'19 IN PF Jacob LaRavia (Transferred to Wake Forest)

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Great news! Love all the talent coming in and love all the Indiana flavor! Welcome aboard Jake!
 

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Having seen him play multiple times in AAU, I think he is more like a Gant/RJ Mahurin hybrid in terms of how he plays offensively.

I expect to see him used as the high ball screen where he can just roll off that and get open 3 point shots like Gant did. He could also be that fast break trailer because of his speed and the guard could do that little turn around shovel that RJ was famous for on breaks.

My guess between being hammered by Barnes/Hankins and the staff showing him the depth chart, he realized he'd be playing early and often next year. Hope he works his ass off this Summer knowing that.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
Can we not do this - one time. Can we not?!

Carl and Manny are two of the best / most versatile players we’ve had in the last 20 or so years. Both could finish at the rim, both had a mid range game, both could shoot the 3. Manny was a better mid to long range player - Carl was better around rim. Both played solid D. In other words - this could be really good and still not be “much more versatile” than either of these guys.

Just please - this one time.
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Elementary, my dear Watson.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
Having seen him play multiple times in AAU, I think he is more like a Gant/RJ Mahurin hybrid in terms of how he plays offensively.

I expect to see him used as the high ball screen where he can just roll off that and get open 3 point shots like Gant did. He could also be that fast break trailer because of his speed and the guard could do that little turn around shovel that RJ was famous for on breaks.

My guess between being hammered by Barnes/Hankins and the staff showing him the depth chart, he realized he'd be playing early and often next year. Hope he works his ass off this Summer knowing that.
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We're not allowed to compare him to our other players. SSOM won't like it.
What I saw was with little defense, but I think he is much more mobile on the open floor than Gant or RJ. I just hope he is aggressive inside on the boards and defensively.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
Can we not do this - one time. Can we not?!

Carl and Manny are two of the best / most versatile players we’ve had in the last 20 or so years. Both could finish at the rim, both had a mid range game, both could shoot the 3. Manny was a better mid to long range player - Carl was better around rim. Both played solid D. In other words - this could be really good and still not be “much more versatile” than either of these guys.

Just please - this one time.
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The way I remember it, Manny did not get many "easy" points, Carl could not play SF, and neither had much of a handle.
Go ahead and tell me if you disagree, but don't blast away with nothing.
Have you seen him in person? I have, Sherlock.

Painter must agree with me. it's not trivial that a final 8 team called him a couple of weeks ago.
 
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Excellent news to read on this Sunday, welcome Jake!

Will we be stupid enough to redshirt any of these incoming recruits? I sure hope not. They might take their lumps starting out, but they seem like they could play as true freshman.
 

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ISUCC said:
Excellent news to read on this Sunday, welcome Jake!

Will we be stupid enough to redshirt any of these incoming recruits? I sure hope not. They might take their lumps starting out, but they seem like they could play as true freshman.
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With D and other guards, I would say Hankins is a candidate. We'll just have to throw a ball on the court and see how rises to the top.
 
sycamorebacker said:
The way I remember it, Manny did not get many "easy" points, Carl could not play SF, and neither had much of a handle.
Go ahead and tell me if you disagree, but don't blast away with nothing.
Have you seen him in person? I have, Sherlock.

Painter must agree with me. it's not trivial that a final 8 team called him a couple of weeks ago.
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Extremely sensitive much “Sherlock”?

I’ve never seen him play - but then again I don’t really have to have seen him play to be able to debate any players versatility vs. Carl Richard and Manny Arop. Both whom are probably more talented and versatile than anyone on our current roster not named Key and it’s not particularly close.

Many Arop was a good athlete - a slasher - could get his own shot - was a capable 3 point shooter and a lock down defender when needed. He handled the ball just fine.

Carl Richard could catch a lob and yam it one time down the floor, post up baby hook the second time down the floor and the third hit a knockdown 3.

I just don’t care for the comparison given the contributions of those two players - especially the suggestion of him being “much more” of anything than those two guys.

It wasn’t a personal attack on you... I would have made the same post no matter who posted that. It’s neither trival or a qualifier that Painter was interested in this kid. He’s an Indiana kid that had a rising stock during the late signing period - shit happens and roster spots open up. Nothing is really out of play at that point - of course they were going to kick the tires on him. Purdue has been to the Elite 8 three times in the last 20 years you and Painter being on the same page isn’t really too impressive to me. Lol
 
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Obviously I'm excited that we are getting three Indiana all-stars. I just hope people don't get too down on these kids too early. I think many are expecting them to be world beaters their first year and will forget that they will only be freshman. I think they could all have good seasons next year, but I believe that Key, J. Barnes, Neese, Kessinger, and Williams will be the primary keys to our success next season. Williams is probably my biggest concern. I think he has the potential to be a great player, it's more of a does he want to be, kind of issue.

All in all though this is a great class we have coming in and there is definitely reason to look forward to the next few years.
 

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SycamoreStateofMind said:
Extremely sensitive much “Sherlock”?

I’ve never seen him play - but then again I don’t really have to have seen him play to be able to debate any players versatility vs. Carl Richard and Manny Arop. Both whom are probably more talented and versatile than anyone on our current roster not named Key and it’s not particularly close.

Many Arop was a good athlete - a slasher - could get his own shot - was a capable 3 point shooter and a lock down defender when needed. He handled the ball just fine.

Carl Richard could catch a lob and yam it one time down the floor, post up baby hook the second time down the floor and the third hit a knockdown 3.

I just don’t care for the comparison given the contributions of those two players - especially the suggestion of him being “much more” of anything than those two guys.

It wasn’t a personal attack on you... I would have made the same post no matter who posted that. It’s neither trival or a qualifier that Painter was interested in this kid. He’s an Indiana kid that had a rising stock during the late signing period - shit happens and roster spots open up. Nothing is really out of play at that point - of course they were going to kick the tires on him. Purdue has been to the Elite 8 three times in the last 20 years you and Painter being on the same page isn’t really too impressive to me. Lol
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Maybe you shouldn't critique others' opinions until you have seen him play.
I may not have an accurate view of his ability, but I think there is a good possibility that he will be a starter/primary player on the all-star team.
Of course, this is early, and I could completely wrong about him. I'm just throwing my opinion out there to give those that haven't seen him play an idea of his skills. He is definitely a combo forward with inside/outside skills which is not what we usually get in our recruiting. He averaged about 17 pts, 7 rebs and 4 assists on one of the top teams in the state. He handled, passed, and scored inside and outside. I am of the OPINION that he is more versatile than the two players I mentioned before. Right or wrong; that's my opinion.
 
sycamorebacker said:
Maybe you shouldn't critique others' opinions until you have seen him play.
I may not have an accurate view of his ability, but I think there is a good possibility that he will be a starter/primary player on the all-star team.
Of course, this is early, and I could completely wrong about him. I'm just throwing my opinion out there to give those that haven't seen him play an idea of his skills. He is definitely a combo forward with inside/outside skills which is not what we usually get in our recruiting. He averaged about 17 pts, 7 rebs and 4 assists on one of the top teams in the state. He handled, passed, and scored inside and outside. I am of the OPINION that he is more versatile than the two players I mentioned before. Right or wrong; that's my opinion.
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I’m not critiquing him as a player - I’m protecting the legacy of two very good players and curbing expectations you and others have wrongfully set ahead of time in the past.

It’s fun to be excited - we didn’t have much to get excited about last season - he happy - enjoy it! But let’s keep expectations in check.

Right or wrong. Having seen him play or not. I’m still of the opinion he’s probably not “much more versatile” than either of those two players. I don’t think I have to see him play to make that statement. But time will tell.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
I’m not critiquing him as a player - I’m protecting the legacy of two very good players and curbing expectations you and others have wrongfully set ahead of time in the past.

It’s fun to be excited - we didn’t have much to get excited about last season - he happy - enjoy it! But let’s keep expectations in check.

Right or wrong. Having seen him play or not. I’m still of the opinion he’s probably not “much more versatile” than either of those two players. I don’t think I have to see him play to make that statement. But time will tell.
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I just hope he doesn't quit on his team if we are comparing him to others .
 

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Gotta be truthful, I was never a Carl Richards fan. He really wasn't much of a shooter and it his ball handling skills were only average. I've been watching ISU teams since the mid 1960's and I don't think Richards would be on my top ten forwards list.
 
Lets all be honest with ourselves. If the program is to rise, we need Jake to be better than any of the guys that have come before him because while some were really good, none of them were difference makers by themselves. So how about we shelve the comparisons all together because it could as easily be said that we're limiting his ceiling?

So I hope Jake is the best his potential lets him be. He has from now until when he reports to work on his game, body and mind. If he devotes this offseason to his personal development, he is going to hit the ground running and get ample playing time due to the lack of prospects in front of him.
 
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