Barraza Commits

[America Least]

http://americaleast.blogspot.com/2008/04/a...ts-barraza.html

[B9j2j6s]

Nice, welcome Barraza to the Great Dane Family.

[Dane96]

We are getting younger...quicker...smarter...and better shooters with this "new squad." I like it. If we get one "stellar" athlete (maybe Aronholt?!?!) this is very similar to our cross-town rivals and how they re-tooled three years ago.

 

Me likey!

[olddog71]

We are getting younger...quicker...smarter...and better shooters with this "new squad." I like it. If we get one "stellar" athlete (maybe Aronholt?!?!) this is very similar to our cross-town rivals and how they re-tooled three years ago.

 

Me likey!

 

Nice comments on UA's coaching staff and approach to the players from Barraza's HS coach: "His former high school coach Paul Long had this to add about Barraza; 'Louis had some other visits lined up, but got a great feeling from his visit with coach Will Brown and his staff at Albany. They are losing four of their top five scorers, but have a pretty nice class of five incoming freshmen who will impact the team immediately. He was impressed with their commitment to the individual (and their education) as well as the team-first mentality that Coach Brown instills in his program.'"

[B9j2j6s]

Wow I like what I hear, hopefully it translates to what will see on the court next year.

 

So if my count is right

 

We have coming in so far (5)

Anthony Raffa 6' (Freshman) PG of the future with a year of prep school.

Jake Lindfors 6'9 (Freshman) 3 pt and low post game.

Logan Aronhalt 6'4 (Freshman) All around player, coaches son

Louis Barraza 6'5 (Sophmore) 2nd all time leading scorer pct. in one year.

Michael Johnson 6'1 (Junior) NYC kid, combo guard, all region pick. (Thanks D96)

 

Going out (5)

Jon Iati 5'9 (Senior) 1000 pt, AE ROY 2003

Brian Lillis 6'5 (Senior) AE DPY, Lead in PTS

Brent Wilson 6'8 (Senior) 1000 pt, AE 3rd team selection

Ried Anderson 6'5 (Soph) Injury prone, good kid, good luck to you.

Rob Moore 6'3 (Soph) Good kid just didn't get a lot of playing time. Must be a sign of how good the players that are coming in are. Good luck to you.

 

 

Returning (8)

Brian Connelly 6'8 (Junior) 2nd in pts., started every game

Tim Ambrose 6'0 (Freshman) 5 in pts., started in 4 games

Josh Martin 6'2 (Freshman) 6 in pts., started in 5 games

Jerel Hastings 6'5 (Junior) Played in all 30 games started in 22 games

Al Turley 6'7 (Freshman) Played in all 30 games (only Center to do that).

Jim Covington 6'7 (Junior) Only returning captian and started in 15 games this year.

Brett Gifford 6'11 (Soph) Started in 4 games, lead the big three in steals.

Billy Allen 6'6 (Freshman) DNP Red Shirt

 

So we got room for a walk-on or transfer who is willing to pay his own way, or could we possibly do something with Financial aid.

[Dane96]

You left out Michael Johnson...transfer coming in. Guard.

[Patch]

Interesting get for us.

 

I just looked on ESPN.com at the NCAA 3pfg shooters and they list 101 Players who made 79 or more 3s and only 1 - Jaycee Carroll (50.7%)of Utah State shot over 50%.

 

Barraza made only 74 but shot 50.3% (I know it was at the JC Level) so at 6'5" I guess he can stroke it a little. To put it somewhat in perspective he made 12 more threes then Brent and took 28 less shots.

 

From the Yavapai site he also shot 81% from the line making an avg of 3.6 a game.

 

According to a Rivals.com site Barraza was a 4.0 HS student

[Patch]

From JucoJunction.com

 

 

Bret Swanson

JucoJunction.com Staff Analyst

 

Louis Barranza only played one season at Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ. Barranza, (FR) 6-foot-5 (200), will take his game to the northeast part of the country next season and play at the University of Albany.

 

Barranza, a member of the Mexican national team, made all-region and freshman of the year in Arizona this past year. Barranza averaged 20.4 ppg, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists this past season while shooting 50.3% (74-147) from three point range.

 

Louis cancelled visits Duquesne, Hawaii and Montana State after deciding on the Great Danes.

[statefan]

Interesting updates on the Singelais blog:

http://blogs.timesunion.com/collegesports/?cat=6

 

My thoughts, obviously based only by what I have read. (1) Isn't it odd to have a 4.0 GPA and begin at JUCO? (2) Just like King Dane asked in the Michael Johnson thread, why would a kid pass on a trip to Hawaii (3) When would he arrive if he will be playing for the Mexican National team?

[Dane96]

Statefan, to answer one question, he was at JUCO (I believe) because he suffered a big injury before his Senior year of high school. Not sure of the injury.

[UAalum72]

Olympic finals and closing ceremonies are August 24; presumably he would be in reasonable game shape.

[Patch]

From what I've read on several sites - he was a 4.0 in HS. He suffered an injury and didn't play summer before his SR year. Being he only came to states his soph year he may not have met clearinghouse criteria as he wasn't in states his freshman year.

 

He probably qualified late or in the summer - by then most schollies are gone.

 

He went to JC for one year has 3 years eligibility which means he was academically qualified or he would have had to graduate JC.

 

Kid is coming to UA because he was recruited well by the staff. Why did the Iowa connection come?

 

Just because he's listed with the National team doesn't mean he'll be on the final roster, Zo was on the final 15 for Germany and didn't make the final active roster. I for one hopes he's good enough to actually make Mexico's games roster.

 

Why Johnson and/or Barazza passed on a trip to Hawaii - only they know but Johnson's a Brooklyn kid and UA is in a nice location for him close to home but not close enough to be a distraction (I hope).

[Dane Pound]

Why Johnson and/or Barazza passed on a trip to Hawaii - only they know but Johnson's a Brooklyn kid and UA is in a nice location for him close to home but not close enough to be a distraction (I hope).

 

I find the recruiting process interesting even if I don't understand it fully.

 

I would imagine if a kid wants to visit multiple schools then the schools and coaches would have multiple players visiting. If a player came to Albany for a visit and said "Coach I really like the school but I want to visit Hawaii in two weeks before I make a decision," I don't think the coaching staff sits on their hands until he decides. They probably bring other kids they like about as much and if they say they want to come they recind their offer to the first guy. I'd imagine that's why kids cancel their other visits.

[danes05]

Do schools pay for the recruits to travel? For instance, does Hawaii pay to fly a recruit out there?

[Patch]

Transportation is paid for by the school. It's a paid visit.