Promising freshman center Burke latest in long history of transfers
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From reading Braden's tweets from time to time, I got the impression that he would prefer to be closer to home. I hate losing him, he seems to have a lot of potential, but I wish him well. Likely, one of the MAC schools will be a perfect fit for him.
Also, Jordan Lester is moving on. This may be the least surprising transfer in RMU history, as he got no PT and is from Washington (state, not DC). I wish both luck.
Burke certainly has a lot of potential but I always thought his fit was a little odd. He doesnt move all that well, and RMU seems to always have a versatile center that can move, and guard all over (see Tate, Aaron).
Also, the Colonials got a commitment this morning to fill one of those spots: http://verbalcommits.com/players/chris-coalmon-ny
Burke certainly has a lot of potential but I always thought his fit was a little odd. He doesnt move all that well, and RMU seems to always have a versatile center that can move, and guard all over (see Tate, Aaron).
Also, the Colonials got a commitment this morning to fill one of those spots: http://verbalcommits.com/players/chris-coalmon-ny
Thanks for the updates guys!
Agree with every Colonial Crazy said. Burke can be a really good player, but needs the right system (guess not sure if that is BBall term). Toole seems to like grinders that really clamp down on D, height is nice, but I tend to think feet are more important. Need to be able to get position, that can make up for a couple inches. I do not have the bball IQ to back that up, just an opinion.
Best of luck to Braden, hope he finds, or has found, a good home for himself.
Agree with every Colonial Crazy said. Burke can be a really good player, but needs the right system (guess not sure if that is BBall term). Toole seems to like grinders that really clamp down on D, height is nice, but I tend to think feet are more important. Need to be able to get position, that can make up for a couple inches. I do not have the bball IQ to back that up, just an opinion.
Best of luck to Braden, hope he finds, or has found, a good home for himself.
I also follow him on snap chat (as he tweets about that) and from that as well it wasn't looking good for him returning.
Like he posted before something like, "I'm officially done with this place" or done with trying.
Hope he finds a good school closer to home up in Michigan.
Chris Coalmon does look like a right fit for RMU basketball. Just what I gather from looking up some articles - has the athletic ability and perimeter skills to play SF, has enough size to play PF. He was recruited by other NEC schools. Winning this recruiting battle could be the first benefit of the future UPMC Events Center. No doubt the coaches let him know that mid season of his sophomore year his home court will be by far the best facility in the Conference.
Hopefully, Robert M will be ready to go for a big senior season, and also David Cole will be able to make an immediate impact. With Braden leaving, hopefully the coaches can snag a quality JUCO post player. Ideal player - an Aaron Tate type who is two inches taller and has added scoring skills.
It was a forgone conclusion that Jordan would be leaving, and it really is not a big surprise that Braden is leaving, if we can keep the rest of the team intact, I think 2017/18 has the potential to be a good one.
Hopefully, Robert M will be ready to go for a big senior season, and also David Cole will be able to make an immediate impact. With Braden leaving, hopefully the coaches can snag a quality JUCO post player. Ideal player - an Aaron Tate type who is two inches taller and has added scoring skills.
It was a forgone conclusion that Jordan would be leaving, and it really is not a big surprise that Braden is leaving, if we can keep the rest of the team intact, I think 2017/18 has the potential to be a good one.
I agree. Hold onto everyone else & get the new players integrated, we can be pretty darn good.
A good JuCo or grad transfer big man would be a huge get for Toole & RMU.
Perhaps but the turnover of players has crippled the program. It seems year after year there are either players leaving or being kicked off the team. Are we getting great athletes that the staff hope to fit into their system and it's not working out? We tried with a major local recruit and that didn't work.
Not sure about Robert M and if he is coming back (heard unofficially he is gone from the team but easily could be a mistake).
It will be a rebuilding season.
Not sure about Robert M and if he is coming back (heard unofficially he is gone from the team but easily could be a mistake).
It will be a rebuilding season.
Roberto M is leaving too??
Idk bout that. That would be odd as he'll be a senior.
If everything holds down tho losing Lester is nothing at all.
Only loss would be Burke & we still return a lot of good players.
A lot would hinge on Matty taking that step forward during his junior year & to continue the hot play he had down the stretch.
Agreed. Recruiting is not a science, but at some point to have sustained success, you are going to have to be able to hold on, and develop players. I could go on and on about how I think kids are coddled to much and then they get to college, with a good, disciplined coach and they can't take the criticism.
Now, if you know that's how you coach, you need to do your due diligence on kids and make sure they accept that. I know I am more football centric, but a team like dayton, seems like every year they have 15 seniors. Is it because they get a kid with maybe less talent, and work with him, or do those kids just buy into that culture.
I also know for hoops in the NEC it seems to just be a way of life, I saw Bryant just lost a good player. And to beat my drum one more time, hopefully the new arena will help them get into to a higher echelon conference which may slow some of the transfers.
Now, if you know that's how you coach, you need to do your due diligence on kids and make sure they accept that. I know I am more football centric, but a team like dayton, seems like every year they have 15 seniors. Is it because they get a kid with maybe less talent, and work with him, or do those kids just buy into that culture.
I also know for hoops in the NEC it seems to just be a way of life, I saw Bryant just lost a good player. And to beat my drum one more time, hopefully the new arena will help them get into to a higher echelon conference which may slow some of the transfers.
Transfers are sadly a major part of the sport at the low major level. In just the NEC this year, FDU has lost Stephan Jiggets and SFPA lost Josh Nebo (both made all NEC teams I believe). If Burke is the only key player to leave, it's a huge upgrade over the past few seasons. While I like Braden, he never seemed to truly fit here. I understand the fan frustration with so many players leaving, but I also don't want coach Toole to stop being a tough coach, because that's what has led to his success. I also don't want him to stop landing players like Marcquise Reed, Rodney Pryor, Elijah Minnie etc. Talent wins championships.
LetsGoRoMo, I don't think it can be said enough, the new facility will be an absolute game changer in recruiting, but also retaining players. From the locker rooms, to weight rooms, it will be on par with any mid major facility, if not better then any other top mid major school. Yes, you'll still probably have guys like Marcquise Reed who can go to an ACC school, but I think it will be a lot easier for guys to stay around when you have a facility like that.
LetsGoRoMo, I don't think it can be said enough, the new facility will be an absolute game changer in recruiting, but also retaining players. From the locker rooms, to weight rooms, it will be on par with any mid major facility, if not better then any other top mid major school. Yes, you'll still probably have guys like Marcquise Reed who can go to an ACC school, but I think it will be a lot easier for guys to stay around when you have a facility like that.
I've also heard Roberto won't be returning. Im also not sure how true it is but I have heard it.
Toole definitely needs to add at least 1-2 post players. If that's true 2 minimum more would be good. Need at least 1 of them to be JuCo or grad transfer.
Roberto is replaceable, the coaches may not land a JUCO with as big of a body as him, but probably one with more athletic ability and skill.
Yes, transfers have reached epidemic proportions. The Pitt men are practically going to have a whole new team next season. Pitt women just lost their top player - playing time was not an issue, she was Pitt's leading scorer, being too far from home was not an issue, she is from the Pittsburgh area, playing in a top conference was not an issue, she was playing in the ACC, the quality of facility was not an issue, she was playing in the Pete.
The RMU staff has little room to complain about players transferring, Coaches Toole, Griffin and Iuzzolino all transferred during their college playing days.
Yes, transfers have reached epidemic proportions. The Pitt men are practically going to have a whole new team next season. Pitt women just lost their top player - playing time was not an issue, she was Pitt's leading scorer, being too far from home was not an issue, she is from the Pittsburgh area, playing in a top conference was not an issue, she was playing in the ACC, the quality of facility was not an issue, she was playing in the Pete.
The RMU staff has little room to complain about players transferring, Coaches Toole, Griffin and Iuzzolino all transferred during their college playing days.
That is true.
Toole even transferred & he's complaining about his players leaving all the time.
Kind of a hypocrite
I guess that is the way I came across in my comment above, but I do not want to describe him that way. The transfer activity is very frustrating to us, as fans. For the coaches, when they are devoting every day to building a team, and that's the way they make their living, it has to be incredibly frustrating. It has to be a very difficult time to be a coach.
Verbal commits is keeping a list of NCAA D-I transfers - it's growing every day.
http://verbalcommits.com/transfers/2017
http://verbalcommits.com/transfers/2017
Maybe the Colonials will pick up a qualify transfer. The player would have to sit out the year UPMC is being built, and then be good to go to play in the new arena.
At least Toole gave his first school a solid 2 years before leaving.
A lot of people leave after 1.
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Toole also transferred to an Ivy league school. In the article Andy was specifically talking about "up-transfers." Just something to remember.
