2019 6’8 F Tristan Enaruna (KU transfer, Iowa State commit)

[minakirogue]

And Texas has now offered. This has been trending in the wrong direction for a Creighton commit IMO.

[Alphawalt]

IMO, this is where our inability to get to the second weekend of the NCAA really hurts us. If we were in the second weekend, playing to get to a regional final or even in the regional final, we become much more likely to land some of these kids. They know they have a punchers chance to get there if they come here. If the primary goal is a chance to be in the second round fighting for a spot in the regionals and final four (as it should be), they are going to take the offer from a Duke, NC, etc., if it comes; even if they don't love the school, the community, the coaches, etc., as much as CU. Going to the BE helped open doors, but we are going to have to do something with this opportunity provided by the BE before we are going to start winning those battles consistently. Yes, there will be some exceptions, like Mitch. But, until either Mac finds a way to get through to the next weekend or we bring in someone who does, Mitch is going to remain the exception in our recruiting battles, I fear.

Well, what do you make of Butler? They had a few good years, going far in the tourney, when not in the BE. The last few years, Butler has slid in recruiting. IMO, you have Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova, Gonzaga as the only true elites today. The next level is a lot of teams that have a good record most years, tournament appearances most years, but can have a down year here and there. I think CU is in this next batch of teams, although not at the upper level of this batch. I would put us in the 25-35 top teams over the past ten years. We do need at least a sweet 16 appearance a couple of times in the next 5-7 to move up the rankings, to somewhere around 20 range over a number of years, but frankly, I don’t think we will ever get into top 15 status over time because of the market and location. (Gonzaga is THE exception to the location rule). I have a good feeling about Enaruna as he would be THE man around here, but admittedly it is tough to turn down Duke or Kentucky if either promises a legitimate shot at being a starter, as they each have multiple NBA draft picks per year of most of the starting teams.

[Jet915]

Tristan has moved up to #78 on 247 composite and the "warm" schools are now Creighton, Miami, Duke and Kansas.

[cujaysfan]

Butler has had 3 coaches since their tourney run teams

[bluejayfan00]

maybe hilltop could answer this best, but I wonder how much of a difference it makes with Tristan that we're not very good this year.. I would like to think not, but who knows. IMO, the longer he waits, the less likely it is he chooses us. I know he said he wants to make a decision after his high school season, so hopefully we hear something in March. Would be a nice prize for not making the dance

[hilltopalum]

Enaruna wants to get to the league. I don't think Creightons 2018-2019 successes or failures weigh too heavily on his decision as to what type of fit will get him there.

The more pressing questions will be can he find 25 mpg on the 2019-2020 roster? Will Martin come back? Is he a better 4-man than Bishop?

Think the only schools that can compete at this point are the blue-bloods. I know Miami has been on him lately as well as Texas, but the read I get is only a Kansas, Duke or Kentucky can make an appealing enough case to sway him, after 3 years of Huss-McDermott-Recruitment.

Kansas (4s):
Senior - Dedric Lawson - 33 mpg
Junior - KJ Lawson - 9.6 mpg
Senior - Mitch Lightfoot - 10 mpg
? Silvio De Sousa ?

Kentucky (4s):
Junior - P.J. Washington - 28.6 mpg *NBA*
Sophomore - E.J. Montgomery - 13.9 mpg
Freshman - Kahlil Whitney - 5 Star
Freshman - Dontaie Allen - 4 Star

Duke (4s)
Senior - Jack White - 23 mpg
Freshman - Joey Baker - Red-Shirt 5 Star
Freshman - Wendell Moore - 5 star

The interesting piece in Enaruna recruitment will be Matthew Hurt. Hurt, top 10, forward is a Kansas lean being chased by Kentucky, Duke and UNC. He's a day one starter all these places. I do not think any of the aforementioned schools would jeopardize their recruitment of Hurt to take Enaruna, who states he wants to commit in March, likely before Hurt.

Kentucky, Duke and Kansas are all also chasing forwards, Jaden McDaniels (5-Star) and Precious Achiuwa (5-Star). All of whom project better than Enaruna.

[bluejayfan00]

Enaruna wants to get to the league. I don't think Creightons 2018-2019 successes or failures weigh too heavily on his decision as to what type of fit will get him there.

The more pressing questions will be can he find 25 mpg on the 2019-2020 roster? Will Martin come back? Is he a better 4-man than Bishop?

Think the only schools that can compete at this point are the blue-bloods. I know Miami has been on him lately as well as Texas, but the read I get is only a Kansas, Duke or Kentucky can make an appealing enough case to sway him, after 3 years of Huss-McDermott-Recruitment.

Kansas (4s):
Senior - Dedric Lawson - 33 mpg
Junior - KJ Lawson - 9.6 mpg
Senior - Mitch Lightfoot - 10 mpg
? Silvio De Sousa ?

Kentucky (4s):
Junior - P.J. Washington - 28.6 mpg *NBA*
Sophomore - E.J. Montgomery - 13.9 mpg
Freshman - Kahlil Whitney - 5 Star
Freshman - Dontaie Allen - 4 Star

Duke (4s)
Senior - Jack White - 23 mpg
Freshman - Joey Baker - Red-Shirt 5 Star
Freshman - Wendell Moore - 5 star

The interesting piece in Enaruna recruitment will be Matthew Hurt. Hurt, top 10, forward is a Kansas lean being chased by Kentucky, Duke and UNC. He's a day one starter all these places. I do not think any of the aforementioned schools would jeopardize their recruitment of Hurt to take Enaruna, who states he wants to commit in March, likely before Hurt.

Kentucky, Duke and Kansas are all also chasing forwards, Jaden McDaniels (5-Star) and Precious Achiuwa (5-Star). All of whom project better than Enaruna.

Great post. If Enaruna is good enough to be pursued by these schools, and he wants to play right away, you'd think he'd want to be here. He's competing at the 4 spot with Bishop (who we are playing as a 5), and who else? Jefferson? Duke, UK, and KU all have players on the roster right now that may return, and guys coming in, who all are projected to be better than what Enaruna is. I'd hope he realizes that. If Hurt goes to KU, he's immediately their starting 4. UK has Whitney coming in, who's a projected top 10 pick in that class. Duke brings in Moore who's undersized but is a 5 star, and the Baker kid only isn't playing right now cause he reclassified into 2018 and is playing behind Zion, Barrett, and Reddish.

[hilltopalum]

Self and Roberts went to watch Enaruna last night. I do think they like him, but if they get Matthew Hurt I don't see Tristan getting anything over 10 mpg in that situation. Duke could be an interesting spot but yes with Moore and 5-Star Center Vernon Casey coming in and Baker and White returning, there are not a ton of minutes left over from Reddish-Barrett-Williamson departing.

If Enaruna truly wants to decide by March, then I think it's Kansas v. Creighton for him. If he pushes it back even further, he's looking elsewhere

[bluejayfan00]

Self and Roberts went to watch Enaruna last night. I do think they like him, but if they get Matthew Hurt I don't see Tristan getting anything over 10 mpg in that situation. Duke could be an interesting spot but yes with Moore and 5-Star Center Vernon Casey coming in and Baker and White returning, there are not a ton of minutes left over from Reddish-Barrett-Williamson departing.

If Enaruna truly wants to decide by March, then I think it's Kansas v. Creighton for him. If he pushes it back even further, he's looking elsewhere

If Tristan is aware of Hurt and Kansas' situation, does he wait to see where Hurt goes? If you had to make a prediction right now, is he in a Bluejay uniform in 2019?

[Realhoops]

Enaruna wants to get to the league. I don't think Creightons 2018-2019 successes or failures weigh too heavily on his decision as to what type of fit will get him there.

The more pressing questions will be can he find 25 mpg on the 2019-2020 roster? Will Martin come back? Is he a better 4-man than Bishop?

Think the only schools that can compete at this point are the blue-bloods. I know Miami has been on him lately as well as Texas, but the read I get is only a Kansas, Duke or Kentucky can make an appealing enough case to sway him, after 3 years of Huss-McDermott-Recruitment.

Kansas (4s):
Senior - Dedric Lawson - 33 mpg
Junior - KJ Lawson - 9.6 mpg
Senior - Mitch Lightfoot - 10 mpg
? Silvio De Sousa ?

Kentucky (4s):
Junior - P.J. Washington - 28.6 mpg *NBA*
Sophomore - E.J. Montgomery - 13.9 mpg
Freshman - Kahlil Whitney - 5 Star
Freshman - Dontaie Allen - 4 Star

Duke (4s)
Senior - Jack White - 23 mpg
Freshman - Joey Baker - Red-Shirt 5 Star
Freshman - Wendell Moore - 5 star

The interesting piece in Enaruna recruitment will be Matthew Hurt. Hurt, top 10, forward is a Kansas lean being chased by Kentucky, Duke and UNC. He's a day one starter all these places. I do not think any of the aforementioned schools would jeopardize their recruitment of Hurt to take Enaruna, who states he wants to commit in March, likely before Hurt.

Kentucky, Duke and Kansas are all also chasing forwards, Jaden McDaniels (5-Star) and Precious Achiuwa (5-Star). All of whom project better than Enaruna.

Great post. If Enaruna is good enough to be pursued by these schools, and he wants to play right away, you'd think he'd want to be here. He's competing at the 4 spot with Bishop (who we are playing as a 5), and who else? Jefferson? Duke, UK, and KU all have players on the roster right now that may return, and guys coming in, who all are projected to be better than what Enaruna is. I'd hope he realizes that. If Hurt goes to KU, he's immediately their starting 4. UK has Whitney coming in, who's a projected top 10 pick in that class. Duke brings in Moore who's undersized but is a 5 star, and the Baker kid only isn't playing right now cause he reclassified into 2018 and is playing behind Zion, Barrett, and Reddish.

This, of course, depends a lot on whether he sees us as potentially playing a "4" any significant minutes next year. This year, we are starting and running with a four guard lineup a lot. Part of that may be that the staff doesn't really see a significant "4" on the roster, but there have been some limited lineups with both Martin and Bishop, for example, on the floor. But if I'm a "4" and I'm looking at Creighton, I probably have to ask whether it's reasonable to expect to get minutes at that position immediately.

Put another way -- who do you expect Mac to take out of the starting lineup from the consistent starting lineup this year of Z, DM, TSA, MB, and MK? If all five of those guys are back next year, I guess I have a hard time seeing a different starting lineup from Mac. And if I could see a different lineup, it would probably include starting Martin and Epperson both, not creating a spot for a freshman "4."

If not starter's minutes, then you start looking at coming off the bench. As far as post-size players, you'd have Epperson, Froling, and Bishop, and maybe Jefferson (if you view him as closer to a "4" in size) already with at least a year and some playing time here under their belt. How comfortable would you be, if you are Enaruna, that Mac is going to give you significant time off the bench ahead of those guys when running smaller lineups or when going with a more traditional lineup? You might see that you could earn that, but it wouldn't likely be right away -- it'd take until partway through the season, at least.

I don't disagree that there seems to be potential for him to have a much better situation here than at Kansas, Duke, Kentucky. But from his standpoint, I think you also have to ask those questions and try to figure out how likely it is that you actually get significant minutes right off the bat.

As a fan, I'm just accustomed to expecting that if we're really super high on someone and they are a priority, when a Kansas/Duke/Kentucky/Louisville come calling, it's tough to expect that we're going to win that battle.