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Chris Mack gets final shot to woo four star big man during in-home visit

By Jacob Lane

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Fresh off his trip to Ireland to meet with Aidan Igiehon’s mother, Chris Mack will meet with four star center Drew Timme today.

Drew Timme, an elite four star center in the class of 2019, scheduled six in-home visits for the month of September with the idea of making a commitment sometime thereafter. Gonzaga, Alabama, Michigan State, Arizona, and Illinois all got their chances to woo Timme, one of the most versatile and skilled big men in the country. But all along Chris Mack and staff knew that they’d get the final chance to convince the 6’9 big man that the Ville was the best place for him to develop his game.

The time has finally come and today Coach Chris Mack and the Timme family will meet face-to-face to discuss the future. While the crystal ball seems to give them shot no chance, my guess is no one on the Louisville coaching staff would believe that. With three recruits already in the bag for the 2019 class, Timme could be one of the next elite prospects to decide that the vision that Mack has for his University, is one he’s ready to roll with.’

So who is Drew Timme?

Timme currently sits as the 41st ranked player in the nation and the 11th ranked center according to 247 Sports. When I watch the Richardson, Texas native, two players immediately come to mind when I try to compare his game..

Standing at 6’10” 215 pounds, Timme has the inside/outside game of former Wisconsin forward and All-American, Frank Kaminsky, with the ball-handling traits and sneaky athleticism similar to that of a guy like Lamar Odom.

Both comparisons are a bit lofty at this point, as Timme is still a work in progress, but needless to say his game is worthy of his four star ranking.

In my 15+ years of being a Louisville fan I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player with the skill trait of Timme play for the Cards. He’s got a very smooth post game, possessing the ability to make face up jumpers and shots with his back to the basket at an elite level. But at just 215 pounds, he is slight for his size, inside. But it’s his smoothness and finesse that allow him to consistently beat players to the basket, even those with height, weight, and athletic advantages.

Timme also has an incredible outside jumper, which is where the Frank Kaminsky comparison comes from. He can sneak out off pick and pops and nail it from deep – presenting a big advantage over slower centers and smaller guards who get switched out onto him. While those two parts of his game aren’t unique, as many bigs are able to play inside and out these days, it’s his handles and passing that make him so special.

Louisville got into the game extremely late, not offering the big man until almost the end of the AAU season. CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander wrote about Timme back in August, saying:

"“Timme’s said he is putting a premium on the programs who saw him early, but even more than that, he wants to play at a place that’s put guys into the NBA who aren’t prototypical power forwards or centers.”"

Timme went on to say in that article:

"“I want to see their track record with players like me, or my position, and a place where I can win,” Timme said. “And make it to the NBA. That’s why I do what I do. Whatever puts me and the school in the best position. … I’m not a typical big man. [I’m looking for] a coach that has had players in the past that are not exactly like me — but they were different, and he was able to utilize their different skill sets — is what I look at, because I don’t want to get pigeonholed.”"

So has Chris Mack had a player like Drew Timme before? Well, the answer quite frankly is no, at least not to my knowledge. Mack has coached several uniquely talented big men during his time at Xavier, including Jalen Reynolds, Matt Stainbrook, Kaiser Gates, and several others, but none have gone on to have successful NBA careers.

While coaching at Xavier Mack traditionally used a bulkier center who rebounded at an extremely high level, capitalizing off put backs and easy buckets around the rim, while scoring with their back to the basket as needed.

But does that mean Louisville has no chance? Absolutely not.

Something Chris Mack and his staff told Timme clearly stuck early in their recruitment as just days after being offered, a top 10 list of schools was released including Louisville among teams that had been on Timme since his sophomore and junior seasons.

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While Timme was able to visit all the programs in his region including the Texas’, Texas A&M’s, Oklahoma’s, and Oklahoma State’s of the world, Timme saw something in Mack that he clearly loved. Let’s not forget that Timme’s teammate, Samuell Williamson, is now committed to the program and will be in his ear like never before.

Now with Timme likely down to just six schools, taking in-home visits before coming to a decision, Chris Mack and his staff have the chance to come in last and seal the deal. In the last two weeks, two elite recruits have taken official visits to campus, only to commit just a few days later. This has helped Mack develop the reputation around these parts as a “closer.”

If Mack is able to convince Drew Timme, one of the most unique players in the class of 2019, that he and potentially Aidan Igiehon could go down as one of the most dynamic big man combinations in the history of Louisville basketball, than you very well could see the crystal ball begin to change.

While many don’t see the big man wearing the red and black of Louisville, that doesn’t mean a thing. Mack has shown he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the players he wants, even if that means flying from Ireland to Texas in a span of 24 hours.

Next. Samuell Williamson commits to the Cards. dark

Watch out Cardnation, you very well could see one of the most unique prospects in the class of 2019 commit to Chris Mack and the Louisville Cardinals in the near future.

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