More on Luka Garza

[DanL53]

I posted these two posts in the Lounge, but thought i'd share them out here:

He plays for Team Takeover out of DC. In 16 games, his stats:

20.2 mpg, 11.1 ppg, 70-123 .569 fg%, 33-40 .825 ft%, 4-12 3pt .333%, 5.7 rpg.

Here are some head to head with other centers and the results:

Kaleb Wesson, 6'8" 260lb C, committed to Ohio State, Rivals 4* #85
20 min, 4-5, 1-1ft, 1-1 3pt, 1 reb, 2 assists, 10 points
Garza
13 min, 4-5, 7 reb, 2 assists, 1 to, 8 points.
Game result, Garza's Team Takeover in a blowout 85-59 over All-Ohio Red

Dajour Dickens, 6'10" 205lb C, Rivals 4* #96
17 min, 0-0, 1-2 FT, 4 reb, 3 to, 1 stl, 1 blk, 4 fouls, 1 pt
Garza
21 min, 4-8, 0-2 FT, 0-1 3pt, 5 reb, 1 PF, 8 points.
Game result, Team Takeover wins 65-51 over Boo Williams

Ikey Obiago, 6'11" 220lb C, Rivals 5* #20
13 min, 1-1, 2 reb, 3 pf, 2 pts
Garza
22 min, 2-9, 2-2 ft, 0-1 3pt, 4 reb, 1 stl, 3 pf, 6 pts
Game result, Georgia Stars defeat Team Takeover 76-72.

Those results are from the first four of sixteen EYBL games Garza has played this year so far. I might go look for some more highly ranked centers he's come up against. But I'd say he did pretty well versus these guys.

 

[DanL53]

Found three more top 100 guys that Garza has faced this year in the EYBL Get a load of these!

Zack Brown, 7'1" 256lb C, Rivals 4* #28
9 min, 1-1, 1 blk, 5 pf, 2 pts
Garza
18 min, 8-10, 7-7 ft, 4 reb, 2 assists, 2 blks, 5 pf, 23 points
Game result, Team Takeover beats Nike South Beach 89-77

Wendell Carter, 6'10" 246lb PF/C, Rivals 5* #3
24 in, 8-10, 7-9 ft, 12 reb, 4 to, 4 blks, 4 pf, 23 pts
Garza
23 min, 9-14, 1-2 3pt, 13 reb, 1 to, 1 blk, 3 pf, 19 pts
Game result, 82-76 Team CP3 (North Carolina) wins

DeAndre Ayton, 7'0" 250lbs, C, Rivals 5* #1
32 min, 8-16, 1-3 ft, 0-3 3pt, 12 reb, 4 assists, 4 to, 4 blks, 2 pf, 17 pts
Garza
23 min, 7-8, 1-1 3pt, 4 reb, 1 to, 3 stls, 4 pf, 15 pts
Game result, Team Takeover beats California Supreme 67-56

That's all I have for now. Those centers? Rivals only has ten in the top 100, Garza has played at least five plus Wendell Carter who can play pf or center. Looks to me like he gives them all they can handle.

 

[hawksauce]

Nice work, Dan. Looks like the kid is a baller.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Clearly, Luka has played a lot against high-level competition, and more than held his own. Maybe those results are a better indicator than a few minutes of highlights... Fran knows a lot more than we do about evaluating talent.

 

[hawksense]

It appears he's done well against his peers. How would he perform against the best the B1G has to offer?

That is the question. A question, anyway.

 

[BBHawk]

Is he near or at his potential? That is the question for me. But he does seem to find ways to rebound and score, and if these numbers are any indication, he seems to have some emphasis on playing defense, too.

 

[DanL53]

Is he near or at his potential? That is the question for me. But he does seem to find ways to rebound and score, and if these numbers are any indication, he seems to have some emphasis on playing defense, too.

That's a great question. This article is old but it impressed me. I think he'll be a kid, wherever he ends up, that plays quite a few minutes and is dependable, with ever increasing skills. But he will not jump out of the gym, ever.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...arza-keeps-family-basketball-tradition-going/

 

[jo2knight]

Yes, would be a great addition to our current players/recruits. His skillset is unique

 

[gohawks7470]

He just doesn't look the part even when u watch a highlight tape. Of course he makes his outside shots in the video and looks like he hustles, but doesn't look like a runs the floor very well or appear to be very athletic. I definitely trust Fran's judgment but I feel like we could do better here.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

I posted these two posts in the Lounge, but thought i'd share them out here:

He plays for Team Takeover out of DC. In 16 games, his stats:

20.2 mpg, 11.1 ppg, 70-123 .569 fg%, 33-40 .825 ft%, 4-12 3pt .333%, 5.7 rpg.

Here are some head to head with other centers and the results:

Kaleb Wesson, 6'8" 260lb C, committed to Ohio State, Rivals 4* #85
20 min, 4-5, 1-1ft, 1-1 3pt, 1 reb, 2 assists, 10 points
Garza
13 min, 4-5, 7 reb, 2 assists, 1 to, 8 points.
Game result, Garza's Team Takeover in a blowout 85-59 over All-Ohio Red

Dajour Dickens, 6'10" 205lb C, Rivals 4* #96
17 min, 0-0, 1-2 FT, 4 reb, 3 to, 1 stl, 1 blk, 4 fouls, 1 pt
Garza
21 min, 4-8, 0-2 FT, 0-1 3pt, 5 reb, 1 PF, 8 points.
Game result, Team Takeover wins 65-51 over Boo Williams

Ikey Obiago, 6'11" 220lb C, Rivals 5* #20
13 min, 1-1, 2 reb, 3 pf, 2 pts
Garza
22 min, 2-9, 2-2 ft, 0-1 3pt, 4 reb, 1 stl, 3 pf, 6 pts
Game result, Georgia Stars defeat Team Takeover 76-72.

Those results are from the first four of sixteen EYBL games Garza has played this year so far. I might go look for some more highly ranked centers he's come up against. But I'd say he did pretty well versus these guys.

Good stuff, Dan. To me, how he performed against other top-level centers means more than watching someone dunk the ball a bunch of times or hit every shot they take in a highlight video.

Good research. Keep 'em coming.

 

[DanL53]

Good stuff, Dan. To me, how he performed against other top-level centers means more than watching someone dunk the ball a bunch of times or hit every shot they take in a highlight video.

Good research. Keep 'em coming.

Thanks, and I agree. One thing I didn't mention is those 16 games came from 4/16 to 5/30. It's recent and it is a busy schedule. Now, I have no problem with Nunge or certainly not Williams, but after looking at Garza closely, I am convinced he'd be a very good get. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[blackgoldmine]

Acie Earl never ever looked the part.

 

[seer_hawk]

Thanks, and I agree. One thing I didn't mention is those 16 games came from 4/16 to 5/30. It's recent and it is a busy schedule. Now, I have no problem with Nunge or certainly not Williams, but after looking at Garza closely, I am convinced he'd be a very good get. Keeping fingers crossed.

Thanks for digging the info up. It also points to the type of AAU schedule his team is playing. Those numbers mean more against superior competition than putting up 25 per night against weak competition IMO.

 

[DanHawkPella]

That's a nice FT% for a big guy, btw.

 

[2432Hawk]

That's a nice FT% for a big guy, btw.

That was my take away as well

 

[DodgerHawki]

Thanks, and I agree. One thing I didn't mention is those 16 games came from 4/16 to 5/30. It's recent and it is a busy schedule. Now, I have no problem with Nunge or certainly not Williams, but after looking at Garza closely, I am convinced he'd be a very good get. Keeping fingers crossed.

Individual performances in these competitions aren't a sure-fire indicator of college success, but interesting data points nonetheless. The impressive offer list indicates that he has a game that college coaches are interested in. You can't coach legitimate size and with it the ability to hit perimeter shots. That's a very good base to start from. Would be a good get for Iowa.

 

[StormHawk42]

Offered by Indiana. I must have misjudged him from his highlight reel. Some big time offers.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

He is supposed to decide the first weekend in July. So we will find out soon.

 

[DanL53]

Performed pretty darn well at the NBPATOP100 Camp this past weekend. The kids just a player. Conner and Joe were at the same camp. It would be pretty cool to say three Iowa recruits attended.

 

[hooper56]

Offered by Indiana. I must have misjudged him from his highlight reel. Some big time offers.

I remember going to see Greg Bruner play in high school to check out the kid who was being recruited by the hawkeyes. I was very disappointed. He was double teamed all night and so just hung out around the 3 point line and shot outside jumpers most of the time. When the game was over he had a nice stat line but nothing to overly impressive. I came home and told people we didn't want this short stocky power forward who didn't want to mix it up inside. Of course I couldn't have been more wrong so I came to believe that coaches certainly must see things we don't and are looking for qualities we aren't.

 

[gohawks7470]

Very true, you heard a lot of that with Brunner and he ended up being a terrific player not to mention an animal on the boards. Hoping the same for Garza if he comes here as his tape isn't really all that impressive.

 

[CyCity]

Found three more top 100 guys that Garza has faced this year in the EYBL Get a load of these!

Zack Brown, 7'1" 256lb C, Rivals 4* #28
9 min, 1-1, 1 blk, 5 pf, 2 pts
Garza
18 min, 8-10, 7-7 ft, 4 reb, 2 assists, 2 blks, 5 pf, 23 points
Game result, Team Takeover beats Nike South Beach 89-77

Wendell Carter, 6'10" 246lb PF/C, Rivals 5* #3
24 in, 8-10, 7-9 ft, 12 reb, 4 to, 4 blks, 4 pf, 23 pts
Garza
23 min, 9-14, 1-2 3pt, 13 reb, 1 to, 1 blk, 3 pf, 19 pts
Game result, 82-76 Team CP3 (North Carolina) wins

DeAndre Ayton, 7'0" 250lbs, C, Rivals 5* #1
32 min, 8-16, 1-3 ft, 0-3 3pt, 12 reb, 4 assists, 4 to, 4 blks, 2 pf, 17 pts
Garza
23 min, 7-8, 1-1 3pt, 4 reb, 1 to, 3 stls, 4 pf, 15 pts
Game result, Team Takeover beats California Supreme 67-56

That's all I have for now. Those centers? Rivals only has ten in the top 100, Garza has played at least five plus Wendell Carter who can play pf or center. Looks to me like he gives them all they can handle.

That's really impressive, thanks for sharing. With the offers and this information it just confirms he'd be a great get for Fran.

 

[hknation]

Offered by Indiana. I must have misjudged him from his highlight reel. Some big time offers.

I refer to believe the other "big time" offers came because IA offered first. Maybe our coaches are making valid offers after all?

 

[EZ2BJZ]

So was Fran wrong when he offered Aaron White when he was swimming in big-time offers with the likes of Duquesne?

In short, I trust Fran's judgement. He has been right on high school prospects far more than he's been wrong.

 

[skydog0784]

Performed pretty darn well at the NBPATOP100 Camp this past weekend. The kids just a player. Conner and Joe were at the same camp. It would be pretty cool to say three Iowa recruits attended.

I saw a few tweets by evaluators indicating that Garza was really impressive at the camp. Another one showed Conner, Joe, and Luka sitting next to each other in an "instructional like forum" with say 25 or so recruits. You have to believe there is some serious bonding that occurs that could give IA the edge for his services - not too mention IA was in on him early and Fran has a natural advantage to be present during these camps because Conner is there.

 

[Hawk-A-Loogey]

Mr hawk reporting on TOS that the staff is very high on garza and also currently evaluating tape on at least one prospect with an eye toward a possible July offer

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

I saw a few tweets by evaluators indicating that Garza was really impressive at the camp. Another one showed Conner, Joe, and Luka sitting next to each other in an "instructional like forum" with say 25 or so recruits. You have to believe there is some serious bonding that occurs that could give IA the edge for his services - not too mention IA was in on him early and Fran has a natural advantage to be present during these camps because Conner is there.

I Had not thought about that edge over other coaches - Fran being able to go to these camps and AAU tournaments could be a huge boost for recruiting. He gets to rub elbows with some of the nation's best players. That cannot hurt. Even if the contact has be kept minimal, the door gets opened...

 

[DanL53]

Luka is breaking out and his recruitment is picking up. This is certainly becoming a Fran was pretty much first and we've gotta hope the rest don't catch up to us.

http://indiana.247sports.com/Bolt/Top247-center-looking-to-visit-Indiana-after-offer-45858638

http://www.whas11.com/sports/high-s...ashy-but-local-colleges-take-notice/247382566

http://hoosierstateofmind.com/2016/06/15/indiana-basketball-offers-class-of-2017-center-luka-garza/

Garza is going to have to push his plan to commit somewhere by July 5th back if he plans on taking five officials. Hopefully he takes the two he's said for sure, Louisville and Indiana, and then sticks with the guys that wanted him first.

I checked on PEEGS and most of their fans seem to be where we were when we first saw that regrettable highlight video...they don't see the value. Good! I hope Luka is reading the boards.

Garza has grown to 6'11" according to more recent (as above) articles I've found. He lost 30 pounds of bad weight and I've read he is around 230 and working on "good weight". This kid has a pedigree, is smart (Or a school like Columbia would not have come calling), and I don't buy what everybody including him says about not being athletic. (DanL takes a wild turn..hang on) Was Kung Fu Panda unathletic? No! He just needed to keep training. That was a Panda! And yet he ended up with three feature films, three popular shorts and a series on Nickelodeon! I see the same kind of success in Luka Garza's future. Well, not the same kind, but a related amount of success as relates between animated, fictional characters and a real life college basketball player.

I'm glad to see so many Iowa fans have exhibited basketball smarts and would welcome Luka as a Hawkeye. Let's hope they keep making "Godfather" jokes on PEEGS and the imminent threat of further scandal at Louisville lead Garza to commit to the Hawkeyes! We've got a great spot for Garza on our team. Between he and Kriener we could put forty minutes of body into the post on defense. Space eaters and I don't care who earns the start, we would have the size to defend in the best league in the country. (Leading attendance for the last forty years straight!) And both can step out or bang underneath on offense.

It's a perfect storm that moves Cook, Pemsl and Wagner to the power forward spot where they should be. Again, I hope we get the kid. There are of course other guys that would be good gets, And we are not desperate with the guys we already have. But I love the potential fit with our young players at the other spots.

 

[GunnerHawk]

Offered by Indiana. I must have misjudged him from his highlight reel. Some big time offers.

Hope they don't come in late and take Garza like they did Anunoby last year.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Luka would certainly have the supporting cast. And not be the lone man in the middle. With the stretch 4s that Iowa has and will have, he would be able to have the basket to himself. Or feed others downlow and vice versa.

Fran has a good eye for talent. I would be excited to have him on the roster, no doubt. Luka is deciding in two weeks. Hope he is a Hawkeye soon!

 

[skydog0784]

Saw these re-tweets on Luka Garza's twitter account...

Jody Demling ‏@jdemling 12h12 hours ago

Louisville target @LukaG_55 ended up second at @Top100Camp in scoring at 13 points a game. Kid has some major offensive skills

Jeff Rabjohns‏@JeffRabjohns
Luka Garza (@LukaG_55) went for 23 & 8 today at #NBPATop100. Get to know him: http://rvls.co/28IhN1U

TheHoopsColumn‏@TheHoopsColumn
6'10" BIG Luka Garza has been on a tear this week. Put up 23 pts, 8 rebs earlier today at #NBPATop100 Holds a number of HM offers.

Corey Evans‏@coreyevans_10
Luka Garza producing, yet again. So fundamentally polished and skilled from 15 feet and in. Passes it, shoots it, counters galore.


He was one of thirteen to be named to the all-star team. The kid can play.

 

[2432Hawk]

Not to be a buzz kill or dog on Garza...or Woody for that matter, I'd take another Woodbury in a heartbeat.

But let us not forget the sky high expectations we started putting on Adam when he was the MVP of a Top 100 camp.

 

[backinblack23]

Not to be a buzz kill or dog on Garza...or Woody for that matter, I'd take another Woodbury in a heartbeat.

But let us not forget the sky high expectations we started putting on Adam when he was the MVP of a Top 100 camp.

Woody was very good in every aspect of the game except offense, where he was ok at best most nights. If he could have just developed a little bit more of an offensive game he could have been something special. Plus add a few inches to his vertical and a tad more coordination and he would have been an stud.

 

[DanL53]

Not to be a buzz kill or dog on Garza...or Woody for that matter, I'd take another Woodbury in a heartbeat.

But let us not forget the sky high expectations we started putting on Adam when he was the MVP of a Top 100 camp.

I started this thread precisely because of the buzz kill (good word) about a recruit which wasn't in the top 150. Those same negative posters are the ones who constantly criticized Woody for not "living up" to his ranking.

It takes about one ounce of maturity to realize that if a player is giving everything he's got, we needn't act like jerks his entire career. But some star worshipping rankings followers can't seem to figure that out.

Heck, we've even got posters who act like McCaffery is on some probationary period, after six years as coach!

I understand what you are saying, 2432Hawk, but there's nothing wrong with getting excited about a recruit. The problem is turning that excitement into unchangeable expectations.

 

[icu81222]

Acie Earl never ever looked the part.

Was that more because of the hair?



(That's actually a semi serious question)

 

[CanadaHawk]

After seeing the outside-shooting dependent GS Warriors stub their toe big-time on an off-shooting night (somewhat reminiscent of Iowa's slide this year), a team solidly anchored on the inside by Cook, Garza, Kriener looks really attractive.

 

[GunnerHawk]

Not to be a buzz kill or dog on Garza...or Woody for that matter, I'd take another Woodbury in a heartbeat.

But let us not forget the sky high expectations we started putting on Adam when he was the MVP of a Top 100 camp.

Something Garza has that Woody never developed was an outside shot. Luka can stroke it, pulling bugs away from the basket. That opens it up inside for more penetration.

 

[TJHawkeye]

I looked at old clips of Acie and ones of Luka and they have an identical, awkward stiff looking running style. Obviously, looks can be deceiving. We really need Luka.

 

[CanadaHawk]

I looked at old clips of Acie and ones of Luka and they have an identical, awkward stiff looking running style. Obviously, looks can be deceiving. We really need Luka.

I remember seeing clips of Acie trying to stretch out with the team and they were comically painful to watch.

Luka, Cook, and Kriener would give us a lot of strength and playing flexibility down low. Luka might be the best shooter out of them, but Cook would certainly be the one to handle the athletic prowess.

 

[mazda1]

I wonder if the two week decision timetable extends a bit with his latest offers. The big boys are starting to pursue him and that may make him pause a bit.

Once again Fran has targeted a kid who is starting to blow up. Let's hope he sticks with the Hawks and that when he does commit it means something. Fran's shown a real eye for talent and yet some remain blinded by the stars.