MVCfans.com

6'9 Forward from Dubuque, IA

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... ell-154691

McDonnell averaged 6 points, 4 rebounds and over a block per game as a Sophomore for a very good Senior team that finished 3rd at the state tournament in class 4A

McDonnell plays on the same team as 2014 prospects Kyle Haber and Seth Bonifas, both with D1 offers I believe. Also had an offer from Drake.

Congrats to McDonnel at UNI!

Definitely going to be a project for UNI...and possibly used as a recruiting tool to grab an AAU teammate.

Likely won't be a contributor until his JR/SR years.

We look foolish looking back on this.

McDonnell has blown up and was just given a 3rd star by Rivals.

Wisconsin made a late push with heavy interest, but he stayed with his commitment.

UNI has actually pulled the offer from previously better thought of Brady Ernst.

Good news for the Panthers! They will need some help replacing Tuttle.

I'll gladly be wrong...

I always thought he was a solid signing for the program but no one can claim they were a great "recruit" or player until they go out on the court and prove their worth. I don't think a recruits stars have ever won a basketball game for his team.

Kwazdo would be a great anti-example, that kid was an unknown coming out of HS and he became one of the most prolific players in UNI history, despite what some Panther fans might want to believe. Ali may have been the most famous, Koch may have been the best and Egleseder may have been the most dominant on that Sweet 16 team but Kwazdo was the most important player we had.

PantherSigEp wrote:I always thought he was a solid signing for the program but no one can claim they were a great "recruit" or player until they go out on the court and prove their worth. I don't think a recruits stars have ever won a basketball game for his team.

Kwazdo would be a great anti-example, that kid was an unknown coming out of HS and he became one of the most prolific players in UNI history, despite what some Panther fans might want to believe. Ali may have been the most famous, Koch may have been the best and Egleseder may have been the most dominant on that Sweet 16 team but Kwazdo was the most important player we had.

And, they were all "under the radar" guys when UNI signed them. It just shows that a lot of times, the ratings don't mean jack. I don't think anybody even gave Farokmanesh (sp?) a look in high school, and UNI might have been his only offer out of juco. Guy was just a stone cold killer out there. You can't measure those intangibles, but Jake can sure spot guys who have them.

Baker is a great example of this.

Wufan wrote:Baker is a great example of this.

Very true. Great coaches are either great recruiters or excellent judges of potential. Gregg seems to be a bit of both.