve from one year to the next. I thought Kevon would be a monster by now, he isn't any better than he was as a freshman. Same with Holyfield. I could go on, but it'd be easier to name the ones who have gotten better.

Rance Cole - he developed from a walk-on to an almost playable roster member.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kevon-harris-1.html

Kevon has definitely improved. # don't lie. Wasn't kevon top scorer in the league(could be wrong)?

TallTexan said:

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LUMBERJACK2005 said:

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The coaching has to get better. Would like to see a player or two improve from one year to the next. I thought Kevon would be a monster by now, he isn't any better than he was as a freshman. Same with Holyfield. I could go on, but it'd be easier to name the ones who have gotten better.

Rance Cole - he developed from a walk-on to an almost playable roster member.

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I don't know what planet you're on if you think TJ and Kevon haven't improved. They both went from good freshmen to all conference players. They are monsters on the court.

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It's not often that I'm forced to agree with the Texan about anything, but he's right on about TJ and Kevon. Vast improvements were obvious.

SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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TallTexan said:

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LUMBERJACK2005 said:

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RThe coaching has to get better. Would like to see a player or two improve from one year to the next. I thought Kevon would be a monster by now, he isn't any better than he was as a freshman. Same with Holyfield. I could go on, but it'd be easier to name the ones who have gotten better.

Rance Cole - he developed from a walk-on to an almost playable roster member.

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I don't know what planet you're on if you think TJ and Kevon haven't improved. They both went from good freshmen to all conference players. They are monsters on the court.

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It's not often that I'm forced to agree with the Texan about anything, but he's right on about TJ and Kevon. Vast improvements were obvious.

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What's a sports forum without a little controversy. Lol.

Too many of the other players didn't improve though and I have to wonder if coaching is what really affected the improvement in Kevon and T.J.
Kevon is a gym rat who is constantly working on his game by himself. They were both very good from the start in my opinion. Although both of them also have had many negative plays if you will look back at their turnovers per game. Bogues didn't improve from the year before. Kevon and TJ were both originally Underwood recruits. Hopefully Keller has improved as a coach. Underwood was much more transparent. The jury is still out in my opinion. How's that for controversy. I'm trying not to cross the lines here. I haven't written Keller off and I'm pulling for him.

purplitis72 said:

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Too many of the other players didn't improve though and I have to wonder if coaching is what really affected the improvement in Kevon and T.J.
Kevon is a gym rat who is constantly working on his game by himself. They were both very good from the start in my opinion. Although both of them also have had many negative plays if you will look back at their turnovers per game. Bogues didn't improve from the year before. Kevon and TJ were both originally Underwood recruits. Hopefully Keller has improved as a coach. Underwood was much more transparent. The jury is still out in my opinion. How's that for controversy. I'm trying not to cross the lines here. I haven't written Keller off and I'm pulling for him.

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Hmmm.... purplilitis72, have you ever heard of a guy that went by the moniker of Gazette?

SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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purplitis72 said:

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RToo many of the other players didn't improve though and I have to wonder if coaching is what really affected the improvement in Kevon and T.J.
Kevon is a gym rat who is constantly working on his game by himself. They were both very good from the start in my opinion. Although both of them also have had many negative plays if you will look back at their turnovers per game. Bogues didn't improve from the year before. Kevon and TJ were both originally Underwood recruits. Hopefully Keller has improved as a coach. Underwood was much more transparent. The jury is still out in my opinion. How's that for controversy. I'm trying not to cross the lines here. I haven't written Keller off and I'm pulling for him.

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Hmmm.... purplilitis72, have you ever heard of a guy that went by the moniker of Gazette?

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I'm assuming Kasper could have done a better job. Lol

He is Gazette, I called that days ago , he is not fooling anyone.

Right on all counts Pilotgirl. The coaching staff has done a great job in signing players to fill in our roster needs. We are going to have a deep bench next season and should see vast improvement over last year.

TallTexan said:

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LUMBERJACK2005 said:

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The coaching has to get better. Would like to see a player or two improve from one year to the next. I thought Kevon would be a monster by now, he isn't any better than he was as a freshman. Same with Holyfield. I could go on, but it'd be easier to name the ones who have gotten better.

Rance Cole - he developed from a walk-on to an almost playable roster member.

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I don't know what planet you're on if you think TJ and Kevon haven't improved. They both went from good freshmen to all conference players. They are monsters on the court.

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I live on Earth. Not sure how many other sawmillers are posting from other planets, but for those of you who are...send me a t-shirt.

Of course the kids improved, I think some improvement is inevitable just due to physical maturation. If you look at their numbers though, did they really improve that much?

Holyfield averaged almost 8 ppg and 4 rpg as a freshman in 19mpg. Sophomore, scored 11 ppg and grabbed 7 rpg in 28 mpg. As a junior, he was averaging 13 ppg and 6 rpg in 27 mpg. So from year one to year two you could really argue that his increase stats were inevitable with the increased playing time. From year two to year three, he didn't progress statistically at all, he regressed. While he was still a good player, IMO, he stagnated under Keller.

Harris's stats have increased substantially, but so has his usage, so looking at averages alone doesn't really do anything.
Points per FGA - freshman (1.5) sophomore (1.45) junior (1.57)
Rebounds per minute - freshman (.16), sophomore (.2) junior (.18)

Both kids are/were great players for us, I never meant to take anything away from them, but the numbers don't lie. Neither kid has improved, statistically speaking, drastically from where they were when they got to the program. I want nothing more than for Coach Keller and every other coach at SFA win every game, make every player they recruit into all-stars, get elected to hall of fames, etc.; so make no mistake there.

Signing off from planet earth.

Ljacks&Longnecks said:

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He is Gazette, I called that days ago , he is not fooling anyone.

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Dude thats my job to undercover Gazette... hahahahahahah

sfa17 said:

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purplitis72 said:

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Kevon and TJ were both originally Underwood recruits. Hopefully Keller has improved as a coach. Underwood was much more transparent. The jury is still out in my opinion.

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Kevon was not an Underwood recruit. Or Underwood would have taken him to OSU like he did averrette. We didn't hear about Kevon until Keller was hired.

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Kevon was recruited by Mason I believe..

The greater point I was attempting to make (admittedly did a poor job of stating such) was that for SFA to sustain success, we have to recruit and develop. I'm a little worried that our recent success combined with this staffs recruiting targets (pre- spring JUCO bonanza), that we are getting away from what's made us successful.

Not sure if that was a shot taken at Coach Kaspar or not, but, that man can flat out coach. The definition of a players coach is something he won't ever be confused for, but he is every bit as responsible for the success SFA has had as Underwood. Apologies if you were the Kaspar comment was in jest.

SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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It's not often that I'm forced to agree with the Texan about anything, but he's right on about TJ and Kevon. Vast improvements were obvious.

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Going to commemorate this day with one of those etched bricks they sell for fundraisers.

CertifiedAxeman98 said:

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We are way off topic "current roster" probably need coach/Keller thread somewhere.

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True. Way off base. Let's get back to talking TEAM and PLAYERS.

I will be interested to see who starts at PG next year. We actually have some options for next year.

CertifiedAxeman98 said:

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I will be interested to see who starts at PG next year. We actually have some options for next year.

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Me, too. Sight unseen, I suppose that Kachelries (man, I'm going to mess up the spelling and pronunciation of his name for the next seven months) would be my projected starter at this point, based on his 6.8 assists per game average in JUCO. That's not too shabby.

We still need another point guard. Walker is not a true point guard.

LUMBERJACK2005 said:

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The greater point I was attempting to make (admittedly did a poor job of stating such) was that for SFA to sustain success, we have to recruit and develop. I'm a little worried that our recent success combined with this staffs recruiting targets (pre- spring JUCO bonanza), that we are getting away from what's made us successful.

Not sure if that was a shot taken at Coach Kaspar or not, but, that man can flat out coach. The definition of a players coach is something he won't ever be confused for, but he is every bit as responsible for the success SFA has had as Underwood. Apologies if you were the Kaspar comment was in jest.

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2005. Your points are well taken and on point. Literally and figuratively. Development isn't just player improvement it's also integration into a system that allows the best players to thrive. Also pulls up the average players.

I stand corrected Kevon was part of Kellers first signing class. I looked it up.

With the recruits that we have now on paper and one more to go, how would one rank this recruiting class so far as opposed to recruiting classes of the recent past? I know that recruiting kids that haven't played D1 is a gamble but how does it compare on paper?

On paper it appears to be number one if you add up the stars. But, the fact that there are going to be 8 of them contributes to that number.