He is transferring to VT from USF.
I'm going to play at Virginia tech thanks to all those who support me and all I believe in! #GoHokies #VT— Zach LeDay! (@ZachLeDay32) June 4, 2014
USF bio: http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=205503801
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Our basketball team looks completely different than it did at the end of the season. I can't believe how quickly Buzz is turning things around. Yes, yes, I know they haven't played a game yet but it's hard not to be excited.
Any details on his availability to play right away or sit out a year?
Well he went to high school in Texas so it seems unlikely to get a pardon for moving closer to home. I noticed he's listed as a sophomore so I'm wondering if he'll be a junior this coming year (making him a senior when he's finally eligible if he has to sit out a year).
He will have to sit out a year but will have 2 years after the one he has to sit out.
Last season he averaged 3.5 PPG 2.6 RPG .4 APG in 15 min so not really a proven guy, but if Buzz wants him then we'll take him.
I remember Buzz saying in his introductory press conference that he likes guys that are versatile and are switchable. While LeDay is only 6'7 which is perfect for SF, being 245 lbs he might be able to play some PF depending on the opponent.
Some highlights
His freshman yea points average was a little better, still only 4.8 points per game, but when you look at a game log he had some of his best games against top 25 opponents.
Nice get. Do we still have room for Henry as well?
Believe so. He visits this weekend, and if gets a commitable offer I think than he should probably commit.
So we had the USF connection with Coach Roccaforte but this probably helped too.
The USF connection is with Coach Roccaforte and I imagine that the results of this tranfer will be the first foray into Buzz trusting Roccaforte. I hope it works out but I am not overly impressed with his numbers or the videos I have found on him. Seems to me he is a role player at best and with the talent Buzz has been recruiting its a bit disappointing to see a scholarship go to someone with equivalent numbers to Will Johnston or Christian Beyer especially that he will be sitting out next year and holding a scholarship up during the 2016 cycle that has the potential to be the best recruiting class in a decade.
There are still two scholarships available in the event Henry commits this weekend on his visit or after.
You're right, I got my assistants mixed up. Fixed.
Buzz needed another PF and I'm guessing Roc brought up LeDay and like you said Buzz probably trusted Roc.
Just curious, what in the videos are the parts of his game you think may be weak? Admittedly I've only seen the highlight video posted here but I thought that one showed athleticism and good coordination. His shot looks a little awkward from the way he pushes it from low and in front which makes it easier to block) but other than that I really didn't see anything that concerns about his potential to become a solid player for Buzz. He appears to run he floor well, catch and finish around the basket well, made some PF moves with the ball to the basket. He seems like an upgrade from Marshall Wood IMO to play the 4 position. No doubt the stats aren't impressive so it will be interesting to understand what happened there, but what am I missing in the video? It seems to show potential to be a good player and he did have some good games as a freshman. (I'm wondering did he just lose PT with Egbunu coming in last year??)
I watched a couple of the USF game films to get beneath the highlight reel for a couple of reasons. The first is that for someone with a limited offensive game set and the noticeable blockable shot from outside eight feet there was surprisingly little in the way of defensive highlights. The game films didn't reveal much in the way of defensive highlights either. He just doesn't seem to make noticeable contributions on that end of the floor. The second reason was that I wanted to see how he moved away from the ball. He seems to drift quite a bit when not directly involved in the play and I am not sure how well he will move off the ball for us which is a big deal in the Buzz Williams set. I would rather the scholarship had waited to next years class to give us flexibility in bringing in a top talent instead of someone comparable to our current walk-ons. Part of it is my expectations now for what Buzz considers a scholarship player versus giving someone a shot as a walk-on. His recruiting classes typically at Marquette wouldn't have had room for someone with the limited skill set that Leday seems to have right now. Couple that with the fact that he isn't available immediately (to help with our current depth issue) there are just a few concerns of mine. Hopefully I am totally off base and he comes in and brings Deron Washington type excitement with his dunks. He does seem to have a better than average baseline move with the ability to layin from either side of the basket.
I was also wondering about his defensive game and was hoping the lack of defensive highlights was just an oversight of the maker of the video - noting in his bio a 5 block performance in his freshman season and another mention of where he held a player in defensive check most of a game. The drifting you saw could explain a lot about his stat line. But I have to think that Buzz sees potential in him that exceeds walk-ons or he wouldn't have brought him in. With his experience and another year of practicing with the team Buzz must think he will be ahead of most freshmen recruits he could bring in for the 2015-16 season.
If Buzz wants him, the hokie nation wants him too. Coach Buzz sees something in the future that the average fan cannot yet see.
Buzz's crystal ball says.....
'Thon Maker'
Looking at stats it would appear to be a disappointing signing but we have to trust Buzz. I don't think he is desperate enough to waste a scholarship on a bad player.
Agree. At the end of the day we need bodies. Changing the culture is a VERY tough thing to do. Right now we have a great coach and a terrible program rep at the moment. Kind of like Mike Lond...
Anyways, the way he is throwing around schollies (especially to underclassmen, there are a few where we are the first to even offer) everywhere shows me he is getting Tech more involved and improving the rep even without one game played.
I STILL WANT HENRY! I am huge on the term "immediate" since he won't have to sit. That's huge for this program. Absolutely zero depth.
Also, my friend who covered USFMBB for Rivals also had this to say about our newest Hokie...
@NicoGhibaudy: @sethadams_ He's a hard worker. Undersized but plays his tail off. Takes charges, boxes out, fights for rebounds, can score from 10 feet in.
I appreciate the hard working approach but that's usually what walk-ons bring to your program if there isn't some other extremely talented aspect of their game. With his tweener body size of 6'7 and 235, I would have expected to see a reliable jump shot from the perimeter, and that does not seem to be the case here. If he was eligible to play this season I could see more of a reason for bringing him in but that doesn't appear to be the case so even being in on recruiting him seems odd to me. As has been said in several posts, in Buzz we will trust. I just hope that if this is Buzz trusting in Roccaforte it works out for everyones sake.
I like his post up half hook, the almost set shot from 3 when left open, and ability on the boards (had 15 in a game this year). I really don't care about the elevation on his three ball release; when he needs to get up he's got some hops and he's an inside guy who can knock it down from outside when left open- fine.
If he can do these things, and plays hard, then I don't see him as having a limited skill set.
We'll see...