Former Champlain Park G Josiah Strong in the portal



the last redbird who transferred to MN worked out well...for a while
 

the last redbird who transferred to MN worked out well...for a while
Zach Lofton? Haha just kidding.

I posted this in the Transfer Portal thread, some interesting nuggets about Strong:

He shot a LOT of threes, 85/208 on the season.

He put up 15 points on 5/12 (5/9 3PT) in a 4 point loss to Wisconsin.

Looks like he has one year left played a year at Navy, then 3 years at Illinois State but sat out a redshirt year, so I am guessing he has 2 years of eligibility available. Seems like a late bloomer.

Sy Chatman from Cretin is also on Illinois State.
 
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Zach Lofton? Haha just kidding.

I posted this in the Transfer Portal thread, some interesting nuggets about Strong:

He shot a LOT of threes, 85/208 on the season.

He put up 15 points on 5/12 (5/9 3PT) in a 4 point loss to Wisconsin.

Looks like he played a year at Navy, then 3 years at Illinois State but sat out a redshirt year, so I am guessing he has 2 years of eligibility available. Seems like a late bloomer.

Sy Chatman from Cretin is also on Illinois State.
Think one.
Navy
Iowa Western
Illinois State
Illinois State
 




Guessing the Gophers will reach out, I think Strong could be a good candidate as our Combo Guard target. Could start or be a good sixth man, depending on what we do at PG and Wing. Missouri Valley a good league, should be fine in the Big Ten
 

Guessing the Gophers will reach out, I think Strong could be a good candidate as our Combo Guard target. Could start or be a good sixth man, depending on what we do at PG and Wing. Missouri Valley a good league, should be fine in the Big Ten
he can run the point?
 











nice....makes him that much more appealing.
I wouldn't say he should be the primary ball handler, but if we can get a guy who can give us 25-30 at point, Strong should be able to handle the rest and play some off the ball. He's they type of player that I think Carrington can turn into a better version of as an upperclassmen. Could be a good player to model his game after for a year. But you could definitely take him and one of Jones/Walton for example and it could work
 

I wouldn't say he should be the primary ball handler, but if we can get a guy who can give us 25-30 at point, Strong should be able to handle the rest and play some off the ball. He's they type of player that I think Carrington can turn into a better version of as an upperclassmen. Could be a good player to model his game after for a year. But you could definitely take him and one of Jones/Walton for example and it could work
yeah i mean he would make sense then. Ben needs to get himself a dude at PG that, like you said can give him close to 30 minutes a game and then mix in Smith and even Carrington to fill in the rest of the minutes there.
 

yeah i mean he would make sense then. Ben needs to get himself a dude at PG that, like you said can give him close to 30 minutes a game and then mix in Smith and even Carrington to fill in the rest of the minutes there.
Larson from Wofford? (Close to 100 Junior point guards in the portal.)
 
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Again, I know this isnt for everyone but its a nice way to aggregate stuff. EvanMiya has Strong as a 3* transfer, 163rd in his rankings (of roughly 1100 transfers). For comparison, he has Larson as a 4* at 96th in his rankings.

I find it so tough with some of these guys. I like them if they had the right role, I think Strong is a nice 7th man, think Malik Beasley. Hey this game you are hot, get him in 25-30min. Hey its not your night tonight lets stay in the 10-18 min range. Last year just has given me some PTSD that we are going to end up with these lower tier guys and ask them to do way more than they can do night in and night out.
 


Again, I know this isnt for everyone but its a nice way to aggregate stuff. EvanMiya has Strong as a 3* transfer, 163rd in his rankings (of roughly 1100 transfers). For comparison, he has Larson as a 4* at 96th in his rankings.

I find it so tough with some of these guys. I like them if they had the right role, I think Strong is a nice 7th man, think Malik Beasley. Hey this game you are hot, get him in 25-30min. Hey its not your night tonight lets stay in the 10-18 min range. Last year just has given me some PTSD that we are going to end up with these lower tier guys and ask them to do way more than they can do night in and night out.
EvanMiya is a wonderful data point.
 

Again, I know this isnt for everyone but its a nice way to aggregate stuff. EvanMiya has Strong as a 3* transfer, 163rd in his rankings (of roughly 1100 transfers). For comparison, he has Larson as a 4* at 96th in his rankings.

I find it so tough with some of these guys. I like them if they had the right role, I think Strong is a nice 7th man, think Malik Beasley. Hey this game you are hot, get him in 25-30min. Hey its not your night tonight lets stay in the 10-18 min range. Last year just has given me some PTSD that we are going to end up with these lower tier guys and ask them to do way more than they can do night in and night out.
Good post. If our 4 guys were Garcia/Walton/Larson/Strong I would be very happy with that.

Is it too early to start wishcasting our lineup for next year? I remember how last year we went through different iterations every time we lost another scholarship guy or a target committed elsewhere.

Starters:
Larson
Walton
Battle
Garcia
Payne

Rotation:
Strong
Carrington
Fox
Thompson or Ihnen

Spot duty:
Ola-Joseph
Henley
Thiam
 

Good post. If our 4 guys were Garcia/Walton/Larson/Strong I would be very happy with that.

Is it too early to start wishcasting our lineup for next year? I remember how last year we went through different iterations every time we lost another scholarship guy or a target committed elsewhere.

Starters:
Larson
Walton
Battle
Garcia
Payne

Rotation:
Strong
Carrington
Fox
Thompson or Ihnen

Spot duty:
Ola-Joseph
Henley
Thiam
I don't think it will be Larson, I think they want to aim higher for the starting PG and like Strong better for that combo/six man role, but wouldn't be against it on a personal level. I think Fox would be in the starting line up over Payne at first in this scenario. I think Ihnen has a little more flexivbility then Thompson at this point, but I think this line up has some flexibility and we might see some different rotations/guys depending on match ups. Think Payne a 20-25 minute guy at the five whether he starts or comes off the bench. If we get Garcia, him, Battle and Fox, it'll be interesting how wellw e defend at those spots when those three on the court together, I think Strong can score at all three levels, but no sure how well he will defend at this level. As far as Walton vs Jones, I'm more confident in Kerwin's ability to defend, hopefully it plays out this way, this line up could definitely compete for a Tourney bid
 

Good post. If our 4 guys were Garcia/Walton/Larson/Strong I would be very happy with that.

Is it too early to start wishcasting our lineup for next year? I remember how last year we went through different iterations every time we lost another scholarship guy or a target committed elsewhere.

Starters:
Larson
Walton
Battle
Garcia
Payne

Rotation:
Strong
Carrington
Fox
Thompson or Ihnen

Spot duty:
Ola-Joseph
Henley
Thiam
Was going to say something about provincialism, but also thought, "where the hell is Michael Jones?"
That is all 5 starters and 10 of the 13 players on the roster from this state. Honestly appears like a 1950's roster.
 

Was going to say something about provincialism, but also thought, "where the hell is Michael Jones?"
That is all 5 starters and 10 of the 13 players on the roster from this state. Honestly appears like a 1950's roster.

And one a I don't think still could compete... I get this is a marathon not an sprint.. but I'd like to see something more than just bringing the local boys home....
 



I don't think it will be Larson, I think they want to aim higher for the starting PG and like Strong better for that combo/six man role, but wouldn't be against it on a personal level. I think Fox would be in the starting line up over Payne at first in this scenario. I think Ihnen has a little more flexivbility then Thompson at this point, but I think this line up has some flexibility and we might see some different rotations/guys depending on match ups. Think Payne a 20-25 minute guy at the five whether he starts or comes off the bench. If we get Garcia, him, Battle and Fox, it'll be interesting how wellw e defend at those spots when those three on the court together, I think Strong can score at all three levels, but no sure how well he will defend at this level. As far as Walton vs Jones, I'm more confident in Kerwin's ability to defend, hopefully it plays out this way, this line up could definitely compete for a Tourney bid
Jones was a very good defender. Walton has some tools to be, but Jones is already there
 

For transfer SGs, I would love:

Josiah Strong: 1-year player, proven volume 3-pt shooter from a solid conference, and looks to have a decent handle (Willis levels, at least)?

Either Walton/Jones (but not both): a 2-year player who can shoot and also helps balance out the classes. I probably have a stronger lean towards Jones as he supposedly was a solid defender while the verdict is still out on Kerwin.

There is plenty of room to work Carrington and Henley into the guard rotation, who I think will immediately contribute in small doses but with room to grow.

Then get a true PG and Garcia, and things are looking up for 2022/2023. A good mix of "win now" and "build towards the future."
 




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