If roundball is your blood, this is the place to discuss the Flames as they move into the Ritchie McKay era for the 2nd time.

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By Sly Fox
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#625222
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Bryson Spell
6' 8" 195 lbs Power Forward
Virginia Beach (VA) Cape Henry Collegiate HS
Former Cincinnati Commit



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UC Student Newspaper wrote:Who is UC men’s basketball recruit Bryson Spell?
Landon Bartlett | Staff Reporter Apr 5, 2021
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Despite losing six players to the NCAA’s transfer portal, the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team has found a glimmer of hope in the last week with its first recruit of the class of 2021 in Bryson Spell.

Spell, a Virginia native, is now the lone high school recruit for head coach John Brannen’s Bearcats. Spell has been in contact with Cincinnati since 2019 and made a statement announcing his commitment on March 19.

The 6’9’’ power forward has a knack for shooting threes, shown by an above-average three-point shooter. Not only his shooting, but rather his versatility, is something scouts and coaches have noticed at his tournaments over the years.
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By flameshaw
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#625228
Will feel much better when he signs an LOI. Just a few weeks ago he was 100% committed CU. What's changed? I just hope that McKay continues to receive solid commitments like he has for most of hid players.
Not sure this kid has payed against any tuff opposition, he is considered a 2*. He needs to put on some significant weight and strength. However, he certainly is the type of recruit that we desperately need. Hope we can keep him in the fold. Stealing one from CU is a big geal.
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By Kricket
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#625231
Yeah, Virginia Tech also offered this kid. Maybe he didn't play the toughest competition, but to get a big that Cincy and Virginia Tech wanted, in this class that needed it bad, it's great news.
By olldflame
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#625236
flameshaw wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 2:06 am Will feel much better when he signs an LOI. Just a few weeks ago he was 100% committed CU. What's changed? I just hope that McKay continues to receive solid commitments like he has for most of hid players.
Not sure this kid has payed against any tuff opposition, he is considered a 2*. He needs to put on some significant weight and strength. However, he certainly is the type of recruit that we desperately need. Hope we can keep him in the fold. Stealing one from CU is a big geal.
No worries flameshaw. 8) As is most often the case in college athletics, he was not committed to CU, he was committed to their coach, who no longer works there. Even players of questionable character who de-commit for the wrong reasons tend to be very careful with their choice on the second go-round. De-committing once is easily excused. More than once and you start to look squirrely and lose options.

Basketball-wise, yes, he could stand to put on a few pounds, which I'm sure he will. His length, mobility and ability to make 3s from NBA range at 6'9" are things that fit really well for us.

Anyone else spot the similarities in situation, physical characteristics and skill set to a player we signed several years ago?
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By Cider Jim
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#625244
olldflame wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 8:31 am Anyone else spot the similarities in situation, physical characteristics and skill set to a player we signed several years ago?
Carter McMasters? He chose us over UT-Knoxville.

https://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cf ... terID=1543
By olldflame
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#625246
Cider Jim wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 9:18 am
olldflame wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 8:31 am Anyone else spot the similarities in situation, physical characteristics and skill set to a player we signed several years ago?
Carter McMasters? He chose us over UT-Knoxville.

https://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cf ... terID=1543
Good guess, but unlike Carter, this player (like Bryson) was actually committed to another very good program and de-committed to come to Liberty.
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By Kricket
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#625251
He's similar to Stephen Baird in a lot of ways, but I don't remember Baird decommitting from another school. He had offers from a bunch of really good schools though. Unfortunately his time at Liberty didn't pan out. Hopefully Spell has a much better career at Liberty.
By olldflame
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#625252
Ezra Talbert

He committed to Creighton and then decided to go ahead and do his scheduled official visit to Liberty and changed his mind. Ezra was about the same size as Bryson, and was athletic and highly skilled. Reports were that in his early practices as a FR, he was going head to head with Gielo and holding his own. Then he hurt his back, and really was not the same player after that.
By olldflame
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#625255
ballcoach15 wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 11:52 am I've heard that he has a younger brother who's a QB, and has some offers from Ivy league school.
In other words, he's an FCS prospect who happens to be smart. Maybe he will improve.

Funny how we all used to get excited at the idea of an Ivy League prospect possibly coming to Liberty. Now it's just Cider. 8)
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By Cider Jim
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#625259
olldflame wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 12:25 pm
Funny how we all used to get excited at the idea of an Ivy League prospect possibly coming to Liberty. Now it's just Cider. 8)
If the Ivy League kids don't come to LU, I prepare our Honors kids to go to the Ivy Leagues for graduate school. So far, we have gotten into 7 of the 8 Ivy League schools for grad school, but are still trying to get into Princeton. Study
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By Purple Haize
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#625271
ballcoach15 wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 11:52 am I've heard that he has a younger brother who's a QB, and has some offers from Ivy league school.
Waiting for you to condemn this kid for quitting on Cincy and transferring. Where are your allegations of wrong doing on behalf of RMK and staff you throw around every other time?
If you condone this transfer it just goes to show you have morals the consistency of under chilled jello
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By Purple Haize
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#625275
olldflame wrote: April 22nd, 2021, 8:59 pm Since Bryson never signed with Cincinnati, this would not be a transfer. Of course, since he is coming to Liberty, I'm sure the ol' ballcoach is fine with it regardless.
Close enough. He committed and had his picture taken and ever. This is still a transfer
By paradox
Registration Days Posts
#625329
Kinda like Jesse Sanders and Rice. Also, this guy, if he reaches his ceiling, may be Sanders-like in other ways. A player who excels in many facets of the game that transcend position. Of course, Jesse had that grit that was off the charts. Not gonna go there. Wouldn't be fair. But from a skills standpoint, it looks promising.
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By BJWilliams
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#625334
Bryson is a good get. Cape Henry has had one of the top teams in tbe area, not just among private schools. If memory serves me correctly he would have had the opportunity to face Matt Coleman (now at Texas) before he ended up at Oak Hill
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By Cider Jim
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#625340
Coach McKay said that Spell had the ball handling skills to be a "point forward." :shock:
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