Congrats to Brown.
Lots of angles on this development.
1. Georgia didn't get him
Disappointing, but only mildly so. Would have fit well in the triangle offense. Don't like it when the state's top hoops recruit goes elsewhere. But...
2. Kentucky didn't get him either
Now that's absolutely huge for UGA. Kinda like when the cute girl next door, the one you helped with her Algebra homework, turns you down to prom.
If she up and joins the military after graduation, that's so much better than if she goes to vo-tech and ends up dating the captain of your high school's football team.
3. Vindicates the Student-Athlete approach
Sure, UGA would love to get a bunch of five-star hoops players. And sure there is a bit of envy when one or two schools get the top athletes year after year.
But there's more to it. College sports fans enjoy cheering for the legitimate amateur athlete.
An occasional guy who goes early to the pros is part of sports life. But there is something hollow about a school that constantly churns one-year athletes.
Kentucky coach John Calipari has made it part of his MO. He actually tells guys not to come back to school. He says that that advice is for the student-athlete's benefit, but I, for one, don't believe him. Not that it matters what I think, but my point is that some college freshmen, talented though they may be, aren't physically and mentally ready for the NBA.
Ready or not, if Calipari can clear his roster of players and thereby have room for the next monster haul of recruits, he'll do it. That keeps the fan base excited and prevents other teams from getting high-level athletes.
Well, if that is his strategy, it didn't work this year. Zimmerman committed to UNLV. Bryant to Indiana, Swanigan to Michigan State. Ingram to Duke. Newman to Mississippi State. Brown to California.
Kentucky fans have reacted with righteous indignation. "How dare they!"
Not that anybody should feel sorry for Coach Calipari. He still has a five-star point guard, five-star power forward, and two four-star shooting guards coming in. And the cupboard isn't exactly bare, either, with Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress ready to play a lot more minutes.
At the same time, playing Kentucky next season will be different. UK dominated teams this year through superior length. Lots of big guys. Next year, not so much (although Thon Maker could pledge soon). If Kentucky starts to lose games, Calipari may jump to the NBA himself.
4. Went outside the SEC
If UGA didn't get Brown, the best case scenario for the Dawgs was that Brown go to a team outside the SEC. That, he did. Which brings up the last point:
5. Parity in the SEC
Going to be interesting this year. Have to like what LSU has put together. Ben Simmons went there.
Mississippi State will have some good outings. Malik Newman went there.
UK will still be quite good. Briscoe went there.
Florida has some good recruits. But with the coaching turnover, Florida's loss is Oklahoma City's gain. Donovan went there.
The bottom line is that with Brown to California, there is no one dominant line-up in the SEC. That's good for the SEC and great for UGA.
We were third in the SEC this season. With our upgrade in talent, we should be right there to win the conference title this year.
True, we didn't get Jaylen Brown, but UGA basketball is in better shape than it has been in a long time.
Showing posts with label Jaylen Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jaylen Brown. Show all posts
Monday, May 4, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Running Players Off to the Pro's? UK's Dilemma
Interesting.
John Calipari has three seniors on his roster. He has three commitments for 2015/2016.
Best I can tell, none of Calipari's seniors are scholarship players. If true, that means that in order for UK to sign its three commitments, three of the team's underclassmen have to go pro.
Not a problem most years for UK, and shouldn't be a problem this year. I can see Willie Cauley-Stein foregoing his last year. Karl-Anthony Towns is a talented enough freshman to go high in the draft. Maybe Dakari Johnson would be a lottery pick.
But what happens if only three leave? What happens if Johnson, who frankly was outshone this year by Towns, opts to stay? What if only one of the Harrison twins chooses to leave? Alex Poythress was injured. Trey Lyles and Marcus Lee didn't get enough minutes in the platoon system to be guaranteed a high spot in the draft.
Point is that there are realistic scenarios in which UK would have just three spots for three commitments. But then there is no extra space for Jaylen Brown. No room for big man Thomas Bryant.
Ten of the top 41 high school seniors are still uncommitted. Some are waiting to see how much room is available on the UK roster. Calipari may have to run off some of his players to the pro's.
It's still possible that with all of the coaching moves, graduate transfer situations, late bloomers, and pro commitments (or lack thereof), spring recruitment might yield a very talented player or two for UGA. Could we get two out of Tevin Mack, Jaylen Brown, Mike Edwards, and perhaps, Mike Thorne?
Hang on.
John Calipari has three seniors on his roster. He has three commitments for 2015/2016.
Best I can tell, none of Calipari's seniors are scholarship players. If true, that means that in order for UK to sign its three commitments, three of the team's underclassmen have to go pro.
Not a problem most years for UK, and shouldn't be a problem this year. I can see Willie Cauley-Stein foregoing his last year. Karl-Anthony Towns is a talented enough freshman to go high in the draft. Maybe Dakari Johnson would be a lottery pick.
But what happens if only three leave? What happens if Johnson, who frankly was outshone this year by Towns, opts to stay? What if only one of the Harrison twins chooses to leave? Alex Poythress was injured. Trey Lyles and Marcus Lee didn't get enough minutes in the platoon system to be guaranteed a high spot in the draft.
Point is that there are realistic scenarios in which UK would have just three spots for three commitments. But then there is no extra space for Jaylen Brown. No room for big man Thomas Bryant.
Ten of the top 41 high school seniors are still uncommitted. Some are waiting to see how much room is available on the UK roster. Calipari may have to run off some of his players to the pro's.
It's still possible that with all of the coaching moves, graduate transfer situations, late bloomers, and pro commitments (or lack thereof), spring recruitment might yield a very talented player or two for UGA. Could we get two out of Tevin Mack, Jaylen Brown, Mike Edwards, and perhaps, Mike Thorne?
Hang on.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Jaylen Brown and Patrick Hamilton
According to the recent AJC article, UGA is still in the running for Jaylen Brown's commitment.
Appreciated the AJC article for two reasons. Of course because of the Jaylen Brown update. But also for contacting and getting the opinion of Patrick Hamilton, assistant coach at Wheeler.
Although I try to keep up with a lot of the players from former years, I didn't have any articles on the Blog about Hamilton. As the AJC reports, Hamilton was a four-year letterman for the Dawgs, and captain of the team in 1989. He averaged 12.7 points his senior year.
It's good to know that Brown has a person of the quality of Coach Hamilton helping to get him through the recruiting process. Coach Hamilton is not overbearing with his desire that Brown attend UGA. I would love to see Brown come to Georgia, but there's a good way to do things, and I think that Coach Hamilton is trying hard to strike the right balance.
We'll see. I'm not optimistic at this point. However, Brown may just decide that he's not ready to be out on his own just yet. It may be good for him to spend a year at Georgia and join the kinds of athletes like Marcus Thornton, who proudly wore the G.
Appreciated the AJC article for two reasons. Of course because of the Jaylen Brown update. But also for contacting and getting the opinion of Patrick Hamilton, assistant coach at Wheeler.
Although I try to keep up with a lot of the players from former years, I didn't have any articles on the Blog about Hamilton. As the AJC reports, Hamilton was a four-year letterman for the Dawgs, and captain of the team in 1989. He averaged 12.7 points his senior year.
It's good to know that Brown has a person of the quality of Coach Hamilton helping to get him through the recruiting process. Coach Hamilton is not overbearing with his desire that Brown attend UGA. I would love to see Brown come to Georgia, but there's a good way to do things, and I think that Coach Hamilton is trying hard to strike the right balance.
We'll see. I'm not optimistic at this point. However, Brown may just decide that he's not ready to be out on his own just yet. It may be good for him to spend a year at Georgia and join the kinds of athletes like Marcus Thornton, who proudly wore the G.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Color me Convinced on Mike Edwards
As per Anon's request, I took a second and a third look at Mike Edwards. To put it short, I now agree with Anon.
Edwards has a high ceiling. He moves well for a big guy, has the jump hook in his arsenal, catches the ball cleanly, and shoots it well from the elbow. He has a little bit of the Nemi Djurisic driving ability, too. The finish in the most recent video was impressive.
I think that Edwards has enough upside that with a good strength and conditioning program, he will adjust to SEC play. I understand that Mike Edwards, Sr., played football for Michigan State, which makes it likely that his hoops-playing son will be able to put on 20 or 30 pounds of muscle.
UGA can be competitive with Derek Ogbeide and Yante Maten in the post. But if one or both of those guys has an injury or gets in foul trouble, we look really thin at this point. Glad that Coach Hayes and the Fox recruiting staff found an overlooked guy who can help.
Let's bring in Edwards. If Brown wants to sign, too, all the better.
Edwards has a high ceiling. He moves well for a big guy, has the jump hook in his arsenal, catches the ball cleanly, and shoots it well from the elbow. He has a little bit of the Nemi Djurisic driving ability, too. The finish in the most recent video was impressive.
I think that Edwards has enough upside that with a good strength and conditioning program, he will adjust to SEC play. I understand that Mike Edwards, Sr., played football for Michigan State, which makes it likely that his hoops-playing son will be able to put on 20 or 30 pounds of muscle.
UGA can be competitive with Derek Ogbeide and Yante Maten in the post. But if one or both of those guys has an injury or gets in foul trouble, we look really thin at this point. Glad that Coach Hayes and the Fox recruiting staff found an overlooked guy who can help.
Let's bring in Edwards. If Brown wants to sign, too, all the better.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Correction on Mike Edwards
Anon was kind enough to inform me that the "G" insignia (on the YouTube page I referenced) stands for John Glenn High School. Not Georgia.
Appreciate the information. I may go in and edit my original post, or leave it as is, so that when this current post is read, Blog readers will be able to follow the thread.
In any case, my mistake, and apologies to Edwards and his family.
Now, back to the original point. Will Edwards be a UGA commit? If he does, will he contribute? Jury is still out, of course.
I would still rather have an in-state kid. Unless a potential recruit is a can't miss, slam dunk recruit, or somehow otherwise clearly fits a need, it's smarter to develop the relationships with the AAU clubs and high school coaches right here in Georgia. And you certainly don't give Edwards the last scholarship while there is any chance that Jaylen Brown could commit.
With that plainly stated, following Anon's suggestion, I did take a second look. Watched some other videos of Edwards.
Edwards reminds me of Daniel Miller. Guy who played against smaller schools. Good fundamentals. Not a program changer, but a serviceable big man.
Maybe Fox and Jonas Hayes can bring out the potential in Edwards. Maybe he grows another couple of inches. Maybe Edwards and his potential have simply been overlooked by other D-1 programs.
If we sign him, I sure hope so.
Go Dawgs!
Appreciate the information. I may go in and edit my original post, or leave it as is, so that when this current post is read, Blog readers will be able to follow the thread.
In any case, my mistake, and apologies to Edwards and his family.
Now, back to the original point. Will Edwards be a UGA commit? If he does, will he contribute? Jury is still out, of course.
I would still rather have an in-state kid. Unless a potential recruit is a can't miss, slam dunk recruit, or somehow otherwise clearly fits a need, it's smarter to develop the relationships with the AAU clubs and high school coaches right here in Georgia. And you certainly don't give Edwards the last scholarship while there is any chance that Jaylen Brown could commit.
With that plainly stated, following Anon's suggestion, I did take a second look. Watched some other videos of Edwards.
Edwards reminds me of Daniel Miller. Guy who played against smaller schools. Good fundamentals. Not a program changer, but a serviceable big man.
Maybe Fox and Jonas Hayes can bring out the potential in Edwards. Maybe he grows another couple of inches. Maybe Edwards and his potential have simply been overlooked by other D-1 programs.
If we sign him, I sure hope so.
Go Dawgs!
Friday, March 13, 2015
Mike Edwards?
I don't see it.
Nothing against Edwards, but why go up to Michigan for a guy when we can find a back-up center from somewhere in-state? Georgia high school coaches have long memories.
From the looks of his (?) YouTube channel, it appears that Edwards considers himself a member of our 2015 signing class. I guess we beat out Ball State and Northern Illinois for his services. Of course if Edwards does end up at Georgia, I will support him and hope he turns into an absolute beast.
However, for now, the Edwards recruitment has me totally unconvinced. Reminds me of other Fox recruiting efforts. John Florveus. John Cannon. Tim Dixon. Good kids. Guys who contributed, but weren't the high level athletes that UGA needs to challenge the elite teams. Have my fingers crossed that Iduwe and Kessler will make a big leap next year.
This far along in the Mark Fox tenure I had hoped we were past getting a 2-star/project big man/role player late after the difference-maker goes elsewhere.
I liked the Yante Maten signing last year. Derek Ogbeide will definitely help this year. SMH on this one.
If Jaylen Brown turns us down, please get an in-state guy or save the ship until next year.
Nothing against Edwards, but why go up to Michigan for a guy when we can find a back-up center from somewhere in-state? Georgia high school coaches have long memories.
From the looks of his (?) YouTube channel, it appears that Edwards considers himself a member of our 2015 signing class. I guess we beat out Ball State and Northern Illinois for his services. Of course if Edwards does end up at Georgia, I will support him and hope he turns into an absolute beast.
However, for now, the Edwards recruitment has me totally unconvinced. Reminds me of other Fox recruiting efforts. John Florveus. John Cannon. Tim Dixon. Good kids. Guys who contributed, but weren't the high level athletes that UGA needs to challenge the elite teams. Have my fingers crossed that Iduwe and Kessler will make a big leap next year.
This far along in the Mark Fox tenure I had hoped we were past getting a 2-star/project big man/role player late after the difference-maker goes elsewhere.
I liked the Yante Maten signing last year. Derek Ogbeide will definitely help this year. SMH on this one.
If Jaylen Brown turns us down, please get an in-state guy or save the ship until next year.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Wheeler Edges Pebblebrook in 6A Championship
Jaylen Brown sank two free throws to lead Wheeler to a one-point victory. Final score: 59 to 58.
Brown finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds. UGA signee Derek Ogbeide had 14 points, 22 boards, and 3 blocked shots.
I think Fox gets it done and Brown commits to the G.
Brown finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds. UGA signee Derek Ogbeide had 14 points, 22 boards, and 3 blocked shots.
I think Fox gets it done and Brown commits to the G.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Just what the Doctor Ordered
Derek Ogbeide had five dunks and 17 rebounds in the Class AAAAAA semi-final game against Shiloh. Pebblebrook won the contest by 10. Final score: 57 to 47.
Ogbeide
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown and Wheeler High defeated Tucker. Brown finished with 29 points. Great player, great attitude.
Wheeler and Pebblebrook will meet in the 6A championship game on Saturday.
Hated to see Athens Christian come up just short, 57 to 56, against Greenforest in the Class A private school semi-finals. Turtle Jackson ended his high school career with 15 points in the contest.
Ogbeide is just what the doctor ordered for a UGA team graduating senior post players, Nemi Djurisic and Marcus Thornton. Don't know how Derek will do against SEC talent, but he'll surely get the chance to play right away.
Provided that Turtle Jackson's knees hold up, he'll give UGA valuable minutes at the point. Seems like such a long-shot, but if Coach Rosemond can seal the deal with Jaylen Brown, discharge the patient, UGA basketball is healthy and ready to make some noise.
Ogbeide
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown and Wheeler High defeated Tucker. Brown finished with 29 points. Great player, great attitude.
Wheeler and Pebblebrook will meet in the 6A championship game on Saturday.
Hated to see Athens Christian come up just short, 57 to 56, against Greenforest in the Class A private school semi-finals. Turtle Jackson ended his high school career with 15 points in the contest.
Ogbeide is just what the doctor ordered for a UGA team graduating senior post players, Nemi Djurisic and Marcus Thornton. Don't know how Derek will do against SEC talent, but he'll surely get the chance to play right away.
Provided that Turtle Jackson's knees hold up, he'll give UGA valuable minutes at the point. Seems like such a long-shot, but if Coach Rosemond can seal the deal with Jaylen Brown, discharge the patient, UGA basketball is healthy and ready to make some noise.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
What about Lamont West?
I say that if Jaylen Brown signs elsewhere, we give the last scholarship to Lamont West.
West is an athletic 6' 8" power forward for 26 and 3 Miller Grove. He has put up impressive numbers this season, with 25 and 14 the other night, and 19 and 12 in the previous game.
According to Max Preps, West averages 17 ppg, shoots 66 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the line. West was recently named 1st Team All-Region, 6AAAAA.
Although Lamont is listed at just 205 pounds now, he has the frame to add 20 or 30 more once he hits campus and starts lifting weights. Since he's a natural post player and not a stretch 4 like Kessler, West would give us another big man in the trenches to alternate with Ogbeide and Maten.
We did alright with our last under-recruited Miller Grove big man, Donte Williams. If his grades are up to snuff, let's get on West now.
West
West is an athletic 6' 8" power forward for 26 and 3 Miller Grove. He has put up impressive numbers this season, with 25 and 14 the other night, and 19 and 12 in the previous game.
According to Max Preps, West averages 17 ppg, shoots 66 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the line. West was recently named 1st Team All-Region, 6AAAAA.
Although Lamont is listed at just 205 pounds now, he has the frame to add 20 or 30 more once he hits campus and starts lifting weights. Since he's a natural post player and not a stretch 4 like Kessler, West would give us another big man in the trenches to alternate with Ogbeide and Maten.
We did alright with our last under-recruited Miller Grove big man, Donte Williams. If his grades are up to snuff, let's get on West now.
West
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Ten Reasons Georgia Basketball is Trending Up
Georgia basketball is trending up. Here's why:
1. Overall Win Record
Had a maddening overtime defeat to LSU, and I hate losing to Georgia Tech, but if we win at South Carolina, UGA will be 15 and 5, a very strong showing through the first 20 games.
2. RPI
In the 20's according to the various sites. Still plenty of ball to be played, but as for now, our schedule strength and win-loss record project that we should easily qualify for the NCAA tourney this year.
3. Competitive in the SEC
Georgia is now 5 and 2 in the SEC, ranked 2nd place in the Conference.
We don't have a stable of big guys like Kentucky, but no one else in the country does. Meanwhile, we match up pretty well with the rest of the teams in the SEC.
4. Handling Adversity
Brandon Morris was arrested, then dismissed from the team before the season started. Kenny Gaines was sick when the year began, then injured shortly thereafter. Kenny Paul Geno got injured and is likely lost for the year. Cameron Forte got sick. Marcus Thornton battled and overcame knee problems over the last couple of years. Yante Maten got hit by a car. Wow.
The team could have folded under pressure. Instead, Fox has adjusted his rotation, and UGA has made it work.
5. No new off-court issues
Sure, the guys aren't perfect, but the current squad has avoided the kinds of missteps that could distract from team performance and derail the season.
6. Win Streak
Georgia has won 5 in a row with a winnable game at South Carolina up next.
7. Balanced Scoring
The game at Mississippi State was an anomaly. No one played well except J.J. Frazier (and he was exceptional). The Vandy game was more typical. Although Charles Mann did not have a good outing, everybody else played well enough, and the Dawgs got the win.
And that's the UGA recipe for success. All five starters currently average double-figures in scoring. Really helps UGA win a game when multiple guys can step up and get a bucket when we need it.
8. Free Throw Shooting
Georgia shoots a lot of free throws. Part of that is because Charles Mann always attacks the rim. Georgia attempted 25 foul shots against Vandy and made 23. Now, we haven't been hitting that percentage (92%) every game, but if we keep going to the line and shooting a decent percentage, we can win more often than not.
9. 2015 Recruiting
We missed on some targets this year. Malik Beasley, a two-guard out of Alpharetta, was supposedly going to commit. Instead went with Florida State. High-scoring wing Tevin Mack was predicted to UGA by some web sites. Ended up choosing VCU, if I remember correctly. We didn't get Georgia high school big men Daniel Giddens or Doral Moore.
However, unlike previous years, when we didn't get our top level recruits, this time we came back and were able to get next tier guys that can definitely help right away. Georgia signed Turtle Jackson, a big point guard who can score; Derek Ogbeide, an improving post with good athleticism; and E'Torrion Wilridge, an athletic 3/4. If we keep winning, who's to say that we don't have a real shot at Jaylen Brown out at Wheeler High.
10. 2016 Recruiting
If Georgia gets a B or B- so far for 2015 recruiting, we're tracking A+ territory for 2016. Tyree Crump and Jordan Harris committed early. When was the last time that we got pledges from two key recruits almost a full two seasons early?
KCP committed early, but Fox wasn't able to turn that commitment into a magnet for other highly ranked players. Felton recruited the dynamic duo of Lou Williams and Mike Mercer, but Williams never made it to campus, opting instead to go straight to the NBA. As good as Williams and Mercer were, I like Crump and Harris better, because Mercer couldn't really shoot the ball. Harris has Mercer-type athleticism, and he can flat out stroke it.
Fox will have to fight like crazy to keep them, but if he can, Crump and Harris may help UGA bring in a couple of posts.
Georgia basketball is trending up. If we finish the SEC slate with a few victories and complete our recruiting 2015 and 2016 classes with a couple of studs, the bandwagon will be suddenly full. Georgia fans who "always really loved basketball," but were waiting on the side of the road hoping that UGA would somehow get the program rolling in the right direction, might want to jump on now, buy tickets, and support the team.
1. Overall Win Record
Had a maddening overtime defeat to LSU, and I hate losing to Georgia Tech, but if we win at South Carolina, UGA will be 15 and 5, a very strong showing through the first 20 games.
2. RPI
In the 20's according to the various sites. Still plenty of ball to be played, but as for now, our schedule strength and win-loss record project that we should easily qualify for the NCAA tourney this year.
3. Competitive in the SEC
Georgia is now 5 and 2 in the SEC, ranked 2nd place in the Conference.
We don't have a stable of big guys like Kentucky, but no one else in the country does. Meanwhile, we match up pretty well with the rest of the teams in the SEC.
4. Handling Adversity
Brandon Morris was arrested, then dismissed from the team before the season started. Kenny Gaines was sick when the year began, then injured shortly thereafter. Kenny Paul Geno got injured and is likely lost for the year. Cameron Forte got sick. Marcus Thornton battled and overcame knee problems over the last couple of years. Yante Maten got hit by a car. Wow.
The team could have folded under pressure. Instead, Fox has adjusted his rotation, and UGA has made it work.
5. No new off-court issues
Sure, the guys aren't perfect, but the current squad has avoided the kinds of missteps that could distract from team performance and derail the season.
6. Win Streak
Georgia has won 5 in a row with a winnable game at South Carolina up next.
7. Balanced Scoring
The game at Mississippi State was an anomaly. No one played well except J.J. Frazier (and he was exceptional). The Vandy game was more typical. Although Charles Mann did not have a good outing, everybody else played well enough, and the Dawgs got the win.
And that's the UGA recipe for success. All five starters currently average double-figures in scoring. Really helps UGA win a game when multiple guys can step up and get a bucket when we need it.
8. Free Throw Shooting
Georgia shoots a lot of free throws. Part of that is because Charles Mann always attacks the rim. Georgia attempted 25 foul shots against Vandy and made 23. Now, we haven't been hitting that percentage (92%) every game, but if we keep going to the line and shooting a decent percentage, we can win more often than not.
9. 2015 Recruiting
We missed on some targets this year. Malik Beasley, a two-guard out of Alpharetta, was supposedly going to commit. Instead went with Florida State. High-scoring wing Tevin Mack was predicted to UGA by some web sites. Ended up choosing VCU, if I remember correctly. We didn't get Georgia high school big men Daniel Giddens or Doral Moore.
However, unlike previous years, when we didn't get our top level recruits, this time we came back and were able to get next tier guys that can definitely help right away. Georgia signed Turtle Jackson, a big point guard who can score; Derek Ogbeide, an improving post with good athleticism; and E'Torrion Wilridge, an athletic 3/4. If we keep winning, who's to say that we don't have a real shot at Jaylen Brown out at Wheeler High.
10. 2016 Recruiting
If Georgia gets a B or B- so far for 2015 recruiting, we're tracking A+ territory for 2016. Tyree Crump and Jordan Harris committed early. When was the last time that we got pledges from two key recruits almost a full two seasons early?
KCP committed early, but Fox wasn't able to turn that commitment into a magnet for other highly ranked players. Felton recruited the dynamic duo of Lou Williams and Mike Mercer, but Williams never made it to campus, opting instead to go straight to the NBA. As good as Williams and Mercer were, I like Crump and Harris better, because Mercer couldn't really shoot the ball. Harris has Mercer-type athleticism, and he can flat out stroke it.
Fox will have to fight like crazy to keep them, but if he can, Crump and Harris may help UGA bring in a couple of posts.
Georgia basketball is trending up. If we finish the SEC slate with a few victories and complete our recruiting 2015 and 2016 classes with a couple of studs, the bandwagon will be suddenly full. Georgia fans who "always really loved basketball," but were waiting on the side of the road hoping that UGA would somehow get the program rolling in the right direction, might want to jump on now, buy tickets, and support the team.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Derek Ogbeide
The guy that Ogbeide reminds me most of is not a hoops player. It's Cordy Glenn from UGA's football team a few years back. The first time I saw Glenn, I said, "this guy is going to be a player."
Sure enough, Glenn later starred on the offensive line for Georgia. Cordy is now in the NFL, playing offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills.
In the same way, I am projecting good things for Ogbeide. He has a large frame, big hands and feet, and for a big man, good athleticism. Catches the ball well. Is a true post player. Doesn't float around on the perimeter.
I liked what I saw of Ogbeide in Pebblebrook's game against Laney of Augusta. Pebblebrook doesn't run many plays, and Ogbeide rarely gets passes. However, in an up and down, guard-oriented game, Ogbeide had 16 points, 18 boards and 7 blocks.
I wouldn't call Ogbeide skilled. Not in the same way that Tony Parker was skilled at the same point in high school. However, if Ogbeide continues to grow physically and athletically, he may end up as the better NBA prospect.
Next year could be a good one for UGA basketball. Charles Mann, J.J. Frazier, and Turtle Jackson playing point; Kenny Gaines and Juwan Parker at the shooting guard spots, Iduwe (here's hoping he bulks up and learns a few moves), Yante Maten, and Ogbeide in the post, and Kenny Paul Geno and E'Torrion Wilridge on the wing. If we somehow bring in Jaylen Brown, that looks like a definite NCAA team to me.
Sure enough, Glenn later starred on the offensive line for Georgia. Cordy is now in the NFL, playing offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills.
In the same way, I am projecting good things for Ogbeide. He has a large frame, big hands and feet, and for a big man, good athleticism. Catches the ball well. Is a true post player. Doesn't float around on the perimeter.
I liked what I saw of Ogbeide in Pebblebrook's game against Laney of Augusta. Pebblebrook doesn't run many plays, and Ogbeide rarely gets passes. However, in an up and down, guard-oriented game, Ogbeide had 16 points, 18 boards and 7 blocks.
I wouldn't call Ogbeide skilled. Not in the same way that Tony Parker was skilled at the same point in high school. However, if Ogbeide continues to grow physically and athletically, he may end up as the better NBA prospect.
Next year could be a good one for UGA basketball. Charles Mann, J.J. Frazier, and Turtle Jackson playing point; Kenny Gaines and Juwan Parker at the shooting guard spots, Iduwe (here's hoping he bulks up and learns a few moves), Yante Maten, and Ogbeide in the post, and Kenny Paul Geno and E'Torrion Wilridge on the wing. If we somehow bring in Jaylen Brown, that looks like a definite NCAA team to me.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Oh well, on to basketball
Wait, Tech beat us at that, too.
Pretty miserable year, but then at least a down year for Mark Richt is a 9 and 3 season.
Has Mark Fox surpassed .500 since he's been here? I think he had a 85 and 77 overall record before the season started. We're 3 and 3 since then, so Fox is barely managing .500 in year six of his tenure.
Don't remember what I was expecting when Fox was brought on, but it wasn't losing to Tech four times in a row, and it wasn't playing .500 ball. We can beat the scrubs who have to travel by bus to Stegeman, but I'd like to see us beat some solid Division I teams.
We'll have our chance soon. We play Colorado and Kansas State in December.
Maybe we'll go on a run. In all honesty, though, I don't see how without a real post game. No slight meant to Thornton and Djurisic. They try hard, and they're great representatives of the program. Yet and still, they're forwards who have to match up with other team's centers. Thornton had the knee surgeries and never really regained his rim-rocking physicality from high school, and Djurisic is more of a stretch four. We don't have a big skilled guy in the middle, and Kenny Gaines' sickness has exposed our lack of scoring everywhere else.
The SEC slate did us well last year, now that SEC basketball got rid of the division format. We don't have to play Florida and Kentucky twice each year, and South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M are in about as bad a shape as we are. Other than Kentucky, I think we match up pretty well with just about everybody. The problem is that judging by the games played so far, UGA looks like a border-line NIT team, not one that will do real damage in the NCAA Tourney.
I would be a lot more optimistic on the whole if we had bagged one of the Wheeler players for the 2015 recruiting class. We didn't get it done. 6' 10" big man Daniel Giddens got scooped up by Ohio State and it appears that athletic small forward Jaylen Brown is headed elsewhere.
Wish we would have hired an Atlanta high school head coach to see if we could get a pipeline going in recruiting. Maybe the incoming recruits we did will play above their ranking. Jackson, Ogbeide and Wilridge may help next year.
In the meantime, we'll adjust expectations downward and hope for the best.
Pretty miserable year, but then at least a down year for Mark Richt is a 9 and 3 season.
Has Mark Fox surpassed .500 since he's been here? I think he had a 85 and 77 overall record before the season started. We're 3 and 3 since then, so Fox is barely managing .500 in year six of his tenure.
Don't remember what I was expecting when Fox was brought on, but it wasn't losing to Tech four times in a row, and it wasn't playing .500 ball. We can beat the scrubs who have to travel by bus to Stegeman, but I'd like to see us beat some solid Division I teams.
We'll have our chance soon. We play Colorado and Kansas State in December.
Maybe we'll go on a run. In all honesty, though, I don't see how without a real post game. No slight meant to Thornton and Djurisic. They try hard, and they're great representatives of the program. Yet and still, they're forwards who have to match up with other team's centers. Thornton had the knee surgeries and never really regained his rim-rocking physicality from high school, and Djurisic is more of a stretch four. We don't have a big skilled guy in the middle, and Kenny Gaines' sickness has exposed our lack of scoring everywhere else.
The SEC slate did us well last year, now that SEC basketball got rid of the division format. We don't have to play Florida and Kentucky twice each year, and South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M are in about as bad a shape as we are. Other than Kentucky, I think we match up pretty well with just about everybody. The problem is that judging by the games played so far, UGA looks like a border-line NIT team, not one that will do real damage in the NCAA Tourney.
I would be a lot more optimistic on the whole if we had bagged one of the Wheeler players for the 2015 recruiting class. We didn't get it done. 6' 10" big man Daniel Giddens got scooped up by Ohio State and it appears that athletic small forward Jaylen Brown is headed elsewhere.
Wish we would have hired an Atlanta high school head coach to see if we could get a pipeline going in recruiting. Maybe the incoming recruits we did will play above their ranking. Jackson, Ogbeide and Wilridge may help next year.
In the meantime, we'll adjust expectations downward and hope for the best.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Turtle Jackson: Ten Reasons Why I'm Psyched
Couldn't be happier for UGA basketball and Coach Fox. Well, I could. Can we flip Daniel Giddens?
One at a time, one at a time.
Glad to be posting again. Life gets busy sometimes. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. UGA recently received a commitment from William "Turtle" Jackson. That is huge news for at least ten reasons:
1) Dude can play.
Nice arc on his jump shot. Note that he has the ability that other great point guards have, in that he goes either right or left, full speed, and always keeps his head up so he can make the right pass. Dishes with either the right or left hand. Is not bothered by "bump and run" style defense. Finishes through contact. Willing rebounder and defender. Not an explosive leaper yet, but he might develop plenty of lift as he continues to work on his game.
2) High Character
Turtle Jackson is a good kid. He'll represent UGA well. As we have seen with football, a good player with bad habits ends up at _____________ (you put in the name of the school. A couple come to mind for me).
3) Position of Need
We brought in two big men for 2014. Yante Maten and Osahen "Fred" Iduwe will hopefully hold down the front court in future years. So unless something changes drastically, we won't add any guards this year. I had hoped that Cameron Johnson of Clarke Central might somehow find a spot, but he got signed by College of Charleston.
At any rate, by the fall of 2015, Charles Mann will be entering his senior year. We have J.J. Frazier, a scrappy, but undersized point guard who by then will be a junior, but we need a big point guard. Turtle Jackson fits the bill perfectly.
4) Legacy Signee
If I'm not mistaken, Turtle Jackson's Dad played at UGA. We ought to be able to sign a kid like Jackson, and we will.
5) Local Product
He'll be a fan favorite right off the bat. Will we see more local fans out at the games?
6) Desire
Turtle Jackson wants to play for Georgia. He has committed to us, and though he could open up his recruitment again, I seriously doubt it. We want guys who want to come to, or as in Jackson's case, want to stay in, Athens.
7) Room to Grow
Jackson is 6' 4" or thereabouts right now. Who's to say that he won't grow another inch or even two over the next year and a half? He has had a knee injury, but by the time fall 2015 rolls around, he should be good to go. Throw in a good preseason weight-training and conditioning program, and he'll be ready to help UGA post some victories up on the schedule.
8) Early Commit
I have wanted just this kind of result for a while. It seems the other programs get commitments early from talented players. Meanwhile, UGA hangs on but ultimately misses out on guys (I am reminded on Tony Parker) and ends up trying to find potential signees late in the process. Definitely not a formula for recruiting success. Jackson is on board during the summer before his senior year. That's huge.
9) Makes others Better
You see that phrase tossed around a bit, but what I mean by it is that a player works hard, is unselfish and is a positive influence in the locker room, all the while having the skill set to help get wins on the court. Jackson is all that.
10) Momentum
Great shooters want somebody who has the ability and willingness to get them the ball. Great big men want to play with someone who can feed the post. Great recruits want to go someplace where other great recruits are going.
Sometimes all you need is an ice-breaker, a guy who will commit early and then work the phones and social media to help the staff bring in the next key recruit. All the better if he is a point guard. All the better if he is William Jackson.
Let's bring in Jaylen Brown, Giddens, and a shooter. UGA basketball finally has recruiting Mo' on our side.
One at a time, one at a time.
Glad to be posting again. Life gets busy sometimes. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. UGA recently received a commitment from William "Turtle" Jackson. That is huge news for at least ten reasons:
1) Dude can play.
Nice arc on his jump shot. Note that he has the ability that other great point guards have, in that he goes either right or left, full speed, and always keeps his head up so he can make the right pass. Dishes with either the right or left hand. Is not bothered by "bump and run" style defense. Finishes through contact. Willing rebounder and defender. Not an explosive leaper yet, but he might develop plenty of lift as he continues to work on his game.
2) High Character
Turtle Jackson is a good kid. He'll represent UGA well. As we have seen with football, a good player with bad habits ends up at _____________ (you put in the name of the school. A couple come to mind for me).
3) Position of Need
We brought in two big men for 2014. Yante Maten and Osahen "Fred" Iduwe will hopefully hold down the front court in future years. So unless something changes drastically, we won't add any guards this year. I had hoped that Cameron Johnson of Clarke Central might somehow find a spot, but he got signed by College of Charleston.
At any rate, by the fall of 2015, Charles Mann will be entering his senior year. We have J.J. Frazier, a scrappy, but undersized point guard who by then will be a junior, but we need a big point guard. Turtle Jackson fits the bill perfectly.
4) Legacy Signee
If I'm not mistaken, Turtle Jackson's Dad played at UGA. We ought to be able to sign a kid like Jackson, and we will.
5) Local Product
He'll be a fan favorite right off the bat. Will we see more local fans out at the games?
6) Desire
Turtle Jackson wants to play for Georgia. He has committed to us, and though he could open up his recruitment again, I seriously doubt it. We want guys who want to come to, or as in Jackson's case, want to stay in, Athens.
7) Room to Grow
Jackson is 6' 4" or thereabouts right now. Who's to say that he won't grow another inch or even two over the next year and a half? He has had a knee injury, but by the time fall 2015 rolls around, he should be good to go. Throw in a good preseason weight-training and conditioning program, and he'll be ready to help UGA post some victories up on the schedule.
8) Early Commit
I have wanted just this kind of result for a while. It seems the other programs get commitments early from talented players. Meanwhile, UGA hangs on but ultimately misses out on guys (I am reminded on Tony Parker) and ends up trying to find potential signees late in the process. Definitely not a formula for recruiting success. Jackson is on board during the summer before his senior year. That's huge.
9) Makes others Better
You see that phrase tossed around a bit, but what I mean by it is that a player works hard, is unselfish and is a positive influence in the locker room, all the while having the skill set to help get wins on the court. Jackson is all that.
10) Momentum
Great shooters want somebody who has the ability and willingness to get them the ball. Great big men want to play with someone who can feed the post. Great recruits want to go someplace where other great recruits are going.
Sometimes all you need is an ice-breaker, a guy who will commit early and then work the phones and social media to help the staff bring in the next key recruit. All the better if he is a point guard. All the better if he is William Jackson.
Let's bring in Jaylen Brown, Giddens, and a shooter. UGA basketball finally has recruiting Mo' on our side.
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