The Slipper Still Fits

Rob Sacre talks about the draft process and how he is getting prepared. What impact can Rob make at...

2012-05-16T19:29:44Z

Rob Sacre talks about the draft process and how he is getting prepared. What impact can Rob make at the next level?

The bench C Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga Background: 7-1/280; unranked prospect from Torun, Poland...

2012-05-15T17:42:29Z

The bench

C Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga
Background: 7-1/280; unranked prospect from Torun, Poland
Buzz: Karnowski (his name is pronounced Puh-shemick Car-now-ski) signed with the Zags last month, and if he lives up to the hype – he has been compared to Marc Gasol – Gonzaga will be one of the top three teams on the West Coast. As with many European big men, Karnowksi has a high basketball IQ and has a nice all-around game. He has played on the Polish Junior National team and in several European championship tournaments, among them the 2008 U16 European Championship, the 2009 U16 European Championship, the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship, the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship and the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship. This past season, Karnowski played in Poland's top league and averaged 10.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and shot 54 percent from the floor.

-- Yahoo's All Freshman team for 2012-13

Pretty high praise for the latest addition to the Gonzaga Bulldogs roster. Others mentioned on this 'team' are Nerlens Noel, Rodney Purvis, Kyle Anderson, and of course Shabazz Muhammad. Karnowski is also the only international prospect on the list, further proving Tommy Lloyd's awesomeness.

Recruiting Roundup: Zags Eyeing A Transfer?

2012-05-15T03:36:24Z

Much has been made about how Gonzaga will close out the 2012 class. After the addition of Przemek Karnowski, the main question facing the Zags is how they will address the SF position. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be a ton of options that can immediately step in and provide immediate production. With that said, that hasn't stopped the Gonzaga staff from continuing to look towards the future, as after this season, both Guy Landry-Edi and Mike Hart will be out of eligibility.

One name that we reported last night as a potential option was Gerard Coleman, a transfer from Providence. Coleman averaged in double-figures in each of his two seasons at Providence, including 13.2 ppg last season. Coleman is a great slasher off the perimeter, but is also an excellent rebounder at the SF position. Coleman was the second leading rebounder on the Friars last season. He isn't a great perimeter shooter, but considering the fact that the Zags would still have Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr and Kyle Dranginis on the perimeter when Coleman became eligible, it wouldn't be a huge issue.

At this point, we have just heard there is interest in Coleman, and no official visit has been setup. However, it will be interesting to see if Coleman does decide to make the trek out to the West Coast to see GU.

The other update we have is on key 2013 prospect Xavier Rathan-Mayes. We interviewed Xavier's coach at Huntington Prep last week and we continue to hear that Gonzaga is doing an excellent job with his recruitment, which is being spearheaded by Donny Daniels. Left Coast Recruiting was in attendance at the EYBL in Dallas this past weekend, and had this write-up on XRM:

Xavier Rathan Mayes (CIA Bounce) – The Canadian 2013 guard can shoot with the best in the nation. Not only can Mayes shoot but he can handle the ball well and find the open man.

"Since Minnesota [two weeks ago] and Hampton last week, I’ve been getting a lot of calls and my...

2012-05-09T03:23:46Z

"Since Minnesota [two weeks ago] and Hampton last week, I’ve been getting a lot of calls and my phone has really been blowing up," Rathan-Mayes said. "Baylor and Kansas called me today (Sunday) and I’ve heard from Minnesota, USF, Oregon, Syracuse called my coach, Missouri, Florida, Alabama, UCLA, Gonzaga, LSU, Seton Hall and a few more."

He also knows several schools who fit that description and who can help him get to where he wants to be. "Kansas, Louisville, Baylor, Florida State, UCLA, Oregon, Alabama, Gonzaga and a lot of other schools that I’m forgetting all fit that," Rathan-Mayes added.

Good update on Xavier Rathan-Mayes from National Recruiting Spotlight. Be sure to check out the full update, but it's not surprising to see that Gonzaga is staying in touch with the highly-talented Canadian SG.

Key Targets For 2013: Who Is Xavier Rathan-Mayes?

2012-05-04T15:00:26Z

After two live evaluation periods in April, which allowed Gonzaga coaches the opportunity to evaluate key prospects in person, there seems to be a clear sense of what the staff has in mind for 2013. One position that seems to be a priority is a Combo Guard of the future, with Xavier Rathan-Mayes of CIA Bounce and Huntington Prep impressing the coaching staff enough to earn an offer.

Rathan-Mayes is a native of Toronto and plays his prep school ball in West Virginia at Huntington Prep. In order to get a better sense for his game and his recruitment, we had our recruiting correspondent catch up with Rob Fulford, the head coach at Huntington Prep.

TSSF: Over the past month, Xavier has really seemed to blow up with his play on the AAU circuit. For people who havent followed his game before, what are some of his biggest strengths on the court that make him sucha coveted prospect?

Coach Fulford: Xavier is picking up where he left off during the High School season. He had a great Jr. year at Huntington Prep and has really played well the first AAU events. He is a pure scorer and is one of those kids, that once he gets a rhythm going, not much you can do about it.

TSSF: Xavier is receiving interest from some great schools around the country, including Gonzaga. What type of system do you think he fits in best with at the next level?

Coach Fulford: In my opinion, Xavier needs to be somewhere that is up tempo and gives guards freedom to play. He will take some bad shots from time to time, but he makes bad shots more than he misses. The college will have to allow him to play his game.

TSSF: Like every great player, there are certainly some areas where Xavier can continue to improve. What parts of his game do you think need the biggest adjustments before he gets to the Division I level?

Coach Fulford: He already has a college ready body. He is a very strong player that usually can overpower other wings. As with any High School kid, he can always improve. He is continuing to work on tightening up his handles and really working on his body.

TSSF: When did Gonzaga begin to show interest in Xavier? Which coach has been the main recruiter from Gonzaga at this point?

Coach Fulford: Xavier first heard from Gonzaga after the EYBL in Minnesota. He had a really good weekend and received a ton of calls that following week. Donny Daniels is coach that called.

TSSF: What time of timeline does Xavier have on his recruitment? Is he looking to end his commitment soon or is the type of guy that will take official visits before committing?

Coach Fulford: He will take official visits before deciding. We encourage that, the limitations the NCAA puts on college coaches contacting players, the official visits are important to develop chemistry and relationships that can't be done on the phone. He has stated that he will more than likely sign in fall of next school year, after taking visits. I would anticipate him getting a manageable list of schools to about 10-12 by end of summer.

Karnowski goes Gonzaga

2012-05-02T14:45:58Z

The past 24 hours have been a recruiting fans dream for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Yesterday, we outlined how the staff is already hot after some of the top prospects along the west coast and this morning, Przemek Karnowski announced via Twitter that he would be a Gonzaga Bulldog next season.

For several years, the 7-footer has been the biggest piece of Gonzaga's 2012 class. It was first made public that the Zags were the leader for him about a year ago but the courtship started well before that. Similar to Elias Harris, Tommy Lloyd did an incredible job sticking with Karnowski even when his stock absolutely skyrocketed. A week ago, we were sitting here thinking that he was slipping away. He visited Cal after visiting Gonzaga and Marquette, Kansas, and Duke all jumped into the fray late to try and snag his signature. In the end, the relationship with Lloyd and the comfort factor with guys like Kevin Pangos won out for the Bulldogs.

We have discussed Karnowski so much over the past year but it is worth noting once again that, similar to Elias Harris in Germany, had he played high school ball in the states he would likely be a top 30 recruit in the 2012 class. With his experience playing against professionals, Karnowski has gained valuable experience and has become one of the most coveted amateur centers around. His incredible feel for the game is his driving force and the expectation is that he will have an instant impact from the moment he steps on campus. While he has work to do on the defensive end, the addition of Karnowski truly makes the Gonzaga 2012-13 frontline one to reckon with..

We will have much more on this commitment in the coming days. Welcome Karno!

The Recruiting Season Has Begun

2012-05-01T22:33:54Z

If you follow us on Twitter (@slipperstillfit...you really should), you already are well aware that today has been an exceptionally busy day in Gonzaga recruiting. While the 'big news' of Przemek Karnowski's college decision has yet to come, there was plenty to keep us entertained today. What we learned is that three of the most well thought of prospects on the west coast in the next couple years either hold Gonzaga offers or have serious interest...or both. Read on for some more about today's trio...

While I was going to lead with the prospect that intrigued me the most, I had a hard time and went back and forth on all three. For that reason, it was literally a random decision so we'll lead off with Namon Wright. Via the wonderful world of Twitter, Namon tweeted that Gonzaga had just offered him. The 6'4'' shooting guard/wing prospect holds offers at this point from the Zags, USC, and New Mexico State. He's a 2014 prospect so his recruitment has barely scratched the surface but he's already picked up solid offers. Wright has been described as an exceptional athlete and someone that is still growing even though he already possesses a division one frame. At this point, he projects as a shooting guard but it is possible that we see him at the next level as a small forward/wing type player due to his above average slashing ability. Like all young high schoolers, Namon is still working on making his jumper more consistent but he is absolutely going to be one to watch as the Zags look to add more athleticism to their roster.

Mark Few secured the first member of this 2013 class a few days ago in Luke Meikle. Another prospect that the staff has been looking hard at recently is Seattle Prep guard D.J. Fenner. Fenner, who transferred back to Seattle after living in Washington D.C. and playing for Gonzaga College High School, is getting from interest from schools such as Georgetown, Washington, and UCLA. He will likely visit Gonzaga however in the near future since he is such a short trip away. Similar to Wright, D.J. Fenner has the prototypical frame that D1 coaches look for when pursuing a small forward/wing type prospect. D.J. is a bit more of a refined scorer than Wright at this point, which you would expect given the class difference and now that he is back on the west coast, many are really expecting his recruitment to skyrocket. One other great thing about Fenner is that he plays for Seattle Rotary's AAU club which is the former team of Gary Bell Jr. On that squad he will take on some of the top talent from across the country.

If you are looking for a name that I would bet you are going to be hearing a lot of on this site in the near future...it is Kendall Small. The 2015 point guard prospect from Huntington Beach was just the subject of a recent Scout.com piece. In that piece was a nice little nugget that is always fun to hear:

There is a school that Kendall Small grew up rooting for.

"He's a Gonzaga fan," his father said. "He wants to go to Gonzaga. He just likes Mark Few's offense and the guards that come out of there are really good."

From all the stuff I have read on Kendall, it sounds like Mark Few and co. may have a leg up for one of the top rising guards in the west. The one big knock is something that you can hardly knock Kendall for at all: he's 5'11''. As a 2015 prospect, this is something most aren't worried about as either he will grown or learn to get the most out of his stature. Each description I have read is that Kendall is a pure, pass-first point guard. As such a young player, this is wildly exciting news as most young guards tend to be gunners and let their athleticism make up for what their basketball IQ lacks. In Small's case, his biggest strength is his feel for the game and ability to drop in dimes. Developing a consistent knock down jumper will be the key for this Southern California prospect.

This is why recruiting is so wildly exciting and this staff is obviously looking at the current scholarship chart and realizing it is time to be aggressive. With Karnowski likely being the only 2012 commit, the staff has a lot of space to play with and adding talented and athletic guards like Fenner, Wright, and Small all make a ton of sense. Also, it is great to see the Zags once again making some waves in California. In 2012, the staff was on the list for a number of top prospects from California and surrounding states but, for a number of reasons, did not land anyone. I have a feeling that the next few cycles will see more prospects from the true west coast comes up to Spokane.

Zags On The Board For 2013: Lucas Meikle Commits

2012-04-28T18:38:05Z

With the growth of social media and the numerous recruiting experts across the country, it's very rare that a commitment will ever take us completely by surprise. When we found out that Luke Meilke from Bellarmine Prep was visiting last weekend, it seemed like a casual unofficial visit. However, this casual visit turned out to be much more, as Meilke earned a scholarship offer from Mark Few and decided to commit to Gonzaga.

Here is a little blurb on Meilke from Mason Kelley of the Seattle Times, who caught up with the newest Zag yesterday:

The 6-foot-8 forward drove with his parents to Spokane Sunday, spent Monday visiting the Gonzaga campus and left with a scholarship offer from coach Mark Few and the Bulldogs.

After taking a few days to consider the offer, Meikle said he gave a verbal commitment to Gonzaga Thursday afternoon.

"I was kind of expecting an offer from them, but I didn't know when it was going to come," Meikle said. "When they did tell me, I was excited."

The Bulldogs were the first school to offer Meikle, who helped lead the Lions to a fifth-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament. Meikle said Boise State told him the Broncos planned to offer soon but, "Gonzaga was my choice."

Meikle described himself as a "big guy who can shoot." He is more of a finesse player, but said he isn't afraid to play in the post.

The initial response on Twitter to this announcement was lukewarm at best. However, there are two factors that have me pretty intrigued about this kid. The first thing people need to realize is that Gonzaga has a ton of open scholarships over the next two years. Assuming Przemek Karnowski joins the team for next season, the Zags will only have eight guys on scholarship (potentially nine if The Hoff doesn't transfer). Even if Mike Hart and David Stockton are both given full scholarships, that would only bring the total to 10 (or 11 if Hoff stays). So by the time that Meikle gets on campus, Elias Harris, Guy Landry-Edi and Mike Hart will all be gone, which means that at most their will only be eight guys on scholarship heading into the 2013-14 season.

Knowing that there will be a lot of scholarships available, it makes sense to take a chance on a guy like Meikle that clearly has his best basketball ahead of him. Bellarmine Prep participates at the Gonzaga Team Camps every summer, so Meikle is a guy the staff has watched for a couple of years. He clearly needs to add some weight to his frame, but right now he projects to be a 4/3 that can score in the paint and also stretch the defense. Meilke is likely a redshirt candidate when he steps foot on campus, which makes sense given that Sam Dower, Kelly Olynyk and Karnowski will all be available in the paint. This commitment doesn't change the fact that Gonzaga will still pursue a combo guard that can score (Zach Lavine and Xavier Rathan-Mayes) along with a true wing.

After watching a couple of quick highlights on Meikle, the one comparison that immediately jumps to mind is Gordon Hayward. Meikle is long and a little bit awkward with the ball, but he has the size to post-up a smaller SF, while having the quickness to beat a PF off the dribble. If he can maintain the quickness while putting on some weight and filling out his body, he could be a very interesting talent. All the reports on his game say that he plays extremely hard and he comes from a school that has produced Division I talent. I will be very interested to see how Meilke plays against the AAU circuit this season, as that will provide a good test for how he matches up with some top talent.

In conclusion, Meikle is a risk worth taking in my opinion. He has a strong basketball IQ and a nice skill set, and his ceiling will really be determined by his ability to grow into his body while adding strength.