Men's Basketball PG Commitment- Mike Black

[Dane96]

I like this kid...just for his attitude. I will take kids like that...over others any day of the week. Notice a key there with "my parents" and "education" were high his priority list.

 

I gotta say-- Chad does a great job in the Midwest.

 

If he can run the pt...and dish to what hopefully will be an explosive lineup with Watts, Harris, Aronholt...a healthy Barazza...etc....I will be just fine.

[Clickclack]

BTW - hillarious comment posting on the TU blog

 

Hey Mark:

 

You might want to check Rivals for a UA basketball update…

 

Comment by Mike Black — March 31st, 2009 @ 6:07 pm

Thanks, “Mike.” Much obliged.

 

Comment by Mark Singelais, Staff writer — March 31st, 2009 @ 6:20 pm

No problem.

Now please call me for an interview and tell the Capital Region about my game…

 

Comment by Mike Black — March 31st, 2009 @ 6:34 pm

 

That's one way of getting Singleas' attention.

 

 

I love it!! LOL, I like him already!

 

Yeh, he's definitely has a pep in his step.....'Yo Marky, check Rivals and interview me, I want the CD to know about me and my game'........can't say I've ever seen a recruit do something like that!

 

*cough* *cough*...if that was actually him

[KJMAC16]

Here is a picture of him.

 

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basket...foreman.article

Will America East refs call that a carry?

 

This is a guard league, so no carry called on that UA72. Now, the header pic of Metcalf above would most certainly be an "Over the Back" call in the AE.

 

Nice pickup for UA. I think after this year we all want a tru PG with a solid Basketball IQ and ability to distribute the ball. It looks like from the little info available that that is what we will be getting.

 

Welcome to UA Mike.

[Eli]

Here is a picture of him.

 

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basket...foreman.article

Will America East refs call that a carry?

 

This is a guard league, so no carry called on that UA72. Now, the header pic of Metcalf above would most certainly be an "Over the Back" call in the AE.

 

Nice pickup for UA. I think after this year we all want a tru PG with a solid Basketball IQ and ability to distribute the ball. It looks like from the little info available that that is what we will be getting.

 

Welcome to UA Mike.

 

Not to mention someone who won't pansy out around the basket once he gets by the defense like Raffa. I said it before, and I'll say it again. I HATED that part of Raffa's game.

 

"OH! Look at me! I just blew past my guy! I'm now going for a layup! Oh crap! Bogey in bound! ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!" *turnover*

[UA_MA_2000]

Somewhat OT here, but to what extent should the casual fan put any stock on the Rival's "star rating." Looking back at UAlbany's recruits several years, I noticed that UA has only had the following "three-star recruits": Jamar Wilson, Joseph Dyson, and Tim Ambrose. Many players are simply not rated; so, could one argue that several other recruits of ours over the past few years (or this coming year) are worthy of this "three-star" rating, for whatever it's worth?

[Clickclack]

Somewhat OT here, but to what extent should the casual fan put any stock on the Rival's "star rating." Looking back at UAlbany's recruits several years, I noticed that UA has only had the following "three-star recruits": Jamar Wilson, Joseph Dyson, and Tim Ambrose. Many players are simply not rated; so, could one argue that several other recruits of ours over the past few years (or this coming year) are worthy of this "three-star" rating, for whatever it's worth?

 

I've been following the recruiting trail for a couple of years now....it seems to me that the most important thing to look at is who else offered/was interested. Numbers and stars IMO more often then not fail to accurately predict what a player will do in college. High ratings are fun to have and are great for fans to kick around on the message boards....once the player get's into a program and the coaching staff starts to work with him, the stars go out the window.

[danefan]

Another thing about rivals - they will change their ratings once a kid signs. So if you have a 3-star recruit that picks a school like Albany, that rating may drop to 2 stars solely because he ended up at a lower ranked school.

 

So the long and short of things is this - Rivals/Scout, etc.....worthless once yet get passed the top 50 or so kids in the country. After that the sites are rating on 4th and 5th hand knowledge of a kid's game. Not really accurate, IMO.

[uofalbany]

Along with next year's redshirt freshmen,

 

1. Logan Aronhalt - 6'3" - 215lbs

2. Jake Lindfors - 6'10" - 225lbs

 

We have freshmen:

 

3. Mike Black – Oak Park, IL – 6’0” – 170 lbs

4. Ralph Watts – Peekskill NY – 6’6” – 195lbs

5. Gavin Glanton – Forrest City, AR – 6’7” – 200lbs

6. Blake Metcalf – Plainfield, IN – 6’9” – 250 lbs

7. John Puk – Waterloo IA - 6’-10” - 215lbs

 

4 years together could reap some nice rewards.

 

John Puk is coming, and not going to prep, correct?

Edited April 1, 2009 by uofalbany

[Eli]

Along with next year's redshirt freshmen,

 

1. Logan Aronhalt - 6'3" - 215lbs

2. Jake Lindfors - 6'10" - 225lbs

 

We have freshmen:

 

3. Mike Black – Oak Park, IL – 6’0” – 170 lbs

4. Ralph Watts – Peekskill NY – 6’6” – 195lbs

5. Gavin Glanton – Forrest City, AR – 6’7” – 200lbs

6. Blake Metcalf – Plainfield, IN – 6’9” – 250 lbs

7. John Puk – Waterloo IA - 6’-10” - 215lbs

 

4 years together could reap some nice rewards.

 

John Puk is coming, and not going to prep, correct?

 

Very young class...but some good athletes. I agree...4 years together would benefit all of them as well as the school. They could achieve something special AE/NCAA wise if they stick together and work at it.

 

But keep in mind our team next year will be VERY young...so we might have some growing pains. Also known as very bad games. lol.

Edited April 1, 2009 by Ilko

[Clickclack]

Along with next year's redshirt freshmen,

 

1. Logan Aronhalt - 6'3" - 215lbs

2. Jake Lindfors - 6'10" - 225lbs

 

We have freshmen:

 

3. Mike Black – Oak Park, IL – 6’0” – 170 lbs

4. Ralph Watts – Peekskill NY – 6’6” – 195lbs

5. Gavin Glanton – Forrest City, AR – 6’7” – 200lbs

6. Blake Metcalf – Plainfield, IN – 6’9” – 250 lbs

7. John Puk – Waterloo IA - 6’-10” - 215lbs

 

4 years together could reap some nice rewards.

There may be an 8th freshman, depending on what happens to McRae.

 

John Puk is coming, and not going to prep, correct?

 

John Puk is paying his way the first year and will be a scholarship player the next four from what I understand. The roster we have right now will be a bit unbalanced with 6 freshmen but consider that we also have 6 seniors/juniors who will be expected to lead the team. The 1,2 punch will obviously be Timmy and Will, it will be important to find that third guy who can be a consistent threat. I actually thought Mike did a great job down the stretch running the team....looking for him to be significantly more comfortable in his role next season, let's just hope he works on him jump shot so he can at least keep the defenders honest.

[Patch]

Not as young as you think...

 

Brett Gifford a SR with experience

Will Harris a SR - 3rd team All AE

Tim Ambrose a JR eligibility wise - 3rd team All AE

Mike Johnson a SR came on strong at the end of the season

 

Barazza sick/injured a good part of the season in 11 AE games he shot 37% from 3, 85% from the FT line

Billy Allen will be entering his 3rd year around the program but is only a SOPH eligibility wise

Lindfors worked out the entire redshirt season he is familiar with what is expected

 

The newbies just need to fit in and hopefully contribute some - the more the better

[Clickclack]

Does anyone know what type of competition Mike played against in HS? Just trying to gauge who he went up against in compiling 15ppg 3apg averages

[uofalbany]

Good breakdown Patch.

 

As for Puk... he doesn't have the scholarship for this year?

Does that mean he plays or doesn't play?

If he plays without the scholarship this coming season, how many more years is he eligible to play?

[Clickclack]

Good breakdown Patch.

 

As for Puk... he doesn't have the scholarship for this year?

Does that mean he plays or doesn't play?

If he plays without the scholarship this coming season, how many more years is he eligible to play?

 

He will not be playing next year....he will however work out and lift with the team! He will have 4 years of eligibility remaining starting in '10

 

Does that mean he will be considered a walk-on?

Edited April 1, 2009 by bosiydid

[danefan]

Good breakdown Patch.

 

As for Puk... he doesn't have the scholarship for this year?

Does that mean he plays or doesn't play?

If he plays without the scholarship this coming season, how many more years is he eligible to play?

 

He will not be playing next year....he will however work out and lift with the team! He will have 4 years of eligibility remaining starting in '10

 

Does that mean he will be considered a walk-on?

 

Yes. Anyone not receiving a scholarship is a walk-on.

He'll be a red-shirted walkon. Paying his own way with 4 years of eligibility remaining.