Kouassi loves defense

[The Recruiting Guy]

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2015/jun/01/kouassi-passionate-about-defense/

[The_Boot_stops_here]

based on his 5 points and 5 rebounds he averaged, I hope he loves D

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

based on his 5 points and 5 rebounds he averaged, I hope he loves D

Defensive player of the year in his league

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

https://mobile.twitter.com/TeamAlabamaCBA/status/605476830750093312

New top 5 for Kouassi.

@WillyOfficial50 Arkansas Razorbacks, Memphis Tigers, North Texas Mean Green, La Tech Bulldogs & BYU Cougars
1:51 PM - 1 Jun 2015

[Hawgzinbowlz]

Kouassi, and his D, may blend with what will likely be a somewhat more guard driven team.

" GO HOGS "

[ADavisTheGOAT]

I like our chances  :razorback:

[WorfHog]

I like our chances  :razorback:

Like always, it'll all come down to the cold cuts.

[Hawg Red]

I believe it's been -Blu that's been saying to look out for the smaller programs like Louisiana Tech and BYU here because they can offer the most playing time, and that's where I'm expecting him to land. Doesn't appear on the surface that Memphis has room for him. BYU and Arkansas are probably his best bets for playing in the NCAA tournament, though, so we have that as an advantage. Without knowing much of anything about his selection criteria, I'll assume he goes for the playing time at a mid-major school. Would love to him at this point in the process for a number of reasons.

[wheelspigharvey]

I believe it's been -Blu that's been saying to look out for the smaller programs like Louisiana Tech and BYU here because they can offer the most playing time, and that's where I'm expecting him to land. Doesn't appear on the surface that Memphis has room for him. BYU and Arkansas are probably his best bets for playing in the NCAA tournament, though, so we have that as an advantage. Without knowing much of anything about his selection criteria, I'll assume he goes for the playing time at a mid-major school. Would love to him at this point in the process for a number of reasons.

Spitballing but proximity to host family influenced Izundu some apparently.  Maybe staying in the south is a +1 for us here as well.

[lefty08]

I believe it's been -Blu that's been saying to look out for the smaller programs like Louisiana Tech and BYU here because they can offer the most playing time, and that's where I'm expecting him to land. Doesn't appear on the surface that Memphis has room for him. BYU and Arkansas are probably his best bets for playing in the NCAA tournament, though, so we have that as an advantage. Without knowing much of anything about his selection criteria, I'll assume he goes for the playing time at a mid-major school. Would love to him at this point in the process for a number of reasons.

He has already narrowed it down to Arkansas, Memphis, and BYU FWIW

[hawgmasta]

He has already narrowed it down to Arkansas, Memphis, and BYU FWIW

I like our odds with those.

[-Blu]

I like our odds with those.

IMO, the key is to get him to commit before he leaves campus.  Hopefully the new practice facility and BWA wows him, should be the most impressive campus by far he would have visited up to this point.  Don't like our chances if he doesn't commit this weekend, schools like BYU have a lot more playing time to offer.  But, I'm not sure how good BYU will be next year, they only have 8 scholarship guys right now.  Willy's guardian said the biggest thing for him is he wants to go to a winning program and play in the NCAA tournament and get exposure before his eligibility is done, Arkansas gives him the best chance to accomplish all of that.  I also think he would have a great shot at playing significant minutes here as well.

[mhuff]

based on his 5 points and 5 rebounds he averaged, I hope he loves D

The five rebounds worries me ,but we we do not know his PT average.

[Hawg Red]

The five rebounds worries me ,but we we do not know his PT average.

19 MPG last season at Kennesaw State.

4.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.3 BPG. Very poor FT shooter (under 43%). 46.7 from the field. Does not take 3 point shots.

This is not a guy you expect stats from. This is a guy that comes in and makes use of his 5 fouls, gets physical (I'm guessing), and just plays defense. He won't be a starter here. He'll average maybe 10 minutes a game, or less. We could use another big body, at least in practice, with Trey and Kapita being big question marks. Guess we could consider Miles a question mark as well.

[mhuff]

19 MPG last season at Kennesaw State.

4.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.3 BPG. Very poor FT shooter (under 43%). 46.7 from the field. Does not take 3 point shots.

This is not a guy you expect stats from. This is a guy that comes in and makes use of his 5 fouls, gets physical (I'm guessing), and just plays defense. He won't be a starter here. He'll average maybe 10 minutes a game, or less. We could use another big body, at least in practice, with Trey and Kapita being big question marks. Guess we could consider Miles a question mark as well.

I was looking at our stats for last year. It is surprising that we won the games we did. I have seen people criticizing Portis..... well his defense could have been better and A/T better..... BUT...... almost everyone was lacking. Watkins shined offensively as did Portis ,and Kingsley. However, I believe their stats were down % wise from the year before. A lot of our guards shot around 43% or less from the field. That is not impressive to me. Everyone knows the lack of success we had a few years ago when we did not get the ball inside and the guards threw up crap shots. We can't revert to that again. Hopefully Kapita will be healthy. We have to do something soon about a SF..... I am optimistic that something will happen near term or 18 games winner will be our plight again. imho

[jjdlc]

NM, found the info I was looking for.

[jry04]

Nice having the super regionals on campus this weekend while he is visiting. He will be blown away with 10-12k fans at the baseball game. Hopefully he commits to us. I do not know how good he will be, but I think he can only help.

[Mike Irwin]

They've got to get him into graduate school. They're working on it.

[Hogg_Phan]

They've got to get him into graduate school. They're working on it.

When you say "they are working on it", are you saying if we can get him into graduate school, he will commit to us?

[-Blu]

When you say "they are working on it", are you saying if we can get him into graduate school, he will commit to us?

I was about to ask the same thing.  I was looking at his guardian's twitter page, seems to be really loving the visit.

https://twitter.com/teamalabamacba

[Mike Irwin]

The last time I checked, which was a couple of days ago, they didn't know for sure if he could get into graduate school. I probably should not have used the phrase "they're working on it" because that implies they're trying to pull some strings to get him in. 

What I meant was, they're trying to find out for sure if he's cleared to enroll in grad school at the U of A. I have no idea if he's committed or committed based on getting in but it's the same process at any school he's considering. Those schools may not all have the same standards but just getting an undergraduate degree, which he has, doesn't automatically mean you can get into a specific graduate school.

[Hogsolo]

It's an awesome last minute add for next year defense and five more big man fouls per game.

Hope he makes it.

[JIHawg]

Can anyone confirm that he did visit BYU?  I went on some of their sites and there was no mention of him.

[WorfHog]

Can anyone confirm that he did visit BYU?  I went on some of their sites and there was no mention of him.

If he isn't tweeting about it and BYU isn't talking about it I like our chances.

[HoopS]

@rtmccombs: Some good BYU news today.
1. BYU-Nebraska on ABC
2. 7'4" Alan Hamson gonna walk-on bball team
3. Willy Kouassi visiting BYU

[East TN HAWG]

It may come down to the school that will accept him in grad school.

[Pig in the Pokey]

based on his 5 points and 5 rebounds he averaged, I hope he loves D

lol!

[Pig in the Pokey]

@rtmccombs: Some good BYU news today.
1. BYU-Nebraska on ABC
2. 7'4" Alan Hamson gonna walk-on bball team
3. Willy Kouassi visiting BYU

that's the biggest walk-on EVER!

[JIHawg]

Did not visit BYU.

[jry04]

Did not visit BYU.

Looks like he is ours. Don't know much about him, but a 6'10" rim protector is always welcomed. At the very least, he should be able to provide 10-12 solid minutes of defense off the bench.

[hawgmasta]

Looks like he is ours. Don't know much about him, but a 6'10" rim protector is always welcomed. At the very least, he should be able to provide 10-12 solid minutes of defense off the bench.

If he could throw down 10-12 pts or 10-12 boards in the SEC tourney I would love me some of that. That's where I think we will make our postseason next year.

[outlawhogeywells]

come on board

[regi]

So now it is down to North Texas, WKU and Hogs for a Kennesaw St (Great school BTW) transfer that averaged 4 points and 5 rebs a game? What am I missing here?

[Athog]

So now it is down to North Texas, WKU and Hogs for a Kennesaw St (Great school BTW) transfer that averaged 4 points and 5 rebs a game? What am I missing here?

A lot if we can't get him.

[poloprince]

So now it is down to North Texas, WKU and Hogs for a Kennesaw St (Great school BTW) transfer that averaged 4 points and 5 rebs a game? What am I missing here?

That he is a graduate transfer with immediate eligibility could be what you are missing. 

[Oklahawg]

Kid has to weigh a lot, including actual playing time/contribution, team post-season chances, grad work options, etc.

If he blows up at a smaller school does that help his chances at playing overseas? Likely. Suddenly, he goes from angling for one more year to being considered for a nice professional contract.

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

So now it is down to North Texas, WKU and Hogs for a Kennesaw St (Great school BTW) transfer that averaged 4 points and 5 rebs a game? What am I missing here?

He was Defensive Player of the year in his Conference. Ole Miss, Memphis, Pitt and BYU have also been involved in his recruitment

Former 4 star signed with Auburn out of HS and played one year there

http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/player-Willy-Kouassi-106016

[OS2 (SW) Razor Back]

Wanna be a hog the be a Hog.' if not then pack sand!

[OS2 (SW) Razor Back]

Wanna be a Hog then be a Hog, if not then pack sand!

[COCHISE]

He's a Hog.

[TheRazorbackGuy]

The last time I checked, which was a couple of days ago, they didn't know for sure if he could get into graduate school. I probably should not have used the phrase "they're working on it" because that implies they're trying to pull some strings to get him in. 

What I meant was, they're trying to find out for sure if he's cleared to enroll in grad school at the U of A. I have no idea if he's committed or committed based on getting in but it's the same process at any school he's considering. Those schools may not all have the same standards but just getting an undergraduate degree, which he has, doesn't automatically mean you can get into a specific graduate school.

MikeIrwin, the University of Arkansas isn't Harvard or Stanford. If the guy can play basketball they will get him in grad school.