I could put together a massively detailed post about all the potential factors that are in play today nationally and what that means to us.
Nah
Its M.J. Walker Watch Day.
Yes, we're in the driver's seat for our first McDonald's All-American since Dell Curry in 1986, and second in school history, you know outside of Dell. Should Walker declare to the Hokies today, by most metrics I've seen we'll have a Top 10 recruiting class, with a few saying it could be as high as Top 5. Walker would be our third Top 75 recruit, and second in the Top 40. At #25 in the country, he would be the second highest ranked recruit in school history that we would have pulled in outside of Dorian Finney-Smith, who I believe came in as the #24 recruit despite not being a McD's A-A.
Currently, 247 Crystal Ballage has Walker leaning 71% to the Good Guys with Maryland and Florida State also receiving votes. Of note, he just went on an Official Visit to UCLA over the weekend, and we have not seen any movement on 247 since he left for Westwood.
So don't get too excited, recent reports have it that he probably won't be making a decision today and will likely not make his decision until he enrolls later this summer.
So you know, slightly eventful day for the future of an up and coming basketball program in the ACC.
Comments
So, no news is no news?
Yeah I just have a feeling this is going to be played out until the middle of the summer.
Though, if you like to follow Twitter breadcrumbs per HokiesFTW123, J. Robinson and Walker just followed each other, and Walker picked up an Instragram follow from the man himself, Buzz Williams this morning.
Has he followed anybody from UCLA?
Ah, Black Sails
Interesting info. Popular rap culture tells me "it goes down in the DM" therefore Walker to the Hokies is confirmed. That's what that means right? Polite, family friendly conversations via direct message
A black sails gif? Such an underrated show helped me through the windows between game of thrones and Vikings
Loved that show....right up until the end. Kind of ruined it for me. Such an enjoyable show...and then I'm left with that memory.
Not a huge fan of how flints story ended in a way but I feel they were setting us up for a sequel show
true I'm sure they could do something completely around rackham. Great character.
I want to get hyped for this, I really do, but I don't think we will be seeing an announcement from Mr. Walker today. I will just keep checking TKP daily for Joe's out-of-the blue front page announcement and then post celebratory gifs like the rest of you.
Unless he surprises everyone, I don't expect anything from him today. He is going to drag this out a bit longer in my opinion.
Worth noting, when you check out 247's Basketball Recruiting rankings, with the current 3 players we already have in, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Wabissa Bede, and PJ Horne, we have the 15th ranked class in the country, and we have the highest ranked class with only 3 players. Our class outranks UNC, despite the Heels already having 5 players in the fold.
Also worth noting, should we pick up Walker, our overall class rating would raise from 57.74 to 65.45. Should all else remain stable, we would move up to the 6th ranked class in the country according to 247. Only Arizona would have a higher rated class with only 4 incoming recruits.
This is already an outstanding class for Buzz Williams. Walker would take it from outstanding to legitimately program altering.
we are talkin about Buzzketball and a Mcdonalds AA on May 17th. WE ARE RELEVANT!
Just spit my water out on my keyboard.
You were also trying to impersonate, huh?
And now I have water all over my keyboard.
Water, sure...
There's water in it.
Not saying that it would not happen today, but it seems like Walker is planning to enroll straight into college of his choice instead of signing NLI.
Link to interview
Doesn't he have to apply and be admitted?
right, and UNC players have to go to class to be student-athletes. What is this, the Soviet Union?
Having watched the news recently, it very well may be!
A wise man once said:
Selectively wise, maybe?
Always wise, that guy knows what's up
I agree. It's a pot shot
via GIPHY
In Soviet Russia school applies to you!
That's an interesting question. VT's application deadline for Fall 2017 was January 15. Does that mean that every athlete we bring in for Fall 2017 across all sports (some of which don't even have a signing day until June) has to apply by then, meaning that we can't go after somebody new later in the recruiting cycle? Or is there a special process for athletes?
There are very special processes for athletes.
Source: Worked in VT's Admissions Office.
Hmm... well, the Summer I session starts on Monday at VT.
I assume that requires him to be finished with/have graduated high school? Is it more likely he would have to wait for Summer II?
We don't need your logic in here!
First McDonald's All American since Dell Curry. Think of the possibilities if we land him. He could go on to have a solid NBA career. Maybe have a son that dreams of coming to VT to build on his father's legacy. He might be a little undersized but no bother of course we'll recognize his talent. Maybe he'd lead us to a magical march madness run and captivate the country. Maybe then he'll go pro and go on to be one of the greatest shooters in the history of basketball. Come on MJW! Help us rectify our past!
Maybe if MJ Walker comes here and then he has a son, we could not offer his son and let him go elsewhere and then go to the NBA and light it up! That would be fun and new!
Thank you Uncle Fester...
Just saw that leday is transferring per berman GET HYPE also best of luck to Seth leday!
So Mohamed Bamba, 247's number 2 recruit in the country, just picked Shaka and Texas over Kentucky. MJ is now the second highest rated recruit left unsigned.
Do we need to worry that Kentucky might swoop in on MJ? Obviously, he's a completely different player than 7'0 Bamba, but Cal is the devil
I would say probably not. They already have 4 guards committed in their current class of 8, two at SG, and he would be primarily competing with Hamidou Diallo for playing time, the #9 overall recruit in this cycle who enrolled back in January. From what 247 is saying, Kentucky has yet to even show interest in Walker, though that obviously doesn't mean things couldn't change soon.
Diallo is probably gone to the NBA, but I agree I doubt the really get involved with Walker.