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Post by blackandgold on Dec 30, 2010 23:30:05 GMT -5
Grabbed this from the Detroit board, but Miami (Fla) big man Donnavan Kirk has been granted a release stating he wanted to play closer to home. He was a Class of 2009 product out of Detroit Country Day from Pontiac. who redshirted last season and had limited impact in limited minutes this season. He had offers from Miami, USC, Iowa, and Michigan State. Looks like he has added a lot of weight from his high school days. Not sure if "closer to home" will actually pan out as some players say that and end up further from home lol. He sounds like a high major talent and maybe there is some room for him at MSU where frontcourt help is needed? Who knows? At least worth keeping an eye on as Oakland has become a player for high major players seeking new destinations and he knows we have a reputation for big man if he pays any attention to fellow alums of DCD.
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Post by nate on Jan 1, 2011 10:21:38 GMT -5
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Post by blackandgold on Jan 1, 2011 11:21:37 GMT -5
Great find, nate! No doubt every team on that list could use a big man. Crazy to think Oakland is in the mix with some of those schools.
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Post by dantheman on Jan 1, 2011 11:53:39 GMT -5
Good to see us on that list for sure!
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Post by Leobrn12 on Jan 1, 2011 12:49:19 GMT -5
Well, I don't like our chances with Michigan and Northwestern on that list. But one never knows! Come on Kirk come to the Summit league and be our next dominate big man!
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Post by Germane on Jan 1, 2011 14:01:11 GMT -5
It is tough to be up against Big Ten teams, but I don't think we're that much of a long shot to get Kirk. The scouts article linked by nate mentioned Benson's development as a factor - how Benson came to Oakland and developed into an NBA talent.
If Petros develops nicely, and I think he will, imagine a front court of Kirk and Petros in a couple of years. Probably not the level of Benson and Hudson, but those two could still be dominant at our level (pure speculation, I know). And Sikora could turn out to be a pleasant surprise in the post as well.
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Post by blackandgold on Jan 2, 2011 2:29:14 GMT -5
There is a paywall on the scout article but through clever Google searching I was able to get the following which I think is a quote from Kirk:
“Oakland is also great. I like Oakland a lot. They clearly are improving. They have great coaches and they are great at developing players. I want to develop my game as well. You see what they did with Keith Benson. He's going to be a first round pick. I'm pretty sure they're going to make it to the tournament this year, which is huge."
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Post by nate on Jan 2, 2011 11:27:19 GMT -5
Great find blackandgold. Hopefully, he realizes what the coaching staff has to offer and joins a program in which he could potential become the future face of this team.
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Post by Germane on Jan 2, 2011 11:52:23 GMT -5
Way to be crafty, B&G. For what it's worth, here are some quotes from Kirk about his other options, to put the comments on Oakland into context. (I don't think this is too unethical since, as B&G noted, you can get quite a few snippets from doing a google search.)
* On Michigan: "I'm supposed to be talking to Michigan on Saturday," Kirk reported. "I come back to Michigan Saturday. They talked to my coach and expressed an interest. I know about their system. I know (Beilein) likes to move his bigs around and get them going. I've seen them play. I watched DeShawn Sims play when he was playing there. I think it's an offense that could really work. That school has a chance. Coach Beilein is a great coach, he is building a good program over there, and I respect it."
* On Oakland: "Oakland is also great. I like Oakland a lot. They clearly are improving. They have great coaches and they are great at developing players. I want to develop my game as well. You see what they did with Keith Benson. He's going to be a first round pick. I'm pretty sure they're going to make it to the tournament this year, which is huge. I like that it's close to my home, so I'd be there to support my mom as well."
* On CMU: "Central Michigan is another school on a run. They've got Trey Zeigler there and they're building something in the MAC. I plan on taking a visit. I'm not quite sure about anything over there yet. I've never really been to Central Michigan or seen it at all."
* On DePaul: "DePaul is another great situation because they've got Coach Purnell there. He's a good coach and I like the way he plays. He gets up and down. You see what he did with (former Clemson standout, Trevor) Booker. He was a face-up four, and he is in the league getting paid. Like I said, that is another great situation."
* On Northwestern: "Northwestern is another great situation... (laughter)... both academically and athletically. I don't know if you know or not, but Northwestern has three NBA GMs that graduated from there. That says a lot. They're definitely developing a lot more than just basketball players over there. I've been told how is there, but I want to see how it is. I'm going to take visit there as well very soon."
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Post by Germane on Jan 2, 2011 12:00:37 GMT -5
Also worth noting that the article says Kirk has to make his decision very quickly, since "he plans to enroll for the winter term so he can become eligible next January and have 2.5 years of eligibility remaining..."
CMU doesn't have a "winter term" (they are the only school on the list to call it spring rather than winter). Also, given the fact that Kirk said he'd never been to CMU and didn't know much about them, it doesn't sound like the Chips are really in the running. Of course, you never know.
The other 4 schools do have winter terms. DePaul and Northwestern start theirs tomorrow (Mon., Jan. 3), Oakland starts on Tuesday (Jan. 4), and Michigan starts on Wednesday (Jan. 5). So hopefully we won't have to wait long to hear.
In light of Kirk's comments on the coaching staff and Benson, plus the fact that Oakland is so geographically close to his home (and mother), I think we have a decent chance of landing him.
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