citay said:Zirg said:I've never seen Malatare play outside on highlights on the local news and have no opinion of whether he is "good enough", but it's simple supply and demand. He has no other D1 offers, so why waste a scholarship on a(ny) guy we can get to walk-on? That seems like a no-brainer to me.
JR Camel, wisely, transferred to Hellgate for his sr. yr after dominating class b (wasn't it?), and also had his (up and down) moments for the Griz, and JR clearly had D1 talent. His downfalls have already been mentioned. Chavez also transferred from Heart Butte to Browning to better prove his abilities. If you choose to stay at low-level Montana hs b-ball, you haven't proven anything (to ppl recruiting@D1) no matter how good you look against terrible competition. Malatare will get his chance to prove his metal as a walk-on. He (and any class C Montanan) can't ask for anything more.
Comparing Malatare to JR or Chavez or any other player is a mistake. None of them came to Montana with the legendary status that Malatare has achieved as a high school player; none of them were capable of putting butts in seats like Malatare will, no matter he comes from a Class C program.
As for the fact he hasn't proven himself at higher levels of competition, what would you say about Espe, Besovic, Bevens--three kids who we thought had proved themselves, but washed out the first year? How about the two kids Shannon has signed for the women's team who as teammates on one team could not win a state championship? Did all these kids deserve scholarships?
Yes, as a rule, you don't give a scholarship to a Class C player, but there are exceptions to every rule, and I feel Malatare is one--one who has earned a scholarship. And if he doesn't pan out? Every Frontier school, including Montana Tech, would offer him a scholarship in a heartbeat, so I think it's a risk we should take.
You are amazing Citay. You have never seen him play and think we should take a chance on him. Travis and his staff have seen him play a few times. I am sure he has played against current players both in summer camp and open gym. I think Travis knows more about the skill level of the kid than you do and I sure trust his evaluation more than I do yours. While your input on local California players that you have seen has been good I think you’re dead wrong on this one. Just my opinion.