Sam Hauser #114 vs. Kon Knuepel #22...

[The Equalizer]

I respectfully disagree - the post clearly stated to "take him" if he wanted to come and I agree it would all work out in competition with the best player playing.  It was a good post imo tho because it recognized that we have many great pieces.  I am not anti - Kon but I think he may not be a true "5 star" that some are hyping him to be and that other less heralded players on the team may in fact out compete him for time.  He does seem to resemble Joey in some respects and I wonder about his speed and length on defense.

That said take him for sure if chooses Marquette but the other point I think the poster gets at a bit is the special sauce of Shaka's success here is program building and not recruiting over his "finds" a la avoiding the transfer portal. Its a nuanced point - doesn't mean not taking talented players - it just highlights our system seems to produce big jumps each year for players and sophomore Zaide might very well be better than Kon etc.   JM2C..

Keep in mind that the success Shaka has had at MU so far is built on players primarily taken from the portal (Morsell, Kuath, Omax, Kolek) to leapfrog current players (Dexter, Torrence, Perez), combined with players initially recruited out of HS by Wojo (Stevie, Kam, Oso).

We can be hopeful the strategy of recruiting guys like Ross, Gold, and Jones followed by Lowrey, Amadou, and Norman will be successful.  However, it's not a continuation of what's worked the last two years--it's a different approach for which the jury is still out.

Additionally, the issue on missing out on players like Kon is the same debate that has been going on for years, where no MU coach since the late 1970's has been truly successful transferring on-court success to similar recruiting success. No matter how well we perform, we've continue to land mostly under-the-radar guys with the potential to improve, rather than landing proven commodities.

[Its DJOver]

Keep in mind that the success Shaka has had at MU so far is built on players primarily taken from the portal (Morsell, Kuath, Omax, Kolek) to leapfrog current players (Dexter, Torrence, Perez), combined with players initially recruited out of HS by Wojo (Stevie, Kam, Oso).

We can be hopeful the strategy of recruiting guys like Ross, Gold, and Jones followed by Lowrey, Amadou, and Norman will be successful.  However, it's not a continuation of what's worked the last two years--it's a different approach for which the jury is still out.

Additionally, the issue on missing out on players like Kon is the same debate that has been going on for years, where no MU coach since the late 1970's has been truly successful transferring on-court success to similar recruiting success. No matter how well we perform, we've continue to land mostly under-the-radar guys with the potential to improve, rather than landing proven commodities.

Define "proven commodity".  I would argue that there's no such thing as a proven commodity until a player actually plays at the collegiate level.

[Jay Bee]

Define "proven commodity".  I would argue that there's no such thing as a proven commodity until a player actually plays at the collegiate level.

Top 25ish, and a couple others each year is probably reasonable in a general sense

[Its DJOver]

Top 25ish, and a couple others each year is probably reasonable in a general sense

So Brandon Miller vs Kel'el Ware, and Arterio Morris vs Anthony Black?  All consensus top 25 prospects coming out of high school.

I'll stand by my statement that there's no such thing as a "proven commodity" until someone actually plays at the collegiate level.

[rocket surgeon]

gotta think shaka's got this if he wants him and kon just needs to see a few of the others to "trust but verify".

this is where the NIL gets a little stinky

[DoctorV]

I'd be willing to bet that if Kon is truly considering Marquette as his destination he cares about the opportunity for playing time and his ability to shine more than the program itself.

I'd be willing to bet he feels the same about Virginia, Duke, Sconsin.
Virginia has the added bonus of the Bennett connection and his AAU buddies.

As for Marquette- my guess would be that Shaka has presented something along the lines of there is a good possibility both TyKo and Kam have moved on to greener money making professional pastures.
If not, you'd share a backcourt with the best passer in the country, and that can only make you look better via all the open shots you'd get.

On the flip side, Shaka values defense and defensive improvement for his elite scorers. Look at the emphasis he's placed on Kam and Jop to improve on that end since day one. I'm sure a competitive, eye to the NBA 5 star from Marquettes back yard likes that part as well.

It's simple, it's true, and hopefully it works.

[Uncle Rico]

gotta think shaka's got this if he wants him and kon just needs to see a few of the others to "trust but verify".

this is where the NIL gets a little stinky

Delete this

[real chili 83]

If he is considering Becky, there must be some major nil mula under the table. Why else would he even consider a losing program?

[Dr. Blackheart]

If he is considering Becky, there must be some major nil mula under the table. Why else would he even consider a losing program?

Girlfriend?

[tower912]

Maybe he wants to play in a Gard-friendly atmosphere.

[Uncle Rico]

Girlfriend?

Kid wouldn't know what a cracked sidewalk is. 

[duanewade]

Good luck to Kon!  Don't think he's a NBA one and done talent, someday he might make it to the league or he just might end up as a real nice college player. 

Once again if you have a roster of 12 high-major/high-ceiling talent, that is very athletic, and your team's niche is team speed with maximum deflections each game... then I don't know how Kon was a good fit. 🤷‍♂️

Further if finding team harmony with 12 high major players all wanting to play isn't difficult enough... then how was adding a 13th player to the mix going to work?  Further a 13th player who's high school rankings ensured him playing time regardless of his performance against his peers in practice who might be outperforming him. 

I've been on a lot of basketball teams in my career and nothing creates more internal acrimony and dissent than when the coach doesn't play the best players due to favoritism or other external pressures/politics. 

Good look to Kon, however I'm sure we won't miss a beat with the players/recruits we already have. 

[Uncle Rico]

Good luck to Kon!  Don't think he's a NBA one and done talent, someday he might make it to the league or he just might end up as a real nice college player. 

Once again if you have a roster of 12 high-major/high-ceiling talent, that is very athletic, and your team's niche is team speed with maximum deflections each game... then I don't know how Kon was a good fit. 🤷‍♂️

Further if finding team harmony with 12 high major players all wanting to play isn't difficult enough... then how was adding a 13th player to the mix going to work?  Further a 13th player who's high school rankings ensured him playing time regardless of his performance against his peers in practice who might be outperforming him. 

I've been on a lot of basketball teams in my career and nothing creates more internal acrimony and dissent than when the coach doesn't play the best players due to favoritism or other external pressures/politics. 

Good look to Kon, however I'm sure we won't miss a beat with the players/recruits we already have.

He's a high major talent that would have fit in just fine

[Its DJOver]

Good luck to Kon!  Don't think he's a NBA one and done talent, someday he might make it to the league or he just might end up as a real nice college player. 

Once again if you have a roster of 12 high-major/high-ceiling talent, that is very athletic, and your team's niche is team speed with maximum deflections each game... then I don't know how Kon was a good fit. 🤷‍♂️

Further if finding team harmony with 12 high major players all wanting to play isn't difficult enough... then how was adding a 13th player to the mix going to work? Further a 13th player who's high school rankings ensured him playing time regardless of his performance against his peers in practice who might be outperforming him.

I've been on a lot of basketball teams in my career and nothing creates more internal acrimony and dissent than when the coach doesn't play the best players due to favoritism or other external pressures/politics. 

Good look to Kon, however I'm sure we won't miss a beat with the players/recruits we already have.

If this were ever the case, it would not be on Kon/The Player, it'd be on the Coach.  I would not expect something like that to happen under Shaka and would be disappointed if it did.

[wadesworld]

Ah yes.  Marquette has too much talent for Kon, but Duke doesn't.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I've been on a lot of basketball teams in my career and nothing creates more internal acrimony and dissent than when the coach doesn't play the best players due to favoritism or other external pressures/politics. 

Thank you. Your middle school travel team experience really adds value to this discussion.

[MU82]

Ah yes.  Marquette has too much talent for Kon, but Duke doesn't.

Exactly.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Thank you. Your middle school travel team experience really adds value to this discussion.

Scoop needs an upvote button. Well played.

[El Guerrero 2]

I think there is a reasonable point to be made that Kon isn't the type of player Shaka would design in a lab if he had the chance, but he's just so good and close that you have to pursue him and figure it out later. Defense would have definitely been an issue, but Shaka has made it work with TKO. In the end, it's hard to blame a kid for picking Duke for school and basketball, but Shaka won't miss a beat.

[The Lens]

Good luck to Kon!  Don't think he's a NBA one and done talent, someday he might make it to the league or he just might end up as a real nice college player. 

Once again if you have a roster of 12 high-major/high-ceiling talent, that is very athletic, and your team's niche is team speed with maximum deflections each game... then I don't know how Kon was a good fit. 🤷‍♂️

Further if finding team harmony with 12 high major players all wanting to play isn't difficult enough... then how was adding a 13th player to the mix going to work?  Further a 13th player who's high school rankings ensured him playing time regardless of his performance against his peers in practice who might be outperforming him. 

I've been on a lot of basketball teams in my career and nothing creates more internal acrimony and dissent than when the coach doesn't play the best players due to favoritism or other external pressures/politics. 

Good look to Kon, however I'm sure we won't miss a beat with the players/recruits we already have.

You could make the case that we could be losing Tyler, Oso, Kam, Gold + Jop next season. Maybe Ross, too.  Would i want Kon on this year's roster? No.  Would I take him next year?  Yes.  We have no idea who is going to spring to the League.   If we win a title every starter will be getting a real look. 

[lawdog77]

You could make the case that we could be losing Tyler, Oso, Kam, Gold + Jop next season. Maybe Ross, too.  Would i want Kon on this year's roster? No.  Would I take him next year?  Yes.  We have no idea who is going to spring to the League.   If we win a title every starter will be getting a real look.

If we win a National Title, I don't care if the following year we have 5 walkons starting.

[wadesworld]

6 players going to the NBA next year?

If Shaka can't win with this talent, he's not winning with Kon or anyone else.

For the record, I would've taken Kon on this year's roster.

[Jay Bee]

If we win a title every starter will be getting a real look.

Why?  #crapshoot

You think nba teams are gonna say, "hey I wasn't too sure on Stevie Mitchell, but now he has a ring so let's really consider him"?

I think recruiting top talent now would be very difficult. We lost one regular from the BEast championship team. We have a good group of rising sophomores ready to make leaps; talented group of frosh, and a couple good recruits already for next year.

Now, combine that with the fact that we have ZERO seniors from an eligibility classification standpoint.

"Join us, the roster will work itself out - u da man" would be a tough sell.

Sometimes an embarrassment of riches can be a negative to a prospective recruit

[tower912]

Indeed.

[4everwarriors]

If we win a National Title, I don't care if the following year we have 5 walkons starting.

Y knot wynn 2 Nattys, hey?