Ryan Mutombo Discussion

[FrazierFanatic]

Even with years of work on and off the court, to me Ryan has never lost that "baby giraffe" look - tall, gangly, but just not quite moving smoothly. Yes he can run the court, but mostly because of his long legs. His moves at both ends still seem awkward and just deliberate enough to keep him from being consistently effective. He has a moment here and there, but then gets blown by on defense, outmuscled on a rebound, loses the ball on offense. After all these years it is not just a matter of needing more playing time to be comfortable.
And I love Ryan, his enthusiasm, support for his teammates - not to mention that he will do great, great things down the road that have nothing to do with basketball.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Is there anybody here who actually saw Ryan play in high school? I’m wonder if the four star ranking was a combination of Mutombo’s height giving him a huge advantage, the fact that he’s a Mutombo, and perhaps on expectations that he’d continue to develop athletically in ways he hasn’t?

There is a long litany of guys who are both 4 and 5 star guys who don’t live up to those rankings. Including guys who have been at Georgetown. So, the fact that he hasn’t performed to that level is really not surprising.

Yesterday really showed Mutombo’s problem. He’s too slow.

[DFW HOYA]

Jan 20, 2024 18:45:34 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Is there anybody here who actually saw Ryan play in high school? I’m wonder if the four star ranking was a combination of Mutombo’s height giving him a huge advantage, the fact that he’s a Mutombo, and perhaps on expectations that he’d continue to develop athletically in ways he hasn’t?

Mutombo's ranking was complicated by the COVID year (2020-21), so evaluation camps were cancelled. Mutombo was ranked as high as 36th by 247 Sports and then landed at 113. Here is the scouting report from his junior year (April 2020):

"Legit size with long arms and a sturdy frame. Has terrific hands & touch around the basket. Good feel as a passer out of the high post and on the block. Shot the ball from the mid-range area with confidence, and mechanics are fine. Impressive feel for the game and a high IQ. Good area rebounder and rim protector. Lacks lift, and just gets end-to-end OK. True low post player. Late bloomer with major upside. Son of Dikembe Mutombo."

247sports.com/player/ryan-mutombo-46094162/

Remember, this was also the year that ranked Aminu Mohammed as a top-20 prospect.

247sports.com/article/five-star-aminu-mohammed-scouting-report-georgetown-157572867/

[harlemhoya]

He’s not an explosive athlete.

[Ranch Dressing]

No real future to contribute meaningful minutes on this team. A nice reminiscence to days of yesteryear. He’ll be an effective cheerleader next year and love the last name.

[prhoya]

Jan 20, 2024 18:45:34 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Is there anybody here who actually saw Ryan play in high school? I’m wonder if the four star ranking was a combination of Mutombo’s height giving him a huge advantage, the fact that he’s a Mutombo, and perhaps on expectations that he’d continue to develop athletically in ways he hasn’t?

There is a long litany of guys who are both 4 and 5 star guys who don’t live up to those rankings. Including guys who have been at Georgetown. So, the fact that he hasn’t performed to that level is really not surprising.

Yesterday really showed Mutombo’s problem. He’s too slow.

Just the Atlanta private high school league highlights and one or two from the AAU. He would just stand in the paint and swat everything close. Yes, no one was close to his height. Yes, his main problem is that he’s too slow to react and allows his man to get around him without punishment. Asking him to guard the perimeter is a disaster waiting to happen. He gets so low on his defensive stance that a guard easily can shoot a 3 over him. If said guard dribbles around him, then he cannot react quickly enough or doesn’t foul him. Using him in that defensive scheme is the old square peg, round hole. He needs to be used in a zone and as a foul machine.

[hoyajmw]

Jan 20, 2024 18:45:34 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Is there anybody here who actually saw Ryan play in high school? I’m wonder if the four star ranking was a combination of Mutombo’s height giving him a huge advantage, the fact that he’s a Mutombo, and perhaps on expectations that he’d continue to develop athletically in ways he hasn’t?

There is a long litany of guys who are both 4 and 5 star guys who don’t live up to those rankings. Including guys who have been at Georgetown. So, the fact that he hasn’t performed to that level is really not surprising.

Yesterday really showed Mutombo’s problem. He’s too slow.

A friend of mine's son played with Ryan's AAU team and thus saw Ryan play a lot; the friend was skeptical from the get-go that he had high-level D1 skills, but with his height and name has probably felt a little boxed in to play -- and fact that he hasn't transferred indicates to me he isn't really into playing much at all as opposed to mostly cheering from the bench, which I don't hold against him. I have an analogy in my own family. I have two daughters: one was a decent athlete and softball player, which she pursued mostly to please her mom -- her heart was never in it. She made the varsity as a high school freshman, which thrilled her mom -- and the daughter too, because (the daughter said) by making the varsity (barely) it meant she could sit on the bench and cheer/not have to play -- which she would've had to do on the JV. She quit after that one year to instead pursue what was HER passion (not her mom's). In contrast, second daughter not nearly as athletic but loved the game and worked herself -- with mom's considerable help/encouragement --into a very solid HS career and a couple years of college ball at her mom's alma mater (where her lack of gifts caught up with her). I think Ryan mostly may be the first daughter, with a dollop of the second daughter thrown in, and that's OK by me, but we should stop expecting him to be more. "A coach can't put in what God left out."

[jwp91]

He seems to be a great kid. I hope he has the wonderful college experience that he wants.

I think some of us are asking of him what he is unable or unwilling to give.

[dariantownesvanzandt]

As long as Ryan is a Hoya, I hope he enjoys being part of the team and can contribute when his number is called.

[hoyazeke]

Jan 20, 2024 23:48:26 GMT -5 Ranch Dressing said:

No real future to contribute meaningful minutes on this team. A nice reminiscence to days of yesteryear. He’ll be an effective cheerleader next year and love the last name.

Well the best thing is that he seems to love being at GTown and is a 7ftr....so maybe in 25yrs we will get a Mutombo with Deke's desire and more mobility....same with Trey, Uncle Jeff and Roy.

[professorhoya]

Jan 21, 2024 10:51:20 GMT -5 hoyazeke said:

Jan 20, 2024 23:48:26 GMT -5 Ranch Dressing said:

No real future to contribute meaningful minutes on this team. A nice reminiscence to days of yesteryear. He’ll be an effective cheerleader next year and love the last name.

Well the best thing is that he seems to love being at GTown and is a 7ftr....so maybe in 25yrs we will get a Mutombo with Deke's desire and more mobility....same with Trey, Uncle Jeff and Roy.

Well there is a 9 year senior at Miami.

[DanMcQ]

A good example that often there is far more going on in a student athlete’s life than “fans” know about. I think this is very applicable to Ryan Mutombo, who apparently will manage to graduate in 3 years while dealing with his father having arguably the least treatable cancer there is. It’s often about more than what we here want things to be.