MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[SBell]

And they keep coming ... 6-10 Brian Puls from Alpena headed to Hope. Typical misused high school big man, but has uncanny shot-blocking ability.

[almcguirejr]

And they keep coming ... 6-10 Brian Puls from Alpena headed to Hope. Typical misused high school big man, but has uncanny shot-blocking ability.

How was he misused?

[SBell]

Too many high school coaches don't have the patience to bring along a big man, as most of them were guards and most want the immediate gratification of the win. They leave player development to the much-maligned AAU coaches (the Mustangs, for instance, have made a cottage industry out of grooming 'big white stiffs' into DI scholarship players) ... of course, if you live in Alpena, there are no AAU coaches to work with.

The 6-4 kid who made the gawky 6-10 kid look goofy may have been the better player at 16, but will be nowwhere to be found when they're 22 ... and Dean Smith said centers don't put it all together until about 27 ... yet their high school coach gave up on them at 17.

[knights2000]

I just found out today that Hope and Calvin's prized recruit John Mantel has committed to Calvin. Apparently GVW's speech at his high school basketball banquet wasn't enough for the 6'8 forward. 

I can confirm this. Just talked to my source on Calvin's team, and yes, he Mantel plans on attending Calvin in the fall.

[knights2000]

And they keep coming ... 6-10 Brian Puls from Alpena headed to Hope. Typical misused high school big man, but has uncanny shot-blocking ability.

JV next year or no? If he were on varsity, do you think he'd get PT or no? Also, does he need to put on weight? Most 6-10 guys out of high school are sticks.

[SBell]

Puls is JV for sure. He's skinny.

[MIdoubleA]

I just found out today that Hope and Calvin's prized recruit John Mantel has committed to Calvin. Apparently GVW's speech at his high school basketball banquet wasn't enough for the 6'8 forward. 

Where did he go to high school? And why Calvin over Hope?

[knights2000]

I just found out today that Hope and Calvin's prized recruit John Mantel has committed to Calvin. Apparently GVW's speech at his high school basketball banquet wasn't enough for the 6'8 forward. 

Where did he go to high school? And why Calvin over Hope?

He's from Chelsea, and if I'm not mistaken his father and grandpa went to Calvin.

[northb]

I just found out today that Hope and Calvin's prized recruit John Mantel has committed to Calvin. Apparently GVW's speech at his high school basketball banquet wasn't enough for the 6'8 forward. 

Ah--that is good news

[Dark Knight]

John listening to GVW's speech:

[goodknight]

John listening to GVW's graduation speech:

John is a very bright young man with a very bright future.

[almcguirejr]

John listening to GVW's graduation speech:

John is a very bright young man with a very bright future.

Best Wishes for a banner year! 

[northb]

Best Wishes for a banner year! 

Don't say that!  Then if they don't win the "banner" some wag will come on here and say they should have gone further.

[almcguirejr]

Calvin will be traveling to Wooster to play in the holiday tournament in Dec.

[sac]

Calvin fans should be pretty excited to see Mantel, from everything I've been told he's going to be a very good D3 player.  Veldhouse with a true big man for 3 years is a pretty good thing for the knights I'd say. 


Puls for Hope is a project in terms of body size, think Josh Bauman without the muscles.   But seriously, in D3 its tough to keep 6-10 off the court.   6-9 and above almost garuntees you'll see the floor.   I agree I think he'll be  a JV'er next year, but ya just never know.