UK has reached out to D2 standout

[TX-Wildcat]

Bennett Stirtz from Drake...​

He played at D2 last season, and now is the top player in 11 seed Drake, he averages almost 20 pts per game...

His performance in this year shows he can make impact on any top contending team...

The Drake team has D2 blood running through its veins. Their coach, McCollum, won four D2 NC's in 15 years at Northwest Missouri State. Stirtz followed McCollum to Drake, as did 3 other players (a total four of McCollum's starters from NWMSU). Good to see the overlooked perform well.

 

[MrHotDice]

You see how explosive he is?! Goodnight! Looks like a solid piece for the future.

He looks athletic but against D2 players to recruit him he has to be a cant miss player. Anyone recruited to UK either by free ride or NIL cany have a learninh curve or a history of injuries of anykind.

 

[NerlensCat]

After watching more of his tape, he definitely has desirable offensive skills. He sucked as a defender. It looked mostly like an effort thing. Someone mentioned LMU didn’t want him to get into foul trouble. Not sure about that.

I saw no evidence showing he could rebound or not. He is definitely a wing. So, maybe it is a product of being further away from the rim.

After more research, Fox2Monk maybe right🫣 about not commanding a high price at least from the upper tier P5 schools. Lower tiers might ignore the effort issue. He definitely could bring some offensive talent though. We will see.

 

[JonathanW]

He looks athletic but against D2 players to recruit him he has to be a cant miss player. Anyone recruited to UK either by free ride or NIL cany have a learninh curve or a history of injuries of anykind.

I like the idea of taking a chance on a top D2 kid for the 11-13 spots. You are not getting a top Portal player to fill one of those spots.

 

[maysvilleky]

Unless this guy is a head case, he is getting major minutes in D1 somewhere. Hopefully that will be at here.

He seems to be a good kid. My daughter has tutored him in math occasionally.

 

[maysvilleky]

Kid should absolutely enter the draft.
If he does he will a get a combine invite just because he's some what unknown.
One good session could get him drafted as age is on his side.

Not this year. Honestly has to show he can perform against tougher competition. Needs to work on his ball handling and honestly he’s closer to 6’6” than 6’8”.

 

[maysvilleky]

appreciate your feedback, but I have a question regarding your stating he's only an ok 3pt shooter...

for the season, he is shooting over 45% from 3pt range...with that in mind, why do you think he is only an ok shooter?

does he only take them when he is wide open? something else?

Was a hesitant 3 pt shooter. Really didn’t take many on a team that shot a lot. He shot 25/54 from 3.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

Watched him play in person against Carson Newman, TN in Jefferson City. Kid had 35-36 points. He can play. Growth spurt kid. When he came to LMU he was around 6’5”/6’6”. He’s grown 2-3” this past year. They are a powerhouse D2 program and recycle a lot of D1 guys. I knew he wouldn’t be there long. He’s rated as a 4 star transfer on 24/7. He’ll go somewhere Power 5

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Josh dix from Iowa just entered he is one to watch with Kentucky

 

[maysvilleky]

After watching more of his tape, he definitely has desirable offensive skills. He sucked as a defender. It looked mostly like an effort thing. Someone mentioned LMU didn’t want him to get into foul trouble. Not sure about that.

I saw no evidence showing he could rebound or not. He is definitely a wing. So, maybe it is a product of being further away from the rim.

After more research, Fox2Monk maybe right🫣 about not commanding a high price at least from the upper tier P5 schools. Lower tiers might ignore the effort issue. He definitely could bring some offensive talent though. We will see.

He definitely can player better defense. But wasn’t consistent with it. Same with rebounding. He had some big rebounding games this year (19, 16, 15 etc).

Last 7 games of the year (which was after the Rockets scout) he averaged 25 and 10.

 

[maysvilleky]

Watched him play in person against Carson Newman, TN in Jefferson City. Kid had 35-36 points. He can play. Growth spurt kid. When he came to LMU he was around 6’5”/6’6”. He’s grown 2-3” this past year. They are a powerhouse D2 program and recycle a lot of D1 guys. I knew he wouldn’t be there long. He’s rated as a 4 star transfer on 24/7. He’ll go somewhere Power 5

Yeah after the 3rd game of the year I was talking with the SID and we agreed this would be his only year in D2.

 

[NerlensCat]

He definitely can player better defense. But wasn’t consistent with it. Same with rebounding. He had some big rebounding games this year (19, 16, 15 etc).

Last 7 games of the year (which was after the Rockets scout) he averaged 25 and 10.

He definitely has the athleticism to rebound and play defense. If his effort is there, he could be really good at both. These highlights usually only show shots made though.

 

[mcwildcats04]

Sleepers thinks he's a future pro...

 

[bigbluedon]

It’s obvious that Elijah Freeman has all the physical tools and skills to play at UK and any other Div. I program, and maybe be really good. As you said "just look at the tape." Whether he would be a good fit for UK next season (or beyond) is something Pope and his staff would have to figure out. But the protestation because he played Div. II last season is basketball ignorance. Other examples of guys going from Div. II to the NBA include George Gervin, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Manute Bol, Charles Oakley, and Phil Jackson. And there's plenty of active guys in the NBA now that came from Div. II - including one from the same school as Freeman.

​

This kid is my number one want. I know we will get a PG but guys this size with those skills are not as plentiful.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Now that Pope has reached out, Cal and the chicken funded porkers are about to walk through the door too.

Cal probably sitting at home watch LHOTP and waiting on Pope to offer guys then go behind him and offer more to try and get them.

 

[true blue1]

Sleepers thinks he's a future pro...

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From the highlights he definitely has the potential.