New Basketball commit

[Kilgor]

6'6" Shooting guard - Levan Patsatsia

He is a 2007 recruit.



FYI he is the white guy.


Watch this youtube video.  He's got some bulk to him. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV_pSW-i88M


http://www.arsnonline.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4330

Fayetteville - Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey improved his depth on the perimeter on Monday by bringing in shooting guard Levan Patsatsia (La-von Pot-sot-see-ah) from the country Georgia.

Patsatsia is a 6-6, 205-pound freshman with extensive international experience. This past summer, he made Georgia's FIBA Under-19 World Championship team, but was injured and missed the tournament. Before that, he was named the national team player of Georgia and the Under-18 Georgian Player of the Year.

"We're excited about the addition of 'Patsa,'" Pelphrey said. "He is a big guard who can help us with our perimeter shooting. He's an extremely hard worker who I think will be a big part of our future. Looking at our roster, you could tell we needed guard depth and he helps."

Patsatsia, from Tbilisi, Georgia, played for junior team SSU Sukhumi from the ages of 10 through 16. Since then, he's worked with a personal coach and played for several teams in several tournaments. After making the Georgia national team, he missed the FIBA Under-19 World Championships with a broken left elbow.

Prior to making the national team, he played for Aron Sur in Spain and earned the rebounding award for the most rebounds in a six-game Christmas tournament. Before that, he played for FC Barcelona in Milega, Spain, leading his team to a tournament title and earning MVP honors after scoring 27 points in the championship game.

He was also named the MVP of the Attack basketball camp in Spain and attended the Addidas top 50 Euro Camp in Berlin where he was voted the camp's best shooter.

"We were able to get on Patsa through some of my contacts that I had known previously and respect in this business," Pelphrey said. "Our guard depth is not great. With Nate Rakestraw and Marcus Britt, and now Patsa, hopefully those guys will be able to provide us with some depth."

The three incoming guards will compete for playing time with returning lettermen Gary Ervin, Patrick Beverley and Stefan Welsh in Arkansas' backcourt.

"The coaches have told me I play they way they like to play," Patsatsia said. "I am a shooting guard who likes to play in transition."

Patsatsia, who was also recruited by St. John's, is the fourth member of this year's recruiting class, joining Britt, Rakestraw and forward Michael Sanchez.

Britt, 6-3 and 180 pounds, prepped at Forrest City and helped the Mustangs go 26-3 for Coach Dwight Lofton. His team won the Class 6-A East Conference title and reached the state finals where

Britt made six three-pointers and scored 27 points in an 83-72 loss to Jonesboro. He averaged 18 points, five assists and four rebounds for the year after averaging 18.5 points as a junior. A three-time all-state selection, he was named first-team All-Arkansas, all-state, all-conference and named to the Class 6-A state all-tournament team this year. He is rated as the No. 96 prospect in the nation by '07 Hoops.

Rakestraw was also named all-state, to the state all-tournament team, to The Morning News' all-area squad and third-team All-Arkansas after averaging 19.4 points and shooting 41.3 percent on three-pointers (78-181) for Coach Eric Burnett in leading Har-Ber High School to the Class 7-A state finals.

He made nine-of-14 shots, including three-of-six threes, and had 24 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats in the state championship game. He had 15 points against Little Rock-Catholic in the quarterfinals and 13 against Rogers in the semifinals.

Rakestraw, 6-5, is rated the No. 29 shooting guard in this year's class by Scout.com. In the summer prior to his senior season, he averaged 27 points in AAU with the Arkansas Hawks and was a four-time all-tournament selection. As a junior, he averaged 18 points.

As a sophomore, he prepped at Siloam Springs (Ark.) High, and averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals, and was named the Benton County Daily Record Sophomore of the Year.

Sanchez, 6-8 and 230 pounds, teamed at Har-Ber with Rakestraw and averaged 15.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Sanchez notched a double-double in every conference game he played. In the state finals against Northside, he had 16 points on seven-of-14 shooting and seven rebounds. In the semifinal win over Rogers, he had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

As a junior, he averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds on a 15-14 club, despite being hampered by tendonitis. As a sophomore, he averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds, and was ranked among the top 50 sophomores in the nation by Scout.com. He was also invited to the NBA Players Association Camp and the Reebok ABCD camp.

Sanchez was named first-team All-Arkansas, all-state and to the Class 7-A state all-tournament team as a senior. He was also named to the all-area team by The Morning News.

Britt, Patsatsia, Rakestraw and Sanchez join all five starters back from last year and nine total returning lettermen.

The top returnees are seniors Ervin (9.9 ppg, 4.8 assists), a two-time SEC Player of the Week last year; Steven Hill (6.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 blocks), last year's SEC Defensive Player of the Year who enters his final season 10th on the SEC's career blocked shots list with 244; Charles Thomas (10.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), who needs 165 points to reach 1,000 for his career, and 176 rebounds and 57 free throws to move into the school's top 10 in those categories; Darian Townes (8.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who needs just 107 points to reach 1,000 for his career and 158 rebounds to reach UA's top 10; Sonny Weems, who was named to the SEC Tournament and Old Spice Classic all-tournament teams; and sophomore Beverley (13.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.1 assists), last year's SEC newcomer and freshman of the year who led the USA Basketball U19 team to a second-place finish at the FIBA World Championships by leading the U.S. in scoring (13.0), steals (3.4) and assists (3.2).

Pelphrey was named head coach on April 9 after leading South Alabama to regular season and conference tournament championships in the last two years, and NCAA Tournament and NIT appearances. His 2006 team recorded the best turnaround in the nation, improving from 10-18 in 2005 to 24-7. Despite losing the top three scorers off that team, his 2007 squad went 20-12, won the Sun Belt Conference regular season title and earned a spot in the NIT.

Note: CREDIT: UA SID

[Kilgor]

Whoops.  It's already been posted in the Jumpball forum.  Oh well, it should be here too.

http://www.hogville.net/yabbse/index.php?topic=147403.0

[whitecohogg]

Great! We might be the San Anotonio Spurs of the SEC bringing in kids from overseas!!

[piggingout]

I love the Euro's.  They can play. 

[tbhogfan]

Usually, European players are more square to the basket than this young man when they shoot.  He seems to be tilted toward his shooting hand.  But the bottom line is that the shot go in.   If that happens with regularity, this is a good signing.

[hogfankb]

What is everyone projecting Rakestraw to play? 2 or 3?

Will they be competing for the same spot? We need depth behind sonny so it is fine if they are. Just wondering if this was a pickup to step in immediately or to give us more options incase one of these guys doesn't pan out as a starter next year.

[SultanofSwine]

nice range and shoots the hail out of some free throws. He better stop practicing that stutter step move with the chair though because that will be called as a travel 99% of the time in college ball.

[kibster]

I watched the video and he has a very akward shot.  His right leg way forward,  when he jumos his legs separate even further.  He also does not have much height on his shot or arch on his shot.   This guy worries me a bit,  It has been the first recruit that I hav questioned Pel on.  But he is also getting paid to get these guys and I am not so I will trust him for now.

Also, I did not know we had an extra scholarship to give out?  I assume this means we have one less for next year?

[HUNGLOWHOG]

im excited the kid can flat out shoot , i would say he's quite an addittion

[hawgtime]

let's give him a chance to see if he can hustle and then shoot.

he needs to be in shape for us this year.

[Hawgballz]

let's give him a chance to see if he can hustle and then shoot.

he needs to be in shape for us this year.

I am looking forward to seeing him on a college court, but he looks to be able to shoot on the move better than most Euros.

[Tomhog™]

He looks to be strong and not so wiry.  He could be a very aggressive player that makes SEC defenses wilt!  I hope anyways!

[oldfart]

Other schools over the years have brought in European players that have done well.  Lets hope this guy pans out for us, and maybe opens a few doors overseas.  As has been mentioined, basketball is universal now and some really good players in other countries. I was in China last year and I saw a lot of kids on the court that had talent.

[Ross U (HDHF)]

Usually, European players are more square to the basket than this young man when they shoot.  He seems to be tilted toward his shooting hand.  But the bottom line is that the shot go in.   If that happens with regularity, this is a good signing.

I noticed that too, but if you keep watching, it looks worse than it really is, b/c he kicks that right leg out when he jumps to shoot.  I agree with your bottom line though.  You don't mess with someone's shot if it's that consistent.  He's got NBA range too.  Gotta love that.

Here's the best thing about his shot:  He doesn't float when he goes up for a jump shot.  Most players any more will continue their forward momentum even after a jump-stop, and that'll throw your shot off.  This kid has great fundamentals for shooting in transition. 

[olblueyes]

"Also, I did not know we had an extra scholarship to give out?  I assume this means we have one less for next year?" 

This scholarship became available when Cyrus McGowan transferred. We will not loose one for next year do to his signing.

[kibster]

"Also, I did not know we had an extra scholarship to give out?  I assume this means we have one less for next year?" 

This scholarship became available when Cyrus McGowan transferred. We will not loose one for next year do to his signing.

Thanks, I forgot about McGowan leaving.

[gohawgsgo]

Man it will be nice if we can shoot again!  I hope Pel keeps building and building us back to a power.

[mbgrulz]

I watched the video and he has a very akward shot.  His right leg way forward,  when he jumos his legs separate even further.  He also does not have much height on his shot or arch on his shot.   This guy worries me a bit,  It has been the first recruit that I hav questioned Pel on.  But he is also getting paid to get these guys and I am not so I will trust him for now.

Also, I did not know we had an extra scholarship to give out?  I assume this means we have one less for next year?

i agree that he doesn't have enough height on his jumper, but that is something that takes literally 5 minutes to fix. i disagree with you, however, on the awkward comment. he shot it the same everytime, and it was an overall fundamentally sound shot. great follow thru and his elbow was perfectly tucked in. his footwork isn't perfect, and he should square up a bit more, but overall a great looking shot.

he is without a doubt the best guard we brought in this year. he brings in so much more experience against much better compeitition.

[coach, my back hurts]

I responded in the JumpBall section on his shot saying that he had good form, but needed some foot work.  I will be VERY surprised to see him doing that with his feet by the time he is a Jr/Sr, maybe sooner.  He should be going straight up and then down.

It might be a strength thing.  You see girls and younger boys do that all the time.  When they shoot a long jumper they "scissor" their legs.  Other than that, from the waist up his shoot looks good.  I think he'll be alright.

[northsideHog03]

Dirk Nowitzki scissors his leg, and that guy has a shot.

[Realist]

Dirk Nowitzki scissors his leg, and that guy has a shot.

Because like most Euro's, he can keep his upper body motionless, like Levan.  Thats why I don't see a problem with Levan's shot

[Razor8]

I think the Euro players tend to be a little more grounded in fundamentals which is awsome. I also love his ability to step up hit the midrange shot. This is a great pick up for the Hogs

[jackflash]

Like his size, needed one more this year as far as I was concern, shooter from the outside was a key. great job coach Pel