The difference in levels between conferences is vastly overrated...
The biggest difference is depth. The very best players in each conference could play and translate to any conference in the right situation.
So when you say "he should average X blocks against his competition" that's not really a thing. There are 6'9+ players in every conference.
Makur Maker was a 5-star kid who went to Howard. Between covid and injury, he wound up only playing in 2 games, but he played against Belmont and Queens (who were D2 at the time). He averaged 11ppg and had 2 total blocks. Didn't make a single 3. He was 7'0.
Jerry Deng is a 6'9 freshman who not only knocked down threes at a very good rate, he did so while averaging more than 3 threes taken per game.
Freshmen have a learning curve. For the ACC level it can mean not playing at all (Joe Bamisile) or playing sparingly (Young and Rechsteiner) or playing more late in the season (Pedulla and Deng)
He started 9 of their last 11 games. In those games he averaged 12.5 points and had 11 of his 16 blocks on the year.
I think he's going to go somewhere bigger next year, but realize there will be another learning curve in a new place with players in the rotation who are around his skill level. But his junior and senior years are going to be very big jumps. At that size, with that skill, and production that was scalable to the amount he was playing...means there's a lot of projection in what he can do.
Absolutely doesn't mean he will reach his potential, because that depends on making the right choice and then working to make himself better. But he has all the tools
Thread Replies (10)
Four names from my initial list are officially in the portal
-- GCHokie34
Mar 15, 2024 at 01:16 PM ET
GCHokie34
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03/15/24 01:16 PM ET
With all the players in the portal, how on earth do coaches narrow down
-- 39hokies
Mar 15, 2024 at 06:18 PM ET
39hokies
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03/15/24 06:18 PM ET
The difference in levels between conferences is vastly overrated...
◄
-- GCHokie34
Mar 15, 2024 at 07:59 PM ET
GCHokie34
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03/15/24 07:59 PM ET
Thanks for that, I still wonder how Power 5 coaches narrow down who they
-- 39hokies
Mar 15, 2024 at 09:30 PM ET
39hokies
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03/15/24 09:30 PM ET
Would you mind adding years of eligibility and other stats? **
-- YBYSAIAHokie
Mar 15, 2024 at 01:29 PM ET
YBYSAIAHokie
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03/15/24 01:29 PM ET
Hey, shoot me an email when you get a chance.
-- Chris Coleman
Mar 15, 2024 at 01:25 PM ET
Chris Coleman
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03/15/24 01:25 PM ET
Ok, it's a "me" problem apparently.
-- Chris Coleman
Mar 15, 2024 at 02:05 PM ET
Chris Coleman
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03/15/24 02:05 PM ET