Rick Majerus received a very welcome phone call last week from 8,000 miles, or 17 hours if you choose, away. On the other end of the line was a 7-foot tall power forward who notified the Saint Louis University basketball head coach that he was prepared to meet him in St. Louis in May. Yes, Rob Loe wants to be a Billiken.
Loe’s verbal commitment comes in addition to signed letters from Mike McCall and Dwayne Evans, both from Chicago. All I have to say is this: Let’s go dancing, boys.
These three commitments are monumental in rounding out a team that was already being considered a formidable threat in the 2010-11 basketball season. Majerus has delivered on his promise to bring championship-caliber basketball to Chaifetz Arena and has to be giddy with his latest get.
Loe is a big deal for the Billikens, not just because of the level of game he is capable of, but also because of his size. Coming in at 235 lbs, the Auckland, New Zealand native was highly coveted by schools in the Big 12, Big East, SEC and ACC, including Colorado and Kentucky.
Loe was recently named the starting center on the 2010 World Select team that will compete against the USA Junior National Select team at the Nike Hoops Summit in Portland, Ore., on April 10.
According to ESPN.com’s National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi, “What’s most impressive is Loe’s skill set and versatility to play both inside and also on the perimeter. He can stretch the defense with his shooting ability and use his size and strength to be a force in the post.”
That’s great news for the Billikens. SLU often lacked size and strength in the post. Willie Reed was often beat to the basket and Cody Ellis struggled to adjust to a defensive presence on the inside. That’s not to mention that both were often out-muscled by junior or senior athletes who were well conditioned. Filling this hole is a crucial step in moving the Billikens closer to a game in Houston next March.
Loe should also fit well in Majerus’ defensive schemes. From what I’ve seen, Loe plays well in a man-to-man set-up, reacts well to screens, and seems to dominate with a physical presence in the paint. Let’s not forget, though, that Loe is listed as a power forward for a reason; he’s comfortable away from the basket and will be putting up shots from around the perimeter. Oh, did I mention that he’s seven feet tall?
I can’t wait to see how Loe will develop under Majerus. The last 7-footer from Down Under on a Majerus squad, Andrew Bogut, won the AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Award, and was a No.1 overall draft pick. It looks like he’s done it again.
Boys, get your dancing shoes ready.
