WSU BASKETBALL RECRUITING: Demarquise 'Que' Johnson Commits To Cougs, Per Report
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 22, 2011 11:57 AM PDT
in 2011-2012 WSU Basketball Recruiting
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I expressed a level of skepticism about Ken Bone's 2012 recruiting class this week, saying that I wasn't all that impressed with the three verbals he had landed in the past couple of weeks. It was a solid class, but it would really come down to who that fourth commit would be. And it had to be an impact player for me to get really excited.
Well, I might just attempt a backflip now: According to Josh Gershon of Scout.com, coveted wing Demarquise "Que" Johnson has decided on WSU. DETAILS
At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, the Westwind Prep (Ariz.) product is an explosive scorer. He's precisely the kind of guy Bone wants to build an offensive attack around. Some will probably want to compare him to Klay Thompson, but their games are a bit different. Johnson's a little shorter and probably isn't as good of a shooter as Thompson, but he'll be better at getting to the basket than Klay was initially. Per ESPN's scouting report last May:
Johnson has that quintessential frame for the 2 or the 3 and the skills as well. He can stroke it from deep and he gets great lift and rotation on his shot. In addition, he has a terrific burst off the dribble and can slash his way to the basket exhibiting excellent body control. ... Johnson is one of the elite scoring guard prospects in the country. If he is willing to improve his all-around game (rebounding, defense, making others better) he should be an excellent Division I player.
Beyond the fact that Johnson is a good basketball player, consider this: The Cougars beat out Washington, Gonzaga and UNLV for him. This wasn't a case where those other schools sort of wanted him; three perennially top 25 schools really wanted him ... and he picked WSU. We've been waiting for Bone to win a recruiting battle for someone of consequence, and he just did.
Recruiting -- especially basketball -- can take on a sort of momentum, and this bodes very well for the future. Recruits and coaches talk. A lot.
I'll still be holding my breath a little bit, since Johnson can't officially sign on the dotted line until the early signing period begins on Nov. 9. But the fact that his commitment came so late, and he has no more official visits, allows me to relax and let go of a bit of my anxiety.
Johnson joins 6-10 center Richard Peters, 6-6 forward Richard Longrus and 6-7 wing Brett Boese in the 2012 recruiting class. If you also throw in the fact that Kansas transfer Royce Woolridge becomes eligible next season, the future is looking bright for Cougar basketball.
EDIT: Click on the jump for a little video of Johnson in action.
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Two years down the road is what I am excited for.
This year is the hope we could fill the gap where Klay and Casto left. Will it be a survival year or another great year?
by well you win some and lose others on Oct 22, 2011 12:03 PM PDT reply actions
This is the 1st thought I woke up to this morning.
I’m just glad I wasn’t wrong. [alotta talk about Que got my hopes high]
Job well done Kenny B.
by Austin Kittelson on Oct 22, 2011 12:10 PM PDT reply actions
Never Kenny B before. Nice.
He was INSTRUMENTAL in getting Q. Johnson to come to Pullman.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
by SoCalCoug on Oct 22, 2011 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
This is so huge. Imagine next year
Ladd
Reggie
Peters
Longrus
Boese (possible RS?)
Que
Lacy
Motum
Shelton
Woolridge
A little early for that
The only thing we know for sure is that a lot will change between now and the end of the school year.
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 22, 2011 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
He is sure loading up on athletic guards. They got some hops as well.
Ladd – http://youtu.be/f6UEXA9fM8A
Reggie – http://youtu.be/XUVk-U9Z9as
Que – http://youtu.be/jnoNnQL404U
Lacy – http://youtu.be/l39_LsNFNR4
Longrus – http://youtu.be/H87s9697wuw
Woolridge – http://youtu.be/D2OjD_ux4RM (I didn’t realize how good Royce was in HS)
Shelton – http://youtu.be/v9mwteL2imA
DKD – Midnight Madness Dunk Contest – http://youtu.be/T4NuswZFgTs
Chuks and Diorio are also really athletic for walk ons.
Chuks – http://youtu.be/SNy55Fwnp3I
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
You might want to hold off on so many links in one post.
SBN automatically flags it as spam.
CougCenter In Reid We Trust, Twitter!
by Craig Powers on Oct 22, 2011 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Quick question for everyone
Will they let me into CenturyLink Field without pants on?
Cougar Football 2011 - FocusTensity 2: This Time It Counts
Twitter: @JeffdCollier - PSN: Colltrain
Before streaking, wear a referee's shirt
Just make sure it’s the 2-inch striped version and not the 1-incher.
Wear them in to the stadium
and than take them off. Whip them around your head for every Cougar first Down
Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Oct 22, 2011 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I tried to buy some of these recently and couldn't find them anywhere.
by Mark Sandritter on Oct 22, 2011 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Hmm never thought of that. I'll check on my next jam run.
by Mark Sandritter on Oct 22, 2011 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Careful of the metric system.
It will get you every time. Millimeters really makes you feel fat.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
YES!!
Conrgats to Coach Bone & staff, way to go!
Way to go Coach Bone & Staff
This is great news for WSU basketball, a very nice class for 2012. This group made of the kind of players Coach Bone can really use in his type of up-tempo offense, mobile defense.
"up-tempo offense, mobile defense"
I don’t know if I’d make that kind of proclamation yet. Peters is plodding, and I haven’t seen any video on Boese, but I also haven’t seen anyone describe him as athletic.
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 22, 2011 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I really think Klay's success...
…is playing a big role in things like this. “If you have the talent, I can get you drafted as a lottery pick after your junior year, even if we don’t make the tournament.”
by Pman on Oct 22, 2011 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
I wouldn't doubt it.
If you can show kids that you can develop them into NBA players, that goes a long way.
Indeed.
He said the major factors were the chance to play early and the WSU’s development of former star Klay Thompson, who was taken 11th overall in last summer’s NBA draft.
“Going to the NBA is one of my goals,” Johnson said. “What they did with Klay that was important.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/2016579916_demarquise_john.html
by Mark Sandritter on Oct 22, 2011 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that if Bennett stayed
Klay would have never become a 1st round pick out of his junior year. I bet he would have played 4 years and maybe got picked in the second round. Bone helped KT’s game tremendously because of his offensive system and coaching. Bone pushed KT to be more aggressive. Bone knew KT would work hard and really helped his all around game. You can really see that in his FT attempts from his freshman (32 attempts) year to sophomore (166 attempts) year. That is night and day.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
I don't agree.
It is an interesting proposition though.
by westsidecougar1 on Oct 22, 2011 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions
So you think under Bennett
Klay would have declared for the NBA draft his junior year and been the 11th overall pick? I don’t think so.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
I think it's possible
Individual motivation is a much bigger factor in improvement than the coaching staff.
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 23, 2011 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
My favorite quote from the article
When asked about the phone call this morning to Bone, Johnson said: “I just told him and there was yelling. He was happy.”
Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**
by Neil Vincent Roberts on Oct 22, 2011 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Look at the reactions
by well you win some and lose others on Oct 22, 2011 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I never reply on those.
Nearly every person who posts anything there is a troll or drops troll-like crap into their post.
#CougHarmonyonTwitter with your pants off, M*tha F*cker!
by TiltingRight on Oct 23, 2011 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I like Klay Thompson's tweet about Q!
KlayThompson klay thompson
Congrats to @Quejohnson for his commitment. Lookin forward to watchin him break my records
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Sorry I don’t know how to be all fancy, so I just copied and pasted the tweet!
Go Cougs!
I think Brandon Roy and Nate (gag) Robinson...
…did the same thing for UW. Then they get just about every top flight guard around (due respect to Reggie). At least until today. Though I do think the fact that he wouldn’t have to fight for minutes with Wroten, Gaddy, and Ross is probably a pretty significant factor in his choice to come to WSU.
Remember Bone was coaching at UW when Roy and Nate were there.
I think Bone was important to their success.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
I think so. Also, Tre Simmons really pointed him here as well.
Here it is.
Moore said two of his best friends, former Washington Huskies Nate Robinson (now with the NBA’s New York Knicks) and Tre Simmons, told him they loved working with Bone when he was an assistant at Washington. "Coach Bone is about 90 percent of the reason I came here," Moore said.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
Jamal Atofau and Andre Barrington were the other 10 percent.
Kidding…sort of.
by Mark Sandritter on Oct 22, 2011 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 6 recs
BUT MARK
IT’S NOT ABOUT ANYTHING. IT’S JUST ABOUT BEING CHILL, BRUH.
by Kyle Rancourt on Oct 22, 2011 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions
FLAGGED!
…and rec’d.
#CougHarmonyonTwitter with your pants off, M*tha F*cker!
by TiltingRight on Oct 23, 2011 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Some sites have him listed at 190 lbs.
He is going into his senior year at 6’5" 190lbs. I bet he is still growing. I grew until I was 21. He will be a beast. KT was 6’6" 190 coming in and left at 6’7" 205lbs. I think QJ has the frame to put on size. I wouldn’t be surprise if he was 6’6"-7" and 210+lbs by the time he is done at WSU. He has a high ceiling.
I am pumped about this get.
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
I dont know if this has been answered yet?
But so is that it for this class or is there room for 1 more?
They are currently scheduled to have eight returning scholarship players
Which would mean they would have room to pick up one more.
Bone has said he wanted to use one of the spots to give one to a walk-on
But he probably wouldn’t say no if an elite kid fell into his lap.
And you just never know how kids are developing.
DKD might not be picking up what the staff’s putting down, ala Abercrombie, one of the kids may not make it in, etc. I think you keep looking for kids that would fit.
#CougHarmonyonTwitter with your pants off, M*tha F*cker!
by TiltingRight on Oct 23, 2011 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I wonder...
If we would have landed these recruits PLUS woolridge if Klay had stayed
He was going after my girlfriend's roommate my junior year.
He came over to their apartment. Talked a lot about his high school football team. Not sure he was capable of carrying on an interesting conversation on anything else.
CougCenter In Reid We Trust, Twitter!
by Craig Powers on Oct 22, 2011 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Interesting question
Thompson going high in the draft sold Johnson he could get to the NBA in Pullman. I have seen recruits mention Thompson beyond just Johnson as well.
Still, talent helps you get talent and this class could actually help Bone & Staff moving forward.
I can't wait for the first QBLOCK, QDUNK, QASSIST....
I cook with beer, sometimes I even add it to the food
Don't sleep on Ladd
Has a sweet stroke as well. Just look at some of his 3pt% from his first two years.
Plus, dude is HUNGRY to play some meaningful ball.
Thizz or die.
Some love from ESPN.COM
Wazzu’s promising future backcourt
10:56
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How has Ken Bone addressed the departure of Klay Thompson, possibly the greatest player to ever put on a Washington State uniform? About as well as anyone in Pullman could have hoped.
Not only did Bone land a key transfer in Kansas shooting guard Royce Woolridge, who will become eligible in 2012-13, he then beat Washington and Gonzaga for a huge pledge from Demarquise Johnson.
Add to that the fact that the Cougars are already set to bring in the state’s top prep player from the class of 2011, point guard DaVonte Lacy, and get the services of Fresno State transfer Mike Ladd this season, and it’s no wonder why there’s excitement brewing in Pullman.
By the start of next season, WSU will feature senior guards Reggie Moore and Ladd, sophomores Woolridge and Lacy and freshman Johnson.
- Joe K
Go Cougs!
Richard Peters could be the answer.
But it sounds like he might be a long term project.
Go Cougs!
Time for the mythical JUCO big that can make an instant impact.
Preferably someone that did a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Those guys always rebound well.
by Coug Friendly Canuck on Oct 25, 2011 6:49 AM PDT up reply actions
The limited video I've seen of him reminds me of Brock Motum.
And that is not a compliment. He doesn’t pursue the ball actively, despite his height.
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 25, 2011 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
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