...and what do we expect Tobi to do if that were the case? Say thanks but no thanks? Something like that would be hard to say no to.
SS likes guys who can shoot.
I'm not proud of it, but I hope he does get buried on the bench.
Would you hope the same if he got drafted to the NBA instead of transferring?
700k for Tobi? Wow. I think more in the 100-150k range if he’s lucky.
You make a very good point. I honestly think the days of worrying about having scholarships available is gone with the wind. I'm not sure you can fill them all every year now with quality players.Devils advocate on the scholarship piece : why not pocket one or two a year to have more NIL to spend on each used slot? I get all the on court benefits of using them all, but if you tighten the belt on the roster and up the pay or each player it might work out in your benefit. Just spit ballin here
VCU has well to do alums as well. We just have to get them to pay up. Remember those MD’s, and DDS are doing just fine.
I appreciate the honesty of your post.
Nope.
I doubt he picks up the phone for 100-150k if we are being honest with ourselves
I suppose that is possible but doubt it. Lawal is like a number of players who have left our program prematurely. He is loaded with potential BUT is not (in my opinion) an actual basketball player. He is a tremendous athlete with a very high ceiling (excuse the pun). Does he know how to block out without fouling, does he know how to cover a forward or center with a good drop step, does he know how to fake both ways and use both hands. I could go on. Admittedly he knows how to block shots and dunk ally opps. Yet if he follows the pattern of other really good athletes like himself he may be sitting somewhere and playing under ten minutes while making some nice NIL money. Did Hassan learn how to be an NBA player by transferring? Did JJ? With some exceptions moving from VCU has not really panned out for most of our bigs. I loved watching Lawal develop as the year moved on. I hope he gets what he wants (which I really believe was more playing time and not coming off the bench). But I will be surprised if that is what happens. Sad day for the fans of RAM basketball.
I pretty sure that they weren’t caught off guard. Probably bummed but not caught off guard.
To me it isn’t all that different. Make a move to get paid more to play basketball. Doesn’t matter if it’s Kentucky or the Knicks to me, get your money young man.
I don't wish him any ill will, but I'm not exactly rooting for him either. I'll probably keep tabs on him like other defections over the years but I'll likely not have any emotions behind it.
I agree with everything but Sad Day for VCU basketball. We’ve had more impactful guys leave the program. We will be fine. As for Tobi? Who knows.