May be the best incoming class ever...

k&s · 04-22-2008, 03:31 PM

While such a characterization is probably true for the overall class of incoming frosh, it also may be true for the incoming class of basketball recruits.

For those of you who follow men’s basketball – this past season for the Wildcats was quite dismal (even for NU) w/ the best player (Coble) being out for half the season due to his mother’s illness and the fact that the ‘Cats were woefully undermanned in the frontcourt (forcing Coble to play out of position at the 4 spot due), where B10 opponents would out-rebound the ‘Cats by double-digit margins.

The good news is that Carmody finally put the finishing touches on a pretty good 2008 recruiting class – which, most importantly, addresses the need for “big men."

The class is made up of:

6’11” – Luka Mirkovic
6’9” – Davide’ Curletti
6’8” – John Shurna
6’6” – Nick Freundt

Local scouts have stated that Mirkovic (Ind./Serbia) is a Dirk Nowitzki-type of player. Excellent shooter who is also a good passer – a perfect center for Carmody’s Princeton O. Mirkovic also had offers from Louisville, Indiana, Marquette, DePaul, among other schools. Rated a top-5 prospect out of Indiana.

Curletti (Mich.) is more of a wide-body than the other two big men recruits who has a good mid-range shot, but whose strength is playing around the basket. Curletti was a bit under the radar since he spent most of his Jr. year injured, but performed well enough during his Sr. season and in his play for his AAU team (“The Family” – which has sent many players to top programs and the pros) – that Tom Izzo offered him as a “preferred walk-on” (MSU was out of schollies). Curletti turned down UM for NU.

Shurna and Freundt are both top-10 Illinois players who also play for a top AAU team. Shurna is a very good shooter, and despite being a bit on the skinny side for a PF, is supposed to be one heck of a rebounder (Carmody is really excited about Shurna and he is already projected to be the starting PF). Freundt is supposed to be a slightly smaller version of Coble – very good shooter w/ great BB IQ.

Granted - none of these guys have played an ounce of college BB and some of these guys may turn out to be no better than role players (even McDonald’s All-Americans have been known to be busts), but they all played against some top HS teams and all, w/ the exception of Mirkovic, have played against top recruits on the AAU circuit. With Coble, Thompson and Moore coming back (all 3 being among the top-12 scorers in the B10), Carmody should finally be able to field 5 guys who belong on a B10 court (including some big bodies up front).

In addition, Pejusic was starting to come on at the end of last season, and players like Ryan, Nash and Capocci still can become important contributors (Ryan and Nash were injured at times last season and Capocci, who is one of the more athletic guys on the team, had a difficult time learning the Princeton O).

In addition, Carmody already has Moore’s replacement in the 2009 class – Marcotullio, who is rated the 2nd best shooter in Mich. as a Jr. (supposed to have NBA+ range) and is in the running for an “aircraft carrier” – 7’0”, 280 lbs Kyle Rowley who plays for Lake Forest Academy.

Barring injuries, etc. - the next 4 years should be exciting times for NU students.

indiejimmy · 04-22-2008, 09:04 PM

no one cares about basketball here. i'm sorry...

k&s · 04-22-2008, 09:10 PM

^ What a PITIFUL attitude.

And sorry, some people DO - and even the ones who don't, do care about school prestige/rankings, etc. (esp. here) - and the 2 big revenue sports (FB & BB) do have an effect on such things (for instance, Duke has been able to ride its way up the rankings by way of the fall-out from its success in BB; and NU got its biggest applicant class, up to that point, after the success of the 1995 Rose Bowl team).

ace009711 · 04-22-2008, 09:23 PM

i hope all NU students aren't like indiejimmy and actually have some school spirit/care about their teams

BK22889 · 04-22-2008, 10:29 PM

they do, just not basketball. lots of students go to football games, follow the football season. now that its getting nice out, people are going to lacrosse games. basketball is just not really northwestern's thing at this point. and while athletic success in fb and bb can affect a schools publicity, and therefore its applicants, and therefore its rankings, i doubt our football team had a lot to do with the increase in applicants in 1995. there is just a (well documented) growing trend of applicants, causing many schools to set new records for applicants every (or every few) years

BK22889 · 04-22-2008, 10:34 PM

wait, indiejimmy, do you actually go to school here?

arbiter213 · 04-22-2008, 11:00 PM

No the Rosebowl definitely spiked applicants- they shot up and then went back down, and the 7 minute spot talking about NU during the Rosebowl probably didn't hurt it.

Sam Lee · 04-22-2008, 11:26 PM

The interest level will rise when the team starts to make noise.

indiejimmy · 04-23-2008, 12:52 AM

When I said no one "here," I actually meant CC (the validity of my statement was more hyperbole than fact, so don't get too excited all you guys that want to say how wrong I am). I'm another '12 prospective (i.e. not a current student), and I'm actually visiting this weekend. And also, I don't in any way wish to take back what I said, since I thought it was pretty funny.

k&s · 04-23-2008, 05:02 PM

^ Really?

There are actually quite a good no. of posts about college FB and BB here on CC - as well as a good no. of posters asking about schools w/ strong FB/BB programs or an active college athletics scene (both for schools which are academically inclined - as well as those which aren't).

Besides, Pres. Bienen CARES and so does probably the most powerful person associated w/ Northwestern, Pat Ryan.

And sorry, your post in NO way was "funny".