So, I'm not trying to hijack the thread @ATLdawg34 started. There is a lot of great info and discussion r/t Diatta and next year's backcourt situation there including many comments from Dan. It can and should be viewed here:
https://uga.forums.rivals.com/threads/pape-diatta-update.178611/
That said, I just got around to watching what film I could find on Diatta. Ole @Captain and I had been talking about him, and I got intrigued. So, I watched and thought it might be useful to condense some things into one spot and have highlight videos embedded in the OP to make viewing easier for others. Hence, this thread.
So, my impressions are:
1) This dude is a SF (maybe could play some stretch 4,) but not "backcourt help." Don't mean that is good or bad, but he's not a two-guard. Unless another name emerges, the 1 and 2 will handled by JJ, Turtle, and Crump next season (and maybe Parker.) Dan M: "He's mostly a 3 from what I'm told that can play the 4. If he's a good player, then they do need him."
2) These are highlights, emphasis in "high," but he definitely looks like he could help us. Shot looks natural from deep--he'd make some 3's. He averaged 12.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2 APG. Shooting 35.8% from 3 and 48.8% on FG's at Southern Idaho this year in only ~22 minutes/per. He's probably a role guy in the SEC but he looks like he may have played on this year's team over KPG and/or Wilridge. He has offers from other "high major" schools, with Penn St. and Oregon St. being our biggest competition, per Dan.
3) Diatta would possibly be the only player on our team capable of playing the 3 and being a legit 3 pt. threat which could give us a lot of variability in the options we can employ to try and attack defenses. Could play three perimeter shooters like JJ, Crump, and Diatta, all at once to beat zones, etc. Could maybe have him and Wilridge play the 2-3/wings at times which would make us bigger and more athletic. Heck, if he could really play the 4 a little in the SEC, then we could go "small" at times and use him as a stretch 4 to clear up room in the paint for Maten.
4) I don't know if he is really a great fit based on our most urgent positional needs (though he may be a 3-point shooter which we definitely need on the perimeter,) but he looks good enough to contribute as a scorer/shooter on some level, so I think we try to find room and take him if we he wants to come, especially if two scholarships are really out there to be given. We know we have one. Dan, in above linked thread, is on record saying he "do(es) think, one way or another, there will be a 2nd scholarship" for next season--so we could still potentially get a freshman big (stretch 4 ideally) which I think is most crucial long term. Regardless, Diatta plus another scholarship for 2016 is potentially possible. So, adding him solely because "he can play," "he can score," "he can help," (even if he isn't a perfect fit to a specific hole we need to fill) seems logical to me--add another guy worth a roster spot and scholly that can compete in our league. We could still add a freshman big or a grad transfer potentially if that option comes up.
5) Crucial insurance if Parker doesn't come back or if (god forbid) a significant player suffers injury.
Fwiw, Dan has also said:
-"Think a visit is in the works, but haven't confirmed the date. My guess would be either next weekend or the weekend after the Final 4, unless they could do a mid-week visit. I do like UGA's chances based on what I've heard."
-"Right now, Diatta does seem to be the main priority (in 2016 recruiting)."
-"Yes, (UGA) will likely add at least one player. Most likely option right now is JUCO SF Pape Diatta from College of Southern Idaho. He's a 6'7 versatile guy from what I'm told that is deciding between Georgia, Oregon State, and Penn State. They are also looking at bigs and potentially graduate transfers."
My question for @Dan McDonald is: Diatta would be eligible to play for two years, yeah?
Again, sorry to @ATLdawg34 if this seems redundant--hope members will find it useful. Other thread was getting off topic anyways.
Last post (I hope) 'til Sunday. Have a good weekend, hoops brethren.
https://uga.forums.rivals.com/threads/pape-diatta-update.178611/
That said, I just got around to watching what film I could find on Diatta. Ole @Captain and I had been talking about him, and I got intrigued. So, I watched and thought it might be useful to condense some things into one spot and have highlight videos embedded in the OP to make viewing easier for others. Hence, this thread.
So, my impressions are:
1) This dude is a SF (maybe could play some stretch 4,) but not "backcourt help." Don't mean that is good or bad, but he's not a two-guard. Unless another name emerges, the 1 and 2 will handled by JJ, Turtle, and Crump next season (and maybe Parker.) Dan M: "He's mostly a 3 from what I'm told that can play the 4. If he's a good player, then they do need him."
2) These are highlights, emphasis in "high," but he definitely looks like he could help us. Shot looks natural from deep--he'd make some 3's. He averaged 12.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2 APG. Shooting 35.8% from 3 and 48.8% on FG's at Southern Idaho this year in only ~22 minutes/per. He's probably a role guy in the SEC but he looks like he may have played on this year's team over KPG and/or Wilridge. He has offers from other "high major" schools, with Penn St. and Oregon St. being our biggest competition, per Dan.
3) Diatta would possibly be the only player on our team capable of playing the 3 and being a legit 3 pt. threat which could give us a lot of variability in the options we can employ to try and attack defenses. Could play three perimeter shooters like JJ, Crump, and Diatta, all at once to beat zones, etc. Could maybe have him and Wilridge play the 2-3/wings at times which would make us bigger and more athletic. Heck, if he could really play the 4 a little in the SEC, then we could go "small" at times and use him as a stretch 4 to clear up room in the paint for Maten.
4) I don't know if he is really a great fit based on our most urgent positional needs (though he may be a 3-point shooter which we definitely need on the perimeter,) but he looks good enough to contribute as a scorer/shooter on some level, so I think we try to find room and take him if we he wants to come, especially if two scholarships are really out there to be given. We know we have one. Dan, in above linked thread, is on record saying he "do(es) think, one way or another, there will be a 2nd scholarship" for next season--so we could still potentially get a freshman big (stretch 4 ideally) which I think is most crucial long term. Regardless, Diatta plus another scholarship for 2016 is potentially possible. So, adding him solely because "he can play," "he can score," "he can help," (even if he isn't a perfect fit to a specific hole we need to fill) seems logical to me--add another guy worth a roster spot and scholly that can compete in our league. We could still add a freshman big or a grad transfer potentially if that option comes up.
5) Crucial insurance if Parker doesn't come back or if (god forbid) a significant player suffers injury.
Fwiw, Dan has also said:
-"Think a visit is in the works, but haven't confirmed the date. My guess would be either next weekend or the weekend after the Final 4, unless they could do a mid-week visit. I do like UGA's chances based on what I've heard."
-"Right now, Diatta does seem to be the main priority (in 2016 recruiting)."
-"Yes, (UGA) will likely add at least one player. Most likely option right now is JUCO SF Pape Diatta from College of Southern Idaho. He's a 6'7 versatile guy from what I'm told that is deciding between Georgia, Oregon State, and Penn State. They are also looking at bigs and potentially graduate transfers."
My question for @Dan McDonald is: Diatta would be eligible to play for two years, yeah?
Again, sorry to @ATLdawg34 if this seems redundant--hope members will find it useful. Other thread was getting off topic anyways.
Last post (I hope) 'til Sunday. Have a good weekend, hoops brethren.
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