Right now, you could go online and for $49.99 (am guessing this does not include shipping), purchase a Qwanzi Samuels Royal Blue FGCU pullover hoodie.  Considering the fact that Qwanzi is no longer a resident of Dunk City, this should not be considered a sound investment.  Qwanzi's new home is in fact close by to his old one, in Foggy Bottom as a member of the GW Colonials.  As investments go, this one may be analyzed in a number of ways.

As  a high school sophomore, Qwanzi was a supporting player on a WCAC Championship team playing at St. John's.  His better known teammates included Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jeff Dowtin, Jr.  The following season, he earned WCAC All Honorable Mention status along with two of his teammates while three of his additional teammates earned 1st, 2nd and 3rd team honors respectively (including Tre Wood who earned first team).  The stage was set for Qwanzi to have a huge senior season but unfortunately, a torn ACL injury to his left knee derailed those plans.  All the while, Qwanzi maintained a 4.0 GPA.

After a year of rehab, Qwanzi prepped at the Loomis Chaffee School in CT where he earned All-NEPSAC honors. What has happened since then has been far more of a mystery.  Qwanzi started a handful of games as a FGCU freshman averaging 11.6 minutes of playing time.  Last season was essentially a lost one as Qwanzi only appeared in three games.  Was the knee reinjured?  Was Covid a huge factor?  Was Qwanzi's health fine and this was simply the coach's decision?  Inquiring minds not only want to know but apparently are having trouble finding out.

Regardless of the answer, it was not so detrimental as to cause JC to back off his investment.  So about that investment:

It appears that not much is expected from Qwanzi at least early on.  It appears his competition for minutes will be with freshman Daniel Nixon.  Each player offers length and athleticism.  I could foresee the two playing together as part of a specialized trapping defense, or replacing one another in this defense.

The good news...the departures of Matt Moyer and Jameson Battle open up opportunities for long athletic players with height.  Brown and Dean serve somewhat of a different purpose so that really leaves Lindo and Lee.  The team will need a dependable option to spell them.  As for the future, Gapare will be arriving but Lee is a one year player and Ricky could leave (though does not have to) after next season.

So, back to the investment.  This one strikes me more as the low-cost highly speculative kind with great upside.  (Kind of like putting a few bucks down on Kevin Kisner to win the Open this past weekend but who would be dumb enough to do that?)  Maybe Qwanzi is completely healthy and turns into the second coming of Regis Koundjia.  Or, maybe he falls well short of this.  Either way, the important question is what did you expect to get from the investment?  If the answer is someone we can count on to be say our 8th man, then this carries some risk.  If the answer is that we don't expect much but anything positive he provides is a welcome surprise, then it runs a far greater chance of being a great signing.

If anyone has an update regarding Qwanzi's health status, how he has looked this summer, etc., that would be great information to learn more about. 

  

 

Swan had received offers out of high school from Cincinnati and Miami, FL.  I recall your being very excited about Anthony's decision to come to GW, largely because he had been offered by Cincinnati and Miami, FL.

I understand.  Must be hard to keep it all straight.