Folks are outta here…

On By @gtmoblueIn college basketball 365

Biggest turnover I can remember in recent times!

 

 

Spring time.  Trees have budded, and the cherry trees are already in blossom.  Springtime…time for love.  Time for fresh plans.  Time to recruit freshman and transfers.

I can’t remember a recent turnover more significant than this years’.  Heading out the door are significant players with remaining eligibility.  Davion Mintz, Jalen Windham, and Ty-Shon Alexander.  Kelvin Jones also leaves after depleting his college eligibility.  This Creighton team is deep, so these departures do not deplete the squad, but definitely put a damper on the current prognostications.

Creighton Athletics
Creighton Athletics
Creighton Athletics

 

The Jays finished the season #7 Nationally and the great percentage of preseason posts for 2020-21 had Creighton in the Top 5 to begin next season.  Would have been a record for CU to be a preseason Top 10 team.

There has been much previous speculation as to whether Davion would leave.  Many seemingly were encouraging such a move as they speculated that Davion would see little, if any, playing time as the team is currently configured.  Most assumed he would return to North Carolina and commit to either a low-end ACC team or a regional mid-major.  Mintz confirmed said rumors by announcing that he was graduate transferring on 03Apr20.  He quickly committed to Kentucky on 10 Apr20 after their offer.

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Spade Visuals

 

Frosh Jalen Windham followed suit by announcing shortly thereafter.  He committed to Ball State University in his home state of Indiana.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1248368670658760706

Ball State Basketball
@BallStateMBB·
Welcome home, @Gohamjdub! Thrilled to have former Ben Davis sharpshooter Jalen Windham in the fold. The 2019 Indiana All-Star spent his freshman year with the No. 7 team in the country. Now he’ll be filling up buckets in Worthen Arena! #ChirpChirp | #WeFly
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Here’s the surprise.  Ty-Shon Alexander, the teams’ leading player, announces on 10APR20 that he is going to the NBA Draft.  Potentially intends to stay in the draft.  Some had expected him (and others) to “test the waters” of the draft, but return for his senior season.  With the team expected to be a Top 10 team…it was a no-brainer.  Surprise!

Creighton Men’s Basketball
@BluejayMBB
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎 𝐍𝐁𝐀 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 Ty-Shon Alexander has declared for the NBA Draft

Spiral note pad

: gocreighton.com/AlexanderDecla #GoJays

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I am happy for all 3 of our guys.  Davion and Jalen were not projected by the Bluejay faithful pundits, to see much, if any playing time this coming season.  They transferred so they can get a shot at another school.  Good for them.  Ty has the opportunity to return, should he so desire, as he has not yet signed an agent.  He’s old at 21 (22 this summer).  Perhaps he and his family are thinking now or never?  The 2021 NBA Draft will be full of 17-18 y/o’s with potential.
We went from being deep to short at the SG in a week.  I am not concerned as the team brings back a wealth of talent.  Add in the return to health of Jacob Epperson, the addition of Antwann Jones, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sami Osmani, and sit out transfer Alex O’Connell.  Osmani has size (6-5), deceptive athleticism, and is a shooter.  I expect him to earn a scholie.  Creighton will be fine.
Furthermore, the Jays now have 3 scholarships available.  They are all in on 2020 SG Kerwin Walton and several transfer players.  It is also noted that we are in great shape on 2021 recruits such as Top 30 SG Hunter Sallis (Omaha), PG Tamar Bates (KCMO), and several others.
It should be noted that Creighton will drop a bit in the preseason polls.  NBC’s ol’ Rob Dauster jumped the gun and dropped the Jays from 4th to 19th in one fell swoop!  He’s a wuss anyways, so who gives a rat’s behind what Dauster thinks.
is doing a “Creighton’s Greatest Teams” feature on the 1998-99 Jays.  Altmann’s 1st NCAA squad on the Hilltop.  A really well done feature in several parts.  Definitely a “Must Read” for all Jays fans.
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Champions!    Courtesy: Creighton Athletics
See ya…  Roll Damn Jays!

Right on Schedule…Sayonara.

On By @gtmoblueIn college basketball 365

Ty-Shon Enters the NBA Draft according to plan: Gotta go now and beat the crush in 2021.

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Courtesy:  Creighton Athletics

There are basketball purists, coaches, team-builders, player developers, and planners in Charlotte, NC.  Many of the most knowledgable people in basketball call North Carolina home.  The Alexanders and Dotsons are amongst the local basketball elite in the area, and they have a master plan.  It’s business.  Not judging…it is what it is.

The short and sweet of it is:  Their sons are elite players who have been groomed since puberty (or earlier) for the game. Get them into Division 1 play for 2-3 years and on to the NBA.  The NBA threw a wrench into the mix when it decided to open up the NBA to high schoolers beginning in the 2021 NBA Draft.  There will be a flood of high schoolers entering that 2021 draft.  That means that it’s now or never for older players in colleges across the USA.   It’s a business decision, pure and simple.

So after caucusing with family, friends, & supporters, Ty-Shon (21 y/o) today announced he is entering the 2020 NBA Draft.  PG Devon Dotson (20 y/o) (Kansas) should soon follow suit – as is the plan.  Good luck to you both.

Ty-Shon Alexander
@5Tyshon

Roll Jay

🏀💙
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Jays fans were shocked out of their comas…as Jeff Goodman prematurely announced the move earlier today, pre-empting Ty-Shon’s announcement.
Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops

Creighton guard Ty-Shon Alexander (16.9 ppg) expected to declare for the NBA Draft & barring a change of heart, his intention is to remain in the draft and bypass his senior season, NBA source told

@Stadium

. Hit to a Bluejays team that’s currently in everyone’s Preseason Top 4.

As for our Jays?  Creighton will be fine.  We will drop out of the top 5 in polls, but remain in the top 6-12 range.
Our Jays have an overabundance of talent currently on this team.  We’ve come a long ways, baby!  DENZEL, Mitch, DJ, Z, and Chris will take up the slack.  Shereef and Jett are still here.  A healthy Jacob returns and AJ, Ryan, AOC, and Sami join the fray.  Plus we now have room for Kerwin, DJ Carton, and Batcho to come aboard.  All is well on the Hilltop.  Roll damn Jays!
Ty-Shon, good luck and Godspeed.  You will be missed.  Once a Jay  –  Always a Jay!
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Courtesy: Creighton Athletics

 

PS:  Kansas PG Devon Dotson…follows suit as expected.

ROB GOLDBERGAPRIL 13, 2020

Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops
Kansas sophomore point guard Devon Dotson will declare for the NBA Draft with the intention of forgoing his final two seasons in college, source told

@Stadium