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Post by UCI Concerned on Mar 8, 2003 7:34:50 GMT -5
In order for UCI to maintain their growth they will have some holes to fill. Namely setter for next year. Neither underclassmen players that they have are going to be able to compete at the level necessary I afraid.
Have they filled this need.....are their any impact setters left out there?
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Post by mvbdad on Mar 8, 2003 12:28:28 GMT -5
Eric Smith is on their bench and has one more year of eligibility. Maybe ok for one more year.
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Post by fuzzy1 on Mar 10, 2003 15:50:51 GMT -5
I believe that Kniffen is a junior, and that UCI is going heavily after Winder, the 6'6" balboa17's/ Woodbridge setter. He's a junior and could step in as a freshman, as long as they're prepared to go through some growing pains. Killian is still out there also. UCLA's recruitment of Azevedo has discouraged the top setters of the next class.
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Post by alterior motives on Mar 10, 2003 18:00:46 GMT -5
So that is why Speraw is going to keep Winder and Killian on the Youth National Team. Get your claws in early.
Hopefully this is the best move for USA Volleyball.
HHHHHHMMMM!
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Post by speller on Mar 10, 2003 18:11:32 GMT -5
It's "ulterior" not "alterior"
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Post by fuzzy1 on Mar 10, 2003 18:16:25 GMT -5
I love a good conspiracy too, but those two are the two best at their positions as far as I know. Killian is experienced, has won a national title and is the better of the two right now. Winder does not have the experience, but has won a national title, is taller and has potentially greater upside once he gives up basketball(he's a point guard) and focuses on setting.
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Post by Eater on Mar 10, 2003 18:28:30 GMT -5
This is kniffen's senior year as far as eligibility goes. Apparently there was some Mount-esqe confusion as far as pre-season games early in his career went and he doesn't have the extra year of eligibility it was originally thought. Fortunately he found out at the beginning of this season and not the beginning of next.
Smith is okay, but not the level of setter they're going to need to see real success.
UCI better recruit a good setter for next year. Irvine has had some good players at lots of different positions, but one thing they've never had is a top of his class incoming freshmen setter. What setter's they've had have either been midlevel ones they had to develop over the course of their career, or transfers.
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Post by eaterfan on Mar 10, 2003 22:21:20 GMT -5
watch for transfers to uci as speraw has mde irvine a place people wanna be. pelzel and beamus return next year and a final four trip may be waiting too. there are a couple of good setters wanting to go somewhere else. uci will have a good setter for next season, just wait until season is over so people can get outta theiur letters at their current schools.
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Post by the future on Mar 10, 2003 22:36:19 GMT -5
This maybe the case but any transfer would have to sit out a year. NCAA rules unless their former coach/school signed off on them....which why would any coach do this especially in the MPSF.
Not up much on the UCI situation of late but I did know that he was interested in an East kid earlier in the year.
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Post by eaterfan on Mar 10, 2003 22:54:33 GMT -5
who says comin outta the mpsf? i know of a cali setter who went to the miva and desperately wants to come back.
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Post by sweetieVBfan on Mar 10, 2003 23:28:31 GMT -5
This maybe the case but any transfer would have to sit out a year. NCAA rules unless their former coach/school signed off on them. i think the rules are different for men's volleyball. during the pedro azenha fiasco, there were notes that said pedro's request for a release were unnecessary because he would not have to sit out as a tranfer. |
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Post by D1VBFan on Mar 11, 2003 0:35:20 GMT -5
who says comin outta the mpsf? i know of a cali setter who went to the miva and desperately wants to come back. You probably mean Gio Altamura (spelling>) Too small... |
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Post by Saruman on Mar 11, 2003 12:07:26 GMT -5
If you are talking about setters for this years Youth team there are 5 who are legit but 3 that are above the rest right now.
Beckwith, Klein, Winder, Killian, Matthews.
Experience + talent = Beckwith
Athleticism + Competitiveness = Klein
Size + Potential + Future = Winder
The rest all don't possess the ability to raise the level of this team to the point that they need.
That doesn't mean they aren't good players...not at all but rather they aren't as polished yet.
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Post by OCHomer on Mar 11, 2003 14:32:01 GMT -5
Excuse me if I don't jump on the Beckwith bandwagon yet. He has yet to prove he can win the big game. yeh he's 6'5" and experienced, but he's no Brandon Taliaferro. I am impressed w/ his PR machine though.
Winder has all the top schools going after him, so Speraw will have to compete w/ the likes of Pepperdine, etc. Both Speraw and his asst. Hawks were at the Woodbridge match last night.
Sooner or later someone is going to have to look at Brian Thornton of Balboa/San Clemente. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in athleticism, competiveness and ball placement. He got a late start at the sport but all he's done lately is lead San Clemente to its 1st league championship in 19 years(even Taliaferro didn't do that), led last years Balboa 17s to 3rd at JOs. (beating a much more talented LAAC led by Beckwith in the quarters) , led the Balboa 18s to the recent MLK tourney championship. He's one of the reasons that SC is rated #1 in OC.
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Post by Rollshot on Mar 11, 2003 16:19:42 GMT -5
Those are five great setters of the future: Brian Beckwith, Joe Klein, Jon Winder, Dan Matthews, and Jimmy Killian.
I have seen Beckwith, Winder, and Killian play, but not Klein and Matthews. We at rollshot have interviewed Beckwith, Winder, and Klein, having finally done articles on Beckwith and Klein only. Through no fault of Jon Winder and his mom, our own eventual "downfall" prevented us from publishing Winder's article (it would've been a pretty good story, too!). If we had the time and energy, we would have published Winder's article back in November or December 2002, but alas, it wasn't possible. So, all we have is a Winder article that is 3/4 done. We spoke with Killian's and Matthews' parents (mom or dad or both -- can't remember). They're all great kids.
As for the alleged "PR machine" that Beckwith allegedly benefits from ...are you kidding?! I can't help but chuckle because no such thing exists in men's and boy's volleyball! Like, hello? This is volleyball!!!
I'm no volleyball talent scout (or "expert") but I have seen Beckwith, Killian, and Winder play. Beckwith and Killian are both talented and polished setters, with Killian having slight edge due to his experience. Winder, a giant of a boy, has enormous raw potential and with the right coach (and motivation), he could probably exceed all expectations and give Beckwith and Killian a run for their money.
I'm not going to predict who will prevail in the end because I'm not good enough to predict these sorts of things. What does "prevail" mean anyway? Does it mean the guy who will ultimately get the national championship ring (or the most rings)? The guy who will set for Team USA in international competitions? The guy who will win have the most successful career in Italy? The guy who will make the most prize money in the beach circuit? The guy who will make the most money in endorsements?
Shoot, like I care. We should all be glad that we have the opportunity to watch fine athletes like these play and develop in the years ahead.
If you want a better assessment of talent, you should just ask John Speraw or Doug Beal or any number of fine college coaches. Hell, if rollshot.com was still up and running, we'd be doing an interview with Speraw, Pavlik, and Beal to get their opinions instead of from hacks like us.
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