Scholly chart update (with observations!)

by Grady Clapp on Mar 29, 2009 9:52 PM PDT

I went ahead and updated the scholarship chart on this lazy Sunday.

Of course, I did this fully knowing that Fabian Boeke may lose medical clearance and be departing the team shortly.

Oh well. You can find the chart here anytime (it looks much better in the link for some reason), or just look at it right now:

2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
Rochestie*	Koprivica	Boeke	Lodwick*	Watson*
Harmeling*	Boeke	Lodwick*	Thompson	Thames
Baynes	Lodwick*	Thompson	Capers	Motum
Forrest	Thompson	Capers	Casto	Chadwick
Koprivica	Capers	Casto	Harthun	Brown
Boeke	Casto	Harthun	Witherill	Enquist
Lodwick*	Harthun	Witherill	Watson*
Thompson	Witherill	Watson*	Thames
Capers	Watson*	Thames	Motum
Casto	Thames	Motum	Chadwick
Harthun	Motum	Chadwick	Brown
Witherill	Chadwick	Brown	Simon
Watson	Brown	Simon
		Non-Scholarship Players
Enquist*	Enquist*	Enquist*	Enquist*	Allen*
Allen	Allen*	Allen*	Allen*

Key
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
Freshman
Redshirt Year
*-denotes redshirt player

And now, my observations:

Boeke's potential departure could be a blessing in disguise, in that it would free up a scholarship for 2011. Or, if Tony is feeling desperate (and I really really hope he doesn't do this), he could offer another scholly for next fall. My feeling: it's too late, we already have four signed, and there's too much good talent still available for 2010. We should save the scholly - or give it temporarily to Enquist for next season (kid deserves it, IMO).
Good Lord this team will be stacked in 2011-12. If you want to put money on any Cougar football/basketball squad winning a championship in the next decade, that is your team.
Not redshirting Harthun and Witherill will come back to bite us. I'm having trouble finding a scenario in which it doesn't. Assuming no one redshirts next year, we are looking at 11 (!) players in two classes. Sustaining a program's success is all about balance. We no longer have any shred of it. However, if Tony had redshirted Harthun and Witherill, he could have four in the 2012 class, at least three in the 2013 class, and then have more flexibility to redshirt some of next year's guys for 2014.
I have a funny feeling though that the only guy Tony might redshirt next year is Anthony Brown, and even then it seems unlikely given our need for ballhandlers. Unless Motum and Chadwick have been overvalued by the recruiting servieces, we will most likely need them too. Xavier Thames is a sure thing for playing time next year - only question is whether or not he'll start.
The other problem with our lack of balance is it cramps our recruiting classes going forward. At this moment, with Boeke on scholly, we have zero rides available for 2010 and only one for 2011. That's setting up a boom-and-bust Cougar roster for years to come.
Unless... Tony expects injuries and transfers. Which we all know he does. But assuming everyone stays healthy (knock on wood), who transfers down the road? I hate to say it, but Harthun seems like a logical candidate, as does Witherill when we start to get depth back at guard. Possibly Enquist as well, if he feels like he can earn a free ride elsewhere. Of course Charlie doesn't effect our scholarship total. Please note that I would hate to see any of the above leave WSU.
Speaking of Enquist - and I know this is only a moral victory - but along with John Allen, I say hands down we have the best walk-ons in the conference. Seriously.

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When I look at the chart

Besides thinking that we could be really good in 11-12, I have to wonder…who leaves after next year? You mention Harthun and Witherill, who seem most likely. I also have to mark Lodwick as a possibility, for some basic reasons. Lodwick got to see his future this year, sitting next to him and named Daven, unless he dramatically improves various aspects of his game. So, what are his upsides/downsides. Here is what I can come up with, but I’d love others opinions. (And this is based off of limited time actually seeing him play, so bear with any mistaken conclusions).

Upside – He’s big. Listed at 6’7" and 200 pounds, he’s got size for a guard and that adds flexibility. Probably can play a 3, possibly could play a 4 in a small lineup. Creates matchup problems with an outside shot (at least supposedly), mixed with height and ball handling.

Downside – Actual performance. He was a freshmen, so it has to be taken with a grain of salt. But he shot .107 from 3 and .179 overall. Considering his height, his offensive game is limited to outside shots. He attempted 39 shots, and 28 of them were from behind the arc. There is a point where we need to have some players on our roster that do more then spot up and shoot, and to have multiple guards over 6’6" that rely on jump shots starts to get ridiculous. Needs to develop a better defensive habits to not be a liability, not sure he can guard a quick 2, would struggle guarding any post players unless he puts on weight.

So, what does everyone else think? Like Grady said, I also don’t want to see players leave due to transfer or injury. But if I was guessing at who might transfer, Lodwick sticks out to me. His size makes him desirable to other teams, having another tall shooting guard in front of him that he will never start over has to become a possible reason to transfer.

by 02Coug on Mar 29, 2009 10:39 PM PDT reply actions

Small error in the chart...

Under 2012-13 switch “Enquist” for “Simon”.

I love this visual by the way, so much so that the smallest error sticks out to me like a sore thumb…

by cfred on Mar 29, 2009 11:47 PM PDT reply actions

I would think

Witherill would be the most likely to transfer in my opinion. Harthun started getting minutes during the tournaments and I think will get time next year. Witherill, I’m not sure why he didn’t redshirt, he played probably about 10 minutes on the season to burn a whole year. The only thing I can think is that they saved his red shirt in case he transfers so he wouldn’t lose a year of eligibility. I could also see Lodwick transfer, but I don’t think it would be for another year. I think he knows he played himself out by not making any shots this year. If he can turn around the shooting, that is instant offense off of the bench like Harmeling used to be. If Boeke does leave, I think they will give that schollie to Enquist.

by selahcoug on Mar 30, 2009 7:23 AM PDT reply actions

One point, Two questions-

1. Witherill showed far less then Harhun this year. I think Harthun is our 3rd best guard going into next year (without counting incoming freshmen). He is looking like a point guard, unless Thames or Brown comes in and with and Capers can handle the PG duty. The other variable is Lodwick. If he could figure out how to make his shot fall in games, he would be the second coming of Harmeling. In that case, Harthun could get burried.

2. I don’t remember anything about Enquist walking on. Is there any story behind that? Did he come here with the understanding that he could be on the team as a walk on?

3. What about Watson? Nobody has really talked much about him. Is he likely to get jumped by Motum and Chadwick? If so, will he be a 4 year backup or is he a transfer candidate? Or could he play a role next year?

by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

Agree on 1, mostly

though I think he’d still find some time, because Harthun’s also a good shooter, and seems to have more scorer in him. As in, he’s more likely to create his own shot that Lodwick.

2) Enquist came in under scholarship for one year. That was the arrangement he and Tony made. He redshirted, and then this year played as a walk-on.

3) I’ve heard only that Watson is raw. My understanding is that his HS was very small, and while he’s got some upside, there’s plenty of work to do. If he’s been working hard, I’m sure he’ll have something to add.

by TiltingRight on Mar 30, 2009 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions

General thoughts.

I think Enquist earns Boecke’s scholly. Not just for this coming year, either. That gives us a front court of Enquist, Casto, Watson, Motum and Chadwick, of which I think Chadwick may redshirt.

If Enquist gets a scholarship, I think he sticks around, otherwise, I wouldn’t put money on it.

In the back court, Nik, Capers and Thompson are locks, Harthun will probably play many more minutes without the Ironman (Taylor) in front of him. Thames likely plays with Lodwick playing similar minutes to last year. That leaves Witherill and Brown, both of whom could redshirt. With Witherill having a year in the system, Tony may let him scrap for playing time.

Either way, I see Enquist leaving if there’s no scholarship coming, and Lodwick and Witherill as the most likely of our scholarship athletes to leave at this point. Lodwick’s too one dimensional (and that’s only if he starts hitting shots in game time), and honestly, I’ve seen and heard too little of Witherill to see him stealing enough time to stick around.

by TiltingRight on Mar 30, 2009 9:18 AM PDT reply actions

Other than possibly Enquist, though

I don’t see anyone leaving until after the 09-10 season.

by TiltingRight on Mar 30, 2009 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Grady I love the crimson colored glasses!

I really don’t consider us loaded for the 2011-12 season until the other freshman actually perform. If we were playing 5 frosh significant minutes this year, I might share the same optimism. Frankly, we had 3 frosh, two of which were Pac-10 capable and the other, Capers, that is clearly a WIP.
I believe there is a real possibility that Witherall RS this next yr unless he improves dramatically. Let’s all remember why NW got time, Harthun got suspended and TB was in dire need of another guard.
I think if you RS a guy however after his frosh yr you send a message that he is likely not in your immediate plans. That is why I think he is mostly to leave if in fact he is RS next year.
As a final note, I don’t ever recall any previous bball coach, including Sampson, Eastman, Graham, being of the mold where he had no problem telling a scholly kid that this isn’t working out and letting the guy transfer out. I recall watching guys stay in the program forever despite being useless to the team. Maybe I am having selective amnesia. Anyone back me up or correct me on this?

by ptowncoug3012 on Mar 30, 2009 9:33 AM PDT reply actions

WIP?

Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"

by PaulThomas on Mar 30, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh, I get it

work in progress.

Heh. I’m not much of an acronym fan.

Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"

by PaulThomas on Mar 30, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Honestly, I don't see any of this being a big question until after next season

There are going to be a lot of minutes available next year, and a high amount of competition for them. Right now, I only see one guy guaranteed 30+ minutes (Klay) and two guys guaranteed 25+ (Koprivica and Casto). Everything else is going to be up for grabs, so guys like Harthun and Witherill are going to have plenty of opportunity to show they belong.

By the end of next year, it’ll become pretty clear where the program is heading, and which players are going to definitely be the foundation moving forward. That’s the point at which I’d expect someone to transfer.

Who’s it going to be? Who knows? While speculating is fun, it’s just such an inexact science. Projecting how these guys are going to turn out — which, with the exception of Lodwick, is after less than one full year in the program — is just so hard. Obviously, Bennett saw something in each and every one of these guys, and it just might take some of them longer to develop. Honestly, what would we all have said about Derrick Low if he was a freshman in this class? Would he have been a “candidate to transfer” as we all said, “Good handles, but pretty limited offensive game”?

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 11:23 AM PDT reply actions

This might sound vulturous, but... do any of these guys have the academic chops to handle Stanford?

Right now they have five (!) scholarship players for the 2010-2011 season. Admissions requirements basically rule out juco transfers and ensure that there probably won’t be more than 4 or 5 new scholarship players. There’s a lot of room for transfers if they can pass muster.

It’s probably a completely trivial question, but I’m just curious…

Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"

by PaulThomas on Mar 30, 2009 11:58 AM PDT reply actions