[olldflame]

Just committed to Liberty

http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/2017 ... an-newton/

This is a HUUUUUUUGE get! (sorry, couldn't resist). He has been acting like a commit for a while now, making frequent visits to campus, but it's great to have him make it official.

[FlameFan11]

Great news!!!! Newton, Gardner, Cuffee, JTalbert, Barmore, James to go with our current guys is unbelievable in basically Year 1 for this staff. Wow!

The exciting part is it seems that Coach McKay is 3/3 in landing the top players he is recruiting. No doubt because he and staff are solid recruiters but also because Liberty has so much to offer for a low/mid-major in facilities, program offerings, booming campus, etc....Great sign for the future!

[Chippy]

Why are we following this guy? You know we have zero chance of signing him. Am I missing something?

[jinxy]

Glad to make it official. He's been a strone lean for a while. Mom and uncle went to lu. Great kid and fit for our program. We need to temper our expectations. He's talented and has a bright future but he needs to continue developing and it's 95 percent chance he will redshirt which is a good thing. Give him 2 years to develop and he can be a monster for us.

[Purple Haize]

Why are we following this guy? You know we have zero chance of signing him. Am I missing something?

We need a crow eating emoticon

[flameshaw]

Why are we following this guy? You know we have zero chance of signing him. Am I missing something?

We need a crow eating emoticon

I will happily eat crow on this one, maybe two or three. (Actually my first thought in hearing this was I hope no one remembers my earlier post).
Without regard to the above, this is just a commit......... correct? I hope we can keep this guy in the fold, since I am sure there will be more callers in days to come. Great job by Ritchie. Just sign the LOI.
I may have to start paying closer attention to round ball (obviously). I would like to see us return to the excitement and buzz that surrounded the Peter Aluma, Hilldebrand, Nuwoso, etc. days. May actually have to buy season tickets again. Can't remember the last time I have been to a game in the Vines.

[olldflame]

Glad to make it official. He's been a strone lean for a while. Mom and uncle went to lu. Great kid and fit for our program. We need to temper our expectations. He's talented and has a bright future but he needs to continue developing and it's 95 percent chance he will redshirt which is a good thing. Give him 2 years to develop and he can be a monster for us.

I have no idea where you got the 95% likelihood of redshirting, but I feel pretty confident in saying that nothing has been decided on that. Way to early, with a summer of AAU, another full HS season and a summer of workouts with the team before he even has his first official practice. Based on his track record, Ritchie is not a big believer in redshirting. Fact is, not many D1 coaches are these days.

[TDDance234]

Most kids don't want to redshirt these days because it burns a transfer year. If Brendan comes in as a freshman and makes an impact, it won't be long before the big boys come calling. Unfortunately, anything outside of the Power-5 has essentially become a JV squad.

[Kiwon]

7'2"?! I wonder what position he will play....

[A Sea of Red]

5 reasons why Newton won't be a bust

http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/5-re ... be-a-bust/

[olldflame]

7'2"?! I wonder what position he will play....

He's at least 7'3" now.

[flameshaw]

Why are we following this guy? You know we have zero chance of signing him. Am I missing something?

We need a crow eating emoticon

How is this?

[jinxy]

Trust me oldflame. I know on this one. It's a good thing. He needs work at the offensive end. He could be a game changer defensively day one. It could definitely change with roster movement or what happens this year developmental wise but that's the plan as of not that long ago.

[Cider Jim]

More news on Newton, including an interview with him and his high school coach:

http://m.roanoke.com/sports/high_school ... l?mode=jqm

[LUnpretty11]

Maybe I missed this earlier, but did Brendan play against Barber/LCA this season?

[olldflame]

Trust me oldflame. I know on this one. It's a good thing. He needs work at the offensive end. He could be a game changer defensively day one. It could definitely change with roster movement or what happens this year developmental wise but that's the plan as of not that long ago.

I have no doubt it is being considered, and yes, he is a work in progress on the offensive end. We didn't offer this kid a scholarship before he began his Sophomore year of HS because of offense. You, along with everyone who has coached him, coached or played against him or evaluated him for a recruiting service have said the same thing. He is a GAME CHANGER on defense. The pack line defense is just not fully effective without a rim protector. Unless someone emerges this season to fill that role, I don't see any way Brendan doesn't play as a true FR.

[BJWilliams]

Think about this as a potential lineup for 2017-18, assuming no surprises in the offseason:

PG
Xzavier Barmore
Lovell Cabbill

SG
John Dawson
Elijah Cuffee
Caleb Homesley
Jay Barber

SF
A.C. Reid
Ezra Talbert
Keegan McDowell
Brody Hicks
Scottie James

PF
Brock Gardner
Josiah Talbert

C
Brendan Newton
Hayden Koval

This does not reflect what I think the DC will be. This could be a borderline "Swiss Army Knife" type roster with a ton of ability to adapt to a lot of different defensive looks.

[olldflame]

There are so many issues with that post it would take a lot more time and effort than I am willing to put in to address them all BJ, but let's start with this. You have a roster breakdown which includes 4 recruits who have not yet signed and will be playing HS basketball next year, but you left out 3 scholarship players who are on the current roster or have signed, and will have remaining eligibility.

[BJWilliams]

Oversight on my part missing the scholarship players...I'm trying to project two seasons out so any number of things can come into play.

[olldflame]

Oversight on my part missing the scholarship players...I'm trying to project two seasons out so any number of things can come into play.

The fact is, at least one player and probably 2 will need to go after this year to make room for the 2017 class, which hopefully will also included PG Jarrod West. There is actually a good chance they will come from the group you omitted.

For the record:

Ryan Kemrite
Myo Baxter-Bell
Georgie Pacheco

[BJWilliams]

You forgot Hiepler too.

It'll be interesting keeping an eye on this group in 2016-17

[Purple Haize]

You forgot Hiepler too.

It'll be interesting keeping an eye on this group in 2016-17

As opposed to a time when it would be uninteresting?

[olldflame]

You forgot Hiepler too.

It'll be interesting keeping an eye on this group in 2016-17

No, I didn't forget him.

[FlameFan11]

I will jump in on the roster for 2017-18 speculation. Here would be my breakdown by position which is quite a bit different than BJ. I don't see Ezra ever being a 3 or Caleb being a 2 with the guys we will have. Good thing is many guys are capable of playing multiple spots if needed. The crazy thing is how many bodies could be around with 13 scholarship players and all of the walk-on guys. The amount of talent in this group is way ahead of where we have been the last 5 years which is very exciting. Obviously, a lot can and will likely will change but here is how I see the 2017-18 roster.

PG - Cabbil, Barmore, Pacheco

SG - Dawson, Cuffee, McDowell, Barber

SF - Gardner, Kemrite, Reid, Hicks

PF - Homesley, James, ETalbert, Baxter-Bell

C - JTalbert, Newton, Koval

That is a very talented roster for the Big South with a ton of versatility. Wouldn't be surprised by the end of the 17-18 season to see Cuffee starting games moving Dawson to the 3, Gardner to the 4 plus Newton finding his way into the starting lineup. Serious firepower from that group.

A total of 18 players listed. No way all of them suit up in 2017-18. Even with 3 or 4 non-scholarship guys, there will likely be transfers or possible redshirt year for a couple of these guys. Always exciting to look ahead to the future. Love what this coaching staff is doing and the talent they are bringing to LU.

[Purple Haize]

Let me just interject. Outside of Newton and maybe 1 or 2 others the players don't fit neatly into 'Numbers'. It's the way of basketball today. They are Players not Positions for the most part. You put 3 or 4 Players on the floor with 1 or 2 Specialists.