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Post by steelhoya on Nov 20, 2007 17:46:10 GMT -5
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Nov 20, 2007 17:51:34 GMT -5
Here's the accompanying article to go along with the rankings. Some choice tidbits: "Ohio State had the best center prospect in college basketball last season, Greg Oden. The Buckeyes may have the best again this season in freshman Kosta Koufos." re John Reik: "Regardless, I've talked to 10 veteran NBA scouts who all say, reluctantly, that he's a legitimate lottery prospect. In fact, their reluctance to talk about him makes me believe they may have ranked him higher than they're letting on. "We have him ranked No. 10 on our big board, but he could end up going much higher or much lower. Looks as if we'll be traveling to Massachusetts this winter. " "Seniors: Not much better than the juniors. But two big men, Georgetown's Roy Hibbert and Cal's DeVon Hardin, could crack the top 10. After that it's slim pickings, though Oregon's Malik Hairston has started the season very strong." COULD? COULD? |
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hoyasexy
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Post by hoyasexy on Nov 20, 2007 18:00:28 GMT -5
Times have changed. The NBA draft has become more about potential than ability. As a result, there seems to be a premium on inexperience. So long as this is the rule, seniors will always be de-valued in favor of younger prospects because of a notion that a senior has reached his potential. That said, the fact that Roy is actually younger than many of the underclassmen he will be compared to is unlikely to help him.
After all, if you don't anything about a prospect, his upside is without limit.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Nov 20, 2007 18:34:30 GMT -5
Ford has always been less generous toward Hibbert than most. But he's entitled to his opinion. It used to tick me off but I've learned to let it go since its out of my control anyway. Hibbert just needs to do his thing and keep improving and not worry about anything else.
Obviously there appears to be a lot of good prospects out there and I can understand if a few of them are more attractive to the NBA than Roy. Even though I have loads of confidence in Roy and his upside I realize that its possible that some of these other prospects could end up being better in the end.
With that said I will at least list the things that I think are in Roy's favor (not that the scouts will care):
1)He is the most polished big men in the college game right now in terms of offense. Its abck-to-the basket game that's NBA ready.
2)His basketball IQ is probably as good as any of the other potential lottery picks. Folks love to talk about Love's IQ non-stop but Hibbs' is just as good.
3)I will laugh once the official measurements come out and some of these folks (Love and Riek in particular and possibly Beasley) while Hibbert, without shoes, will end up a tad higher than his listing. And since folks are increasingly including the height of the players with shoes (which bumped Aaron Gray up to 7'2) then Hibbert will be at least 7'4 in shoes.
4)He has great, soft hands for a big man.
5)He is a big man who is not at a lost when stepping away from the paint and knows how to find the open teammate. He also understands how to pass effectively out of the double-team. may not sound like a big deal but many pro players don't understand this.
6)He's not some weakling coming in like Yao Ming was his rookie season.
7)You can't ignore how efficient he is with that fg%. And he accomplished this without relying on the dunk which means he has legit moves and knows how to use the glass.
8)Unlike some of the instant-gratification players who have been a bit spoiled Hibbert is a high character guy who is not likely to cause any locker room drama or self-destruct his career with off the court issues.
9)OJ Mayo as a frosh is 20. Hibbert as a senior is 20. A couple of the other frosh are 19. To put it simply Hibbert is just as young as many of the newcomers and has as much upside. His best days, as is with the underclassmen, are still years down the road.
10)Is Beasley a SF or PF? Is Love a PF or center? Is Gordon a SG? What is Donte Green's position or JJ Hickson's? There is no question though that Roy is a center. And he plays like one.
11)JTIII himself for the past few years has been consistent in his opinion of how good Roy can be. He has never made such claims of the more highly regarded Jeff Green or the more highly though of recruits DaJuan, Vernon, Austin, etc. This man is so on the money about so many things whom am I to disagree?
12)If the one of the best center prospect for the next 15 years (Greg Oden) at the professional level can't really affect Hibbert's shot, how would 90% to 95% of the centers in the NBA be able to once Hibbert got the ball in low?
13)I believe in the concept of a four-year college experience making shaping most players for the better, making them better people which can translate into making them more responsible and more professional in their craft.
14)There are more talented players but no one will outwork this guy.
If that's not enough to go in the top five or top ten then so be it. But if you look at the history of the NBA its apparent that just because a player has been drafted ahead of another player doesn't ultimately prove which of the two will be more successful. However as Hoya fans I hope we don't turn this into a Shane Battier situation like the Duke fans did when they were arrogant to assume that no player should go ahead of their senior leader in the draft.
Of course Battier got SO MUCH pub and the very vocal support of Vitale even before Duke won the championship his final season. Its a sure thing Hibbert won't get that type of love from the media.
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Cambridge
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Post by Cambridge on Nov 20, 2007 18:59:43 GMT -5
2)His basketball IQ is probably as good as any of the other potential lottery picks. Folks love to talk about Love's IQ non-stop but Hibbs' is just as good. Ah...but you forgot the unwritten rule of sportswriting, usually only white players have basketball IQs while black players have upside. |
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Post by ExcitableBoy on Nov 20, 2007 19:16:32 GMT -5
3)I will laugh once the official measurements come out and some of these folks (Love and Riek in particular and possibly Beasley) while Hibbert, without shoes, will end up a tad higher than his listing. And since folks are increasingly including the height of the players with shoes (which bumped Aaron Gray up to 7'2) then Hibbert will be at least 7'4 in shoes. I've always thought Roy 'looked taller' than his 7'2" listing. Maybe it's that other listing are inflated or maybe its that he's grown (?) I think you are spot on here. It's not like Roy is 24 and is competing against 19 year olds--which would actually be a pretty serious problem for Roy. He is competing with players a year or two younger who have been playing against high schoolers for the past three years. I understand the allure of "raw" and "potential" but I really hope others understand the allure of actually developing against legit prospects. |
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hoyasexy
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Post by hoyasexy on Nov 20, 2007 20:06:23 GMT -5
10)Is Beasley a SF or PF? That's the issue with Beasley. Ford merely looks at his numbers and proclaims to be the next great big man. Fact is, while he has the talent to dominate in college, his game is an ideal PF, but he's a little short for that position at the next level. I'm not saying that it can't be done (Barkley did just fine, and Beasley is an inch or 2 taller), but I think it takes him off the top line of elite pro prospects. |
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Post by Hoya TMF on Nov 21, 2007 7:52:07 GMT -5
And Roy is still 20 years old in his senior year; his birthday is in early December. This isn't like Alando Tucker or Tyler Hansbrough, who is already 22 as a junior. Even a lot of the highly touted current freshman are pretty old compared to where a normal freshman would be. As JTIII has said many times, Roy is still reaching his potential and will only get better once he gets in the league. Roy has agreat chance to show them all this season, especially if we go deep into the post-season. Onto Muncie and Ball State! Go Hoyas!!!
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Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Nov 21, 2007 9:30:23 GMT -5
Roy made a great point in coming back that your big money NBA players get paid in their second contract with how the contracts for rookies are pretty much fixed. Regardless of where he goes, he knows he needs to have a couple of good years in his first three to really get paid on that second contract.
That is more important then draft position. Just ask potential guys like Milicic, Swift, Sene, Telfair, etc.
I do think the NBA scouts out think the process and that is why so many of these guys get picked so high and don't pan out or end up simply as role players. Outside of the mutants like Oden & Durant, I would take a Danny Granger, Paul Milsap, Jeff Green, any day over the untested High school kid or African/European kid.
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