Naveij Walters formerly of Belair High accepts Idaho State U as his D1 scholarship. Risks remain as the NCAA give him 1 year eligibility.As the quote says, he will have one year of eligibility remaining, again, according to that twitter account.
Walters is 6'5'', but appears to play a bit bigger than his height. In 28 games last year, he averaged 13.3 PPG and 7.1 rebounds per contest. He also shot 56% from the field.
ISU is a team without a ton of size heading into next season, so it's important to find a guy like that could potentially play a 4 spot in a small ball lineup. With his rebounding skills, he could give them that option. He only took two three-pointers last season, so it is clear that he prefers playing near the basket.
Anybody hearing anything else about Walters?
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Good Lord ! Is this the best we can do ! I am seriously concerned about our bigs this year at ISU.!?
ReplyDeleteHe's enrolled. Not sure why there wasn't a release from ISU, but I'm guessing it's because of some academic hurdles or what not during the summer. From what I understand, he was signed last spring, so at least it's not an end of summer desperation signing which Joe O'Brien was so (in)famous for.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gj4AtE2slQ
ISU won't be huge, but it's doable for the Big Sky. I'd like to see one more big, but I'd rather have a 6'6" guy with talent. O'Brien never could understand that the 7 footers found at the Big Sky level were there for a reason.
Kusmierik 7'4"
Preh 6'9"
Kostur 6'8"
Ezenwa 6'6"
Walters 6'5"
No doubt... especially in the Big Sky, I will take an undersized forward with talent and athleticism compared to a bigger guy with less athleticism.
ReplyDeleteLook at Portland State last year... Chehales Tapscott was 6'5'', but the best forward in the conference. Nate Lozeau was a 7 footer with decent skills, but he was nowhere near as valuable.
In a league like the Big Sky, without big and athletic forwards, the undersized but athletic and talented forward is not at all a bad way to go.