Smith has had 2 big knee surgeries, Satterwhite and Negron each missed their senior seasons with ACL injuries, Chastain missed his junior year in HS and freshman year in college with knee surgeries. Those are 4 players who quite frankly are dormant volcanoes in terms of career-ending injuries. Plus Porter knows that offseason knee injuries could happen at anytime (see Courtney Stanley). I have no problem with him keeping options open, but I have a feeling they don't cut Smith loose this late in the offseason for Bruninga. Smith might not be the same player post surgery, but I believe he'd have to be physically unable to continue playing to qualify for the waiver. And cutting him outright now leaves him with so little options to complete his academic and athletic career.

Bruninga seems to me to be a kid who could go to a prep school like Brewster Academy. He most certainly could play for a lot of D1 teams, but fit is probably a big thing for him. The Summit League teams would most certainly jump at him, but it might be a step down for him. I could see him going to Illinois if they really want him, but he's a reach offer for them and would be a prime candidate to transfer later on in his career if he doesn't see any playing time. We obviously aren't a fit scholarship numbers wise for next year, but we will be. UNI and Illinois State will both have players who could play ahead of him in the depth chart too. In short, a lot can still play out.

I'm most concerned about Chastain's health status. Both surgeries were on the same knee (meniscus in high school; ACL in college). I hope his rehab is going well and he doesn't lose any bounce in his giddyup or play more tentatively.

The way he helps out on defense looks to make him vulnerable to knee problems. He flies around in traffic looking to block shots and lands awkwardly on one (skinny) leg. That scares me.

New 2017 offer to 6" 9 forward from Australia. Must be another Scilly opening up.

Found the link here for those wondering https://twitter.com/AUSA_Hoops/status/8 ... 2959468546

You know I would hate to see us run off a kid like Tyson Smith just because his injury has made him a little less productive. If he is keeping his part of the bargain and wants to be on the team and is doing well in school and following his rehab I think we have an obligation to let him finish. I would hate it if we become one of those programs that runs kids off as son as we have a chance to get someone better......

I could not agree more, I was just wondering if it is a possibility. I have only really followed this program for 3 years or so, just wondering what options we see if we are still recruiting this late in the season.

https://twitter.com/tbruninga32/status/ ... 4800683008

Taylor Brununga gone to the rival Redbirds.

But also it is said to say this but it most definitely look like we are pushing someone off the team especially with this new offer http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/sebit-reath

Sebit Reath from Australia is another big kid we just offered.

Also what about Akiean Frederick if we still are looking for another player for this year.

Just food for thought.

I noticed that Avery has signed (video on his Twitter) but Loyola hasn't released a statement about him yet. Wonder if there could be a problem?

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MBB Scholarship Chart

Great to hear from some new or seldom posting posters.....
It certainly looks like we still have a scholarship out there....I am just going to assume that we have an open one because someone will not be ready to play or has graduated or decided to leave on their own. If this is the case it would make sense to me to have another big having lost two. Very curious

Akiean Frederick seemed to drop off the recruiting map after his visit when Avery committed. He's making his decision at some point today, if i had to guess my gut says he's going to Kent State, but who knows. He tweeted about not being able to wear 23 anymore, Kent State has that number filled, so do we (George Mason does not so i assume he doesn't end up there).

As for Reath i'm curious to see if these teams want him next year or expect him to go through a prep school. At the start of the recruiting season it was tweeted he may be looking for a prep year. There's also really not much out there about him

Per NY2LA: "A 6-foot-9 forward with a wingspan better than seven feet, Reath is a very intriguing versatile prospect. Reath can step out and shoot the basketball and has a smooth one-dribble jumper. For his size, Reath’s ball handling is very unique. Still sort of an unknown commodity in the states, expect there to be a flock new schools that have their eyes opened in Dallas by Reath’s upside."

Also i agree. As long as their's no hitches with Avery I'd happily stand pat, youth in the front court and all. Since Avery is a JUCO player there likely is a bit more that has to happen for him to be accepted on the academics side, where as Williamson was coming from local Whitney Young where they probably have a more established relationship to transferring the necessary info.