Yep, and everyone’s numbers declined pretty significantly, but that’s to be expected when moving up. At least both ANO and Khwan got to play in the NCAA Tournament, which was a big reason to transfer up in the pre-NIL era.
Dji entering the portal
- Thread starter SFspidur
- Start date
he might just want a different life experience. After 4 years at Richmond campus there is only so much left to do, even if u loved it.
Another plus is Dji will get to go to SEC football games. That's a nice perk.
I do think money is driving alot of the movement. If Kentucky and Arkansas have a 5-7 million budget you can bet the Bama and LSU coach are going to go to boosters and tell them they need the same. Getting crazy in the portal. Would love to see what the numbers for roster turnover across the nation end up. If you do get a new coach u probably have close to 100% turnover unless it's an assistant taking over.
I think the great Keith Oddo was on scholie his last year here before he also went to Louisville.
That’s pretty wild considering that the early/mid-90s saw 4 guys transfer to ppwer conf. schools from the CAA.
Chad Varga - Pitt
Damon Bacote - Alabama
Gary Williams - USC
Jeremy Metzger - Penn State
All Tarrant recruits, from b2b classes.
I'm happy for Dji and hope he gets what he wants from his final year. Except if and when they play us.
Amazing really. Tho Bacote & Williams never played for Tarrant. Recruited by him so 100 fair to call em’ that but then Dooley able to keep them. We had some talent then for sure but also some dysfunction. Unlucky with Varga injury his frosh year. & I don’t know if there was a guy who was less happy at Richmond than Gary Williams. Rumor was he was telling recruits on visits not to come. He actually was solid enough at USC iirc. Bacote was I think our top recruit ever at that time. He didn’t do much at Bama ultimately until his senior year. Marcus Williams another transfer out from that era but he went down level. And our transfer in from same era was Kass Weaver…whoops nothing to see there. But u right 4 guys like that b2b classes hard to imagine but it happened.
That is a very good question. I don't know. Just when I think of LSU and recent history, I think of Will Wade and the current women's coach, neither of which I associate with class, integrity, or doing things the right way. Brian Kelly is a weirdo too and just kind of reeks of used car salesman vibe to me.
I don't know what his other offers were, so it is tough to say. I would trust Dji and his fam to make the best decision though, for me, LSU is a school that I wouldn't have even considered.
well tbf I've never ever liked or respected the LSU, UGA, Bama, Auburns either. Tho as a student athlete going there they hold some advantages. I root against mainly due to the rep u mentioned and their football success, tho they r traditionally much less of a threat in hoops. But your Ped State is not too different, maybe in the 80s they were associated with those things but that is long gone & deservedly so too. And heck I root for TN for family reasons but I admit they can be shady as f too. I don't know if class etc. is attainable in a power conference any longer.
No love for LSU from me either. Will root against them regardless of who may be on the team.
McMahon seems like a good coach though.
McMahon seems like a good coach though.
I'm sure a school like LSU has a healthy NIL and as much as Dad said it wasn't about the money, a bigger payout is always a consideration, no matter the circumstance.
To add to this - LSU doesn't seem to fit the academic profile Dji seemed to go towards. Originally committed to Wake, then came here, also see Princeton and Rice on his old recruiting lists.
Also if it's mostly about making the tourney, I think he'd have better options than LSU.
But, if it's more about increasing professional basketball chances (which I suspect it is) then LSU probably makes a lot of sense. Less likely to get recruited over than going to a perennial top 15 team but still get to play at the highest level of college basketball and probably log pretty big minutes. And I'm sure a nice paycheck to go along with it.
I'm not counting on it, but still hopeful he comes back to finish what he started here. Loved his game, demeanor, leadership, etc. and he will be a huge asset to whoever he plays for next year.
Dji got his degree here, so I don't think academics need to be a key factor for him his final year. Time will tell, but I disagree with your professional chances and playing time comments. Dji is a great athlete, but the SEC is full of great athletes, so Dji will need to add to his game with 3 point shooting to get a lot of playing time. I'm not sure Tennessee, Auburn, Ky., Bama, etc. would give up as many drives down the lane and layups to him as some of our A-10 opponents did. The tweet above mentioned he would add to their "wing depth", and my guess is the guy doing the tweet knows their roster real well. But, hey, time will tell and I could be wrong.
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
Yes, I agree with 4700 here. I do think Dji will need to expand his game to be more effective, or at least as effective in the SEC. I was thinking the same thing about the drives and inherent advantages getting to the hoop in the A10 vs SEC. Will be tougher b/c there are a ton of 6'6 6'7 guys that are super athletic. I do think Dji has some special ability to be creative and score around the hoop - but that will be a bit harder in the SEC. Will be important for him to be able to hit some jumpers to create that space. Which is my hope whether at Richmond or SEC.
fwiw UR scheduling consultant Joe Lunardi (maybe he pushed us to sign the VMI contract) has LSU in his first four out for 2025 bracketology. 4th out to be exact. 2025 bracketology is worth very little on May 1, and it's Lunardi he's bad at bracketology. LSU stunk in SEC last year and I'm unfamiliar with their roster, but I do expect LSU will at least be in the mix for NCAAs. That's a reasonable expectation. easier path then here.
And if UR a good player at UR, I think you should be pretty good at a LSU too. we were better than LSU last year. Yes u face better athletes game in game out in SEC, but overall it's not that much different bball level.
And if UR a good player at UR, I think you should be pretty good at a LSU too. we were better than LSU last year. Yes u face better athletes game in game out in SEC, but overall it's not that much different bball level.
Yes, but the issue IMO is that Dji's game was predicated more on athleticism and scored most of his points right at the rim. Not saying he will not succeed at LSU, just that not as many rim protectors and 6'7 super athletes in the A10 as the SEC. In any case, as you noted he put in his 4 years here and may want the experience of an SEC school and atmosphere. I know most regular students are ready for a change by senior year, and to add on some nice NIL $ to boot would be more enticing.
I'd love Dji to come back but honestly ... what is he going to get better at here? what new words of wisdom is he going to hear? what new drills or philosophy?
I wonder how many of these grad transfers are moving on to hear a new voice. Dji may have loved his time at UR and may think Mooney is a great coach. but maybe it's time to get out of your comfort zone and hear a different perspective? maybe it was the same with Burton. you put in 4 years at one place. take this gift of a bonus year and take a chance. bet on yourself.
that's how I'd look at it anyway. plus ... SEC > A10.
I wonder how many of these grad transfers are moving on to hear a new voice. Dji may have loved his time at UR and may think Mooney is a great coach. but maybe it's time to get out of your comfort zone and hear a different perspective? maybe it was the same with Burton. you put in 4 years at one place. take this gift of a bonus year and take a chance. bet on yourself.
that's how I'd look at it anyway. plus ... SEC > A10.
Well, according to sdad, his shooting problems stem mostly from the wrist injury sapping strength - so don't think that will change at either place - either is better and he will improve this offseason, or is the same.
I don't think many people would agree with you that being good at a mid major means ypu will be good at a major. Not that much different level? Seriously? Do you think teams and competition are the same? Would we go 15-3 in the SEC? Would Dji average 10 a game and get 30 minutes in the SEC? Of course not. Tyler was one of the best players in the A-10 and went from averaging 19 a game to 7.5 in the Big East for a team that did not make the dance.
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I don't think every kid from Niagara or Wagner would star at Richmond either, but some certainly have.
Dji is athletic enough for SEC ball. and there are plenty of SEC players who aren't great shooters.
There it is.
On3 writer is smoking something in his article, saying Dji is the only player to leave or join the Spiders through the portal so far...he only missed four other guys lol.
On3 writer is smoking something in his article, saying Dji is the only player to leave or join the Spiders through the portal so far...he only missed four other guys lol.
Congrats to Dji and family! Will look forward to seeing him play at the high major level. One of my favorite development/rise to success stories since I've been following the team.
Hope Dji does very well at LSU!
MD - I don't really count Dji as a rise to success story at all (though just may be the way we are defining it). He came is as a big time recruit, struggled with injuries for three seasons, and once finally healthy played like I thought he could. In fact, I feel bad because I think his senior season was how I would have expected his sophomore season to go - and build from there. Regardless, he had a very nice senior year, hope he got his bag and does well at LSU.
MD - I don't really count Dji as a rise to success story at all (though just may be the way we are defining it). He came is as a big time recruit, struggled with injuries for three seasons, and once finally healthy played like I thought he could. In fact, I feel bad because I think his senior season was how I would have expected his sophomore season to go - and build from there. Regardless, he had a very nice senior year, hope he got his bag and does well at LSU.
Yeah, please don't take my comment to mean he was not supposed to have a good career here. More that he had multiple setbacks to overcome with injuries/playtime/role and was finally able to see everything come together this past year to blossom into a stud for us.
I'm not sure there are plenty of 6'5 or smaller good minute, rotation SEC players who aren't great shooters. It will be interesting to see how much time he gets and the impact he makes. I wish him the best.
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Villanova is a much better program than LSU
As sman said plenty have moved up to UR & done well, plenty have moved on from a mid to a major and done well. Some flop. Depends on the player.
I never said equal. & of course the SEC league is better than A10, I bag on the A10.
also I said "at a LSU". That doesn't mean KY or TN or today's Auburn or Bama in SEC. LSU is solid program, but I don't think i put in top 1/3 of all power conf schools. Probably the middle third. There are tiers within the power conferences too. I think starter level guys at Richmond especially older ones can play at that tier. It's different but nothing crazy. Maybe I think more highly of our players than u do. For Dji specifically, he won't be a fish out of water. No I don't think he'll get 30 mins, idk how he'll do but probably well enough. U already said u didn't see P6 for him so...
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I love all of our players, and think very highly of them, but I think very very very few would have the same success at a power school. Tyler and Khwan are two recent examples of that, and I loved Tyler here as much as any player. They both started at the next level and saw their numbers drop dramatically. And, Dji probably won't start, and time will tell on his minutes. If Dji could shoot the 3, with his athleticism and other skills, I think he could play a lot at a power school. Without the 3, at his size and not being a PG, I don't see him making much of an impact. As I have said, time will tell.
Congrats to Dji--rooting for you. The LSU message board won't know what hit 'em...
I'm sure LSU knows what they're getting as a player ... and they want him. I think he'll do fine.
Good point, but like kneepad said, does the message board know what is coming?
. That might be must read material. And let me clarify my much of an impact comment.....he could play 10 minutes, average a couple points and maybe not make much of an impact, but he could also be 100% fine with that, so good for him if he gets out of it what he is looking for. I mean, playing 10 minutes a game for an SEC team is pretty cool. And, I also realize he could play more. Time will tell.
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Ok. Again I never said the same success. Nova and Louisville r better programs. They both started there. says something. Worse stats no doubt but started. So not same success in that way, but contributed. Burton struggled more than expected. but how they define success idk. I don't think Dji will have same stats either but doesn't mean won't be successful. Nothing is guaranteed but idk why u r so incredulous that I think a good Richmond player could be "pretty good" at a middle tier P6. This came up in other thread but even a few guys that didn't do much at UR from 90s did well at P6s. Varga at Pitt. Gary Williams at USC. Bacote would have done better at UR but had a good senior year at Bama. AJ Vassallo was coming here and did very well at VA Tech.
Maybe we should want him to flop so it possibly decreases chances of future players transferring up. Don't read that spiderdad.
Well, you said "if you are a good player at Richmond, I think you should be a pretty good player at LSU". You said it like every good player we have had should be a pretty good player at a place like LSU. That is what I am disagreeing with. We are discussing Dji and I don't think just because he was good for us last year means he will be pretty good for LSU. Maybe he will, but you are talking like it is almost a guarantee. I am also disagreeing with your comment saying the A-10 compares to the SEC. It just doesn't.....I mean, teams like Tenn, Ky., Auburn, and Bama might question that as well.
I am not at all saying we haven’t had or will never have some players who could have done pretty good ( I guess it depends on the definition of pretty good) at a power school. But, I do think pretty much every guy who has played well for us made the right decision to play for us and not give a power school a chance.
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I will be following Djis LSU career with great interest! Wishing him the best
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