Mens Hoops Recruiting: 2012 G Amadeo Della Valle
Dylan at UMHoops has an interview with 2012 G Amedeo Della Valle. 6'5", 180 lb Manu Ginobli looking dude. Three things I really like from the embedded clip: (1) he's not trigger happy and prefers to drive rather than take a contested jumper; (2) he stays low when he's driving the lane, something most high school players don't do because they can get away with it but something that will burn them in college when the D is tougher; (3) very smart player with fantastic awareness of where his teammates are on the court.
Please do not speculate as to who may leave to create an open roster spot for the 2012 class ::wink wink::
I assume original post embedding is still broken, but here's the embed link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DUMIcjlfkU&feature=player_embedded#!
February 17th, 2012 at 9:19 AM ^
How much room do we have in the 2012 class?
February 17th, 2012 at 9:21 AM ^
As of now? No room. Someone would have to leave.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:30 AM ^
Him and Taybor Pepper should have a Lanky-off.
It's like a face-off. But the first to get knocked over by a gust of wind loses. Or wins. I'm not exactly sure how it works.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:30 AM ^
Judging by the other video I watched it looks like his friend and team mate Brandon Ashley is pushing for him to go to Arizona. I don't know how many other schools have contacted him since that video he did an interview for but if we can make a decent run in the tournment this year we should get a big boost for this kid.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^
Not sure how much you pay attention to bball recruiting, but Arizona's 2012 class is absolutely loaded already. 2 5*'s and 2 4*'s. Even if there was a 5th spot in the class, I would think it unlikely that he'd want to go into that log jam deliberately.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^
seemed to be his top choice. All I said was Ashley was pushing for him to go there.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:42 AM ^
Saw your post at UMHOOPS. Who are they speculating might transfer? Christian or Brundidge? I guess it is possible, but I see no inclination at this point. I guess Christian would make the most sense. I definitely don't see Vogrich going anywhere for his senior season.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:53 AM ^
I'd say Christian. He's good enough to see significant minutes at a MAC-level school, but won't realistically get meaningful minutes during his time at UM.
Highly unlikely - Burke (not big enough to go pro before proving himself more); THJ (awful year offensively and, to put it simply, would be making a bad choice if went pro now); Smot (plenty of PT, developing decently, and seems content); Morgan (from MI and has grown exponentially under Beilein/Bacari); Vogrich (will be a senior so no point in leaving now)
Unlikely - McLimans (again, almost a 4th year player, and no real upside to transferring); Bielfeldt (seems to be developing well and all reports are positive from practice)
That leaves Brundidge and Christian. Brundidge is from around here, and it's quite likely that he'll see a ton more minutes next year. Christian is the wild card.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
Hard to say not being at practice, but I would think Brundidge would be in line for significant minutes next season. As Beilein has stated, Brundidge is behind two good, very experienced senior guards, Minutes are tough to come by.
I really don't expect much to come out of the recruitment of Della Valle, but stranger things have happened here recently. See Darius Morris and Coperryale Harris
February 17th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
I have heard rumblings and wouldn't be surprised if Horford trasferred. He is about to be in a log jam at the big position. McGary coming in this year, then Donnal. So he is going to be relegated to the bench even if he redshirts this year.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^
You might be on to something there. Does anyone know if he'd have to sit out another year if he transferred since he's gonna redshirt this year?
February 17th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
Not only would he have to sit out next season, but it would cost him a year of eligibility. I think he knows he would be getting a lot of time this season if he stayed healthy, so baling because of one recruit coming in doesn't seem too logical. Doesn't Donnal project to PF?
If he comes back this season and burns his redshirt, then a transfer looks more likely.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^
I can't imagine why we'd be recruiting this kid unless there was someone possibly leaving. For now, I'm going to drink heavily and not try to worry - not necessarily in that order.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:50 AM ^
No one on the current team would necessarily have to leave.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:52 AM ^
I'm not in an oblique state of mind.
BURKE IS GONE
February 17th, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^
Where is that coming from? Are you just being a dick?
EDIT to my previous post - I was thinking of the 2013 class.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
I've heard from incredible sources
BURKE HAS AN AGENT
February 17th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
Just being a dick.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:58 AM ^
With a highly regarded point guard coming in 2013 (Derrick Walton), a super freshman point guard on the roster now (Trey Burke), and no other point guards to be found anywhere on the roster, the only impetus Belien has to bring in a point guard in 2012 is the real possibilty of Burke leaving after 1 year or 2.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
I agree with that assessment looking at things from the outside. It seemed like maybe you had inside info, though.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
The biggest hole on this team going forward is a backup PG. We're hoping Stauskas and/or Brundridge can do that job, then Walton in 2013. But if, for example, a backup PF were to leave, replacing him with a PG makes sense to me.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
If you're hinting at a McGary defection, I think you're wrong. We'd be going after a big if we sensed McGary was going to go pro. Plus, that scenario seems less likely given his recent stock drop.
GRIII and Stauskus seem in the bag at this point, and I'd be astonished if either weren't in the 2012 class.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
I don't have any reason to think McGary wouldn't be there...I know I'm being redundant by asking you this too, but have you heard anything about Burke leaving?
February 17th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^
we need one guy to transfer, McLimans not to get a 5th year (which seems likely), AND hatch to reclassify as 2014 to even have room for our entire 2013 class as it is. Adding another 2012 players seems insane/irresponsible.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
It is VERY likely that McLimans will not get a 5th year AND that Hatch will reclassify or get medicaled. It is also pretty likely that Burke and/or THJr will leave for the NBA before the 2013/14 season. So just one transfer or lost recruit in the next year leaves an open hole.
Not saying I want or expect that to happen, but I think this team badly needs another true PG prior to Walton and I don't think Brundige is it. So I would be happy to add a PG with size like Della Valle.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
Unless I am completely missing the point (quite possible). Della Valle would have to be in this class (2012), which makes his signability an impossibility as things stand now.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^
but ok
February 17th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^
JB is just keeping his options open in case people leave early for the NBA, and/or want to transfer. Unless someone gets outright forced to leave I don't see a problem here at all.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
There is an interview with Beilein somwhere on the internet that states that McLimans is a 4 year player. He played in an exhibition game in his freshman year so he was never a regular redshirt. He also never applied for any medical redshirt that year, like Horford plans on doing this year. So according to Beilein, McLimans is a 4 year player anyway.
As far as a player looking to transfer, there has been some rumor mongoring about Carlton Brundidge looking to go to the University of Detroit-Mercy.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:45 AM ^
Brundinge will be one of only two lead guards next year (the other being Burke) so he's in for a major minutes jump next year. He will be on the court at all when Burke is not next year, plus probably 10-15 minutes at the 2. If he transfers, it won't be because of playing time.
February 17th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
Not sure what you've seen to make you believe Brundige would get that kind of time. He's done nothing on the court thusfar--which isn't really his fault as he certainly hasn't had much of an opportunity. But not getting more of an opportunity may be his fault--or at least some idea of Beilein's perception of him.
He's a 6'1" two-guard without a jumper, who used his strength in high school to get to the basket--something he simply might not be able to do at this level. Hardaway, Vogrich and Staukas will likely eat up all of the minutes at the two-guard.
Further, he went from a top 25 sophomore to a top 50 junior to a top 100 (barely) senior. Not a desirable arc.
I saw him play in high school a few times. Nice high school player--questionable Big Ten player. Detroit Mercy might be a better fit.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^
of course Brundidge could prove us all wrong, but I agree that he looks like a 6'0" sg without a great outside shot. This team badly needs a backup pg that can spell Burke and bridge the gap until Walton is ready.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:15 PM ^
The one caveat is Beilein's players continue to develop. Novak and Douglass are doing things off the bounce this year that they haven't done in their previous three years. As always, patience.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
1) I am pretty sure that nearly all of CB's minutes this year have come spelling Burke at the point, so I would call him a PG, or maaaaybe a combo guard. That's how beilein is using him at least.
2) Possibly as of right now, and definitely after Stu and Novak leave, CB will be the 2nd best ball handler on the team. After him...Stauskas? Dylan made the point that I've been thinking about for a while now: next year's team is very short on ball handlers and guards in general. Look at the roster distribution:
February 17th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
yea I remember watching his film of when he was a senior in HS and asking myself why is this guy so highly rated? I don't think he is big 10 material, but hey maybe I'm wrong
February 17th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
that off of the very, very small glimpse of Della Valle--he fits a need, and appears quite skilled and suited to Beilein's style--hence, worth pursuing in the event a scholarship is or may become open.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
During your freshman year, you can play in an exhibition game and still get a regular redshirt. So, McLimans did redshirt his freshman year.
McLimans may now be a four-year player, but he was listed on the roster last year as a "RS FR"--see this cached page. He's now listed on the roster as a JR, in contrast to Jordan Morgan who's listed as a RS SO.
So it seems as if McLimans "became" a four-year player between last season and this one.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
Could be a way of saving the kid the uncomfortable situation of not being invited back for a 5th year.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
Right. And just to be clear--I'm not saying anything shady is going on. It wouldn't surprise me if Beilein and McLimans got together after last season to discuss his future, and they both agreed he would be a four-year player. I think Beilein has a good track record of graduating players who don't leave early, so I have to assume that McLimans is on pace to get his degree in four years.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^
I know what you are getting at, and I was confused too, but Beilein did reference the exhibition game as the reasoning for a lack of redshirt. That is obscure enough that I wouldn't just pull something like that out of the air.
JB doesn't seem like the type of person to misunderstand too many interpretations of any rules, so this may be a misunderstanding on his part, but I know I read some presser notes in regards to JB using the exhibition game as a reasoning that Blake is a 4 year player.
I will see if I can find a link to those presse notes.
February 17th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^
This is straight out of the NCAA Division I manual for 2011-12:
14.2.3.1.3 Preseason Exhibitions/Preseason Practice Scrimmages During Initial Year. During a student-athlete’s initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, he or she may compete in preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages (as permitted in the particular sport per Bylaw 17) without counting such competition as a season of competition. (Revised: 5/9/06)
Also, Notre Dame had a recent case where a player, Tim Abromaitis, had to sit out four games after his coach mistakenly thought he could play in an exhibition during his sophomore year and still get a redshirt. An article on this makes it clear that the rule doesn't apply to freshman:
The NCAA allows freshmen to play exhibition games and then spend the rest of the year as a redshirt—but not sophomores, juniors or seniors. The Notre Dame coaches misunderstood the rule and didn’t learn of their mistake until well into Abromaitis’ redshirt season.
But the NCAA issued a waiver that will allow him to play his senior season in 2011-12, so long as he sits out the Irish’s first four games: against Mississippi Valley State, Detroit, Sam Houston State and Delaware State.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
Color me confused.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
He's 6'-5", 6'-9" with the afro.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
The coaches are just checking this kid out. He is relatively new to the recruiting scene in the U.S. They have to keep options open just in case something was to open. Why anyone is looking at the roster and wondering where this kid's spot will come from, when he has not even been offered a scholarship is more confusing to me than the coaches actually doing their jobs.
February 17th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
What exactly is his relation to the guitarist from The Mars Volta? Brother? Cousin?
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3426/3707211319_010f1e6653_z.jpg
February 17th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
They have a new album coming out soon. Heard one of their new tracks the other day, sounds good.
You can never have enough fro while playing rock or pushing the rock.
February 17th, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^